The Black Queen

Nova Albright is the first Black girl to be crowned homecoming queen, but after her coronation, she is found dead. Mysterious and addictive, Jumata Emill's debut thriller is perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and The Hate U Give .

Nova Albright, Lovett High's first Black homecoming queen, was murdered on coronation night. Her body was found in the cemetery where the town's enslaved people were buried.

But on the night of the crime, a video goes viral. The footage shows Tinsley McArthur, the beautiful, rich, white girl who competed for the title with Nova, claiming she should have killed her competitor and left the body where it was actually found. Suspicion falls on Tinsley. At school, everyone knows she would do anything to be crowned.

And Duchess Simmons, the Black Queen's best friend, is the person most certain of Tinsley's guilt. She believes the white girl is privileged enough to think she can get away with the crime. But Duchess has another problem to contend with: her father is the region's first Black police captain and finds himself tied up by the bureaucracy and politicking within the institution. Which means Tinsley may indeed get away with the charges.

When the girl asks Duchess to help her prove her innocence, she accepts. But Duchess has only one thing in mind: to seek justice for her friend's life. Even if that means getting closer to the person she believes is the killer. Little did she know that the investigation would begin to reveal secrets about Nova's past. Secrets that could change everything. After all, who really was the Black Queen?

“A murder mystery with much to say about modern racial segregation, police performance, and prejudice .” – Kirkus Reviews

“A chilling narrative that portrays the struggle to reconcile opposing loyalties, personal safety, and the pursuit of justice, while operating within oppressive systems.” – Publishers Weekly