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Pretty Dead Things
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26
Secrets emerge as a
Texas
beauty pageant turns deadly in this rich and addictive novel with a jaw-dropping twist from psychological suspense author Kelsey Cox.
2000: Isabelle Whitmore vanishes at Sherman Ranch in Anhalt, Texas, without a trace.
2025: The annual Lone Star Princess Pageant looms, bringing long-standing grudges to the surface. Ingrid fled Anhalt in the wake of her sister Isabelle’s disappearance and has now returned, just in time for a construction crew to start digging up Sherman Ranch; the pageant brings up past traumas that Melanie can't forget; Cat, newly sober, starts to feel threatened in ways that bring back old demons; and Sarah Lynn, who comes from a long line of pageant winners, knows that losing is not an option.
When old resentments and new confrontations reach their boiling point, temperatures drop to deadly degrees as a record-setting storm brings down the state’s power grid. With everyone trapped under one roof, scores will be settled, and more than one person will end up dead.
Some secrets are better left buried.
KELSEY COX'S NOVELS
"Riveting." —People
"Heart-pumping." —Nina Simon
"Jaw-dropping." —Amanda Eyre Ward
"Joins my auto-buy list forever." —Rachel Hawkins
2000: Isabelle Whitmore vanishes at Sherman Ranch in Anhalt, Texas, without a trace.
2025: The annual Lone Star Princess Pageant looms, bringing long-standing grudges to the surface. Ingrid fled Anhalt in the wake of her sister Isabelle’s disappearance and has now returned, just in time for a construction crew to start digging up Sherman Ranch; the pageant brings up past traumas that Melanie can't forget; Cat, newly sober, starts to feel threatened in ways that bring back old demons; and Sarah Lynn, who comes from a long line of pageant winners, knows that losing is not an option.
When old resentments and new confrontations reach their boiling point, temperatures drop to deadly degrees as a record-setting storm brings down the state’s power grid. With everyone trapped under one roof, scores will be settled, and more than one person will end up dead.
Some secrets are better left buried.
KELSEY COX'S NOVELS
"Riveting." —People
"Heart-pumping." —Nina Simon
"Jaw-dropping." —Amanda Eyre Ward
"Joins my auto-buy list forever." —Rachel Hawkins
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 7, 2026
22121 people want to read
About the author
Kelsey Cox
4 books494 followersKelsey Cox received her MFA in fiction from Purdue University and works from home in the Texas Hill Country. You can often find her writing at Mammen Family Public Library, chasing around her two young daughters, or watching British mysteries with her mom and aunts. On nights when bedtime goes as planned, she enjoys curling up on the sofa, glass of wine in hand, and a book with complicated characters and a killer twist in her lap.
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Want to read
January 22, 2026I really enjoyed Party Of Liars by this author
I know this one is going to be a doozie!
Roll on July!
🩵💜🩵💜
I know this one is going to be a doozie!
Roll on July!
🩵💜🩵💜
February 24, 2026
With a small town pageant and old friends reuniting, there are plenty of mean girl moments here. More the moms than the daughters. There’s also someone claiming they know what happened to a missing girl from years ago. This one sucked me right in and I enjoyed it from start to finish. I didn’t see a couple of those twists coming, but it all made sense in the end. This is a good one!
February 11, 2026
Okay, if you could hypothetically buy stock in a newer thriller author’s future work, I’d officially buy shares in this one’s!
I read and enjoyed Kelsey Cox’s 2025 debut, Party of Lies, which came out along with a slew of other thrillers over the past couple years that were by new, or new-ish, adult thriller authors and were about titular lies: First Lie Wins (Ashley Elston, 2024); Count My Lies (Sophie Stava, 2025); and Listen For the Lie (Amy Tintera, 2024). I loved all four of these books, so I was really excited to be approved for an ARC of Pretty Dead Things. I’m so happy to report that this author’s sophomore effort is equally good as or perhaps even better than her first.
I looked back at my review of Party of Lies and noticed that Pretty Dead Things offers many of the features I appreciated about it, maybe even ramped up a bit. There are a number of things that set this author’s work apart. To name a few:
-Texas (culture) as a character! A bit of the Southern Gothic as well. On the darker side for sure.
-Challenging entangled relationships over time with generations of friends and extended family within a small (perhaps claustrophobically so) community whose members wield widely varying levels of privilege, power, and status.
-Nearly everyone seems legitimately suspicious!! And possessed of potential motive!
-Elements of locked-room/closed-circle mystery, and red herrings galore. Twists down to the final minute.
In addition, this book contains some genre tropes that appeal to many. For one: half-finished, muddy, actively under construction, gentrified housing developments are bad news! — something I have passionately believed in since being scarred as a child by the film Poltergeist! Quarries, as we know, also tend to have a distinctively worrisome vibe. And of course, who doesn’t love pageants, Dance Moms, and Mean Girls elements in their thrillers?
This was a stressful book to read, in a good way, as the author is skilled at maintaining tension as she strings along the reader on a journey to figure out past and present crimes and tragic, triggering events at the novel’s core. It is suspenseful the entire time because many sympathetic characters, including high school students, may be in peril (and some characters are, of course). I did not guess the ending, and although I must admit I didn’t necessarily love the ending, it’s not because there was anything wrong with the ending. It was a very good ending! I just got too invested in my own hopes!
I really think Kelsey Cox is proving herself to be a writer with consistency and staying power, and I can see her becoming one of those thriller author household names. I’m so glad I bought stock in her work early on!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions and review. Pretty Dead Things is expected for release on July 7, 2026, in time for your summer reading.
I read and enjoyed Kelsey Cox’s 2025 debut, Party of Lies, which came out along with a slew of other thrillers over the past couple years that were by new, or new-ish, adult thriller authors and were about titular lies: First Lie Wins (Ashley Elston, 2024); Count My Lies (Sophie Stava, 2025); and Listen For the Lie (Amy Tintera, 2024). I loved all four of these books, so I was really excited to be approved for an ARC of Pretty Dead Things. I’m so happy to report that this author’s sophomore effort is equally good as or perhaps even better than her first.
I looked back at my review of Party of Lies and noticed that Pretty Dead Things offers many of the features I appreciated about it, maybe even ramped up a bit. There are a number of things that set this author’s work apart. To name a few:
-Texas (culture) as a character! A bit of the Southern Gothic as well. On the darker side for sure.
-Challenging entangled relationships over time with generations of friends and extended family within a small (perhaps claustrophobically so) community whose members wield widely varying levels of privilege, power, and status.
-Nearly everyone seems legitimately suspicious!! And possessed of potential motive!
-Elements of locked-room/closed-circle mystery, and red herrings galore. Twists down to the final minute.
