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Pretty Ugly Lies: A Gripping and Chilling Domestic Noir
From a USA Today–bestselling author, a psychological thriller that What would cause a woman to murder her own family? Jo's idyllic life would make most people jealous. Until the day her daughter is abducted, and the only way to find her is to unravel her dark past. Ellie is a devoted wife . . . until she discovers the pain of betrayal. Now vengeance is all she can think about. Party girl Shayla knows how to hide her demons. But when she's confronted with a life-shattering choice, it will cost her everything. June knows suffering intimately, though the smile she wears keeps it hidden. Soon the lives of these four women intersect—and one of them is about to snap . . .
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2018
1232 people are currently reading
2791 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Crane
25 books793 followersTo know PAMELA CRANE, you first need to know her husband. He sleeps with one eye open. He checks the knife block to make sure none are missing. Why? It could be because they have four kids and a farm full of mischievous animals. Or it could be because she writes murder mysteries, and about the occasional woman who has lost her marbles (not based on her real-life psyche, she swears!) Don't worry—her husband is safe...for now. Her books range from witty whodunnits to psychological suspense and even humorous women’s fiction thrown in for good measure. She’s a USA TODAY bestselling author of over a dozen novels (who’s counting?), but her biggest accomplishment is keeping her zoo of animals alive…and her husband in check. Grab a free book at www.pamelacrane.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
January 4, 2026
3.5 Stars
Sorry isn’t enough anymore. Sorry can’t fix what’s broken. Sometimes a sacrifice is the only way to start over again. This is one of those times.
I found this book very different from the usual psychological thriller. The plot was extremely fast-moving; no time is wasted telling every character's life story, which can often get tedious. The story is told from four main viewpoints: Jo, Ellie, Shayla, and June. It is focused on the kidnapping and murder of a family. There are also the side stories of the families of the four women. While I found the plot line very interesting and tense, the women just whined and complained throughout the book. What could have been a 4-star novel turned into a 3.5 for me because of that.
It can be tough with thrillers to really get into the heart of the characters, but that is not a problem with this book. All of the characters have interesting backgrounds and stories, which all come to light as motives are thrown around. The emotional state of the parents felt raw and real; the strengths and weaknesses that flow from them were realistic and helped to make them more rounded characters.
Overall, this book is addictive, conniving, and fascinating. It pulls you in one direction and then spins you in another—a true rollercoaster of a read. I was constantly guessing what had happened and continuously getting it wrong. I loved how the narrative played out as well: just getting to an interesting revelation but, instead of revealing it, moving to a different character to keep you interested in the story. It was a brilliant thriller novel that kept me on the edge of my seat, and it had an ending that quite literally took my breath away.
Sorry isn’t enough anymore. Sorry can’t fix what’s broken. Sometimes a sacrifice is the only way to start over again. This is one of those times.
I found this book very different from the usual psychological thriller. The plot was extremely fast-moving; no time is wasted telling every character's life story, which can often get tedious. The story is told from four main viewpoints: Jo, Ellie, Shayla, and June. It is focused on the kidnapping and murder of a family. There are also the side stories of the families of the four women. While I found the plot line very interesting and tense, the women just whined and complained throughout the book. What could have been a 4-star novel turned into a 3.5 for me because of that.
It can be tough with thrillers to really get into the heart of the characters, but that is not a problem with this book. All of the characters have interesting backgrounds and stories, which all come to light as motives are thrown around. The emotional state of the parents felt raw and real; the strengths and weaknesses that flow from them were realistic and helped to make them more rounded characters.
Overall, this book is addictive, conniving, and fascinating. It pulls you in one direction and then spins you in another—a true rollercoaster of a read. I was constantly guessing what had happened and continuously getting it wrong. I loved how the narrative played out as well: just getting to an interesting revelation but, instead of revealing it, moving to a different character to keep you interested in the story. It was a brilliant thriller novel that kept me on the edge of my seat, and it had an ending that quite literally took my breath away.
November 14, 2018
Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane is a chilling look at the dark side of motherhood
The story is told via 4 multiple POVs - all women who are wives & mothers. On the outside they look like you or me - dutiful mothers & wives who are taking care of their families. The real story lies beneath the pretty exterior - those darker feelings and emotions we normally keep hidden and/or suppress. Know what I mean? I know you do because we've all been there. Think of those hard days where you feel overworked, under appreciated, overlooked and it feels like nothing you do is right or enough. Well this book doesn't shy away from any of it! It takes all those emotions and heightens them.
"But darkness hid behind closed doors, climbed up the walls, wove a web that would eventually entrap them in misery."
The books opens up with with a chillingly grisly murder scene - a family annihilated. We don't know who committed the heinous act but slowly, the tale is spun and we find ourselves taken in by these womens' stories. All the while, we are left to question - who finally snapped and became a monster?
"I became a snake shedding its skin as I fed on my anger. I dropped the mask that I hid behind, letting my inner monster loose."
Crane's writing is gripping and raw in her portrayal of marriage and motherhood. She doesn't shy away from the ugliness that can reside under the facade. In my opinion, she puts it ALL out there! The story is heavy and touches on kidnapping, lies, secrets, infidelity, caring for children with special needs, homosexuality and even psychological disorders but it's also very readable. I found it easy to connect with these women despite the complicated subject matter.
There were a few things that I feel could have been done better and I had to suspend my disbelief a bit for the way some things were handled but overall, I really enjoyed the story. The premise of the book was compelling and it was definitely a darker look at motherhood. We hear stories of women who "snap" or commit atrocities and wonder - how could they do that? Crane offers us an interesting peek into the lives of such women.
Thank you Pamela Crane, Bloodhound Books & Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Pretty Ugly Lies which will be widely available on 7/18/18. This review is my honest opinion and I'm happy to share it with you all.
The story is told via 4 multiple POVs - all women who are wives & mothers. On the outside they look like you or me - dutiful mothers & wives who are taking care of their families. The real story lies beneath the pretty exterior - those darker feelings and emotions we normally keep hidden and/or suppress. Know what I mean? I know you do because we've all been there. Think of those hard days where you feel overworked, under appreciated, overlooked and it feels like nothing you do is right or enough. Well this book doesn't shy away from any of it! It takes all those emotions and heightens them.
"But darkness hid behind closed doors, climbed up the walls, wove a web that would eventually entrap them in misery."
The books opens up with with a chillingly grisly murder scene - a family annihilated. We don't know who committed the heinous act but slowly, the tale is spun and we find ourselves taken in by these womens' stories. All the while, we are left to question - who finally snapped and became a monster?
"I became a snake shedding its skin as I fed on my anger. I dropped the mask that I hid behind, letting my inner monster loose."
Crane's writing is gripping and raw in her portrayal of marriage and motherhood. She doesn't shy away from the ugliness that can reside under the facade. In my opinion, she puts it ALL out there! The story is heavy and touches on kidnapping, lies, secrets, infidelity, caring for children with special needs, homosexuality and even psychological disorders but it's also very readable. I found it easy to connect with these women despite the complicated subject matter.
There were a few things that I feel could have been done better and I had to suspend my disbelief a bit for the way some things were handled but overall, I really enjoyed the story. The premise of the book was compelling and it was definitely a darker look at motherhood. We hear stories of women who "snap" or commit atrocities and wonder - how could they do that? Crane offers us an interesting peek into the lives of such women.
Thank you Pamela Crane, Bloodhound Books & Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Pretty Ugly Lies which will be widely available on 7/18/18. This review is my honest opinion and I'm happy to share it with you all.
January 11, 2023
Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane is a 2018 Bloodhound Books publication.
