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Pretty Dead Things: A Mystery
A bride-to-be’s discovery of long-lost wedding rings at an estate sale reveals the key to a decades-old cold case in a small-town mystery perfect for fans of Louise Penny.
2024. Recently-engaged city girl Cora is new to the small town of Hickory Falls. Still adjusting to the change in pace, she’s delighted when she stumbles upon a quaint estate sale. Drawn in by the knickknacks, she buys a jar of colorful baubles and is surprised to find two rings at the bottom of the jar. When she innocently sets out to find the original owner of the rings, she instead stumbles upon a decades-old mystery.
1953. Clarity Grey should’ve known better than to get involved with a married man, but their connection went too deep to ignore. When he divorces his wife for her, they marry, and she gets the family life she’s always dreamed of, with a new stepdaughter and a child of her own. But just as suddenly, her new life slips out of her hands when she simply vanishes, never to be seen or heard of again.
Clarity is labeled as flakey and a homewrecker, so nobody in town takes her disappearance seriously--until Cora, seventy years later.
Told in dual timelines, this engrossing novel exposes one family’s secrets and the twisted lies that are hidden in small towns.
2024. Recently-engaged city girl Cora is new to the small town of Hickory Falls. Still adjusting to the change in pace, she’s delighted when she stumbles upon a quaint estate sale. Drawn in by the knickknacks, she buys a jar of colorful baubles and is surprised to find two rings at the bottom of the jar. When she innocently sets out to find the original owner of the rings, she instead stumbles upon a decades-old mystery.
1953. Clarity Grey should’ve known better than to get involved with a married man, but their connection went too deep to ignore. When he divorces his wife for her, they marry, and she gets the family life she’s always dreamed of, with a new stepdaughter and a child of her own. But just as suddenly, her new life slips out of her hands when she simply vanishes, never to be seen or heard of again.
Clarity is labeled as flakey and a homewrecker, so nobody in town takes her disappearance seriously--until Cora, seventy years later.
Told in dual timelines, this engrossing novel exposes one family’s secrets and the twisted lies that are hidden in small towns.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2024
69 people are currently reading
8653 people want to read
About the author
Lilian West
1 book17 followersLilian West (pen name for Tiffany Killoren) is an author, former attorney, magazine editor and freelance writer. Her writing about film directors, celebrity bodyguards, artists, and national musical performers has been featured in multiple magazines, as well as her work focusing on community programs and area entrepreneurs. She is a regular contributor to lifestyle magazines and speaks at writing workshops, women in leadership programs and other events.
Writing as Tiffany Killoren for women’s fiction, and Lilian West for mystery novels, she currently resides with her husband, two sons and an incorrigible pup in a Kansas City suburb.
PRETTY DEAD THINGS is her fourth novel.
Writing as Tiffany Killoren for women’s fiction, and Lilian West for mystery novels, she currently resides with her husband, two sons and an incorrigible pup in a Kansas City suburb.
PRETTY DEAD THINGS is her fourth novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
October 28, 2024
I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped I would. It took longer than it should've for the story to grip me and even then, it was hard to care about the mystery at times because I found the fmc, Cora, a bit annoying. There just wasn't anything to her?? She had no depth and that made it difficult to connect with her. The romance between Cora and her fiancé wasn't a focus in the story and that didn't bother me, but what did was the fact that they had no chemistry. They barely seemed to care about one another to the extent one would expect an engaged couple to; especially since she moved across the country for him. I couldn't even get into the whole small town setting because she didn't seem to like it there at all.
I'm glad this was told in dual timelines because there wasn't much of anything occurring in the present. All the drama and action occurred in the past and the only thing Cora "added", if you can even say she added anything, was the fact that she found the rings and got the ball rolling on this 60 year old mystery being solved (which wasn't very difficult to solve by the way).
There's cheating in this story (not between Cora and her fiancé, but in the past) so I don't recommend it if that's something you hate. While I didn't care one way or the other, I didn't like how the author tried to make us sympathize with Lewis, the husband. He recognized what he was doing was wrong because he apparently "takes his vows very seriously" yet he...still cheated? I guess we were supposed to hate his first wife and support his actions because she drove him to that point with her nagging and over-the-top expectations. And of course given the time period this was happening during, only the other woman was shamed.
This also had a lot of filler for a book that isn't even 300 pages long but the writing was okay overall.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this arc!
I'm glad this was told in dual timelines because there wasn't much of anything occurring in the present. All the drama and action occurred in the past and the only thing Cora "added", if you can even say she added anything, was the fact that she found the rings and got the ball rolling on this 60 year old mystery being solved (which wasn't very difficult to solve by the way).
There's cheating in this story (not between Cora and her fiancé, but in the past) so I don't recommend it if that's something you hate. While I didn't care one way or the other, I didn't like how the author tried to make us sympathize with Lewis, the husband. He recognized what he was doing was wrong because he apparently "takes his vows very seriously" yet he...still cheated? I guess we were supposed to hate his first wife and support his actions because she drove him to that point with her nagging and over-the-top expectations. And of course given the time period this was happening during, only the other woman was shamed.
This also had a lot of filler for a book that isn't even 300 pages long but the writing was okay overall.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this arc!
December 20, 2024
In her debut novel, Lilian West weaves an intricate tale spanning seven decades in the fictional Midwest town of Hickory Falls. The narrative alternates between 2024 and the 1950s, connecting two women whose lives become inexplicably intertwined through a simple jar of trinkets purchased at an estate sale.
Plot Overview
When Cora, a California transplant adjusting to small-town life, discovers two wedding rings at the bottom of a jar of baubles purchased at an estate sale, she unwittingly steps into a decades-old mystery. Her innocent attempt to return the rings to their rightful owner leads her down a rabbit hole of family secrets, forbidden love, and ultimately, murder.
The parallel narrative follows Clarity Grey in the 1950s, a free-spirited artist whose love affair with a married man scandalizes the conservative town. After marrying Lewis Shaw following his divorce, Clarity builds a life with him and their daughter Hazel, only to vanish without a trace in 1960, leaving behind a garden of questions that would take decades to bloom into answers.
Strengths
Character Development
West excels at crafting complex female characters who defy easy categorization. Clarity Grey emerges as more than just a "homewrecker" - she's an artist, a loving mother, and a woman ahead of her time. Similarly, Cora's evolution from an outsider to an amateur detective feels organic and believable.
Atmospheric Setting
The author masterfully captures the suffocating nature of small-town life, where secrets simmer beneath perfectly manicured lawns and polite smiles. The contrast between modern-day Hickory Falls and its 1950s incarnation provides a fascinating study of how some things change while others remain stubbornly the same.
Plot Construction
The dual timeline structure works effectively, with each revelation in the present adding depth to the historical narrative. The final twist, while perhaps not entirely unexpected for seasoned mystery readers, is well-executed and emotionally resonant.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Issues
The novel's middle section tends to drag, with redundant scenes of Cora visiting various family members that could have been condensed. The momentum picks up significantly in the final third, but some readers might not make it that far.
Character Overload
The large cast of supporting characters, particularly in the modern timeline, can be overwhelming. Several characters, including Cora's fiancé Elliott and his mother Lydia, feel underdeveloped despite their significance to the plot.
