This Is Not a Dead Girl Story

Ages 14 And Up, Grades 9 And Up

A dark and powerful mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and true crime podcasts, in which a teen girl must do whatever it takes to find her missing cousin—who everyone else thinks is dead.

Remy Green is missing. Eight days after the death of her boyfriend, River O’Dell, the magnetic, golden-haired girl disappeared in the dead of night.   

Jules Green, Remy’s cousin, is her opposite in every way: awkward, shy, and a bit strange, never feeling at home in the small town of Black Falls, NY. The only place she has ever belonged is with River and Remy. Now she’s on her own—and everyone around her believes that Remy is dead.

But Jules can still hear Remy’s voice in her head, urging her to keep looking. With the help of River’s cousin Sam, a troubled and mysterious boy, Jules starts untangling the truth of what exactly happened. Through her search, Jules must delve into the dark corners of her hometown—unearthing family secrets and hidden truths about the two people she thought she knew most. 

Who was Remy, really, behind the popular-girl façade she wore? What trouble was she involved in? And can Jules find a way to save her from it? Or is this a dead girl story after all?

Story Locale:upstate NY

About the Author

Kate Sweeney was born in Athens, Georgia, and has since lived many places, including Los Angeles, New York, and Salt Lake City. She began writing when she was sixteen. Her father—a novelist and screenwriter—had died five years prior, and in writing she found a way of bringing his voice back to her ears. For the past fifteen years she has resided in the Bay Area, where she spends her time making music with her bands, Magic Magic Roses and July, and working in Education. She is also the author of Catch the Light and This One’s for You.

You can visit Kate Sweeney at KateSweeneyWrites.com or follow her on X and Instagram @KateSweeneyWrites.

Author Residence: El Sobrante, CA (Bay Area)

Author Hometown: Athens, GA; also lived in LA, NYC, Salt Lake City