Katie Bernet lives in Dallas, Texas. As one of three sisters, she's a diehard fan of Little Women. Beth Is Dead is her debut novel.

"Toward the end of Beth Is Dead, Jo recounts asking her father why his fictional Beth had to die. "He said that . . . her loss would stay with his readers forever." Bernet's novel will, too. Katie Bernet's audacious and astonishingly successful debut novel reimagines Little Women as a metafictional murder mystery." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

"This simmering page turner is a multilayered novel about sisterhood, dreams, independence and the pressures of modern culture, not to mention a superb tribute to the original." --BookPage, starred review

"Even teens who don't know Little Women will be engaged by this fast-paced and suspense-filled page turner. A thrilling take on a beloved story that will keep readers riveted." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"In her very first novel, Katie Bernet has done more than reimagine literary canon--modernizing one of the most beloved fictional families of all time--she's done it absurdly well. Beth is Dead is a propulsive whodunnit full of whip-smart dialogue and layered mysteries that unfold with perfect pacing. Fans of Alcott's original work will spot plenty of parallels and tips of the hat, but even those who've never read Little Women will find Beth is Dead to be thrilling and (dare I say it) unputdownable. This is the March sister remix you never knew you needed." --David Arnold, author of Mosquitoland

"A gripping, cleverly rendered puzzle box of a book brimming with heart and sisterhood. The mystery makes the story impossible to put down, while the characters make this a book you won't want to say goodbye to." --Stephanie Garber, author of Once Upon a Broken Heart

"One need not be familiar with Louisa May Alcott's work to appreciate debut author Bernet's brilliantly snappy contemporary riff on Little Women. . . . The cozy domesticity of the inspiration material is apparent throughout, and the girls' closely held--sometimes conflicting--desires and ambitions both honor Alcott's vision and add fuel to the fire of this electrifying whodunit." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A delightful reboot of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women . . . well imagined and well executed." --SLJ

A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and #1 INDIE BESTSELLER!
Sunnie Reads' Inaugural Book Club Pick--Sunnie Select!
Four starred reviews!
An Indie Next Pick!
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

"This fast-paced, twisty mystery doubles as a trenchant meta-commentary on the popular perceptions of each sister's personality and an acknowledgment of the complex, close-knit characters who have always existed within Alcott's pages." --The Horn Book Magazine

"A killer good time . . . to die for." --Cosmopolitan

Publisher: Sarah Barley Books / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Pub date: 2026-01-06

Length: 400 pages