Pretty Girls

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I was deeply moved by the family dynamics. My favorite part in this book is the father’s POV/letters to the girls. I wish I’d gotten more of the three sisters so that I could see more clearly the shift in their bond before/after the tragedy and their split. Oddly enough, the purest bits, the best and profound parts are the journal entries that dot the path of this terrible story. They are from a grieving father to the missing daughter he can never give up on. I read each one, grateful, because THOSE kept me going, pushing me to the end. The two sisters join forces to continue searching for the truth about Julia’s disappearance, and must face the consequences of Claire learning some very disturbing secrets about her husband.

Scientifically Proven Reasons Life Is Better If You're Beautiful – by Dina Spector in Business Insider I understand it's a thriller and it was to show just how much of a monster certain characters were but it's rare that I have to skip so much or put down a book because I'm so horrified. In my opinion gruesome violence overkill. At the same time the authors ability to describe other things and situations so well kept me intrigued as to what was going to happen next. At certain parts I was literally holding my breath as things were unfolding. Just like watching a horror movie and yelling "don't go in there" to the person on the screen I wanted to yell similar things at Claire and Lydia.Pretty Girls is a captivating thriller written by Karin Slaughter, an acclaimed author known for her ability to create gripping and suspenseful narratives. Published in 2015, this novel dives deep into the dark and twisted world of secrets, violence, and revenge, leaving readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival. I particularly loved the chapters where Julia's dad wrote her letters. Man, that ripped my heart out. It physically hurt to read the loving, fatherly tone, with his undying love for his missing daughter. The world could've ended, and he wouldn't have sacrificed his love for his daughter. Only death could bring sweet relief from the pain of missing your child. Twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia Scott's older sister vanished without a trace. Her disappearance had a devastating effect on their family. I can’t just walk away from this. I have to know. There isn’t anything left in my life except finding out the truth.” <--- my sentiments exactly! *keeps reading*

Overall, I thought that it was a fantastic story. It was suspenseful and kept me in a hyper-vigilant state until every question had been answered. I had chills while listening to this story. This has got to be one of the most screwed up, disturbing stories that I've "read". Because it certainly wasn't the torture porn and the third act that ratchets up everything to a lunatic finish. Not everyone will like the subject matter. Unfortunately things like this can and do happen each and every day. I honestly didn’t know what to expect as this is my fist KS book, but she can WRITE. there were many times I actually had to stop reading or just walk away either from the disturbing content or the thriller parts (for me, once I’m on edge, I’m completely on edge). I do think the “twists” were obvious, but she writes the intricate levels of corruption really well. I honestly didn’t know who to trust until it was all laid out in the endAhhhhh, love this!!! “He had been so very, very cunning, hiding all of his transgressions in plain sight. The only question now was how many more transgressions was she going to find?” A tasty, if not always tasteful, tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy. Slaughter (Cop Town, 2014, etc.) is so uncompromising in following her blood trails to the darkest places imaginable that she makes most of her high-wire competition look pallid, formulaic, or just plain fake. After reading The Good Daughter as well, I can say with confidence that Karin Slaughter is extremely talented at writing complex family dynamics. I loved learning about Claire and Lydia’s history, uncovering the reason behind their falling out, and watching them piece their relationship together in the direst of situations.

The queen of police thrillers takes a more psychological approach with her 15th novel…the book has all the twists and suspense that readers expect from Slaughter, but from a more poignant perspective.” — Atlanta Magazine Twenty years ago, Julia went missing and has not been seen since. The book shows how her disappearance affected her family. Her father never stopped searching and wrote her letters. Her mother suffered depression and drank before pulling herself up by her boot straps and tried to have a life. Claire, married Paul and lived a very affluent lifestyle, while Lydia has been sober for years after a long drug addiction. She is a single mother in a relationship with a man who is also in recovery. The book lets us know that a young girl has gone missing. Her disappearance triggers feelings in both sisters and remind them of their owns sister's disappearance. WHY DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN AT ALL? The book doesn’t provide any explanation why the crime is committed, why the perpetrator has a proclivity for such sadistic behavior and how it came to be. I was curious, especially because Paul is indoctrinated and groomed by his father to continue “the family business”. I don’t know if you’ve managed to piece this together yet, but I read a lot. Good books, bad books, romance books, crime books, I don’t judge. Of course, I have my favorites. But I try to approach each book with an open mind. I don’t necessarily mind violence in books. Or misogyny. I don’t even mind if a book has sexual violence in it, as long as there’s a compelling reason. Which is too bad, because the book started strong. 24 years ago, Julia Carroll disappeared. The disappearance shattered her family. Her father killed himself (his letters to his missing daughter are the closest thing to a heart this book has). Her mother retreated inward; she stopped talking about Julia, but she kept her bedroom exactly the way the 19-year-old left it. Sisters Lydia Delgado, a single mother, owner of a pet grooming business and recovering addict, and Claire Scott, the pampered wife of a successful architect haven’t spoken for 20 years. The estrangement wasn’t because of Julia-it happened after Lydia accused Claire’s husband of something awful.ok seriously. This is pretty gruesome. If you’re sensitive to graphic violence, this book is not for you. Please be warned. Amongst the world's greatest and finest crime writers' YRSA SIGURÐARDÓTTIR Read more Look Inside Details The story revolves around the lives of two sisters, Claire and Lydia, who have been torn apart by a tragic event that occurred over two decades ago. Claire's husband, Paul, an upstanding citizen and loving partner, unexpectedly disappears under mysterious circumstances. As Claire tries to uncover the truth behind his disappearance, she is forced to confront a past that has haunted her for years. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Slaughter, Karin. Pretty Girls. HarperCollins, 2015. okayyyyyy, did NOT see that reaction coming. That must be one helluva history they’ve got there for THAT to be her reaction. O.O

Julia Carroll was a beautiful nineteen year old, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Studying at the local college, not far from her family’s home, she also worked and wrote articles for the college paper, which she loved. Another missing girl led Julia to do some research on missing girls and what she found horrified her. As she pitched her idea to her editor, she was stunned at the comments from a colleague – and also the results.After Claire’s husband is killed in a mugging-gone-wrong, she uncovers some dark things about her husband. And her sister is the only one who can help her get to the bottom of his vast mountain of secrets. On their way, they uncover an underground snuff ring, a conspiracy that goes ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP, and an FBI agent that seems to be doing his best Foghorn Leghorn impression.