Where Sleeping Girls Lie

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé Narrated by Natalie Simpson

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

From the bestselling author of Ace of Spades comes a rip-roaring mystery that delves into the world of dark academia. With death at every corner, Sade and her friends have to uncover the harrowing truths of their boarding school in this look into female friendships with a haunting twist.

In Where Sleeping Girls Lie - a YA contemporary mystery by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, the New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades - a girl new to boarding school discovers dark secrets and coverups after her roommate disappears.

It's like I keep stumbling into a dark room, searching for the switch to make things bright again...

Sade Hussein is starting her third year of high school, this time at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school after being home-schooled all her life. Misfortune has been a constant companion all her life, but even Sade doesn't expect her new roommate, Elizabeth, to disappear after Sade's first night. Or for people to think she had something to do with it.

With rumors swirling around her, Sade catches the attention of the girls collectively known as the `Unholy Trinity' and they bring her into their fold. Between learning more about them-especially Persephone, who Sade is inexplicably drawn to-and playing catchup in class, Sade already has so much on her plate. But when it seems people don't care enough about what happened to Elizabeth to really investigate, it's up to she and Elizabeth's best friend to solve it.

And then a student is found dead.

As they keep trying to figure out what's going on, Sade realizes there's more to Alfred Nobel Academy and its students than she thought. Secrets lurk around every corner and beneath every surface...secrets that rival even her own.

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller!

"Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades) presents a powerful look at grief, rape culture, and moving on from loss in this exquisitely crafted paranormal mystery." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a beautifully written coming-of-age mystery that should appeal to fans of Tiffany Jackson, Kara Thomas, and Jumata Emill." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Àbíké-Íyímídé’s sophomore novel captures the spirit of dark academia. . ." —Booklist

"Sade is an easy protagonist to root for. . . the portrayal of kids fighting back against an old-guard, damaging system makes for an undeniably empowering read." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)

"A boarding school mystery that tackles fresh topics. . . " —Kirkus

“Enthralling from the very first page, WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE sinks you into a world flooded with deception and secrets. Unexpected but utterly earned twists and turns lead Sade deeper into this mystery, pulling the reader right alongside her. Àbíké-Íyímídé has expertly constructed a thrilling story anchored by pain and kept afloat by hope.” —Racquel Marie, author of Ophelia After All

“A harrowing mystery about a school festering with rot and a girl ready to walk right into its ugliest depths, with twists that made me gasp out loud. Àbíké-Íyímídé is back with a knife-sharp novel pointed right at the heart of society’s darkest corners.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bears Its Teeth

"Flawless mystery. Where Sleeping Girls Lie builds with riveting intrigue, peeling back the facade of institutions and exposing the tender beating hearts of the girls trying to survive." —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

“Incisive and devastatingly insightful, Àbíké-Íyímídé rends a thriller in which every character is hiding painful secrets from themselves and each other, and true to life, justice is a hard-won thing. Where Sleeping Girls Lie paints an honest portrait of the rage of teenage girls and the catharsis found thereafter.” —Joelle Wellington, author of Their Vicious Games

"Where Sleeping Girls Lie seductively blends the irresistible camp of Mean Girls with the propulsive campus whodunnit of Wednesday and the vigilante thrill of Promising Young Woman. Àbíké-Íyímídé is an incisive force—and a total vibe." —Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

Kirkus Reviews

2024-01-05
A mystery upends a London girl’s attempts to heal her grief-stricken life.

Recently orphaned Sade Hussein, a wealthy Nigerian British Muslim 16-year-old, was home-schooled before she entered the Alfred Nobel Academy, an international boarding school. There she meets Elizabeth Wang, her roommate and “house sibling,” a role describing those assigned to help new students acclimate. Sade soon becomes familiar with the school cliques, including the infamous—and beautiful—Unholy Trinity, comprising Persephone Stuart, Julliette de Silva, and queen bee April Owens (who used to room with Elizabeth). Sade’s new friendship with her roommate is abruptly interrupted when Elizabeth goes missing, and the Unholy Trinity approach Sade, curious about what might have happened. Meanwhile, Sade is investigating with Basil dos Santos, Elizabeth’s best friend, when a music box belonging to the missing girl mysteriously appears on Elizabeth’s bed. When attractive playboy athlete Jude Ripley shows an unwanted interest in Sade, one of her new friendships is negatively affected. Along with dealing with a missing roommate and complicated social dynamics, Sade, who struggles with panic attacks and night terrors, is haunted by a ghost girl, who visits her in regular nightmares and begs her for help. The very large cast, the uneven pacing and characterization, and the presence of several complicated storylines slow down the flow of this ambitious story. The characters are broadly diverse in ethnicity and nationality.

A boarding school mystery that tackles fresh topics but struggles to knit together multiple complex narratives. (content warning) (Mystery. 14-18)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159916815
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	03/19/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

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