Liann Zhang is a second-generation Chinese Canadian who splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. After a short stint as a skincare content creator, she graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminology. Julie Chan Is Dead is her first novel.
Engrossing and diabolically fun. Zhang's wonderful debut made me cringe, laugh, and cover my eyes. I was hooked until the very last page -- Monika Kim, author of Sunday Times bestselling The Eyes are the Best Part Outrageously fun. Julie Chan is Dead is both a propulsive, heart-pounding ride and a layered examination of social media, status, and obsession -- Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief I devoured this sharp and wickedly funny novel about the intoxicating and corruptive promise of love and connection telegraphed by influencers. With prose that crackles off the page, Liann Zhang skewers our brave new world where everything and anything is leveraged for likes -- Ling Ling Huang, author of Natural Beauty Zhang offsets the novel’s fast and entertaining first two acts with a gonzo final third, displaying impressive audacity for a newbie. It’s a marvel * Publishers Weekly, starred review * As mesmerizing as it is grotesque, Julie Chan is Dead exposes the rotten insides of the influencer industry with sharp insight and dark humour. It perfectly captures the absurdity of our permanently online modern age -- Sophie Wan, author of Women of Good Fortune A darkly funny rollercoaster of a read, layered with biting satire and sharp cultural observations. The moment I finished this remarkable debut, I wanted to call my best friends and unpack my feelings about characters who felt unsettlingly real - whose situations seemed both impossibly farfetched and just strange enough to be true. This novel walks a tightrope between satirical fun and unsettling tension, and I couldn’t put it down. Perfect for fans of Yellowface, and the cure for any reading slump -- Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Bottles Clever, insightful, and biting, Julie Chan is Dead, with its searing look at the influencer industry, lightning fast plot and unhinged cast of characters, is the definition of a read-in-one-sitting thriller. Chilling and immersive, this one is sure to leave a mark -- Ashley Tate, author of Twenty-Seven Minutes Edgy, vicious, and impossible to put down, Julie Chan is Dead is a genre-elevating thriller about the temptations and terrors of influencer culture. With unforgettable scene craft and a stunningly rendered narrative voice, Liann Zhang has debuted to the top of my reading list -- Amber Cowie, award-winning author of The Off Season A razor-sharp, diabolical thriller that peels back the glossy veneer of influencer culture to reveal its darkest depths. Twisty and provocative, Liann Zhang’s debut is a chilling exploration of the price of online perfection and adoration. If you loved Yellowface, this is the novel for you – gripping, timely, and crackling with tension -- Karma Brown, author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife