Pretty Dead Things: A Gripping Psychological Thriller

by Liv Lowry

Everyone says Briar’s mother killed four husbands… and her own daughter. Now Briar’s home, and she’s about to find out if the rumors are true.



When Briar comes home to her family’s sprawling estate for her sister's funeral, she’s not planning on staying long—just get through the service and leave before her mother can sink her claws in again. Instead, she finds a note in her sister’s handwriting:



She’s not who you think.

You’re next.



Briar has spent years rebuilding her life—therapy, a purpose-driven career, and distance from her famous mother: a narcissistic control freak who cares more about appearances than her own daughters. But the second Briar steps back into her childhood home, the past comes rushing back.



Because her sister didn’t drown by accident. Briar knows that now.

And if she’s right, the person responsible is still close enough to kiss her cheek at the funeral.



Now Briar is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it kills her.



Pretty Dead Things is a dark and twisty, atmospheric psychological thriller perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Riley Sager, and Freida McFadden. When a woman returns to her family’s decaying estate in the Everglades after her sister’s mysterious death, she’s drawn into a web of lies spun by her Old Hollywood mother, a woman who might be both victim and monster.



It’s The Haunting of Hill House meets The Heiress: a gothic thriller simmering in Florida heat, buried secrets, and family madness.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Amazon, Ebooks

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2025

About the author

Liv Lowry lives in Germany with her husband and her son.

When she’s not plotting her next thriller, she can usually be found reading true crime, exploring old castles, or sipping tea while dreaming up new ways to keep readers up at night.

Reviews

[Sara Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique and gripping story! I absolutely loved the twists and turns. Definitely a must read if you’re looking for something fast paced. This one really draws you in!

[AmBerGUR · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up!! Insanely twist!

[Terri | Twist & Doubt | Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Dead Things by Liv Lowry starts with a woman returning home for her sister’s funeral and quickly being pulled into a web of secrets when she discovers unsettling signs that her sister’s death may not have been what it seemed.

From the first page, I was completely pulled in by the suspense - the sense of not knowing who to trust was masterfully done. The pacing never let up, and the constant twists and turns kept me guessing right up until the end.

The characters are deliciously unlikeable and morally murky, which only deepened the tension; you’re never sure who’s being honest and who’s manipulating the truth. The unique setting also made this story especially memorable - it adds an extra layer of atmosphere and tension that lingers long after you’ve finished the final page.

I also appreciated how the book raises intriguing familial and social issues - from toxic family dynamics and generational trauma to the burden of public image and the way secrets can warp relationships. These themes gave the psychological thrills a bit more gravity beneath the surface.

If you like dark thrillers that keep you off-balance and guessing, this is definitely one to add to your list. Thank you to Liv Lowry for my copy - I’m very grateful!

[Joshua Wilson-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really strong read for me, and honestly one I wish I’d picked up sooner. It’s tense, heavy, and constantly has you questioning everything - the kind of thriller that gets under your skin.

This book is dark and atmospheric, built around secrets, grief, and a mystery that slowly tightens its grip. The story unfolds in layers, pulling you deeper into its world as the truth starts to feel more and more elusive.

The atmosphere in this book is one of its biggest strengths. From the setting to the tone, everything feels unsettling and heavy in the best way. The Bellville estate felt eerie, claustrophobic, and almost like a character in its own right. I genuinely felt like I was inside the book while reading it. It had me that immersed in the pages.

I think a great credit goes to Liv Lowry as an author for her attention to detail in describing the scenes and characters. Many other thrillers i’ve read generally skim over the surface but this book went deep. It was vivid, but not overwhelming. As a debut this was great!

The pacing? Perfect. It builds naturally rather than relying on constant shocks. And when the twists do come… they are true curveballs. I didn’t anticipate them at all, and they genuinely left me reeling. The reveals felt earned and impactful.

I also really enjoyed the use of transcripts throughout the book. They added another layer to the storytelling and pulled me in even more as a reader. Those extra details made everything feel more real and immersive.

Character-wise, this book had me feeling things. I absolutely despised Vivienne, which I think speaks to how well she was written. And by the end of the book, my jaw was on the floor in regards to some of the others.

Overall, this was a gripping & immersive thriller with great twists and a sense of unease. This is one I’d highly recommend if you enjoy thrillers that focus on mood, tension, and detail.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow. Goodness this was unhinged to say the least 🤯

[Frannie Myers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow I’ve never hated a book so much

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um so that was dark, twisted and deeply disturbing - let this be my sign to stop going into books blind.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF- Found it very hard to get into, didnt get me hooked at all.

[Weena Bernabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wrecked me in the quietest, most beautiful way.

This book is not just a romance. It’s grief. It’s trauma. It’s loving someone in the middle of their broken pieces and choosing to stay anyway. And you guys already know, I live for stories that feel raw and almost too heavy to carry. This one? It carries you instead. This story didn't shy away from the darkness. She leans into it. The pain, the messy emotions, the kind of love that isn’t pretty or polished but real. The kind that bleeds. The kind that feels impossible and inevitable at the same time. What I loved most was how deeply it felt. The characters aren’t perfect. They’re flawed, haunted, trying to survive their pasts while figuring out if they deserve something good. And that’s what fucking got me. That question — am I worthy of love even after everything?
You can feel the ache in every chapter. The longing. The desperation to hold on to something beautiful in the middle of chaos. And when the tenderness shows up? It hits ten times harder because you know what they’ve endured to get there.
This story is fucking HEAVY.
It was haunting.
It was heartbreaking.
It’s beautifully written.
And
It will crawl under your skin.
♾️ ⭐️

[Shay Knudsen Stories · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liv Lowry absolutely nailed that eerie, slow-burn tension that just creeps under your skin and refuses to leave. It’s dark, it’s twisty, it’s emotional in ways I did NOT see coming and the vibes? Immaculate. Think unsettling but make it addictive.

The characters feel so real and layered, like you almost trust them…but you definitely shouldn’t. And the atmosphere? Chef’s kiss. I could practically feel the chill in the air while reading.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky, crazy.

Well written twisty, crazy thriller! Some shades of Mommy Dearest. So many unexpected, shocking surprises to keep you glued to the pages. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but it certainly kept me wanting to know how it all was going to end.

[Cassandra Bergman · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This book had me hooked. Just when I thought I was shocked it went and shocked me more. Over and over. 10/10 recommend this book if you love a good surprise and twists. This book will make you say wtf!

[Evie Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I loved this! Kinda crazy and a bit spooky

[charae · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring. so glad it’s over - i was hate reading it after around 45% because i just can’t DNF books 😭

[Blanche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost dnf none of the characters were likable

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Just finished....current thoughts? This book is MESSED UP!!!!

[Hannah Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

didnt like the ending ao ideally 3.5 but overall a good read 4 stars

[Hope Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

Southern Dark gothic psycological thriller....
Suspense
Family Secrets
Buried trauma

Now..... Um... I do not even know what to say or think about this one.

This one had me on the edge of my seat.

Brair and her sisters where adopted by this famous Hollywood actress named Vivienne.

When the oldest Odette pops up after being murdered, that is when all their secrets come to light but then they have to do everything that they can to hide what they have done.

Talking about airing out your dirty laundry....
Odette and Briars husbands end up dead. Vivienne has had 4 husbands to come up missing all to be believed to have been murdered.
And then all the secrets come to light. Portia isn't as perfect as she seems.
Elise has held on to so much for so long. Held so many secrets.
And Julie is 7 and so innocent and all of that is gone in the flash.

[Loka Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by her. Definitely did not disappoint. I didn't see the twists coming. She kept me guessing & very interested. I will be reading more of her books.

[Dre · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Rahaela Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty boring to be honest, the entire relationship with Vivianne and Briar is super annoying, definitely watch ou if you have any PTSD with narcissistic people, I thought the plot was weak too.

[Kaimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

That whole family is crazy as f**k.

It was pretty good, I kinda liked the chapters with the news articles and the vlog, people giving their own opinions on the family.

I will be honest, I don’t think this book needed to be as long as it was. I was 50% the way through and there wasn’t too much going on yet, other than Vivienne being the most frustrating character so far. The ending had a lot of twists and shocks, I feel like a couple of them didn’t really add anything to the plot, like they were just thrown in for pure shock factor.

[Robyn Rekula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a really hard time getting into this one, but it was an ok book. I loved the old Florida Everglades setting. I found a lot of this to be unbelievable, which I get bc it’s a thriller, but when I’m sucked into a story, that doesn’t bother me.

Kindle through KU 📚

[bhavie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started strong up until the middle when it got a bit annoying. None of the characters were likable or interesting. There were way too many deaths and it read more like a cheesy wannabe horror novel than a thriller. The ending was just annoying. I got irritated around 70%. I wouldn’t recommend

[amandarose_mil · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing Pretty Dead Things by Liv Lowery, I’ve got a lot of mixed thoughts - mostly in a good way.

There were a few moments where the plot raised questions for me, like where Juliet actually was while Briar and Portia were being held captive. It felt like there were opportunities for her to intervene (like slipping out to get Owen) that weren’t fully addressed. I also wish we’d had more detail around how the husbands’ bodies were being preserved - the gothic horror of that idea was great, but leaning a bit more into the science of it (and even practicalities like masking decomposition) would have made it feel more grounded and unsettling.

Near the beginning, a couple of chapters did feel slightly repetitive, with similar jump-scare style reveals happening back-to-back, and the sheer number of dead husbands introduced early on (Odette and Briar both widowed, alongside their mother’s four marriages) started to feel a bit excessive without more context around how or why those men died. I got that information in the end but could have done with a bit more a little sooner.

That said, Vivienne was a fantastic villain. Even before the imprisonment and drugging, she was brilliantly manipulative - a real snake in the grass. I absolutely loved to hate her. I also had an early suspicion about the “butler”, so Elise’s loyalty to Vivienne didn’t come as a shock.

Emotionally, I think the aftermath of Vivienne paralysing Briar could have been explored more deeply - I would have liked to see more trauma reflected in her behaviour afterwards. And more drama whilst she was in it - like close calls of rescue. Maybe the detective a bit more. Maybe Luke showing up as a white knight for Portia? Like he doesn’t believe her replies are her the way Owen believed Vivienne’s replies were Briar. Juliet trying to drag them out of bed. Anything that had us rallying for their rescue but seeing it slip through our fingers again.

Similarly, while I understood how wearing her mother’s clothes marked a turning point and pushed her into becoming a more unreliable narrator, her decision to side with Portia felt a little too quick. Even with Owen’s betrayal, her bond with Odette should have carried more weight than such a rapid shift allowed. The baby girl twist though was genius. The perfect cherry on the cake.

I did feel like one of the biggest twists came slightly too early, which made me wonder what could possibly top it — although to the book’s credit, the final twists still managed to land in a different, satisfying way.

On the positive side, I really enjoyed the use of mixed media like transcripts, and the whole novel had a very visual quality to it. I could easily imagine this as a film — all glamour over rot, with rich, spoiled dark colours on screen.

Overall, it was a refreshing read and something a bit different from the usual thriller formula. A great book I’ll be recommending to bookish friends. Thanks Liv ✨

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the free copy via Amazon.

Disclaimer: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD. READ WITH CAUTION!

This story starts with the FMC returning home for her sister’s wake, and from there, everything slowly unravels into a series of strange, unsettling events. The writing instantly grabbed me — it’s easy to read, easy to follow, and the pacing is just right. I never felt bored or lost. The author does a great job painting vivid pictures of the characters; I could imagine each one clearly, and their dialogue matched their personalities perfectly.

Juliet, the youngest sister, gave me weird vibes from the start, and Vivienne — the mother — was someone I could never trust. The family is wealthy and well-known, but the fame and pressure drove the second and third older daughters to build lives far away from Hollywood and their judgmental, micromanaging mother. And honestly, knowing what Vivienne was capable of, I can’t blame them.

One moment that confused me was when Briar and Owen go to his house and she sees Willa sitting on the porch offering pralines. Just a few paragraphs later, we’re told Willa died six years ago. Was Briar seeing a ghost? A hallucination? Reliving a memory? I’m still not sure, but it definitely added to the eerie atmosphere.

Vivienne herself is absolutely deranged — manipulative, sadistic, and terrifying. She kills her husbands, preserves their bodies in different rooms like twisted trophies, and even paralyzes her own daughters to keep them trapped in the house forever. Honestly, I’m surprised the surviving sisters ever stayed in that home after the trauma they endured.

And just when I thought the story couldn’t get any darker, the ending hits. I did not expect Portia to be involved in all the horrific things happening in that household — and dragging a seven-year-old into it? My jaw actually dropped. That poor child… she’s going to grow up to be a serial killer, I swear.

The ending was unexpected in the best way. Overall, I really enjoyed this book: it was easy to read, the twists kept me on my toes, and I never knew what was coming next.


Kelly’s Rating Scale:
1. Storyline - 5/5
2. Characters (well developed or relatable?) - 4/5
3. Writing - 5/5
4. Pace (good pace, dragged or rushed?) - 4/5
5. Enjoyment - 4/5
6. Originality (compared to past books I’ve read) – 5/5
7. Ending (fulfilling or disappointing?) - 5/5
8. Emotional Impact (evokes strong emotions?) - 3/5

[Christina Jimenez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap this family is crazy.
Vivian definitely kills all four of her husband’s. Towards the middle of/ending of the book, Vivienne & Elise the housekeeper, poison Briar & sedate her enough to where she’s unable to move/speak. Elise ends up calling police admitting everything they’ve done, left a note, kills Vivienne, then herself.

Turns out Owen was never writing a memoir for Vivian. He was finding out all the family secrets to get ahead in his writing career and write a book. - “House of Horrors”.

Detective of the case turns out batshit crazy!! An obsessed fan of Vivienne’s & found an escape/hidden room to hide in within the walls of the house. Juliet found the room & sprinkled the poisonous flower contents over her potato chips. She started bleeding from her eyes! 😳🙈 right before Juliet takes the knife and drives it into the detectives throat! The detective had some sick obsession with Juliet (the youngest). Would think of her as her younger sister Elena, that had died.

Odettes warning letter in the book ends up being about the middle sister Portia!! Not about Vivienne. Portia was a killer and covered up everything. But so was Briar bc they killed both Odettes husband & Briar’s ex husband Ted. Ted had an affair with Vivienne. Portia let Odette drown.

Owen ends up walking in on Portia, Briar, & Juliet talking. He notices Juliet holding the knife. Portia grabs the knife & shoots him in the knees!!! BUT OMG THEN BRIAR IS THE ONE TO PULL THE TRIGGER & suggests staging a scene! Turns out @ the end that Briar ends up pregnant w/ a little girl (Owen’s daughter).

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

《4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5⭐️》

When Briar returns home for her sister's funeral, she's forced back into a world she tried to escape... a decaying estate, a suffocating past, and a mother whose old Hollywood charm hides something far more dangerous. But grief quietly turns to fear when Briar discovers a message her sister left behind. "She's not who you think. You're next". As memories resurface and tensions inside the house begin to crack, Briar starts to question everything she thought she knew about her family, her sister's death and even herself. In a place where appearances are carefully crafted and secrets refuse to stay buried, Briar must untangle what's real before she becomes the next pretty dead thing.

From the first chapter, I knew this wasn't going to be a "casually read before bed" kind of thriller. This is slow, heavy and dripping with tension. The kind of tension where every conversation felt loaded and everyone had something to hide. Briar returning home after her sister's death was already unsettling, add in a glamorous and manipulative mother, a crumbling estate full of secrets, and a note that says you're next... I was locked in! The atmosphere was perfectly executed. The setting feels alive and the family dynamics were toxic in the best way. I genuinely didn't know who to trust or what to believe and just when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, it was like Liv laughed in my face and flipped the book on its head! If you love dark and moody thrillers with messy families and buried secrets, this one will absolutely hit the spot!

Thank you so much to Liv for sending me a copy of this awesome book! Can't wait for what you do next!

[Claire Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Dead Things is the kind of thriller that sinks its teeth in quietly, then refuses to let go. Briar returns home after her sister’s death, landing back in the childhood house she hoped she’d never see again. Her mother — a once-famous Hollywood actress with charm polished to a mirror shine — is every bit as unsettling as Briar remembers. The glamour is for the cameras. The bite is for behind closed doors.

As Briar settles back in, strange things start happening. Little cracks in reality. Odd moments she can’t quite explain. The brilliance of the book is that it keeps you guessing without tipping its hand — you feel Briar’s disorientation as sharply as she does, but you never feel manipulated. Every thread tightens with purpose.

The pacing is quick but never careless. The writing is vivid without drowning you in detail. You’re right there in the house with her — hearing what she hears, feeling what she feels, trying to piece together the truth before it slips away again.

And the twists? They land. Hard. You won’t see them coming, but you’ll kick yourself for missing the signs.

If you love mystery thrillers with sharp character work, a claustrophobic setting, and a main character whose grip on reality feels both fragile and relatable, this one deserves a spot at the top of your TBR. Highly recommended.

[Ney oh the thrill of it FN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational debut

I am so shocked that this a debut novel because it is amazing!

From the beginning you are pulled into the Belville family's dark and dysfunctional dynamics. Beginining like any great dark and twisted tale at a funeral but this isn't your typical grieving family, it is a family filled with secrets, resentment and lies.

Liv writes a gripping tale, portraying the lengths members of this family will go to in order to protect the secrets they keep from the outside world, and ultimately from each other.

There are some truly despicable characters and at points you won't be sure who to despise more. The tension is palpable, the twists and turns will have you dizzy. The action is relentless.

The use of mixed media elements, such as transcripts of videos from the past, made this a truly immersive experience, slowly building a picture of the past and how the present came to be.

I was around 100 pages from the end and so much had already happened. I wasn't even sure which direction it could go in but then Liv said 'hold my drink' and absolutely shook me to the core. The ending and the way it was tied up was *chefs kiss*

All I can say is don't sleep on this book! If it is on your tbr, move it up immediately. If it isn't, add it immediately and move it to the top 😂

Can't wait till the next one!