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The Prettiest One
When Caitlin Sommers finds herself alone in a deserted parking lot with blood on her clothes and no memory of the past few months, it seems like one of the nightmares that have tormented her for years…but it’s all too real. Desperate to learn the truth about where she’s been and what has happened to her but terrified of what she may find, Caitlin embarks on a search for answers. Her journey takes her from the safe suburban world she knows to a seedy town she’s never heard of, where a terrible truth from her past lies hidden—a truth she can’t quite remember yet can’t completely forget.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
1443 people are currently reading
4205 people want to read
About the author
James Hankins
7 books258 followersUSA Today bestselling author James Hankins's newest novel of suspense, A BLOOD THING, came out on June 5, 2018. Each of his previous thrillers (including THE PRETTIEST ONE, SHADY CROSS, BROTHERS AND BONES, and more) spent time in the Kindle Top 100 and became Amazon #1 bestsellers, while THE PRETTIEST ONE reached #1 across all categories in the Kindle Store. SHADY CROSS received a coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews gave BROTHERS a starred review and named it to their list of Best Books of 2013. (PLEASE NOTE that there are others who publish under the name James Hankins, so please see James's website for a complete list of his books.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 770 reviews
November 24, 2015
3.25 stars
I have really mixed emotions on this one...
There were some aspects of this book that I really enjoyed, and others that had me rolling my eyes.
The best way I can sum it up is this- it had all the right ingredients for a really tasty treat, but when mixed together, the end result left me unsatisfied.
It does look like I'm in the minority on this feeling though, based on others reviews I've read. So maybe I missed an ingredient or two along the way....wouldn't be the first time!
The main protag (she has so many names in this book that I'm not even sure what to call her) wakes up and finds herself in a strange location with blood on her clothes. It takes her hours to drive home (in a strange car that she found the keys to in her pocket) and when she rings the doorbell to get in, her shocked husband tells her she's been missing for 7 months. 7 months that she has no recollection of. With his help, they retrace her steps and find clues that lead her to -yep, you guessed it- her boyfriends house.
The zings back and forth between hubby and boyfriend were rather fun and well done, and of all the characters involved I have to say the boyfriend gets high marks as the most likeable. But even as the story unfolds and the protag's buried secrets are slowly revealed, something was missing that didn't allow me to connect as well with her as I should have.
The remaining story had its ups and downs for me, but for the most part it was engaging enough as long as I overlooked the high unlikelihood of any of this ever happening in real life. (Hence the heavy eye-rolling).
If you decide to read this book, let me so I can watch for your review. Maybe you'll find that missing ingredient that I needed to make this a more enjoyable read.
ARC provided by NetGalley
I have really mixed emotions on this one...
There were some aspects of this book that I really enjoyed, and others that had me rolling my eyes.
The best way I can sum it up is this- it had all the right ingredients for a really tasty treat, but when mixed together, the end result left me unsatisfied.
It does look like I'm in the minority on this feeling though, based on others reviews I've read. So maybe I missed an ingredient or two along the way....wouldn't be the first time!
The main protag (she has so many names in this book that I'm not even sure what to call her) wakes up and finds herself in a strange location with blood on her clothes. It takes her hours to drive home (in a strange car that she found the keys to in her pocket) and when she rings the doorbell to get in, her shocked husband tells her she's been missing for 7 months. 7 months that she has no recollection of. With his help, they retrace her steps and find clues that lead her to -yep, you guessed it- her boyfriends house.
The zings back and forth between hubby and boyfriend were rather fun and well done, and of all the characters involved I have to say the boyfriend gets high marks as the most likeable. But even as the story unfolds and the protag's buried secrets are slowly revealed, something was missing that didn't allow me to connect as well with her as I should have.
The remaining story had its ups and downs for me, but for the most part it was engaging enough as long as I overlooked the high unlikelihood of any of this ever happening in real life. (Hence the heavy eye-rolling).
If you decide to read this book, let me so I can watch for your review. Maybe you'll find that missing ingredient that I needed to make this a more enjoyable read.
ARC provided by NetGalley
September 18, 2015
None of this book made sense. It defied logic in all senses to try and push the plot forward. From the husband's POV: you have spent the last seven months being accused of killing your wife and she shows up all of a sudden. WHY ARE YOU NOT CALLING THE POLICE? That was in the first, like, ten pages and the lack of logic or even basic intellect of the characters continues to go down hill from there. If you like even moderately good thriller/mystery/crime novels save yourself and skip this book.
September 13, 2015
This was one of the worse books that I have ever read as part of the Kindle First program. It begins with an interesting premise as the main character suffers from a dissociative fugue and cannot recall anything that has happened over the past 7 months. The author seems to believe that the reader also has amnesia because he reminds you every couple of pages that the main character should remember something but can not. Additionally, the plot is very simple, but the author again needs to recap what is happening just in case you as the reader could not follow along. The book is unrealistic and the plot falls apart quickly. It is poorly written, with very little character development and it reinforces stereotypes about gender. I could not wait for it to be over and almost considered not finishing it.
October 3, 2015
Caitlin Sommers has a problem. She doesn't know where she's been, but she's covered in blood and carrying a gun. When she gets home, her husband is astonished to see her ... she's been missing for 7 months and presumed dead.
Amnesia? Maybe ... Does she really not remember anything that has happened since she walked out of their house following an argument? She and her husband, Josh, decide to backtrack to see if they can figure out where she's been and what she's done. When they do, the first person they meet that knew her during that time is the man she's been living with ... and engaged to be married.
And how is this connected to a crime committed over 20 years ago?
There are dead bodies, drug dealers, pedophiles, a fight club and a female detective who isn't sure whether Caitlin is a murder suspect or a witness.
This was a wild ride of a book. I absolutely loved the interaction between Josh, the husband, and Bix, the boyfriend. Even in the midst of shootings, knifings, abductions, I had to laugh at how these two men, who obviously love the same woman, come together to try to help her.
I liked Caitlin as she was during her missing months. She was a much more interesting character, with lots of layers that she didn't know existed.
There's just nothing about this book that I didn't like. A solid 5 stars from me.
My thanks to the author / NetGalley / Thomas & Mercer / who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
Amnesia? Maybe ... Does she really not remember anything that has happened since she walked out of their house following an argument? She and her husband, Josh, decide to backtrack to see if they can figure out where she's been and what she's done. When they do, the first person they meet that knew her during that time is the man she's been living with ... and engaged to be married.
And how is this connected to a crime committed over 20 years ago?
There are dead bodies, drug dealers, pedophiles, a fight club and a female detective who isn't sure whether Caitlin is a murder suspect or a witness.
This was a wild ride of a book. I absolutely loved the interaction between Josh, the husband, and Bix, the boyfriend. Even in the midst of shootings, knifings, abductions, I had to laugh at how these two men, who obviously love the same woman, come together to try to help her.
I liked Caitlin as she was during her missing months. She was a much more interesting character, with lots of layers that she didn't know existed.
There's just nothing about this book that I didn't like. A solid 5 stars from me.
My thanks to the author / NetGalley / Thomas & Mercer / who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
May 2, 2020
Can you imagine what it would be like to lose your memory? To see blood on your hands and not know why it’s there?
To lose trust and belief in yourself? And your relationship?
This story has all the foundation of a brilliant thriller.
Remember this is just my view and thoughts and you must make your own minds up.
It was lacking belief in some areas where I raised my eyes to the ceiling. Overlooking that and pressing on I did like this book. I’ll certainly read another by this author before making my mind up about his writing.
On the whole, premise for a good thriller.
May 20, 2018
James Hankins returns following the popular Shady Cross with a psychological mystery crime suspense page-turner, THE PRETTIEST ONE —a memory wiped out, a decades old crime, a race against time, and two men risking it all, to save the woman they both love.
Caitlin Sommers, a real estate agent finds herself in a fog. She has no idea the time, date, or where she is. Everything is hazy. She recalled going to a store and buying something yellow. She is in a strange place and does not recognize how she arrived.
She gets in a strange car and is almost on audio-pilot. She thinks her husband is Josh and she begins driving, not sure where she is or where she is going. No cell phone. However, she makes her way home to Bristol, New Hampshire a few hours away. Nothing makes sense.
When she arrives home, Josh is so glad to see his wife. He is beyond shocked. She has been missing for seven months.
She now is wearing different clothes and her hair is red instead of blonde. She also has lost weight and has a bad haircut. She has no clue where she has been for seven months. No memory, at all. She is unaware they suspected Josh of foul play since the authorities have been unable to locate her. Everyone has been frantically searching for her. She also has blood on her clothes but does not seem to be hurt.
She is exhausted, goes to bed and they decide the next day they will search for answers, and try and figure out whose car she has stolen. She will go back the way she came if she can remember and try and find why she was in another town and what she had been doing. She needs to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
However, when they get to the car, there is a bag, a gun and a bag of prosthetic hands? Instead of going to the police, she wants to find answers first. Did she kill someone? Why is she driving a car registered to Katherine Southard?
In the desperate search, they discover Caitlin was going by another name, Katie, and she was living with a guy named Bix, and they were engaged in Massachusetts. She had a job and was living a separate life. She has no memory of knowing this man.
The three of them begin an intriguing journey, a mystery, a dangerous past. Josh did not want to return to the place his wife had been, as possibly it was something so tragic, she has blocked it out. However, he goes along with her wishes. Why was she in Smithfield, Massachusetts? If she had committed a crime, the police would be looking for her.
Caitlin/Katie has experienced ongoing bad nightmares of the Bogeyman for years. It was the same nightmare she since she was little. He always said, “I’ve got you, my pretty Caitlin.” He was gross, His eyes, his hands, his rotting smell like garbage. Who is this monster? Could he be real? What happened to her in her childhood?
In the meantime, there is another character, Chops who kills people in his garage. He has a wife and young daughter, under the appearance of a hard-working construction owner and family man. An evil hitman and he is trying to locate another man. Until later in the book, you are unaware how he is connected.
Josh, Bix, and Caitlin/Katie find themselves in the middle of a crime, several murders, and a dangerous plot from years ago when the past and the present collide.
Why would Caitlin drive to another town and have a normal life with someone else, and be unable to recall that life? People have been murdered, and they are led to rough bars and basement fight clubs and appears Katie was a regular customer. What was she doing in these places? Now she is somewhat of a mystery to both Josh and Bix. Who is this woman and who is out to get her and why?
The more online research Josh conducts, he discovers Catlin may have dissociative fugue; whereby, a person not only loses their memory and the knowledge of herself, but she might travel to a new place and set up an entirely new identity somewhere. Exactly what she did.
The condition could be triggered by by extreme stress or trauma. A person could wander off. It can last as short as a few hours, a day, months, or years. They establish new relationships. No one seems to know what makes them come out of a fugue state. It could be seeing something small or something that reminds them enough of their former life. Or some experts think that a traumatic event of some kind could snap a person out, especially if it somehow relates to whatever put them in that state in the first place.
As the layers are peeled back, more hidden sadistic acts are uncovered, and Detective Charlotte Hunsaker is on the case and is clueless. There is a warehouse shooting, a murder, a redhead, and fingerprints and a long-ago kidnapping, an abduction, a pedophile. How are all these elements connected?
Aside from the crimes, evil men, and the mystery . . . you are dying to know which man if either will Catlin/Katie choose when this is over. Who will survive? And if Catlin will end up behind bars?
One thing about James Hankins -- you are always surprised—having read all his books, each one is unique, creative, and different. He always hooks you from the beginning, keeping you in suspense--you never know what is coming next.
What I enjoyed about THE PRETTIEST ONE, was the banter between Josh and Bix; the relationship dynamics also between the three. All three characters were well-developed. Two totally different guys, both in love with the same girl, and Caitlin/Katie was almost like two different people, with her wide range of personalities.
James did a super job with the wit, emotion, intensity, humor, and frustration of the two guys in this love triangle mystery. One life was more conservative; whereas, the other more on the wild side. How the guys stuck together for the greater cause, to help find the killer, and protect Catlin was a strong part of the storyline.
The Dissociative Fugue, like episodes of amnesia was quite intriguing. Hankins used a nice spin, connecting all the storylines. Have read there are rare cases when a person is still in the fugue, recovering information is critical (with help from law enforcement or social services) about his/her true identity, figuring out why they were abandoned, and facilitating its restoration is key.
For you psycho-thriller fans the most powerful part of the thriller, was the kidnapping years ago of the three girls, the sadistic man, and family involved in the present story. Recommend for those readers who enjoy a slow burning complex crime mystery with a psycho-evil twist.
Fans of Chevy Stevens and Karin Slaughter will enjoy (when you read, you will know the parts I am referring to).
Highly recommend all Hankins' books!
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
Caitlin Sommers, a real estate agent finds herself in a fog. She has no idea the time, date, or where she is. Everything is hazy. She recalled going to a store and buying something yellow. She is in a strange place and does not recognize how she arrived.
She gets in a strange car and is almost on audio-pilot. She thinks her husband is Josh and she begins driving, not sure where she is or where she is going. No cell phone. However, she makes her way home to Bristol, New Hampshire a few hours away. Nothing makes sense.
When she arrives home, Josh is so glad to see his wife. He is beyond shocked. She has been missing for seven months.
She now is wearing different clothes and her hair is red instead of blonde. She also has lost weight and has a bad haircut. She has no clue where she has been for seven months. No memory, at all. She is unaware they suspected Josh of foul play since the authorities have been unable to locate her. Everyone has been frantically searching for her. She also has blood on her clothes but does not seem to be hurt.
She is exhausted, goes to bed and they decide the next day they will search for answers, and try and figure out whose car she has stolen. She will go back the way she came if she can remember and try and find why she was in another town and what she had been doing. She needs to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
However, when they get to the car, there is a bag, a gun and a bag of prosthetic hands? Instead of going to the police, she wants to find answers first. Did she kill someone? Why is she driving a car registered to Katherine Southard?
In the desperate search, they discover Caitlin was going by another name, Katie, and she was living with a guy named Bix, and they were engaged in Massachusetts. She had a job and was living a separate life. She has no memory of knowing this man.
The three of them begin an intriguing journey, a mystery, a dangerous past. Josh did not want to return to the place his wife had been, as possibly it was something so tragic, she has blocked it out. However, he goes along with her wishes. Why was she in Smithfield, Massachusetts? If she had committed a crime, the police would be looking for her.
Caitlin/Katie has experienced ongoing bad nightmares of the Bogeyman for years. It was the same nightmare she since she was little. He always said, “I’ve got you, my pretty Caitlin.” He was gross, His eyes, his hands, his rotting smell like garbage. Who is this monster? Could he be real? What happened to her in her childhood?
In the meantime, there is another character, Chops who kills people in his garage. He has a wife and young daughter, under the appearance of a hard-working construction owner and family man. An evil hitman and he is trying to locate another man. Until later in the book, you are unaware how he is connected.
Josh, Bix, and Caitlin/Katie find themselves in the middle of a crime, several murders, and a dangerous plot from years ago when the past and the present collide.
Why would Caitlin drive to another town and have a normal life with someone else, and be unable to recall that life? People have been murdered, and they are led to rough bars and basement fight clubs and appears Katie was a regular customer. What was she doing in these places? Now she is somewhat of a mystery to both Josh and Bix. Who is this woman and who is out to get her and why?
The more online research Josh conducts, he discovers Catlin may have dissociative fugue; whereby, a person not only loses their memory and the knowledge of herself, but she might travel to a new place and set up an entirely new identity somewhere. Exactly what she did.
The condition could be triggered by by extreme stress or trauma. A person could wander off. It can last as short as a few hours, a day, months, or years. They establish new relationships. No one seems to know what makes them come out of a fugue state. It could be seeing something small or something that reminds them enough of their former life. Or some experts think that a traumatic event of some kind could snap a person out, especially if it somehow relates to whatever put them in that state in the first place.
As the layers are peeled back, more hidden sadistic acts are uncovered, and Detective Charlotte Hunsaker is on the case and is clueless. There is a warehouse shooting, a murder, a redhead, and fingerprints and a long-ago kidnapping, an abduction, a pedophile. How are all these elements connected?
Aside from the crimes, evil men, and the mystery . . . you are dying to know which man if either will Catlin/Katie choose when this is over. Who will survive? And if Catlin will end up behind bars?
One thing about James Hankins -- you are always surprised—having read all his books, each one is unique, creative, and different. He always hooks you from the beginning, keeping you in suspense--you never know what is coming next.
What I enjoyed about THE PRETTIEST ONE, was the banter between Josh and Bix; the relationship dynamics also between the three. All three characters were well-developed. Two totally different guys, both in love with the same girl, and Caitlin/Katie was almost like two different people, with her wide range of personalities.
James did a super job with the wit, emotion, intensity, humor, and frustration of the two guys in this love triangle mystery. One life was more conservative; whereas, the other more on the wild side. How the guys stuck together for the greater cause, to help find the killer, and protect Catlin was a strong part of the storyline.
The Dissociative Fugue, like episodes of amnesia was quite intriguing. Hankins used a nice spin, connecting all the storylines. Have read there are rare cases when a person is still in the fugue, recovering information is critical (with help from law enforcement or social services) about his/her true identity, figuring out why they were abandoned, and facilitating its restoration is key.
For you psycho-thriller fans the most powerful part of the thriller, was the kidnapping years ago of the three girls, the sadistic man, and family involved in the present story. Recommend for those readers who enjoy a slow burning complex crime mystery with a psycho-evil twist.
