Pretty Girls

By: Karin Slaughter

Narrated by: Kathleen Early

Lee Child says it’s “stunning… certain to be a book of the year.”

Kathy Reichs calls it “extraordinary… a major achievement.”

Jeffery Deaver says that “fiction doesn’t get any better than this.”

Gillian Flynn says of Karin Slaughter: “I’d follow her anywhere.”

See for yourself what these #1 New York Times-bestselling authors are talking about.

Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.

More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that’s cruelly ripped open when Claire’s husband is killed.

The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: What could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago … and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.

Powerful, poignant, and utterly gripping, packed with indelible characters and unforgettable twists, Pretty Girls is a masterful novel from one of the finest writers working today.

Included with this gripping thriller is Karin Slaughter’s chilling short story “Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes.”

©2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2015 Blackstone Audiobooks

BEST KARIN SLAUGHTER BOOK (so far)

WOW, what a GREAT listen! Saying it is her best yet is something because I absolutely love GRANT COUNTY and WILL TRENT but PRETTY GIRLS is just amazing. It is a thriller, it is graphic, but most of all it is the story of a family whose eldest daughter, Julia, disappeared years ago. The two younger sisters, Lydia and Claire, are such strong women despite their flaws and chapters told by Julia's father are both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Narration by Kathleen Early is stellar.

Horribly graphic

This book was so sexually graphic and gory. Reading out the sexual torture and mutilation of young girls. No thanks. Money back please. I'll need it for therapy now.

Too dark

Not an enjoyable read for me. Way too dark, the type of book that makes you check your locks at night. Not a light read at all. I knew it would have some dark elements but given the witty funny preview I didn't expect it to be hours on end of gore like it was. I'll stick with romance novels lol.

Amazing

Couldn't put it down! It was a little dark, but I loved it! Will be looking for more from the author and narrator as well!

Not for the faint of heart

I'll be honest that I was equally glued to this book and repulsed by parts of it. I couldn't sleep one night after binge listening. But it was well written and totally worth a few scary dreams ;-)

Dark, but great!

I honestly don't understand all the reviews that label this book as "horribly vulgar" or "disgusting." Maybe I'm just a horrible human being, but I didn't think the graphic imagery in the book was gratuitous. It is definitely dark and twisted, not for the weak stomach. However, I never felt like the author dwelled on grotesque situations for too long. I kept waiting for the moment when I would gasp and have to stop listening, based on the expectations set by previous reviewers. But, I finished the book and thought it was a great and gripping story. It is very sad, though, so be prepared for that. I would definitely recommend this book if you like dark and suspenseful thrillers.

Good, but way too long

Good story and good characters, as one would expect from Karin Slaughter. But it easily could have been 25% shorter and had the same resonance. It's worth a listen, but wouldn't be my number one pick.

one of the most gripping thrillers I've ever heard!

Karin Slaughter is brilliant! Her books charge along at breakneck speed, keeping you glued to the tale and breathless... Pretty Girls was the first book I ever listened to by her, and I devoured the rest of her books in quick succession. She has no fear, writes like a man where brutality, facts and logic are needed, and with all the grasp of human emotions that the best female authors can convey where it is called for. I cannot say enough how much I appreciate and love her writing. Enjoy!!

Fantastic book....but a little gory...

This is my introduction to Karin Slaughter and I will be purchasing more books by this author. The characters were very fleshed out and there was character growth. REALLY good book, I did not see the twists coming. HIGHLY recommend. Be forewarned though - it was very gory, a little too much I think...

You will be saying "Gone Girl, WHO???"

You will be saying "Gone Girl, WHO???" and this is coming from someone who really LIKED that book. This stand-alone novel by Karin Slaughter is proof that authors who find fame with a series do not ALWAYS sell out to cranking out one book after another just to ride on the coattails of previous best sellers. This is an excellent plot line, the main characters complex and likable with their own particular twists of weird to them. An interesting bond between the characters that has all of the love/hate/envy that we see in the real world. There is a short add-on story at the end of the audiobook that had me immediately start the whole thing again to pick up any details I rushed through the first time. It DID consume most of last week for me, but it was worth my reading/listening "hangovers" each morning...
Very well done, absolutely worth the credit!