Review of Beth Is Dead

In case you don't know (I didn't), this retelling of the Little Women story is in modern times. Yes, I did zero research. I saw Little Women and murder (two of my favorite things) and knew I must have Beth Is Dead. So I was surprised but pleasantly. Read more thoughts abut the book below.

More about Beth Is Dead

When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.

Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.

Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.

Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.

Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.

More about Katie Bernet

Katie Bernet is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of Beth Is Dead. She’s an award-winning creative director and a long-standing member of the DFW Writer’s Workshop. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.

Meet the Author

Website: https://www.katiebernet.com/

Substack: Katie Bernet

Instagram: @katiebernet

Thoughts about Beth Is Dead

True, the Little Women in the original book get up to some mild mischief but they instantly regret it and try to undo things as it was intended to be a morality tale when it was written in 1868. Thankfully, the new Little Women are a lot less perfect. They are up to your average teenage shenanigans in Concord - shrieking declarations of hate, romantic regrets, jealousy, social media drama. And they aren't always sure how to make their way back to their best selves. Or if they want to.

Author Katie Bernet did a fine job of modernizing the four sisters while retaining some of the key characteristics of the original sisters. In this retelling, we get a peek at aspects of the sisters that Alcott left unexplored as they ponder their choices and the choices of their sisters. Each sister has a fascinating story and they all feel very authentic.

What an abundance of murder suspects in the sleepy little town of Concord! And I felt fully invested in so many of them. He MUST be the murder. No, it is DEFINITELY her. Wait... Subplots, twists and red herrings make the possibilities delightfully complicated but Bernet subtly sprinkles enough clues that, when all is revealed, you'll find yourself saying, "Of course! How did I not know it was them all along?"

This novel bounces between the present investigation and key moments in the recent past to help us understand the sisters and their actions. It also gives Beth (who is dead by Page 6) a chance to be a real part of the story. I devoured this book and, even if you have no idea who the March sisters are, if you like murder mysteries, you'll like Beth Is Dead.