Pamela Crane’s dramatic thrillers never fail to draw me in. In this story, the author explores the dark side of motherhood and marriage, by giving us a peak into the lives of Jo, Ellie, Shayla, and June.
Each of these women have a full plate and hidden thoughts about the mental toll of raising children and maintaining relationships with their husbands. It’s heavier than anyone fully knows or understands- with the pressure building and building until finally- one of them snaps…
This is a dark, twisted thriller that packs a good potent punch! The reader is privy to the inner thoughts of these women who are deceptively putting on a brave public front, who appear to have charmed lives or have everything together, but who are increasingly finding it harder and harder to cope with their realities.
As per Crane’s usual style, the drama is heavy and unrelenting. We have a missing child, adulteries, mental illness, and neurodiversity, and it all eventually culminates in murder. It’s a train wreck- but you know what they say about train wrecks- you can’t help but watch.
The author delves into some pretty black territory, giving insights into what might propel someone to do the unthinkable. It was also a nod of understanding for the challenges mothers face, the thankless sacrifices, and the need for greater support from home and community.
Overall, a chilling, thought provoking, breakneck thriller full of foreboding and suspense!
Pamela Crane’s dramatic thrillers never fail to draw me in. In this story, the author explores the dark side of motherhood and marriage, by giving us a peak into the lives of Jo, Ellie, Shayla, and June.
Each of these women have a full plate and hidden thoughts about the mental toll of raising children and maintaining relationships with their husbands. It’s heavier than anyone fully knows or understands- with the pressure building and building until finally- one of them snaps…
This is a dark, twisted thriller that packs a good potent punch! The reader is privy to the inner thoughts of these women who are deceptively putting on a brave public front, who appear to have charmed lives or have everything together, but who are increasingly finding it harder and harder to cope with their realities.
As per Crane’s usual style, the drama is heavy and unrelenting. We have a missing child, adulteries, mental illness, and neurodiversity, and it all eventually culminates in murder. It’s a train wreck- but you know what they say about train wrecks- you can’t help but watch.
The author delves into some pretty black territory, giving insights into what might propel someone to do the unthinkable. It was also a nod of understanding for the challenges mothers face, the thankless sacrifices, and the need for greater support from home and community.
Overall, a chilling, thought provoking, breakneck thriller full of foreboding and suspense!
July 22, 2018
4 Pretty Ugly Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book takes a dark, real, and raw look at motherhood... I want to start off by saying I thought this was a really good book... it was very readable... probably too relatable, maybe hit a little close to home at times.... it was also a quick and compelling read filled with extremely well developed characters.... my only issue with this book is the characters themselves, I will go on a mini rant about that at the end of my review, LOL
The book starts out with a bloody murder scene, a mother has snapped and murdered her entire family.... we are then introduce to four different mothers with plenty of dirty laundry both literally and figuratively... some of these mothers I found more likable and more relatable than others... Jo was probably the most sympathetic character for me, I mean how can you not feel for a mother whose child has gone missing? Dark secret or no dark secret this is every mother‘s worst nightmare.... The rest of these mothers rub me the wrong way and I will address that more later.... but you do not need to like the characters in a book to like the book and I thought this book was really well done... I loved trying to figure out who snapped and I really thought it could possibly be each of these mothers at some point during the book.... this was a fast paced Book, that kept me turning those pages.... I enjoyed knowing the outcome while reading the book it really made the amateur detective and amateur psychologist in me happy....
Strongly encourage you to pick up this book it was a real look at the darker side of motherhood, filled with secrets and plenty of twists....
warning rent ahead*
The mothers in this book seriously frustrated me with the exception of Jo.... now I do understand motherhood is hard I have three kids and my first two are only 13 months apart, I get it! I also suffered from postpartum depression after my second child was born, so I get that as well! BUT these women did not seem to have any love towards their children... these are women who chose to have children, who are living in a upper-class neighborhood by choice, and they just could not seem to see the forest for the trees.... and the expectation that your young children are going to shower you with love and appreciate you is insane! Seriously I don’t think I truly appreciated my parents until I had children myself.... I just ultimately had a hard time with these women whining about their almost perfect lives and blaming their children for what was wrong with them.... they all clearly needed a friend like me to smack them back into reality! LOL I think it says something about the amazing writing and character development in this book to have evoked such strong emotions in me!
*** many thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy of this book ***
This book takes a dark, real, and raw look at motherhood... I want to start off by saying I thought this was a really good book... it was very readable... probably too relatable, maybe hit a little close to home at times.... it was also a quick and compelling read filled with extremely well developed characters.... my only issue with this book is the characters themselves, I will go on a mini rant about that at the end of my review, LOL
The book starts out with a bloody murder scene, a mother has snapped and murdered her entire family.... we are then introduce to four different mothers with plenty of dirty laundry both literally and figuratively... some of these mothers I found more likable and more relatable than others... Jo was probably the most sympathetic character for me, I mean how can you not feel for a mother whose child has gone missing? Dark secret or no dark secret this is every mother‘s worst nightmare.... The rest of these mothers rub me the wrong way and I will address that more later.... but you do not need to like the characters in a book to like the book and I thought this book was really well done... I loved trying to figure out who snapped and I really thought it could possibly be each of these mothers at some point during the book.... this was a fast paced Book, that kept me turning those pages.... I enjoyed knowing the outcome while reading the book it really made the amateur detective and amateur psychologist in me happy....
Strongly encourage you to pick up this book it was a real look at the darker side of motherhood, filled with secrets and plenty of twists....
warning rent ahead*
The mothers in this book seriously frustrated me with the exception of Jo.... now I do understand motherhood is hard I have three kids and my first two are only 13 months apart, I get it! I also suffered from postpartum depression after my second child was born, so I get that as well! BUT these women did not seem to have any love towards their children... these are women who chose to have children, who are living in a upper-class neighborhood by choice, and they just could not seem to see the forest for the trees.... and the expectation that your young children are going to shower you with love and appreciate you is insane! Seriously I don’t think I truly appreciated my parents until I had children myself.... I just ultimately had a hard time with these women whining about their almost perfect lives and blaming their children for what was wrong with them.... they all clearly needed a friend like me to smack them back into reality! LOL I think it says something about the amazing writing and character development in this book to have evoked such strong emotions in me!
*** many thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy of this book ***
August 11, 2018
"My children had become my prison, my husband my jailer, and my life the executioner of my soul."
Pretty Ugly Lies is a domestic drama that begins with a woman awaiting the arrival of the police to the scene of the murder of her husband and children. Definitely an attention grabbing beginning. What follows is the story of 4 women that live in the same neighborhood. Each woman tells her own reality in alternating chapters, which is hard to keep up with at first but it gets easier. This is not a butterflies and rainbows story but I do think it's more relatable than most women are willing to admit. I know I certainly relate to these women and perhaps that is why I enjoyed the book as much as I did. It certainly gives you pause for a moment to reflect on your own life and the choices you made that led you to that life...and would you change it if you could. A thought provoking look at what being a wife and a mother feels like when you realize you've lost yourself along the way.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pretty Ugly Lies is a domestic drama that begins with a woman awaiting the arrival of the police to the scene of the murder of her husband and children. Definitely an attention grabbing beginning. What follows is the story of 4 women that live in the same neighborhood. Each woman tells her own reality in alternating chapters, which is hard to keep up with at first but it gets easier. This is not a butterflies and rainbows story but I do think it's more relatable than most women are willing to admit. I know I certainly relate to these women and perhaps that is why I enjoyed the book as much as I did. It certainly gives you pause for a moment to reflect on your own life and the choices you made that led you to that life...and would you change it if you could. A thought provoking look at what being a wife and a mother feels like when you realize you've lost yourself along the way.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2023
Starts out with a bang! The book begins by describing the tragic and gruesome murder of a husband and children...but doesn’t tell us who killed them or why.
