There’s something uniquely compelling about stories where families band together to hide a body. Perhaps it’s the primal nature of protecting your own, or maybe it’s the dark humor that inevitably emerges when ordinary people find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. In Drop Dead Sisters, Amelia Diane Coombs serves up a wickedly entertaining tale that expertly balances murder mystery with family drama, all while maintaining a sharp sense of humor that keeps the narrative from becoming too grim.
The Plot: When Family Camping Goes Terribly Wrong
Twenty-nine-year-old Remi Finch has spent years avoiding her family, particularly her older sisters Eliana and Maeve. When their hippie parents organize a camping trip to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, Remi reluctantly agrees to attend. But what starts as an awkward family reunion takes a sinister turn when Guy Moran – a childhood nemesis with a violent history – shows up uninvited. After an altercation leads to his accidental death, the sisters find themselves drawn into an increasingly complex web of cover-ups, with their parents, grandmother, and even their eccentric aunt getting involved in moving and hiding the body.
Writing Style & Narrative Voice
Coombs demonstrates remarkable skill in crafting a first-person narrative that feels authentic and relatable. Remi’s anxious, self-deprecating internal monologue provides both humor and heart to what could otherwise be a dark story. The author maintains a delicate balance between comedy and tension, never letting either element overwhelm the other.
Strengths:
- Witty dialogue that feels natural and uncontrived
- Well-paced revelations that keep readers guessing
- Strong character development, particularly for the three sisters
- Effective use of flashbacks to build context
- Dark humor that lands without feeling forced
Character Development: A Family of Flawed Individuals
The real strength of Drop Dead Sisters lies in its character work. Each member of the Finch family feels fully realized, with their own quirks, flaws, and motivations:
- Remi: Our anxious protagonist whose growth throughout the novel feels earned and authentic
- Eliana: The controlling eldest sister hiding her own vulnerabilities
- Maeve: The carefree middle sister whose apparent superficiality masks deeper insights
- The Parents: Well-meaning but chaotic hippies whose attempts to help often make things worse
Themes & Social Commentary
While the novel works perfectly well as a entertaining mystery, Coombs weaves in deeper themes that give the story additional resonance:
- Family dynamics and the complexity of sibling relationships
- The impact of childhood trauma on adult relationships
- Society’s tendency to dismiss women’s experiences of male violence
- The power of female solidarity in the face of threat
- The gray areas between right and wrong when protecting loved ones
Romance & Relationships
The romantic subplot between Remi and Leo, the handsome park ranger, provides a welcome counterpoint to the main mystery. Their chemistry feels genuine, and their interactions offer moments of lightness amidst the darker elements of the story. Importantly, the romance never overshadows the central sister relationship but rather complements it.
Critical Analysis
While Drop Dead Sisters is largely successful in what it sets out to do, there are a few areas where it could have been stronger:
- Some of the coincidences stretch credibility, particularly regarding the number of people who independently decide to move the body
- The resolution might feel too neat for readers who prefer their mysteries with more consequences
- A few supporting characters could have been more fully developed
Comparison to Other Works
Fans of shows like Bad Sisters and Dead to Me will find familiar elements here, but Coombs brings her own distinct voice to the genre. The novel also shares DNA with books like Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer and Karen M. McManus’s Two Can Keep a Secret, though with its own unique spin on family dynamics and murder.
Technical Elements
The pacing is generally strong, with enough quiet moments between the tension to let both characters and readers catch their breath. Coombs demonstrates particular skill in building and releasing tension, using humor effectively to moderate the darker elements of the story.
Impact and Resonance
What makes Drop Dead Sisters stand out is how it uses its murder mystery framework to explore deeper truths about family relationships and personal growth. The story works both as an entertaining thriller and as a meaningful exploration of sisterhood and self-discovery.
Target Audience
This book will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Dark comedy with heart
- Family dramas with complex relationships
- Murder mysteries that focus more on the cover-up than the investigation
- Stories featuring strong female relationships
- Contemporary fiction with elements of thriller and romance
Final Verdict
Despite some minor flaws, it succeeds as both a compelling mystery and a touching story about family bonds. Coombs has crafted a novel that manages to be both entertaining and meaningful, with characters that feel real enough to care about and plot twists that keep readers engaged until the final page.
Author Background
This is Coombs’ adult debut, following four successful young adult novels, including All Alone with You and Keep My Heart in San Francisco. Her transition to adult fiction feels natural, maintaining her sharp wit while tackling more mature themes.
Recommendation
For readers seeking a fresh take on the family drama/mystery genre, Drop Dead Sisters delivers an engaging story that will keep you guessing—and quite possibly laughing—until the end. It’s perfect for fans of character-driven mysteries who don’t mind their dark moments being brightened by humor and heart.
