Photo Credit: William Morrow
This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.
Pretty Girls
Summary from Goodreads
#1 internationally bestselling author Karin Slaughter returns with a sophisticated and chilling psychological thriller of dangerous secrets, cold vengeance, and unexpected absolution, in which two estranged sisters must come together to find truth about two harrowing tragedies, twenty years apart, that devastate their lives.
Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.
More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that’s cruelly ripped open when Claire’s husband is killed.
The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.
Powerful, poignant, and utterly gripping, packed with indelible characters and unforgettable twists, Pretty Girls is a masterful thriller from one of the finest suspense writers working today.
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
I’ve been living under a rock apparently. I know of Karin Slaughter (and now have actually met her at BEA 15) but I’d not read any of her books, despite numerous recommendations to read her books.
PRETTY GIRLS is dark. Twisted. SO dark. SO twisted. I like a good suspense book- I like a twisty plot. But this book took me to dark places, friends. This book was not twisty (like I like) but TWISTED. This is like sitting down with a monster. Seeing your worst fears playing out. And knowing there is not one damn thing you can do.
And yet.. I kept reading.
Why?! Because after Karin Slaughter let me glimpse at the monster- I found myself unable to turn away. I had to simply know what would happen next.
PRETTY GIRLS has themes that are similar to the real life abductions/torture cases that I never want to watch and yet- I cannot ever find myself turning away from and a THOSE GIRLS by Chevy Stevens feel.
The first part of the book drags a bit while setting up the second half quite nicely. You, even though you may not understand at the time, are learning quite a bit about what motivates each character- and how it all play out- as the pages become frightening.
Did I love it? I was gripped. White knuckled as I flipped the pages faster. But I was unprepared for the darkness. For the twistedness.
Do not read this book at night if you are a visual person. And be prepared to discuss this book with friends and have a light book in mind for your next read (your brain will thank you!)
*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
I don’t know. Sounds too scary for me! I’m getting better but I’m a wuss about stuff that could happen in real life.
It’s scary/twisted. Just dark!!!!!!!!!!! IDK if you would like it since I could totally see this happening IRL.
This was my first introduction to Karin Slaughter as well, and like you I was hooked! Great review, I’m glad you enjoyed it too. – ashley
Oh yeah!!!! So will you be looking at her backlist for other books? Or just waiting to see her new stuff?
I got this one at BEA also. Count me among those who haven’t read any of her books before. I’m kind of a wuss with these types of stories, so I’ll have to psych myself up to read it 🙂
This is one that you can’t just take lightly. It just got all up in my head and I was hooked- yet wanting, in a way, to turn back from the story since it was so dark.
Hmm I read Karin Slaughter years ago when she was not so graphic! I don’t think I’ll read this one though, turn the lights out at night and my mind will go there!
I’m unfamiliar with Karin’s previous work- so I can’t speak for it. This book just shocked me (in a good way, though) and I’m still thinking about it- weeks after reading- which is a very good thing!
I always have mixed feelings about picking up a book like this. I like books with some suspense and a lot of authors who write domestic thriller type books that I like also write stories about abduction cases. I’m still worried they’ll be too scary for me though!
I think I was not prepared for how gritty this book was going to be. It showed the ugly sides of humans. And yet, I couldn’t put it down!