It's been a couple of years since I read this, but I remember liking it a lot, so I'm one of those who liked it a lot better than you did. But, great review, you stated your case well, even if we differ on it. :)
550 pages! Geez that's a deal breaker from the word go. The trouble with complex and/or convoluted plots is, even if you like the book, all you remember about it is how convoluted it was. I found that even with Raymond Chandler.
I remember also feeling like it was a little too much, and definitely too long. But I do remember enjoying it and thinking at times “how is this only thriller? This scene definitely feels like horror” when I read it a few years ago.
That’s a big issue I had with this book. I really enjoyed the story and I gave it a good review but I did feel like it was quite long and some chapters felt like they were never going to end. I figured out the plot twist pretty early on so all of the fluff got to be a bit tedious.
Yes, you can make a great story of these kind with lesser paging, also everything focuses in just one major event, is like your not writing the Quixote twice For example, the Quixote, that book needed like lots of pages because there was lot of things going on and stories.
I haven't read Pretty Girls yet, but I know what you mean about too many twists. I feel like authors can jerk you around doing that, maybe to make up for something the story or the writing lacks, and it does feel like it's more for shock value rather than the building of tension. I like the comparison, or contrast, really, to Psycho. The Only One Left by Riley sager reminds me of this trend because I feel like that was what he was doing. Twist after twist... Thank you for your review. I still kind of want to read Pretty Girls but I appreciate a different perspective on such a popular book.
You nailed it. There is one scene that really disturbed me (the torture scene), but the rest of the book was mostly "meh". Good premise, not great execution.
I read this book last summer after hearing how crazy it was and people saying they felt on edge reading it. I was HIGHLY disappointed. The book is disturbing but didn't grip me at all. I was not on edge and felt bored.....what that says about me I don't know lol. You know what I read after this book that did grip me and I felt on edge......All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby👌🏽
Not sure if the hype around the book created more expectation but I completely agree with your review. I kept feeling something is missing in the book. On the other hand I have heard about the book ‘Dear Laura’ only on your channel, which did an excellent job ! Some parts about Dear Laura will haunt and stay with you for life. I completely loved it thanks for recommending it.
Oddly,I agree with everything you state in your review but came to the opposite conclusion of still enjoying the book. I guess my standard for enjoyment is lower! Outside of this being your first "disturbing" book, I dont see how anyone comes to label this as disturbing myself. But once youve read Hogg (on your channels reccomendation 😂), most books are basically Bambi. Enjoyed the video!
This was the first book that made me feel overwhelmed. I guess I’m not that into dark thrillers as I thought I was. About half way thru it, and not sure if I can finish it, so disturbing
I don't enjoy a book which basically spins out of control..and gets more complicated. ..its not necessary to have for the book to become interesting ..although i like a good twist at the end of the story...
I'm finishing Pretty Girls now, have about 80 pages left. I can't wait for it to be over, it's not a good book at all. It's not that disturbing or graphic for me either.
Good review, Olly. I read 1 Karin Slaughter book - Kept Woman. I did not think the writing was great. I did not like any of the characters. I thought it was just not as well-executed as it could have been. Basically the same as what you're saying here about Pretty Girls. I'm also not really a fan of the police procedural, which it was. I need more intimate characters, if that makes sense. I would compare Slaughter's writing to that of Riley Sager, and I know how we both feel about him, lol.
Agree with you regarding all the plot twists & too many characters. Liked it but the torture scenes were too detailed for me. Would like to see it become a movie or mini series with the torture scenes not shown, just the tools, so you know it's intense but it's not shown.
I haven't read it yet, but several people have told me that Wrath James White is a better writer than most "extreme horror" folks, and that His Pain is deeply unsettling.
(Spoiler warning but I’ll try to avoid.) I pretty much hated this book basically because of one aspect Ollie pointed out: the conspiracy was *too* *large* !
Not a post about Karen Slaughter, but this is the only UA-cam channel I follow that reads a lot of horror: I just finished reading This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno. Probably the best horror book I've ever read. Highly recommend to those who aren't all about blood and gore and like more of a slow burn story. I'm curious if anyone else has read it and what they thought the "evil" was in this book (for lack of a better term). (Spoilers) I've been looking at reviews and everyone seems to think it was either the AI device causing the problems or the main character had a mental break down. I thought it was a demonic possession issue. Or maybe it's just one of those books that can be interpreted several ways. Anywho, just curious what other people took from it.
Hello CriminOlly - Could you please review Baise Moi by Virginie Despentes? It's a trash core porn novel that was made into an equally controversial film in France. Thanks!
Thank u for echoing my opinion. I never liked this book. The protagonist was badly sketched. Pretty woman being pretty, contemplating for few moments and solving mysteries without giving us any details! The central idea was pretty fetching, and I wish, the father of the girl, who had actually solved the mystery, or half of it, via newspaper clippings and diary entries, would have made for a better storyline. Slaughter's ideas are fine, but she tried to create a character, which was very unrelatable. I look forward to reading MO HAYDER.
Sorry this is a late comment, just watched. I personally loved the book and have read and enjoyed all her novels and short stories ( some more than others). I can u derstand your issues with it but as I read a lot of crime/ mystery novels I love a convoluted story. Lovee your channel as you read all sorts although don't think you've reviewed ant sciece fiction or fantasy ( unless you class Godzilla as such).
You have to be really presumptuous to write a 550 page thriller. People have little time and a lot of things to do to waste time reading a long book by a second rate writer. Stick to a maximum 200 pages. You have more than enough space to say what you have to say. Leave the long books to real writers
I really don't think it was as extreme as people are acting. It was probably one of the most action packed books I have ever read. The extreme scenes were kept short and had purpose. I think people are really overreacting.
I read some books of hers and I dont know if Ive just been unlucky or if all of her books are like that, but the author seems to have an obsession with the sexual torture of women and trying to be as graphic and gory as possible. I think if she really leaned into it and just put her books into the extreme horror category it could work, but most of her books were advertised to me as psychological thrillers and thats just not it babe
This was my first and last Karen Slaughter book. It came across way too try hard, the characters shallow and underwritten in favor of graphic descriptions of men perpetuating sexual violence against women which, to me, always feels like a crutch to make a story more "disturbing". Violence against women is real and Karen Slaughter just seems to be romanticizing it in such a backwards, gross way that has lady readers constantly coming back to watch the nasty, pervert man get it in the end. She tries and fails to be Gillian Flynn and the book ends up just feeling like a colossal waste of time because she fails to understand what causes couples to separate and grow resentful of one another.
This book has far too much voyeristic detail about torture and injury, which is unecessarily repeated and repeated. This to me undermines and points about misogyny.
For a minute there, I thought the name of the book was Karen: Slaughter Pretty Girls
😆
It's been a couple of years since I read this, but I remember liking it a lot, so I'm one of those who liked it a lot better than you did. But, great review, you stated your case well, even if we differ on it. :)
550 pages! Geez that's a deal breaker from the word go. The trouble with complex and/or convoluted plots is, even if you like the book, all you remember about it is how convoluted it was. I found that even with Raymond Chandler.
The thumbnail seals the deal for me.
So glad I DNFed this when I did! Thank you so much for the review, this was everything I needed to hear!
I pushed through and it really wasn’t worth it 😭
I remember also feeling like it was a little too much, and definitely too long. But I do remember enjoying it and thinking at times “how is this only thriller? This scene definitely feels like horror” when I read it a few years ago.
Agree - Slaughter doesn't hold back in her descriptions of violence
Modern writers think books need to be 350 pages plus and that’s what leads to overstuffed plots.
Completely agree!
That’s a big issue I had with this book.
I really enjoyed the story and I gave it a good review but I did feel like it was quite long and some chapters felt like they were never going to end.
I figured out the plot twist pretty early on so all of the fluff got to be a bit tedious.
Yes, you can make a great story of these kind with lesser paging, also everything focuses in just one major event, is like your not writing the Quixote twice For example, the Quixote, that book needed like lots of pages because there was lot of things going on and stories.