In addition, this book contains some genre tropes that appeal to many. For one: half-finished, muddy, actively under construction, gentrified housing developments are bad news! — something I have passionately believed in since being scarred as a child by the film Poltergeist! Quarries, as we know, also tend to have a distinctively worrisome vibe. And of course, who doesn’t love pageants, Dance Moms, and Mean Girls elements in their thrillers?
This was a stressful book to read, in a good way, as the author is skilled at maintaining tension as she strings along the reader on a journey to figure out past and present crimes and tragic, triggering events at the novel’s core. It is suspenseful the entire time because many sympathetic characters, including high school students, may be in peril (and some characters are, of course). I did not guess the ending, and although I must admit I didn’t necessarily love the ending, it’s not because there was anything wrong with the ending. It was a very good ending! I just got too invested in my own hopes!
I really think Kelsey Cox is proving herself to be a writer with consistency and staying power, and I can see her becoming one of those thriller author household names. I’m so glad I bought stock in her work early on!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions and review. Pretty Dead Things is expected for release on July 7, 2026, in time for your summer reading.
February 13, 2026
This thriller is sharp, fast paced, and dangerously easy to binge thanks to the quick chapters that constantly whisper just one more. The mystery weaves together a haunting past disappearance with present day sabotage and escalating tension, and I loved how seamlessly those threads collided.
What truly set this story apart for me was the generational angle. Mothers who once stood side by side in a high school beauty pageant now watching their daughters step into the same spotlight? Chef’s kiss. 👏 The layers of history, secrets, and rivalry added so much depth and emotional weight, making the stakes feel intensely personal.
And the twists? Genuinely unexpected. Just when I thought I had things figured out…nope. Wrong again. I was kept guessing the entire time, and that’s the kind of thriller I live for.
Bottom line: this book was a blast to read, expertly paced, and packed with intrigue. I’ll be picking up anything Kelsey Cox writes going forward, no questions asked.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an early copy in return for an honest review!
What truly set this story apart for me was the generational angle. Mothers who once stood side by side in a high school beauty pageant now watching their daughters step into the same spotlight? Chef’s kiss. 👏 The layers of history, secrets, and rivalry added so much depth and emotional weight, making the stakes feel intensely personal.
And the twists? Genuinely unexpected. Just when I thought I had things figured out…nope. Wrong again. I was kept guessing the entire time, and that’s the kind of thriller I live for.
Bottom line: this book was a blast to read, expertly paced, and packed with intrigue. I’ll be picking up anything Kelsey Cox writes going forward, no questions asked.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an early copy in return for an honest review!
February 18, 2026
•Pretty Dead Things left me wanting more from the very first page. It was quick, tense, and thrilling.
•In 2000, Isabelle Whitmore tragically disappears, leaving behind her suspicious boyfriend, catty beauty pageant friends, her pageant royalty mother, and her twin sister, Ingrid. Shortly after her twin’s disappearance, Ingrid left her small town, with no intention of returning. However, with the 25th anniversary of her sister’s disappearance and the Lone Star Princess Pageant looming, Ingrid makes the difficult decision to return to town, right as everything comes to a head.
•I could not put this one down! The characters are layered, all facing real life problems and complications. The dual timelines also paint a fuller picture of the characters and the Texas scene. Pretty Dead Things is Kelsey Cox’s sophomore novel, yet it reads as though she’s written thirty-five.
•A big thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Kelsey Cox for this ARC. It will become available on July 7, 2026.
•In 2000, Isabelle Whitmore tragically disappears, leaving behind her suspicious boyfriend, catty beauty pageant friends, her pageant royalty mother, and her twin sister, Ingrid. Shortly after her twin’s disappearance, Ingrid left her small town, with no intention of returning. However, with the 25th anniversary of her sister’s disappearance and the Lone Star Princess Pageant looming, Ingrid makes the difficult decision to return to town, right as everything comes to a head.
•I could not put this one down! The characters are layered, all facing real life problems and complications. The dual timelines also paint a fuller picture of the characters and the Texas scene. Pretty Dead Things is Kelsey Cox’s sophomore novel, yet it reads as though she’s written thirty-five.
•A big thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Kelsey Cox for this ARC. It will become available on July 7, 2026.
February 14, 2026
As someone who loved Party of Liars, I was so eager to read Kelsey Cox's second novel. It did not disappoint! I absolutely loved Pretty Dead Things!
Kelsey established the town of Anhalt, its residents and lore really well. In 2000, a girl named Isabelle went missing. In 2025, the local pageant is set to begin at the same time a snow storm is predicted to blow through. By writing from multiple perspectives we were able to have a glimpse into the most important people involved in these events. I felt like I knew everyone and everything as I do when I read a series taking place in the same town.
Each of the characters felt distinct and fully realized. Kelsey left out just enough detail that when we finally got to the end and the missing pieces I was genuinely shocked. Plus there were plenty of twists along the way that made it really difficult to stop reading. The elements of the impending storm and the pageant added such tension and the payoff was worth it.
I want to add, I loved the local pageant element of the story. It isn't something I see much at all in thrillers and it added such a fun element to the story. It allowed the story to go to unexpected places without leaning into stereotypes that one could expect in that setting.
I'm already so excited for whatever Kelsey does next!
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for early access to this book!
Kelsey established the town of Anhalt, its residents and lore really well. In 2000, a girl named Isabelle went missing. In 2025, the local pageant is set to begin at the same time a snow storm is predicted to blow through. By writing from multiple perspectives we were able to have a glimpse into the most important people involved in these events. I felt like I knew everyone and everything as I do when I read a series taking place in the same town.
Each of the characters felt distinct and fully realized. Kelsey left out just enough detail that when we finally got to the end and the missing pieces I was genuinely shocked. Plus there were plenty of twists along the way that made it really difficult to stop reading. The elements of the impending storm and the pageant added such tension and the payoff was worth it.
I want to add, I loved the local pageant element of the story. It isn't something I see much at all in thrillers and it added such a fun element to the story. It allowed the story to go to unexpected places without leaning into stereotypes that one could expect in that setting.
I'm already so excited for whatever Kelsey does next!
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for early access to this book!
February 22, 2026
If you’re a fan of the Netflix show Insatiable, this book is definitely for you! This was a very enjoyable book. It took a few rounds of chapters to remember who everyone was. The secrets were buried so deep that I did not see them coming! A Texas Hill Country pageant that doesn’t go as planned.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
February 18, 2026
A beauty pageant turned deadly? Absolutely inhaled this book. As someone who did pageants for probably a good 15 years of their life I was so excited to read this. I’ve always wanted a thriller in this setting. Also, now I’m craving a latte from Summer Moon.
I had no idea where things were going because the set up for this one takes place for a good portion of the book. Most of the build up is character driven exploring a small town of people who were around when Izzy went missing 25 years ago and now have kids of their own. There are some flashbacks to the past but most of the timeline starts about a week before the pageant takes place. All the lead up to the pageant is worth it because when that day comes things do not go as planned and it is a wild ride. As a storm rolls in through Texas the attendees find themselves stuck in the auditorium together potentially in danger and not just from the weather. While I thought I had things figured out the ending still had some twists that truly surprised me. This is one I’ll be thinking about for days after reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
I had no idea where things were going because the set up for this one takes place for a good portion of the book. Most of the build up is character driven exploring a small town of people who were around when Izzy went missing 25 years ago and now have kids of their own. There are some flashbacks to the past but most of the timeline starts about a week before the pageant takes place. All the lead up to the pageant is worth it because when that day comes things do not go as planned and it is a wild ride. As a storm rolls in through Texas the attendees find themselves stuck in the auditorium together potentially in danger and not just from the weather. While I thought I had things figured out the ending still had some twists that truly surprised me. This is one I’ll be thinking about for days after reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
February 21, 2026
read if you like:
👸🏼 beauty pageants
📍 texas
🔪 cutthroat moms
summary:
I’ve loved previous books by Kelsey Cox, so I wanted to check out her newest one, PRETTY DEAD THINGS. This book is set in Texas, all surrounded around a high stakes beauty pageant, where glamor, secrecy and danger collide. We follow several of the mothers and daughters through the preparation for the event, cutting back and forth between present day and the past, 25 years prior, where at the first Lone Star Princess Pageant, a woman, Isabelle, disappeared, and was never seen again. Her sister, Ingrid, returns back to her hometown to see her parents, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the event, and is immediately reminded of her sister’s disappearance, and the suspicion of those around her.
This is a fast read, with short chapters that keep you amused and on the edge of your seat the entire time. While there are a lot of characters, Cox does a great job of double clicking into all of them, making it easy to keep track of the mothers, daughters and their individual histories. None of the characters are wildly likable — they aren’t intended to be — but the dynamics between them make up for it. If you’ve ever been involved in the pageant or competition world, you can easily picture these kids — and their parents — and the sacrifices they make to succeed. The ending is wild —and a little far fetched — but if you get into the vibe of the book, it will feel satisfying and complete.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy, and if you love a good beauty pageant thriller, check this book out when it releases on July 7!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Behind the practiced smiles and polished crowns lie dark secrets…
Ingrid Whitmore returns to her hometown 25 years after her twin sister disappeared the night before the town’s Lonestar beauty pageant. The case was never solved, and everyone seems like a suspect. I did guess one of the twists, but the ending was far more intricate than I could have imagined.
Clever and beautifully descriptive, the writing makes you feel the sweltering Texas heat and shiver through the fateful snowstorm where everything comes to a head. Some scenes are fairly gory, so sensitive readers beware.
If you love atmospheric small-town thrillers full of hidden motives and complicated friendships, this one is for you.
Ingrid Whitmore returns to her hometown 25 years after her twin sister disappeared the night before the town’s Lonestar beauty pageant. The case was never solved, and everyone seems like a suspect. I did guess one of the twists, but the ending was far more intricate than I could have imagined.
Clever and beautifully descriptive, the writing makes you feel the sweltering Texas heat and shiver through the fateful snowstorm where everything comes to a head. Some scenes are fairly gory, so sensitive readers beware.
If you love atmospheric small-town thrillers full of hidden motives and complicated friendships, this one is for you.
February 23, 2026
The title and cover of the book instantly intrigued me. Absolutely stunning. Then to find out the book is about pageants and an unsolved murder. SIGN ME UP. I can’t lie, I was immediately thinking of the movie “Drop Dead Gorgeous.”
This was a page turner that had me anxious to find out what really happened. Kelsey Cox gave us a full cast of characters with multiple POVs. Truly, everyone was a suspect. And while I appreciate multiple POVs, you definitely have to pay attention and remember how everyone is connected.
I did have my suspicions about who was the killer but I was not disappointed with the final reveal. All the twists made it so exciting!
This was a page turner that had me anxious to find out what really happened. Kelsey Cox gave us a full cast of characters with multiple POVs. Truly, everyone was a suspect. And while I appreciate multiple POVs, you definitely have to pay attention and remember how everyone is connected.
I did have my suspicions about who was the killer but I was not disappointed with the final reveal. All the twists made it so exciting!
February 10, 2026
Pretty Dead Things is set in Texas at a beauty pageant.
This story alternates between multiple POVs and timelines. The current timeline, during beauty pageant season, and 25 years prior when a teen went missing.
Many characters were introduced, and it took me a couple chapters to get my bearing, but once I got to know characters, I was hooked. I had to know what happened to these people. I really thought I had it all figured out and had discovered the truth, but boy was wrong. Cox creates these multidimensional characters in a truly atmospheric setting. A teen that went missing 25 years ago, a current beauty pageant, lies, secrets, and drama throughout. Oh, and on top of that there's a nice winter storm where they all get trapped. Kelsey Cox has truly become one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to see what else she writes!
This story alternates between multiple POVs and timelines. The current timeline, during beauty pageant season, and 25 years prior when a teen went missing.
Many characters were introduced, and it took me a couple chapters to get my bearing, but once I got to know characters, I was hooked. I had to know what happened to these people. I really thought I had it all figured out and had discovered the truth, but boy was wrong. Cox creates these multidimensional characters in a truly atmospheric setting. A teen that went missing 25 years ago, a current beauty pageant, lies, secrets, and drama throughout. Oh, and on top of that there's a nice winter storm where they all get trapped. Kelsey Cox has truly become one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to see what else she writes!
Want to read
December 26, 2025I loved Party of Liars so Super excited to read another from this author!
Pub date: July 2026
Pub date: July 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another unputdownable, multi-POV, catfight-filled, deliciously Texan mystery from Kelsey Cox—and I devoured every single page. Packed with pageant drama, a perfectly executed missing-person case, and murder simmering beneath the surface, this story had me hooked from the start. Much like Party of Liars, I enjoyed every second of it.
The novel revolves around a small-town pageant contest layered with secrets, lies, and a 25-year-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of Isabelle Whitmore. In the present day, Ingrid—better known as Iggy—the twin sister of Isabelle, reunites with her former friends Catherine, Melanie, and Kennedy Claire as they return to town for the annual pageant. This time, however, they’re not contestants—they’re part of the organization.
Iggy never wanted to return to the town she fled after her twin sister Izzy vanished. Isabelle was presumed dead, possibly murdered by her boyfriend Ben—though the case was never proven. Ben’s powerful father refused to let police search his property and quickly sent his son away, effectively shutting down the investigation. Complicating everything, Iggy had always harbored a secret crush on Ben and believed he may have been the last person to see her sister alive, especially since Izzy had planned to break up with him.
Now Iggy is back because her mother is battling cancer—and with her return comes the unearthing of long-buried secrets. Her former friends are still deeply intertwined in her life: Melanie, now a healthcare professional, is caring for Iggy’s mother while raising her daughter Hannah, who is competing in the pageant alongside Kennedy Claire’s daughter Sarah Lynn and Catherine’s daughter Olivia.
As the competition date approaches, the stakes rise—and the gloves come off.
Kennedy Claire is ruthless and unapologetically ambitious. Just as she did years ago when she competed herself, she’s determined to secure the crown for her daughter at any cost. She plays dirty, pushes boundaries, and refuses to let anyone stand in her way. Catherine, on the other hand, is a recovering addict trying to rebuild her life and repair her fractured relationship with her daughter Olivia. She’s being watched by someone unknown, haunted by her past demons, and increasingly threatened by forces she can’t quite identify.
Meanwhile, young Sarah Lynn is suffocating under the pressure of her mother’s obsession with winning. As she begins to realize how far Kennedy Claire is willing to go, she’s forced to confront an impossible question: can she stop her mother without destroying her friendships—or will she be dragged into the darkness herself to eliminate the competition?
As tensions rise, Iggy begins dating a charming young teacher and finally opens up about the mystery of her sister’s disappearance. What really happened all those years ago? Was Isabelle truly a victim of her boyfriend—or did she disappear because of something darker, something she herself had done?
By the time the pageant arrives, the story explodes into full-blown chaos. The characters find themselves trapped in a locked-room murder mystery, where one of them may be the killer—and the danger may have been standing right in front of them all along. The tension is relentless. The clock is ticking. A murderer is among them.
Who will survive?
And who will be next?
Overall thoughts:
This is an exciting, fast-paced, and perfectly executed small-town mystery. While I guessed the perpetrator early on, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. The slow build of tension and the heart-throbbing final third—especially during the pageant scenes—were incredibly effective.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the beautifully formed relationships between the three girls, who often felt far more emotionally mature than their mothers. Their bond added warmth and depth to an otherwise dark, twisty story.
I’m very much looking forward to reading Kelsey Cox’s next work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The novel revolves around a small-town pageant contest layered with secrets, lies, and a 25-year-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of Isabelle Whitmore. In the present day, Ingrid—better known as Iggy—the twin sister of Isabelle, reunites with her former friends Catherine, Melanie, and Kennedy Claire as they return to town for the annual pageant. This time, however, they’re not contestants—they’re part of the organization.
Iggy never wanted to return to the town she fled after her twin sister Izzy vanished. Isabelle was presumed dead, possibly murdered by her boyfriend Ben—though the case was never proven. Ben’s powerful father refused to let police search his property and quickly sent his son away, effectively shutting down the investigation. Complicating everything, Iggy had always harbored a secret crush on Ben and believed he may have been the last person to see her sister alive, especially since Izzy had planned to break up with him.
Now Iggy is back because her mother is battling cancer—and with her return comes the unearthing of long-buried secrets. Her former friends are still deeply intertwined in her life: Melanie, now a healthcare professional, is caring for Iggy’s mother while raising her daughter Hannah, who is competing in the pageant alongside Kennedy Claire’s daughter Sarah Lynn and Catherine’s daughter Olivia.
As the competition date approaches, the stakes rise—and the gloves come off.
Kennedy Claire is ruthless and unapologetically ambitious. Just as she did years ago when she competed herself, she’s determined to secure the crown for her daughter at any cost. She plays dirty, pushes boundaries, and refuses to let anyone stand in her way. Catherine, on the other hand, is a recovering addict trying to rebuild her life and repair her fractured relationship with her daughter Olivia. She’s being watched by someone unknown, haunted by her past demons, and increasingly threatened by forces she can’t quite identify.
Meanwhile, young Sarah Lynn is suffocating under the pressure of her mother’s obsession with winning. As she begins to realize how far Kennedy Claire is willing to go, she’s forced to confront an impossible question: can she stop her mother without destroying her friendships—or will she be dragged into the darkness herself to eliminate the competition?
As tensions rise, Iggy begins dating a charming young teacher and finally opens up about the mystery of her sister’s disappearance. What really happened all those years ago? Was Isabelle truly a victim of her boyfriend—or did she disappear because of something darker, something she herself had done?
By the time the pageant arrives, the story explodes into full-blown chaos. The characters find themselves trapped in a locked-room murder mystery, where one of them may be the killer—and the danger may have been standing right in front of them all along. The tension is relentless. The clock is ticking. A murderer is among them.
Who will survive?
And who will be next?
Overall thoughts:
This is an exciting, fast-paced, and perfectly executed small-town mystery. While I guessed the perpetrator early on, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. The slow build of tension and the heart-throbbing final third—especially during the pageant scenes—were incredibly effective.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the beautifully formed relationships between the three girls, who often felt far more emotionally mature than their mothers. Their bond added warmth and depth to an otherwise dark, twisty story.
I’m very much looking forward to reading Kelsey Cox’s next work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
February 8, 2026
Kelsey Cox has done it again! The author of Party of Liars has another amazing book coming out in July of 2026 and I got the opportunity to read an early copy!
“Beauty is a weapon, Sarah Lynn!” In Pretty Dead Things you follow the POV of four women as the days tick closer to The Lone Star Princess Pageant in Anhalt, Texas. And as anyone knows, beauty pageants in Texas are a religion! As the big day gets closer, secrets from 25 years ago start bubbling to the surface. 25 years ago, Isabelle Whitmore went missing without a trace at Sherman Ranch..the venue for this year’s pageant..yup Sherman Ranch!! The tension is rising between the moms of the girls in the pageant, who were all friends and the twin sister of Isabelle. Between the hairspray, gemstones, and secrets that threaten to come to light everyone is trying to piece together what happened to Isabelle and make it through the pageant, a record breaking ice storm traps pretty much the whole town in the venue. Everyone just wants to survive the night, with no power or heat..and now with two bodies being discovered in the venue, no one’s safe!
This is such an amazing and fast paced thriller! It hooked me from the first chapter and didn’t let go until the end! I read a lot of thrillers and normally can get an idea of the twists before they happen. However, with Pretty Dead Things, that didn’t happen! I was blown away! This is such an amazingly written book. Kelsey Cox has a way of telling a story and making you feel like you’re a part of it. I felt like I was in Anhalt with these women, watching their girls get ready to the pageant, holding their hands when the bodies started showing up, and wiping the tears from a friends face when things got tough. Do yourself a favor and preorder this book! And if you haven’t read Party of Liars yet, do it before this one comes out. This author has been added to my automatic read list when they release a new book! 5 stars!