Excerpt - “Sorry isn’t enough anymore. Sorry can’t fix what’s broken. Sometimes a sacrifice is the only way to start over again. This is one of those times.”
The story is narrated by four women. Someone’s secrets lead to murder.
Shayla...a bi-polar mess. She has an amazing husband and two wonderful kids, but is bored with her life. She’s hiding a secret that could rip her family apart.
Jo...happily married with three kids. Her life was perfect until her three-year-old daughter was abducted. She blames herself for not watching Amelia close enough, and wonders if the kidnapping is related to a long forgotten secret from her past.
Ellie...gave up her career for her husband. Now her world revolves around him. She has two unappreciative brats and a cheating husband. This isn’t the life she imagined when she married Denny.
June...a waitress with four small children (one with Autism). Her lazy husband can’t keep a job and her life is in constant turmoil. Her days are filled with screaming kids and Autistic tantrums. She secretly reminisces about her younger days and the life she could have had, if only she’d been truthful years ago.
It was easy to relate to these women and what some might call their “trivial” struggles. I couldn’t help but sympathize with them, as my emotions have taken over many times and I’ve had some of the same overwhelming feelings! Just when I thought this book might not meet my expectations...another big explosion that leads us back to the unforgettable and tragic murder.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley, Pamela Crane and Bloodhound Books, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
#PrettyUglyLies #NetGalley #Amazon
My reviews can be found on Amazon, BN.com, Twitter, BookBub, NG, EW and more.
Excerpt - “Sorry isn’t enough anymore. Sorry can’t fix what’s broken. Sometimes a sacrifice is the only way to start over again. This is one of those times.”
The story is narrated by four women. Someone’s secrets lead to murder.
Shayla...a bi-polar mess. She has an amazing husband and two wonderful kids, but is bored with her life. She’s hiding a secret that could rip her family apart.
Jo...happily married with three kids. Her life was perfect until her three-year-old daughter was abducted. She blames herself for not watching Amelia close enough, and wonders if the kidnapping is related to a long forgotten secret from her past.
Ellie...gave up her career for her husband. Now her world revolves around him. She has two unappreciative brats and a cheating husband. This isn’t the life she imagined when she married Denny.
June...a waitress with four small children (one with Autism). Her lazy husband can’t keep a job and her life is in constant turmoil. Her days are filled with screaming kids and Autistic tantrums. She secretly reminisces about her younger days and the life she could have had, if only she’d been truthful years ago.
It was easy to relate to these women and what some might call their “trivial” struggles. I couldn’t help but sympathize with them, as my emotions have taken over many times and I’ve had some of the same overwhelming feelings! Just when I thought this book might not meet my expectations...another big explosion that leads us back to the unforgettable and tragic murder.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley, Pamela Crane and Bloodhound Books, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
#PrettyUglyLies #NetGalley #Amazon
My reviews can be found on Amazon, BN.com, Twitter, BookBub, NG, EW and more.
July 9, 2018
Wow... this book really makes you think. As a mother there were so many feelings and emotions that the women in this book felt that were all too close to home. Feelings that make us all human and real. Scary how easily something can click and tradgey strikes.
The stories in this book come from real life, families that struggle, women who lose themselves, kids that take over. I think that anybody reading this book will feel some connection to the characters.
Thank you Pamela Crane for writing such a thought provoking and powerful book. And thank you for allowing me to be part of it by reading it
The stories in this book come from real life, families that struggle, women who lose themselves, kids that take over. I think that anybody reading this book will feel some connection to the characters.
Thank you Pamela Crane for writing such a thought provoking and powerful book. And thank you for allowing me to be part of it by reading it
September 5, 2022
Book Blog | Bookstagram
You've got a murder - a husband and two children have been gutted in their home in the middle of the day. But whose husband and children? And why did it happen? Then there's an affair with an obsessive stalker, a kidnapped 3-year-old girl, a husband affair, burnout from life, undiagnosed PPD and contemplations of filicide.
It all started to feel a little banana sandwich.
"Try living with the same person day in and day out, and have kids and chaos and financial stresses and months on end without a night out, much less a good banging, and rushed dinners and falling asleep in front of the tube nearly every night like two fossils in an old folks’ home."
If this book has only one thing going for it, it’s the pace. It’s not necessarily always thrilling, but it is consistently compulsive. But because of this it was lacking in character aspects like relationship depth and unique personalities.
The characters spend a lot of time complaining about their life choices, about being unappreciated or their marriages being lacklustre. These are themes we could all see in ourselves, one way or another. But at the same time, a lot of these things are mostly our own fault.
As a full-time stepmother, I completely understand the feeling of being unappreciated, but I’m also an adult who realizes that I didn’t truly appreciate my own parents - including my stepfather - until I had to start raising someone else’s kids. I don’t know too many parents who don't understand that kids are just not going to get it. Being an adult is an experience that requires an adult brain. You can't imagine it until it's happening to you. And that's certainly not a child’s fault.
There was a distinct lack of self-awareness on the part of the characters in that regard, that if applied, would have toned down their whining and elevated their problems to something more worthy of commiseration. But still... I totally get it.
This is a fun thriller with relatable women’s issues that any wife and mother might see themselves in. But it is so heavy on the negative aspects of those parts of life, that it became a bit annoying.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
You've got a murder - a husband and two children have been gutted in their home in the middle of the day. But whose husband and children? And why did it happen? Then there's an affair with an obsessive stalker, a kidnapped 3-year-old girl, a husband affair, burnout from life, undiagnosed PPD and contemplations of filicide.
It all started to feel a little banana sandwich.
"Try living with the same person day in and day out, and have kids and chaos and financial stresses and months on end without a night out, much less a good banging, and rushed dinners and falling asleep in front of the tube nearly every night like two fossils in an old folks’ home."
If this book has only one thing going for it, it’s the pace. It’s not necessarily always thrilling, but it is consistently compulsive. But because of this it was lacking in character aspects like relationship depth and unique personalities.
The characters spend a lot of time complaining about their life choices, about being unappreciated or their marriages being lacklustre. These are themes we could all see in ourselves, one way or another. But at the same time, a lot of these things are mostly our own fault.
As a full-time stepmother, I completely understand the feeling of being unappreciated, but I’m also an adult who realizes that I didn’t truly appreciate my own parents - including my stepfather - until I had to start raising someone else’s kids. I don’t know too many parents who don't understand that kids are just not going to get it. Being an adult is an experience that requires an adult brain. You can't imagine it until it's happening to you. And that's certainly not a child’s fault.
There was a distinct lack of self-awareness on the part of the characters in that regard, that if applied, would have toned down their whining and elevated their problems to something more worthy of commiseration. But still... I totally get it.
This is a fun thriller with relatable women’s issues that any wife and mother might see themselves in. But it is so heavy on the negative aspects of those parts of life, that it became a bit annoying.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
July 14, 2018
Pretty Ugly Lies is narrated by 4 women in interchanging chapters. The book starts with a gruesome murder scene. A family has been butchered in their home. We don’t know by whom or why. The story unravels as we learn about each woman and her “woes” and “secrets”.
The book was well written albeit excessively poetic. The bloody bang at the beginning makes you continue to read to learn more.
But, and there is a big BUT…
The names of the characters were confusing. Jo. Jay. J. Janyn. June. Jude. Really???
There was too much melodrama. Too much whining that halfway through became nauseating.
The soliloquies of the women became boring and repetitive.
Listening to these women, one would think they are living in a third world country, force-married to some abusive man 3 times their ages who impregnates them once a year.
