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…
more
A must read. Gripping to the bone.
This story opens up with a shit load of drama. Definitely a good way to grab your attention to keep you going. A crime scene, a gripping murder of a seemingly dutiful husband and two wonderful kids. How had it come down to this?
Four Wives, Four Moms, Four women carrying some PRETTY UGLY LIES around that would soon bring their lives to shattering halt.
Crane’s writing is riveting and gets you thinking. As a mom myself, have I had these thoughts? Am I just as exhausted as June was? Did I feel unloved as much as Ellie had? Would I be as careless as Shay? Would I ever have to endure a heartwrenching four days with a missing child as Jo??
“One day is all it takes to snap, though.”
I found myself being connected to each mother throughout this book as I am tired, I am exhausted and yes, somedays I do not feel worthy of much at all.
I would classify this book as complete horror for the simple fact that there is a reality in it all. We’ve seen the news, heard the stories, scrolled down our social media with headlines of Moms going off on the deep end.
“Maybe I was no different than the monsters out there. Maybe we all had a little bit of monster inside us.”
In the end, hitting close to home, I give it 5 stars. Well written, unputdownable!!
Thank you Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an ARC of Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane in return for my honest review.
A moving, incredible book for every woman who has ever felt a moment of unappreciation, exhaustion or of just never being enough. Not for the weak of heart, we get a glimpse into the lives on Oleander Way… Following four different women throughout each of their own daily private struggles to be a wife and mother, providing for their families while getting so little in return – all while upholding the image they have created about their perfect lives. Jo, Ellie, Shayla, and June, each dealing with their own private turmoil, never finding a moments peace or an outlet for the growing pain inside them.
I can’t imagine there isn’t a woman or mother alive who could not connect with this story on some personal level. We get a glimpse into four not-so-perfect lives and witness the heartbreak of a woman finally losing it. Incredibly painful yet such a beautiful story, I was brought to tears at not only the struggle and loss but of the strength of those who held on and found the good in their lives.
Highly recommended ~ First book by this author and can’t wait to see what’s next!
Pretty Ugly Lies centers around the lives of four very different women, but yet their situations are all too similar. What they all share in common is the constant sacrifices they have made for their families, the endless responsibility, feelings of being underappreciated and unloved, and the realization that they have given up their lives and careers for the sake of their family. When it becomes all too much to handle, one of these women finally snaps leaving a deadly path of destruction that rocks the entire community.
We start off with the murder of a husband and children, but we are left in the dark as to whom the killer may be and we are left wondering why and how a mother could do this to her family. Here starts our journey into the unknown and into the lives of each of these four women as we try to determine which one of them has lost their grip on reality.
I get it, I really do. Having a family is a sacrifice, but it can also be very rewarding too. I may not have any children, but I do have two sisters. I am twenty years older than both of my siblings and they completely tortured me when they were young. Evil spawns who were determined to make my life miserable. So, I can understand the frustration and how easily it can be to snap. It also led me to the realization that I do not have a maternal instinct. Hence, why I have no children or the desire to have any children. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like children, I just like them when they aren’t mine. I also had the one thing these four women didn’t. I could leave any time I wanted as they were not my children. These women were stuck with kids, a husband, and responsibilities from the time they woke up until the time they went to sleep. Day after day after day…over and over again. This can take a toll on any mother at any time. So, I can sympathize with some of the thoughts and feelings each of these women are going through.
“But darkness hid behind closed doors, climbed up the walls, wove a web that would eventually entrap them in misery. I’d been caught in that web”
Pretty Ugly lies is told through four points of view. Each mother, while seeming to have their lives under control to the outside world, harbor deep and deadly secrets. Pamela Crane really did a fantastic job giving these women a unique voice that made them realistic and relatable. Crane has also given us a story that could have been ripped from the headlines. She gives us a glimpse into the Andrea Yates and the Susan Smith’s of this world. The story just grips you from the first page and as we get to know each of these women, you realize that figuring out who murdered their family is not as easy as it seems. Crane throws these red herrings out at us and slowly reals us in to the point where we think we know who did it, but we are so so wrong. You are completely left in the dark until the very end. I was floored and completely shocked with the reveal.
