Lisa M. Lilly's Blog

FAQs About The Q.C. Davis Mysteries

At last, answers to some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Q.C. Davis Mystery series:

Do I have to read the Q.C. Davis books in order, or can I pick up any title and dive right in?

You can read the books in any order. No later book spoils the mystery in any earlier one. Some readers like reading in order so they can follow the recurring characters’ lives as they unfold. (The first book is The Worried Man.) But others enjoy jumping into the series in the middle and then going back to learn more about Quille and her friends and allies.

Who is Quille C. Davis, and how does her work as a Chicago lawyer—and her surprising stage-acting past—shape the way she investigates murders?

As a child and teenager, Quille worked as a stage actress. She changed her focus in college because she enjoyed the business courses she took and because she saw many very talented friends become frustrated with the ups and downs of the acting profession. Quille’s acting experience helps her choose how to look and what parts of her life to draw on to connect with witnesses to crimes and get them talking. Quille became a lawyer a bit later in life. That work helped her become expert at analyzing facts objectively, sizing up witnesses, and persuading people to cooperate with her. These skills, too, aid her in figuring out who committed a crime and how.

Are these mysteries gritty and graphic, or are they more psychological page-turners that skip explicit violence and sex?

Other than minor run-ins, the violence all occurs “off-screen.” There are no sex scenes, though romances and relationships are key to some storylines. For those reasons, while the novels are darker in tone than cozies, many cozy readers still enjoy them. If you like detective mysteries, recurring characters you get to know and care deeply about over time, and following the clues without graphic violence or sex, the Q.C. Davis series is for you.

How much of the Chicago setting is drawn from real neighborhoods and landmarks, and which locations might readers recognize?

The neighborhoods, streets, and landmarks are real, though sometimes the names change. As do locations as the city evolves. For instance, four buildings now stand in the vast field across from the River City apartment complex featured in The Charming Man. (But you can still visit that apartment complex.) And you can check out the courtrooms in the Richard J. Daley Center and the Picasso sculpture in its plaza, and take a yellow Water Taxi down the Chicago River to RPM Seafood. Or visit Four Seasons, the mosaic wall by Marc Chagall in the heart of downtown. Quille’s favorite tapas restaurants, Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! and Tapas Valencia, are real and still serve wonderful food. The Albert, a setting in The Skeptical Man, is also worth a visit to see all the books and Albert Einstein memorabilia firsthand.

There’s mention of Quille’s sister’s cold-case murder—does that personal mystery thread through the whole series or wrap up early on?

Quille investigates the murder of the original Q.C. Davis, whose death essentially destroyed Quille’s childhood, particularly her relationship with her mother, in the sixth book in the series, The Forgotten Man. But even after that, the murder and fallout of the investigation still impact Quille’s life and her relationships with her family members.

What’s the story behind the “Man” naming pattern—The Worried Man, The Charming Man, and so on—and will every future book follow it?

When I started the series, suspense and thriller novels with Girl in the title were flooding the market. Many were gripping and well-written, but Girl grated on me. I’m sure it’s because when I entered the workplace, women from twenty to seventy in all types of jobs (including criminal prosecutors), were being called girls while men who did those jobs were called, well, men. So I couldn’t quite bring myself to use Girl when titling the books.

I wanted to veer away, too, from another common trope—stories of women being victimized, often by a stranger. Again, many of those types of books are good reads. But I wanted to write books where it wasn’t a given that the person who was murdered was female and where the crimes were based in personal relationships, which is more often the case in real life. While using Man in the title doesn’t necessarily signal all of that, I hope it suggests these aren’t books about women in peril.

I do plan to follow the naming pattern in all future novels. (Q.C. Davis short stories and novellas do not use Man in the title.)

If I’m a fan of Sara Paretsky, Jonathan Kellerman, or Louise Penny, what will I find familiar—and fresh—in the Q.C. Davis books?You can get the first 3 Q.C. Davis mysteries in one ebook box set.

Like Sara Paretsky’s and Jonathan Kellerman’s books, the Q.C. Davis novels are narrated by the person investigating crimes—here Quille C. Davis. Like Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware, though, Quille is a professional in another field who gets drawn into solving crime. Like Delaware, she is good at it partly because she connects well and empathizes with others and has experience analyzing facts and relationships. Like Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski, Quille is a woman dealing with what are still largely men’s worlds. Quille has a kinder, gentler approach than V.I., but she is just as dedicated to fighting for those who need it and seeing justice done.  Also, Quille’s friends are much more supportive than V.I.’s and they actively help Quille solve the murders she investigates. And, as in Sara Paretsky’s books, most of the books are grounded in the city of Chicago, which is almost a character in the series.