I know life can suck. I know it could become unbearably boring or distressing.
I traveled miles away from my country and family to marry. I had no friends in the new country. I didn’t understand the language they were speaking. When I had my baby, my mother had cancer and couldn’t travel. I was alone and lonely. No one to help me. I had panic attacks. The next day of my coming home from the hospital my husband went to work. I had to take my baby to do my eye surgery because there was no friend to take care of her in the meantime. And all this, because of the choices I made. I !!! Not my husband and not my family. And definitely not my beautiful baby. I knew what I was stepping into.
That said, how can you expect a 3 or 5 or 11 year old to come and say “I love you” all the time and show her gratitude and appreciation for you. That you have carried her for 9 months, painfully delivered her, stayed awake and fed her at night, cleaned her poop, etc., etc.
Many times these women referred to their children as their jailers and suffocaters.
A bunch of rich women wearing Gucci and blah-blah, whining that while their husbands were working all day, they had to take care of their children. The children they could have avoided having if they chose. That was the gist of the book.
4 kids? And whose fault is that?
I rarely get angry while reading a book, but the constant whinings and extreme choices these women made drove me to the edge.
Thanks to Pamela Crane, Bloodhound Books and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy.
The book was well written albeit excessively poetic. The bloody bang at the beginning makes you continue to read to learn more.
But, and there is a big BUT…
The names of the characters were confusing. Jo. Jay. J. Janyn. June. Jude. Really???
There was too much melodrama. Too much whining that halfway through became nauseating.
The soliloquies of the women became boring and repetitive.
Listening to these women, one would think they are living in a third world country, force-married to some abusive man 3 times their ages who impregnates them once a year.
I know life can suck. I know it could become unbearably boring or distressing.
I traveled miles away from my country and family to marry. I had no friends in the new country. I didn’t understand the language they were speaking. When I had my baby, my mother had cancer and couldn’t travel. I was alone and lonely. No one to help me. I had panic attacks. The next day of my coming home from the hospital my husband went to work. I had to take my baby to do my eye surgery because there was no friend to take care of her in the meantime. And all this, because of the choices I made. I !!! Not my husband and not my family. And definitely not my beautiful baby. I knew what I was stepping into.
That said, how can you expect a 3 or 5 or 11 year old to come and say “I love you” all the time and show her gratitude and appreciation for you. That you have carried her for 9 months, painfully delivered her, stayed awake and fed her at night, cleaned her poop, etc., etc.
Many times these women referred to their children as their jailers and suffocaters.
A bunch of rich women wearing Gucci and blah-blah, whining that while their husbands were working all day, they had to take care of their children. The children they could have avoided having if they chose. That was the gist of the book.
4 kids? And whose fault is that?
I rarely get angry while reading a book, but the constant whinings and extreme choices these women made drove me to the edge.
Thanks to Pamela Crane, Bloodhound Books and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy.
July 7, 2018
The story flicks between the four woman so we get an insight into each of their lives. Each woman is quite different so was interesting trying to work out how the whole story line was going to pan out.
From the very first page the author ensured they had me hooked. How could any woman kill their children, never mind their man. Those first few pages though do make you reflect on your own family life and the relationship we have with our husband and children and how we can take each other for granted.
If anything this story goes to show what goes on behind closed doors and also how well we really know people. It actually gives you a lot of food for thought and I think these women's lives will have an impact on the reader.
Pretty Ugly Lies is a gripping and thought provoking read. I think it will make many of us feel normal in how we think about our own family life. The blurb suggests that readers who have enjoyed Laine Moriarty's books would enjoy this book and I whole heartedly agree. A domestic noir story that readers certainly do not want to miss.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
From the very first page the author ensured they had me hooked. How could any woman kill their children, never mind their man. Those first few pages though do make you reflect on your own family life and the relationship we have with our husband and children and how we can take each other for granted.
If anything this story goes to show what goes on behind closed doors and also how well we really know people. It actually gives you a lot of food for thought and I think these women's lives will have an impact on the reader.
Pretty Ugly Lies is a gripping and thought provoking read. I think it will make many of us feel normal in how we think about our own family life. The blurb suggests that readers who have enjoyed Laine Moriarty's books would enjoy this book and I whole heartedly agree. A domestic noir story that readers certainly do not want to miss.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
July 15, 2018
I am very conflicted about this book. On the one hand it landed you straight into the middle of the action from the first couple of pages which I liked but on the other there was a lot of whining from the majority of characters which annoyed me quite a bit. There are some good twists in the plot that keep the reader intrigued and the story was sound but my issue was with the characters. It is rare I dislike characters enough that it affects my enjoyment of a book but I did here - the women seemed extremely fake and materialistic.
The story is told from 4 differing POV - all women who are wives and mothers. They each seem like normal protective mothers and family orientated individuals but this is merely a facade. Beneath this fake exterior lies women who are expert at hiding their secrets. None of the mothers were likable but I did feel sympathetic towards their situation at certain times throughout the book. At its heart, this story is about the difference between what we really feel and what we show to others - that what we seem like on the exterior can be hiding a dark and secretive reality.
Well written and interesting with a plot that keeps you guessing the whole time. I would recommend this to those who enjoy reading womens fiction/chick lit or chick noir. This is one domestic noir that I didn't particularly enjoy but as reading is subjective I can imagine this attracting a large audience who will love it. This is just my opinion so if you like the sound of the blurb - give it a go! I plan to purchase other Pamela Crane books to read over the summer months and I hope I appreciate them more than I did this one.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The story is told from 4 differing POV - all women who are wives and mothers. They each seem like normal protective mothers and family orientated individuals but this is merely a facade. Beneath this fake exterior lies women who are expert at hiding their secrets. None of the mothers were likable but I did feel sympathetic towards their situation at certain times throughout the book. At its heart, this story is about the difference between what we really feel and what we show to others - that what we seem like on the exterior can be hiding a dark and secretive reality.
Well written and interesting with a plot that keeps you guessing the whole time. I would recommend this to those who enjoy reading womens fiction/chick lit or chick noir. This is one domestic noir that I didn't particularly enjoy but as reading is subjective I can imagine this attracting a large audience who will love it. This is just my opinion so if you like the sound of the blurb - give it a go! I plan to purchase other Pamela Crane books to read over the summer months and I hope I appreciate them more than I did this one.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 28, 2022
This novel was included as part of the Murder and Mayhem boxed set (20 espionage and mystery thriller novels), but I don't understand why. It was supposed to be about murder mysteries, and this was more of a Slice of Life type of story or what it calls: Domestic Noir, on the cover blurb. If this story is your type of thing then more power to you and you will probably like this. I found the four diverging stories boring, and rather mundane despite the kidnapping element. Jo lives an idyllic life until her daughter is kidnapped. Ellie is a devoted wife, until she realizes that her husband is cheating. June is suffering her life of outward domestic bliss in silence. Shayla is a party girl who is fighting personal demons. These stories connect in a natural way, but I couldn’t get into it. I finished it despite the incessant boredom, but really not worth the investment of my time.
December 9, 2018
PRETTY UGLY LIES by Pamela Crane is a domestic drama noir novel. This is a powerful and thought-provoking novel, and one that you will not forget too easily.
“A chilling look at the secrets mothers will hide for the sake of their families, and the gruesome reality of what can break an everyday woman."
How could a woman murder her whole family?
The story opens with a woman awaiting the arrival of the police to the brutal murder scene of her husband and children. What a tension opener!
What follows is alternating chapters that follow four married women with children that live in the same neighborhood, dealing with their own struggles.
Jo's daughter is abducted and the only way to find her is to unravel her dark past.
Ellie is a devoted wife... until she discovers the pain of betrayal. Now she wants revenge.
Party-girl Shayla suffers from bipolar disorder. When she's confronted with a life-shattering choice, it will cost her everything.
June knows suffering intimately, though the smile she wears keeps it hidden.
These women have it all…but still complain and are not happy. I wanted to shake these women and tell them to be grateful for what they have.
The lives of these four women will soon intersect and one of them will go off the deep end! In this novel we are given a glimpse of what could cause a woman to snap and carry out such a brutal attack. This novel will make you look at your family in a different light.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
“A chilling look at the secrets mothers will hide for the sake of their families, and the gruesome reality of what can break an everyday woman."
How could a woman murder her whole family?
The story opens with a woman awaiting the arrival of the police to the brutal murder scene of her husband and children. What a tension opener!
What follows is alternating chapters that follow four married women with children that live in the same neighborhood, dealing with their own struggles.
Jo's daughter is abducted and the only way to find her is to unravel her dark past.
Ellie is a devoted wife... until she discovers the pain of betrayal. Now she wants revenge.
Party-girl Shayla suffers from bipolar disorder. When she's confronted with a life-shattering choice, it will cost her everything.
June knows suffering intimately, though the smile she wears keeps it hidden.
These women have it all…but still complain and are not happy. I wanted to shake these women and tell them to be grateful for what they have.
The lives of these four women will soon intersect and one of them will go off the deep end! In this novel we are given a glimpse of what could cause a woman to snap and carry out such a brutal attack. This novel will make you look at your family in a different light.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
July 25, 2018
4.5 Stars
Four soccer moms .. living in an ideally suburban neighborhood featuring stately homes that show an upper crust lifestyle. Manicured nails ... designer clothes. Keeping up with the Jones' with Mercedes and BMWs ... wealth, beauty and perfection.
So what causes a woman to murder her entire family when she has everything she ever desired?
Four women ..all married to men they love or have loved .. all with children .. all with hopes and dreams, mostly unfulfilled.
Four “perfect” families.
Four life-altering secrets.
One lie that leads to a killer.
All four women have their say in this well-crafted book. Even with all the 'players' it's easy to follow each family and what consequences they face when secrets and lies are exposed. The first chapter is a killer ... the ending came as a huge surprise.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Psychological Suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Four soccer moms .. living in an ideally suburban neighborhood featuring stately homes that show an upper crust lifestyle. Manicured nails ... designer clothes. Keeping up with the Jones' with Mercedes and BMWs ... wealth, beauty and perfection.
So what causes a woman to murder her entire family when she has everything she ever desired?
Four women ..all married to men they love or have loved .. all with children .. all with hopes and dreams, mostly unfulfilled.
Four “perfect” families.
Four life-altering secrets.
One lie that leads to a killer.
All four women have their say in this well-crafted book. Even with all the 'players' it's easy to follow each family and what consequences they face when secrets and lies are exposed. The first chapter is a killer ... the ending came as a huge surprise.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Psychological Suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 24, 2021
I read an article in the news a couple years ago about a mother who let her boyfriend rape and kill her fifteen-month-old child. I couldn't stop thinking about it, how the one who was supposed to protect the life she had birthed simply watched that life die, then shrugged her shoulders at her daughter's fate. Months later another news story, another child death at the hands of the mother when she drowned her four-year-old in their pool and hid the body. More stories come out every year, more tragedies, and we either ignore them or can't forget them ... all of us helpless to the real horrors around us.
Or ARE we helpless?
I'm a mother. A stressed-out one, at that. So I get the sacrifice demanded of this role. But what causes some to slip into darkness while others bob above it? This question plagued me, and that's when I realized these mothers have stories. I want to hate them for what they've done; they are detestable, aren't they? But they are real-life women with real-life psychological issues that no one has bothered to tap into or help.
I needed to tap. I needed to pick apart those minds to understand why. And so I did. "Pretty Ugly Lies" shares just a few scenarios of what could cause a mother to snap, based loosely on one such story that I investigated and the family behind it. It's not easy to imagine a murderous kind of callousness in a mother, but it's not always what it seems. The monsters that live next-door aren't always as ugly as we want to think. Sometimes she is simply someone who can't find her way out of the darkness. That is what this story is about.
A family is murdered, but by who? That is your job to figure out as "Pretty Ugly Lies" unfolds. And why? That is the resounding question that I attempt to explore.
I hope you can take something away from "Pretty Ugly Lies" as you meet four women with their own demons that they must face and conquer--in the end, each left with one decision: Will she find the strength within herself to endure?
Or ARE we helpless?
I'm a mother. A stressed-out one, at that. So I get the sacrifice demanded of this role. But what causes some to slip into darkness while others bob above it? This question plagued me, and that's when I realized these mothers have stories. I want to hate them for what they've done; they are detestable, aren't they? But they are real-life women with real-life psychological issues that no one has bothered to tap into or help.
I needed to tap. I needed to pick apart those minds to understand why. And so I did. "Pretty Ugly Lies" shares just a few scenarios of what could cause a mother to snap, based loosely on one such story that I investigated and the family behind it. It's not easy to imagine a murderous kind of callousness in a mother, but it's not always what it seems. The monsters that live next-door aren't always as ugly as we want to think. Sometimes she is simply someone who can't find her way out of the darkness. That is what this story is about.
A family is murdered, but by who? That is your job to figure out as "Pretty Ugly Lies" unfolds. And why? That is the resounding question that I attempt to explore.
I hope you can take something away from "Pretty Ugly Lies" as you meet four women with their own demons that they must face and conquer--in the end, each left with one decision: Will she find the strength within herself to endure?
June 28, 2018
The scary truth is that the shocking tragedy depicted in the prologue of this twisty,thought-provoking domestic drama happens with frightening regularity throughout the modern world.We very often see reports in the newspapers or read stories in magazines about people who murder their partners and/or children.And after they commit these terrible acts they insist that they loved their victims.Love,that four letter word that rules our lives and our hearts yet is so hard to describe and put into words.This emotionally charged thriller is a story about love,a parent's love for their child,a wife's love for her husband.The lengths people are prepared to go to in the name of love,the secrets they are prepared to keep to continue feeling loved.It's a twisted tale of love,secrets,lies,obsession,fear,betrayal,manipulation,misconceptions,parenting,depression and forgiveness that may be fictional but also has a very heavy dose of gruesome reality.
The chapters alternate between the points of view of the four main characters Jo,Ellie,Shayla and June.Four realistic individuals who are each struggling to cope with their own personal crises.Jo`s three year old daughter has been abducted,Ellie has discovered that her husband is having an affair.Shayla has to make a life - shattering choice that could cost her everything and June is struggling to cope with four children,one of whom is autistic,one who is antagonistic and a husband who doesn't seem capable of staying employed.As a parent I would have liked to have felt some sympathy with at least one of these ladies but I honestly couldn't.Jo cared more about what her posh neighbours would think about her than her missing daughter.And the other three were always moaning,whinging and wining about how bad their lives were and how much of a struggle it was to get through every day.All parents have days when their children drive them insane but suddenly one day your children are all grown up and getting on with their own lives and you seriously miss their noise and mess. All these women were so wrapped up in themselves and their little secrets that they didn't stop and appreciate what they had.The women certainly had issues and more than one may have suffered from depression but which one reaches her limit,cracks and commits multiple murders?.Interspersed throughout the story we get insights into the mind of the twisted individual who has abducted Jo`s young daughter.Some of this person's thoughts were spine chilling and uncomfortable to read.
I really enjoyed this chilling,well written domestic thriller and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.Highly recommended
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The chapters alternate between the points of view of the four main characters Jo,Ellie,Shayla and June.Four realistic individuals who are each struggling to cope with their own personal crises.Jo`s three year old daughter has been abducted,Ellie has discovered that her husband is having an affair.Shayla has to make a life - shattering choice that could cost her everything and June is struggling to cope with four children,one of whom is autistic,one who is antagonistic and a husband who doesn't seem capable of staying employed.As a parent I would have liked to have felt some sympathy with at least one of these ladies but I honestly couldn't.Jo cared more about what her posh neighbours would think about her than her missing daughter.And the other three were always moaning,whinging and wining about how bad their lives were and how much of a struggle it was to get through every day.All parents have days when their children drive them insane but suddenly one day your children are all grown up and getting on with their own lives and you seriously miss their noise and mess. All these women were so wrapped up in themselves and their little secrets that they didn't stop and appreciate what they had.The women certainly had issues and more than one may have suffered from depression but which one reaches her limit,cracks and commits multiple murders?.Interspersed throughout the story we get insights into the mind of the twisted individual who has abducted Jo`s young daughter.Some of this person's thoughts were spine chilling and uncomfortable to read.
I really enjoyed this chilling,well written domestic thriller and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.Highly recommended
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 17, 2018
What causes a woman to just murder her husband and kids? How could someone just snap like that? Pretty Ugly Lies is a psychological thriller that explores just this situation, but the twist is that it could be one of four different women. There are four women’s stories that weave together in this dark novel and it will leave you guessing, “Is she the one?!” at the end of each chapter. Pamela Crane brings new meaning to the genre of domestic noir.
This is a thought-provoking read that scares me more because of the reality of it being true. I have seen many of my friends display signs of marital and maternal unhappiness from time to time. And how they just feel trapped. But that’s all it is, right? Everyone succumbs to those pressures and picture-perfect expectations, don’t they? Surely THEY will never snap and murder their family… right? But that’s what gets me with this book. I would have never fully suspected anything to happen here that elevated more than the “woe is me” moments, tawdry affairs to numb the pain, writing dark and honest thoughts in a diary, etc.
Pamela Crane creates a “Desperate Housewives meets Kate Chopin’s The Awakening.” All the bourgie suburban fun of the hit TV show mixed with the pressures of motherhood and what a women should be and how she should act. It throws matrimony, motherhood, ambition, and disdain in a giant blender for the reader.
My main issue with the book was I thought there was a little too much whining and self-deprecation going on. These women and moms are all caught up in themselves and being some fake, better, cookie-cutter version of themselves or having affairs and they wonder why things come crashing down? Honesty, y’all! And if your kids are weighing you down, there’s certainly no reason to have 4+ of them! We all know how these things happen… lock it up!
In the end I will give this a 3.5 out of 5 star rating. I thought the book was fast-paced enough and kept me wondering what was going to happen. I got a little lost at times with all the names that seemed to start with ‘J’ but that could just be on me (woopsy!) Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is a thought-provoking read that scares me more because of the reality of it being true. I have seen many of my friends display signs of marital and maternal unhappiness from time to time. And how they just feel trapped. But that’s all it is, right? Everyone succumbs to those pressures and picture-perfect expectations, don’t they? Surely THEY will never snap and murder their family… right? But that’s what gets me with this book. I would have never fully suspected anything to happen here that elevated more than the “woe is me” moments, tawdry affairs to numb the pain, writing dark and honest thoughts in a diary, etc.
Pamela Crane creates a “Desperate Housewives meets Kate Chopin’s The Awakening.” All the bourgie suburban fun of the hit TV show mixed with the pressures of motherhood and what a women should be and how she should act. It throws matrimony, motherhood, ambition, and disdain in a giant blender for the reader.
My main issue with the book was I thought there was a little too much whining and self-deprecation going on. These women and moms are all caught up in themselves and being some fake, better, cookie-cutter version of themselves or having affairs and they wonder why things come crashing down? Honesty, y’all! And if your kids are weighing you down, there’s certainly no reason to have 4+ of them! We all know how these things happen… lock it up!
In the end I will give this a 3.5 out of 5 star rating. I thought the book was fast-paced enough and kept me wondering what was going to happen. I got a little lost at times with all the names that seemed to start with ‘J’ but that could just be on me (woopsy!) Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 28, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
The opening chapter of this book drew me right in with the murder of a husband and children. We are then introduced to four women who all live in the same neighbourhood all dealing with problems and issues in their family life.
The chapters alternate between the four women and their POV. I didn't particularly like any of the women and quite frankly at times could have shaken them out of their passivity but I did feel empathy for them at times especially when dealing with some of their husbands.
This book is an honest portrayal of domestic life when a happy front is not what it appears. As the families fall apart you think you know who the killer is but it keeps changing.
The opening chapter of this book drew me right in with the murder of a husband and children. We are then introduced to four women who all live in the same neighbourhood all dealing with problems and issues in their family life.
The chapters alternate between the four women and their POV. I didn't particularly like any of the women and quite frankly at times could have shaken them out of their passivity but I did feel empathy for them at times especially when dealing with some of their husbands.
This book is an honest portrayal of domestic life when a happy front is not what it appears. As the families fall apart you think you know who the killer is but it keeps changing.
July 18, 2018
From the first chapter the author knows how to grab the readers attention and hold onto it.
The story starts off with a murder scene. We don’t know who it is. The story is told through four women’s point of view. Each of them tells us about their mundane lives. I could understand how family life can be draining but I really wanted to shake some of these women.
A lot of people would envy these characters lives. They have it all yet they aren’t happy.
A well written read that will have you thinking about the life you’ve got and what you make of it. Will definitely be reading more from this author.
The story starts off with a murder scene. We don’t know who it is. The story is told through four women’s point of view. Each of them tells us about their mundane lives. I could understand how family life can be draining but I really wanted to shake some of these women.
A lot of people would envy these characters lives. They have it all yet they aren’t happy.
A well written read that will have you thinking about the life you’ve got and what you make of it. Will definitely be reading more from this author.
June 29, 2018
Not poorly written. I got through it quickly. But the storylines just were just not deep enough and the separate women’s tales were just overwrought with despair and hand wringing and melodrama that just did not seem real to me. Not for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for a chance to read and review.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for a chance to read and review.
July 20, 2018
Sometimes, when reading domestic noir, I find it’s much of the same, the same recycled story over and over again. But Pretty Ugly Lies was a breath of fresh air. I loved the multiple viewpoints of the four women (Jo, Ellie, Shayla and June), I was interested in each drama, making this an engaging read throughout.
While each of our leading ladies didn’t necessarily have a distinct personality, it didn’t matter too much, what was key here was the scenario each lady was in, and that was easy to distinguish. So, despite the fact that I couldn’t always remember who belonged to which drama, I was fully invested in the drama. It’s like when you watch TV shows such as Desperate Housewives, or reality shows such as Love and Hip Hop – there’s always plenty of drama and it’s thoroughly entertaining. And amongst all the drama, you get the thread of emotion, the parts you really care about – in Pretty Ugly Lies, you care about how the children are impacted by each scenario, and wow, are there some intense moments featuring the children.
And when one of these women snap, they snap, like what in the holy hell kind of craziness is this – and I mean that in the best possible way, the shock of the event that occurred ensured I’d stayed thinking about this one.
While this is an entertaining read, it is also a thought-provoking one, because once you strip back the layers of drama, you see the suffering. The pain of living a life you didn’t imagine, second guessing the decisions you made, those scary moments when you feel trapped in your own life… Crane doesn’t hold back, she makes these women honest in their feelings – they voice what, perhaps, many mothers are afraid too, the fleeting thoughts that can enter a mind. Everything has a darker side, and motherhood is no different!
This was my first time reading a novel by Crane, and I shall be seeking out more of her books because I found this one so engaging and entertaining with enough emotion to make me care. I absolutely recommend this novel to fans of domestic noir.
*My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this title via Netgalley*
While each of our leading ladies didn’t necessarily have a distinct personality, it didn’t matter too much, what was key here was the scenario each lady was in, and that was easy to distinguish. So, despite the fact that I couldn’t always remember who belonged to which drama, I was fully invested in the drama. It’s like when you watch TV shows such as Desperate Housewives, or reality shows such as Love and Hip Hop – there’s always plenty of drama and it’s thoroughly entertaining. And amongst all the drama, you get the thread of emotion, the parts you really care about – in Pretty Ugly Lies, you care about how the children are impacted by each scenario, and wow, are there some intense moments featuring the children.
And when one of these women snap, they snap, like what in the holy hell kind of craziness is this – and I mean that in the best possible way, the shock of the event that occurred ensured I’d stayed thinking about this one.
While this is an entertaining read, it is also a thought-provoking one, because once you strip back the layers of drama, you see the suffering. The pain of living a life you didn’t imagine, second guessing the decisions you made, those scary moments when you feel trapped in your own life… Crane doesn’t hold back, she makes these women honest in their feelings – they voice what, perhaps, many mothers are afraid too, the fleeting thoughts that can enter a mind. Everything has a darker side, and motherhood is no different!
This was my first time reading a novel by Crane, and I shall be seeking out more of her books because I found this one so engaging and entertaining with enough emotion to make me care. I absolutely recommend this novel to fans of domestic noir.
*My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this title via Netgalley*
December 29, 2025
This was my kind of book. It was a very fast and exciting read. All of the main characters were moms dealing with "mom" kind of problems and stressors which held my interest. I was able to relate to all of them even if I didn't agree with them. I thought the reveal though was a little out of left field. Nothing like that was on my radar and the ending was just ok. I liked that the ending was not a perfect one but this lacked something. I would recommend this for sure, especially to those who like family dramas.
July 19, 2018
Pretty Ugly Lies centers around the lives of four very different women, but yet their situations are all too similar. What they all share in common is the constant sacrifices they have made for their families, the endless responsibility, feelings of being underappreciated and unloved, and the realization that they have given up their lives and careers for the sake of their family. When it becomes all too much to handle, one of these women finally snaps leaving a deadly path of destruction that rocks the entire community.
We start off with the murder of a husband and children, but we are left in the dark as to whom the killer may be and we are left wondering why and how a mother could do this to her family. Here starts our journey into the unknown and into the lives of each of these four women as we try to determine which one of them has lost their grip on reality.
I get it, I really do. Having a family is a sacrifice, but it can also be very rewarding too. I may not have any children, but I do have two sisters. I am twenty years older than both of my siblings and they completely tortured me when they were young. Evil spawns who were determined to make my life miserable. So, I can understand the frustration and how easily it can be to snap. It also led me to the realization that I do not have a maternal instinct. Hence, why I have no children or the desire to have any children. It doesn't mean that I don't like children, I just like them when they aren’t mine. I also had the one thing these four women didn’t. I could leave any time I wanted as they were not my children. These women were stuck with kids, a husband, and responsibilities from the time they woke up until the time they went to sleep. Day after day after day...over and over again. This can take a toll on any mother at any time. So, I can sympathize with some of the thoughts and feelings each of these women are going through.
“But darkness hid behind closed doors, climbed up the walls, wove a web that would eventually entrap them in misery. I’d been caught in that web”
Pretty Ugly lies is told through four points of view. Each mother, while seeming to have their lives under control to the outside world, harbor deep and deadly secrets. Pamela Crane really did a fantastic job giving these women a unique voice that made them realistic and relatable. Crane has also given us a story that could have been ripped from the headlines. She gives us a glimpse into the Andrea Yates and the Susan Smith’s of this world. The story just grips you from the first page and as we get to know each of these women, you realize that figuring out who murdered their family is not as easy as it seems. Crane throws these red herrings out at us and slowly reals us in to the point where we think we know who did it, but we are so so wrong. You are completely left in the dark until the very end. I was floored and completely shocked with the reveal.
Pamela Crane has a deadly grip on domestic noir at the highest level. Pretty Ugly Lies is a twisted tale that delves into the lives of seemingly normal women and veers off into secrets, lies, and a chilling conclusion that will take you through the intricate layers of a psychological thriller that often times blurs the lines of reality. Although this is the first book I have read by Pamela Crane, it certainly will not be the last. Pretty Ugly Lies is a five star read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
We start off with the murder of a husband and children, but we are left in the dark as to whom the killer may be and we are left wondering why and how a mother could do this to her family. Here starts our journey into the unknown and into the lives of each of these four women as we try to determine which one of them has lost their grip on reality.
I get it, I really do. Having a family is a sacrifice, but it can also be very rewarding too. I may not have any children, but I do have two sisters. I am twenty years older than both of my siblings and they completely tortured me when they were young. Evil spawns who were determined to make my life miserable. So, I can understand the frustration and how easily it can be to snap. It also led me to the realization that I do not have a maternal instinct. Hence, why I have no children or the desire to have any children. It doesn't mean that I don't like children, I just like them when they aren’t mine. I also had the one thing these four women didn’t. I could leave any time I wanted as they were not my children. These women were stuck with kids, a husband, and responsibilities from the time they woke up until the time they went to sleep. Day after day after day...over and over again. This can take a toll on any mother at any time. So, I can sympathize with some of the thoughts and feelings each of these women are going through.
“But darkness hid behind closed doors, climbed up the walls, wove a web that would eventually entrap them in misery. I’d been caught in that web”
Pretty Ugly lies is told through four points of view. Each mother, while seeming to have their lives under control to the outside world, harbor deep and deadly secrets. Pamela Crane really did a fantastic job giving these women a unique voice that made them realistic and relatable. Crane has also given us a story that could have been ripped from the headlines. She gives us a glimpse into the Andrea Yates and the Susan Smith’s of this world. The story just grips you from the first page and as we get to know each of these women, you realize that figuring out who murdered their family is not as easy as it seems. Crane throws these red herrings out at us and slowly reals us in to the point where we think we know who did it, but we are so so wrong. You are completely left in the dark until the very end. I was floored and completely shocked with the reveal.
Pamela Crane has a deadly grip on domestic noir at the highest level. Pretty Ugly Lies is a twisted tale that delves into the lives of seemingly normal women and veers off into secrets, lies, and a chilling conclusion that will take you through the intricate layers of a psychological thriller that often times blurs the lines of reality. Although this is the first book I have read by Pamela Crane, it certainly will not be the last. Pretty Ugly Lies is a five star read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
September 9, 2018
If life came with a 'replay' button, would we keep pressing it every time when life felt overwhelming and we knew we would sink soon? This was the question the book left me with.
My first book by Author Pamela Crane had me scrambling to keep up the lives of the 4 mums all of whose lives got seeped in the daily drudgery, responsibilities of kids and school, uncaring husbands, loss of careers. Frustrations, anger, secrets past and present, maintaining a "all' s well" facade, soon led to the cracks getting formed, too wide to jump chasms appeared, and friendships were all these mums struggled to hold on to.
Pamela Crane's domestic noir was a full-on thriller, it had a wife murdering the husband and kids and another mum's daughter getting kidnapped. The story was depicted on the background, and sometimes on the foreground of these events, which led me on a merry ride, skipping into the past and coasting on the flimsy paths of the present.
My only niggle, the book initially had me confused as it told me the story in multiple points of view. I was lost in the lanes of the names of mum, kids, and husband. That kept slowing me down. I certainly don't like my thrillers slowing me down.
But I could read this in a few hours, so I liked the book. Enjoyable!
My first book by Author Pamela Crane had me scrambling to keep up the lives of the 4 mums all of whose lives got seeped in the daily drudgery, responsibilities of kids and school, uncaring husbands, loss of careers. Frustrations, anger, secrets past and present, maintaining a "all' s well" facade, soon led to the cracks getting formed, too wide to jump chasms appeared, and friendships were all these mums struggled to hold on to.
Pamela Crane's domestic noir was a full-on thriller, it had a wife murdering the husband and kids and another mum's daughter getting kidnapped. The story was depicted on the background, and sometimes on the foreground of these events, which led me on a merry ride, skipping into the past and coasting on the flimsy paths of the present.
My only niggle, the book initially had me confused as it told me the story in multiple points of view. I was lost in the lanes of the names of mum, kids, and husband. That kept slowing me down. I certainly don't like my thrillers slowing me down.
But I could read this in a few hours, so I liked the book. Enjoyable!
September 5, 2021
Scrolling through on KU, I came across Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane and this sounded intriguing with the tagline of "Four Lives, Four Lies and One Killer Among Them" I was also drawn in by the cover. The book starts at a murder scene, all we know is that a husband and the children are dead and a wife is sitting waiting for the police. The book then jumps back in time where we meet four mothers and the story begins. Each mother is hiding a secret. The first mother we meet is Josephine whose youngest child has been kidnapped when she should have been watching them, then we have Shayla who is having an affair, Jude who just wants her life to end as she is stuck with four kids including one who is severely autistic and Ellie who has just discovered her husband is cheating on her and her two kids who treat her like rubbish. Pretty Ugly Lies was a good thriller that kept you guessing till the very end and shows you the dark underbelly of Motherhood and that behind closed doors anything can happen. I am now looking forward to reading more of Pamela Crane's thrillers.
December 10, 2018
This was an engaging, twisty book. I would recommend it for fans of the genre.
The chapters are broken down between the four moms and the kidnapper. At first it is a bit difficult to keep them straight, but pretty quickly you learn who is who as their situations are all so different.
The moms were somewhat relatable to me, but not completely. They definitely had more going on than your typical mom. There were interesting dynamics and the thought processes... well, I guess you can't judge them too harshly with all they had going on.
The very ending was a little bit too neat for my taste, but still overall well done. I look forward to reading more of Crane's work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
The chapters are broken down between the four moms and the kidnapper. At first it is a bit difficult to keep them straight, but pretty quickly you learn who is who as their situations are all so different.
The moms were somewhat relatable to me, but not completely. They definitely had more going on than your typical mom. There were interesting dynamics and the thought processes... well, I guess you can't judge them too harshly with all they had going on.
The very ending was a little bit too neat for my taste, but still overall well done. I look forward to reading more of Crane's work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2018
“But darkness hid behind closed doors, climbed up the walls, wove a web that would eventually entrap them in misery. I’d been caught in that web.”
How well do you think you know your neighbors? How about your friends - your spouse? Can you truly ever know someone?
Pretty Ugly Lies is a dark, slippery, twisty tale of deceit. It makes you ask yourself, “what would happen if one day you realized that everything you thought you knew were just lies?”
“Lies piled on top of lies. Secrets smoldering secrets.”
What would you do if your world came crashing down all around you? Would you snap? 4 stars for Pretty Ugly Lies
How well do you think you know your neighbors? How about your friends - your spouse? Can you truly ever know someone?
Pretty Ugly Lies is a dark, slippery, twisty tale of deceit. It makes you ask yourself, “what would happen if one day you realized that everything you thought you knew were just lies?”
“Lies piled on top of lies. Secrets smoldering secrets.”
What would you do if your world came crashing down all around you? Would you snap? 4 stars for Pretty Ugly Lies
July 13, 2018
Pretty Ugly Lies tells the story of four woman who live the "perfect life", or do they?
You never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Each woman has skeletons in their closets and it is only a matter of time before they come out to haunt them.
How far would you go for love?
This book gripped me so hard and did not let me go until the end.
You never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Each woman has skeletons in their closets and it is only a matter of time before they come out to haunt them.
How far would you go for love?
This book gripped me so hard and did not let me go until the end.
July 22, 2018
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Right from the start of this book you find yourself thrown in to the story, and it is pretty much non stop right from there!
I really enjoyed the story, it had a great plot and the pace was spot on, it kept me focussed and hooked to the storyline. I really enjoyed the characters and I think the author achieved some excellent characterisation with them which brought it to life and made it a believable book.
I loved the different points of view used to tell the story and this is definitely a book to make you think about what you have in life.
The story flows very well and I loved the ending – four stars from me for this one! Highly recommended!
Right from the start of this book you find yourself thrown in to the story, and it is pretty much non stop right from there!
I really enjoyed the story, it had a great plot and the pace was spot on, it kept me focussed and hooked to the storyline. I really enjoyed the characters and I think the author achieved some excellent characterisation with them which brought it to life and made it a believable book.
I loved the different points of view used to tell the story and this is definitely a book to make you think about what you have in life.
The story flows very well and I loved the ending – four stars from me for this one! Highly recommended!
July 8, 2018
Thank you NetGalley, Pamela Crane and Bloodhound Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This novel follows four different mothers as they try to balance motherhood and the dreams that they gave up for their families. The novel begins with a disturbing murder scene that shows the impact of putting everyone else before yourself. All these women live in the same neighborhood and have more in common than they realize. Jo’s daughter is abducted from the park, Ellie’s dealing with a betrayal and struggling to keep her family together, Shayla is being confronted by a life changing decision and June is suffering and trying to keep it hidden.
I don’t usually read many domestic dramas, but this one had me hooked after the first chapter. I did find it a bit confusing at first to keep all the women straight and remember what was going on with each household, but as we get further into the story, it’s much easier to keep everything straight and you almost feel like you know these women. I enjoyed the story line and the different type of novel and I found the writing to be superb! I felt bad for all the women in this novel, even though some of them put themselves into these positions. I imagine there are a lot of mothers out there that feel unwanted and underappreciated by their families every once in a while.
The ending on this one shocked me, I thought I knew which woman it was that killed her family, but I was so very off. It just shows that there is a point to which people can’t handle anymore. This is also a story of female friendships and how they try to support each other and help each other cope when life gets tough. Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read.
Pick it up July 28th!
This novel follows four different mothers as they try to balance motherhood and the dreams that they gave up for their families. The novel begins with a disturbing murder scene that shows the impact of putting everyone else before yourself. All these women live in the same neighborhood and have more in common than they realize. Jo’s daughter is abducted from the park, Ellie’s dealing with a betrayal and struggling to keep her family together, Shayla is being confronted by a life changing decision and June is suffering and trying to keep it hidden.
I don’t usually read many domestic dramas, but this one had me hooked after the first chapter. I did find it a bit confusing at first to keep all the women straight and remember what was going on with each household, but as we get further into the story, it’s much easier to keep everything straight and you almost feel like you know these women. I enjoyed the story line and the different type of novel and I found the writing to be superb! I felt bad for all the women in this novel, even though some of them put themselves into these positions. I imagine there are a lot of mothers out there that feel unwanted and underappreciated by their families every once in a while.
The ending on this one shocked me, I thought I knew which woman it was that killed her family, but I was so very off. It just shows that there is a point to which people can’t handle anymore. This is also a story of female friendships and how they try to support each other and help each other cope when life gets tough. Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read.
Pick it up July 28th!
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