Review: Drop Dead by Lily Chu

Rating: 4/5

Drop Dead by Lily Chu had an intriguing premise—a grumpy obituary writer suddenly able to communicate with the ghost of a recently deceased influencer, and the two form an unlikely partnership to solve her murder. It promised a quirky mix of mystery, ghostly hijinks, and maybe a bit of heart. But while it delivered on charm and character chemistry, the mystery element felt more like a background feature than a driving force.

The setup had real potential: a prickly, career-stalled heroine trying to get her life together while juggling ghostly antics and a murder investigation? Sign me up. And there’s no doubt that the banter and emotional growth between the living and the dead were entertaining. But the story leaned heavily into the friendship and personal development arc, and the actual murder mystery—what brought these two characters together—often got lost in the shuffle.

I kept waiting for the suspense to ramp up, for the investigation to dig deeper into juicy secrets or unexpected twists. Instead, the mystery unfolded slowly and with little urgency. The clues felt more like casual breadcrumbs than a gripping whodunit, and by the time the pace picked up, I was more invested in the emotional arc than the resolution of the case.

That said, the narration in the audiobook version was excellent and gave the characters distinct voices that added a lot of personality. The writing style was witty, the ghostly concept was clever, and the themes of identity, ambition, and grief were handled with care.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy, slightly spooky, character-driven story with a side of mystery and a sprinkle of sass, Drop Dead delivers. But if you’re looking for a tightly plotted, twisty ghost murder mystery? This one might leave you wanting a bit more.