The King is Dead

Product Information

This book needs a Netflix adaptation and a sequel, like, yesterday, and it hasn’t even been released yet!!!! When Abel Miller’s brother dies, he is determined to find the real answer - this was no accident. So juggling his Hollywood role & answering to a journalist on speed dial, Abel makes it his mission to expose the TV industry and make them pay as revenge for his brother’s murder. There's a lot of drama in this read and I had to remind myself that James was only 17 and his flitting between attraction, allegiances and risky outings was due to his immaturity. I had to fully suspend realism to get behind this story. I could really see some mirroring in some of the current royal family and racism they've experienced and how Jame's position was viewed by the public and press. I wish the book had focused more on those elements instead of the mystery. There were a few themes and passages that felt repetitive, and I wanted the author to explore the wider royal family and palace intrigue. This would have benefited from multiple POVs, following several members of the family, each receiving their own mysterious notes and desperately trying to conceal their secrets. The romance plot, with multiple love interests, was a little confusing, and the resolution at the end didn’t feel warranted. The bones are there, and if expanded slightly, this could be a brilliant, powerful novel. Nonetheless, if you look beyond those things, this is a light-hearted, fun mystery.

The King is Dead By Benjamin Dean - Google Groups (Read Online) The King is Dead By Benjamin Dean - Google Groups

When it comes to the mystery aspect, I was definitely more engaged towards the last 25% of the book when things are in full swing. So many secrets come to light as well as betrayal after betrayal. ⁣⁣Abel Miller is hired to be one of the new stars, but he has a secret; Abel isn’t just there to act, he’s there to investigate the death of the crew member, his brother, and to expose the Omnificent production company for being complicit. the romance archs were weird. there were too many side characters that werent properly fleshed out. the ending was open and fell flat.

The King Is Dead by Benjamin Dean | Goodreads

I knew who was going to be the bad guy a little before it was revealed (woohoo! Go me!) but there was more depth to the anger than I had thought. It’s always good when you don’t see something coming in a mystery and this one had that. Imagine your boyfriend disappearing. Imagine another boy who you had a crush on for a long time, showing interest. Imagine being told that you can trust no one. Not even your twin, other family members, and dear friends. And you’re still seventeen. Everyone believes that Salil Singh killed his girlfriend, Andrea Bell, five years ago—except Pippa Fitz-Amobi. I had really high hopes for this one, but it just fell so flat. The beginning is really slow, the characters are unbelievable, and the twist is predictable. The only thing I read before starting was “queer king.” That was all I needed to sell me so I went in mostly blind!

I don’t think I’ve ever used this word in a review to describe my thoughts, but this book was dope! I loved the themes this book covered, and it was well done. Unfortunately, it took me a little longer to get through than I would have liked, but that’s on me… not the author. This was not a bad book, let me start with that. It’s a solid read and one that I did, on the whole, like reading. There were sympathetic characters and a good mystery. I found myself often questioning just where it was going and I was actually surprised by the twist at the end. It was a decent book.

The King is Dead by Benjamin Dean (Paperback) – Queer Lit The King is Dead by Benjamin Dean (Paperback) – Queer Lit

Ultimately, though, this was a fun queer read exploring double standards and the treatment of people of colour in the public eye, with heaps of family secrets and drama. It’s out now in the UK so let me know what you think if you grab a copy! A compelling thriller that stays with you long after you've finished reading.' Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die FirstA scandalous, twisty mystery that had me on the edge of my seat gasping for more.' Kate Weston, author of Diary of a Confused Feminist i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating. How To Die Famous, is Benjamin Dean’s second YA novel, and a queer mystery which will have you on the edge of your seat, with so many twists and turns that even if you predict five of the twists there’ll be five more which will surprise you! From award-winning author Benjamin Dean comes a deliciously dark and addictive YA thriller following the lives of Gen Z’s rich and famous through the lens of an undercover teen journalist. Perfect for fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and One of Us is Lying. A scandalous peek behind the royal curtain, with more jaw-dropping, OMG-twists than even the most salacious tabloid journalist could create.’ Erik J. Brown, author of All That's Left in the World