The Prized Girl

A Novel

By: Amy K. Green

Narrated by: Alex McKenna, Taylor Meskimen

From debut author Amy K. Green comes a devastating tale of psychological suspense: A teen pageant queen is found murdered in a small New England town and her sister's search for answers unearths more than she bargained for.

Days after a young pageant queen named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny's tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. The most obvious suspect is one of her fans, an older man who may have gotten too close for comfort. But Jenny's half-sister, Virginia—the sarcastic black sheep of the family—isn't so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.

But for Jenny's case and Virginia's investigation, there's more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lies beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny's life. Alternating between Jenny's final days and Virginia's determined search for the truth, the sisters' dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.

Infused with dark humor and driven by two captivating young women, The Prized Girl tells a heartbreaking story of missed connections, a complicated family, and a town's disturbing secrets.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Prized Girl
“So fun and gritty! Couldn't put it down, and then couldn't stop thinking about it once I finished.”—Georgia Hardstark, My Favorite Murder cohost and #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A darkly funny thriller with a shocker ending.”—People

“Expertly told in a crisp, fast-paced style . . . [with] stunning twists and a shocking surprise ending.”—Associated Press

“This suspense novel, with its sharp turns, will have you guessing until the very last page.”—Star

“Told in alternating points of view between Virginia and Jenny, this is a story that readers will never see coming.”—The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

“This disturbing tour behind the scenes of a stolen childhood exposes cringe-inducing truths—and leads to a shocking conclusion.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Its nicely twisting plot will hold readers’ interests.”—Booklist

“At times funny, at times haunting, The Prized Girl is a raw, beautiful page-turner; the perfect whodunit for today's world. Green's compelling characters step off the page and into your heart.”—Bryan Reardon, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Jake and The Perfect Plan

“Gripping prose, complex characters, and dark family secrets propel this story about a murdered teen pageant queen to a perfectly unexpected finale. A stunning debut!”—Wendy Walker, author of The Night Before

Wow! Such great twists

I didn't see the ending coming and I am shook by it! Loved this book

An absolute MUST read!

I didn't want to press pause. The narrator's are fantastic and the story has you talking to yourself trying to guess what is happening next! The story has so many twists and turns and it is absolutely phenomenal!

Favorite new suspense of 2020

I loved it! I couldn't put it down! Loved the characters and laughed out loud several times!

Messed Up People with Messed Up Lives

Mixed about this. So many mistakes made by people all ending in tragedy that basically goes unpunished. Quick listen. i liked parts. i feel like shaking these characters to give them some sense.

Think about updating the narrator

The story-line seemed like it was good, but the bland narration caused me to be easily distracted from listening.
Perhaps reading the book would be a better option. Only heard about 4 hours before completely losing interest.