Nova Albright, the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High, is dead. Murdered the night of her coronation, her body found the next morning in the old slave cemetery she spent her weekends revitalizing.
Tinsley McArthur was supposed to be queen. Not only is she beautiful, wealthy, and white, it’s her legacy— her grandmother, her mother, and even her sister wore the crown before her. Everyone in Lovett knows Tinsley would do anything to carry on the McArthur tradition.
No one is more certain of that than Duchess Simmons, Nova’s best friend. Duchess’s father is the first Black police captain in Lovett. For Duchess, Nova’s crown was more than just a win for her. It was a win for all the Black kids. Now her best friend is dead, and her father won’t admit that the main suspect is right in front of his face. Duchess is convinced that Tinsley killed Nova. And that Tinsley is privileged enough to think she can get away with it. But it seems that Duchess’s father is doing what he always does: falling behind the blue line. Which could mean the white girl will go free.
Duchess is determined to prove Tinsley’s guilt. Only, to do that, she’ll have to get close to her.
But Tinsley has an agenda too.
Everyone loved Nova. And sometimes, love is exactly what gets you killed.