Pretty Girls: The gripping psychological thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation

Around 5 months ago I ‘discovered’ Karin Slaughter, more precisely , her books. The first I read - her latest - We Are All Guilty Here - impressed me so much that I have now read 18 or 19 of her total output of 25 novels to date. Yes, you’re right I’m impressed with her: Karin Slaughter is clearly, and obviously, a very clever - no scratch that - brilliant woman/writer who really gets to - as Graham Green wrote - ‘The Heart Of The Matter’. Not only does she get to heart of the matter; she gets into your heart and tears it apart: such is the depth of her writing and its subject matter. My latest read is her 2015 ‘Pretty Girls’ - a 530 page page-turner which I read/absorbed in two days. A brief quote from page 4: ‘. . .the horrible things that people do to animals and the even more horrible things they do to other human beings.’ My emphasis. How, indeed, can one human being do to another the ‘horrible things’ that they do and that we read about, if not daily, then close enough? I read somewhere that Karin Slaughter has spent 20 years writing about such ‘horrible things’; its true that her books feature a lot of, lets say’ unseemly/nasty stuff: nasty and unseemly but very likely and very sadly true; or at the very least potentially true! Fiction that is fact based. In Pretty Girls we meet the Carroll Family: mother Helen, Father Sam and their three daughters Julia, Lydia & Claire. Twenty years ago the then nineteen year old Julia disappeared and was never found. In spite of their collective heartbreak life, as is said, goes on. Lydia falls into addiction and Claire marries one Paul Scott: A very clever man of considerable means; they have been living a somewhat idyllic lifestyle for nearly twenty years, but as happens with luck - it changes and their previous good luck/fortune changes dramatically when after a night out and whilst engaging in a ‘heat of the moment’ romantic entanglement they are attacked & robbed and Paul is killed . . . So it begins and as so often occurs ‘all is not what it seems’ ? Let the fun begin; let the mystery unravel. Karin Slaughter keeps you on the edge of your seat, and biting your nails as you read this thrilling novel. Yes there are nasty moments, very nasty if truth be told but persuasively written about, and dealt with, in the writing of Ms Slaughter who knows how to get, and hold, your attention. I’m not going to present any spoilers; if you are already a fan you won’t need any incentives to buy, and read, this work. Her books speak for themselves. A wonderful piece of work even if occasionally unsettling and upsetting. I loved it. I have to comment on MsSlaughters comprehensive research which leaves no stone unturned. Whatever the subject matter her writing is such that you think she must have, at least, a phd in that subject: Drugs - both licit & illicit; Phones - landline, mobile & satellite; Internet incl. the Dark web using TOR: The onion router; etc etc etc. Nothing is left to chance; everything rings true . . . Another 5* rating from me - anyway . . .

This is my first book by Karin Slaughter and I was not disappointed. At times, I was so shocked at what I was reading, I couldn't take my eyes off the page. It's been a while since a book did that! I found the story itself to be interesting, heart breaking and harrowing. Nothing is as it seems though and this book continues to deliver some really good twists and turns that keep you hooked. I felt for all the characters and the author was able to conjure the characters, and their suffering, in a realistic manner. The chapters from the fathers perspective are particularly heart wrenching 😔 I gave this book 4 stars as I felt the middle of the book fell a bit flat and it seemed a bit too dragged out, although I appreciated most of the detail and didn't feel like the ending was rushed (hate when that happens!). I would definitely read another book from Karin Slaughter as clearly she is a very talented writer. 4 stars and a great ending to the reading for 2023!

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.

I love most books, even ones, that don't fit my genre, but this kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. I have read many of Karins books, but this is up there with the best, at times, I would stop reading, thinking, Karin has lost the plot now, but when I just had to start reading more, she amazed me with another fantastic plot switch, to me just like Stephen King, so effortlessly seems to do, surely She could easily be his female equivalent? Getting back to this book, a fantastic read, I both wanted it, and didn't want it to end, I couldn't see a credible way she could end it, but boy she sure delivered!! I am a75 yr old male, but am not ashamed to say, I cried at the end It is Honestly a Wonderful book, I Loved it so much..... Well Played Karin, You Rule,....Stay Safe...... Mozza

I started by listening to this on audiobook but I wasn’t keen on the accent of the reader, so switched to actually reading it. Was a good read, found it challenging to put down once I got in to it. I found it a little slow in places, but overall it was a good read.

Reading Pretty Girls is like getting hit by a psychological freight train—you don’t walk away the same, and you’re not entirely sure you wanted to get on in the first place. Karin Slaughter does not mess around. If you thought this was going to be a light domestic thriller, surprise! You’re now neck-deep in one of the most twisted, graphic, and emotionally gutting stories ever written. The sister dynamic? Painfully raw and realistic. The mystery? So dark you’ll want to read it with the lights on—and maybe with a therapy appointment scheduled. And the plot twists? Let’s just say my jaw dropped so hard it’s probably still on the floor. It loses one star only because at some point I had to pause and ask myself, “Do I need a hug or an exorcism?” Possibly both. Highly recommend—but only if you have a strong stomach, a dim view of humanity, and a love for damn good writing.

A 5* harrowing piece that we all know continues in our world in horrific reality. Written graphically but also with such sensitive for all the victims & their family's & friends left behind to just need closure which is rarely complete as finding the remains. I watched a film, some years ago now, also digging into raw places & shattered family's having lost a precious young woman who tragic ending was to be a victim of 'snuff movies'. Nicholas Cage & Joaquin Phoenix starred & I'm sure it was called "9mm" because, at that time, many home made filming was recorded using 9mm film. A recommended film to watch & for readers I feel "Pretty Girls" is a bare all & realistic novel carefully written by Karin Slaughter to a wide audience. I particularly liked how well & timely chapters of horrific slaughter were interspersed with a dear & loving Father's journal to the daughter taken from his family & how he imagined things could have been so different as a Father, as a family, had the eldest daughter not been abducted & destroyed to feed the deeply disturbing desires for all wanting more & more torture & murderous abuse in a very real market for genuine 'snuff' tapes. I often got to parts where I thought it all depraved reading but realise that Karin Slaughter had simply, and barely, researched & scratched the surface of this particular area of extreme porn. I think it an extremely daunting subject matter to fictionalise yet Ms Slaughter did so in a way that was sensitive & very honest. I do like Karin Slaughter books & 'Pretty Girls' has got to be one of the best I've read dealing with one of the real world's deviant & underground depravities. Makes for very tough, graphic & extremely unsettling reading yet I have to recommend this novel as a must read in memory & recognition of every young, beautiful lives that, one by one, could be just one face amongst the hundreds of young women & men that are ripped from their family's & destroyed to feed an appetite & demand for such extreme subscribers to such sadistic practices.

Definitely not a book to read whilst going to sleep. I couldn’t put it down and every time I thought I knew where it was going it went elsewhere. Brilliant

PRETTY GIRLS [2015] By Karin Slaughter My Review Five Stars***** I was already a fan of Karin Slaughter's novels two decades ago when I was renting books on tape to “read” during the extensive driving that was required by my job at the time. It was more recently (2018) that I decided to read both her GRANT COUNTY and WILL TRENT series in chronological order. A few were re-reads but even those were exceptionally entertaining. Slaughter quickly ascended to the list of my top five authors on the planet Earth. I was “blown away” by the sheer power of Slaughter’s works, and as I commented in a review of her debut novel BLINDSIGHTED [2001] she is the author that set the new gold standard for excellence. I had already read the entire WILL TRENT series before I began the earlier GRANT COUNTY books. She did not stop writing after half a dozen novels, or continue to write but with diminishing returns. We refer to "Early Cornwell", "Early Patterson", "Early Koontz".. and at least in my case "Early Stephen King" for a reason. The NYT Bestseller PRETTY GIRLS was released six years ago but it was the first standalone novel I’ve read by Karin Slaughter. It was so riveting that I would have stayed up all night to finish it if I hadn’t had commitments. Even so, I finished it in two sittings. I absolutely LOVED it. That was hardly a surprise to me. I have commented in the past that I become so completely mesmerized by her novels that I become almost oblivious to my immediate environment. I think there could be a tornado roaring like a train, a home invasion in progress, or a house fire blazing and I would still be holding my Kindle in a death grip reading her words and turning pages. She has the power to invoke what I like to refer to as “immediacy”. As a reader I feel like I am right there in the moment. This doesn’t need to be a long or wordy review. Amazon has logged 8642 ratings so heaven only knows how many readers rated this bestseller on Goodreads. I just looked it up and the answer is a whopping 205,017 (to include 18,548 reviews)! Tess Gerritsen, also among my top five favorite writers, commented that Slaughter is “One of the boldest thriller writers working today”. Translated that means that Slaughter does in fact “write with a razor” and her characters and scenes cut to the quick. If a reader doesn’t want to encounter raw realism and brutal reality, then stay away from Slaughter. Her works slice to the bone and deliver a visceral punch to the gut and a precordial thump to the heart that sends our emotions in freefall. Like Gillian Flynn has been quoted so often “I’d follow her anywhere”. I have to read the rest of her standalone works on my Kindle. I intentionally wanted to parse them out to prolong the thrill, but PRETTY GIRLS was so d--- great I’m not sure I can wait. The most impressive characteristic of Karin Slaughter’s works IMO is that the creative genius she possesses does not seem to give any indication of waning. Her ability to take the reader into the darkest most depraved minds and acts of sadistic predation on women sets her apart from anyone writing today. She doesn’t hesitate to “pull the trigger” on the sickest and most shocking scenes with forensic details that are not for everyone. Slaughter’s peers are writing crime fiction that tackles the same underlying theme of violent crimes against women, and their works include riveting thrillers that knock my socks off. It isn’t that the works of giants like Gerritsen and prolific authors like Hoag cannot deliver the goods on this theme. There is just “something” about Slaughter that goes where no mainstream crime fiction queen has gone before. Gerritsen called it “bold” and I think that’s putting it mildly. I have to say as I am ready to post my own “two cents worth” that I am surprised by not only the number of negative reviews I see but also by their relevant fervor about the visceral impact and graphic depiction of violence in PRETTY GIRLS. This is a small percentage of readers when you consider the whole of course. In any case, I find it annoying those readers post reviews saying they cannot bear to finish the book…that there ought to be warnings about the content, and so on. Good heavens. If you don’t want your emotions and your sensibilities to be stripped raw then don’t read Karin Slaughter’s works.

Well, at least the book made me be sure not to buy a thriller book that has more than 400 pages. I skimread last 200 pages (boring), mostly just conversations, just to get to the end. End was so predictable and poor. The book was not shocking or anything. Its as if written to promote a disturbing type of a murder, it felt me that way at least. She describes details like enjoyable, horrible but not-so-rare things. This is not thriller. This is not what average murder readers want (in my nonhumble opinion). The best thriller is the Agatha way, really. Agatha Christie writes nice twists, surprising ends and she doesnt make you feel between vomiting or wondering of the act. My special thanks to 5 star readers who helped me to buy this book.

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

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.