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The Prized Girl
From debut author Amy K. Green comes a devastating tale of psychological suspense: a teen pageant queen is found murdered in a small New England town, and her sister’s search for answers unearths more than she bargained for.
Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny’s tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. In the murder of a former pageant queen from a safe and loving family, the most obvious suspect is a fan who got too close for comfort. But Jenny’s sarcastic, older half-sister Virginia isn’t so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.
But for Jenny’s case and and Virginia’s investigation, there’s more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lay beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny’s life. Alternating between Jenny’s final days and Virginia’s determined search for the truth, the sisters’ dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.
Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny’s tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. In the murder of a former pageant queen from a safe and loving family, the most obvious suspect is a fan who got too close for comfort. But Jenny’s sarcastic, older half-sister Virginia isn’t so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.
But for Jenny’s case and and Virginia’s investigation, there’s more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lay beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny’s life. Alternating between Jenny’s final days and Virginia’s determined search for the truth, the sisters’ dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2020
359 people are currently reading
9123 people want to read
About the author
Amy K. Green
2 books289 followersI'm a Boston based author (Boston-ish, technically the South Shore) who loves writing twisted and dark stories with enough humor infused so that my loved ones don't contact the authorities.
My new thriller, HAVEN'T KILLED IN YEARS is available for pre-order now (Berkley, 11/18/25)
My debut suspense thriller The Prized Girl (Dutton, 2020) is available everywhere books are sold.
I also work as a Production Accountant on movies, but it's a little like cleaning the costumes at Disney World; it's not glamorous, but you get access to more behind the scenes details than you'd ever want.
Lately, I've been trying to write more at home or the library and stop spending a trillion dollars at coffee shops, but I would score myself a 5 out of 10 on that one.
You can also find me on Instagram @amykgreen1 where I post things after spending thirty minutes overanalyzing. And recently, I've taken a stab at Tik Tok @amykgreenwriter.
My new thriller, HAVEN'T KILLED IN YEARS is available for pre-order now (Berkley, 11/18/25)
My debut suspense thriller The Prized Girl (Dutton, 2020) is available everywhere books are sold.
I also work as a Production Accountant on movies, but it's a little like cleaning the costumes at Disney World; it's not glamorous, but you get access to more behind the scenes details than you'd ever want.
Lately, I've been trying to write more at home or the library and stop spending a trillion dollars at coffee shops, but I would score myself a 5 out of 10 on that one.
You can also find me on Instagram @amykgreen1 where I post things after spending thirty minutes overanalyzing. And recently, I've taken a stab at Tik Tok @amykgreenwriter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 592 reviews
November 9, 2019
This was a cleverly crafted novel, but one that I found myself having trouble connecting with the characters throughout. It could be that they felt too cookie cutter in dialogue and action, or it could be the fact that I felt I've already read a story similar to this one many times before. I do think readers who are looking to branch into the mystery/thriller genre may find this title more enjoyable than I did, and highly encourage those folks to check this one out for themselves.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
April 16, 2019
A teenage pageant queen is found murdered in her small New England town. She comes from the picture-perfect family who gets together for Sunday dinners and are upstanding members of the community. When she if found dead, the main suspect is a man who has been coming to all her pageants, her "biggest" fan if you will. Most believe he could be the killer. Most, but not her older sarcastic, heavy drinking sister who has past issues of her own. She believes the main suspect is innocent and has her own theory based on her previous experiences as to who might have killed her sister.
The story is told through Jenny, the murdered Pageant queen's POV and Virginia, the older sister's present POV. Jenny gives us insight into her mind and life leading up to the night she was murdered. Virginia shows us her reaction to her younger sister's death and her own personal search for the truth.
I did enjoy how the story was told going back and forth using both sister's POV's. This is the real strength of this book. I thought the Author wove the two sister's sections flawlessly. I thought the Author did a fine job creating flawed characters. But overall, I found the book was missing something for me. Although I enjoyed this book at times it did feel flat. Mainly since I failed to connect to any of the characters. Good not great. Will I remember this book months from now? I doubt it. This might work well as a plane book. It is entertaining but again, the most I can say is that it was good - not great. Although this book failed to really wow me, I would read this Author again.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The story is told through Jenny, the murdered Pageant queen's POV and Virginia, the older sister's present POV. Jenny gives us insight into her mind and life leading up to the night she was murdered. Virginia shows us her reaction to her younger sister's death and her own personal search for the truth.
I did enjoy how the story was told going back and forth using both sister's POV's. This is the real strength of this book. I thought the Author wove the two sister's sections flawlessly. I thought the Author did a fine job creating flawed characters. But overall, I found the book was missing something for me. Although I enjoyed this book at times it did feel flat. Mainly since I failed to connect to any of the characters. Good not great. Will I remember this book months from now? I doubt it. This might work well as a plane book. It is entertaining but again, the most I can say is that it was good - not great. Although this book failed to really wow me, I would read this Author again.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 14, 2020
A tense twisted dark thriller. Amy K. Green’s debut was clever and addictive. Sisters, a murder, a small town, a pageant queen, teenage drama, a sick stalker, Bad behavior, dark secrets, missed opportunities, lost memories, obsession, coverups, lies. The story bounces back-and-forth between the perspectives of sisters Virginia and Jenny. We learn about the events leading up to the murder through the eyes of 14-year-old Jenny. We learn about the aftermath of the murder through the actions of older sister Virginia, who is in her late 20s. As we got to know these sisters better the layers began to peel away and the truth began to reveal itself. I was completely captivated by Miss greens excellent storytelling. I truly was not certain how this was going to end and was very surprised. The ending while twisted still has me thinking. It really gave me a lot to chew on, and I am not sure how I feel about it quite yet. I felt like a lot of the story was left a little open ended, left up to my own moral compass. And I think I like that.... I think.
This was a good solid thriller. Extremely well written and very well plotted. Having said that I think this will probably appeal to the less seasoned thriller Reader. It was a very good book but thriller lovers are a tough crowd.... you know what I’m talking about. And if I’m being honest there are a couple things that didn’t sit with me entirely. First of all Jenny’s age. Now I realize she was in the pageant world and she probably was forced to grow up a little quicker than others, but I thought she acted much more like a junior or possibly a sophomore in high school, I thought eighth grade was pushing it. In fact I forgot she was that young until they mentioned it again. Then there was Virginia. I just thought some of her actions (the alcohol, the pills) were a little cliché. Not a big deal in an otherwise extremely well done thriller. Looking forward to the next one from this talented author.
This book in emojis. 👑 🎒 🔪 🍸
*** Big thank you to Dutton for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
For more of my reviews and bookish thoughts please visit my blog
or follow me on Bookstagram 💕
This was a good solid thriller. Extremely well written and very well plotted. Having said that I think this will probably appeal to the less seasoned thriller Reader. It was a very good book but thriller lovers are a tough crowd.... you know what I’m talking about. And if I’m being honest there are a couple things that didn’t sit with me entirely. First of all Jenny’s age. Now I realize she was in the pageant world and she probably was forced to grow up a little quicker than others, but I thought she acted much more like a junior or possibly a sophomore in high school, I thought eighth grade was pushing it. In fact I forgot she was that young until they mentioned it again. Then there was Virginia. I just thought some of her actions (the alcohol, the pills) were a little cliché. Not a big deal in an otherwise extremely well done thriller. Looking forward to the next one from this talented author.
This book in emojis. 👑 🎒 🔪 🍸
*** Big thank you to Dutton for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
For more of my reviews and bookish thoughts please visit my blog
or follow me on Bookstagram 💕
November 11, 2019
Folks, I read a lot of psychological thrillers, so when a good book follows a similar narrative that I'm already used to reading, it usually doesn't pan out well.
The Prized Girl
is written so perfectly, and the author obviously is very talented in storytelling. Let me just get that out in the open, because I really did enjoy the story overall. We have two point-of-views (Virginia's was my favorite) and they eventually uncover the mystery as we teeter between the two.
My main concern was that this book checked off all the boxes for psychological thrillers, and it got a bit too saturated with secondary storylines. It was probably 100 pages too long, at least. Maybe to add shock value, but this story could have been condensed, and we could have taken some of the focus off the secondary characters a bit further. Sadly, I figured out what happened very early on in the novel, so the remainder of it just felt drawn out. It's getting harder to surprise me lately with this genre. If you aren't a big psychological thriller reader, The Prized Girl will definitely be enjoyable, dark, and a wild ride. If you read a lot from this genre, you'll know exactly how the story's narrative will develop. Go in with an open mind, but also go in with expectations. Great debut novel in a saturated environment.
My main concern was that this book checked off all the boxes for psychological thrillers, and it got a bit too saturated with secondary storylines. It was probably 100 pages too long, at least. Maybe to add shock value, but this story could have been condensed, and we could have taken some of the focus off the secondary characters a bit further. Sadly, I figured out what happened very early on in the novel, so the remainder of it just felt drawn out. It's getting harder to surprise me lately with this genre. If you aren't a big psychological thriller reader, The Prized Girl will definitely be enjoyable, dark, and a wild ride. If you read a lot from this genre, you'll know exactly how the story's narrative will develop. Go in with an open mind, but also go in with expectations. Great debut novel in a saturated environment.
July 9, 2020
4 stars for this twisty tale of murder, secrets and family
I’m so glad I made time for this book - what a perfect escape read!
14 year old pageant queen, Jenny, is found murdered in the woods and at first glance it appears to be the work of an obsessed pedophile but not all is what is seems in Jenny’s picture perfect life.
Jenny’s sister, Virginia, thinks they’ve arrested the wrong man and she is determined to find the truth. With the help of the lead Detective on the case she digs into Jenny’s life and what really happened that fateful night.
The more Virginia digs, the more secrets she uncovers. Not only did she not really know what her sister was up to in the weeks leading up to her death but it seems she never really knew her family at all.
Deceit, long kept secrets, family dysfunction and unfortunate circumstance play a huge role in this story. I loved the tangled web woven by Amy Green and she definitely threw some twists in there that I never saw coming! 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤, 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 - 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭!
I’m so glad I made time for this book - what a perfect escape read!
14 year old pageant queen, Jenny, is found murdered in the woods and at first glance it appears to be the work of an obsessed pedophile but not all is what is seems in Jenny’s picture perfect life.
Jenny’s sister, Virginia, thinks they’ve arrested the wrong man and she is determined to find the truth. With the help of the lead Detective on the case she digs into Jenny’s life and what really happened that fateful night.
The more Virginia digs, the more secrets she uncovers. Not only did she not really know what her sister was up to in the weeks leading up to her death but it seems she never really knew her family at all.
Deceit, long kept secrets, family dysfunction and unfortunate circumstance play a huge role in this story. I loved the tangled web woven by Amy Green and she definitely threw some twists in there that I never saw coming! 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤, 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 - 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭!
April 15, 2024
This book was so good. It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. The story is in the point of view of two sisters and you are reading to find out how exactly the youngest one died. It is written really well to where I wasn’t confused. You read through the oldest one trying to figure out what happened to her sister and read the younger one’s final moments. It was so captivating.
January 14, 2020
2.5/5
The first month of the year and I’m already struggling with thrillers AGAIN. Sigh. I had high hopes for this one, the premise and structure sounded interesting enough and I’m always excited about a debut. Unfortunately for me this one just didn’t work at all, maybe I’ve just read too many similar books, but in the end, this was just a mess for me.
I’m just going to highlight what was problematic for me quickly because I think for the right reader this may work great, that reader just wasn’t me. If you haven’t read a bunch of thrillers recently then this may be better for you, but for me it was predictable and kind of draining. I had zero connection to Virginia, frankly I found her pretty intolerable and I while I did want to know who killed Jenny, the answer itself was horrible and disappointing. The whole last part of the book was convoluted and messy and it felt like certain things were added just for shock and didn’t feel as if said things were of any value to the book. The author is a good writer though and the pacing was good, this had potential for me but the execution just didn’t work.
The first month of the year and I’m already struggling with thrillers AGAIN. Sigh. I had high hopes for this one, the premise and structure sounded interesting enough and I’m always excited about a debut. Unfortunately for me this one just didn’t work at all, maybe I’ve just read too many similar books, but in the end, this was just a mess for me.
I’m just going to highlight what was problematic for me quickly because I think for the right reader this may work great, that reader just wasn’t me. If you haven’t read a bunch of thrillers recently then this may be better for you, but for me it was predictable and kind of draining. I had zero connection to Virginia, frankly I found her pretty intolerable and I while I did want to know who killed Jenny, the answer itself was horrible and disappointing. The whole last part of the book was convoluted and messy and it felt like certain things were added just for shock and didn’t feel as if said things were of any value to the book. The author is a good writer though and the pacing was good, this had potential for me but the execution just didn’t work.
February 11, 2020
I feel so let down by this book 😢 I had high hopes and they were dashed.
To start with I was really enjoying it. But really that ending was awful. And is it just me but Jenny was 13 years old! 13! I had a hard time believing that a 13 year old girl would do many of the things that Jenny did.
Not for me I am afraid
To start with I was really enjoying it. But really that ending was awful. And is it just me but Jenny was 13 years old! 13! I had a hard time believing that a 13 year old girl would do many of the things that Jenny did.
Not for me I am afraid
December 9, 2019
2.5 stars.
Thirteen-year-old Jenny is a former beauty pageant queen found murdered in her small New England town. The press is eager to report the details on the rape and murder of a beautiful girl who appeared to be living a picture perfect life. The police are confident they have solved the case before it even begins, focusing completely on an intellectually disabled man known to attend all of Jenny's pageants.
Jenny's older sister Virginia isn't so certain the police have it right and decides to start her own investigation, which readers quickly learn has a lot to do with her own troubled teen years.
Alternating between Jenny's POV in the weeks leading up to her death and Virginia's search for her killer in the present, we learn that the picture perfect life the press presented is far from the truth. There are family secrets ready to surface, high school drama, and a long line of suspects. Virginia is determined to solve Jenny's murder and put her own past behind her.
The Prized Girl had a lot going for it: the storytelling is clever and flows well in the alternating POVs, unfolding at a great pace.
The problem for me is that the story started strong but became far too convoluted for me. What was clever at first turned into ridiculous plot twists to keep the story going for about 100 pages too long. Not a single character is likable and that made it hard for me to care about solving the mystery. The only reason I finished was because I wanted to see just how ridiculous the conclusion was. It was a typical twist ending.
Thanks to Dutton Books and Edelweiss for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review. The Prized Girl is scheduled for release on January 14, 2020.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Thirteen-year-old Jenny is a former beauty pageant queen found murdered in her small New England town. The press is eager to report the details on the rape and murder of a beautiful girl who appeared to be living a picture perfect life. The police are confident they have solved the case before it even begins, focusing completely on an intellectually disabled man known to attend all of Jenny's pageants.
Jenny's older sister Virginia isn't so certain the police have it right and decides to start her own investigation, which readers quickly learn has a lot to do with her own troubled teen years.
Alternating between Jenny's POV in the weeks leading up to her death and Virginia's search for her killer in the present, we learn that the picture perfect life the press presented is far from the truth. There are family secrets ready to surface, high school drama, and a long line of suspects. Virginia is determined to solve Jenny's murder and put her own past behind her.
The Prized Girl had a lot going for it: the storytelling is clever and flows well in the alternating POVs, unfolding at a great pace.
The problem for me is that the story started strong but became far too convoluted for me. What was clever at first turned into ridiculous plot twists to keep the story going for about 100 pages too long. Not a single character is likable and that made it hard for me to care about solving the mystery. The only reason I finished was because I wanted to see just how ridiculous the conclusion was. It was a typical twist ending.
Thanks to Dutton Books and Edelweiss for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review. The Prized Girl is scheduled for release on January 14, 2020.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
March 23, 2020
Virginia and Jenny are sisters. There is a thirteen year age gap between them and they don't seem to have anything in common. Then Jenny is raped and murdered when she is fourteen. Virginia attempts to find out what had happened to Jenny. The police have got a suspect, but Virginia isn't quite so sure that they have the right man. She quickly learns how troubled Jenny was and that she harboured a lot of secrets.
The story is told through multiple points of view. The family is dysfunctional and they all seem to be hiding secrets from each other. Her parents wanted and pushed Jenny into being a pagent queen. Everyone was blaming Benjy for eing responsible but Virginia is not convinced. I was not keen on the ending of the book, it wasnt how I imagined it would end. It's well written and gripping with a steady pace. Theres lots of twists. A really good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Amy K. Green for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told through multiple points of view. The family is dysfunctional and they all seem to be hiding secrets from each other. Her parents wanted and pushed Jenny into being a pagent queen. Everyone was blaming Benjy for eing responsible but Virginia is not convinced. I was not keen on the ending of the book, it wasnt how I imagined it would end. It's well written and gripping with a steady pace. Theres lots of twists. A really good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Amy K. Green for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2022
This was a really good /thriller story and I never had everything figured out until the end and it did have a surprise ending. This is first book by this author and she did a great job so I can't wait to read more. It is a story of a young girl who was thought to be raped and was murdered. The story goes back and forth between the young girl telling what happened and her sister trying to figure out what happened. I could not quit reading. I really liked the two main characters although they had many faults but they were from a crazy, mised up family. I hope to read another book by this author soon.
February 12, 2020
Told from two distinct points of view, The Prized Girl is a slow burning mystery revolving around a murdered former beauty queen, Jenny, and her older sister’s quest for finding the truth. When Jenny is murdered, the police quickly arrest a developmentally challenged man who was obsessed with Jenny. Virginia, the sister, thinks there is more to the murder and begins seeking answers. The story is told in such a way that Jenny is reliving the events leading up to her death while Virginia is dealing with past demons, lies and suspicions that not all of what she thought of as the truth was actually true.
This is a debut for the author, Amy K Green, and I think she did an incredible job with her story telling. The writing was suspenseful, fluid and the characters were very realistic and believable. My only concern was that I felt as though I had “been there, done that” with the story line itself. In a genre that is saturated, it is difficult to be unique and, while this was a very good, interesting read, it offered nothing new to the genre. If you like crime fiction, I think you would like The Prized Girl. Just don’t set your expectations too high.
This is a debut for the author, Amy K Green, and I think she did an incredible job with her story telling. The writing was suspenseful, fluid and the characters were very realistic and believable. My only concern was that I felt as though I had “been there, done that” with the story line itself. In a genre that is saturated, it is difficult to be unique and, while this was a very good, interesting read, it offered nothing new to the genre. If you like crime fiction, I think you would like The Prized Girl. Just don’t set your expectations too high.
January 29, 2020
An unputdownable, uncomfortable novel about the rape and murder of a 13-year old beauty pageant queen. I read the review in PEOPLE WEEKLY, who stated it was darkly funny, and was incredibly intrigued that anyone would say that about this topic. They're right, thanks to the character of half-sister Virginia and her own issues, but this a dark mystery with a dark ending. Kids/teens should not be put on pedestals.
Great debut by the author.
Great debut by the author.
January 5, 2020
I really loved this. This was dark, twisty and took some routes I wasn’t expecting. I had to knock off a star because of how it ended, I really didn’t like how it all played out. I understand why it did, but I wanted something different. It really did surprise me and I didn’t want to put it down.
January 19, 2020
The Prized Girl is a murder mystery/thriller centered around the murder of a young, beautiful, former pageant star - Jenny. The story is told back in time through her perspective and in the current day through Jenny’s somewhat estranged older sister, Virginia, who is trying to solve the case.
•
As the story unfolds, it’s clear that Jenny wasn’t as innocent as the media paints her to be and Virginia seems to have a sordid past of her own.
•
The different perspectives unwind beautifully and this story is way more twisted than you’d ever guess.
•
There are so many things I loved about this book! While none of the characters are particularly likable, they’re incredibly intriguing. The dialogue was so real and I felt a lot of emotions throughout. This is one of the more we’ll written thrillers I’ve read in a while.
•
I can pretty much guarantee you will NOT be able to guess this ending. There were so many twists and side plots that came into play, I know a lot of people will disagree but it was almost too many twists for me! •
I definitely recommend this one for your next thriller and I’m anxiously awaiting Green’s next book!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
•
As the story unfolds, it’s clear that Jenny wasn’t as innocent as the media paints her to be and Virginia seems to have a sordid past of her own.
•
The different perspectives unwind beautifully and this story is way more twisted than you’d ever guess.
•
There are so many things I loved about this book! While none of the characters are particularly likable, they’re incredibly intriguing. The dialogue was so real and I felt a lot of emotions throughout. This is one of the more we’ll written thrillers I’ve read in a while.
•
I can pretty much guarantee you will NOT be able to guess this ending. There were so many twists and side plots that came into play, I know a lot of people will disagree but it was almost too many twists for me! •
I definitely recommend this one for your next thriller and I’m anxiously awaiting Green’s next book!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2020
Song/s the book brought to mind: All About You by Birdy
The Prized Girl by Amy K. Green is a stunning debut novel, and it left me wishing this author had more books out!
Besides the mystery of the murder, this book is FULL of heavy hitting subjects and I thought it was quite dark. There is so much trauma and heartbreak and at times it was hard to read, but it was so good. I couldn't stop turning pages and I basically read it in two sittings. At times my pulse was pounding, and I loved the amount of suspense throughout the novel.
The Prized Girl left me constantly guessing and I had no idea who the murderer was going to be until basically the point where you find out. It really wasn't what I was expecting which was a nice surprise. Now if you are someone who constantly reads thrillers this might not be the book for you, I can see how people would figure it out, but I'm happy I didn't. Overall I thought this thriller was really solid, and I liked that it kept me guessing.
I also loved that The Prized Girl switches back and forth between both Jenny before and leading up to her murder, and her sister Virginia. For me, both viewpoints were very well done and helped keep the suspense up for me. The chapters were also really short which is another thing I love in a thriller. Although it may not be for everyone, The Prized Girl was a win for me and I can't wait to see what Green will think of next!!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
The Prized Girl by Amy K. Green is a stunning debut novel, and it left me wishing this author had more books out!
Besides the mystery of the murder, this book is FULL of heavy hitting subjects and I thought it was quite dark. There is so much trauma and heartbreak and at times it was hard to read, but it was so good. I couldn't stop turning pages and I basically read it in two sittings. At times my pulse was pounding, and I loved the amount of suspense throughout the novel.
The Prized Girl left me constantly guessing and I had no idea who the murderer was going to be until basically the point where you find out. It really wasn't what I was expecting which was a nice surprise. Now if you are someone who constantly reads thrillers this might not be the book for you, I can see how people would figure it out, but I'm happy I didn't. Overall I thought this thriller was really solid, and I liked that it kept me guessing.
I also loved that The Prized Girl switches back and forth between both Jenny before and leading up to her murder, and her sister Virginia. For me, both viewpoints were very well done and helped keep the suspense up for me. The chapters were also really short which is another thing I love in a thriller. Although it may not be for everyone, The Prized Girl was a win for me and I can't wait to see what Green will think of next!!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
March 23, 2020
Virginia and Jenny are sisters. There is a thirteen year age gap between them and they have nothing in common. Then Jenny is raped and murdered when she is fourteen. Virginia attempts to find out what had happened to Jenny. The police have a suspect but Virginia isn't quite so sure that they have the right man. She quickly learns how troubled Jenny was and that she harboured a lot of secrets.
The story is told from multiple points of view. The family is dysfunctional and they all seem to be hiding secrets from each other. Her parents wanted and pushed Jenny to be a pagent queen. Everyone was blaming Benjy for being responsible ut Virginia is not convinced. I was not keen on the ending of the book, it wasnt how I imagined it would end. It's well written and gripping with a steady pace. There's lots of twists. A really good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Amy k. Green for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from multiple points of view. The family is dysfunctional and they all seem to be hiding secrets from each other. Her parents wanted and pushed Jenny to be a pagent queen. Everyone was blaming Benjy for being responsible ut Virginia is not convinced. I was not keen on the ending of the book, it wasnt how I imagined it would end. It's well written and gripping with a steady pace. There's lots of twists. A really good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Amy k. Green for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2019
I really loved this one! I did not figure out the ending, it moved fast and was written in a way that made me pay close attention. The perfect combo for a thriller! Here is what I "officially" said about it!