Dialogue
While most conversations flow naturally, there are instances where the dialogue feels stilted, particularly in the historical sections where characters sometimes speak in ways that feel anachronistic for the 1950s.
Writing Style
West's prose is straightforward and accessible, occasionally rising to moments of lyrical beauty, particularly in descriptions of the Midwest landscape and weather. However, there's a tendency toward repetition that could have been addressed through tighter editing.
Notable passage: "Sometimes, a person just needs a thunderstorm. [...] She had learned to embrace these Midwest storms for what they were—opportunities to isolate oneself without excuse or explanation."
Thematic Depth
The novel explores several compelling themes:
- The weight of family secrets across generations
- The complex nature of mother-daughter relationships
- Small-town dynamics and their impact on individual lives
- The role of memory and perspective in shaping narratives
- The price of unconventional choices in conservative societies
Critical Analysis
While Pretty Dead Things succeeds as an engaging mystery, its real strength lies in its exploration of how communities remember and rewrite their own histories. The author demonstrates how a single event can ripple through decades, affecting not just those directly involved but subsequent generations.
However, the novel occasionally falls into predictable patterns common to the small-town mystery genre. The "outsider uncovering local secrets" trope, while competently handled, offers few innovations to the formula.
Target Audience
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Small-town mysteries with historical elements
- Dual timeline narratives
- Character-driven suspense
- Stories about family secrets and their consequences
- Books by authors like Diane Chamberlain and Kate Morton
Final Verdict
Pretty Dead Things is a promising debut that demonstrates West's potential as a storyteller. Despite some structural issues and occasional pacing problems, the novel succeeds in creating an atmospheric mystery that keeps readers invested until the final revelation. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it offers enough unique elements and emotional depth to make it worth reading.
Plot Overview
When Cora, a California transplant adjusting to small-town life, discovers two wedding rings at the bottom of a jar of baubles purchased at an estate sale, she unwittingly steps into a decades-old mystery. Her innocent attempt to return the rings to their rightful owner leads her down a rabbit hole of family secrets, forbidden love, and ultimately, murder.
The parallel narrative follows Clarity Grey in the 1950s, a free-spirited artist whose love affair with a married man scandalizes the conservative town. After marrying Lewis Shaw following his divorce, Clarity builds a life with him and their daughter Hazel, only to vanish without a trace in 1960, leaving behind a garden of questions that would take decades to bloom into answers.
Strengths
Character Development
West excels at crafting complex female characters who defy easy categorization. Clarity Grey emerges as more than just a "homewrecker" - she's an artist, a loving mother, and a woman ahead of her time. Similarly, Cora's evolution from an outsider to an amateur detective feels organic and believable.
Atmospheric Setting
The author masterfully captures the suffocating nature of small-town life, where secrets simmer beneath perfectly manicured lawns and polite smiles. The contrast between modern-day Hickory Falls and its 1950s incarnation provides a fascinating study of how some things change while others remain stubbornly the same.
Plot Construction
The dual timeline structure works effectively, with each revelation in the present adding depth to the historical narrative. The final twist, while perhaps not entirely unexpected for seasoned mystery readers, is well-executed and emotionally resonant.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Issues
The novel's middle section tends to drag, with redundant scenes of Cora visiting various family members that could have been condensed. The momentum picks up significantly in the final third, but some readers might not make it that far.
Character Overload
The large cast of supporting characters, particularly in the modern timeline, can be overwhelming. Several characters, including Cora's fiancé Elliott and his mother Lydia, feel underdeveloped despite their significance to the plot.
Dialogue
While most conversations flow naturally, there are instances where the dialogue feels stilted, particularly in the historical sections where characters sometimes speak in ways that feel anachronistic for the 1950s.
Writing Style
West's prose is straightforward and accessible, occasionally rising to moments of lyrical beauty, particularly in descriptions of the Midwest landscape and weather. However, there's a tendency toward repetition that could have been addressed through tighter editing.
Notable passage: "Sometimes, a person just needs a thunderstorm. [...] She had learned to embrace these Midwest storms for what they were—opportunities to isolate oneself without excuse or explanation."
Thematic Depth
The novel explores several compelling themes:
- The weight of family secrets across generations
- The complex nature of mother-daughter relationships
- Small-town dynamics and their impact on individual lives
- The role of memory and perspective in shaping narratives
- The price of unconventional choices in conservative societies
Critical Analysis
While Pretty Dead Things succeeds as an engaging mystery, its real strength lies in its exploration of how communities remember and rewrite their own histories. The author demonstrates how a single event can ripple through decades, affecting not just those directly involved but subsequent generations.
However, the novel occasionally falls into predictable patterns common to the small-town mystery genre. The "outsider uncovering local secrets" trope, while competently handled, offers few innovations to the formula.
Target Audience
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Small-town mysteries with historical elements
- Dual timeline narratives
- Character-driven suspense
- Stories about family secrets and their consequences
- Books by authors like Diane Chamberlain and Kate Morton
Final Verdict
Pretty Dead Things is a promising debut that demonstrates West's potential as a storyteller. Despite some structural issues and occasional pacing problems, the novel succeeds in creating an atmospheric mystery that keeps readers invested until the final revelation. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it offers enough unique elements and emotional depth to make it worth reading.
February 17, 2025
It's not poorly written or anything, there's just kind of not a lot of substance
July 7, 2024
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for this eARC. I was intrigued by the premise of this novel, being someone who also loves a jar of pretty baubles myself! I loved the 50s/60s storyline, as well as the Midwest (it felt like Kansas City to me) setting. The current day storyline was not as compelling, which kept this as a 4 instead of a 5 for me. Will recommend this to my cozy mystery patrons at the library.
September 23, 2025
Entertaining although simple. It shows we are all connected with either short lines or long. It was fun to read how small town gossip can become fatal. Karmic balance will always, in time, stay true.
March 5, 2025
3⭐️ nothing too special and a bit too long
December 22, 2024
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Lilian West’s Pretty Dead Things presents a dual-timeline mystery that intertwines secrets, heartbreak, and small-town intrigue. Set in 2024 and 195os, the novel connects the lives of Cora, a city girl newly engaged and adjusting to life in Hickory Falls, and Clarity Grey, a woman whose unconventional life ends in tragedy.
Clarity’s storyline serves as the heart of the novel, offering a touching exploration of a woman ahead of her time. Her struggles, as someone marginalized for her spiritual beliefs, are depicted with depth and sensitivity. These elements make her story both compelling and tragic, highlighting the challenges faced by a woman who did not conform to societal norms. However, the book could have explored the Grey family’s belief system and history more deeply, detailing how these factors shaped Clarity’s life.
In contrast, Cora’s modern-day storyline feels less impactful. Her relationship with her fiancé lacks chemistry and comes across as distant, while her decisions sometimes strain believability. Although her investigation into the mystery is engaging, her story pales in comparison to Clarity’s rich and emotional arc.
The author tries to portray Lewis, the man at the center of Clarity’s troubles, in a more sympathetic light by providing mitigating circumstances for his actions. Yet, his infidelity and self-serving choices render him an unsympathetic character who is difficult to connect with.
The mystery itself is a highlight with enough twists and revelations to keep readers engaged. While some elements are predictable, the story concludes with a satisfying resolution that ties together its various threads, bringing justice to the past and offering closure for both characters and readers.
Devon Sorvari’s narration is clear and steady, though it occasionally lacks the emotional nuance needed to elevate key moments. Coupled with the book’s sometimes slow pacing, this may slightly detract from the overall experience.
Overall, Pretty Dead Things shines brightest in its historical storyline, using Clarity’s struggles and beliefs to anchor the narrative with emotional depth. Despite some uneven pacing and a less compelling modern arc, the novel delivers a satisfying mystery along with a thoughtful exploration of societal expectations, family secrets, and the consequences of betrayal.
Lilian West’s Pretty Dead Things presents a dual-timeline mystery that intertwines secrets, heartbreak, and small-town intrigue. Set in 2024 and 195os, the novel connects the lives of Cora, a city girl newly engaged and adjusting to life in Hickory Falls, and Clarity Grey, a woman whose unconventional life ends in tragedy.
Clarity’s storyline serves as the heart of the novel, offering a touching exploration of a woman ahead of her time. Her struggles, as someone marginalized for her spiritual beliefs, are depicted with depth and sensitivity. These elements make her story both compelling and tragic, highlighting the challenges faced by a woman who did not conform to societal norms. However, the book could have explored the Grey family’s belief system and history more deeply, detailing how these factors shaped Clarity’s life.
In contrast, Cora’s modern-day storyline feels less impactful. Her relationship with her fiancé lacks chemistry and comes across as distant, while her decisions sometimes strain believability. Although her investigation into the mystery is engaging, her story pales in comparison to Clarity’s rich and emotional arc.
The author tries to portray Lewis, the man at the center of Clarity’s troubles, in a more sympathetic light by providing mitigating circumstances for his actions. Yet, his infidelity and self-serving choices render him an unsympathetic character who is difficult to connect with.
The mystery itself is a highlight with enough twists and revelations to keep readers engaged. While some elements are predictable, the story concludes with a satisfying resolution that ties together its various threads, bringing justice to the past and offering closure for both characters and readers.
Devon Sorvari’s narration is clear and steady, though it occasionally lacks the emotional nuance needed to elevate key moments. Coupled with the book’s sometimes slow pacing, this may slightly detract from the overall experience.
Overall, Pretty Dead Things shines brightest in its historical storyline, using Clarity’s struggles and beliefs to anchor the narrative with emotional depth. Despite some uneven pacing and a less compelling modern arc, the novel delivers a satisfying mystery along with a thoughtful exploration of societal expectations, family secrets, and the consequences of betrayal.
January 4, 2025
Cora finds an engagement ring in a jar of buttons and like at an estate sale. The barely legible engraving on the band sends her on a quest to reunite the rings with the descendant of the former owner.
A transplant from Southern California, Cora is still taken aback by the weather of Hickory Falls, a Midwest small town, and doesn’t see the harm in asking questions about former residents, despite being warned that small town residents' secrets should stay secret. But she unearths old jealousies, rumours of witchcraft, unhappy marriages, adultery, and a report about a missing woman.
Despite her fiancé’s warnings, Cora persists, endangering herself as there are people angered and threatened by all she digs up.
I found this book engaging, with Cora's almost obsession with reuniting rings with their proper owner. Author Lilian West gives us a dual timeline story, one where Cora is sleuthing, the other in 1953 when we meet a number of players whose lives become entangled, and violent anger is let loose.
The 1953 story is full of tragedy with a fascinating woman, Clarity, at its heart. Cora is a likeable character, and I did like her persistence, even though it ruffled more than a few individuals in her fiancé's family's circle, as well as the descendants of those involved in 1953. The story is resolved in a satisfying way, despite its terribly sad and a little horrifying revelation.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
A transplant from Southern California, Cora is still taken aback by the weather of Hickory Falls, a Midwest small town, and doesn’t see the harm in asking questions about former residents, despite being warned that small town residents' secrets should stay secret. But she unearths old jealousies, rumours of witchcraft, unhappy marriages, adultery, and a report about a missing woman.
Despite her fiancé’s warnings, Cora persists, endangering herself as there are people angered and threatened by all she digs up.
I found this book engaging, with Cora's almost obsession with reuniting rings with their proper owner. Author Lilian West gives us a dual timeline story, one where Cora is sleuthing, the other in 1953 when we meet a number of players whose lives become entangled, and violent anger is let loose.
The 1953 story is full of tragedy with a fascinating woman, Clarity, at its heart. Cora is a likeable character, and I did like her persistence, even though it ruffled more than a few individuals in her fiancé's family's circle, as well as the descendants of those involved in 1953. The story is resolved in a satisfying way, despite its terribly sad and a little horrifying revelation.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
May 19, 2025
A bride-to-be’s discovery of long-lost wedding rings at an estate sale reveals the key to a decades-old cold case in a small town mystery perfect for fans of Louise Penny.
2024. Recently-engaged city girl Cora is new to the small town of Hickory Falls. Still adjusting to the change in pace, she’s delighted when she stumbles upon a quaint estate sale. Drawn in by the knickknacks, she buys a jar of colorful baubles and is surprised to find two rings at the bottom of the jar. When she innocently sets out to find the original owner of the rings, she instead stumbles upon a decades-old mystery.
1953. Clarity Grey should’ve known better than to get involved with a married man, but their connection went too deep to ignore. When he divorces his wife for her, they marry and she gets the family life she’s always dreamed of, with a new stepdaughter and a child of her own. But just as suddenly, her new life slips out of her hands when she simply vanishes, never to be seen or heard of again. Clarity is labeled as flaky and a homewrecker, so nobody in town takes her disappearance seriously--until Cora, seventy years later.
Told in dual timelines, this engrossing novel exposes one family’s secrets and the twisted lies that are hidden in small towns.GR description
I read this from a recommendation from a friend. It was quick clean read that kept me engaged. This was a new author for me.
2024. Recently-engaged city girl Cora is new to the small town of Hickory Falls. Still adjusting to the change in pace, she’s delighted when she stumbles upon a quaint estate sale. Drawn in by the knickknacks, she buys a jar of colorful baubles and is surprised to find two rings at the bottom of the jar. When she innocently sets out to find the original owner of the rings, she instead stumbles upon a decades-old mystery.
1953. Clarity Grey should’ve known better than to get involved with a married man, but their connection went too deep to ignore. When he divorces his wife for her, they marry and she gets the family life she’s always dreamed of, with a new stepdaughter and a child of her own. But just as suddenly, her new life slips out of her hands when she simply vanishes, never to be seen or heard of again. Clarity is labeled as flaky and a homewrecker, so nobody in town takes her disappearance seriously--until Cora, seventy years later.
Told in dual timelines, this engrossing novel exposes one family’s secrets and the twisted lies that are hidden in small towns.GR description
I read this from a recommendation from a friend. It was quick clean read that kept me engaged. This was a new author for me.
July 3, 2025
I picked this up as an "available now" from Libby. The story has alternate timeframes that provide context for a small town mystery spanning across 70 years.
There are elements from the plot that would make sense in a real world setting, but boy did the pacing of this book fail to keep me engaged.
Maybe I need to stick to reading poems about trees.
There are elements from the plot that would make sense in a real world setting, but boy did the pacing of this book fail to keep me engaged.
Maybe I need to stick to reading poems about trees.
July 19, 2025
This dual time line tells the story of family secrets and how you can’t keep them hidden forever. I didn’t see the twist coming. I love a good mystery, who done it kind of book.
March 31, 2025
The writing was a little lackluster for me, but the premise of the story was rather interesting.
I found that I liked the flashback sections of this story much more than the present day and those sections boosted my rating from a solid three to a three and a half, Goodreads doesn’t allow half stars so I rounded up for good measure.
I found that I liked the flashback sections of this story much more than the present day and those sections boosted my rating from a solid three to a three and a half, Goodreads doesn’t allow half stars so I rounded up for good measure.
July 26, 2025
Such a satisfying and cozy mystery with just a few graphic moments. It was entertaining and intriguing, smart and funny. Great descriptive narration and believable characters.
April 29, 2025
Quick read. Good one if you need a beach read.
April 4, 2025
This book was crazy, I thought that I had the ending figured out and I was completely wrong!!!!
June 27, 2024
I adore small town mysteries, & Hickory Falls delivered!! This book was so good I didn’t want to put it down. Once I’d read a bit I thought I knew what was coming, but then BOOM! PLOT TWIST!
The old man just dropped the secret of the century (iykyk)😳
I rated this 4/5 stars solely because I NEEDED it to be longer!! I wasn’t finished even though the story was😂
#NetGalley #PrettyDeadThings
The old man just dropped the secret of the century (iykyk)😳
I rated this 4/5 stars solely because I NEEDED it to be longer!! I wasn’t finished even though the story was😂
#NetGalley #PrettyDeadThings
June 22, 2025
This relatable story of a small town mystery does a good job of character perspective and development. I enjoyed the story coming from different points of view. The last several books I have read have been a duo of past and future concurrent story lines building up to the end. It makes for a fun guessing game in my head of who done it, what really happened, and what just happened!?
September 16, 2025
All I could think of when I finished reading Pretty Dead Things by Lillian West was the Mattis Law. This is a law in Massachusetts where prisoners who committed their crimes when they were under 21, will have their case reevaluated.
My heart often broke when I talked to some of my "cloistered brothers," who had committed murder when they were 18 or 19. They were now in their 50-60s. They certainly weren't the same kids they were then. What a waste of life! They could be useful in society, if given a chance.
This review of Pretty Dead Things is a big spoiler alert. Sorry. This is not really a book review, but rather a critique of the judgement the story places on a 16-year-old.
The story begins with Cora and Elliot planning their wedding. Cora happened to buy a jar of junk, at an estate style. The jar contained baubles, i.e., buttons, earrings, pins, marbles, AND two rings--a wedding ring set.
The story is about Cora tracing the engraved initials in the ring, to its owner. In doing so, she finds that the owner, Clarity, disappeared one day. Clarity wasn't accepted by the town and led a strange life. Her husband was married before and left his first wife and daughter for Clarity. Here I blame the husband. He was married and should never have allowed himself to become involved with Clarity. Mind you, he was not only leaving his wife, but he was also leaving his daughter, Beverly.
The author describes Lewis as a kind, and gentle soul, who would never hurt anyone. He was a victim of love. He couldn't help himself falling in love with Clarity.
Bull S###!
He destroyed two people's lives: his wife's and daughter's!
Lewis leaves his family, divorces first wife and marries Clarity (hence the rings). Lillian West, the author, tries to convince the readers of Lewis' good intentions. He's a good father to his daughter, Beverly. Not much is mentioned of how the wife takes it. How would you?
Clarity and Lewis have a daughter, Hazel. That makes Beverly and Hazel, sisters. Life goes on. Clarity and Lewis are happy. Not so much Beverly and the scorned first wife. Beverly loves her father, Lewis, but her mother's tears are upsetting. Beverly's homelife was destroyed by her father's marriage to Clarity.
If only Clarity wasn't in the picture, then Lewis would come back to Beverly's mother and life would go on, as it should have. This idea stewed in Beverly's mind.
The idea was realized when Beverly was 16. She took the chance to kill Clarity and buried her bodied. And her wish came true. Lewis remarried Beverly's mother, his first wife, and their life continued as best as it could.
Now Cora find's Clarity's wedding ring. The search for what happened to the ring's owner results in finding Clarity's skeleton, buried by Beverly. Beverly is caught and damned.
My question is, should she be?
If Beverly were in Massachusetts, and had served her life sentence, admirably for 20+ years, her case would be looked at. She might be given the chance to finish her life sentence, outside (not in prison). This doesn't mean that she was "scott free." Depending on the circumstances, she may have to wear a monitoring bracelet, for the rest of her life. She can't leave the state. She can't leave her home without her parole officer's permission. IOW, she's under house arrest for the rest of her life. The parole board would decide on the conditions of Beverly's release. This is the Mattis Law, as I understand it.
How do you judge Beverly? At 16, I would become enraged if someone stole by boyfriend, never mind my father! I hated many girls, for many reasons. I had many negative opinions that I grew out of. I looked at life in black and white. It's only by the grace of God that I never committed murder.
Of course, Pretty Dead Things, is only fiction. As I said, I couldn't help but relate the story to a few "cloistered brothers", that I know. The novel it home. There but for the grace of God, go I.
My heart often broke when I talked to some of my "cloistered brothers," who had committed murder when they were 18 or 19. They were now in their 50-60s. They certainly weren't the same kids they were then. What a waste of life! They could be useful in society, if given a chance.
This review of Pretty Dead Things is a big spoiler alert. Sorry. This is not really a book review, but rather a critique of the judgement the story places on a 16-year-old.
The story begins with Cora and Elliot planning their wedding. Cora happened to buy a jar of junk, at an estate style. The jar contained baubles, i.e., buttons, earrings, pins, marbles, AND two rings--a wedding ring set.
The story is about Cora tracing the engraved initials in the ring, to its owner. In doing so, she finds that the owner, Clarity, disappeared one day. Clarity wasn't accepted by the town and led a strange life. Her husband was married before and left his first wife and daughter for Clarity. Here I blame the husband. He was married and should never have allowed himself to become involved with Clarity. Mind you, he was not only leaving his wife, but he was also leaving his daughter, Beverly.
The author describes Lewis as a kind, and gentle soul, who would never hurt anyone. He was a victim of love. He couldn't help himself falling in love with Clarity.
Bull S###!
He destroyed two people's lives: his wife's and daughter's!
Lewis leaves his family, divorces first wife and marries Clarity (hence the rings). Lillian West, the author, tries to convince the readers of Lewis' good intentions. He's a good father to his daughter, Beverly. Not much is mentioned of how the wife takes it. How would you?
Clarity and Lewis have a daughter, Hazel. That makes Beverly and Hazel, sisters. Life goes on. Clarity and Lewis are happy. Not so much Beverly and the scorned first wife. Beverly loves her father, Lewis, but her mother's tears are upsetting. Beverly's homelife was destroyed by her father's marriage to Clarity.
If only Clarity wasn't in the picture, then Lewis would come back to Beverly's mother and life would go on, as it should have. This idea stewed in Beverly's mind.
The idea was realized when Beverly was 16. She took the chance to kill Clarity and buried her bodied. And her wish came true. Lewis remarried Beverly's mother, his first wife, and their life continued as best as it could.
Now Cora find's Clarity's wedding ring. The search for what happened to the ring's owner results in finding Clarity's skeleton, buried by Beverly. Beverly is caught and damned.
My question is, should she be?
If Beverly were in Massachusetts, and had served her life sentence, admirably for 20+ years, her case would be looked at. She might be given the chance to finish her life sentence, outside (not in prison). This doesn't mean that she was "scott free." Depending on the circumstances, she may have to wear a monitoring bracelet, for the rest of her life. She can't leave the state. She can't leave her home without her parole officer's permission. IOW, she's under house arrest for the rest of her life. The parole board would decide on the conditions of Beverly's release. This is the Mattis Law, as I understand it.
How do you judge Beverly? At 16, I would become enraged if someone stole by boyfriend, never mind my father! I hated many girls, for many reasons. I had many negative opinions that I grew out of. I looked at life in black and white. It's only by the grace of God that I never committed murder.
Of course, Pretty Dead Things, is only fiction. As I said, I couldn't help but relate the story to a few "cloistered brothers", that I know. The novel it home. There but for the grace of God, go I.
December 29, 2024
3.5. This is essentially a cozy mystery dressed in general fiction packaging (unclear if it will become a series), and has a clever premise that I'm glad was developed into a novel. I most enjoyed the chapters set in the past -- I fell in love with Clarity and the life she built; this is probably the most I have ever sympathized with a technical homewrecker, and I can't even say I really condemn Lewis about this either -- and the way it felt like a REALLY satisfying episode of Cold Case to uncover the truth. I swear I could practically see the ending montage playing out as old ghosts were put to rest.
As for the present-day timeline...her friend Julie is a hoot, but no amount of repeating "well it's a Small Town, you know" will make me understand why everyone she meets is so stubborn if not actively angry about her attempt to look into what is obviously an UNSOLVED MURDER, and one that happened 60+ years ago at that. Annoying.
It's also kind of a bummer that, given where the rings were found, it really seems like there are only two possible suspects from the get-go. None of the other options flouted make any sense, so it feels like a waste of time for her to even consider them. (In retrospect, maybe this premise wasn't actually enough to carry a novel, and would perhaps have been better worked in as a subplot in a more expansive family saga.)
I was also grossed out by every reference to her future husband's dental practice and the work that goes on there, and frankly just grossed out by him in general. There was no point at which she actually seemed to enjoy his company? Also she's getting the High Society mother-in-law from hell? Is she marrying him for future alimony payments, because I just don't understand why she hasn't left his unromantic, unsupportive ass (unless, again, this is setup for a future series, but in that case I have questions about the epilogue.
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That said I do still think this is worth a read, especially if you want something quick and easy.
As for the present-day timeline...her friend Julie is a hoot, but no amount of repeating "well it's a Small Town, you know" will make me understand why everyone she meets is so stubborn if not actively angry about her attempt to look into what is obviously an UNSOLVED MURDER, and one that happened 60+ years ago at that. Annoying.
It's also kind of a bummer that, given where the rings were found, it really seems like there are only two possible suspects from the get-go. None of the other options flouted make any sense, so it feels like a waste of time for her to even consider them. (In retrospect, maybe this premise wasn't actually enough to carry a novel, and would perhaps have been better worked in as a subplot in a more expansive family saga.)
I was also grossed out by every reference to her future husband's dental practice and the work that goes on there, and frankly just grossed out by him in general. There was no point at which she actually seemed to enjoy his company? Also she's getting the High Society mother-in-law from hell? Is she marrying him for future alimony payments, because I just don't understand why she hasn't left his unromantic, unsupportive ass (unless, again, this is setup for a future series, but in that case I have questions about the epilogue.
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That said I do still think this is worth a read, especially if you want something quick and easy.
March 5, 2025
Book Review: Pretty Dead Things by Lilian West
Rating: 3 Stars
I recently finished reading Pretty Dead Things by Lilian West, and I have to say it was an intriguing little mystery, though it didn’t quite blow me away. The story follows Cora, a bride-to-be who has just moved to the charming small town of Hickory Falls in 2024. While settling into her new life, she discovers a quaint estate sale that draws her in with all its knickknacks. Among her purchases is a jar filled with colorful trinkets, but the real surprise comes when she finds two wedding rings tucked away at the bottom. What starts as a simple quest to discover the rings' original owner soon leads her down a rabbit hole of a decades-old cold case.
The narrative alternates between Cora’s modern-day journey and the haunting tale of Clarity Grey from 1953. Clarity finds herself entwined in a complicated relationship with a married man, which eventually leads to her marrying him after he divorces his wife. Just when she seems to have it all—a new family and the life she always wanted—she mysteriously vanishes, leaving everyone in town questioning what happened to her. Sadly, the stigma attached to her disappearance leads many to dismiss her case as that of a flaky homewrecker.
What I really appreciated about Pretty Dead Things was how West masterfully connects these two women across time through something as simple as a jar of trinkets. The cover art is absolutely delightful and captures the essence of the story beautifully. The mystery itself had enough twists and turns to keep me engaged, although I did find some elements a bit predictable. Still, the resolution wrapped everything up nicely, providing closure for both characters and readers alike.
In summary, while Pretty Dead Things offered a charming journey through time and mystery, it didn't leave me breathless. If you're a fan of small-town mysteries and enjoy narratives that intertwine past and present, it’s worth a read. Just don’t expect to be completely blown away; instead, enjoy the ride and the satisfying ending that brings justice to the past.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 3 Stars
I recently finished reading Pretty Dead Things by Lilian West, and I have to say it was an intriguing little mystery, though it didn’t quite blow me away. The story follows Cora, a bride-to-be who has just moved to the charming small town of Hickory Falls in 2024. While settling into her new life, she discovers a quaint estate sale that draws her in with all its knickknacks. Among her purchases is a jar filled with colorful trinkets, but the real surprise comes when she finds two wedding rings tucked away at the bottom. What starts as a simple quest to discover the rings' original owner soon leads her down a rabbit hole of a decades-old cold case.
The narrative alternates between Cora’s modern-day journey and the haunting tale of Clarity Grey from 1953. Clarity finds herself entwined in a complicated relationship with a married man, which eventually leads to her marrying him after he divorces his wife. Just when she seems to have it all—a new family and the life she always wanted—she mysteriously vanishes, leaving everyone in town questioning what happened to her. Sadly, the stigma attached to her disappearance leads many to dismiss her case as that of a flaky homewrecker.
What I really appreciated about Pretty Dead Things was how West masterfully connects these two women across time through something as simple as a jar of trinkets. The cover art is absolutely delightful and captures the essence of the story beautifully. The mystery itself had enough twists and turns to keep me engaged, although I did find some elements a bit predictable. Still, the resolution wrapped everything up nicely, providing closure for both characters and readers alike.
In summary, while Pretty Dead Things offered a charming journey through time and mystery, it didn't leave me breathless. If you're a fan of small-town mysteries and enjoy narratives that intertwine past and present, it’s worth a read. Just don’t expect to be completely blown away; instead, enjoy the ride and the satisfying ending that brings justice to the past.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
November 19, 2024
When Cora, new to the small Midwestern town of Hickory Falls, attends an estate sale and buys an old jar of junk, she doesn’t expect to find anything valuable inside, much less a wedding ring set. Determined to reunite them with the owner’s family, she inadvertently reopens a cold case involving a long-missing woman, about whom rumors swirled back before she mysteriously vanished without a trace. Though Cora tries to heed the warnings to stay out of it, she can’t seem to forget the mystery that has landed at her feet and is determined to solve the mystery of what happened to the free-spirited woman she suddenly feels so close to before she finds herself in too deep.
This is a wonderful cozy mystery that flashes back and forth between the present day (from Cora’s POV) and the past (from multiple POVs, leading up to the disappearance of Clarity Shaw).
I loved this book from the very beginning because it was a great blend of quaint and cozy, along with a powerful and creepy mystery. Cora and Juliet made a great team, and I loved them taking on the “old guard” of the small town. Having grown up in a small town, I completely understand how a)everyone knows everything about everyone and b)no one wants to talk about certain things. The portrayal there was spot on.
I also loved how there were several creepy, uneasy leads throughout the book. The author could have taken this in a couple different directions, and the flues were all there. It was great to see where it all ended up, and I was frantically turning pages by the end waiting to see where it was going. And it was on my list, but not my first guess - that’s the beauty of the red herring! Bravo!
Also, at its heart, this is a beautiful love story. It’s a testament to the power of love and its lasting impact. I enjoyed that.
This is the perfect book for a nice night in. It’s got a fun story and atmosphere with a good mystery. Highly recommended.
This is a wonderful cozy mystery that flashes back and forth between the present day (from Cora’s POV) and the past (from multiple POVs, leading up to the disappearance of Clarity Shaw).
I loved this book from the very beginning because it was a great blend of quaint and cozy, along with a powerful and creepy mystery. Cora and Juliet made a great team, and I loved them taking on the “old guard” of the small town. Having grown up in a small town, I completely understand how a)everyone knows everything about everyone and b)no one wants to talk about certain things. The portrayal there was spot on.
I also loved how there were several creepy, uneasy leads throughout the book. The author could have taken this in a couple different directions, and the flues were all there. It was great to see where it all ended up, and I was frantically turning pages by the end waiting to see where it was going. And it was on my list, but not my first guess - that’s the beauty of the red herring! Bravo!
Also, at its heart, this is a beautiful love story. It’s a testament to the power of love and its lasting impact. I enjoyed that.
This is the perfect book for a nice night in. It’s got a fun story and atmosphere with a good mystery. Highly recommended.
December 11, 2024
Pretty Dead Things by Lillian West, Cora has relocated her life from California and while getting lost in her new town find in estate sale where she buys a jar full of bits and bobbles. at home while searching through her newly bought treasure she finds a wedding ring set with engraving and decides to return it to its owner. The first one up is Bev who tells her just to keep them and looks stricken at the side of them but ultimately tells her to sell them or whatever. before leaving, however Cora insist Bev gives her her sisters information so she can ask if she wants the wedding set. When sister Ruth tells her the story behind the wedding rings Cora is still insistent she give them to someone. When she discusses all of this with her husband to be Elliott, who has grew up in the area, but has vaguely listen to Cora talk about the rings previously finally zeros in on not only what but who she is talking about and sternly warns her to stay away from the Shaw family. Cora is stunned an ask Elliot why, and he proceeds to tell her about the rumors of the woman in the woods, but needless to say this doesn’t stop Cora. Cora continues to investigate and learns that little towns not only have secrets but can be dangerous as well. The story is mainly of Cora, but has chapters threaded through from the early 1950s that ultimately tell all about the wedding set and its owner. I usually love stories like this and really liked the author’s writing style in the great pros. I love her imaginative descriptions, but I did not at all like Cora I found her insufferable I mean, twice she was told to keep the rings and disregarded the family’s wishes by continuing to look into this mystery, which ultimately was none of her business. having said that I still enjoyed the mystery and found it a great satisfying read. With the exception of Cora of course. #NetGalley,#LillianWest, #PrettyDeadThings,#CrookedLaneBooks,
February 17, 2025
This mystery starts with an interesting premise. Cora, California city girl, has moved to a small mid-western town, where she plans to make a life with her fiancé, a dentist who practices with his father.
Friendless, bored, and faced with an overbearing future mother-in-law, she roams the back roads and stumbles across an estate sale. She makes on five dollar purchase, a jar of pretty and bright baubles she might use to brighten her apartment. As she sorts through the contents, she discovers an elegant small engagement ring and a matching wedding band with initials inside. She feels compelled to return them to the family who held the sale but her offer is brushed aside the eldest daughter and the youngest daughter of the Shaw family, both middle-aged. However, the middle daughter believes they might have belonged to her mother who disappeared in the 1960's but she can't be sure. Jumping around in time we hear from Lewis Shaw about his first unhappy marriage and from Clarity, a woman unlike any other in the town and so suspected of many things whom he eventually marries. We also hear from the three daughters of these marriages. There are plenty of red herrings to go around but I found a brief clue in the middle that directed me to Clarity's killer. Cora is constantly warned not to pry or try to solve the mystery but she can't seem to let it alone. Some her research takes her to an historical society with the issues of an old gossip that recreates the times in which the scandalous events occurred. There are some good local characters, some suspenseful moments, and an ending wherein a body is found in a very obvious place. But on the whole, this was a quick and engaging read. However, I would advise Cora to move back to California and let her fiance follow if he will. No way will she be be happy in that claustrophobic little village with a mother-in-law who will always try to run her life.
Friendless, bored, and faced with an overbearing future mother-in-law, she roams the back roads and stumbles across an estate sale. She makes on five dollar purchase, a jar of pretty and bright baubles she might use to brighten her apartment. As she sorts through the contents, she discovers an elegant small engagement ring and a matching wedding band with initials inside. She feels compelled to return them to the family who held the sale but her offer is brushed aside the eldest daughter and the youngest daughter of the Shaw family, both middle-aged. However, the middle daughter believes they might have belonged to her mother who disappeared in the 1960's but she can't be sure. Jumping around in time we hear from Lewis Shaw about his first unhappy marriage and from Clarity, a woman unlike any other in the town and so suspected of many things whom he eventually marries. We also hear from the three daughters of these marriages. There are plenty of red herrings to go around but I found a brief clue in the middle that directed me to Clarity's killer. Cora is constantly warned not to pry or try to solve the mystery but she can't seem to let it alone. Some her research takes her to an historical society with the issues of an old gossip that recreates the times in which the scandalous events occurred. There are some good local characters, some suspenseful moments, and an ending wherein a body is found in a very obvious place. But on the whole, this was a quick and engaging read. However, I would advise Cora to move back to California and let her fiance follow if he will. No way will she be be happy in that claustrophobic little village with a mother-in-law who will always try to run her life.
January 14, 2025
"Small towns are filled with secrets, and some should just stay hidden."
When Cora finds a pair of wedding rings in a jar of baubles at an estate sale, she becomes determined to return them. However, as she attempts to track down the owner, she stumbles into a seventy-year-old mystery involving the disappearance of a woman.
"Secrets have a weight all their own. Some believe that when a person dies, they lose twenty-one grams—the weight of a human soul. Cora had to believe that secrets weighed much more."
This was a fairly quick and enjoyable read, the kind of book you don’t put much thought into. I enjoyed both female main characters, Cora and Clarity, and they seemed really natural. Their decisions seem in character for the people they are established to be, and they defy traditional categorization. I actually liked the way Cora stayed on the fence about whether she should get involved or not, as this felt realistic for an amateur sleuth who stumbled into such a sensitive case. Maybe Cora’s actions are not always what the reader wants from her, such as her choice to or her resolving to stay out of the case (and then staying involved anyway), but this felt very natural to me. The dual timeline was very well done, with the two working with instead of against each other. My two issues were pacing and background character development, but neither of these really impacted my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, it was a pretty lovely rainy, or in my case, snowy day read.
4/5 stars
includes:cozy mystery, realistic female characters
song recommendations: Locke & Key Main Titles - Torin Borrowdale, The Art Teacher - Franz Gordon
February 4, 2025
When I first started reading this, I found the writing to be descriptive in a pleasant, charming way. The same few things being describe over and over in ways that basically boiled down to the same sentence became a bit annoying after a few chapters and didn't add really anything to the story.
I knew this would be more of a cozy mystery and expected any action to be somewhat slow paced or on the tame side, so I didn't go into it expecting the normal frantic feeling I sometimes get when reading thrillers.
The "mystery" felt easy to figure out well before it's actually revealed. I hated the dialogue between Cora and her fiancé — it felt unnatural and a little awkward for me, especially considering these are two people who are supposed to be getting married. I found myself not really liking Cora and becoming annoyed with her more and more as the book went on. I feel like the purpose she serves in this book is solely just finding the rings. Her personality doesn't add anything and I started to dread the chapters focused on her in the present. To me, she felt like a fairly underdeveloped character who really just served as a placeholder or someone to reference to for the parts of this story focused on the present. I am definitely someone who enjoys characters that are presented in a lot of detail, enough to the point where I really love them or really hate them, and Cora was just not memorable or even someone I cared about forming an opinion on.
I think this book would be a great palette cleanser after an especially stressful thriller if you're still in the mood for something with a bit of a mystery vibe, as long as you're okay knowing that you will most likely have it figured out well before the book is over.
It wasn't terrible but it's not something I'd read again. I enjoyed the descriptive writing more than the actual story.
I knew this would be more of a cozy mystery and expected any action to be somewhat slow paced or on the tame side, so I didn't go into it expecting the normal frantic feeling I sometimes get when reading thrillers.
The "mystery" felt easy to figure out well before it's actually revealed. I hated the dialogue between Cora and her fiancé — it felt unnatural and a little awkward for me, especially considering these are two people who are supposed to be getting married. I found myself not really liking Cora and becoming annoyed with her more and more as the book went on. I feel like the purpose she serves in this book is solely just finding the rings. Her personality doesn't add anything and I started to dread the chapters focused on her in the present. To me, she felt like a fairly underdeveloped character who really just served as a placeholder or someone to reference to for the parts of this story focused on the present. I am definitely someone who enjoys characters that are presented in a lot of detail, enough to the point where I really love them or really hate them, and Cora was just not memorable or even someone I cared about forming an opinion on.
I think this book would be a great palette cleanser after an especially stressful thriller if you're still in the mood for something with a bit of a mystery vibe, as long as you're okay knowing that you will most likely have it figured out well before the book is over.
It wasn't terrible but it's not something I'd read again. I enjoyed the descriptive writing more than the actual story.
July 1, 2024
Pretty dead things opens with a woman named Cora purchasing a jar of baubles from an estate sale, in which she finds an engagement ring and a wedding ring. The story follows her in the present as she seeks to find the owners of these rings. There are also flashbacks to the 1940s-1960s where Clarity's story is revealed.
The writing itself was fine but the amount of filler in a book less than 300 pages boggled my mind. We get pages and pages of Cora describing every single thing going on in the scene around her for absolutely no reason. It takes PAGES to get through a dialogue of 5 lines.
Also, and I'm not sure if this is just a mystery novel trope, but every single heterosexual couple SUCKS. I'm talking referring to the old ball and chain type of stuff.
I think cheating storylines can be done well, but I did not find that to be the case in this book. The narrative almost tries to make you sympathize with the cheaters because the guys wife... nags? And there are multiple instances of the narrative showing that the cheating husband has a conscience.... WHILE STILL CHEATING.
Oh he feels BAD. Well as long as he feels BAD all is forgiven, right?
The last thing I will say is that Cora adds absolutely nothing to the plot. This story could have had potential if her character was cut entirely and we just got the flashbacks as the main narrative that eventually gets resolved 50 years later.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
The writing itself was fine but the amount of filler in a book less than 300 pages boggled my mind. We get pages and pages of Cora describing every single thing going on in the scene around her for absolutely no reason. It takes PAGES to get through a dialogue of 5 lines.
Also, and I'm not sure if this is just a mystery novel trope, but every single heterosexual couple SUCKS. I'm talking referring to the old ball and chain type of stuff.
I think cheating storylines can be done well, but I did not find that to be the case in this book. The narrative almost tries to make you sympathize with the cheaters because the guys wife... nags? And there are multiple instances of the narrative showing that the cheating husband has a conscience.... WHILE STILL CHEATING.
"Lewis, however, was not like other men. He had taken his marriage vows seriously, as well as his breaking of them, and he wanted to serve a penance for the sin."
Oh he feels BAD. Well as long as he feels BAD all is forgiven, right?
The last thing I will say is that Cora adds absolutely nothing to the plot. This story could have had potential if her character was cut entirely and we just got the flashbacks as the main narrative that eventually gets resolved 50 years later.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
February 8, 2025
Cozy mysteries were never my cup of tea, and this is a classic example of mislabeled category. The mystery bit was splattered everywhere, and I was ready for a quick read to get me over a fantasy-reading hangover.
Unfortunately, nothing worked for me. After reading, I still could not pinpoint the root cause - maybe it was more than one?
Cora attempts to trace and return a couple of diamond rings that she finds stashed within a jar in between other bobs and ends. In the process, she uncovers a connection between the interconnected families of the small town where she has recently moved to be with her fiancee. In the past, the network is slowly established and the relationships are brought out right up until the point where the owner of those rings - Clarity - vanishes, resolving the mystery.
The characters portraits were all caricatures. While it is easy to help slot the different names, after a point they do literally nothing to the story. Every twist or plot point is immediately made into a red herring/damp squib within 2-3 pages of the next chapter. Cora is absolutely annoying and so was her fiancee. I could never invest myself in any of the characters, and for that matter the story in itself at multiple points.
Now, that may partly be also because of the writing. Was it too purple for me? Perhaps. More dialogues, crisper editing? And the past - which is set nearly 60+ years ago - is as similar as the present. There were quite a lot of anachronisms too - spray paint vandalism in the fifties?
In a nutshell, I wish a better editor had looked at this. But for a debut novel, it could have been better.
Not for me.
Unfortunately, nothing worked for me. After reading, I still could not pinpoint the root cause - maybe it was more than one?
Cora attempts to trace and return a couple of diamond rings that she finds stashed within a jar in between other bobs and ends. In the process, she uncovers a connection between the interconnected families of the small town where she has recently moved to be with her fiancee. In the past, the network is slowly established and the relationships are brought out right up until the point where the owner of those rings - Clarity - vanishes, resolving the mystery.
The characters portraits were all caricatures. While it is easy to help slot the different names, after a point they do literally nothing to the story. Every twist or plot point is immediately made into a red herring/damp squib within 2-3 pages of the next chapter. Cora is absolutely annoying and so was her fiancee. I could never invest myself in any of the characters, and for that matter the story in itself at multiple points.
Now, that may partly be also because of the writing. Was it too purple for me? Perhaps. More dialogues, crisper editing? And the past - which is set nearly 60+ years ago - is as similar as the present. There were quite a lot of anachronisms too - spray paint vandalism in the fifties?
In a nutshell, I wish a better editor had looked at this. But for a debut novel, it could have been better.
Not for me.
April 29, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. I gave it three stars out of kindness.
The characters are not well-developed or depicted and most are not the kind of people you would want as friends. Cora, a native California girl whose parents died in a car accident when she was a child, relocated to Hickory Falls, a fictional town in the Midwest when she got engaged to Elliott, a local dentist. They have little in common. He comes from a prominent family and his mother is forever trying to project an image of perfection. Cora doesn't care about appearances, and there's no chemistry between her and her fiance. At least Cora is interesting and somewhat spunky. Elliott is just a crashing bore, and his mother a cold fish and unlikeable snob.
The plot, which plods along, starts with Cora's finding a jar of buttons and jewelry at an estate sale. The jar happens to contain a silver engagement ring and wedding band, and Cora's mission is to return it to the owner. While pursuing that mission, she meets Beverly, her sister Ruth, and their half-sister, Hazel. (Hazel, BTW, is the only character I liked besides her late mother, Clarity.) Elliott discourages her from having anything to do with those sisters because their history is a sensitive topic in Hickory Falls. But Cora ploughs on and uncovers the mysteries that took place decades ago.
The best part about the book is that it's a quick and easy read. The worst is that it is so poorly edited that the plot and characters are flat. There's also a spelling error. With all the talented budding writers out there, how did Lilian West (aka Tiffany Killoren) get this book published?
The characters are not well-developed or depicted and most are not the kind of people you would want as friends. Cora, a native California girl whose parents died in a car accident when she was a child, relocated to Hickory Falls, a fictional town in the Midwest when she got engaged to Elliott, a local dentist. They have little in common. He comes from a prominent family and his mother is forever trying to project an image of perfection. Cora doesn't care about appearances, and there's no chemistry between her and her fiance. At least Cora is interesting and somewhat spunky. Elliott is just a crashing bore, and his mother a cold fish and unlikeable snob.
The plot, which plods along, starts with Cora's finding a jar of buttons and jewelry at an estate sale. The jar happens to contain a silver engagement ring and wedding band, and Cora's mission is to return it to the owner. While pursuing that mission, she meets Beverly, her sister Ruth, and their half-sister, Hazel. (Hazel, BTW, is the only character I liked besides her late mother, Clarity.) Elliott discourages her from having anything to do with those sisters because their history is a sensitive topic in Hickory Falls. But Cora ploughs on and uncovers the mysteries that took place decades ago.
The best part about the book is that it's a quick and easy read. The worst is that it is so poorly edited that the plot and characters are flat. There's also a spelling error. With all the talented budding writers out there, how did Lilian West (aka Tiffany Killoren) get this book published?
September 24, 2024
2024: Cora finds a wedding ring set in a jar of baubles she purchased at an estate sale and in trying to return them she digs up long buried town secrets.
Set in the small town of Hickory Falls, Cora had moved there with her fiance Elliot so he could start working as a partner at his father’s dental practice.
Late 40s/early 50s: Clarity gets involved with a married man who divorces his current wife to marry her. Not too long after she suddenly disappears and everyone, assuming that she is a flaky, homewrecker, refuses to take it seriously.
Pros:
* Dual timelines
* Small-town mystery
* Cora and Clarity are very likeable characters. They were both similar in so many ways but also very different.
* The mystery of what happened to Clarity was interesting and kept me guessing right up to the reveal
* It was a lot like an episode of Cold Case in so many ways, and the ending was sad in the way that so many of the series episode endings are.
Cons:
* Cora and Elliot’s relationship made no sense. They appeared to have nothing in common and it was difficult to see why they were together at all.
* I also did not enjoy all the wedding stuff and the whole “poor girl marrying in to rich important family in small town” storyline.
Overall this was a solid murder mystery and contained a lot of things that I really enjoy.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgally for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the small town of Hickory Falls, Cora had moved there with her fiance Elliot so he could start working as a partner at his father’s dental practice.
Late 40s/early 50s: Clarity gets involved with a married man who divorces his current wife to marry her. Not too long after she suddenly disappears and everyone, assuming that she is a flaky, homewrecker, refuses to take it seriously.
Pros:
* Dual timelines
* Small-town mystery
* Cora and Clarity are very likeable characters. They were both similar in so many ways but also very different.
* The mystery of what happened to Clarity was interesting and kept me guessing right up to the reveal
* It was a lot like an episode of Cold Case in so many ways, and the ending was sad in the way that so many of the series episode endings are.
Cons:
* Cora and Elliot’s relationship made no sense. They appeared to have nothing in common and it was difficult to see why they were together at all.
* I also did not enjoy all the wedding stuff and the whole “poor girl marrying in to rich important family in small town” storyline.
Overall this was a solid murder mystery and contained a lot of things that I really enjoy.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgally for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2025
Does it ever happen to you that you finish a book and give it a rating and then, the more you think about it, the more annoyed you get by the whole story? That's what happened to me with Pretty Dead Things. I read it, the writing was good but the book itself not great, and two stars was the result. But I kept thinking about how I really didn't like main character Cora's fiancé, Elliott (he seemed to only be dismissive, rude, drunk and/or angry), how . I also didn't like how Cora moved to be with Elliott in this small town but had really made no effort to meet new people or make a life for herself here. She seemed to have no close relationships (misunderstood by her grandmother, berated by her fiancé, glared at by her only friend's grandmother, made to feel out of place by her future in-laws, ignored by her fellow apartment building tenants—I mean, who heads down to the building's cellar during a tornado but doesn't knock on other doors to make sure everyone is okay?), no job, no interests or hobbies…. There was not a lot of depth here to any of the characters. And to top it all off, the mystery wasn't really much of one. Gah! Two stars only because it was a quick read and the writing was decent.
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