Like a Sister

Review\n“Kellye Garrett is impressive on paper and, in conversation, a force of nature… [Like a Sister is a] briskly plotted, socially astute new thriller.”―The Los Angeles Times\n"A mystery that has everything I love most about the genre: an intriguing set up; an absorbing storyline that kept me guessing; a satisfying ending; and most of all, incredibly well developed characters that I kept thinking about long after I finished the book. I want everyone I know to read it so we can talk about it.’”―Jasmine Guillory, The Today Show\n"Kellye Garrett, a break-out star in crime fiction since her debut, has upped the ante with her latest, Like a Sister. A traditional mystery set in the world of reality television and Instagram influencers, it is equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family. I'm happy to know that Kellye Garrett is just getting started. I can't wait to see what she does next."―Laura Lippman, New York Times bestselling author of Lady in the Lake\n"This juicy and twisty mystery will be impossible to put down whether you read it while lounging on the sand or curling up in an air-conditioned room this summer.” 
―Oxygen, July Book Club Pick\n"Lights, camera, corpse . . . Garrett’s taut novel dishes up the glitz of the haves and the struggles of the have-nots in a New York cleaved along lines of race and class, infusing classic noir storytelling with Big Apple glamor and buzzy texts and tweets—#pageturner."―Oprah Daily\n“Noir for the media-struck generation . . . Character and voice mesh with Like a Sister's explorations of race, class and family in an arresting combination.”―NPR.org\n“Delivers a heady mixture of secrets, red herrings and shadows, told by a narrator who instantly becomes a friend you root for…Though this is a dark, thriller-adjacent tale, spending time with Lena is a pleasure.”―The Seattle Times\n"While the plot has its fair share of twists and turns, Lena’s voice makes the novel shine. She alternates between interrogating suspects in her 'Super Black Woman Cape,' and making funny observations about music, reality TV, and more. Lena’s wit plus a packed plot will grab and hold your attention." 
―Time Magazine\n"Brimming with suspense and wit, Like a Sister is a tense, twisting mystery that explores the complex bonds within family and the elusive nature of truth. Smart, sharp, and completely engrossing—an absolutely can’t-put-it-down read!"―Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and Such a Quiet Place\n“In addition to creating a satisfying, twisty mystery and eloquently depicting the complexity of family relationships, Garrett explores racial identity, privilege, and discrimination as an organic part of the novel, with a deft, often funny touch. Here’s hoping to see more of Lena.”―Library Journal (starred review)\n“A crackling domestic suspense that has you turning the pages to see what happens next. . . . The novel explores difficult family dynamics, interrogates class and race, dismantles the 'Strong Black Woman' fallacy, and highlights a search for justice that Black women are often denied. These elements are carefully layered into a suspenseful and voicey narrative with a heroine you're rooting for from page one. Garrett's wry humor, attention to detail, and deft pacing are a tension wire pulled taut against the compelling mystery driving the novel; Like A Sister is one of those books that's best prepared for ahead of time, because once you pick it up, it will be difficult to put down.”―Alyssa Cole, Entertainment Weekly\n“Like a Sister is one of those reads whose tight plotting and suspenseful pacing might tempt you to rush to its twisty end, but take your time and enjoy the ride as Kellye Garrett fills these pages with humor, heart, and whip-smart insights into class, race, family, and our contemporary media culture. Garrett deserves every bit of praise Like a Sister is certain to earn.”―Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling

Literature & Fiction

Garrett, Kellye

United States

Mulholland Books

In this "crackling domestic suspense" filled with "wry humor and deft pacing" (Alyssa Cole), no one bats an eye when a Black reality TV star is found dead—except her estranged half-sister, whose refusal to believe the official story leads her on a dangerous search for the truth.\nEdgar Award Finalist for Best Novel • Anthony Award winner for Best Hardcover Novel • Lefty Award winner for Best Mystery Novel • A Book of the Month Club Pick • An Oxygen Book Club Pick • A Today Show Spring Fiction Pick • A New York Post Best New Book of the Week • A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year • A South Florida Sun-Sentinel Best Mystery of the Year • A CrimeReads Best Psychological Thriller of the Year\n“A mystery that has everything I love most: an intriguing set up; an absorbing storyline that kept me guessing; a satisfying ending; and, most of all, incredibly well-developed characters I kept thinking about long after I finished the book.” ―Jasmine Guillory, Today Show\n“I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she’d died from the New York Daily News.”\nWhen the body of reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her twenty-fifth birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose. A tragedy, certainly, but not a crime.\nYet Columbia grad student Lena—principled, headstrong, and allergic to the spotlight—knows that can’t be the case. Despite the bitter truth that the two hadn’t spoken in two years, they were half-sisters. Lena knew Desiree. And Desiree would never travel above 125th Street. Something is very wrong with the facts. So why is no one listening?\nWhile the two sisters had been torn apart by Desiree’s partying and by their difficult father, Lena becomes determined to find justice for Desiree. Even if that means untangling her family’s darkest secrets—or ending up dead herself.\n“A briskly plotted, socially astute thriller.” ―Los Angeles Times\n“Equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family.” —Laura Lippman\n“Dishes up the glitz of the haves and the struggles of the have-nots, infusing classic noir storytelling with Big Apple glamour—#pageturner.” —Oprah Daily\n“A twisty murder mystery with nuance and heart.” ―BookPage\n“Noir for the media-struck generation...Original and witty.” ―National Public Radio

Missing White Woman

Winner of the 2018 Anthony Award for Best First Novel Winner of the 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel Also a Lefty Award Winner and a Barry Award-Nominated Title The Surprise Hit of the Season! Actress Dayna Anderson's Deadly New Role: Homicide Detective Dayna Anderson doesn't set out to solve a murder. All the semifamous, mega-broke actress wants is to help her parents keep their house. So after witnessing a deadly hit-and-run, she pursues the fifteen grand reward. But Dayna soon finds herself doing a full-on investigation, wanting more than just money―she wants justice for the victim. She chases down leads at paparazzi hot spots, celeb homes, and movie premieres, loving every second of it―until someone tries to kill her. And there are no second takes in real life. Praise: "[A] winning first novel and series launch…Garrett writes with humor and insight about the Hollywood scene. Readers will look forward to Day's further adventures."―Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A smart, sassy debut, introducing an appealing protagonist with amusing friends."―Library Journal (starred review) and Debut of the Month "Veteran TV writer Garrett uses her Cold Case experience to inform her debut, which sets up more than one charming character and isn't afraid to go cynical on all things LA."―Kirkus Reviews "Funny, lively characters populate this new Detective by Day series…this will be an entertaining entry into the amateur sleuth genre."―RT Book Reviews "Fun, smart, endearingly flawed, and impressively determined, Dayna Anderson is a heroine readers will fall in love with…I relished every unexpected twist and turn of this highly entertaining mystery!"―Kyra Davis, New York Times bestselling author

Hollywood Homicide (A Detective by Day Mystery, 1)

Midnight Ink

And the award goes to... ...Dayna Anderson, the semi-famous actress turned PI who steps up her sleuthing swagger in this follow-up to breakout hit Hollywood Homicide, winner of the Lefty Award and the Agatha Award for Best First Novel! Tinseltown's awards season is in full swing, and everyone is obsessed with dressing up, scoring free swag, and getting invited to the biggest awards shows of the year. But when celebrity publicist Lyla Davis is killed, the festive mood comes to an abrupt halt. Apprentice private eye Dayna Anderson thinks she's uncovered the killer. Unfortunately, what starts as an open-and-shut case turns out to be anything but. Diving deeper into the investigation, Dayna gets a backstage look at gossip blogging, Hollywood royalty, and one of entertainment's most respected awards shows―all while trying to avoid her own Hollywood ending. Praise for Hollywood Ending: A 2019 Lefty Award Nominee Named Best of 2018 by Suspense Magazine "Garrett continues to build an appealingly quirky crime-solving team."―Kirkus Reviews "Garrett, who wrote for TV's Cold Case, brings a smart insider's view of contemporary Hollywood to this lighthearted series."―Publishers Weekly "Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will feel right at home."―Library Journal "Day's funny and determined, the sort of woman who really WOULD make a wisecrack when faced with danger."―Donna Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of the Meg Langslow series "Kellye Garrett's Hollywood Ending glitters with stardust. A fun, fast-paced mystery, it's definitely an A-lister."―Elaine Viets, author of the Dead-End Job mysteries "Fasten your seatbelts. A star is born!"―Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters mysteries "An entertaining whodunit that provides readers a peek behind Hollywood's star-studded curtain."―Diane Kelly, award-winning author Praise for Hollywood Homicide: Winner of the 2018 Agatha Award for Best First Novel Winner of the 2018 Anthony Award for Best First Novel Winner of the 2018 Lefty Award for Best Debut Winner of the 2018 IPPY Gold Medal for Best First Book "[A] winning first novel and series launch…Garrett writes with humor and insight about the Hollywood scene."―Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A smart, sassy debut."―Library Journal (starred review) and Debut of the Month "Veteran TV writer Garrett uses her Cold Case experience to inform her debut, which sets up more than one charming character and isn't afraid to go cynical on all things LA."―Kirkus Reviews "Funny, lively characters populate this new Detective by Day series."―RT Book Reviews "Dayna Anderson is a heroine readers will fall in love with."―Kyra Davis, New York Times bestselling author "A non-stop, fun read with humor sharp as a stiletto heel."―Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author "Toss in a hit-and-run, a steep reward, and more one-liners than a Marx Brothers marathon and you've got Hollywood Homicide."―Catriona McPherson, Agatha Award-winning author "Has a heart as big as Los Angeles."―Rachel Howzell Hall, author of the LAPD Detective Elouise Norton series "Garrett has written a novel with great voice, characters, hilarious moments, and a lot of Hollywood."―BookRiot

Hollywood Ending (A Detective by Day Mystery, 2)

Missing White Woman: A Novel

Thorndike Press Large Print

Hollywood Homicide (A Detective by Day Mystery)

Hollywood Ending (A Detective by Day Mystery)

A twisty, voice-driven thriller for fans of Megan Miranda and Jessica Knoll, in which no one bats an eye when a Black reality TV star is found dead in the Bronx--except her estranged half-sister, whose refusal to believe the official story leads her on a dangerous search for the truth. When the body of disgraced reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her 25th birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose. It's a tragedy, certainly, but not a crime. But Desiree's half-sister Lena Scott knows that can't be the case. A graduate student at Columbia, Lena has spent the past decade forging her own path far from the spotlight, but some facts about Desiree just couldn't have changed since their childhood. And Desiree would never travel above 125th Street. So why is no one listening to her? Despite the bitter truth that the two haven't spoken in two years, torn apart by Desiree's partying and by their father, Mel, a wealthy and influential hip-hop mogul, Lena becomes determined to find justice for her sister, even if it means untangling her family's darkest secrets--or ending up dead herself.

Like a Sister (Thorndike Press Large Print Black Voices)

In this issue, pioneering TV writer and producer April Kelly opens with a wicked story that may remind you to pay attention to what you eat. Brendan DuBois appears with the story of an assassination and its aftermath—from the killer’s point of view. Ray Daniel &amp; Kellye Garrett team up with a story that brings together characters from their own series. Our feature is by Walter Satterthwait, who comes at us with his first new story in a while. The lead character, Fallon, helps—in his own way—solve a murder at a monastery. Edgar Award-winning author Sylvia Maultash Warsh brings us a piece about deception in the world of art, and we welcome Benjamin Boulden back with his second story for us. Robb T. White returns following his Best Mystery Stories of 2019 entry in our pages, and Dane F. Baylis, Richard Prosch and Richard Risemberg debut in our magazine with some of the most entertaining crime fiction you’ll find.

Down and Out the Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 1

DuBois, Brendan

Ollerman, Rick

Daniel, Ray

White, Robb T.

Warsh, Sylvia Maultash

Satterthwait, Walter

Kelly, April

Boulden, Benjamin

Baylis, Dane F.

Short Stories & Anthologies

Down & Out Books

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Books by Garrett, Kellye