
Drop Dead Famous
The crime thriller obsession of the summer!
Jennifer Pearson(Author)
Simon & Schuster Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 4. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
432 pages
978-1-3985-5335-4 (ISBN)
Description
THE HOTLY ANTICIPATED YA CRIME THRILLER FROM AWARD-WINNING* AUTHOR, JENNIFER PEARSON
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FAME CAN BE A KILLERGlobal superstar Blair Baker rises high above the stage for the opening number of her hometown show. The crowd erupts in applause. Then come the screams.
For her sister, Stevie, Blair's murder is more than a headline. And she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
TRUST NO ONE. CATCH A KILLER. STAY ALIVE.
Think: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder for Swifties
Unputdownable, page turning and suspenseful, welcome to your new crime thriller obsession
Featuring a small-town setting, a dynamite teen detective duo and twists you won't see coming
Perfect for fans of The Disappearance of Rachel Price and Five Survive by Holly Jackson, The Cousins by Karen M. McManus and The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
*Jennifer Pearson won Best Laugh-Out-Loud Book for 9-13-Year-Olds Award 2022
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______
FAME CAN BE A KILLERGlobal superstar Blair Baker rises high above the stage for the opening number of her hometown show. The crowd erupts in applause. Then come the screams.
For her sister, Stevie, Blair's murder is more than a headline. And she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
TRUST NO ONE. CATCH A KILLER. STAY ALIVE.
Think: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder for Swifties
Unputdownable, page turning and suspenseful, welcome to your new crime thriller obsession
Featuring a small-town setting, a dynamite teen detective duo and twists you won't see coming
Perfect for fans of The Disappearance of Rachel Price and Five Survive by Holly Jackson, The Cousins by Karen M. McManus and The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
*Jennifer Pearson won Best Laugh-Out-Loud Book for 9-13-Year-Olds Award 2022
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Reviews / Votes
'Engrossing and entertaining.' -- Kirkus Review, 15 March 2026 Issue 'Sharp, witty prose balances suspense with humor. The finale delivers a satisfying cascade of twists and revelations while centering grounding interpersonal moments surrounding Stevie's shifting friendships and simmering romance with a protective young police officer. The result-a credible, fast-paced whodunit with enticing characters-achieves high marks across the board.' -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review 'Jennifer Pearson weaves the threads of this slick thriller with such mastery; it seems almost effortless. Full of twists, turns and characters you can't help fall in love with, it kept me up way past my bedtime.' -- Cynthia Murphy 'Pearson's YA debut sparkles with wit and heart, and its satisfying twists and reveals will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its layered, compelling characters and one of my new favourite YA detective duos, Drop Dead Famous stands out from the crowd. I can't wait to see what Pearson writes next.' -- Kathryn Foxfield 'A compelling and utterly unputdownable YA thriller. I raced through it because I had to know what happened, and the twists blew me away. Full of mystery and heart, with complex family dynamics, a fantastic friend duo determined to solve the crime no matter what it takes, and even a sprinkling of romance. DROP DEAD FAMOUS proves that Jennifer Pearson, already known for her brilliant middle-grade novels, is bound to be a breakout star in the YA world'. -- Katherine Webber 'Fast paced, full of twists and turns' -- Anne Cassidy 'A tense thriller that grips the reader throughout, Drop Dead Famous is Pearson at the top of her game.' -- Benjamin DeanMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 14 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-3985-5335-4 (9781398553354)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
06/2026
Simon & Schuster Children's
€6.44
Available for download
Person
Jennifer Pearson has previously written as Jenny Pearson. Her middle-grade novels, including The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates (Usborne), have been published in twenty languages. She has been shortlisted for UK awards including the Costa, Waterstones Prize, Branford Boase, UKLA and Lollies, and her books have been selected as Waterstones Book of the Month, the Times Book of the Year and Sunday Times Book of the Week. This is her YA debut.