Gripping prose, complex characters and dark family secrets propel this story about a murdered teen pageant queen to a perfectly unexpected finale. A stunning debut!
Gripping prose, complex characters and dark family secrets propel this story about a murdered teen pageant queen to a perfectly unexpected finale. A stunning debut!
July 24, 2021
This was a debut thriller that I read as an audiobook. First of all, Alex McKenna’s narration was excellent! She was perfect as Virginia and brought her to life…for me, anyway. I thought the writing was outstanding, with two alternate POV’s. Virginia’s was in the present and Jenny’s in the past. The plot was compelling, and it had no problem keeping my attention. I was invested in the characters and enjoyed Virginia the most.
“From ages five to twelve, Jenny won more Grand Supreme titles than anyone else in New England. I was told about it quite often, and Linda wasn’t going to let anyone in this church forget it. Gigantic glamour shots of Jenny surrounded the coffin. In each one, a dead‑behind‑the‑eyes little girl was dressed in a slightly provocative costume with enough makeup for a roadside hooker.”
Books about young beauty queens don’t grab my attention. Thankfully, this one didn’t include much about the pageants themselves. It was centered around Jenny’s murder and the complicated relationships / family dynamics within the esteemed Calvin Kennedy family. And I’m sure you can guess that it contains some dark subjects.
After the brutal murder of Virginia’s younger half-sister, her family is ripped apart. Not that it was ever the picture-perfect one they displayed before the incident. And the town of Wrenton is devastated.
Virginia wasn’t close to Jenny, or her dysfunctional family, but becomes eager to uncover the murderer. After becoming involved with the lead detective, creating embarrassment for the family and consequences for the detective, she does her own investigating.
Amy K. Green is a new author to watch for in the future!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: January 14th 2020 by Penguin Audio
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Audio, and Amy K. Green for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion!
#Thriller #ThePrizedGirl #Edelweiss #InExchangeForReview
#ARC #BookReview #AudioBook #BeautyQueen #AlexMcKenna
@amykgreen @PRHAudio @edelweiss_squad
“From ages five to twelve, Jenny won more Grand Supreme titles than anyone else in New England. I was told about it quite often, and Linda wasn’t going to let anyone in this church forget it. Gigantic glamour shots of Jenny surrounded the coffin. In each one, a dead‑behind‑the‑eyes little girl was dressed in a slightly provocative costume with enough makeup for a roadside hooker.”
Books about young beauty queens don’t grab my attention. Thankfully, this one didn’t include much about the pageants themselves. It was centered around Jenny’s murder and the complicated relationships / family dynamics within the esteemed Calvin Kennedy family. And I’m sure you can guess that it contains some dark subjects.
After the brutal murder of Virginia’s younger half-sister, her family is ripped apart. Not that it was ever the picture-perfect one they displayed before the incident. And the town of Wrenton is devastated.
Virginia wasn’t close to Jenny, or her dysfunctional family, but becomes eager to uncover the murderer. After becoming involved with the lead detective, creating embarrassment for the family and consequences for the detective, she does her own investigating.
Amy K. Green is a new author to watch for in the future!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: January 14th 2020 by Penguin Audio
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Audio, and Amy K. Green for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion!
#Thriller #ThePrizedGirl #Edelweiss #InExchangeForReview
#ARC #BookReview #AudioBook #BeautyQueen #AlexMcKenna
@amykgreen @PRHAudio @edelweiss_squad
January 18, 2020
An impressive debut novel – a good solid mystery thriller. Who killed Jenny the former teenage pageant queen? Through dual story lines we learn of Jenny’s life leading up to her murder and in present day, we hear Virginia’s story. Virginia is Jenny’s troubled half-sister who is detached from the family, attending the funeral barely noticed, and then takes an interest in learning the truth about the murder after the police appear to be rushing to judgment on their main suspect. The story held my interest to the end. Many thanks to Edelweiss and Dutton Books for the opportunity to read The Prized Girl in advance of its January 14, 2020 release.
Review posted at:
https://www.michelereader.com/post/an...
Review posted at:
https://www.michelereader.com/post/an...
February 25, 2019
A fast paced and absorbing suspense!
I loved the consistent back-and-forth of sister perspective storytelling, and how their time-lines built to an unexpected, and well thought out climax.
I couldn't have imagined thinking as Jenny did, when I was in eighth grade, but child pageants and a modern world can be a daunting reality indeed.
This unassuming and poignant thriller has immense potential to take readers by storm!
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
I loved the consistent back-and-forth of sister perspective storytelling, and how their time-lines built to an unexpected, and well thought out climax.
I couldn't have imagined thinking as Jenny did, when I was in eighth grade, but child pageants and a modern world can be a daunting reality indeed.
This unassuming and poignant thriller has immense potential to take readers by storm!
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
April 29, 2020
The Prized Girl doesn't have any NEW ideas, but it also doesn't "borrow" in ways that make it feel unoriginal. Every plot twist and character development and OH SHIT moment felt insanely satisfying and left me wanting more (that's what she said). I loved this book.
From the beginning I felt the same way about Virginia as I did Libby Day in Dark Places. I was confused about her because it was obvious her upbringing had a huge dark cloud over it. She was intelligent, isolated, heartbroken, and completely let down by life. She had no driving force that made her want to be better, until Jenny was raped and murdered. I feel like the darkness and uncertainty of the case breathed tiny bits of life back into Virginia as we moved deeper into the abyss that was this story. It's always refreshing to see someone with so much potential (don't you hate it when parents tell you that?) actually start living up to their true worth.
I kid you not, every single chapter brought something new to the table. Certain things were easily guessed while others caught me by surprise, but all of the events helped to lead to the final night of Jenny's life. And what a crazy ride that night was. There were so many players in this game, and I questioned every single one of them multiple times. I questioned the reliability of Virginia, the shadiness of their father, JP's true intentions, Mark's changed ways. I questioned the obvious suspects that were too invested in a child that they had no business knowing. I questioned the police, wondering how they missed so much and if that was purposeful. I may have even questioned MYSELF because I had to be suspect somehow as well. That's how much this book made me question everyone and everything. In the end, I was shocked. Not because I had never suspected the one(s?) at fault, but because the reasoning was so much more twisted than I could have thought.
This book may not be for everyone. But it certainly was the book for me. It was like travelling through a maze, finding yourself at dead ends and feeling defeated, only to then find what you think is the right path and feeling rejuvenated and ready to continue the search. I will definitely be looking into more Amy K. Green in the future! Happy reading!
From the beginning I felt the same way about Virginia as I did Libby Day in Dark Places. I was confused about her because it was obvious her upbringing had a huge dark cloud over it. She was intelligent, isolated, heartbroken, and completely let down by life. She had no driving force that made her want to be better, until Jenny was raped and murdered. I feel like the darkness and uncertainty of the case breathed tiny bits of life back into Virginia as we moved deeper into the abyss that was this story. It's always refreshing to see someone with so much potential (don't you hate it when parents tell you that?) actually start living up to their true worth.
I kid you not, every single chapter brought something new to the table. Certain things were easily guessed while others caught me by surprise, but all of the events helped to lead to the final night of Jenny's life. And what a crazy ride that night was. There were so many players in this game, and I questioned every single one of them multiple times. I questioned the reliability of Virginia, the shadiness of their father, JP's true intentions, Mark's changed ways. I questioned the obvious suspects that were too invested in a child that they had no business knowing. I questioned the police, wondering how they missed so much and if that was purposeful. I may have even questioned MYSELF because I had to be suspect somehow as well. That's how much this book made me question everyone and everything. In the end, I was shocked. Not because I had never suspected the one(s?) at fault, but because the reasoning was so much more twisted than I could have thought.
This book may not be for everyone. But it certainly was the book for me. It was like travelling through a maze, finding yourself at dead ends and feeling defeated, only to then find what you think is the right path and feeling rejuvenated and ready to continue the search. I will definitely be looking into more Amy K. Green in the future! Happy reading!
February 5, 2020
This book started off very strong, I was 50% into it before I even looked at the percentage. I liked the way things were set up, we are introduced to Virginia in the present and then we flash back to Jenny, Virginia's murdered stepsister's point of view. Although I thought that Virginia and Jenny were decently fleshed out characters, their father and Jenny's mother seemed like total caricatures and I never understood their motivations or their actions at all.
I eventually came to understand why Virginia was the way she was, and thought it was pretty unconscionable that no caring adult in her life existed to notice what she was going through.
Overall, as a psychological suspense novel/mystery this book was fair, the ultimate resolution to "who killed Jenny?" was strange and I had a difficult time believing that
Decent debut, I look forward to seeing what the author does next and hope she can work out some of the side character issues to make the story tighter.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 4, 2020
Wow, I really disliked this book.
I don't know what annoyed me the most, the lack of likable, interesting characters or the ridiculous actions every character takes.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The Prized Girl utilizes every thriller cliche in the genre, including:
1. A beautiful, young girl is killed
2. An unreliable, black sheep narrator
3. Godawful parents
4.Various suspects
5. Silly romance
I could abide all of the above, if not for the reckless and idiotic actions of the two main female characters.
Such as, what is Jenny thinking soliciting the attentions of a pedophile?
Wait, that's not the worst of it.
What is she thinking returning to her pedophile teacher's house after he nearly kills her the first time?
WTF is going on?
Virginia is no better - she doesn't work, has no ambition, and drinks herself into a stupor every weekend, thereby making her unreliable when she recounts her actions.
And what's up with that LUDICROUS romance with the detective?
Not every female character needs a romance or sex or a man in their lives!
How many times do I have to frickin' say this?
The story took a back seat as these awful characters and their idiotic actions took center stage.
I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book, not even if you are stuck on line at the DMV and have nothing to read.
