Just Jennifer

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (William Morrow)

In this stand-alone thriller, Karin Slaughter takes all of the usual tropes of psychological thrillers and ratchets them up to unimaginable heights with the story of two sisters estranged by an event that destroyed their family and reunited by unthinkable evil that changes everything.  Claire appears to live the perfect life: her husband adores her, they are financial well-off and she enjoys herself.  Just below the façade, however, there are cracks and fissures from her past from which she has not broken entirely free.  In a dark alley one night, Claire’s life changes forever when her husband is murdered.  Before Claire has a moment to grieve, a chain of events is set in motion that lead Claire on a trip down the rabbit hole where she finds a most unexpected ally but one who had been there all along if she had just asked.

Lydia has had to fight and struggle with and for everything most of her adult life.  She is off drugs but still carries a little extra weight; her daughter Dee is a typical teenager and she is in a relationship with a man to whom she cannot quite commit, but who is patient with and supportive of her.  When her past slams her in the face, she must make a decision, one that could cost her everything or one that might have unexpected positive results.  An edge of your seat thriller, Karin Slaughter pulls you into places you don’t want to do and never waned to be but can’t help yourself.  Though graphic and disturbing, these characters will get under your skin and from whom you will not be able to look away.  Just when you think you’ve got all the answers, there is one more unexpected twist.  It doesn’t get much better than this.