Pretty Girls

i wish i could unlearn things i learned about in this book.

i don't want to say this was predictable because i truly didn't see the twists coming, but it's kind of obvious from the start that everything is connected. this was a little upsetting, but i still bulldozed through this book because i wanted to know all of the details.

this book is really messed up and comes with a whole list of trigger warnings. if i find a good list, i'll update y'all

Goodness gracious me, this is one heck of a disturbing read!

The pace is a bit slow, but I think that's just the way the author intended it to be – she draws you in even with the smallest details. These small details become something so elaborate, so terrifying, you could almost feel you heart coming up your throat.

Allow me to repeat myself, this book is some kind of disturbing. I'm gonna be thinking about this book for quite some time, I must say.

I was debating between a 4.5 and a 5 so this rating is subject to change. All I honestly have to say right now is that I'm actually sick. Most of the book didn't really phase me but there is one description that got me and it's living in my head rent free. Not in a good way either lol any book that could make me sick deserves a round of applause.

I'll start with the good - this book, at times, had a pulse on how to keep the reader hooked. Once it got bland, there was a twist that had me interested again. Unfortunately, I feel like this book was simply longer than it needed to be. If it was half the length, the negative parts would not have been quite as glaring.

I listened to this as an audiobook, for context. Without spoilers, there was an earlier scene when I listened for hours to Claire talking to Lydia, Claire conveniently zoning out to explain background, Lydia yelling ‘CLAIRE, ARE YOU LISTENING?', then Claire responds for a line, then zones out for more background, then Lydia yells ‘CLAIRE?'.....rinse and repeat, need I say more?

There is something to be said for showing, not telling. Unless, in the case of Pretty Girls, the topic is rape and violence. If we're discussing the scenes of repetitive, gratuitous, and graphic rape and death scenes that were described over and over again, maybe that's not the case....

This is definitely a thriller. I love the way this author can write. Her descriptions and structure are a solid 5 STAR review. The first half of this book was a solid 5 Star winner. So...why then have I dropped my rating to a tepid 3 STARS?
There are some evils in this world I simply do not need described to me in order to be taken into a psychological thriller..There are some evils I do not need recited in detail to terrify me...There are some evils I simply do not need repeated with a novel in depth and description over and over again.
This novel literally gave me nightmares. The “crime” aspect was pounded home too graphically and too frequently for my liking. In terms of ability to paint a visual picture Karin Slaughter is a genius. In fairness she not only painted visual pictures of the crimes, but also the characters and emotions throughout the novel. Again a 5 STAR read.
So....now you understand that I bumped it down for its “gratuitous violence” if that can be noted in a written novel.
The second knock down of a star comes from the inability for this novel to end. I was finished with it when the mystery was revealed......then I was finished again many pages later when it appeared the bad guy or guys would get their comeuppance....
But....the book dragged on...telling us the story of what happened moving forward in the lives of the victim or victims. (No spoilers here).
So....another lost star for lack of editing.
I still suggest giving this book a shot....violence and length are a bit of a personal taste issue. You may love this book. The writing was definitely captivating.

This is my first Karin Slaughter book and it will definitely not be my last. Within the first few pages the action was already starting and I loved that! There were so many twists that left me shocked and parts that made me physically flinch. This book was so disturbing in a good way (if that even exists). Overall, this book was great. Very close to a five star.

This book is not for the faint of heart, but it's so well-written and good that you will want to stay up all night reading.. which I did both times I read it -well with one exception this time (thank you, Benadryl). I own the Audible copy and borrowed the eBook from Kindle Unlimited this time so I could read & listen, which is my favorite way to devour a book.
Unfortunately, I had to take Benadryl because my allergies were really bad and I zonked out with Kathleen Early's calming voice in my ears. I had to rewind back to where I fell asleep to pick it back up again. Thankfully I already knew the ending from reading it before and nothing was spoiled, but it was just as good the second time around.

I always recommend Karin Slaughter, to readers who like the same books I do, especially this book in particular. However, this one has been read by just about everyone, it seems. If you love thrillers and haven't read this book, where have you been? There are trigger warnings for this book and it's very graphic and dark.. like deep dark to the depth of the most-depraved minds I've ever read in this genre so if you can't handle the themes outlined in this book's description, it might be why you're one of the small percentage of thriller readers who hasn't read or finished it.
I'm on the Will Trent train now and can't wait for August 2024 when Karin Slaughter releases the next Will Trent book here in the U.S.

Wow...this book was a twisted and fast-paced story mixing mystery along with suspense. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the satisfying ending. This book is very dark and graphic in its depictions of violence. Thus, I recommend it to mystery/suspense readers with caution as it may not be for everyone.