The way Louise Penny writes about the community of Three Pines inspired me to create a group of friends and allies around Quille. Though Chicago is a large city, Quille lives and works in Printers Row, a small neighborhood that serves as her home base, much like Three Pines. Her best friend lives in the same condo building as Quille. Quille is friends with the owners of the café in the building where she works—a café with lots of books, a fireplace, and plenty of dark hot chocolate. If you enjoy the camaraderie of the friends in Three Pines, wish you could visit Olivier and Gabri’s café and bed and breakfast, and like a strong sense of place as a backdrop for crime novels and mysteries, the Q.C. Davis series is for you.

Will Quille stay rooted in Chicago, or will later books take her to other intriguing spots?

The books will keep being mainly based in Chicago, highlighting what’s fascinating, fun, and intriguing about the city. But Quille’s investigations take her other places. In The Fractured Man, Quille tracks down witnesses in New York (and has a good steak dinner at New York institution Peter Lugar). In The Forgotten Man, she spends a lot of time in downstate and central Illinois as she investigates the murder of her sister, the original Quille C. Davis, which has haunted her family for years. And the plot of The Skeptical Man takes Quille to Europe, where she flies mega first class, stays at a luxury hotel and eats caviar. Future adventures will take her to other locales in and out of the United States[SL1] .

Why do the books often include (real) restaurants as settings?

When I started the Q.C. Davis crime novels I wasn’t thinking about restaurants. But they quickly became a key part of the books.  Sleuths need to interview a lot of people. Scenes with just questions and answers start to feel repetitive. One way to vary those types of scenes is to set them in places readers might enjoy visiting or to feature food or drinks they want to try. Plus I enjoy dining out. It’s fun to share that part of Chicago life on the page. Many readers tell me they can’t wait to see where Quille eats when the next book comes out. 

Books In The Q.C. Davis Mystery Series

The Worried Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery 1)

The Charming Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery 2)

The Fractured Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery 3)

No Good Plays (A Q.C. Davis Mystery Novella)

The Troubled Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery 4)

The Hidden Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery 5)

The Forgotten Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery 6)

The Skeptical Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery 7)

Box Sets

Q.C. Davis Mysteries Box Set Books 1-3

Q.C. Davis Mysteries Box Set Books 4-6

The post FAQs About The Q.C. Davis Mysteries appeared first on Lisa Lilly.

Shows And Stories Cure Late Winter Blues

Looking to cure late winter blues? When it’s cold and gray out or world events feel overwhelming, I try to choose books and shows that help me unwind and feel happier.

In case they might be helpful to you, too, here are a few of my favorites.

Intriguing, Upbeat Mystery To Cure Late Winter Blues

In comedy/drama A Man On The Inside, Ted Danson plays a retired professor who needs something new in his life. He answers an ad for a freelance private investigator to go under cover in a retirement community and solve a crime. I love the follow-the-clues aspect, the great characters (played by many engaging costars), and just plain fun. And it’s been green lit for a new season, which I can’t wait to see.

Find it on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81677257 

Fun Non-Fiction About Dancing, Stage, And Screen

I just finished The Third Gilmore Girl, a memoir by Tony-award winning actress, singer, and dancer Kelly Bishop. Despite Gilmore Girls in the title, the book is more about Kelly’s entire life and career. It includes her early years as a dancer, her experience as one of many who co-created and starred in the original A Chorus Line on Broadway, and her transition to screen acting, including her role in Dirty Dancing. 

If you have any interest in the world of the performing arts, this is a fun, engaging read. And while Kelly has many hard times, she strikes a note of joy overall in her career and life. 

Learn more on Goodreads by clicking here. 

Favorite Stories To Listen To

I love relistening to Pride and Prejudice in the winter. Revisiting Eliza Bennett, Mr. Darcy, Jane and Bingley, and all the Bennetts brings me so much joy. Narrator Shiromi Arserio’s voice is one I could listen to forever no matter the topic. This is also the one recommendation I have a bit of a role in — I wrote a foreword and afterword for the special edition.

Click here to listen.

