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Born Bad #1
Wicked Sharp
Fast-paced, electric, and barbed with nerve-shredding thrills, Wicked Sharp is exquisitely addictive—every page drags you deeper into the hidden world of serial killers. A thriller for fans of Caroline Kepnes, Gillian Flynn, and Lucinda Berry.
A mountain hike with your serial killer father. Good Samaritans who aren’t as innocent as they appear. What could go wrong?
Poppy Pratt is the perfect daughter. Agreeable. Highly intelligent. Most importantly, she’s excellent at keeping secrets—the kind of secrets that give other eleven-year-olds nightmares.
Her father’s perfect too…on the outside. He smiles for the preacher, attends neighborhood barbecues, even bought textbooks for the entire school. In their little town, everyone sees a hero—not a serial killer. But Poppy still feels like the lies are thick enough to choke on.
So when her father surprises her with a trip to the Tennessee mountains, she’s happy to escape the charade. But it isn’t long before the trip goes awry. Between the incoming thunderheads and a climbing accident, the woods feel less like a vacation and more like prison. Luckily, a pair of friendly strangers offers shelter from the storm.
But the couple, with their secluded mountain home, aren’t as innocent as they first appear—it seems they know her father. And if they know him, really know him, they might relish the sight of blood as much as he does. And no killer wants to risk leaving a witness alive, no matter how perfect she might seem.
But there’s always hope for a girl as smart as Poppy.
She just has to be as sharp as her father.
"Full of complex, engaging characters and evocative detail, Wicked Sharp is a white-knuckle thrill ride. O'Flynn is a master storyteller." ~Paul Austin Ardoin, USA Today Bestselling Author
Born Bad is an addictive serial killer thriller series. If you like Rachel Abbott, Sue Watson, or Freida McFadden, you'll love Born Bad.
A mountain hike with your serial killer father. Good Samaritans who aren’t as innocent as they appear. What could go wrong?
Poppy Pratt is the perfect daughter. Agreeable. Highly intelligent. Most importantly, she’s excellent at keeping secrets—the kind of secrets that give other eleven-year-olds nightmares.
Her father’s perfect too…on the outside. He smiles for the preacher, attends neighborhood barbecues, even bought textbooks for the entire school. In their little town, everyone sees a hero—not a serial killer. But Poppy still feels like the lies are thick enough to choke on.
So when her father surprises her with a trip to the Tennessee mountains, she’s happy to escape the charade. But it isn’t long before the trip goes awry. Between the incoming thunderheads and a climbing accident, the woods feel less like a vacation and more like prison. Luckily, a pair of friendly strangers offers shelter from the storm.
But the couple, with their secluded mountain home, aren’t as innocent as they first appear—it seems they know her father. And if they know him, really know him, they might relish the sight of blood as much as he does. And no killer wants to risk leaving a witness alive, no matter how perfect she might seem.
But there’s always hope for a girl as smart as Poppy.
She just has to be as sharp as her father.
"Full of complex, engaging characters and evocative detail, Wicked Sharp is a white-knuckle thrill ride. O'Flynn is a master storyteller." ~Paul Austin Ardoin, USA Today Bestselling Author
Born Bad is an addictive serial killer thriller series. If you like Rachel Abbott, Sue Watson, or Freida McFadden, you'll love Born Bad.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 19, 2022
407 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
Meghan O'Flynn
170 books667 followersWith books deemed “visceral, haunting, and fully immersive” (New York Times bestseller, Andra Watkins), Meghan O’Flynn has made her mark on the thriller genre. Meghan is a clinical therapist who draws her character inspiration from her knowledge of the human psyche. She is the bestselling author of gritty crime novels and serial killer thrillers, all of which take readers on the dark, gripping, and unputdownable journey for which Meghan is notorious. Perfect for fans of Dexter, Chelsea Cain, and Gillian Flynn. Learn more at https://meghanoflynn.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 9, 2022
Poppy and her dad go on a vacation in the mountains. A huge storm hits and Poopy wakes up to her father missing from the tent. When she goes to look for him, in the storm, she falls and hurts herself badly. They find shelter in a remote cabin--but something is going on with the couple in the cabin. What are they hiding? Something isn't right. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
April 22, 2022
We find Poppy as a child, while she and her father are on vacation in the mountains. What follows is an adventure that will make you shiver with anticipation and plunge you into a world where evil is lurking and the instinct to survive is taken to a new level.
During the series, we discover little by little the complexity of Poppy, by returns in the past. In this book, we understand even more what shaped her way of being, the mechanisms she had to put in place to survive under the same roof as the psychopath that is her father. Meghan O'Flynn excels at giving us stories that stand out for their electric atmosphere, their twists and complex characters to whom we become attached despite all their flaws. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
During the series, we discover little by little the complexity of Poppy, by returns in the past. In this book, we understand even more what shaped her way of being, the mechanisms she had to put in place to survive under the same roof as the psychopath that is her father. Meghan O'Flynn excels at giving us stories that stand out for their electric atmosphere, their twists and complex characters to whom we become attached despite all their flaws. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
June 22, 2024
THIS WAS LIKE READING ONE OF MY FAVORITE CRIME SHOWS ON ID TV "EVIL LIVES HERE". IN THAT SHOW ABOUT HOW SERIAL KILLERS ARE MADE.THEY ALWAYS SAY, "THERE WERE SIGNS". SHUDDER! SOME REALLY CREEPY PEOPLE. THIS IS A SERIES BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT POPPY AND HER DAD. DONT KNOW IF MY CURIOSITY WILL GET THE BEST OF ME TO FIND OUT (I do like quirky & cruel) WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. IT SHOULD BE CALLED "THE ADVENTURES OF POPPY & PAPPY". ;D
April 19, 2024
This was just alright for me. Maybe it was because it was novella length or I really wasn't in the mood for this type of book, something didn't connect with me as I'd hoped. I think the premise is interesting and I know there's more books in this series, but it was just eh.
Reading Challenge 2024
Month: April Letters: U,V,W
Reading Challenge 2024
Month: April Letters: U,V,W
April 18, 2022
This propulsive story leads you through stunning twists and turns as Poppy and her father embark on a mysterious trip to the mountains. When they encounter a couple in their secluded home, nothing is as it seems, and a game of cat and mouse begins, but who exactly is being hunted, and why? Nobody writes with such compelling and entrancing prose as O'Flynn. The perfectly executed twists and expertly crafted web woven in the first of this serial killer series will captivate you. Wicked Sharp is chilling, heart-pounding suspense that kept me guessing all the way up to the jaw-dropping conclusion and eager to continue the series following Poppy into the next twisted tale.
February 28, 2025
Wicked Sharp, Born Bad book 1, by Meghan O'Flynn is a chilling and suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story centres around Poppy Pratt, an eleven-year-old girl who harbours a deep, unsettling secret: her father is a serial killer. On the outside, he appears to be the perfect man—charming, involved in the community, and a loving father. However, beneath the surface, Poppy knows the truth, and the weight of her knowledge haunts her every day.
The story takes a tense turn when Poppy and her father go on a hiking trip in the Tennessee mountains. What begins as an escape from their small-town life quickly descends into a nightmare when an accident and a storm force them to seek shelter in a secluded cabin. There, they meet a seemingly kind couple who, at first, offer refuge. But as the story unfolds, the couple’s true nature is revealed, and they seem to know Poppy’s father in ways that make her uneasy.
O'Flynn does an excellent job of creating a gripping atmosphere filled with tension and mystery. The characterization of Poppy is exceptional—she’s smart, resourceful, and resilient despite the horrors she faces. Her sharp mind is her only weapon against the dangers lurking around her. Poppy’s father, a man who has carefully constructed a façade of normalcy, is both terrifying and enigmatic, adding to the suspense.
In short, Wicked Sharp is a dark and thrilling novel that explores the complexities of family, trust, and survival. Poppy is a standout character whose intelligence and determination drive the narrative forward.
I've already started reading book 2 and I'm currently halfway through. I just can't put it down! Luckily, there are 3 more books after this one!
5/5 ⭐️
The story takes a tense turn when Poppy and her father go on a hiking trip in the Tennessee mountains. What begins as an escape from their small-town life quickly descends into a nightmare when an accident and a storm force them to seek shelter in a secluded cabin. There, they meet a seemingly kind couple who, at first, offer refuge. But as the story unfolds, the couple’s true nature is revealed, and they seem to know Poppy’s father in ways that make her uneasy.
