The Debutantes
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Jessica Goodman meets The Agathas in this taut, twisty YA thriller set in the glittering world of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where secrets--and bodies--never stay buried.
For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the social event of the season—if they can avoid another dead Queen. When debutante Margot Landry was found dead the morning after her reign at last year’s ball, it was a tragedy, but not a shocking one. Margot was a wild child with a self-destructive streak, nothing like this year’s Queen, Lily LeBlanc. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan…until the ball is hijacked by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court—her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy—asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up.
On the surface, these three debutantes don’t have anything in common except their exclusive private school and their ties to Les Masques. But soon, they realize why Lily brought them together: something dark is lurking beneath the glamorous surface of the debutante world, and it might be the reason she disappeared. And the further the girls dig, the more they begin to suspect that Margot's death may not have been an accident—and that Lily may be next. When the Jester starts threatening to expose their own secrets, this unlikely trio must team up to uncover the monsters behind the Mardi Gras masks—before they’re left with another dead debutante.
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Community Reviews
The story kicks off with Lily LeBlanc, the reigning queen, summoning her court: her best friend Vivian, her boyfriend's sister Piper, and her old frenemy April. The trio is thrust into a tangled web of secrets and danger when Lily vanishes, and the mysterious Jester starts unveiling truths that the elite would rather keep hidden. The setting is lush, the stakes are high, and the suspense is palpable.
The book’s strengths lie in its ability to build tension and create an atmosphere dripping with Southern Gothic charm. The twists and turns will keep you guessing, and the ultimate reveal is satisfying, if not a bit predictable for seasoned thriller fans.
Now, for the not-so-glamorous bits. Keeping track of the characters felt like a Mardi Gras parade—colorful but chaotic. With multiple POVs and a host of side characters, it was sometimes hard to remember who was scheming against whom. And while the trio of Vivian, Piper, and April each bring something unique to the table, their voices occasionally blur together in the whirlwind of plot twists and masked ball drama.
This book is a wild tour through the glittering, treacherous world of New Orleans' elite, perfect for those who love their thrillers with a side of Mardi Gras mystique. This book promises a tantalizing mix of high society drama and dark secrets, and for the most part, it delivers. With its premise of debutantes, dead queens, and a mysterious Jester throwing the biggest party of the year into chaos, it's hard not to get sucked in.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for this review copy!
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