Pamela Crane has a deadly grip on domestic noir at the highest level. Pretty Ugly Lies is a twisted tale that delves into the lives of seemingly normal women and veers off into secrets, lies, and a chilling conclusion that will take you through the intricate layers of a psychological thriller that often times blurs the lines of reality. Although this is the first book I have read by Pamela Crane, it certainly will not be the last. Pretty Ugly Lies is a five star read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
This was my last read for 2020. I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.
The definition of noir: “A genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity.” If you like this sort of book, this one will definitely keep you turning pages.
Jo is married to Jay; children, Preston, Abby, Amelia. Jo has also held onto a 10-year-old secret. Something happens to make her fess up to Jay after all this time.
Jo and Shayla are best friends.
Shayla is married to Trent; children, Arion and Tenica. Shayla suffers from bipolar disorder so her actions are sometimes hard for her to explain. She also finds out a secret her sister has been holding onto for a very long time. She also has a secret that she finally fesses up to Trent.
June is married to Mike; children, Austin (who is autistic), Arabelle, Kiki, and Julie. Mike is a deadbeat, but June loves him … even with all his flaws. Something tragic happens to their family.
June and Ellie are friends.
Ellie is married to Denny; children, Darla and Logan. Ellie has some deep-seated emotional issues. Something tragic also happens to their family.
Oleandar Way is where you find perfect houses and perfect relationships … that is until you open the front door of each home. Once you do that, you will find some incredibly mixed-up families inside, so much so that their lives are full of deceit and lies. Each of these family’s lives are intertwined in one way or another, they just don’t know it yet.
This is the kind of book that I can devour in a day if given the opportunity. I am most interested in the psychology behind the thinking. I think Ms. Crane does an excellent job of “getting into” women’s heads, hearing their innermost thoughts.
This book is the very definition of noir. It is very dark. I highly recommend this book if you have a strong constitution and take it for what it is … a book. Sadly, as Ms. Crane points out in her acknowledgements, some women (and probably men, too) feel this way from time to time. I think this book will hit home for quite a few people. I applaud Ms. Crane for putting this kind of book out in the world, to hopefully let those women struggling emotionally know that they are heard, that they are valued.
Oh my Lawwd! From the first to the last this book was a thrilling look at family, motherhood, and what goes on behind closed doors.
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.
A must read. Gripping to the bone.
This story opens up with a shit load of drama. Definitely a good way to grab your attention to keep you going. A crime scene, a gripping murder of a seemingly dutiful husband and two wonderful kids. How had it come down to this?
Four Wives, Four Moms, Four women carrying some PRETTY UGLY LIES around that would soon bring their lives to shattering halt.
Crane’s writing is riveting and gets you thinking. As a mom myself, have I had these thoughts? Am I just as exhausted as June was? Did I feel unloved as much as Ellie had? Would I be as careless as Shay? Would I ever have to endure a heartwrenching four days with a missing child as Jo??
“One day is all it takes to snap, though.”
I found myself being connected to each mother throughout this book as I am tired, I am exhausted and yes, somedays I do not feel worthy of much at all.
I would classify this book as complete horror for the simple fact that there is a reality in it all. We’ve seen the news, heard the stories, scrolled down our social media with headlines of Moms going off on the deep end.
“Maybe I was no different than the monsters out there. Maybe we all had a little bit of monster inside us.”
In the end, hitting close to home, I give it 5 stars. Well written, unputdownable!!
Thank you Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an ARC of Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane in return for my honest review.
A moving, incredible book for every woman who has ever felt a moment of unappreciation, exhaustion or of just never being enough. Not for the weak of heart, we get a glimpse into the lives on Oleander Way… Following four different women throughout each of their own daily private struggles to be a wife and mother, providing for their families while getting so little in return – all while upholding the image they have created about their perfect lives. Jo, Ellie, Shayla, and June, each dealing with their own private turmoil, never finding a moments peace or an outlet for the growing pain inside them.
I can’t imagine there isn’t a woman or mother alive who could not connect with this story on some personal level. We get a glimpse into four not-so-perfect lives and witness the heartbreak of a woman finally losing it. Incredibly painful yet such a beautiful story, I was brought to tears at not only the struggle and loss but of the strength of those who held on and found the good in their lives.
Highly recommended ~ First book by this author and can’t wait to see what’s next!
Pretty Ugly Lies centers around the lives of four very different women, but yet their situations are all too similar. What they all share in common is the constant sacrifices they have made for their families, the endless responsibility, feelings of being underappreciated and unloved, and the realization that they have given up their lives and careers for the sake of their family. When it becomes all too much to handle, one of these women finally snaps leaving a deadly path of destruction that rocks the entire community.
We start off with the murder of a husband and children, but we are left in the dark as to whom the killer may be and we are left wondering why and how a mother could do this to her family. Here starts our journey into the unknown and into the lives of each of these four women as we try to determine which one of them has lost their grip on reality.
I get it, I really do. Having a family is a sacrifice, but it can also be very rewarding too. I may not have any children, but I do have two sisters. I am twenty years older than both of my siblings and they completely tortured me when they were young. Evil spawns who were determined to make my life miserable. So, I can understand the frustration and how easily it can be to snap. It also led me to the realization that I do not have a maternal instinct. Hence, why I have no children or the desire to have any children. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like children, I just like them when they aren’t mine. I also had the one thing these four women didn’t. I could leave any time I wanted as they were not my children. These women were stuck with kids, a husband, and responsibilities from the time they woke up until the time they went to sleep. Day after day after day…over and over again. This can take a toll on any mother at any time. So, I can sympathize with some of the thoughts and feelings each of these women are going through.
“But darkness hid behind closed doors, climbed up the walls, wove a web that would eventually entrap them in misery. I’d been caught in that web”
Pretty Ugly lies is told through four points of view. Each mother, while seeming to have their lives under control to the outside world, harbor deep and deadly secrets. Pamela Crane really did a fantastic job giving these women a unique voice that made them realistic and relatable. Crane has also given us a story that could have been ripped from the headlines. She gives us a glimpse into the Andrea Yates and the Susan Smith’s of this world. The story just grips you from the first page and as we get to know each of these women, you realize that figuring out who murdered their family is not as easy as it seems. Crane throws these red herrings out at us and slowly reals us in to the point where we think we know who did it, but we are so so wrong. You are completely left in the dark until the very end. I was floored and completely shocked with the reveal.
Pamela Crane has a deadly grip on domestic noir at the highest level. Pretty Ugly Lies is a twisted tale that delves into the lives of seemingly normal women and veers off into secrets, lies, and a chilling conclusion that will take you through the intricate layers of a psychological thriller that often times blurs the lines of reality. Although this is the first book I have read by Pamela Crane, it certainly will not be the last. Pretty Ugly Lies is a five star read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
This was my last read for 2020. I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.
The definition of noir: “A genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity.” If you like this sort of book, this one will definitely keep you turning pages.
Jo is married to Jay; children, Preston, Abby, Amelia. Jo has also held onto a 10-year-old secret. Something happens to make her fess up to Jay after all this time.
Jo and Shayla are best friends.
Shayla is married to Trent; children, Arion and Tenica. Shayla suffers from bipolar disorder so her actions are sometimes hard for her to explain. She also finds out a secret her sister has been holding onto for a very long time. She also has a secret that she finally fesses up to Trent.
June is married to Mike; children, Austin (who is autistic), Arabelle, Kiki, and Julie. Mike is a deadbeat, but June loves him … even with all his flaws. Something tragic happens to their family.
June and Ellie are friends.
Ellie is married to Denny; children, Darla and Logan. Ellie has some deep-seated emotional issues. Something tragic also happens to their family.
Oleandar Way is where you find perfect houses and perfect relationships … that is until you open the front door of each home. Once you do that, you will find some incredibly mixed-up families inside, so much so that their lives are full of deceit and lies. Each of these family’s lives are intertwined in one way or another, they just don’t know it yet.
This is the kind of book that I can devour in a day if given the opportunity. I am most interested in the psychology behind the thinking. I think Ms. Crane does an excellent job of “getting into” women’s heads, hearing their innermost thoughts.
This book is the very definition of noir. It is very dark. I highly recommend this book if you have a strong constitution and take it for what it is … a book. Sadly, as Ms. Crane points out in her acknowledgements, some women (and probably men, too) feel this way from time to time. I think this book will hit home for quite a few people. I applaud Ms. Crane for putting this kind of book out in the world, to hopefully let those women struggling emotionally know that they are heard, that they are valued.
Oh my Lawwd! From the first to the last this book was a thrilling look at family, motherhood, and what goes on behind closed doors.