The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
on January 31, 2023
ISBN: 0593568540
Genres: Mystery, Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

High school senior Nova is her high school’s first Black Homecoming Queen, and her polarizing coronation quickly becomes a tragedy when she is found murdered after the Homecoming dance. The top suspect is Tinsley McArthur, a popular white student who has made no secret of her resentment of Nova. Can Duchess, Nova’s best friend, prove Tinsley did it? Tinsley is adamant that while being guilty of terrible behavior, she is innocent of murder. What if she’s telling the truth?

Told in the alternating points of view of Duchess and Tinsley, the twists and turns in The Black Queen make it super readable and hard to put down. The story is tight and fair to its characters and it works well that we get to know Nova a bit before she is killed. It manages to incorporate a surprising number of racial, sexual, and social issues. The one drawback is the dialog sometimes feels forced and unnatural. Suggest it to fans of Riverdale or contemporary thrillers or mysteries.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath