Bernet, Katie. Beth is Dead. Sarah Barley Books, 2026. 978-1-665-98869-8. $19.99. 386 p. Grades 7-12.

This modern Little Women-inspired novel follows the March sisters (college freshman Meg, high school senior Jo, and 15-year-old Amy) as they try to figure out who murdered their 17-year-old sister, Meg. Told in multiple perspectives from all four sisters then and now, this fast-paced thriller tells a story where everyone is a suspect. The story begins with their bestselling author father leaving after he publishes a controversial book in which he tells the coming-of-age story about his daughters – violating their privacy and infuriating the family as well as fans of his books, and leaving Beth dead at the end of the novel. When Beth actually is found dead on New Year’s Eve after a party, everyone (including the sisters) is a suspect including Meg’s piano-teaching boyfriend, Beth’s quiet boyfriend Henry Hummel, party host Sallie Gardiner, and Laurie, Jo’s best friend and neighbor to the March’s. The alternating chapters explain personalities and relationships and motives as the story is fleshed out and becomes more clear as the book hurtles to the end.  

THOUGHTS: Students do not need to be familiar with Little Women in order to enjoy and appreciate this fun, suspenseful murder mystery.  Readers who are familiar with the original classic will enjoy the author’s ability to keep the sisters’ character traits and ambitions true to the story and will also recognize names of minor characters from Louisa May Alcott’s book.

Mystery