Death Prefers Blondes

February 25, 2019
In this action-packed thriller, heiress and party girl “Mad Margo” Manning seems to have it all—clothes, parties, fast cars, and loyal friends. What she doesn’t have is the attention of her father, Harland, who spends time between running his businesses and dealing with a mysterious ailment. Margo attempts to rectify this by organizing heists to steal goods for hire with a team of her best friends, all in drag (code names include Liesl Von Tramp and Dior Galore). She knows how irate Harland would be if she ever got caught. When Harland suddenly dies from mysterious ailments, Margo takes it upon herself to figure out what happened. Using her skills as an art and jewel thief, as well as the expensive, state-of-the-art equipment that only an heiress can afford, Margo and her crew follow the evidence to catch a killer. With a knack for infusing tongue-in-cheek humor into darker subject matters, Roehrig (White Rabbit) effectively creates a likable thief whose actions seem justifiable. Margo’s crew is equally likable, each contending with their own issues, making them relatable despite their less-than-legal hobby. With a nod to Hamlet, Roehrig’s five-act structure keeps the dramatic tension high with cinematic break-in sequences that render this tale ripe for adaptation. Ages 13–up. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.

February 1, 2019

Gr 10 Up-Margo Manning is a privileged socialite by day, and a heist mastermind by night. With her team of four gorgeous drag queens, Margo expertly steals art and jewels from seemingly impenetrable museums and vaults. What started out as a fun way to cure her boredom and rebel, soon became a way of helping the people she loves with the money that they make. Margo and her team are content to continue their heists, funding school tuitions, rehab, and clinics, until they steal priceless czarist jewels from the wrong person. Shortly after that night, where Margo barely escapes with her life, her father dies under mysterious circumstances. Margo is suddenly thrown into a dangerous world of Russian criminals, murderous CEOs, and international intrigue. Roehrig's heist novel is a lengthy and somewhat slow read. However, the cast of characters brings life to the story as they flip, punch, shoot, and kick butt in full drag! Full of steamy LGBTQ and heterosexual romance, this is an enjoyable read, perfect for graduates of Ally Carter's "Heist Society" series. VERDICT A fun action-filled heist story recommended for purchase for large YA collections.-Ariel Birdoff, New York Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 1, 2019
Grades 10-1 *Starred Review* Margo Manning: socialite, heiress . . . art thief? By day, she avoids the paparazzi, who have dubbed her Mad Margo. At night, she dons a platinum wig and commits heists with a group of drag queens. Margo, a consummate planner, eliminates any variables that may get them caught. Still, it's a dangerous game they're playing, and while Margo may not need the money, her friends do: Leif strains to pay the pricey tuition at his dance academy so he doesn't have to return home to his deeply religious parents; mechanic Davon, essentially orphaned, makes ends meet by working at a drag club with his found family; and Margo's best friend, Axel, and his younger brother, Joaquin, struggle to support their sick mother after their father is arrested for embezzlement. When the heist of a lifetime comes their way, the crew find themselves with difficult choices to make. At the same time, Margo is surrounded by upheaval in her father's company, and she'll need all her wiliness to navigate her way out. Roehrig (Last Seen Leaving?, 2016) takes a sharp dive out of thriller territory with this high-stakes adventure. Balancing Oceans 11-level heists, corporate espionage, and gender and sexual identity politics isn't easy, but Roehrig manages it with aplomb, skillfully threading in Hamlet references to boot. Clever, thrilling, and a wildly good time.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)