Fame, Family, and Fatal Secrets
A Five-Star Review of Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson
Jennifer Pearson makes an unforgettable entrance into the young adult thriller world with Drop Dead Famous, published by Sarah Barley Books. Released on May 5, 2026, this fast-paced mystery combines celebrity culture, complicated family relationships, friendship, humor, and murder in a story that hooked me from the very first page and never let go.
Thank you to Sara Barley Books, Simon & Schuster, and the author for the book and my honest review!
Superstar Blair Baker is preparing for a triumphant homecoming concert when she is murdered only moments before she is supposed to take the stage. Her younger sister, Stevie, is determined to discover who killed Blair, even if searching for the truth puts her in danger.
This is not the first time Stevie has desperately searched for answers after someone she loves was hurt. She was younger then and unable to uncover the truth, but now she refuses to let another mystery remain unsolved. As Stevie investigates Blair’s death, she is pulled deeper into the darker side of fame and begins discovering secrets much closer to home. Someone wants those secrets to stay hidden—and they may be willing to do anything to stop Stevie from exposing them.
From that premise alone, I knew Drop Dead Famous would be my kind of book. What I did not expect was how completely invested I would become in Stevie, her investigation, and the people she meets along the way.
Stevie is a compelling main character because her determination comes from such a personal and emotional place. She is not investigating a random crime or chasing attention. Blair was her sister, and Stevie needs to understand what happened to her. That grief gives the mystery real weight. Even when Stevie takes risks, her choices make sense because readers understand how much she has already lost and how desperately she needs answers.
The investigation also forces her to look beyond Blair’s polished public image. To millions of fans, Blair was an international superstar. To Stevie, she was a sister with flaws, secrets, and relationships that the public knew nothing about. I loved the way the story explored the difference between a celebrity’s carefully managed image and the complicated human being behind it.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the friendship Stevie forms with Colby, a die-hard fan of Blair. Colby easily became my favorite character. She brings so much personality and humor to the story, especially through her quirky comments and memorable behavior. Her ability to run in cowboy boots deserves recognition all by itself! Those small details made her feel fun, distinctive, and completely real.
Stevie and Colby also make an excellent investigative pair. Colby’s enthusiasm and knowledge of Blair’s career give her a different perspective, while Stevie understands the personal side of Blair’s life. Their friendship adds warmth and energy to a story built around grief and danger. I loved watching their partnership develop as they followed clues, questioned what they thought they knew, and moved closer to the truth.
The mystery itself is incredibly well constructed. Every time I thought I might have figured something out, another discovery made me reconsider my theory. The story kept moving without feeling rushed, and the clues were scattered throughout the book in a way that made me want to pay attention to every conversation and suspicious detail.
Pearson also balances the suspense with humor and emotion. The funny exchanges never take away from the seriousness of Blair’s murder. Instead, they give the characters—and the reader—a moment to breathe before the tension builds again. That balance helped make the story feel like more than a standard whodunit. It is a mystery, but it is also a story about grief, trust, family, friendship, and the cost of living in the public eye.
And then there is the ending.
Without revealing anything that could spoil the experience, I will say that I loved the twist involving the identity of Blair’s killer. The revelation about Blair’s secret—and the way that secret connects to the reason she was killed—was shocking and satisfying. It made me mentally revisit earlier moments and clues, which is exactly what I want from a great mystery.
The ending did not feel as though it came out of nowhere simply to surprise readers. Once the truth was revealed, the pieces began falling into place. I wish I could say more, but this is definitely a book best enjoyed without knowing too much beforehand.
Jennifer Pearson is a former teacher who lives in northeast England with her husband and two sons. She has written several middle-grade novels under the name Jenny Pearson and has received recognition from the Costa Children’s Book Award, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards. Drop Dead Famous is her young adult debut, and the press release also notes that a sequel featuring a new murder investigation is planned for summer 2027.
Overall, I loved everything about this book. The characters were entertaining, the emotional stakes felt genuine, the mystery kept me guessing, and the final twists delivered exactly the kind of surprise I was hoping for. Stevie and Colby are a fantastic duo, and I would happily follow them into another investigation.
Drop Dead Famous hooked me from the first page and kept me reading all the way to the end. Fans of fast-paced YA mysteries, celebrity-centered thrillers, strong friendships, family secrets, and shocking revelations should add this one to their reading lists.
Five stars all the way! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the book:
An investigation turns into an obsession when the younger sister of a slain pop star is determined to uncover her sister’s killer, no matter the cost, in this “tense and intricately plotted thriller” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
When superstar Blair Baker is murdered moments before her triumphant homecoming concert, her younger sister, Stevie, knows she has one chance to find out who’s responsible.
The thing is, Stevie’s been here before, desperately searching for clues that might reveal who hurt someone she loves…but Stevie was younger then, just a kid. This time, she won’t let the truth slip through her fingers.
What begins as a search for answers about Blair’s death turns into a dangerous journey through the darker side of global fame. Soon, Stevie begins to uncover dark secrets closer to home—secrets that someone wants desperately to keep hidden. Is Stevie ready to confront what the truth reveals?
Meet the author:
Jennifer Pearson is a former teacher and author who lives in the northeast of England with two energetic boys and her somewhat energetic husband. She’s the author of several middle-grade novels, writing as Jenny Pearson, and has been short-listed for the Costa Children’s Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and was the winner of the Lollies (Laugh Out Loud Book Awards). When she’s not writing, Jenny can either be found doing something sporty or binge-watching true crime documentaries while eating astounding quantities of cheese.