Another favorite (and classic) relisten narrated by Shiromi is A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Who can forget little Sara Crewe’s trials when her father the captain dies and her charmed life at Miss Minchin’s school becomes a nightmare. But Sara is so imaginative, hopeful, and kind through it all. And the book is all around fun to listen to or reread. You can find it here (or wherever you buy audiobooks).

Other Ways To Brighten Your Days

Entertainment isn’t the only way to brighten or lighten up your days. I like coloring, leaving a string of holiday lights up, drinking hot cocoa or chocolate tea Sunday mornings while I read fiction for an hour, planning a movie night, and catching up with family or friends I haven’t seen in far too long.

The holiday lights remind me — 

Sometimes people ask how I get so much done. Scheduling and focus help, but I leave a lot undone, too. As I noted recently on Facebook and Instagram, I didn’t get to taking my Christmas tree down until a couple days after Valentine’s Day. I haven’t sent my usual newsletter out in over a month (hopefully I will get to that soon). And laundry…well, let’s just say I spent all day Tuesday doing 5 loads and still have some left.

But I did recently release my new book Buffy and the Art of Story Season Three Part 2: How To Write Characters The Audience Loves (Or Loves To Hate) And Plots They Can’t Put Down, record an audiobook version of The The Tower Formerly Known as Sears and Two Other Tales of Urban Horror, and nearly finish the first draft of my new supernatural suspense novel. 

It’s all a tradeoff. And I’m learning to be okay with that. Which only took me a few decades but better late than never.

I hope you find some of these ideas fun or helpful! Feel free to comment below and share your favorites with me.

Best,

Lisa

The post Shows And Stories Cure Late Winter Blues appeared first on Lisa Lilly.

Can These Shows And Stories Cure Late Winter Blues?

Looking to cure late winter blues? When it’s cold and gray out or world events feel overwhelming, I try to choose books and shows that help me unwind and feel happier.

In case they might be helpful to you, too, here are a few of my favorites.

Intriguing, Upbeat Mystery To Cure Late Winter Blues

In comedy/drama A Man On The Inside, Ted Danson plays a retired professor who needs something new in his life. He answers an ad for a freelance private investigator to go under cover in a retirement community and solve a crime. I love the follow-the-clues aspect, the great characters (played by many engaging costars), and just plain fun. And it’s been green lit for a new season, which I can’t wait to see.

Find it on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81677257 

Fun Non-Fiction About Dancing, Stage, And Screen

I just finished The Third Gilmore Girl, a memoir by Tony-award winning actress, singer, and dancer Kelly Bishop. Despite Gilmore Girls in the title, the book is more about Kelly’s entire life and career. It includes her early years as a dancer, her experience as one of many who co-created and starred in the original A Chorus Line on Broadway, and her transition to screen acting, including her role in Dirty Dancing. 

If you have any interest in the world of the performing arts, this is a fun, engaging read. And while Kelly has many hard times, she strikes a note of joy overall in her career and life. 

Learn more on Goodreads by clicking here. 

Favorite Stories To Listen To

I love relistening to Pride and Prejudice in the winter. Revisiting Eliza Bennett, Mr. Darcy, Jane and Bingley, and all the Bennetts brings me so much joy. Narrator Shiromi Arserio’s voice is one I could listen to forever no matter the topic. This is also the one recommendation I have a bit of a role in — I wrote a foreword and afterword for the special edition.

Click here to listen.

Another favorite (and classic) relisten narrated by Shiromi is A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Who can forget little Sara Crewe’s trials when her father the captain dies and her charmed life at Miss Minchin’s school becomes a nightmare. But Sara is so imaginative, hopeful, and kind through it all. And the book is all around fun to listen to or reread. You can find it here (or wherever you buy audiobooks).

Other Ways To Brighten Your Days

Entertainment isn’t the only way to brighten or lighten up your days. I like coloring, leaving a string of holiday lights up, drinking hot cocoa or chocolate tea Sunday mornings while I read fiction for an hour, planning a movie night, and catching up with family or friends I haven’t seen in far too long.

The holiday lights remind me — 

Sometimes people ask how I get so much done. Scheduling and focus help, but I leave a lot undone, too. As I noted recently on Facebook and Instagram, I didn’t get to taking my Christmas tree down until a couple days after Valentine’s Day. I haven’t sent my usual newsletter out in over a month (hopefully I will get to that soon). And laundry…well, let’s just say I spent all day Tuesday doing 5 loads and still have some left.

