This Place Kills Me is a 2025 noir graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Nicole Goux. It received positive reception and won two Eisner Awards in 2026.
Plot Set in the 1980s, the book covers a murder mystery. Following a cast party, popular girl Elizabeth Wood at Wilberton Academy is found dead. Not accepting the police's claim she died by suicide, fellow student Abby Kita, who was also the last person to see Elizabeth alive, tries to uncover the secrets behind Elizabeth's death while dealing with memories of her own traumatic past.
Reception The book received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Publishers Weekly described the book as "twisty and captivating". Reviewers noted the color scheme, with use of contrasting gray and pink tones.
Sean Dillon of The Beat gave a positive review to the book, noting the use of noir and LGBTQ themes.
The Hub, a blog for the American Library Association, stated that "the story unfolds with tension and a cinematic flair", additionally praising Goux's art as "capturing both the haunting beauty of Wilberton and the creeping dread that something is very wrong beneath the surface" + Awards and honors for This Place Kills MeYearAward/HonorResultRef.2026Eisner Award for Best Publication for TeensWonEisner Award for Best WriterWonHarvey Award for Best Young Adult BookTBAGreat Graphic Novels for TeensIncluded2025School Library Journal Best Books of the YearIncludedPublishers Weekly Best Books of the Year - Young AdultIncluded
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