Pretty Girls: A Psychological Thriller Novel Exploring Secrets and Lies Among Sisters

I wasn’t going to write a review because I wasn’t sure what to write, BUT here are my thoughts: This book was so disturbing. Truly a punch to the gut and a heartbreak wrapped into one. This is one of those books that gets under your skin and stays there, long after you’ve put it down. Karin Slaughter doesn’t shy away from dark, graphic, or emotionally devastating material, and it shows on every page. It’s absolutely not for the faint of heart. Some scenes were so intense and brutal that I had to take a breath before continuing, but that rawness is also what made the story so gripping. It’s dark, twisted, and unflinching, but if you can handle the heaviness, it’s a powerful read that leaves an impact. Every Karin Slaughter book I’ve read so far has been emotionally devastating and Pretty Girls was no different.

Many novels appear with the label “psychological thriller” but the promised content falls flat. Not so with this novel, this one engages the readers mind, twists it, and stirs not so gently. This is full of horror and violence, but not a lot of unnecessary explicit sexual violence. Think of what “snuff films” implies and you get an idea of what kind of gruesomeness you will find in this work. But all of this is the acting out of a psychopath. To find out the why of the actions, refer to the author’s phrasing of how the story unfolds, “it’s like skinning the layers of an onion.” Claire and Paul are in love. Claire feels comfortable, safe, protected, and lucky to be married to Paul. He did have a tendency to over organize everything. If Paul carried a pistol, it would be a label maker. Their house was spotless, everything in its place and even labeled. The obvious coffee maker was labeled “coffee maker.” There was a jarring feeling of sterility with the predominantly white everything, but Paul was the person who kept things in order, Claire just enjoyed it. Until he died in a robbery gone wrong. And that is in chapter one. As Claire grieves the reader finds out that she has a lot more to grieve about than a murdered husband. Julia, Claire’s sister had disappeared several years previously. Police would not investigate, convinced that Julia was a runaway. Julia’s body was never found. Sam, father to Claire, Julia, and Lydia, harassed the police for several years while writing a series of letters to Julia detailing his efforts to discover her fate. Sam and wife Helen, mother of the three daughters, divorce over Sam’s inability to move on and accept the loss of Julia, whether that loss had ended in death or desertion. Lydia and Claire went on with their lives in the absence of Julia. Lydia chose a surrealistic lifestyle provided by drugs and predictable free sex. Claire had Paul. Early in the novel we don’t know a lot about Helen’s or Sam’s reactions to Claire’s Paul. He seems to be a person who liked to please people. Father Sam feels uncomfortable with him, but does not have solid evidence for why he feels the discomfort. Lydia does not like Paul, understandable in that he tried to rape her. No one believed Lydia’s rape story as by the time of the recounting Lydia was already deep into a lifestyle supported by money she got by stealing from her parents, getting into trouble with the police, and lying constantly. Lydia completely broke from all members of her family, even grandma Ginny, when her story about Paul’s rape attempt was not accepted. Although geographically close, there were no phone calls, visits, or communication for almost twenty years until a chance meeting at Paul’s gravesite where Claire came across Lydia urinating on her husband’s grave. After a tense meeting where the two sisters agreed to continue disagreeing, Lydia went home to boyfriend Rick and daughter Dee. Claire went home to an empty house full of Paul’s stuff. And the newly discovered snuff film tapes. After a bit of time for shock to wear off, Claire takes the tapes to the police. Investigators say they have seen these kinds of things before and point out to her points proving that the films were fakes. Claire has already determined that the killer depicted in the films is not Paul, but she wants to know why Paul had the tapes. She is not completely sure the films are fake and she is puzzled why the police are not more excited. The story moves on with the aid of flashbacks and recollections by Sam (now dead, but he left notebooks), Helen (descriptions of coping mechanisms after Julia’s disappearance), and childhood recollections of Lydia and Claire (about life with Julia and life after Julia). The reader will also wonder why the police are passive. What is Agent Nolan from the FBI doing? Why would multi-millionaire Paul embezzle only three million dollars from his company? And how does Paul come back from the dead? This is fast paced. I found it impossible to put down, read it into late one evening, and took a vacation day the following work day. Which I guess makes the novel NSFW. I will read more from this author.

I'm sad to say that I must cheat on Will Trent. Will's books have been my favorite until now. Pretty Girls was perfection. The suspense was absolutely killing me. I started the audio on a drive and by the end of the four-hour drive, I had to switch to the book. The audio was not fast enough for me. There were things I wanted to know but I was scared of waiting for. So I did something I never do. I look for spoilers. Sadly for me, the questions I needed an answer for were not in the spoilers I read. Pretty Girls has an awesome twist. One I didn't see coming. Smaller twists were also there but I was able to guess them earlier on. Karin Slaughter spindles a story so perfect that you're unable to walk away from it, even for a second. I was glued to it. Nothing was more important than finishing her novel. Karin writes a malevolous psychopath. Such a sordid story that gave me a sour taste in my mouth. There are some scenes involving the psychopath and his victims that were very hard to read. I hope Karin Slaughter is nice and sweet in real life because her mind is freaking twisted. It was hard to listen to some of the things the masked man does to the women he captures. If I could have skipped those parts, I would have (It's kind of hard to skip parts when you're driving on the interstate). In Pretty Girls, Karin gives us the story of the Carroll family. We have Sam, the father. We have Helen, the mother and three sisters: Julia, Lydia and Claire. When Julia goes missing in 1991, the family breaks. Sam becomes obsessed with finding his daughter's kidnapper. He's unable to give up and Helen can't watch him self-destruct. She divorces him. Lydia turns to drugs and sex while Claire tries to be perceived as not existent. Twenty years later, a new girl has gone missing and something happens in Claire's life that forces her to seek Lydia's help. The sisters' relationship has been estranged for many years. What follows is the unraveling of the mystery surrounding Julia's disappearance and a deception so shocking, it will stay in my mind forever. Earlier on, I talked about spoilers which I needed to know. Well, if someone is looking for them, I'll post them here: (view spoiler) Pretty Girls was exciting, nail-biting, gruesome, and a terrifying novel. It was hard to read it at times. Yet, I couldn't put it down. Cliffhanger: No 5/5 Fangs

