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A review by mysticpagemage
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Book Review
Pretty Girls
Karin Slaughter
2.25 stars
Im 1991 the oldest of three sisters goes missing. This leaves a family to question what happened, could something have been done to prevent it, how do they move on, and ultimately they each find their own paths forward. The father never gives up his search, the mother remarries after leaving because she feels trapped by the weight of the mystery, the second daughter is constantly trying new ways to dull the pain, and the youngest seeks love from anyone she can until she meets the one man that gives her everything she has ever needed, Paul.
Twenty years later Paul is murdered in a robbery gone wrong. His death brings the two remaining sisters back together in ways that they never dreamed possible. As they begin to reconnect the learn that there are secrets that they never even thought were possible for someone they were so close to to have. How vile human nature can actually be and the true depths of depravity one person will go to to be in control.
To be straightforward with anyone who picks this book up to read, be ready for some graphic writing. It is not going to sugar coat the horrendous crimes that the book entails. There are scenes within the book that will turn most people's stomachs if they have a powerful imagination. So always check the warning on books before diving in blindly unless you are emotionally mature enough to know what you can handle.
The characters were basic level characters: a mothrr who had checked out, a daughter who let the man do everything for her, the black sheep who didn't wanna try to repair her connection with her family, the cocky FBI agent and the fumbling local law enforcement. They weren't really any that you would be rooting for at any moment in the book. However, the weaving connections of all the characters within the plot was interesting.
I will have to admit there was a reveal in the plot that I did not see coming that I literally said out loud "what the actual f***" but then once it was all put together I felt like it was quiet interesting. The torture scenes as I said could be a bit much for some people and to me I think they could have been done a bit differently to not come across as petty in some aspects, speciffically the 'waterboarding' which just felt immature.
Some aspects of the writing felt sluggish especially when the story itself felt like it could have been condensed a bit more. However, I greatly enjoyed the exerts from the father's diary to his oldest daughter that was a great touch. Overall I don't think I would recommend or reread this book. It feels like a one time thing for me and I don't think people I know would enjoy it at all.
• Initial Response: 3/5 (neither good nor bad an average read for me)
• Recommendation: 1/5 (would not recommend most people I know would not enjoy)
• Re-Readability: 1/5 (once you read I don't see the need for a reread)
• Writing Style: 2/5 (easy to read but sluggish at times)
• Engagement w/ Plot: 4/5 (I wanted to know who did and there was some good wtf moments)
• Character Likeability/Relatability: 2/5 (basic characters)
Pretty Girls
Karin Slaughter
2.25 stars
Im 1991 the oldest of three sisters goes missing. This leaves a family to question what happened, could something have been done to prevent it, how do they move on, and ultimately they each find their own paths forward. The father never gives up his search, the mother remarries after leaving because she feels trapped by the weight of the mystery, the second daughter is constantly trying new ways to dull the pain, and the youngest seeks love from anyone she can until she meets the one man that gives her everything she has ever needed, Paul.
Twenty years later Paul is murdered in a robbery gone wrong. His death brings the two remaining sisters back together in ways that they never dreamed possible. As they begin to reconnect the learn that there are secrets that they never even thought were possible for someone they were so close to to have. How vile human nature can actually be and the true depths of depravity one person will go to to be in control.
To be straightforward with anyone who picks this book up to read, be ready for some graphic writing. It is not going to sugar coat the horrendous crimes that the book entails. There are scenes within the book that will turn most people's stomachs if they have a powerful imagination. So always check the warning on books before diving in blindly unless you are emotionally mature enough to know what you can handle.
The characters were basic level characters: a mothrr who had checked out, a daughter who let the man do everything for her, the black sheep who didn't wanna try to repair her connection with her family, the cocky FBI agent and the fumbling local law enforcement. They weren't really any that you would be rooting for at any moment in the book. However, the weaving connections of all the characters within the plot was interesting.
I will have to admit there was a reveal in the plot that I did not see coming that I literally said out loud "what the actual f***" but then once it was all put together I felt like it was quiet interesting. The torture scenes as I said could be a bit much for some people and to me I think they could have been done a bit differently to not come across as petty in some aspects, speciffically the 'waterboarding' which just felt immature.
Some aspects of the writing felt sluggish especially when the story itself felt like it could have been condensed a bit more. However, I greatly enjoyed the exerts from the father's diary to his oldest daughter that was a great touch. Overall I don't think I would recommend or reread this book. It feels like a one time thing for me and I don't think people I know would enjoy it at all.
• Initial Response: 3/5 (neither good nor bad an average read for me)
• Recommendation: 1/5 (would not recommend most people I know would not enjoy)
• Re-Readability: 1/5 (once you read I don't see the need for a reread)
• Writing Style: 2/5 (easy to read but sluggish at times)
• Engagement w/ Plot: 4/5 (I wanted to know who did and there was some good wtf moments)
• Character Likeability/Relatability: 2/5 (basic characters)