The Black Queen, Jumata Emill
The Black Queen, Jumata Emill
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The Black Queen

Author: Jumata Emill

Narrator: Angel Pean, Erin Spencer

Unabridged: 10 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/31/2023


Synopsis

Nova Albright was going to be the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High—but now she's dead. Murdered on coronation night. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and The Other Black Girl will love this unputdownable thriller.

Nova Albright, the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High, is dead. Murdered the night of her coronation, her body found the next morning in the old slave cemetery she spent her weekends rehabilitating.

Tinsley McArthur was supposed to be queen. Not only is she beautiful, wealthy, and white, it’s her legacy—her grandmother, her mother, and even her sister wore the crown before her. Everyone in Lovett knows Tinsley would do anything to carry on the McArthur tradition.

No one is more certain of that than Duchess Simmons, Nova’s best friend. Duchess’s father is the first Black police captain in Lovett. For Duchess, Nova’s crown was more than just a win for Nova. It was a win for all the Black kids. Now her best friend is dead, and her father won’t face the fact that the main suspect is right in front of him. Duchess is convinced that Tinsley killed Nova—and that Tinsley is privileged enough to think she can get away with it. But Duchess’s father seems to be doing what he always does: fall behind the blue line. Which means that the white girl is going to walk.

Duchess is determined to prove Tinsley’s guilt. And to do that, she’ll have to get close to her.

But Tinsley has an agenda, too.

Everyone loved Nova. And sometimes, love is exactly what gets you killed.

About The Author

Jumata Emill is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his BA in mass communications from Southern University and A&M University. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and a member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm on January 20, 2023

Honestly, I think that I already knew that this book was going to be a hit or miss for me. Unfortunately, it ended up being more of a miss. CW: inappropriate relationship due to power dynamics, racism, violence, child sexual abuse The Black Queen is a new YA thriller/mystery that is told in dual pers......more

Goodreads review by Nilufer on August 18, 2023

Happy pub day! 🥰🎊📚🎈 This is an absolutely promising and thought-provoking thriller debut that questions numerous sensitive issues, including racism, underage sex, teenage pregnancy, corruption, white privilege, and child abuse. After the murder of the first Black homecoming queen, Nova Albright, on th......more

Goodreads review by Shawnaci on October 31, 2024

4/5 ⭐️ - This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I had no idea who was behind the murder! Kept me so invested from start to finish and reminded me so much of Tiffany D Jackson’s books because there were so many deeper messages of race and society included in this story. - This would make the best......more

Goodreads review by Chyann on December 26, 2022

ARC Review - Minor Spoilers When it comes to the murder mystery genre, this book checks all boxes. Chapters that end with cliff hangers. A murder victim you feel incredibly sorry for. Friends of the victim taking on the role of detective. Suspicious side characters. It has it all. And that’s what ke......more

Goodreads review by Sweettea_and_a_Book on March 30, 2023

Closes book, rolls eyes 🙄 What in the “Kumbaya”, “We are the world”, “they go low, we go high” BS was this? There’s nothing that irks my nerves more than the coonery, bafoonery “you rapped a hip hop song & now you’re invited to the cookout” BS culture, that was pretty prevalent here. It makes me sick......more


Quotes

"A murder mystery with much to say about modern-day segregation, policing, and personal biases."  —Kirkus Reviews

"This chilling narrative adeptly portrays the struggle with balancing competing loyalties, personal safety, and pursuit of justice while operating within oppressive systems." —Publishers Weekly

“Masterfully plotted and impossible to put down, The Black Queen is a searingly brilliant and bold exposé of the relationship between privilege, perspective, and justice.” —J. Elle, New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Ebony

“At once incisive and chilling, The Black Queen folds hard-hitting truths into a propulsive murder mystery, delivering a story that both entertains and examines. This is Pretty Little Liars for a new generation.” —Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of the Shatter Me series

“A bold, fresh, small-town-secrets thriller with sharp teeth. Grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.” —Alexa Donne, author of The Ivies and Pretty Dead Queens

"An addicting mystery and a razor-sharp social commentary that is as wickedly funny as it is twisty and surprising. Jumata Emill is one of the most exciting new voices I've encountered in a while. I couldn't put The Black Queen down." —Kara Thomas, author of That Weekend and The Cheerleaders