Great read. Hard to read but great, not my us yr al type of book as very graphic and intense and yet I was glued to it all the way through .. Fabulous thriller keeping you on edge throughout it all

Svårt att få en bra bild men framsidan liksom delar sig som om den blivit fuktskadad. Mycket tråkigt då jag köper en NY bok så vill jag ha en fin och hel bok… Har ej läst boken ännu. Detta är bara en recension på hantering och omslaget

الكتاب جاني معفط وتعبان كأنه مستخدم الخيار الي اخترته هو ال market mass. مب ارجعه لاني ميته ابي اقراه بس انتبهو اذا بتطلبون اختارو خيار ثاني افضل

If you're looking for a thriller that will leave you tense, disturbed, and utterly unable to put the book down, Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter is a must-read. From the first page, the story grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final, jaw-dropping twist. This book is pure drama laced with deep emotional trauma, layered family dynamics, and dark, brutal secrets that unfold in a way that is both fast-paced and psychologically intense. Slaughter masterfully weaves suspense throughout every chapter, keeping you on edge and constantly questioning what’s real and who to trust. There were moments that made me feel sick to my core—not just from the graphic violence and horror, but from the gut-wrenching emotions and the harrowing subject matter. Yet, it was impossible to look away. Every reveal, every new piece of the puzzle, pulled me deeper in. The twists and turns are relentless and shocking, with some scenes so unexpected they left my mouth hanging open. I truly couldn’t wait to see how it ended—and even when I thought I had it all figured out, Slaughter flipped everything on its head. If you want a book that’s dark, emotional, thrilling, and will haunt you long after the final page, Pretty Girls delivers on every front. Just be ready—because this one doesn’t pull any punches.

Before you read this book, PLEASE check the trigger warnings. If you are ok with graphic themes and enjoy a twisted thriller, this book is incredible, however it is not for everyone and please proceed with caution if you are not ok with any of the themes depicted. Prepare to be captivated, shocked, and utterly enthralled by Karin Slaughter's masterful thriller. This dark and haunting tale will leave you breathless as you navigate the treacherous depths of human depravity and uncover secrets that will send shivers down your spine. I do not suggest reading this book while you are home alone as I did, it had me jumping at every little noise! Karin Slaughter's writing style is nothing short of brilliant. She weaves a complex web of suspense and intrigue, drawing you in from the very first page and refusing to let go until the final shocking revelation. Her ability to create vivid, gritty and realistic characters is astounding, making you feel as though you are intimately acquainted with every twist and turn of their lives. The story follows the lives of two sisters, Claire and Lydia, whose lives were shattered by the mysterious disappearance of their beloved sister, Julia, over twenty years ago. Slaughter paints a harrowing picture of their pain and grief, taking us on an emotional rollercoaster as we witness their desperate quest for answers and justice. The raw emotions portrayed in their journeys are palpable, tugging at your heartstrings with every revelation and setback. One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is Karin Slaughter's ability to delve deep into the darkest recesses of the human psyche. She fearlessly explores themes of violence, trauma, and the sinister underbelly of society, leaving you with a sense of unease long after you've turned the final page. The author's unflinching portrayal of evil and its consequences is chilling, reminding us that monsters can lurk in even the most ordinary of places. Throughout the narrative, Karin Slaughter expertly builds suspense, planting seeds of doubt and suspicion that keep you on the edge of your seat. The pacing is flawless, with each chapter unveiling new layers of the twisted puzzle, leaving you guessing and second-guessing until the shocking climax. The tension is palpable, and you'll find yourself rapidly flipping pages, unable to tear yourself away from the relentless suspense. While this book delves into the depths of darkness, Slaughter also injects moments of levity and wit that provide a much-needed respite from the intense atmosphere. Her skillful use of dark humor and sarcasm adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, making it all the more engaging and realistic. These moments of lightness serve as a stark contrast to the grim reality of the story, reminding us that even in the face of unimaginable horror, humanity can still find strength and resilience. Karin Slaughter's ability to create compelling characters, craft a chilling and suspenseful plot, and explore the depths of human darkness is unparalleled. With its gripping narrative, emotional depth, and expertly executed twists, this book will leave you both shaken and exhilarated. Brace yourself for an unforgettable journey into the heart of darkness.