I haven't read Pretty Girls yet, but I know what you mean about too many twists. I feel like authors can jerk you around doing that, maybe to make up for something the story or the writing lacks, and it does feel like it's more for shock value rather than the building of tension. I like the comparison, or contrast, really, to Psycho. The Only One Left by Riley sager reminds me of this trend because I feel like that was what he was doing. Twist after twist... Thank you for your review. I still kind of want to read Pretty Girls but I appreciate a different perspective on such a popular book.
You nailed it. There is one scene that really disturbed me (the torture scene), but the rest of the book was mostly "meh". Good premise, not great execution.
I read this book last summer after hearing how crazy it was and people saying they felt on edge reading it. I was HIGHLY disappointed. The book is disturbing but didn't grip me at all. I was not on edge and felt bored.....what that says about me I don't know lol.
You know what I read after this book that did grip me and I felt on edge......All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby👌🏽
All the Sinners Bleed was excellent, Cosby is the best out there at the moment IMHO
I loved All the Sinners Bleed too!
Not sure if the hype around the book created more expectation but I completely agree with your review. I kept feeling something is missing in the book. On the other hand I have heard about the book ‘Dear Laura’ only on your channel, which did an excellent job ! Some parts about Dear Laura will haunt and stay with you for life. I completely loved it thanks for recommending it.
Your review actually got me interested😂 I like books with plenty of twists.
Another great review but I want to read it now to take in all the expertise you have given us!
Thank you!
I loved this book. I should reread it and see if I still love it. This review isn’t going to change how I feel about it. I still value your opinion.
Oddly,I agree with everything you state in your review but came to the opposite conclusion of still enjoying the book. I guess my standard for enjoyment is lower! Outside of this being your first "disturbing" book, I dont see how anyone comes to label this as disturbing myself. But once youve read Hogg (on your channels reccomendation 😂), most books are basically Bambi. Enjoyed the video!
This was the first book that made me feel overwhelmed. I guess I’m not that into dark thrillers as I thought I was. About half way thru it, and not sure if I can finish it, so disturbing
I don't enjoy a book which basically spins out of control..and gets more complicated. ..its not necessary to have for the book to become interesting ..although i like a good twist at the end of the story...
No wonder I only read a quarter of it. Then decided to search a recap. Thank you!
Yeah I wouldn't bother reading any more!
I'm finishing Pretty Girls now, have about 80 pages left. I can't wait for it to be over, it's not a good book at all. It's not that disturbing or graphic for me either.
Good review, Olly. I read 1 Karin Slaughter book - Kept Woman. I did not think the writing was great. I did not like any of the characters. I thought it was just not as well-executed as it could have been. Basically the same as what you're saying here about Pretty Girls. I'm also not really a fan of the police procedural, which it was. I need more intimate characters, if that makes sense. I would compare Slaughter's writing to that of Riley Sager, and I know how we both feel about him, lol.
I've read two books by the author (False Witness and The Good Daughter) amd both were very disturbing.
Agree with you regarding all the plot twists & too many characters. Liked it but the torture scenes were too detailed for me. Would like to see it become a movie or mini series with the torture scenes not shown, just the tools, so you know it's intense but it's not shown.
Thanks for the heads up. I’ve been meaning to try her, but this just sounds like the writing style would annoy me very quickly.
I haven't read it yet, but several people have told me that Wrath James White is a better writer than most "extreme horror" folks, and that His Pain is deeply unsettling.
Have not read White, but one of the "extreme" guys that sticks out to me is Kristopher Triana. I have read 4 and was only disappointed by one.
(Spoiler warning but I’ll try to avoid.) I pretty much hated this book basically because of one aspect Ollie pointed out: the conspiracy was *too* *large* !
Yeah it just got ridiculous!
I find that women's and men's opinions on these kinds of books differ massively
Not a post about Karen Slaughter, but this is the only UA-cam channel I follow that reads a lot of horror: I just finished reading This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno. Probably the best horror book I've ever read. Highly recommend to those who aren't all about blood and gore and like more of a slow burn story. I'm curious if anyone else has read it and what they thought the "evil" was in this book (for lack of a better term).
