A tasty, if not always tasteful, tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy. Wow! This was one dark and disturbing story. I love dark reads, but this was pretty gruesome for me at times. I was at the edge of my seat from start to finish with this one. I even had nightmares about this book. As I start to write this review, just thinking about it is giving me the chills. It was just that messed up. 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. Because it certainly wasn't the torture porn and the third act that ratchets up everything to a lunatic finish.

Authors are always asked where they get their ideas, and the truth is that most of the time we don't know. An idea is a weird thing--usually, it's like a grain of sand that your brain worries into a pearl. When did the sand start to turn into something shiny and beautiful? No way to know.

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Karin Slaughter truly has some of the strongest writing I've read. Like seriously. It doesn't matter if you end up loving or hating the story, it doesn't change the fact that the writing itself is top notch. The reason I rare read other genres is that they're rarely able to hold my attention -- I crave the emotional connection in romances -- so it's a real testament to how good this writing was that I was that into this story.

The novel ends with the sisters and their mother reconciling and cleaning out Julia’s room, discussing their favorite memories from their life together. I can’t just walk away from this. I have to know. There isn’t anything left in my life except finding out the truth.” <--- my sentiments exactly! *keeps reading* I have found that over the last year I've read quite a few stories about missing girls/children etc. Although this book is about WAY more than a missing girl. There is so much going on in this book right from the start. The twists start early on. This book really shows how a crime affects everyone involved. How differently everyone copes, not just when the crime is first committed but how it can shape the actions and futures of all involved. In the meantime, Julia still wants to belong, wants to have fun, is hoping the guy she is seeing feels the same way about her as she does about him. She's both mature and immature at times, and I so I found her character to be pretty typical of her age.

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I understand it's a thriller and it was to show just how much of a monster certain characters were but it's rare that I have to skip so much or put down a book because I'm so horrified. In my opinion gruesome violence overkill. At the same time the authors ability to describe other things and situations so well kept me intrigued as to what was going to happen next. At certain parts I was literally holding my breath as things were unfolding. Just like watching a horror movie and yelling "don't go in there" to the person on the screen I wanted to yell similar things at Claire and Lydia. It’s not just the predictability of the narrative, it’s how absolutely nothing happens that annoyed the crap out of me. Sure Slaughter can write a convincing portrayal of a young woman’s life but give us a reason to care about what we’re reading!

Oddly enough, the purest bits, the best and profound parts are the journal entries that dot the path of this terrible story. They are from a grieving father to the missing daughter he can never give up on. I read each one, grateful, because THOSE kept me going, pushing me to the end. I simply cannot say enough good things about Pretty Girls. The plot is terrifying yet makes you want to read on because you have to know what happens. Literally every chapter gives you a new twist. The characters are so real I could picture them inside of my mind as I read and the scenery... I could see it all.

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The author did an excellent job with the plot and character development which had me totally invested in what I was reading as the suspense and tension developed. Julia is a college student concerned about the recent disappearance of a couple of girls who are strikingly similar in appearance. She is hoping to be a reporter/journalist and wants to write a story about rape statistics. Please be aware that the delivery time frame may vary according to the area of delivery - the approximate delivery time is usually between 1-2 business days. Library folk? Take off the mystery label you might place on the spine of this book. Put on a horror label instead. People deserve at least SOME sort of warning.