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Jeneva Rose is the author of One of Us is Dead.
Jeneva Rose is the bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage, which has been published in nearly a dozen languages and optioned for film. The novel went viral on TikTok when her husband pretended to be the adulterous (and murderous) character in the book. Originally from Wisconsin, she currently lives in Chicago with her husband and stubborn English bulldog. One of Us Is Dead is her third novel.
Here’s the synopsis for her latest novel, One of Us is Dead:
Meet the women of Buckhead―a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.
Shannon was once the queen bee of Buckhead. But she’s been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman, Shannon sets out to take revenge …
Crystal has stepped into Shannon’s old shoes. A young, innocent Texan girl, she simply has no idea what she’s up against …
Olivia has waited years to take Shannon’s crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. Finally, her moment has come. But to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhand trick in the book …
Jenny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her clients’ secrets and darkest desires. But will she ever tell?
Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead―and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.
Let’s get know Jeneva as she talks favorite novels, going viral on TikTok, story inspirations and much more!
What are some of your favorite novels?
Some of my favorite novels are The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson, The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter, You by Caroline Kepnes, and Verity by Colleen Hoover.
When did you know you wanted to become an author?
I knew from a young age that whatever it was I’d become when I grew up, it would have to do with writing. Becoming an author was the dream career, and I just never expected that it would happen for me. It took many, many years, lots of sacrifices, and hundreds of rejections, but I am beyond grateful to be able to do what I love for work.
Can you tell the story behind your viral TikTok for The Perfect Marriage?
In January 2021, I came up with a TikTok video idea to market my debut The Perfect Marriage. I told the story from the perspective of the protagonist as if it were my real-life story. The Perfect Marriage is about a top defense attorney who faces her most challenging case when she vows to defend her husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress.
At the end of the thirty second clip, I held up the book and revealed it was actually the plot of my novel. The video went viral, accumulating nearly 5 million views, and it shot my book up to #3 on Amazon, selling over 11,000 copies across formats in just four days. There was one small hitch though. Some people didn’t view the entire video, and they thought it was my real life story. I started getting comments on other videos that my husband was in—asking, “Is he out on bail?”
It was quite the rollercoaster of an experience. We played into it and had a lot of fun creating content and keeping the momentum going. The Daily Mail wrote an article about the whole ordeal, Heather McDonald had me on her Juicy Scoop podcast, and Steph’s Packed Lunch out of the UK had me on for a live tv interview. What’s truly wild is that thirty-second TikTok video launched my career as an author.
Where do you draw your story ideas from?
My story ideas typically come from everyday interactions, people I meet, or things I see and experience. I came up with the idea for One of Us is Dead when I was sitting in a salon chair back in Wisconsin. My hair stylist mentioned something I had previously told her, something personal, that I didn’t even remember saying. I can’t recall what it was, but I looked to her and said, “Wait. I told you that!? I can’t believe I told you that!” She looked to me, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Oh, yes. You wouldn’t believe the things people say when they’re sitting in this chair.” It was a lightbulb moment and the beginning of One of Us Is Dead.
What can we expect from One of Us is Dead?
One of Us is Dead is about a salon owner who gets entangled in the lives of her elite, wealthy clients. When one of them ends up dead, it’s only her and her accumulation of town gossip that can help the police solve the murder. Told from multiple points of view and switching between past and present, the reader doesn’t know who’s dead, who killed them, nor why. You can expect a fun, twisty, and darkly funny thriller in the vein of The Real Housewives meets Big Little Lies.
Are you available to meet with book clubs?
Yes. To request a book club drop-in, readers can visit my website jenevarose.com and fill out the contact form.
What are you currently reading and what’s on your TBR (to be read) list?
Currently, I’m reading His & Hers by Alice Feeney and a short story arc by Danielle Girard called The Ex. I’m also listening to the Audible Original Young Rich Widows. On my TBR list are advanced reader copies of Imposter by Bradeigh Godfrey, Run Time by Catherine Ryan Howard, and My Summer Darlings by May Cobb.
Click here to order One of Us is Dead on Amazon.