But I did recently release my new book Buffy and the Art of Story Season Three Part 2: How To Write Characters The Audience Loves (Or Loves To Hate) And Plots They Can’t Put Down, record an audiobook version of The The Tower Formerly Known as Sears and Two Other Tales of Urban Horror, and nearly finish the first draft of my new supernatural suspense novel. 

It’s all a tradeoff. And I’m learning to be okay with that. Which only took me a few decades but better late than never.

I hope you find some of these ideas fun or helpful! Feel free to comment below and share your favorites with me.

Best,

Lisa

The post Can These Shows And Stories Cure Late Winter Blues? appeared first on Lisa Lilly.

Balance Your Work, Your Life, Your Year

Everyone talks about work-life balance, but how do you achieve it?

If you’re like almost everyone I know (especially other authors and artists), you’re juggling favorite projects, other work that pays some bills, possibly the business aspects of your art, and, oh, maybe family, friends, and all of life. For that reason, I’ve personally spent a lot of the last few years constantly feeling that whatever I’m working on, I “should” be doing something else.

Last month, though, I set aside a couple hours to sort out how to feel less stressed and use my time more wisely in 2025. The way I did it might be helpful to you, too.

Assess Your Tasks

First, I wrote down all the things I need to do in a week for work (creative or other). That included producing regular Buffy and the Art of Story podcast episodes, a supernatural suspense novel-in-progress, my ongoing mystery series, a non-fiction book, marketing efforts, some legal work (I still practice law though I don’t spend a lot of time on it), and more.

Next, I added tasks that take time but aren’t directly related to my main goals. That covered things like reading about industry trends, catching up on email, and updating software. I need to do these tasks, and they often take even more time when I put them off. Yet I leave it to chance when to fit them in.

I added a catch all category to cover anything that arose in a week that required quick attention.

Assess Your Time

In Step 3 I assigned a realistic number of hours to each task. For me, realistic means doubling the time I think the task should take. That accounts for tech snafus, trouble writing a scene or chapter, and anything other than all systems working perfectly at all times.

Finally, I added up the number of hours. My goal is to work 40 hours or less a week. (For decades that number was 55-75 but that no longer appeals to me.) The hours added up to nearly 60. So it turns out the reason I always feel like I never get enough done is that I set my expectations too high. As a result, I either work far more than I want to or feel I’m letting myself down.

For a moment, I felt disheartened. Then I made purposeful choices. I decided my happiness when I work no more than 40 hours outweighed my desire to compete every project on my list. After that, it was a matter of shifting.

Shift Your Time And Expectations

I couldn’t, for instance, fit in first drafting my current novel, editing my latest non-fiction book, and creating marketing materials for my Q.C. Davis novels every week. But I could choose 2 of the 3 until I finished one of them, then slide the third task into that time slot. I also made sure not to cut things that felt tedious but saved time in the long run. (Such as watching tutorials on how to use a new audio editing program.)

Since then, each week I glance at my list of hours. If I feel strongly about spending more time on one task, I choose another to push to the following week. Then the following week, that one becomes a priority. When a new potential project comes along I ask myself if it’s worth moving something off my list to do it.

Not everyone is a list maker by nature. (As you might guess, I am.) But whether or not you make a list, looking carefully and realistically at all that’s on your plate can help you see changes, even small ones, that might make your schedule more manageable in the long run. And, in turn, make your life a little less stressed. 

I hope that’s helpful!

If you’re a writer who at times struggles with anxiety or stress, you may also find my book Happiness, Anxiety, and Writing: Using Your Creativity To Lead A Calmer, Happier Life helpful. You can find it by clicking here.

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Get It Done S7 E15 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast)

In Get It Done (S7 E15 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Buffy risks it all to learn the origin of the First Slayer while Robin Wood learns a whole about Sunnydale – and Spike. Along with the recap of Get It Done, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) what links Andrew, Willow, Anya, and Spike; (2) how each character’s story arc explores the nature of power; (3) building small steps to why Buffy, Spike, and Willow make the major choices they do; and (4) reasons to love Dawn and hate Kennedy.

Last Episode: First Date

Next Episode: Storyteller

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly Get Creating Compelling Characters From The Inside Out: https://lisalilly.com/creating-compelling-characters-insideDownload free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheetsAbout Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her  non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly . She also founded  WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

 

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How To Write A Mystery

Ever wondered how to write a mystery? Or how I write the Q.C. Davis crime novels/mysteries? I use key plot turns as a basic structure. This video shows how I wrote and revised based on those turns for my latest Q.C. Davis novel, The Skeptical Man.

Scrivener, the program I used, made it easy to both follow the overall plot I sorted out in advance and vary it where needed. (No spoilers, though, if you haven’t yet read the book.)

Intrigued by The Skeptical Man? Learn more by clicking here.

If you’re a writer, too, and find this helpful, you might want to check out my non-fiction books for writers, including Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide For Plotting And Writing Your Novel. Or you can download free story structure worksheets here. 

 

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Book Launch The Skeptical Man

Join me October 9 on my author Facebook Page for the book launch of the new Q.C. Davis crime novel The Skeptical Man.

Peek behind the scenes of the new release and all the Q.C. Davis crime novels throughout the day. There’ll be videos, location photos, book excerpts, quotes, and, of course, the traditional all-important book launch quiz.

Win and get a character named after you in the next novel!

Hope to see you on October 9! Click here to join.

The Skeptical Man Book Launch

Justice or illusion? Quille C. Davis risks it all to uncover deadly secrets in the world of magic.

In the mesmerizing world of magic and illusion, lawyer and private investigator Quille C. Davis finds herself entangled in a puzzling murder case. Her task: solve the murder of her dear friend’s husband, a renowned magician with a complicated past.

The victim, Randall Petrov, recently distanced himself from his family’s business. He devoted his energy to a noble cause: a nonprofit that brought the magic of hope to hospitalized children. But in doing so, he stirred up a hornet’s nest of trouble, uncovering corruption and fraud.  Additionally, Petrov conducted a daring sting operation that unmasked a fraudulent psychic who preyed upon vulnerable parents seeking solace. Suspicion falls, too, upon his own brother, set to inherit the family business.

Quille delves into the investigation, navigating not only the streets of Chicago, but a mystical European city. Her pursuit of justice comes at a great cost as she finds herself the target of deadly attempts on her life. Quille faces internal turmoil as well. Haunted by the recent resolution of her sister’s decades-old murder, Quille knows firsthand that justice does not always bring closure and healing — especially when it comes to her strained relationship with her parents.

Complicating matters is her long-distance boyfriend. Uncertainty over his return to Chicago leaves Quille torn between loyalty and the allure of an attractive and intelligent musician who aided her in a past investigation.

The Skeptical Man is a riveting mystery that takes readers through an intricate world of magic, family secrets, and personal redemption. Will Quille uncover the truth behind Randall Petrov’s murder, unearth the sinister corruption plaguing the nonprofit, and ultimately find the solace she seeks? Or will she fall prey to the same killer who ended Petrov’s life?

Get your copy today and uncover the truth behind the illusions.

Kindle | Paperback | Large Print (Coming Soon)

 

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Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give (Book Review)

As someone who is happily single, I’m sure I’m not the target audience for the book Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give by Ada Calhoun. I bought it because I like reading memoirs by authors whose worlds are different from my own. (It’s good for my fiction writing, and I just enjoy learning about other people’s lives.)

I liked the author’s willingness to share anecdotes that didn’t put her in the best light, her humor, and her openness about the challenges of staying married.

Many of the stories resonated with me, as married friends told me similar ones. The book helped me better understand some of their struggles.

But there’s next to nothing in the book that shows why anyone would want to stay married. And everything to suggest it’s a recipe for lifelong unhappiness.

The rare mentions of times the author felt good about being married left me puzzled and a bit sad. I wanted to tell her that you don’t have to endure years of an unhappy marriage just to have someone with whom you share inside jokes or a long his tory.

You also don’t need to be married to live in a rambling old house rather than an apartment. Or to have one peaceful moment in the course of a decade where you feel all’s right with the world.

Conclusion – Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give

In all, I expected a realistic and somewhat wry portrait of marriage, which the book delivers. But I thought the realism might include a bit more hope that it’s worth it to surmount the challenges. In the end, though, this book suggests merely not being single/being able to say you’ve been married for a long time is enough. Even if you find marriage to be almost entirely drudgery.

On the other hand, the book might be encouraging if you were terribly unhappy when you were single and so want to stay married no matter what. Or if your marriage is going through a rough patch. The author reassures you you’re not alone in your struggles. And she offers a bit of humor to help you cope.

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Our Father (2021) (Movie Review)

This week I'm talking about the 2021 movie Our Father, where two young women go in search of their estranged uncle after their father's death. (I'm aiming to watch an average of one movie a week in 2024.)

I chose Our Father because I've been wanting to watch a movie featuring Chicago actor Brian King. A trailer for this one caught my eye, though he appears in only one scene.

The Premise Of Our Father

In the days after their father's death, two young women learn that they have an uncle who was never mentioned to them before.

Their father's other family, which includes their half brothers and their father's ex-wife, offer the sisters little comfort or connection.

Confused and distraught over their father's suicide and feeling isolated and alone, the two sisters go in search of this mysterious uncle.

What I LikedThe story gradually reveals what's happening and why, as well as the characters' back story, leaving viewers to put the pieces together in a way I found fascinating.The dialogue is the best I've ever heard in a movie. It has the feel of real life but never drags or includes extraneous lines. All the conflict arises from the story and characters–there are no forced or faked conflicts just to move the plot along. The sisters are three-dimensional characters who aren't simply there to sort out how they connect to the men in their lives. While the sisters talk about their father, brothers, boyfriends, and uncle, they also talk about work, school, hope, the lack of hope, and what they want in their lives. And the most important relationship is the one between the two of them.I loved that the ways women constantly deal with and navigate around men's feelings (particularly feelings of entitlement or inadequacy) is shown repeatedly, yet the film never feels like it is hitting viewers over the head. A few of the examples were dealt with so quickly, almost as asides, that I didn't grasp this theme until thinking over the film later.The challenges of forging emotional connections and dealing with adulthood while feeling unprepared for it felt very real and raw.What Didn't Work As WellI love Chicago, which is ostensibly the setting, as the city and a few addresses are mentioned. I'm always excited to see my home city depicted in film, TV, or novels. But for whatever reason, the locations weren't recognizable as Chicago. (It might have been filmed in part during the pandemic, and perhaps the lack of traffic threw me off.)There were moments of humor that felt a bit slapsticky or goofy and jarred me a bit. Overall, though, the dark humor worked well.Four and a Half Stars (Of Five)

List of Movies Watched on my Kindle Scribe

This is one of the best films I've seen in a very long time. I give Our Father 4.5 stars for very believable, compelling characters, genuine conflict that drives plot and character growth, and themes that made me think for days.

At least right now, it's available free if you have Amazon Prime. (Click here to check it out.)

Lisa M. Lilly

P.S. To read last week's look at the horror/comedy/coming of age film The Final Girls click here.

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change prices to you.)

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The Final Girls (Movie Review)

This week I'm talking about the movie The Final Girls. As I wrote about last week, I'm watching one movie a week in 2024.

I chose The Final Girls because I like the actress Nina Dobrev. She plays a key role, though she's not the lead.

The Premise Of The Final Girls

Main character Max's mother is an actress best known for a starring role in a classic cult horror movie. Max and her mother are very close, which is easy to see in the opening scene. 

Movie list on my new Kindle Scribe

But tragedy strikes, and her mother is killed in a car crash when Max is still a teenager.

Three years later Max gets roped into attending an anniversary showing of Camp Bloodbath and its sequel. She's avoided the films for a lot of reasons, including that her mom really wanted to be known for more serious roles.

Max and her friends, including a somewhat mean girl played by Nina Dobrev, get catapulted into the horror movie. They all realize they need to stay with the character who will be the “final girl” — the one who doesn't have sex and who survives.

But this is tricky as their actions affect the plot. And it's especially challenging for Max, who begins to see the character as her mother and really wants to spend time with her.

What I Likedwhat at first looked like just a fun satire of campy slasher movies turned out to include layered, likeable characters with story arcs beyond the horrorthe ways the film explored and critiqued horror tropes without being preachyreal connections, conversations, and growth between the female characters (yes, it passes the Bechdel test)the mix of horror and comedy (how could I not love that being host of a podcast about Buffy the Vampire Slayer)What Didn't Work As Wellthe pace was a bit slow, though in some ways I enjoyed that as it gave time to get to know the characters the first half hour or so was predictable and I almost stopped watching, thinking it would just be a spoof–as noted above, though, it turned into much more, so I'm glad I stuck with itThree Stars (Of Five)

I give The Final Girls 3 stars for fun, character development, and some surprising twists. It's a great watch for an evening at home. I found it on Amazon Prime.

What's next? I'm not absolutely certain, but I'm thinking Our Father, a film about two sisters who go in search of their estranged uncle after their father dies. 

Lisa M. Lilly

P.S. Click here to read last week's look at sci fi thriller What Happened To Monday.

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