Murder Mystery Psychological Thriller Book Review: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

I read Pretty Girls, a psychological thriller by Karin Slaughter. This was my first book by this author. After finishing S.A. Cosby's catalog, I was searching for something new. Karin's name came up, and after browsing TikTok recommendations, I randomly chose Pretty Girls based on the blurb.

This review will be brief because I don't want to dwell on the story details. I'm still trying to clear the disturbing imagery from my mind. I started reading on October 14th and finished October 26th, taking a two-day break midway because I found the content both lengthy and triggering.

Character Analysis

The story centers on three sisters: Julia, Lydia, and Claire—and their parents, Helen and Sam. When Julia disappeared nearly twenty years ago, the family fractured beyond repair.

Lydia spirals into drugs and promiscuity. Claire becomes withdrawn, living a quiet, passive existence. Their mother, Helen, turns to alcohol for a few years before finding sobriety and dedicating herself to moving past the grief. Their father numbs himself with drinking while obsessively searching for answers about Julia, ultimately neglecting his surviving daughters.

In the present day, Claire has married Paul Scott, a wealthy businessman, and appears to be living a glamorous, perfect life. Lydia, now a recovering addict and single mother, dates a mechanic who's also in recovery. Estranged from her family for nearly twenty years, Lydia remains an outcast.

When a young girl named Anna Kilpatrick is kidnapped in circumstances eerily similar to Julia's disappearance, the past collides with the present.

Plot Overview

Claire's world shatters when her husband Paul is murdered in an alleyway. Lost and grief-stricken; Paul controlled every aspect of her life. Claire begins sorting through his belongings and discovers horrific pornographic material on his computer. Though she initially dismisses it as typical male behavior, the graphic nature disturbs her enough that she takes it to the police. An officer assures her it's not real.

Still haunted by what she witnessed, Claire continues investigating. She uncovers coded files and other disturbing evidence of Paul's secret life. Desperate for answers, she reaches out to her estranged sister Lydia.

Working together, the sisters follow a trail of lies and deception that connects to Anna Kilpatrick's recent kidnapping and a horrifying pattern of murders stretching back fifty years.

What Worked and What Didn't

What worked: The story had real potential with a compelling concept. A decades-old missing person case, a recent kidnapping, and two estranged sisters searching for the truth.

What didn't work: The graphic imagery went far beyond what was necessary for the story. The constant, detailed descriptions of the murders turned my stomach, and I found myself skimming those sections. The pacing also dragged considerably, each chapter felt interminable and could have been significantly tightened.

Final Thoughts

I persevered because I needed to know who the killer was and whether justice would be served.

Without revealing spoilers, there are multiple villains in this story, but one particular Monster. This character is described as a psychopath, rapist, and murderer, but those words don't capture the full depravity. There simply isn't adequate terminology for this level of evil. The acts committed would make the devil blush.

Themes

The novel explores loss, depression, addiction, betrayal, murder, and fractured family dynamics.

Recommendation

I can only recommend this book if you specifically seek out extremely dark psychological content. Personally, I avoid both books and films saturated with graphic violence, particularly against women.

Will I read another Karin Slaughter book? Honestly, probably not. This story devastated me. Days after finishing, I'm still processing the disturbing imagery that will likely linger for a few days.

I briefly considered abandoning the murder mystery genre entirely. However, I want to continue exploring it, just not books with this level of psychological brutality involving rape, torture, or other extreme taboo subjects.

Rating

3.5 out of 5 stars

Though I'm relatively new to this genre, I can't rate this higher. The bloated chapters and relentlessly graphic details were exhausting. The story had merit, but the execution made it nearly unbearable to read.