What causes a woman to murder her whole family?Jo’s idyllic life would make most people jealous. Until one day her daughter is abducted and the only way to find her is to unravel her dark past.Ellie is a devoted wife… until she discovers the pain of betrayal. Now vengeance is all she can think about.Party-girl Shayla knows how to hide her demons. But when she’s confronted with a life-shattering … when she’s confronted with a life-shattering choice, it will cost her everything.
June knows suffering intimately, though the smile she wears keeps it hidden.
Soon the lives of these four women intersect and one of them is about to snap…
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WOW! From the first chapter to the last, this book had me in a death grip. I didn’t want to do anything but read. Unfortunately, life goes on and you have to put the book down at times, but it sure was difficult to do. I love the way this book was set up with the unknown wife and her murdered family at the beginning and then the story backtracks a bit in time and introduces us to each of the families involved in the story. I enjoyed the way the chapters were each devoted to the POV of one of the women and make her story so compelling by using the first person voice. What most hooked me was the way Ms. Crane kept me unsure of which woman was the one in the first chapter. Every time I became convinced that I knew who would finally break, she would throw a curve at me and I would be off balance again. One of the best compliments I can pay an author in my opinion. And the ending doesn’t disappoint in any way. It is twisted and mind-blowing and totally unexpected. I can’t say enough good things about this book. Unfortunately, there is one thing I wish Ms. Crane had done a little less of, and that’s the overuse of profanity. I do not understand why it has become so prevalent. Most authors defend their use saying it makes their stories edgy and realistic. Well, I beg to differ. I think a good author (which Ms. Crane is in my opinion) has a firm grasp of the English language and can write an edgy, thrilling story without filling every other page with profanity. I know I’m in the minority here, but it’s my opinion. Even with that one issue, I’m really glad I found this book. I would have missed out if I hadn’t read it.
There are So many stories that intertwine with each other that you really have to pay attention to what is going on. That said, this book was great! There are many very realistic situations that many mothers/wives deal with and to see the way they all end up in the end was interesting to say the least. You will be wondering who does what throughput the entire book and the ending will shock you to the core. An amazing book with just as amazing narration.
********** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW **********
Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane left my mouth hanging agape all throughout the story. That opening chapter, I was chilled and horrified. I’m a thriller-addict. I push myself to listen to the most twisted stories with monsters so dark you can’t see them. This book gave me pause in those first minutes… will I be able to listen? Will I be able to carry on without nightmares. I continued, even though there were times I felt nauseous and very hesitant. I didn’t have any nightmares but I definitely had some interesting conversations.
It was odd that I found the content so disturbing and heartbreaking and one moment, only to relate in the next. I think if you are a mom and/or a wife, there are going to be thoughts or conversations that you can understand or perhaps you recall the same conversations held by you and another mom-friend. PUL is THAT relatable. Pamela Crane has listeners evaluating their lives… their parenting and their marriages. I’ll be honest that I did have a bit of a hard time recalling who was who and which women went to what family. I think 4 distinctive voices for the four women would have helped a lot. I do think adding in a man’s voice really helped in separating and making it a bit varied. I’m not sure he’s the man I would have chosen but I’m glad for him, either way.
The narrators were incredibly talented. I’m not sure which female narrator did what person, but again, that opening scene and the narration gave me chills. Ruth Redman, Jeff Harding, and Lyssa Browne exhibited so much emotion through every single word. For as intense as this story was, it was moving. It did open my mind and get me thinking. There is so much psychology in PUL.
Pretty Ugly Lies
By: Pamela Crane
Narrated by: Jeff Harding, Lyssa Browne, Ruth Redman
Starting this book, I went in with zero expectations and ended up with a hurting heart and a connection to each character. Pamela Crane begins this story with a riveting murder scene and it’s my job to figure out who did it. With four women, each with their own ugly lies, we get a peak into their worlds being held together by ugly lies. June, Jo, Shayla and Ellie have completely separate stories, all married with children and relatable situations. How will each one cope with the deceptions and who will snap? It took me a while to get into this book. As an audio, at times it was hard to keep track of the characters and their stories, but the deeper I got in, the more invested I became. That heavy sadness filled me as I listened and each one had their own motives for the murder. From cheating, to disabilities, to basic unhappiness, the women were motivated to keep their secrets, and continue their lives, As their lives unraveled, it became harder and harder for me to figure it out, and in the end, I was pretty surprised! It is a riveting listen, but it’s not for the faint of heart. It is complex, thought provoking and thrilling.
The narration by Jeff Harding, Lyssa Browne, Ruth Redman did a good job, though with the amount of characters, at times it was hard to determine which character was the focus. I enjoyed the emotional draw each one contributed to the story and it left me with the feeling I am sure was desired.
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Hmmmm, I truly don’t know what to say about what I just read!! I don’t think a book has ever left me speechless before.
All I can say is be ready for anything/everything…murder, cheating, kidnapping, love/hate.
If your not a fan of bouncing back and forth between character stories than this is not the book for you. If you can handle crazy, insanity, depression, and the like than you will enjoy this book as I have. But, you may also be left wondering what the hell did I just read.
I think I know who/what the killer is/was, but at this point I won’t swear to it!!!
I really did enjoy the book and look forward to more from Pam.
Four soccer moms .. living in an ideally suburban neighborhood featuring stately homes that show an upper crust lifestyle. Manicured nails … designer clothes. Keeping up with the Jones’ with Mercedes and BMWs … wealth, beauty and perfection.
So what causes a woman to murder her entire family when she has everything she ever desired?
Four women ..all married to men they love or have loved .. all with children .. all with hopes and dreams, mostly unfulfilled.
Four “perfect” families.
Four life-altering secrets.
One lie that leads to a killer.
All four women have their say in this well-crafted book. Even with all the ‘players’ it’s easy to follow each family and what consequences they face when secrets and lies are exposed. The first chapter is a killer … the ending came as a huge surprise.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Psychological Suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Starts out with a bang! The book begins by describing the tragic and gruesome murder of a husband and children…but doesn’t tell us who killed them and why.
Excerpt – “Sorry isn’t enough anymore. Sorry can’t fix what’s broken. Sometimes a sacrifice is the only way to start over again. This is one of those times.”
The story is narrated by four woman and someone’s secrets lead to murder.
Shayla…a bi-polar mess. She has an amazing husband and two wonderful kids, but is bored with her life. She’s hiding a secret that could rip her family apart.
Jo…happily married with three kids. Her life was perfect until her three-year-old daughter was abducted. She blames herself for not watching Amelia close enough, and wonders if the kidnapping is related to a long forgotten secret from her past.
Ellie…gave up her career for her husband. Now her world revolves around him and she has two unappreciative brats and a cheating husband. This isn’t the life she imagined when she married Denny.
June…a waitress with four small children (one with Autism). Her lazy husband can’t keep a job and her life is in constant turmoil. Her days are filled with screaming kids and Autistic tantrums. She secretly reminisces about her younger days and the life she could have had, if only she’d been truthful years ago.
It was easy to relate to these women and what some might call their “trivial” struggles. I couldn’t help but sympathize with them, as my emotions have taken over many times and I’ve had some of the same overwhelming feelings! Just when I thought this book might not meet my expectations…another big explosion that leads us back to the unforgettable and tragic murder.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley, Pamela Crane and Bloodhound Books, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
#PrettyUglyLies #NetGalley #Amazon
Wow. An unexpected twist for sure. Along the lines of a Liane Moriarty book. A good, quick, entertaining read.