“Beauty is a weapon, Sarah Lynn!” In Pretty Dead Things you follow the POV of four women as the days tick closer to The Lone Star Princess Pageant in Anhalt, Texas. And as anyone knows, beauty pageants in Texas are a religion! As the big day gets closer, secrets from 25 years ago start bubbling to the surface. 25 years ago, Isabelle Whitmore went missing without a trace at Sherman Ranch..the venue for this year’s pageant..yup Sherman Ranch!! The tension is rising between the moms of the girls in the pageant, who were all friends and the twin sister of Isabelle. Between the hairspray, gemstones, and secrets that threaten to come to light everyone is trying to piece together what happened to Isabelle and make it through the pageant, a record breaking ice storm traps pretty much the whole town in the venue. Everyone just wants to survive the night, with no power or heat..and now with two bodies being discovered in the venue, no one’s safe!
This is such an amazing and fast paced thriller! It hooked me from the first chapter and didn’t let go until the end! I read a lot of thrillers and normally can get an idea of the twists before they happen. However, with Pretty Dead Things, that didn’t happen! I was blown away! This is such an amazingly written book. Kelsey Cox has a way of telling a story and making you feel like you’re a part of it. I felt like I was in Anhalt with these women, watching their girls get ready to the pageant, holding their hands when the bodies started showing up, and wiping the tears from a friends face when things got tough. Do yourself a favor and preorder this book! And if you haven’t read Party of Liars yet, do it before this one comes out. This author has been added to my automatic read list when they release a new book! 5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An absolute MUST READ book by Kelsey Cox, Pretty Dead Things is everything you want in a suspense book set in the world of Texas beauty pageants.
25 years ago, "Izzy" Whitmore disappeared the day of a major pageant, leaving behind a shattered twin sister, parents, and a boyfriend, Ben, who everyone knows did it, but no one can prove it. The town knows that Ben must be guilty, especially since his dad refuses to let anyone near their family after Izzy goes missing.
Now The Lone Star Princess Pageant is hitting a milestone- its 50th show. Everyone is abuzz with the preparation and competition. To add to the buzz, Ingrid "Iggy", the missing girl's twin sister, has come back to the town to help her cancer-ridden mom. She soon gets swept up in the big event, as she competed in it the year Izzy disappeared.
Iggy was so sure it was Ben all those years ago, but as she learns more about the events around her sister's disappearance, now she's questioning everything. Add in a teacher who seems a bit too friendly with his students, a former beauty queen who might stop at nothing to get her daughter to win the pageant, and past grievances between old classmates. Something bad is going to happen again.
This book follows several characters- Iggy, the twin, Melanie, a nurse and mom of a contestant, Cat, a former drunk trying to forge a relationship with her contestant daughter, and Sarah Lynn, the one who will most likely win this year's Lone Star Princess as she is the daughter of Kennedy, the woman who won 25 years ago and went on to be a beauty queen.
With differing POVs and some timeline fluidity, this book builds the suspense and leaves you gasping and guessing at every turn.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
25 years ago, "Izzy" Whitmore disappeared the day of a major pageant, leaving behind a shattered twin sister, parents, and a boyfriend, Ben, who everyone knows did it, but no one can prove it. The town knows that Ben must be guilty, especially since his dad refuses to let anyone near their family after Izzy goes missing.
Now The Lone Star Princess Pageant is hitting a milestone- its 50th show. Everyone is abuzz with the preparation and competition. To add to the buzz, Ingrid "Iggy", the missing girl's twin sister, has come back to the town to help her cancer-ridden mom. She soon gets swept up in the big event, as she competed in it the year Izzy disappeared.
Iggy was so sure it was Ben all those years ago, but as she learns more about the events around her sister's disappearance, now she's questioning everything. Add in a teacher who seems a bit too friendly with his students, a former beauty queen who might stop at nothing to get her daughter to win the pageant, and past grievances between old classmates. Something bad is going to happen again.
This book follows several characters- Iggy, the twin, Melanie, a nurse and mom of a contestant, Cat, a former drunk trying to forge a relationship with her contestant daughter, and Sarah Lynn, the one who will most likely win this year's Lone Star Princess as she is the daughter of Kennedy, the woman who won 25 years ago and went on to be a beauty queen.
With differing POVs and some timeline fluidity, this book builds the suspense and leaves you gasping and guessing at every turn.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
I went into this one curious after reading Party of Liars, and it felt like stepping into a pageant dressing room where everyone knows each other’s secrets, even if I needed a scorecard to keep track of who was who.
This was my second book by Kelsey Cox, and I was definitely engaged in the superficial beauty pageant drama. There’s something oddly compelling about all the polished smiles hiding messy secrets underneath. Compared to Party of Liars, Pretty Dead Things feels much bigger and more crowded with perspectives. Party of Liars had a tighter, more cohesive feel for me, while this one leaned heavier into ensemble drama, which made it a little harder to follow at times.
That said, the cast of characters felt huge, almost overwhelmingly so. I found myself keeping a running list just to remember how everyone was connected, especially at the beginning, and it took away from some of the overall enjoyment for me.
Even with that struggle, I stayed invested because I genuinely wanted to see how everything would unfold. I did end up predicting the ending fairly early on, which softened the impact of the final reveal for me, but the tension and underlying drama still kept me turning pages, even when I felt a little lost in the crowd of perspectives. Messy, dramatic, and a little overcrowded, but still entertaining enough to keep me flipping pages, and honestly, that counts for something.
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
*Note- if you want a list of the characters with how they are connected and their role in the story, I’m happy to send what I have your way!
I went into this one curious after reading Party of Liars, and it felt like stepping into a pageant dressing room where everyone knows each other’s secrets, even if I needed a scorecard to keep track of who was who.
This was my second book by Kelsey Cox, and I was definitely engaged in the superficial beauty pageant drama. There’s something oddly compelling about all the polished smiles hiding messy secrets underneath. Compared to Party of Liars, Pretty Dead Things feels much bigger and more crowded with perspectives. Party of Liars had a tighter, more cohesive feel for me, while this one leaned heavier into ensemble drama, which made it a little harder to follow at times.
That said, the cast of characters felt huge, almost overwhelmingly so. I found myself keeping a running list just to remember how everyone was connected, especially at the beginning, and it took away from some of the overall enjoyment for me.
Even with that struggle, I stayed invested because I genuinely wanted to see how everything would unfold. I did end up predicting the ending fairly early on, which softened the impact of the final reveal for me, but the tension and underlying drama still kept me turning pages, even when I felt a little lost in the crowd of perspectives. Messy, dramatic, and a little overcrowded, but still entertaining enough to keep me flipping pages, and honestly, that counts for something.
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
*Note- if you want a list of the characters with how they are connected and their role in the story, I’m happy to send what I have your way!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was hooked from the very beginning.
Kelsey Cox has such a gift for bringing characters to life through razor-sharp dialogue and deeply relatable inner thoughts. These women feel real — flawed, layered, haunted by the past in ways that shape every decision they make. I was invested in each of them, even when I didn’t fully trust them (which is exactly what you want in a thriller like this).
The Texas setting is vivid and immersive, especially with the Lone Star Princess Pageant—you can just picture the big hair and the accents. I loved the way this shows old pageant queens basically reliving their glory days through their daughters. It adds such an interesting layer, because you realize this isn’t just teenage competition — it’s years of pride, jealousy, and secrets coming back around.
Cox is also a master at ending each chapter with a mini cliffhanger or tension so that you just continue to flip pages until suddenly it’s 2 AM.
And the twist. I genuinely did not see it coming — yet when everything clicked into place, it felt earned. Cox is masterful at planting subtle clues that only reveal their significance in hindsight. I love a thriller that can surprise me without cheating, and this one absolutely delivered.
If you enjoy psychological suspense with complex female relationships, simmering secrets, and jaw-dropping turns, this is a must-read. I was already a huge fan after Party of Liars, but this next novel is just as amazing!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
Kelsey Cox has such a gift for bringing characters to life through razor-sharp dialogue and deeply relatable inner thoughts. These women feel real — flawed, layered, haunted by the past in ways that shape every decision they make. I was invested in each of them, even when I didn’t fully trust them (which is exactly what you want in a thriller like this).
The Texas setting is vivid and immersive, especially with the Lone Star Princess Pageant—you can just picture the big hair and the accents. I loved the way this shows old pageant queens basically reliving their glory days through their daughters. It adds such an interesting layer, because you realize this isn’t just teenage competition — it’s years of pride, jealousy, and secrets coming back around.
Cox is also a master at ending each chapter with a mini cliffhanger or tension so that you just continue to flip pages until suddenly it’s 2 AM.
And the twist. I genuinely did not see it coming — yet when everything clicked into place, it felt earned. Cox is masterful at planting subtle clues that only reveal their significance in hindsight. I love a thriller that can surprise me without cheating, and this one absolutely delivered.
If you enjoy psychological suspense with complex female relationships, simmering secrets, and jaw-dropping turns, this is a must-read. I was already a huge fan after Party of Liars, but this next novel is just as amazing!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Final Target, which releases May 26th. I always love getting to read thrillers early, and this one definitely kept me turning pages.
As a mom who reads most of my books at night once the house is finally quiet, this was exactly the kind of fast-paced, high-stakes story that makes me say “just one more chapter” even when I know I should go to sleep.
The tension starts early and doesn’t really let up. I loved how tightly plotted it felt — every move, every reveal felt intentional. There’s a constant sense of urgency that kept me engaged, and I genuinely didn’t feel bored at any point. It had that cinematic, edge-of-your-seat energy that makes it easy to fly through.
The main character felt driven and layered, not just thrown into chaos for drama. I appreciated that the twists felt earned instead of random. I was definitely second-guessing my theories more than once.
I gave it 4 stars because while I really enjoyed the ride, I wanted just a little more emotional punch in the final stretch. The ending worked, but I was craving one more moment that made me sit back and go, “Whoa.”
Overall, this is a solid, gripping thriller that’s perfect for anyone who loves fast pacing, high tension, and late-night binge reading. Definitely one to add to your list for May 26th.
As a mom who reads most of my books at night once the house is finally quiet, this was exactly the kind of fast-paced, high-stakes story that makes me say “just one more chapter” even when I know I should go to sleep.
The tension starts early and doesn’t really let up. I loved how tightly plotted it felt — every move, every reveal felt intentional. There’s a constant sense of urgency that kept me engaged, and I genuinely didn’t feel bored at any point. It had that cinematic, edge-of-your-seat energy that makes it easy to fly through.
The main character felt driven and layered, not just thrown into chaos for drama. I appreciated that the twists felt earned instead of random. I was definitely second-guessing my theories more than once.
I gave it 4 stars because while I really enjoyed the ride, I wanted just a little more emotional punch in the final stretch. The ending worked, but I was craving one more moment that made me sit back and go, “Whoa.”
Overall, this is a solid, gripping thriller that’s perfect for anyone who loves fast pacing, high tension, and late-night binge reading. Definitely one to add to your list for May 26th.
February 17, 2026
Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox was one of my favorite reads of 2025, so I went into this follow‑up with high expectations, and it did not disappoint.
This story takes place in Texas, where a group of girls are preparing for the Lonestar Princess Pageant. Competitive moms, ambitious daughters, and the lingering mystery of a girl who went missing years ago all collide in a setting that’s already full of pressure and secrets.
There’s a large cast, which can be difficult in some thrillers, but Cox handles it well. Each chapter follows either a mom or a daughter in the days leading up to the pageant, and the shifting perspectives were easy to follow. Nearly every character felt suspicious, and many were intentionally unlikable, which added to the tension and made the story even more engaging.
The short chapters kept the pace moving quickly, and the twists had me guessing until the very end. I don’t want to give anything away, but this is a fast‑paced, twisty thriller that delivers exactly what I hoped for.
Highly recommend for readers who love messy characters, pageant drama, and tightly wound suspense.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e‑ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Anticipated Release Date- July 7, 2026
This story takes place in Texas, where a group of girls are preparing for the Lonestar Princess Pageant. Competitive moms, ambitious daughters, and the lingering mystery of a girl who went missing years ago all collide in a setting that’s already full of pressure and secrets.
There’s a large cast, which can be difficult in some thrillers, but Cox handles it well. Each chapter follows either a mom or a daughter in the days leading up to the pageant, and the shifting perspectives were easy to follow. Nearly every character felt suspicious, and many were intentionally unlikable, which added to the tension and made the story even more engaging.
The short chapters kept the pace moving quickly, and the twists had me guessing until the very end. I don’t want to give anything away, but this is a fast‑paced, twisty thriller that delivers exactly what I hoped for.
Highly recommend for readers who love messy characters, pageant drama, and tightly wound suspense.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e‑ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Anticipated Release Date- July 7, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Secrets secrets are no fun...
-
In 2000, Isabelle Whitmore goes missing. Many people suspect her boyfriend, but nobody has the answers. In a town as small as Anhault, nobody forgets. Her identical twin sister, Ingrid Whitmore, flees from Texas to Colorado where nobody knows her past and not every landmark holds memories.
-
In 2025, Ingrid Whitmore returns to Anhault. Now, her high school friends are all grown up with daughters of their own, ready for the pageant. But, in the wake of a new cohort of pageant queens, construction on the old Sherman Ranch, and the return of the twin who has left behind things are bound to get crazy.
-
This book gave me the thing I love most about thrillers - suspense. The present day spans about one week, so it's very fast-paced, and you feel like you are on an adrenaline rush. I typically figure out the ending of thrillers, but with this one, it wasn't just the "who did it" that got me. I felt like after I processed the way it was written, so many dominoes were falling into place. It made the book a lot more fun in the end.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books), and Kelsey Cox for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
-
In 2000, Isabelle Whitmore goes missing. Many people suspect her boyfriend, but nobody has the answers. In a town as small as Anhault, nobody forgets. Her identical twin sister, Ingrid Whitmore, flees from Texas to Colorado where nobody knows her past and not every landmark holds memories.
-
In 2025, Ingrid Whitmore returns to Anhault. Now, her high school friends are all grown up with daughters of their own, ready for the pageant. But, in the wake of a new cohort of pageant queens, construction on the old Sherman Ranch, and the return of the twin who has left behind things are bound to get crazy.
-
This book gave me the thing I love most about thrillers - suspense. The present day spans about one week, so it's very fast-paced, and you feel like you are on an adrenaline rush. I typically figure out the ending of thrillers, but with this one, it wasn't just the "who did it" that got me. I felt like after I processed the way it was written, so many dominoes were falling into place. It made the book a lot more fun in the end.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books), and Kelsey Cox for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC of Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox
🗓 Release Date: July 7, 2026
📚 Thriller
🌄 Setting: Anhalt, Texas (small town)
~~
"You are invited to the 50th annual Miss Lonestar Princess Pageant..."
I was so excited to see that @kelseycoxwriter had a new book coming out because I absolutely loved Party of Liars!
Pretty Dead Things was just as flipping awesome! This book was gripping from the beginning to the very last page.
Throughout the book, you're trying to figure out what happened to Isabelle Whitmore. She disappeared just before being able to participate in the pageant in 2000.
Now, 25 years later, the small Texas town is gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the pageant. There are overbearing mothers, nervous girls, and still - the mystery of Isabelle Whitmore's disappearance looming over the event.
I feel like this was so well-written and the mystery and suspense were perfect. It was entertaining and I didn't want to put it down.
I know nothing about pageants but I can imagine the pressure is similar to what is portrayed in the book. 💃
If you like thrillers, mysteries, drama, and small-town life, be sure to check out Pretty Dead Things when it's released on July 7th!
🗓 Release Date: July 7, 2026
📚 Thriller
🌄 Setting: Anhalt, Texas (small town)
~~
"You are invited to the 50th annual Miss Lonestar Princess Pageant..."
I was so excited to see that @kelseycoxwriter had a new book coming out because I absolutely loved Party of Liars!
Pretty Dead Things was just as flipping awesome! This book was gripping from the beginning to the very last page.
Throughout the book, you're trying to figure out what happened to Isabelle Whitmore. She disappeared just before being able to participate in the pageant in 2000.
Now, 25 years later, the small Texas town is gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the pageant. There are overbearing mothers, nervous girls, and still - the mystery of Isabelle Whitmore's disappearance looming over the event.
I feel like this was so well-written and the mystery and suspense were perfect. It was entertaining and I didn't want to put it down.
I know nothing about pageants but I can imagine the pressure is similar to what is portrayed in the book. 💃
If you like thrillers, mysteries, drama, and small-town life, be sure to check out Pretty Dead Things when it's released on July 7th!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Pretty Dead Things
By: Kelsey Cox
Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Publisher: Minotaur Books
After reading her impressive debut, Party of Liars, I knew Cox would be an auto-buy author for me. Excited to have found another author favorite from Texas. Hoping to meet her this tour since she is from the Hill country. This cover is STRIKING, and captures your first glance into this addictive novel which you will want to read in one sitting to find out what happened?
This novel explores the pageant world. We know that is a competitive, and one Texas girl vanishes in 2000 from Sherman Ranch. There does NOT seem to be any clues.
Fast forward to 2025, another pageant is upon the girls and the past is about to unravel. Ingrid has returned to Sherman Ranch. Her sister Isabelle is the one who disappeared. The Ranch is having construction done and the digging has begun. What will be uncovered? Will Ingrid be found? What really happened? The girls from the past with secrets and their own haunts add the mystique of this eye-dropping novel.
Cox you have found your genre, and I am here for it! Thank you, Minotaur, for this copy.
By: Kelsey Cox
Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Publisher: Minotaur Books
After reading her impressive debut, Party of Liars, I knew Cox would be an auto-buy author for me. Excited to have found another author favorite from Texas. Hoping to meet her this tour since she is from the Hill country. This cover is STRIKING, and captures your first glance into this addictive novel which you will want to read in one sitting to find out what happened?
This novel explores the pageant world. We know that is a competitive, and one Texas girl vanishes in 2000 from Sherman Ranch. There does NOT seem to be any clues.
Fast forward to 2025, another pageant is upon the girls and the past is about to unravel. Ingrid has returned to Sherman Ranch. Her sister Isabelle is the one who disappeared. The Ranch is having construction done and the digging has begun. What will be uncovered? Will Ingrid be found? What really happened? The girls from the past with secrets and their own haunts add the mystique of this eye-dropping novel.
Cox you have found your genre, and I am here for it! Thank you, Minotaur, for this copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Twenty five years ago her sister went missing and she decided the best way to deal with all of it was to leave Anhalt and never look back. But with the anniversary of her sister's disappearance looming and knowing her parents might need a little extra support Ingrid decides to return home. But what she finds waiting for her is something she was not prepared for at all... it's a deadly disaster!
Pretty Dead Things is a cleverly crafted tale that will keep you thoroughly captivated from beginning to end. Once I started this one I found it almost impossible to put down, there was a lot going on between the pages here. A missing woman, deceitful pageant moms armed with secrets, and rich and powerful families who would do anything to win... even murder.
This fast paced thrill ride impressed on all fronts, there wasn't a dull moment to be found. Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it's pages will keep you on the edge of your seat and second guessing yourself the whole way through!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Pretty Dead Things is a cleverly crafted tale that will keep you thoroughly captivated from beginning to end. Once I started this one I found it almost impossible to put down, there was a lot going on between the pages here. A missing woman, deceitful pageant moms armed with secrets, and rich and powerful families who would do anything to win... even murder.
This fast paced thrill ride impressed on all fronts, there wasn't a dull moment to be found. Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it's pages will keep you on the edge of your seat and second guessing yourself the whole way through!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book had so much jam packed in to one story; twin flames, southern etiquette, beauty pageants, mother - daughter POVs, time jumps, a recovering addict, some romantic relationship developments AND a spooky ice storm. It felt like a lot to keep up with but overall I think the author did a great job interlocking all of the things. 💖
What happened to Isabelle Whitmore? 25 years ago, Izzy went missing, her family never knowing what happened to her. Fast forward to the 2025 Lonestar Princess Pageant: old frenemies and acquaintances are reunited, truths begin to surface and old cycles begin to be broken, stirring up drama to the point multiple people lose their lives. This was a zippy page turner! The characters are interesting, not always lovable, and I would argue some are untrustworthy.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would absolutely recommend to anyone in search of a fun, fast mystery read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 stars rounded up!
