Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter 📘 Review
TRIGGER WARNINGS: kidnapping, rape, murder
Claire and Lydia haven't seen each other since their oldest sister, Julia, went missing. Twenty-four years later, they meet again after the murder of Claire's husband, Paul. The two estranged sisters will investigate the origin of some horrifically disturbing video files Paul left behind. Their search will lead them to the discovery of truths about their own family that might be too much to handle.
One of the first things that enticed me to the book is its structure. We follow two timelines. The book starts with Sam, Claire and Lydia's father, who writes letters to Julia as he still tries to find out what happened to her. The second plotline is at the present day, which is twenty-four years after Julia's disappearance, and it is from both Claire's and Lydia's point of view as they try to uncover the secret life Paul was leading behind Claire's back. Claire and Lydia's journey to the truth dominate the narrative as readers try to piece together all the events along with them. However, the insight into Sam's mind complements the story as we get to see the father's struggle to come to terms with the idea that something horrible happened to his daughter and to move on with his life.
It is Claire's and Lydia's teaming up in order to find out who Paul really was that dominates the book, and for good reason. First and foremost, the page-turner quality of the book comes from the fact that readers are as clueless and surprised by all the illegal and immoral activities that Paul seems to be involved in as the two sisters. The more incriminating evidence the two sisters discover about Paul, the more they put their lives in danger. Readers get invested in their journey because, besides the curiosity to learn what happened, they get to know the two sisters and care for them. Although they both still suffer from their sister's disappearance, Claire is an unpredictable rich housewife while Lydia is a former drug addict business woman striving to make ends meet for her daughter's sake. Despite their opposite personalities and the tension from their family drama, they make a great team. The fact that there were several instances that made me laugh out loud while reading a disturbing book like that made me appreciate and like the characters for their wittiness and humour even more.
Unfortunately, I feel like the author didn't take full advantage of the intriguing characters she created. Despite their questions being answered, characters do not change throughout the book. The ending is especially disappointing when it comes to Claire. Although Claire says that she is sorry for the way she behaved at several occasions, not only does she not face the consequences of her actions but also she is more willing to invest her time in dating than going to therapy. Thus, although both main and secondary characters have interesting backstories due to all their family drama and the trauma of one family member disappearing out of the blue without leaving any trace behind, they all end up being flat.
To conclude, although there is no character development, Pretty Girls is a gripping plot-driven book that you won't stop thinking about until you reach the end.
Favourite Quote:
'I don't forgive you, but you're still my sister.' (p. 183)
My rating: 4 / 5 💛
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