The Debutantes: A Novel (Paperback)

Description

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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.

About the Author

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Olivia Worley is an author born and raised in New Orleans. A graduate of Northwestern University, she now lives in New York City, where she spends her time writing thrillers, overanalyzing episodes of The Bachelor, and hoping someone will romanticize her for reading on the subway. People to Follow is her debut novel.

Praise For…

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Praise for The Debutantes:

“A fascinating peek into the world of New Orleans debutante culture and the girls born into it. With a range of personalities, the girls we follow find themselves in a dark web of danger surrounding the mystery of a missing debutante. Compulsive and page-turning, this will keep you up late, biting your nails over the fates of these girls caught in a patriarchal stranglehold in the depths of upper-class New Orleans. What’s been happening for generations is still being done, but the girls are fighting back!” —Wendy Heard, author of She’s Too Pretty To Burn

"A fast-paced thriller set in New Orleans debutante culture.. a tense, page-turning read." - School Library Journal

Praise for People to Follow:

“Part dizzyingly fast-paced thriller, part wickedly incisive social commentary, there's never a dull moment in this well-characterized debut. Hole up, unplug, and keep the lights on.” –Booklist

“[With] lightning-quick pacing and savvy twists, and through four shifting perspectives, Worley notably considers social media fame’s impact on both the content creator and their following.” –Publishers Weekly

“Mysteries unravel and secrets spill in this Gen Z thriller.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Agatha Christie meets TikTok... a wicked, juicy page-turner.” –Alexa Donne, author of The Ivies and Pretty Dead Queens

“A classic whodunnit for the TikTok era [with] a jaw dropping twist that will shock even diehard Christie fans. Meticulously plotted and flawlessly executed.” -Dana Mele, author of People Like Us and Summer’s Edge

“Voicey, vibrant, and utterly addictive...with the intensity of a locked-room thriller and the juicy drama of reality TV, this page-turner is as propulsive as it is timely.” –Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of All Eyes on Her and Last Girl Lied To

“A bold, thrilling, darkly delicious examination of influencer culture and its pitfalls...Worley is an author to follow.” - Katie Zhao, author of How We Fall Apart

"An intricately woven whodunit that kept me guessing till the very end. Twisty, sordid, thrilling-- I loved it!" --Goldy Moldavsky, New York Times bestselling author of The Mary Shelley Club