Hello Readers,
Thank you, NetGalley for the copy of Pretty Dead Things.
I received a complimentary eBook in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the cover image featured in this post.
It is used under Fair Use for the purposes of review and recommendation, in
line with sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright Act.
Pretty Dead Things is the exact kind of psychological
thriller that makes you think you’ve figured everything out, only to completely
pull the rug from under you. Seriously... WOW. It’s been a minute since a thriller
made me want to share my thoughts immediately online, but this one more than
lives up to the hype.
Twenty-five years ago, Isabelle Whitmore vanished from
Sherman Ranch in Anhalt, Texas, without leaving a single clue behind. Now, the
annual Lone Star Princess Pageant is forcing old friends, fierce rivals, and
estranged families back into the same room. Among them is Isabelle’s twin
sister, Ingrid, returning to the hometown she thought she’d left in the past.
When a severe winter storm cuts the power and seals everyone inside, old
grudges resurface and a body turns up.
What really set Pretty Dead Things apart for me was how
rich and character-driven the story is. The characters feel authentically
flawed and human. Between messy friendships, tense mother-daughter dynamics,
deep-seated rivalries, and endless secrets, you’ll find yourself side-eying
every single character. Plus, using a beauty pageant backdrop was a stroke of
genius it peels back the glitter and rhinestones to tackle intense family
pressure, jealousy, body image, and the heavy expectations pushed onto women.
The dual timeline and multiple POVs keep the momentum
going at breakneck speed. The chapters are short, snappy, and end on crisp cliff hangers that urge you to read "just one more chapter." As for
the twists? I genuinely did not see them coming. I lost count of how many times
I actually gasped out loud while reading. Best of all, the reveals feel entirely earned instead of
forced, which makes unravelling the mystery so much fun.
If your favourite books feature small-town thrillers,
locked-room mysteries, unreliable characters, cold cases, beauty pageants, and
twisty psychological suspense, do yourself a favour and put Pretty Dead Things
by Kelsey Cox right at the top of your TBR.
Stay Spooky
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