Review: Pretty Dead Girls

Pretty Dead Girls

Author: Monica Murphy

Publication Date: January 2nd 2018

Publisher: Entangled TEEN

Someone is killing the mean girls of Cape Bonita Prep. 

Gretchen Nelson is one of the most popular girls at school. She is also a member of the Larks, ten girls who are considered to be the 'best of the best' on campus. When Gretchen is found murdered, it sends shockwaves through the privileged community. But Gretchen was not so beloved as she appeared to be. It's not long before the police are scouring attendance records for potential suspects. Soon a second female student is found murdered, also a senior member of the Larks. Penelope Malone, president of the group, begins to fear for her life. Could she be next on the killer's list?

Penelope traverses a course through her friends, attempting to uncover their secrets and see through possible deceptions before she herself is targeted by the murderer. Along the way she teams up with the mysteriously intriguing Cass Vincenti, who may know more than he's telling her. Penelope and Cass have differing personalities, which heightens the chemistry between them.

There is a large cast of characters who are unpredictable and quite a few that are intentionally unlikable. They all seem capable of lying and I didn't know who to trust, which made for some great suspense. With all the possible suspects I had a fun time trying to guess who the killer was. Much of the story takes place on campus and there's a constant undercurrent of real danger nearby. In Pretty Dead Girls, Murphy creates a tension in the air reminiscent of a teen slasher film. It's a fast paced and entertaining YA murder mystery I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Entangled: Teen for the eBook copy to review.

From the publisher:

Beautiful. Perfect. Dead.

In the peaceful seaside town of Cape Bonita, wicked secrets and lies are hidden just beneath the surface. But all it takes is one tragedy for them to be exposed.

The most popular girls in school are turning up dead, and Penelope Malone is terrified she's next. All the victims so far have been linked to Penelope―and to a boy from her physics class. The one she's never really noticed before, with the rumored dark past and a brooding stare that cuts right through her.

There's something he isn't telling her. But there's something she's not telling him, either.

Everyone has secrets, and theirs might get them killed.