Murder for the Modern Girl - by Kendall Kulper

About the Book

"In 1928 Chicago, eighteen-year-old Ruby, daughter of the state attorney, uses her ability to read minds as a vigilante to hunt down murderers and kill them even if they have not yet committed the crime; Guy works in the morgue, and wants to understand the human body, because maybe then he will learn how it is that he is able to shapeshift into other people--something Ruby plans to use because someone is out to get her father and she is pretty sure it is the police, not the gangsters."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.

A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder.

A soft-spoken genius toils away in the city morgue, desperate to unearth the science behind his gift for shapeshifting.

It's a match made in 1928 Chicago, where gangsters run City Hall, jazz fills the air, and every good girl's purse conceals a flask.

Until now, eighteen-year-old Ruby's penchant for poison has been a secret. No one knows that she uses her mind-reading abilities to target men who prey on vulnerable women, men who escape the clutches of Chicago "justice." When she meets a brilliant boy working at the morgue, his knack for forensic detail threatens to uncover her dark hobby. Even more unfortunately: sharp, independent Ruby has fallen in love with him.

Waltzing between a supernaturally enhanced romance, the battle to take down a gentleman's club, and loyal friendships worth their weight in diamonds, Ruby brings defiant charm to every page of Murder for the Modern Girl--not to mention killer fashion. An irresistible caper perfect for fans of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, in an exquisite hardcover package with rose-gold foil.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Named to the Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice List

Review Quotes

★ "An exciting, slightly supernatural romp through the glitzy, glamorous Chicago of the Roaring Twenties. . . . Kendall Kulper (Salt & Storm) upends the conventions of a traditional noir caper with a story of a femme fatale heroine who kills to protect vulnerable women. . . . Guy is a romantic lead who embodies non-toxic masculinity; his relationship with Ruby is both swoon-worthy and built upon mutual respect. Fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners series should enjoy this feminist and fantasy-tinged historical mystery."--Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

★ "This supernatural noir thriller is serving up the very best the genre has to offer: unsavory characters, dark humor, sordid secrets, and an intrepid femme fatale anti-heroine who charms as a red-headed, murderous flapper version of Legally Blonde's Elle Woods. . . . The historical world-building is immersive, with the slang-filled narration and dialogue being a highlight. . . . The gripping plot escalates with the thrills, culminating in a violent whirlwind of a happy ending."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review

"An effervescent champagne cocktail of a novel that packs a delightful punch."--Booklist

"Noir turned merrily upside down."--Kirkus Reviews

"An interesting blend of historical fiction, crime drama, and fantasy, steeped in danger and scheming."--School Library Journal

"As the bodies pile up, readers will be breathless to witness the final showdown. Fast-paced; glamorously chaotic; and, with its grisly undertones, somewhat uncomfortably unforgettable."--The Horn Book

"Kulper (the Salt & Storm series) delivers a glitzy, adrenaline-fueled crime novel brimming with formidable women."--Publishers Weekly

"An engaging, page-turning mystery that crackles with the wit and shimmering style of the 1920s. Shiny and dark, funny and grim, and populated by lovable, charming characters that leap off the page, grab you by the hand, and lead you onto the dance floor. The most fun book about murder you'll ever read." --Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

"Kendall Kulper's whip-smart romp through 1920s Chicago has it all--mystery, romance, a killer wardrobe, and a vibrant cast headlined by the indomitable, irresistible Ruby Newhouse. A deliciously dazzling page-turner you'll devour in one sitting." --Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn

"A devilishly plotted page-turner that sparkles with wit and romance. Murder and mayhem have never been so fun!" --Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician

About the Author

Kendall Kulper is an author living in Cambridge, MA. She writes historical fantasy for young adult readers, including Murder for the Modern Girl (JLG Gold Standard Selection, Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award Selection, and Rise: Feminist Book Project Selection) and A Starlet's Secret to a Sensational Afterlife (JLG Gold Standard Selection and Bank Street Best Book of the Year). She graduated from Harvard University with an honors degree in History & Literature and lives with her husband, two daughters, and much-Instagrammed dog, Abby. Visit her online at kendallkulper.com and @kendallkulper