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Who Killed Peggy Sue? #1
Dying to Win
As four different girls--Lacey Pinkerton, Raven Cruz, Kiki De Santis, and April Lovewell--compete for the title of Miss Peggy Sue at Paradiso High's Peach Blossom Festival, no one realizes that the winner will pay with her life
- GenresYoung AdultMystery
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
33 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Goudge
106books659followersI began writing at the age of eight and wrote my way through the lean years before I found success as New York Times' bestselling author with my first novel GARDEN OF LIES. To date I have published 19 novels and a cookbook. Every life experience I've weathered has found its way into my novels in one form or another: bad exes, births, deaths, divorces, romances, and even true crime. My heroines are like me: tough cookies who don't crumble.
My latest novel, Book One of my Gold Creek series, ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW, is the story of a woman fleeing her abusive ex who finds refuge in a small California mountain town, where she's befriended by a group of women who call themselves The Tattooed Ladies and reinvents herself as a police sketch artist. Kyra "draws lines to stop crimes," as they say in the biz, never imagining she'll one day be forced to confront the biggest criminal of all: her ex.
I'm married to former entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon and the mother of two grown children. We live in Sacramento, California, where we remodeled a 1940's house for which I was the on-site project manager. Fortunately, multi-tasking is my superpower, so I was able to write a book and supervise a home remodel at the same time. The latter is sure to find its way into a future book. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see pics of my home remodel and other adventures.
My latest novel, Book One of my Gold Creek series, ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW, is the story of a woman fleeing her abusive ex who finds refuge in a small California mountain town, where she's befriended by a group of women who call themselves The Tattooed Ladies and reinvents herself as a police sketch artist. Kyra "draws lines to stop crimes," as they say in the biz, never imagining she'll one day be forced to confront the biggest criminal of all: her ex.
I'm married to former entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon and the mother of two grown children. We live in Sacramento, California, where we remodeled a 1940's house for which I was the on-site project manager. Fortunately, multi-tasking is my superpower, so I was able to write a book and supervise a home remodel at the same time. The latter is sure to find its way into a future book. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see pics of my home remodel and other adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 15, 2018
Somehow this little gem eluded me back in the �90s when I was buying every teen thriller being published. I went in with low expectations which could explain why I enjoyed it so much, hence the five stars. The answer to the title’s question is kept a secret til nearly the final page (and yes, I was still surprised). All four of the lead characters are interesting (certainly not stereotypes as I was expecting them to be), and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 18, 2022
I think the titillation of the title is what made this a must-read book passed around my later elementary school. Right in the title: "KILLED"! We all needed to know.
And the book is set up in an exciting way. The first chapter reveals the unnamed dead body of one of the Peach Blossom Queen candidates—the aforementioned Peggy Sue—and it all kicks off from there.
All 4 nominated girls have secrets and could be the killer *or* the victim. An interesting start to this short series!
And the book is set up in an exciting way. The first chapter reveals the unnamed dead body of one of the Peach Blossom Queen candidates—the aforementioned Peggy Sue—and it all kicks off from there.
All 4 nominated girls have secrets and could be the killer *or* the victim. An interesting start to this short series!
April 7, 2022
So ridiculous, I love it.
December 10, 2013
Read this when I was young and have great memory of enjoyment of all in the Who Killed Peggy Sue series.
December 17, 2022
Read this series when it first came out in 1991.
Remember how this was one of the big series that transitioned me from Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew. My love for a good murder mystery started young and this series really helped ignite that love even more.
I remember having to wait for each new book to come out to continue the story and when I came across my original copies in a old box while cleaning the garage so many memories came back.
Even though I’m in my 40’s I enjoyed rereading this first book of the series and will read the rest in the coming weeks.
Easy read with lots of suspense and red herrings to throw you off, this is an enjoyable read for younger and older readers who love a good who done it.
And as I don’t remember who did from my original read through in the early 90’s I’m excited to find out once again, Who Killed Peggy Sue?
Remember how this was one of the big series that transitioned me from Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew. My love for a good murder mystery started young and this series really helped ignite that love even more.
I remember having to wait for each new book to come out to continue the story and when I came across my original copies in a old box while cleaning the garage so many memories came back.
Even though I’m in my 40’s I enjoyed rereading this first book of the series and will read the rest in the coming weeks.
Easy read with lots of suspense and red herrings to throw you off, this is an enjoyable read for younger and older readers who love a good who done it.
And as I don’t remember who did from my original read through in the early 90’s I’m excited to find out once again, Who Killed Peggy Sue?
October 29, 2023
I remember reading this series when it first came out but I could only recall that one of the girls was very racist.
So four girls are dying to be Pretty Peggy Sue in a town where the radio station apparently only plays 50s tunes, so there's this weird timelessness going on.
There's a scandal about scrublands (very reminiscent of Double Love) and there's an abusive father, and a pregnancy.
It's not the best writing but it is engaging
So four girls are dying to be Pretty Peggy Sue in a town where the radio station apparently only plays 50s tunes, so there's this weird timelessness going on.
There's a scandal about scrublands (very reminiscent of Double Love) and there's an abusive father, and a pregnancy.
It's not the best writing but it is engaging
April 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this. A bit grittier than some of the traditional YA of the era, with some fun characters and a genuinely sad, shocking ending. Really interested to read the next one.
December 5, 2024
This one was weird.
2.5/5⭐️
2.5/5⭐️
March 13, 2025
read this book 10+ years ago for the first time. They re-released the entire series and was able to find it on libby. STILL ASS GOOD AS THE FIRST TIME.
now i can finally know what happens next!!!
now i can finally know what happens next!!!
March 25, 2025
Five Stars. That's all I have to say
January 27, 2011
I like this book!!!!!!!
Enjoyable, exciting, unpredictable story.
This book turns out to be continued, so I think I have to find the other books in the series!!!
Enjoyable, exciting, unpredictable story.
This book turns out to be continued, so I think I have to find the other books in the series!!!
December 4, 2016
Read this series in my manga rental site (pretty rare non-asian, non-famous books there). Enjoyed it very much, but as they didn't have the last book I didn't get to know the ending.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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