I don't know what annoyed me the most, the lack of likable, interesting characters or the ridiculous actions every character takes.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The Prized Girl utilizes every thriller cliche in the genre, including:
1. A beautiful, young girl is killed
2. An unreliable, black sheep narrator
3. Godawful parents
4.Various suspects
5. Silly romance
I could abide all of the above, if not for the reckless and idiotic actions of the two main female characters.
Such as, what is Jenny thinking soliciting the attentions of a pedophile?
Wait, that's not the worst of it.
What is she thinking returning to her pedophile teacher's house after he nearly kills her the first time?
WTF is going on?
Virginia is no better - she doesn't work, has no ambition, and drinks herself into a stupor every weekend, thereby making her unreliable when she recounts her actions.
And what's up with that LUDICROUS romance with the detective?
Not every female character needs a romance or sex or a man in their lives!
How many times do I have to frickin' say this?
The story took a back seat as these awful characters and their idiotic actions took center stage.
I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book, not even if you are stuck on line at the DMV and have nothing to read.
January 19, 2020
I really enjoyed the back and forth narrative between the two sisters in this book. You're able to get to know and connect to each character.
This book definitely had enough to keep you intrigued and guessing along the way. It had me hooked from the very beginning.
I felt a lot of emotion with this one and am looking forward to reading Amy Green's future books.
This book definitely had enough to keep you intrigued and guessing along the way. It had me hooked from the very beginning.
I felt a lot of emotion with this one and am looking forward to reading Amy Green's future books.
January 23, 2020
I was in the mood for a thriller. This one is horrible. Full of ridiculous events and abominably stupid people.
March 19, 2019
I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. As soon as I read the premise of this book I wanted to read it, it reminded me a little of Jon Benet and the whole pageant scene with the small town feel thrown in. The story is told from Jenny, the pageant teen who dies perspective, and her older sister, Virginia, who is trying to find out who killed her. The stories weave and intertwine seamlessly making for one interesting story.
December 14, 2019
The Prized Girl is a tense tale of small town murder, it was a huge page turner to be sure but if I'm honest it didn't quite do it for me.
On the plus side the writing was excellent, the story fairly rocked along and there were emotional thought provoking layers to it that were compelling. A young girl, a pageant queen, killed before her life really began, a sister who was absent, parents who were hiding secrets, this was a truly twisted tale.
My problem was I didn't really engage with the characters the way I felt I should. The young Jenny felt way older, sister Virginia was a bit spotty and then the whole thing became extraordinarily convoluted in the middle there. Twists coming at breakneck speed, all subtlety lost, too many suspects all with the same motive. Boy for one place it was rife with the perverted.
Overall though it pulled things together well in the end, leaving a melancholy sense behind it.
If you like psych thrillers you'll enjoy this. I just feel it could have been a bit more layered throughout rather than going for shock value moments.
On the plus side the writing was excellent, the story fairly rocked along and there were emotional thought provoking layers to it that were compelling. A young girl, a pageant queen, killed before her life really began, a sister who was absent, parents who were hiding secrets, this was a truly twisted tale.
My problem was I didn't really engage with the characters the way I felt I should. The young Jenny felt way older, sister Virginia was a bit spotty and then the whole thing became extraordinarily convoluted in the middle there. Twists coming at breakneck speed, all subtlety lost, too many suspects all with the same motive. Boy for one place it was rife with the perverted.
Overall though it pulled things together well in the end, leaving a melancholy sense behind it.
If you like psych thrillers you'll enjoy this. I just feel it could have been a bit more layered throughout rather than going for shock value moments.
January 11, 2020
Ok, I'm just going to say it...I hate pageants. Long before the unfortunate JonBenet Ramsey murder happened back in 1996, I hated pageants. It is so not my thing. That being said, I was still thoroughly invested in watching all the news about the murder and watch all the documentaries out of pure fascination. To this day, my opinion is that it was the parent of one of JonBenet's rival pageant contestants who got sick of her getting all the glory. Moving on...
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"The Prized Girl" was utterly captivating for me and kept me looking forward to getting back to the book every time I had to stop reading. The book is riveting, fast-paced, twisty, and darkly chilling with an ending that you won't see coming.
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A positively stunning novel by debut author Green and I am already looking forward to her next book! Thank you Dutton Books for my gifted copy! #partner
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"The Prized Girl" was utterly captivating for me and kept me looking forward to getting back to the book every time I had to stop reading. The book is riveting, fast-paced, twisty, and darkly chilling with an ending that you won't see coming.
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A positively stunning novel by debut author Green and I am already looking forward to her next book! Thank you Dutton Books for my gifted copy! #partner
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August 31, 2025I'm setting this aside at 29%. It's well written and well narrated. It has the making of a strong thriller. I'm setting it aside because I find the content upsetting. I don't want to crawl inside the abusive relationships and see what they do to the children and the adults.
I will be reading Amy Green's 'Haven't Kille In Years' when it comes out in November.
I will be reading Amy Green's 'Haven't Kille In Years' when it comes out in November.
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