O'Flynn does an excellent job of creating a gripping atmosphere filled with tension and mystery. The characterization of Poppy is exceptional—she’s smart, resourceful, and resilient despite the horrors she faces. Her sharp mind is her only weapon against the dangers lurking around her. Poppy’s father, a man who has carefully constructed a façade of normalcy, is both terrifying and enigmatic, adding to the suspense.
In short, Wicked Sharp is a dark and thrilling novel that explores the complexities of family, trust, and survival. Poppy is a standout character whose intelligence and determination drive the narrative forward.
I've already started reading book 2 and I'm currently halfway through. I just can't put it down! Luckily, there are 3 more books after this one!
5/5 ⭐️
March 25, 2024
Creepy but slight
Interesting premise but more novella than novel, describing a single episode that moves from mystery to murder. Only two stars because this is clearly a marketing ploy: to serve up a story in distinct tranches, instead of a fully-rounded and complete whole.
The narrator is the young daughter of a man she describes as a serial killer. Motherless Poppy is obliged to adapt to his warped version of parental love and guidance. He plays mind games. She has to decipher his meaning and intent by becoming adept at reading his body language for cues, learning how best to react to satisfy his demands and expectations.
An unexpected middle-of-the-night departure on a road trip develops into a hazardous camping ‘adventure’ in stormy weather, during which the daughter injures her ankle and is carried by her father to seek help. The ‘nearest’ residence offering succour is occupied by a married couple whose demeanour and circumstances suggest all is not right.
Poppy tries to make sense of the mystery, clue by clue, until the facts of the situation become clear… though the girl’s immaturity means she is continually baffled by adult behaviour and motivation. She misreads the situation, suspects the wrong party of murderous intent, until piece by piece she solves the puzzle.
Similarly, the reader must rely on teasing clues, mere snippets of information, that cumulatively reveal the absence of normal, typical social conditioning in this girl’s life. Raised only by an amoral psychopath, absent any moral code, Poppy is herself a psychopath in training, emotionally repressed, un-empathetic, her entire survival predicated on the belief that her father’s love for her is certain and that he alone will keep her from harm. Everyone else is expendable in consequence as her actions (or inaction) serve her father’s ends.
Interesting premise but more novella than novel, describing a single episode that moves from mystery to murder. Only two stars because this is clearly a marketing ploy: to serve up a story in distinct tranches, instead of a fully-rounded and complete whole.
The narrator is the young daughter of a man she describes as a serial killer. Motherless Poppy is obliged to adapt to his warped version of parental love and guidance. He plays mind games. She has to decipher his meaning and intent by becoming adept at reading his body language for cues, learning how best to react to satisfy his demands and expectations.
An unexpected middle-of-the-night departure on a road trip develops into a hazardous camping ‘adventure’ in stormy weather, during which the daughter injures her ankle and is carried by her father to seek help. The ‘nearest’ residence offering succour is occupied by a married couple whose demeanour and circumstances suggest all is not right.
Poppy tries to make sense of the mystery, clue by clue, until the facts of the situation become clear… though the girl’s immaturity means she is continually baffled by adult behaviour and motivation. She misreads the situation, suspects the wrong party of murderous intent, until piece by piece she solves the puzzle.
Similarly, the reader must rely on teasing clues, mere snippets of information, that cumulatively reveal the absence of normal, typical social conditioning in this girl’s life. Raised only by an amoral psychopath, absent any moral code, Poppy is herself a psychopath in training, emotionally repressed, un-empathetic, her entire survival predicated on the belief that her father’s love for her is certain and that he alone will keep her from harm. Everyone else is expendable in consequence as her actions (or inaction) serve her father’s ends.
March 30, 2024
The premise sounded intriguing but this read more like a short story than a fully formed novel. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story and there wasn't enough background given to fully understand the characters. It was like watching an episode mid-series, and the episode wasn't good enough to spark my interest in watching others.
March 31, 2024
While it was psychologically thrilling, there were just too many missing pieces along the way. Some things were either taken for granted or just missed opportunities. I never felt a connection with any of the characters and felt like a spectator on the outside watching a 'B' rated movie. Overall it fell flat.
May 12, 2024
My father is a serial killer
Poppy is 9 years old. Her mother gone and her father a well liked person. One day they go on a trip to the mountains to see the waterfall. Sad to say they didn’t see it because Poppy hurt her foot.
The story is intense and pulls you into the turmoil. Suspense page after page.
Poppy is 9 years old. Her mother gone and her father a well liked person. One day they go on a trip to the mountains to see the waterfall. Sad to say they didn’t see it because Poppy hurt her foot.
The story is intense and pulls you into the turmoil. Suspense page after page.
April 7, 2025
Little Poly at 9years living with her devoted Father, embark on a tip to see the waterfalls. Poly had been a ending so to a man card Death in prison. A fast paced, strong story line, with well developed characters. A quick read that grabs you from the start, never eating u y until the end you won't see coming.
September 10, 2025
This book kept me reading past my bedtime. I was actually surprised at how much it grabbed my attention. The narration of present Poppy telling the story of this childhood incident was great, but I would have liked to have more of how she turned out in the present because of this and growing up with a father like that.
April 18, 2023
Creepy vortex.
I could not put this down. It's spooky, creepy and disturbing in so many ways. It's an intricate plot. The
Main characters, a 9 year old girl remembering things that happened when she went on a camping trip with her dad. Just riveting.
I could not put this down. It's spooky, creepy and disturbing in so many ways. It's an intricate plot. The
Main characters, a 9 year old girl remembering things that happened when she went on a camping trip with her dad. Just riveting.
February 9, 2024
Hell of a story! Psychological thrillers aren't my usual genre and I binged this, just couldn't stop once I started. It's so interesting to hear such devotion from a kid, but to also know your dad is a psychopath. The story is really well written and makes you kind of root for dad? Hah
April 13, 2024
This book was confusing but in a good way if that makes sense lol. I never knew what was gonna happen next. You think you figured out what’s happening and then something totally unexpected is actually going on. It was such an easy read, I finished it in 24 hours because it kept me captivated!
April 30, 2024
This book was different than the ones I usually read.I found the story to be fascinating. So many twists… serial killers, wicked smart little girl yet stays with someone she shouldn’t be with. Very compelling. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series…
May 6, 2024
This book is disturbing. It normalizes a child living with a parent that she knows is a killer. She doesn’t even know how much she knows, but we can see it through her memories. At the same time it is fascinating and I am eager to read the next in this series.
August 31, 2024
A different kind of story
The storyline was extremely different to what I expected. It kept me interested as not knowing what was about to happen next. An ending I certainly didn’t expect
The storyline was extremely different to what I expected. It kept me interested as not knowing what was about to happen next. An ending I certainly didn’t expect
November 22, 2025
This is what i call a "vibe" story. The plot was loose and I had no big expectations as I read but I thought the writing was top notch in creating an ominous atmosphere. It would have worked better IMO as a short story. I enjoyed it, but not enough to continue with the series.
October 7, 2022
Wicked Sharp a horror story!!!
Wicked Sharp draws you in right away. You think you know what's going to happen! Poppy and her father know!!
Wicked Sharp draws you in right away. You think you know what's going to happen! Poppy and her father know!!
Read
April 1, 2024Another book I’m glad I didn’t pay for. Not great writing, and you have to suspend your disbelief to a ludicrous degree.
April 22, 2024
This is as a nice little quick read. Fast paced and in my opinion engaging from start to finish
April 27, 2024
I might have found my new favorite author! This book was incredible I honestly wish that it was longer!!
April 27, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
May 15, 2024
Enjoyed it a lot - although I'm not sure I want to continue the series.
May 17, 2024
This was a quick reading interesting book about a girl whose father was a murderer. That's all I'm going to say, you'll have to read it for yourself to find out what happens. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2024
This is a super quick read less than 200 pages. It is almost like if the show “you” were written from the perspective of Joe’s kid. Definitely enjoyed this book!
October 28, 2024
So weird. But whatever.
November 23, 2024
Fast paced. Not very satisfying. Would probably read another in the series to see how they progress
February 8, 2025
Though dark, this is an interesting take on the development of a serial killer.
Poppy is something else.
I will be reading more of this series.
Poppy is something else.
I will be reading more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews