Pretty Girls

Pretty Girls
by Karin Slaughter
William Morrow, 2015. 396 pages
Fiction Mystery

Teenage Julia disappeared 20 years ago, and her family has never been the same. Julia’s body was never found, preventing her parents and sisters from coming to terms with their loss. Lydia, a single mother struggling to support herself, has long been estranged from her sister, Claire, due to the accusations Lydia leveled against Claire’s wealthy husband, Paul. But now Paul has been murdered, the victim of an armed robbery, and Claire has found some very disturbing files on his computer, including snuff films featuring the torture and murder of young girls.

There are books that you consumer quietly, gently turning the pages and silently synthesizing their story and then there are books like this: books that make you fill the room with audible gasps, groans, cheers, and ferocious yells that disturb your entire household (at least in my experience). Though the subject matter is dark, and the writing can be borderline gory at times, I was listening to this story from the moment I woke up to moments before bed. The mystery in this book is revealed pretty early on, but it is a mystery so juicy that the reader is on the hook till the story concludes and all of the conflicts are resolved. Besides the tantalizing mystery, a big draw of Slaughter's work is the impeccable character creation. This story in particular revolves around poignant family trauma, and the reader is able to sympathize and relate to each of the characters so deeply. I mentioned this before, but this is one of Slaughter's more graphic works so faint of heart should avoid and thrill seekers should pick this up, like, yesterday. 

If you enjoy Pretty Girls, then you may also like....

The Good Girl
by Mary Kubica
Harlequin Mira, 2014. 350 pages |
Fiction Mystery

The daughter of a prominent Chicago judge and his socialite wife, inner-city art teacher Mia Dennett is taken hostage by her one-night stand, Colin Thatcher, who, instead of delivering her to his employers, hides her in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota to keep her safe from harm.

All The Missing Girls

by Megan Miranda

Simon & Schuster, 2016. 371 pages 
Fiction

Ten years after leaving Cooley Ridge, Nicolette Farrell returns to care for her ailing father. A decade ago, she, her brother Daniel, her boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne's boyfriend Jackson were suspects when Corinne--Nic's best friend-- disappeared without a trace. Within days of Nic's return, they are plunged into a shocking drama when Nic's neighbor Annaleise, who is dating Tyler and was the group's alibi ten years previously, goes missing. Told backwards from the time Annaleise disappears, the book follows Nic as she works to unravel the truth and, in the process, reveals shocking realities about her friends, her family, and what really happened to Corinne that night ten years ago.

What She Knew

by Gilly MacMillan

William Morrow, 2015. 472 pages 
Fiction

Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son Ben when he asks if he can run ahead. It's an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry--until Ben vanishes. Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel's newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public's attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion. As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent's nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most ...

MES

56 Days

56 Days
by Catherine Ryan Howard
Blackstone Publishing, 2021.
Fiction 

No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead. 56 days ago, Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores.35 days ago, when lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who—and what—he really is. Today, Detectives arrive at Oliver's apartment to discover a decomposing body inside. Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?

What if you didn't know if you could trust your quarantine pod, what if you didn't know if you could trust yourself? Set in a modern day COVID afflicted Ireland, 56 days is an understated thriller mystery with plot twists and character developments around every corner. Howard provides an incredibly entertaining trust exercise in which the reader is constantly compelled to re-evaluate which of the narrators they find most believable, if any of them at all. This mystery kept me guessing till the end, and I was satisfied with how Howard tied up loose ends. I should admit that I am a huge sucker for all literature involving Ireland; that being said, I do truly believe this book will be an enjoyable read for anyone interested in mystery even if they are not a Hibernophile! 

If you enjoy 56 Days , then you may also like....

Rock Paper Scissors
by Alice Feeney
Flatiron Books, 2021. 294 pages. 
Fiction

Think you know the person you married? Think again ... Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can't recognize friends or family, or even his own wife. Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts--paper, cotton, pottery, tin--and each year Adam's wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn't randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn't want them to live happily ever after. Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget.

The Last Thing He Told Me 
by Laura Dave 
Simon & Shuster, 2021. 306 pages. 
Fiction

Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future. One neither Hannah nor Bailey could have anticipated.

In the Woods
by Tana French
Viking, 2007. 429 pages. 
Fiction

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children. He is gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a 12-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox (his partner and closest friend) find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

A gorgeously written novel that marks the debut of an astonishing new voice in psychological suspense.

MES

When No One Is Watching

When No One is Watching
by Alyssa Cole
William Morrow Paperback, 2020. 352 pages
Fiction

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she's known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community's past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo. But Sydney and Theo's deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised. When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

As a long time fan of the thriller/mystery genre, I am often able to perfectly predict the ending to even the most perplexing plots. Cole not only surprised me but impressed me with her perfectly planned twists and turns. Though I never truly knew where I, the reader, would be twirled off to next, I found that each twist was well supported and easy to trace once I knew what to look for. This is the kind of book that you could read over and over again and catch a new detail; something you had initially written off as an inconspicuous character detail could reveal itself as clue. While the plot was impressive, I would identify the character work as the real star of this story. Each character had a distinct voice that added a unique element to the story. If you've ever finished a book and thought, "wow, I might actually miss these people" be prepared to feel that way about this book. Luckily for us, this story had high re-readability potential. Last but not least, this novel provides not only a captivating thrill but also an important perspective on systemic racism against Black people in the United States. 

If you enjoy When No One is Watching, then you may also like....

The Other Black Girl
by Zakiya Dalila Harris 
Atria Books, 2021. 357 pages. 
Fiction

Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing. Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she's thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They've only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella's desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW. It's hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there's a lot more at stake than just her career. A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist

Mexican Gothic 
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Del Rey, 2020. 301 pages. 
Fiction

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noem̕ Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. Noem̕ is an unlikely rescuer: She's a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she's also tough and smart, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin's new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noem̕; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi's dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family's youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noem̕, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family's past. As Noem̕ digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness, and may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

The Sun Down Motel 
by Simone St. James
Berkey, 2020. 327 pages. 
Mystery 

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden there. Upstate NY, 2017. Carly Kirk has always been fascinated by her aunt Viv who disappeared from the Sun Down before Carly was born. Using a small inheritance from when her mom dies, Carly leaves college to go to Fell to figure out what happened to her aunt thirty-five years ago. Soon, Carly is mirroring her aunt's life, working as the night clerk at the motel, which hasn't changed since 1982. The guest book is still handwritten, the rooms still have actual keys, and a haunting presence still lingers. Carly discovers that Viv had been trying to unravel mysteries of her own--including a possible serial killer working in Fell. If Carly can find the answers Viv was searching for, she might be able to solve the mystery that has haunted her family for years.

MES

The Good Daughter

The Good Daughter
By Karin Slaughter 
William Morrow, 2017. 515 pages. Mystery.

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father -- Pikeville's notorious defense attorney -- devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night. Twenty-eight years later, and Charlie has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself -- the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again -- and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized -- Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly 30 years ago won't stay buried forever.

Those familiar with Ms. Slaughter's works will know they are not for the faint of heart. The Good Daughter is no different. Featuring dynamic family drama, vehement violence, and stomach-churning suspense, The Good Daughter is a total page turner (though you might be looking at some of pages through the fingers you are using to shield yourself from fear) with strong characters and stronger storylines. This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a gritty crime drama, and who isn't scared of a little gore. 

 If you like The Good Daughter, you might also like: 

The Woman in the Window
By A.J Finn
William Morrow, 2018. 427 pages. Fiction. 

It isn't paranoia if it's really happening... Anna Fox lives alone -- a recluse in her New York City home, drinking too much wine, watching old movies, and spying on her neighbors. Then the Russell family moves next door: a father, a mother, their teenaged son. The perfect family. But when Anna sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble -- and its shocking secrets are laid bare. What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this gripping Hitchcockian thriller, no one and nothing are what they seem.

The Lying Game
By Ruth Ware
Scout Press, 2017. 370 pages. Fiction. 

Four girls are best friends and inseparable at Salten, a second-rate boarding school near the cliffs of the England Channel. They are notorious for playing the Lying Game, telling lies to both fellow boarders and faculty. Their little game has consequences when they soon learn their shared past was not as safely buried as they had once hoped.

In the Woods
By Tana French
Viking, 2007. 429 pages. Mystery. 

Detective Rob Ryan and his partner, Cassie Maddox, investigate the murder of a 12-year-old girl near a Dublin suburb. The case resonates with similarities to a murder committed twenty years before that involved two children and the young Ryan.

 MES

Fade Out

Fade Out
By Nova Ren Suma
Simon & Schuster, 2009. 272 pages. YA Fiction. 

Imaginative thirteen-year-old Dani feels trapped in her small mountain town with only film noir at the local art theater and her depressed mother for company, but while trying to solve a real mystery she learns much about herself and life.

Dani Callanzano is a spitfire teen engrossed in the melodramatic world of noir film and teenage feelings. Dani is navigating changes that many young people experience; changes in her friendships, changes in her family, and changes within herself. Not unlike her noir film stars, Dani's story is fraught with betrayal, boys, and big feelings. Though Dani does have a flair for the dramatics (what noir star doesn't), and does not always make the best choices when navigating her changing life, she feels completely relatable in the context of her story. This is a great read for anyone who feels or remembers the high-stakes angst of teenage life. anyone who has wished they could lock themselves away from their problems in a dark movie theater (with lots of popcorn, obviously), and anyone who needs a reminder to stay true to themselves and embrace their (albeit over-the-top dramatic) feelings sometimes. 

If you like Fade Out, you might also like....

Some Other Now 

By Sarah Everette 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021. 359 pages. YA Fiction

Jessi is caught between two brothers as the three navigate family, loss, and love over the course of her seventeenth and eighteenth summers.

One Great Lie
By Deb Caletti
Atheneum, 2021. 375 pages. YA Fiction.

Charlotte's dream of a summer writing workshop in Venice with her favorite author brings the chance to investigate the mysterious poet in her family's past, meet fascinating new people, and learn truths about her idol.

MES

Kiki Strike : inside the shadow city

Kiki Strike : Inside the Shadow City (Kiki Strike Series #1) 
By Kirsten Miller 
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2006. 387 pages. YA Fiction. 

Ananka Fishbein was just like most other twelve-year-old girls in New York City, that is, until a giant sinkhole leading to a secret underground metropolis opens up in the park next to her apartment. After Ananka discovers the secret world below her feet she becomes swept up in a world of exploration, espionage, and eccentricities. Under the guidance her mysterious new friend, Kiki Strike, and with the help of her trusty all-girl posse, the Irregulars, Ananka is in for the adventure of a lifetime. 

If you've ever sat around and thought, "I wonder what would happen if girl scouts inexplicably had military grade training in combat and reconnaissance, and little to no parent supervision" then, boy, do I have a book for you. The first book in the Kiki Strike series delivers a fast-paced, high stakes adventure featuring strong female characters and a spellbinding subterranean world. I had a blast reading this plot driven story, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in secret societies, notices things other people fail to see, is an adept people-watcher, enjoys stories about strong female characters, has a no-harm-no-foul concept of crime, scoffs at romance novels, uses their adept makeup and costuming skills to become other people, has toyed with the idea of becoming an art thief, or would relish the opportunity to explore a long-forgotten land. 

If you like Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, you might also like: 

The Ever After (May Bird Trilogy #1)

By Jodi Lynn Anderson
Aladdin, 2005. 343 pages. YA Fantasy. 

Lonely and shy, ten-year-old May Ellen Bird has no idea what awaits her when she falls into the lake and enters a world few people have ever seen, the Ever After, home of ghosts and the Bogeyman.

Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes (Ruby Redfort Series #1)
By Lauren Child 
Candlewick Press, 2012. 383 pages. YA Mystery. 

Thirteen-year-old Ruby, a genius code-cracker and daring detective, gets an anonymous call setting a challenge that leads her to the headquarters of Spectrum, a highly secret anti-crime agency that needs her help to crack a code, but soon Ruby uncovers dastardly plans of the Fool's Gold Gang.

            

MES