The true-crime story of a Florida woman's violent downfall from viral fame, by the New York Times bestselling author of She Survived: Jane. When she was fifteenn, Jennifer Mee developed an unrelenting case of the hiccups—hiccupping as many as fifty times a minute for months. Soon the Florida teen's strange story went viral. Dubbed the “Hiccup Girl” by the media, she gained international sympathy and appeared on a slew of popular TV shows. Eventually, Jennifer's hiccups went away—and so did her fame. Depressed and craving affection, Jennifer hooked up with the wrong people and slipped into drug dealing and street life—a downward spiral that led to the murder of an innocent young man. Now, renowned investigative journalist M. William Phelps expertly recounts Jennifer's shocking true story of thwarted desires, betrayed trust, and deadly manipulation. Praise for M. William Phelps “One of America's finest true-crime writers.” —Vincent Bugliosi, New York Times bestselling author of Helter Skelter “Phelps is the Harlan Coben of real-life thrillers.” —Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of Tell No Lies Includes sixteen pages of dramatic photos

Ｍ・ウィリアム・フェルプスが描く本作の真髄は、一過性の熱狂が生む「光と影」の残酷な対比にあります。世界から同情を寄せられた少女が脚光を失い、破滅へと転落する過程は現代の病理そのものです。著者は単なる犯罪記録を超え、孤独な魂がなぜ誤った愛を求め、暴力に飲み込まれたのかを、冷徹かつ情熱的な筆致で浮き彫りにしています。 特筆すべきは、加害者であり犠牲者でもある主人公の危うい精神に肉薄した文学的深みです。メディアに消費され捨てられた人間の末路を描く本作は、他者の人生を娯楽として享受する我々に沈黙の問いを突きつけます。真実の凄みと運命の皮肉が交錯する、魂を揺さぶる衝撃のノンフィクションです。