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Pretty Dead Things: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 27
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
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 Lone Star Princess Pageant is about to begin, but this year it’s offering more than an annual dose of rhinestone heels and plunging necklines. Competition is stiffer than ever ―and long standing grudges are about to resurface. 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.
Beauty dies. Secrets never do.
KELSEY COX'S NOVELS
"Riveting." ―People
"Heart-pumping." ―Nina Simon
"Jaw-dropping." ―Amanda Eyre Ward
"Joins my auto-buy list forever." ―Rachel Hawkins
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 Lone Star Princess Pageant is about to begin, but this year it’s offering more than an annual dose of rhinestone heels and plunging necklines. Competition is stiffer than ever ―and long standing grudges are about to resurface. 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.
Beauty dies. Secrets never do.
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, Paperback
Expected publication June 1, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 2, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pretty Dead Things took me a little while to get into because there are several different POVs and initially I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep everyone straight. Once the pieces started connecting, though, I was hooked.
I loved the combination of the present-day beauty pageant, the disappearance of Izzy 25 years earlier, and all the old secrets and rivalries slowly coming back to the surface. I spent the last part of the book coming up with theories, was completely convinced I knew who was responsible, and I was very wrong.
The final reveals were wild and genuinely surprised me. There are probably a few pieces of the ending that would start to fall apart if I thought about them too hard, but honestly, I don’t want to. I had too much fun reading it to ruin it for myself afterward.
Twisty, messy, entertaining, and definitely kept me guessing. 4 stars!
Pretty Dead Things took me a little while to get into because there are several different POVs and initially I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep everyone straight. Once the pieces started connecting, though, I was hooked.
I loved the combination of the present-day beauty pageant, the disappearance of Izzy 25 years earlier, and all the old secrets and rivalries slowly coming back to the surface. I spent the last part of the book coming up with theories, was completely convinced I knew who was responsible, and I was very wrong.
The final reveals were wild and genuinely surprised me. There are probably a few pieces of the ending that would start to fall apart if I thought about them too hard, but honestly, I don’t want to. I had too much fun reading it to ruin it for myself afterward.
Twisty, messy, entertaining, and definitely kept me guessing. 4 stars!
September 8, 2026
Pretty Dead Things was a fun and twisty thriller that kept my attention. There are a lot of people and POV's, but the story was woven together so well.
I absolutely did not like Kennedy Claire, which I am sure most people agree with. She is a vile human, and completely ridiculous. I am glad that Sarah Lynn did not turn out to be exactly like her mother.
The revelation of who the k!ller was did not throw me for a loop, because I did have a thought that they could be it. But the reasons and how definitely threw me for a loop.
This was a fun thriller and a good glimpse in to how you treat people really matters in the world.
I absolutely did not like Kennedy Claire, which I am sure most people agree with. She is a vile human, and completely ridiculous. I am glad that Sarah Lynn did not turn out to be exactly like her mother.
The revelation of who the k!ller was did not throw me for a loop, because I did have a thought that they could be it. But the reasons and how definitely threw me for a loop.
This was a fun thriller and a good glimpse in to how you treat people really matters in the world.
October 11, 2026
This was a fun quick read!
The multiple POVs did have my head spinning a bit and it did feel hard to keep track of the characters but it did add depth to the plot.
The timelines were pretty consistent so it didn’t drag and plus the chapters were pretty short so you were able to keep up.
I did enjoy the pageant drama and while I did see the twist coming a bit, I still enjoyed it!
The multiple POVs did have my head spinning a bit and it did feel hard to keep track of the characters but it did add depth to the plot.
The timelines were pretty consistent so it didn’t drag and plus the chapters were pretty short so you were able to keep up.
I did enjoy the pageant drama and while I did see the twist coming a bit, I still enjoyed it!
Review of advance copy
Pretty Dead Things was a thrilling read until the very end. Just when you thought the mystery was solved, you turned the page to find out that it was not over yet! I enjoyed every word of this twisty tale.
September 17, 2026
4.5 stars. Love the twists !
Review of advance copy
This book was good but a little slow...could read the last few pages and know what happened without reading 300+ wouldn't be at the top of my list of recommendations.
Did Not Finish
October 14, 2026To many POVs making the story confusing and it’s just not interesting on what is going on.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews