One Killer Problem - by Justine Pucella Winans (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A darkly funny and thoroughly queer mystery thriller with a touch of camp, for fans of Kara Thomas and Kit Frick by way of Only Murders in the Building.

When Gianna "Gigi" Ricci lands in detention again, she doesn't expect the glorified study hall to be her alibi.

But when she and her friends receive a mysterious email directing them to her favorite teacher, Mr. Ford's, room, they find him lying in a pool of blood. But calling the math teacher's death an accident doesn't add up, and Gigi needs all the help she can get to find the truth. Luckily, she's friends with her high school's Mystery Club, and so with her best friend, Sean, and longtime crush, Mari, Gigi sets out to solve a murder.

But it turns out that murderers are extremely unwilling to be caught, and the deeper Gigi gets in this mystery, the more dangerous things become. Between fending off a murderer, continual flare-ups of her IBS, and her archnemesis turning flirtatious, making it out of junior year is going to be one killer problem.

With a wry, hilarious voice and a main character who is the walking definition of a disaster bi, this book is an ode to cozy mysteries, queer found families, and fighting for the people you love, no matter what.

Can Gigi solve the case before her own life spirals into a YA thriller?

• Amateur Sleuths: Gigi and her high school Mystery Club are on the case, even if they're more used to finding lost locker keys than unmasking a killer.
• Sarcastic Teen Detective: With a severe case of IBS and an even more severe case of not thinking before she speaks, Gigi Ricci is the walking, talking, sleuthing disaster this murder wasn't ready for.
• Nemesis to... Something More?: As if things weren't complicated enough, her archnemesis has suddenly decided junior year is the perfect time to start flirting. Gigi is not equipped to handle this.
• A Found Family of Misfits: With her best friend, longtime crush, and a surprisingly helpful archnemesis, Gigi has the found family she needs to survive high school... and maybe a murderer.

Review Quotes

"A funny, inclusive, and queer whodunit that teens will be dying to read." - School Library Journal

"Voicey and immersive, this witty, fast-paced YA mystery was a one-sitting read. With its cast of lovable, well-rounded characters and emotionally charged mystery, it kept the pages turning long into the night." - Wendy Heard, author of She's too Pretty to Burn and We'll Never Tell

"Somehow both spit-out-your-drink hilarious and surprisingly tenderhearted, the 'killer problem' I had with this book was a total inability to put it down. Gigi Ricci is a stellar protagonist for the ages." - Dahlia Adler, award-winning author of Cool for the Summer and Home Field Advantage

"Gigi's nuanced emotional arc and candid first-person-present narration buoy Winans's inclusive, empowering tale." - Publishers Weekly

"My lawyers will be in touch with Justine Pucella Winans for the damages caused by this book. My abs hurt from laughing, my throat hurts from screaming, and my heart hurts from melting. None of this is okay. Five stars." - Sonora Reyes, National Book Award Finalist and bestselling author of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

"Appealingly wry... A snarky, queer, character-driven twist on cozy mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews

A twisty mystery with crushes, queerness, insecurity, dark humor, and cat puns that will both keep readers guessing and desperate for more adventures with Gigi and her friends. Missing this one would be a cat-astrophe. - Booklist

"This book slays--an emotionally complex and queer cast, an edgy murder, and loads of campy banter. Winans has once again cunningly crafted a laugh-out-loud mystery." - Page Powars, author of The Borrow a Boyfriend Club

"One Killer Problem is a fun, endearing, and delightfully quirky murder mystery, with a sleuth whose hilarious voice leaps off the page and fantastic IBS representation that will make kids living with chronic stomach pain feel SEEN." - Diana Urban, award-winning author of All Your Twisted Secrets

"Punny, thrilling, and oh so charming, One Killer Problem weaves suspense and queer feels into a heart-pounding, laugh-out-loud mystery that proves why Justine Pucella Winans is a must-read name for all queer YA fans." - Emery Lee, award winning author of Meet Cute Diary