(Spoilers) I've been looking at reviews and everyone seems to think it was either the AI device causing the problems or the main character had a mental break down. I thought it was a demonic possession issue. Or maybe it's just one of those books that can be interpreted several ways. Anywho, just curious what other people took from it.
I haven't read that one yet, but I have heard great things about it. Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi, Olly! Sorry for your disappointment.
I have this one on my kindle. I'm going to try to rise above your sorrows with it, but we'll see.
I read this a couple of years ago. I enjoyed it, but I felt the same criticisms. It felt like it got “too big for its breeches.” 😂
Hello CriminOlly - Could you please review Baise Moi by Virginie Despentes? It's a trash core porn novel that was made into an equally controversial film in France. Thanks!
I should read that! I watched the movie years ago and thought it was interesting
Thank u for echoing my opinion. I never liked this book. The protagonist was badly sketched. Pretty woman being pretty, contemplating for few moments and solving mysteries without giving us any details! The central idea was pretty fetching, and I wish, the father of the girl, who had actually solved the mystery, or half of it, via newspaper clippings and diary entries, would have made for a better storyline. Slaughter's ideas are fine, but she tried to create a character, which was very unrelatable. I look forward to reading MO HAYDER.
Sorry this is a late comment, just watched. I personally loved the book and have read and enjoyed all her novels and short stories ( some more than others). I can u derstand your issues with it but as I read a lot of crime/ mystery novels I love a convoluted story. Lovee your channel as you read all sorts although don't think you've reviewed ant sciece fiction or fantasy ( unless you class Godzilla as such).
I agree with you entirely. This one was a miss for me.
The villian became too omnipowerful and would anyone let themselves be photographed 'during' ?
Hello sir
Can you recommend me some good thriller books. With satisfying ending tho
I dnf'd this book earlier this year. I am rarely in the mood for torture porn.
You have to be really presumptuous to write a 550 page thriller. People have little time and a lot of things to do to waste time reading a long book by a second rate writer. Stick to a maximum 200 pages. You have more than enough space to say what you have to say. Leave the long books to real writers
Mostly agree (although I do think thriller writers are real writers) - any book over 250 pages or movie over 90 minutes has to justify itself to me
Writers of epic fantasy take note!
I thought it was good not great. Not one I would put on a disturbing book list either
I read it last year, I think. I was not very impressed by it either.
I really don't think it was as extreme as people are acting. It was probably one of the most action packed books I have ever read. The extreme scenes were kept short and had purpose. I think people are really overreacting.
Agreed - I was expecting a lot more of the extreme elements
Sounds rather convoluted.
When thousands watch a video about books u dont really like then u know u have some kind of booktube magic.
I read some books of hers and I dont know if Ive just been unlucky or if all of her books are like that, but the author seems to have an obsession with the sexual torture of women and trying to be as graphic and gory as possible. I think if she really leaned into it and just put her books into the extreme horror category it could work, but most of her books were advertised to me as psychological thrillers and thats just not it babe
It feels like these days authors get paid by how many plot twists they insert.
This was my first and last Karen Slaughter book. It came across way too try hard, the characters shallow and underwritten in favor of graphic descriptions of men perpetuating sexual violence against women which, to me, always feels like a crutch to make a story more "disturbing". Violence against women is real and Karen Slaughter just seems to be romanticizing it in such a backwards, gross way that has lady readers constantly coming back to watch the nasty, pervert man get it in the end. She tries and fails to be Gillian Flynn and the book ends up just feeling like a colossal waste of time because she fails to understand what causes couples to separate and grow resentful of one another.
The first half wws good. But it fell apart for me in the second half. A bit ridiculous.
Yeah it just got silly
I have just got this from the library. I really don't like complicated books. I'll give it a go anyway.
This book has far too much voyeristic detail about torture and injury, which is unecessarily repeated and repeated. This to me undermines and points about misogyny.
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