Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

 

Pretty Girls

by Karin Slaughter

The Carroll family was torn apart when the eldest daughter Julia disappeared decades ago. Middle daughter Lydia turned to drugs and a life separated from her family. The youngest, Claire, hid her emotions and married a man most considered beneath her as she sought safety and normality. The matriarch, Helen, hid in the bottle for a few years before deciding to let the past be the past. And Sam, the father, killed himself.

Years later Claire's husband is killed in an alley while she watched. Or at least that's what she's led to believe. Her wealthy genius husband, Paul Scott, drove a wedge between her and Lydia years before after Julia's disappearance. Lydia accused Paul of attempting to rape her. Claire refused to believe it and made Helen choose a side. She chose Claire's. Lydia, now with a daughter of her now named Dee, lives her own life, risen from the depths of despair to become a successful small business owner and is in a relationship with her next door neighbor who helped to raise her daughter.

After Paul's funeral Claire, newly released from prison for an assault charge, becomes involved in a tangled web of lies and conspiracy when she finds out Paul was involved in a snuff porn ring. The FBI is at her door, the local sheriff is on the case, and a missing girl is showing up on some of Paul's videos. Claire doesn't know where to turn, suspecting that Paul was being aided by the local congressman and the local law enforcement. Out of desperation she turns to Lydia whom she hasn't spoken with in years. Lydia has never forgiven Claire for believing Paul and turning their mother against her. But as the clues and evidence mount, she realizes that their sister may have been one of the victims of Paul's crime ring.

But Paul stages a comeback, kidnaps Lydia, and forces Claire to recover a USB drive for him. Claire has to over come her inability to take care of herself by finding the inner strength to save her sister, get revenge on Paul, and close Julia's case for good.

I found some of this book to be implausible, but that aside, I loved it! It is very dark, violent, and unflinching. The character dynamics are messy and complicated, just like real life, and I was all in for the drama between them. The pacing was great and the internal struggles were realistic, if sometimes infuriating. At times I just wanted to shake Claire out of her stupor. The list of potential threats was excellent and kept me guessing. Was the law enforcement in cahoots with Paul? Was the congressman? The FBI agent? Paul's best friend and business partner?

The sibling dynamic between Claire and Lydia was well done. Their dialogue was natural and sincere. I found the mother's involvement a little dubious, but it didn't prevent me from enjoying the story. Their were enough twists to keep me guessing and flipping the pages. All around, a well-plotted story.

Pretty Girls gets 4 stars.