AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter
PUBLISHER: William Morrow
PUBLISHING DATE: September 29, 2015
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.
MY THOUGHTS: I was provided a copy of this book from BookSparks and the publisher for a blog tour and in exchange an for an honest review. I really enjoy thrillers and mysteries but haven't read anything by Slaughter before. I figured this was as good as any place to start.
"Pretty Girls" is sometimes a predictable novel, with just enough twists and turns in place to make it interesting and keep the reader wondering what might be revealed next. It tells the tale of three sisters, one of whom has been missing since she was 19, and what happens to individuals and families when disaster strikes. As the book starts, it asks the reader to ponder if finding out what happened is worse than not knowing? This is basically the underlying question throughout the book.
I really grew to like some of the characters in the book, especially Claire and Lydia. It was nice to see an estranged relationship rebuilt after so many years and to witness the sisterly bond still be present despite years of hatred and mistrust. Also, speaking of trust, this novel really examines the its basic concept and will make you stop and wonder if we really can ever know everything about our loved ones.
The plot is fairly fast-paced. As I mentioned, in places it is predictable, but then Slaughter introduces a new twist which helps the book pick right back up and makes you guess again. I remember thinking it was too long at one point while reading it, but when I look back, I don't recall where in the book I felt that way so it must have resolved itself. I was pleased with the ending of the book and how everything wrapped up, even though it wasn't necessarily a happily-ever-after finish.
While not a real quick read, once I reached a certain point, I definitely couldn't put it down. If you like mysteries, thrillers or crime novels, this is definitely a book for you.
RATING: 4 PAWS
author of several novels, including the Grant County series. A long time resident of Atlanta, she splits her time between the kitchen and the living room.
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