Than you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
— Emily After Dark 🖤
What happened to Isabelle Whitmore? 25 years ago, Izzy went missing, her family never knowing what happened to her. Fast forward to the 2025 Lonestar Princess Pageant: old frenemies and acquaintances are reunited, truths begin to surface and old cycles begin to be broken, stirring up drama to the point multiple people lose their lives. This was a zippy page turner! The characters are interesting, not always lovable, and I would argue some are untrustworthy.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would absolutely recommend to anyone in search of a fun, fast mystery read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 stars rounded up!
Than you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
— Emily After Dark 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC copy of Pretty Dead Things, and I truly enjoyed this one from start to finish!
This book was such an entertaining and engaging read. The story immediately pulled me in and kept my attention the entire time. It was full of surprises that I didn’t see coming, which always makes for the best kind of reading experience. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something new would unfold and keep me guessing.
I especially loved the cast of characters. They were complex, interesting, and added so much depth to the plot. Each one brought something unique to the story, which made the twists and turns even more compelling.
It was also a quick read for me because I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. The pacing was strong, the plot was well-developed, and I found myself fully invested in what was going to happen next.
I would highly recommend Pretty Dead Things to anyone who enjoys an entertaining, surprise-filled read with intriguing characters and a gripping storyline. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
This book was such an entertaining and engaging read. The story immediately pulled me in and kept my attention the entire time. It was full of surprises that I didn’t see coming, which always makes for the best kind of reading experience. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something new would unfold and keep me guessing.
I especially loved the cast of characters. They were complex, interesting, and added so much depth to the plot. Each one brought something unique to the story, which made the twists and turns even more compelling.
It was also a quick read for me because I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. The pacing was strong, the plot was well-developed, and I found myself fully invested in what was going to happen next.
I would highly recommend Pretty Dead Things to anyone who enjoys an entertaining, surprise-filled read with intriguing characters and a gripping storyline. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The Annual Lone Star Princess Pageant in Anhalt, Texas is a big deal. Competing in it is a right of passage for the town's teenager girls. In 2000, Izzy Whitmore never showed up at the pagent. She wasn't competing, but she was supposed to help her twin, Iggy, with her magic act. Depsite most of the town searching for her, she was never seen again.
Now in 2025, her sister, Iggy is back in town to take care of her ailing mother, the 2000 winner, Kennedy Claire, has been training her daughter, Sara Lynn, to for this pageant for years, and two of their other high school classmates, Melanie and Cat, have daughters who are competing thanks to Sara Lynn's friendship. Their web is tangled, as Melanie is the nurse helping to take care of Iggy's mother, and Melanie and Cat were bullied by Iggy and Kennedy Claire in high school.
I love the way that this author interweaves the characters and their relationships. She also makes everyone look legitimately suspicious, not just the character that everyone thinks is guilty. While I've never personally competed in pageants, the author's attention to detail in the way that Sara Lynn was being trained, as well as the way the pageant was affecting her friends seemed realistic based on my experience as a teenage girl. Definitely recommend!
The Annual Lone Star Princess Pageant in Anhalt, Texas is a big deal. Competing in it is a right of passage for the town's teenager girls. In 2000, Izzy Whitmore never showed up at the pagent. She wasn't competing, but she was supposed to help her twin, Iggy, with her magic act. Depsite most of the town searching for her, she was never seen again.
Now in 2025, her sister, Iggy is back in town to take care of her ailing mother, the 2000 winner, Kennedy Claire, has been training her daughter, Sara Lynn, to for this pageant for years, and two of their other high school classmates, Melanie and Cat, have daughters who are competing thanks to Sara Lynn's friendship. Their web is tangled, as Melanie is the nurse helping to take care of Iggy's mother, and Melanie and Cat were bullied by Iggy and Kennedy Claire in high school.
I love the way that this author interweaves the characters and their relationships. She also makes everyone look legitimately suspicious, not just the character that everyone thinks is guilty. While I've never personally competed in pageants, the author's attention to detail in the way that Sara Lynn was being trained, as well as the way the pageant was affecting her friends seemed realistic based on my experience as a teenage girl. Definitely recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 stars out of 5.
This was an excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I could not flip the pages fast enough and I felt the story had a good flow. The ending was shocking to me and I did not see that twist coming at all! I thought all the characters were well developed but the reason I could not give it 5 stars was due to the amount of characters. There were too many to keep track off and I was a little confused in the beginning of the book trying to get all the stories straight. Overall, this was an exciting thriller that I would highly recommend.
In Pretty Dead Things, Ingrid is back in her home town after being away for a while. Years ago her sister went missing in the town and the suspected killer's property is being built up. Everyone in town is hoping Izzy is found after all these years. Now, it's that time of the year again for the biggest pageant in the town but a series of events happen and turn deadly.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC.
This was an excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I could not flip the pages fast enough and I felt the story had a good flow. The ending was shocking to me and I did not see that twist coming at all! I thought all the characters were well developed but the reason I could not give it 5 stars was due to the amount of characters. There were too many to keep track off and I was a little confused in the beginning of the book trying to get all the stories straight. Overall, this was an exciting thriller that I would highly recommend.
In Pretty Dead Things, Ingrid is back in her home town after being away for a while. Years ago her sister went missing in the town and the suspected killer's property is being built up. Everyone in town is hoping Izzy is found after all these years. Now, it's that time of the year again for the biggest pageant in the town but a series of events happen and turn deadly.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. This story is told from multiple points of view and follows a group of girls who are competing in a beauty pageant, both in the past and present. It also weaves together the story of Izzy who went missing 25 years ago and all secrets, grudges, and drama that happens in a small town after a tragedy occurs. I thought this was a fantastic thriller. It was well written, fast paced, and kept me guessing the whole time. I loved all characters and thought the transitions from character to character were seamless and blended the story perfectly. Additionally, I thought the multiple points of view were great as we get to see different perspectives of each character providing a great psychological deep dive into them and their motivations. I was hooked from page one and finished this in one sitting. I wouldn't be surprised to see this get adapted into a TV show or movie. :)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a child pageant contestant, this book was right up my alley! Not only did I love Kelsey Cox’s first novel Party of Liars, but I devoured Pretty Dead Things. I usually have a hard time keeping soo many POV’s straight until I’m like a third of the way through a book, but with Pretty Dead Things it was so easy to follow each character because it truly felt like each one had their own voice. I loved being able to follow not only the town mystery and all of the people involved, but having a new mystery interwoven was fantastic. The twists were shocking but also believable. I hate when a twist feels a little unrealistic and out of left field, Kelsey Cox knows how to slowly unwind the twist to where you believe it with your whole chest.
I highly recommend Pretty Dead Things to anyone that is looking for a small town drama with lots of twists and different POV’s.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
I highly recommend Pretty Dead Things to anyone that is looking for a small town drama with lots of twists and different POV’s.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
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