Your Preview Verdict: Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet

Buy a copy of Beth is Dead here.

Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:

This book is a modern twist on the classic book Little Women. It kept me on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns. Who would have thought the Beth would be found dead in the snow on New Years Day, in the first chapter of the book. Who killed Beth? That’s what her sister are trying to work out. Debbie, 14, VIC, 5 stars

Beth is Dead, what a brilliant modern reimagining of Little Women as a whodunit. From the first sentence to the last, I could not put this book down. I haven’t demolished a book so fast in a long time! Each character’s point of view was so compelling and believable. There were twist and turns that kept me guessing! I loved it and I can’t wait to reread! Sabrina, WA, 5 stars

The March family were all hurt in different ways when their father wrote thinly disguised fiction about their lives and then disappeared when public attention became too intrusive. The tragedy which starts the book hurts them all in a new and horrific way – because Beth is dead. I loved both the way the familiar March girls are reimagined and modernised – Jo, writing for her social media followers! – and how the plot beats from the original story are brought into the murder mystery plot of this one. A delightful and moving story. Celia, QLD, 5 stars

One of the best books I have read. I could not put it done. It kept you guessing to the end. I would definitely read her books again. Sharon, NSW, 5 stars

Remember the March sisters? Imagine Little Women transported to the modern era- enough of the LM Alcott flavour to be nostalgic for those of us who grew up with the classic, but with a current-day vibe that will engage readers who think old classics=fuddy-duddy. It’s a whodunnit, with enough potential suspects to keep you guessing, & some interesting flashbacks from Beth pre-demise (not a spoiler- it’s in the Title!) Young adults will identify with current teen challenges, & older adults/parents appreciate the insight into adolescent perspectives in what at heart is a story about family, friends and love, packaged together in a murder mystery. With the underlying references to classic Little Women, this novel sits ripe for comparative analysis as a school book review project, or to serve as an inspiration for the uninitiated to reach into the original world of Jo & Co, but it can just as happily stand alone, with no prior knowledge of the pre-existing characters/dynamic, which makes it a win-win. I enjoyed it a lot, & will save for my daughters to read when they hit mid-teens. Danielle,15+, NSW, 4 stars

When Beth March is found dead in New Years Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murder. However with suspects abound, it’s the remaining March sisters who are once again in the spotlight as everyone searches for Beth’s killer. This is such an interesting retelling of Little Women in a modern light. It’s weird thinking of the March sisters with smart phones and social media but Katie Bernet does it so well! The story is told in two different timelines, before Beth dies and after and includes all the sister’s perspectives so it can get a little confusing as to who is currently narrating and when. What I loved about this story was how the modern themes mixed in with who the original characters are. They are facing more modern challenges, like social media, but the elements of social pressure and fitting in are the same. The murder mystery also kept me guessing until quite close to the end when we learn more about the characters and what may have motivated them to murder. I think this was done well and Bernet did a great job of creating intrigue and making us second guess what we know about each character. Liat, NSW, 4 stars

This was such a fun contemporary twist on a childhood favourite novel! The author found ways to incorporate the traits of the original ‘Little Women’ novel into this book while adding a modern flair and their own twist on the characters. I found this book really well paced and engaging to keep reading because of the way the mystery panned out – I was always on my toes to see what the next twist in the mystery would be and the reveal at the end made sense but also surprised me. And while the mystery part of this novel was done well, so was the emotional connection between the sisters. The author conveyed their wide range of emotions after their sister’s death in a very realistic way and that made this book more heartfelt. I like that this novel also explored the sisters’ relationships with their father in a different way to the book it was adapted from. Senara, 17, QLD, 4 stars

All of the Little Women lovers listen up! This book delivered a thrilling story that revisits our favourite characters. The characters and their dynamics were clear and the author took us on a suspenseful murder mystery that we didn’t know we needed! I believe that this book can be read even by those who do not like Little Women or haven’t watched/read it before. While the character building is light, there is enough there to really build a picture of each character. The murder mystery itself is both heart breaking and suspenseful. I was holding on to every word until the very end. The reveal was shocking and twisted – a fitting end to the book! Twisty and suspenseful, Beth Is Dead is the book us Little Women and thriller lovers didn’t know that we needed!  Kirsty, NSW, 4 stars

I loved this story. I usually don’t like modern adaptations of books but this stayed true to the characters but with a modern slant very enjoyable Leanne, SA, 4 stars

What an interesting spin on a classic! Probably best suited to “young adult” readers. Quick easy read Kate, 13+, QLD,4 stars

Beth is Dead is a first novel by Katie Bernet. It is a modern murder mystery taking its characters from the original Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Much of the story and its characters mirror the original however it is set in the 21st Century. Mr March writes a book which lets the readers into the private lives of his daughters, much to their horror. The social media fallout is astounding and causes Mr March to abandon his family leaving them to founder. The Beth is murdered or was it an accident? We then delve into the mystery. The girls with it in their own way, sometimes suspecting each other but always determined to find out what is the truth. They cannot contact their father. The then and now timeline was excellent. The ending is unimaginable and was completely surprising to me. I did not pick the murderer until very close to the end. Overall a good YA novel!! Dianne, NSW, 4 stars

Little Women is a beloved classic that has been reimagined across generations. Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet does something unexpected by turning this familiar story into a murder mystery. Both new readers and fans of Little Women will enjoy the book, as Bernet captures the sisters’ distinct personalities while preserving the heart of the original story through thoughtful nods to key plot lines. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Suzanne, NSW, 4 stars

I don’t really know how to feel about this book. I really loved the murder mystery aspect and the writing style but wasn’t that enamoured by the use of the beloved characters from Little Women which is one of my all time favourite books. The book is written from seven POVs which ended up becoming a little confusing. Each of the four sisters had a POV from ‘then’ and Meg, Jo and Amy also had ‘now’ POVs. By the end of the book I was struggling to remember who’s POV I was reading and had to flick back to the start of the chapter to remind myself who it was. I also found the more obvious traits we see in each of the sisters a little overdone until they almost became caricatures of the original Little Women characters. If you’re looking for a good YA mystery this book definitely has all the elements of a good whodunnit but if you’re a big fan of Little Women in either its book or one of the many movie versions you may find this book a little disappointing. Leanne, VIC, 3 stars

Buy a copy of Beth is Dead here.