Mariko Tamaki – writer
Nicole Goux – artist
Charlotte Greenbaum – editor
Maggie Moore – production manager
Abrams Fanfare
$19.99 (SC) / $26.99 (HC)

In which Abby Kita becomes a teen detective

Say hello to Abby Kita. It’s been fifty two days since she became the “new student” at the exclusive all girls Wilberton Academy located on the outskirts of a small town so charming with its quaint shops and homes it could double as the locale of the newest Hallmark holiday romance movie. Like every school Wilberton has its cliques and the most important one is reserved for the girls comprising the Wilberton Theatrical Society, or simply WTS. The WTS girls are looked up to for their talent and envied for their elite status while they and the rest of the student body do their best to ridicule and shun Abby simply for daring to enter their campus. Everyone that is except for Wilberton’s most idolized student, Elizabeth Woodward, who plays Juliet in the school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. While the after play celebration continues in the gym Abby finds Elizabeth sitting alone outside the school’s entrance. A brief conversation between the two girls hints at the possibility of a nascent friendship. Such a friendship becomes impossible when early the following morning a group of students finds Elizabeth’s lifeless body.

While I had no doubt this would be a good story I was uncertain if it would be truly compelling as the publisher’s synopsis describes it to be. During a little free time I thumbed through the book to take in Nicole Goux’s art and admire the effects of her very limited color palette of pinks, grays, black, and white. The book laid on the table till the next morning when I picked it up after ten minutes of doom scrolling on my phone. Please forgive me now, dear reader, when I tell you that I did indeed feel compelled to read This Place Kills Me in one sitting broken only with short breaks for more coffee and whatnot.

What makes This Place Kills Me an interesting story are the obstacles Tamiki and Goux create to put in Abby’s path and her resolve to keep moving forward. Anyone who endured hellish years of high school will find Abby to be a relatable character. Abby’s physical awkwardness, her oversized glasses, the odd and often painful social interactions coupled with her efforts not to draw undue attention from other students brought back memories of my own high school experiences. However, teenage outcasts are a common enough occurrence in film and novels and to quote Abby from her conversation with Elizabeth: “There’s nothing deep about hating your high school.”

Everyone at Wilberton is distraught by Elizabeth’s death, especially after learning the police consider it to be a suicide. Everyone that is except Abby and it isn’t because she lacks emotion or empathy. Remember she felt a fleeting connection to Elizabeth. Abby has a hunch that something feels off and decides to follow it. Like so many other queer teens — yes, Abby is queer — she’s learning to distrust and question authority figures and their stories. Whether the obstacles come from Principal Wilson who threatens to expose Abby’s secret or police or becoming the target of more hurtful gossip or impasses trying to uncover the truth about Elizabeth’s death Abby rises to the challenges that Tamaki and Goux put in her path. Abby will have help from her roommate Claire Offer, the sole reporter for the school paper. I like the way Abby and Clair’s relationship is explored as it changes from Claire barely finding Abby tolerable as a roommate, shouting at Abby to keep her distance while she plunks away writing Elizabeth’s obituary, to becoming Abby’s sidekick, then distrust, and finally to friendship.

Tamaki and Goux infuse the story with music from the 1980s. Bands such as Poison, Clash, Clash, Devo, Blondie, Bangles, Joy Division, and REM give more insight into Abby’s character…a little punk, a bit of a romantic, a little joyful, somewhat quirky. At the same time these band choices help to set the time period to the late 1980s or early 1990s which is also confirmed by Abby’s Walkman and the clunky computers used by Claire and other students. It’s an effective way to underscore Abby’s determination and skills since the Internet is a few years into the future and smart phones are a dream.

The mystery that Abby uncovers is much bigger than she could anticipate. Abby’s determination, courage, and selflessness make her an underdog worth cheering on. In some ways Abby’s character reminds me of Scooby Doo’s Velma Dinkley which would make Claire her Daphne. Tamaki and Goux end Abby’s story on an upbeat positive note while leaving open the possibility of a reunion between Abby and Claire.

If you’re familiar with Tamaki’s character driven graphic novel projects, Skim (with cousin Jillian Tamaki) and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me (with Rosemary Valero-O’Connell) come to mind, then this collaboration with Nicole Goux will likely appeal to you as well. This Place Kills Me is marketed for young adults though if a gay man past a certain age can enjoy Abby’s story then surely anyone can.

This Place Kills Me was released in August, 2025. Look for copies in your local comic shop or bookstore. Comic Shop Locator will help you find shops near you. Bookshop will help you find indy bookstores in your area. Order a copy direct through Bookshop. If all else fails or if you prefer, Amazon has print and digital copies.