Girls Who Play Dead

By Joelle Wellington

Reviewed by Lauren Spencer

Joelle Wellington is a New York-based author known for her YA thrillers. Her previous titles, Their Vicious Games and The Blonde Dies First, are mixtures of satirical horror and teen thriller. Wellington’s latest novel, Girls Who Play Dead, takes the shape of a suburban-gothic teen murder mystery.

In the small town of Prophet Lake, head cheerleader and beauty influencer Erin Vaughn has been found dead, and her killer remains unknown. Anxious misfit Mikky Graves has returned to Prophet Lake after leaving three years ago, offering help to his sister Kyla as she navigates the grief of losing her best friend. Grief does strange things to people, but the Kyla Mikky once knew is nothing like the Kyla now. In between starting back at Prophets High and pursuing new friendships, Mikky tries to unravel the mystery behind Erin’s death and the secrets his sister might be hiding.

The chapters in Girls Who Play Dead are character-driven, alternating between Mikky’s and Kyla’s points of view, showing the inner turmoil that builds between them, as boundaries are pushed and relationships questioned. Wellington manages to create both likable and unlikable characters that work within the ‘whodunnit’ narrative, but this formulation of balancing POV’s prolongs the story.

Although the plot is slow-moving, underneath the mystery and drama, the book deals with themes of grief, mental health, sexuality, race and family dynamics, with a healthy representation of LGBTQ+ in an appealing way to young readers. The main trope comments on the effects of the beauty industry and social media influencers, especially for young women.

Girls Who Play Dead is a great starter for young readers wanting to get into mystery fiction. Ending with an enjoyable and surprising plot twist.

Recommended for ages 15 and up, but it comes with a language warning.

Harper Fire GB 2026

Joelle Wellington