Fans of Chevy Stevens and Karin Slaughter will enjoy (when you read, you will know the parts I am referring to).
Highly recommend all Hankins' books!
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
April 27, 2017
A psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, who did what to whom? A young woman finds herself on the doorstep of her home with blood all over her cloths and with no memories of the last seven months of her life. She and her husband set off to find out what happened to her before the police do. What she did revolves around her childhood and she must find out before she is killed by a family of lunatic killers or arrested for a murder she has no memory of committing. Interesting and fast paced.
September 28, 2015
Too many good books out there to wade it out with this poorly written juvenile slop. Shallow characters, far-fetched plot, and don't get me started on the dialogue. Potential is there, but needs some serious editing.
September 19, 2015
Okay, have you ever decided to make a cake from scratch? You get all the right ingredients, follow the recipe to a tee and yet when it's done it just doesn't taste right? Well, that is what this book was for me. The book had all the right ingredients for a good thriller but it just didn't work out. There were parts of the book that I actually skipped over and yet I was still able to follow the story. If you want my opinion you didn't even need the parts with the detective at all. I think the book would have been better with just Caitlyn's journey.
I can't say that I didn't like the characters but I didn't really care about them at all except for Bix. As I read the book I felt like I was going through the motions to get to the end. Did I want to see how it ended? I did or else I more than likely would have stopped reading but, the ending is actually kind of what you thought it was going to be from the first few chapters.
I like lost memory books but lets face it,they all have a lot in common. Someone wakes up, has no memory of who they are and what happened and has to follow the clue to find out what traumatic event happened to cause the memory loss. The trick to writing a great memory loss book is to have characters you really care abut,twist that keep you guessing and writing that reels you in. "The Prettiest One" had decent enough characters, a semi interesting mystery and really no surprising twists. This is not a book that will stay with me.
I can't say that I didn't like the characters but I didn't really care about them at all except for Bix. As I read the book I felt like I was going through the motions to get to the end. Did I want to see how it ended? I did or else I more than likely would have stopped reading but, the ending is actually kind of what you thought it was going to be from the first few chapters.
I like lost memory books but lets face it,they all have a lot in common. Someone wakes up, has no memory of who they are and what happened and has to follow the clue to find out what traumatic event happened to cause the memory loss. The trick to writing a great memory loss book is to have characters you really care abut,twist that keep you guessing and writing that reels you in. "The Prettiest One" had decent enough characters, a semi interesting mystery and really no surprising twists. This is not a book that will stay with me.
September 24, 2015
This is hands down the worst book I have ever read. At first it was just the writing that was bad but the plot was pretty good. Then the plot took a turn for the ABSOLUTE WORST and there was nothing left to save it. This book made me sick to my stomach and it hurt my heart. Do yourself a favor and skip this book.
September 2, 2015
THE PRETTIEST ONE
This book was a Kindle First choice for September, it was listed as a thriller and it is. It could be listed as a psychological thriller; Caitlyn is a very mysterious character- not only to herself, but to those she is close to.
I can't say too much about the story without injecting spoilers. Things start happening right from the first chapters, everything keeps building on her amnesia. The story delves into Caitlyn's past, present and future.
There are many twists and turns, keeps you guessing all the way to the end. Very good book, I will be reading more by Mr Hankins.
This book was a Kindle First choice for September, it was listed as a thriller and it is. It could be listed as a psychological thriller; Caitlyn is a very mysterious character- not only to herself, but to those she is close to.
I can't say too much about the story without injecting spoilers. Things start happening right from the first chapters, everything keeps building on her amnesia. The story delves into Caitlyn's past, present and future.
There are many twists and turns, keeps you guessing all the way to the end. Very good book, I will be reading more by Mr Hankins.
August 6, 2019
Really enjoyed this one. I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery suspence.
December 4, 2015
The concept of this book was pretty interesting, but the execution was really lacking. The writing is often weak, and a fair amount of what happens move beyond implausible territory and into ridiculous territory, so that prevented me from getting into the book. Still, I could have suspended my disbelief more if the characters had been stronger.
The most egregious offender, though, is the ending.
Serious, huge spoiler about the ending ahead, so do not click unless you're prepared for it!
The most egregious offender, though, is the ending.
Serious, huge spoiler about the ending ahead, so do not click unless you're prepared for it!
December 13, 2015
This is literally one of the worst books I have ever read - normally I would quit a book like this much earlier, but there were so many good reviews on Amazon (because this is one of the free Prime Owner books) that I thought maybe it would turn around.
My first problem with this book is how the author never allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. The descriptions and conversations are overwrought and, frankly, painful to read because of how obvious the conclusion was. The book reads something like: X thing happens. Main character restates exactly what just happened.
You can actually skip entire paragraphs, chapters even, because so much of it restates itself. The book continually tells you that Caitlyn WISHES SHE COULD REMEMBER THIS THING, BUT SHE CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. Over and over and over and over. We get it! We've been with you for more than four chapters now!
The other thing is that EVERYONE has MULTIPLE names. So many names. The main character herself has ... approximately eight names. Even the local prison has more than one name. What's the deal with that? It doesn't make your book interesting, just confusing mostly.
Anyway. If you like books that like to hammer in the point for you when you've already concluded it several chapters earlier, based around Mary Sues and overwrought writing, this is the book for you.
My first problem with this book is how the author never allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. The descriptions and conversations are overwrought and, frankly, painful to read because of how obvious the conclusion was. The book reads something like: X thing happens. Main character restates exactly what just happened.
You can actually skip entire paragraphs, chapters even, because so much of it restates itself. The book continually tells you that Caitlyn WISHES SHE COULD REMEMBER THIS THING, BUT SHE CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. Over and over and over and over. We get it! We've been with you for more than four chapters now!
The other thing is that EVERYONE has MULTIPLE names. So many names. The main character herself has ... approximately eight names. Even the local prison has more than one name. What's the deal with that? It doesn't make your book interesting, just confusing mostly.
Anyway. If you like books that like to hammer in the point for you when you've already concluded it several chapters earlier, based around Mary Sues and overwrought writing, this is the book for you.
October 12, 2015
The Prettiest One was a fast paced, engaging thriller about a woman, Caitlin, suffering from memory loss. As amnesia stories go, this was definitely one of the better ones. It gripped me right from the start, and I felt the plot and the characters were well developed. I enjoyed the witty interactions between Josh, Caitlin's husband, and Bix, Caitlin's fiancé. I was never quite sure where the plot was heading, so full marks for unpredictability. The only reason why I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is my issue with some of the writing. There was a lot of repetition, the same information being rehashed as if the author wasn't quite sure the reader would get it the first time round, so better mention it again, but just in slightly different words. That became a bit annoying.
Apart from that, a solid enjoyable thriller.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Apart from that, a solid enjoyable thriller.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 4, 2015
Thrilling,
First sentence will get a hold on you and you won't be able let go of your Kindle. Good thing long weekend, story of Caitlin is incredibly heart pounding thrill. One bogeyman and his two sons. Learned about " Dissociated future - DSM-5".
If you didn't read his other books make sure read them too. They are all five stars.
First sentence will get a hold on you and you won't be able let go of your Kindle. Good thing long weekend, story of Caitlin is incredibly heart pounding thrill. One bogeyman and his two sons. Learned about " Dissociated future - DSM-5".
If you didn't read his other books make sure read them too. They are all five stars.
September 14, 2015
Like reading the phone book.
Names, name, names, and more names. The main character has three or four names. The protagonists has three or four names. All these names and not a single character is well developed. If you like this sort of chaos then have fun. I read to page 280 then dumped it the,"not worth finishing," collection.
Names, name, names, and more names. The main character has three or four names. The protagonists has three or four names. All these names and not a single character is well developed. If you like this sort of chaos then have fun. I read to page 280 then dumped it the,"not worth finishing," collection.
Read
November 30, 2020Dnf 37% - this sucks
April 28, 2019
This book had its ups and downs but leaned more heavily toward the downs for me. Caitlin/Katie entered a fugue state as the result of a traumatic events and has no memory of the last seven months of her life. She and her husband return to the town where she spent the last seven months and team up with the boyfriend she had during that time period to determine what happened while she was in the fugue state. Interesting premise but the execution was just so-so. There were a lot of loose ends, and I just could not understand why Josh and Caitlin would not call the police. I stuck with it just to find out the backstory and to see where it all ended, but I don't foresee this book staying with me for the long haul.
September 20, 2015
Review:
Note: Spoiler Alert, hidden plot material is hinted upon.
The Prettiest One is a gracious gift given to me FREE, by James Hankins for an honest review. Honestly, I’m a huge fan of Hankins. His writing is smooth, editing is well-done, and maybe the most important factor is that he doesn’t try and impress the reader with crude language, unnecessary sex, and brutal violence. Out of the books I’ve read by him, Shady Cross is still my favorite. In it an ex-con named Stokes finds a lot of money and has to decide whether to keep it, or let a young girl die. The book’s psychology showed an inner good in humanity, a direct contrast to A Simple Plan by Scott Smith. Smith probes at the darkness in us with a lot of unexpected, exciting twists leading the good man down a black hole inside his own soul. I very much liked that book.
But, at my core I’m an optimist and leaving the good in humanity is another reason why I like Hankins. Caitlin, his main character in his new novel, The Prettiest One has to struggle with the idea she may have taken a life. Note the premise: Caitlin doesn’t remember, but what she does remember is who she is inside and that person doesn’t want to be a killer. This was the main reason I liked Caitlin. I also liked her strength, despite the horrible ordeal she went through as a young girl, then as a woman. She never fell apart and she kept looking for answers, even if they challenged everything she’d thought herself to be.
Still, in looking, she often made foolish choices, choices that put her and the men that loved her at risk. If she could have remembered even a speck of her past, perhaps she wouldn’t have made them.
Helping Caitlin find her memory was a boyfriend (Bix) and husband (Josh). The soap opera dilemma between these two and their love for Caitlin was the reason I didn’t give this book a five star rating. Their incessant bickering became large tea scenes that dragged the plot. Donald Mass talks about tea scenes in his book Writing the Breakout Novel. Tea scenes scream Low Tension Alert.
But even with the Low Tension Alert noted, Hankins pulled off another terrific novel that I highly recommend. He did his homework on memory loss and weaved that into a fine plot that had no loose ends. There were some things I would have liked to know more about, but none of these affected a well done ending. For example, I would have liked to seen Caitlin meet at least one of the girls from her childhood, and I hoped desperately to see the missing one - alive. I was hoping the perspective of the detective, Charlotte Hunnsaker would add insight to this, otherwise Hunnsaker didn’t really add anything useful for me, maybe if she’d had her own interesting inner conflict driving her to find Caitlin’s answers, but she didn’t.
Even though Hunnsaker’s character didn’t add to the plot, the bad guys in this novel well made up for it. The Bookerman’s were truly Boogy Men as in Caitlin’s nightmares from her childhood. Again, I would highly recommend this novel, if only to take down the bad guys and shed some light into the heart of darkness.
Note: Spoiler Alert, hidden plot material is hinted upon.
The Prettiest One is a gracious gift given to me FREE, by James Hankins for an honest review. Honestly, I’m a huge fan of Hankins. His writing is smooth, editing is well-done, and maybe the most important factor is that he doesn’t try and impress the reader with crude language, unnecessary sex, and brutal violence. Out of the books I’ve read by him, Shady Cross is still my favorite. In it an ex-con named Stokes finds a lot of money and has to decide whether to keep it, or let a young girl die. The book’s psychology showed an inner good in humanity, a direct contrast to A Simple Plan by Scott Smith. Smith probes at the darkness in us with a lot of unexpected, exciting twists leading the good man down a black hole inside his own soul. I very much liked that book.
But, at my core I’m an optimist and leaving the good in humanity is another reason why I like Hankins. Caitlin, his main character in his new novel, The Prettiest One has to struggle with the idea she may have taken a life. Note the premise: Caitlin doesn’t remember, but what she does remember is who she is inside and that person doesn’t want to be a killer. This was the main reason I liked Caitlin. I also liked her strength, despite the horrible ordeal she went through as a young girl, then as a woman. She never fell apart and she kept looking for answers, even if they challenged everything she’d thought herself to be.
Still, in looking, she often made foolish choices, choices that put her and the men that loved her at risk. If she could have remembered even a speck of her past, perhaps she wouldn’t have made them.
Helping Caitlin find her memory was a boyfriend (Bix) and husband (Josh). The soap opera dilemma between these two and their love for Caitlin was the reason I didn’t give this book a five star rating. Their incessant bickering became large tea scenes that dragged the plot. Donald Mass talks about tea scenes in his book Writing the Breakout Novel. Tea scenes scream Low Tension Alert.
But even with the Low Tension Alert noted, Hankins pulled off another terrific novel that I highly recommend. He did his homework on memory loss and weaved that into a fine plot that had no loose ends. There were some things I would have liked to know more about, but none of these affected a well done ending. For example, I would have liked to seen Caitlin meet at least one of the girls from her childhood, and I hoped desperately to see the missing one - alive. I was hoping the perspective of the detective, Charlotte Hunnsaker would add insight to this, otherwise Hunnsaker didn’t really add anything useful for me, maybe if she’d had her own interesting inner conflict driving her to find Caitlin’s answers, but she didn’t.
Even though Hunnsaker’s character didn’t add to the plot, the bad guys in this novel well made up for it. The Bookerman’s were truly Boogy Men as in Caitlin’s nightmares from her childhood. Again, I would highly recommend this novel, if only to take down the bad guys and shed some light into the heart of darkness.
November 20, 2015
After reading the first few chapters, I was hooked. However, the plot revealed its secret half way thru the book (with unbelievable story). In addition, many points were repeatedly told in the same way with nothing to add or change in perspective. By ~80%, everything was clear and I lost my interest. But I had to know the ending which was personally disappointing.
---Spoilers---
- The fact that Caitlin was able to act like Katie whenever she wanted, is weird.
- The argument subject between Josh and Caitlin was a well-kept secret and a surprise in a bad way, especially when it was used as a convenient tool to get the Bogeyman physically involved.
- Bix was just an arsehole who wanted to go out with a wife. And his reason was "she didn't wanna talk, so I didn't give a damn". And right, he taught Katie "many things"... I'd rather read a book without him and had Caitlin discovered her lost memory piece-by-piece herself.
- Was Josh really in love with Caitlin to risk his life helping her find lost memory? Or was he trying to redeem himself without reminding her that he cheated? Well, it didn't matter. I mean what he did to help her didn't matter one bit.
- What in the world with those fake hands. I expected there was some big plot about them, but nope. Just a scam of a dead man.
- Finally Caitlin was confused about who she really was after living for twenty some years. But whatever let go the guy who owned a gun, lived in bad neighborhood, and could make a fake ID and sell a stolen car.
---Spoilers---
- The fact that Caitlin was able to act like Katie whenever she wanted, is weird.
- The argument subject between Josh and Caitlin was a well-kept secret and a surprise in a bad way, especially when it was used as a convenient tool to get the Bogeyman physically involved.
- Bix was just an arsehole who wanted to go out with a wife. And his reason was "she didn't wanna talk, so I didn't give a damn". And right, he taught Katie "many things"... I'd rather read a book without him and had Caitlin discovered her lost memory piece-by-piece herself.
- Was Josh really in love with Caitlin to risk his life helping her find lost memory? Or was he trying to redeem himself without reminding her that he cheated? Well, it didn't matter. I mean what he did to help her didn't matter one bit.
- What in the world with those fake hands. I expected there was some big plot about them, but nope. Just a scam of a dead man.
- Finally Caitlin was confused about who she really was after living for twenty some years. But whatever let go the guy who owned a gun, lived in bad neighborhood, and could make a fake ID and sell a stolen car.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2015
Sometimes when I see books that look awesome, I request them on netgalley and goodreads-first reads, knowing that I'll never get either. For this book I got BOTH!!!!!!! So here is my review for a book I was lucky enough to receive from my two favourite book sites :)
The quickest summary I can give you is the following: Adult thriller version of "Dude, Where's My Car?"
Review: As the book developed, the amnesia plot made more and more sense. Initially it seemed overdone. Also, the idea that two adults would respond to amnesia and blood with "lets go on an adventure" is beyond ridiculous to me. Hankins did a really great job of tying in all the loose threads, resolving situations, and writing about certain themes. What kept me from really liking the book was the constant lack of logic from the main characters. While there were a few plot twists that shocked me (and some that I called from page one), the characters themselves were dumb as frak. Nothing made sense from their perspectives. The only character I actually liked was Bix. Normally I'd adore the female cop too, but she seemed one-note. So good plot in theory, and a good conclusion, but the way to get there wasn't great.
The quickest summary I can give you is the following: Adult thriller version of "Dude, Where's My Car?"
Review: As the book developed, the amnesia plot made more and more sense. Initially it seemed overdone. Also, the idea that two adults would respond to amnesia and blood with "lets go on an adventure" is beyond ridiculous to me. Hankins did a really great job of tying in all the loose threads, resolving situations, and writing about certain themes. What kept me from really liking the book was the constant lack of logic from the main characters. While there were a few plot twists that shocked me (and some that I called from page one), the characters themselves were dumb as frak. Nothing made sense from their perspectives. The only character I actually liked was Bix. Normally I'd adore the female cop too, but she seemed one-note. So good plot in theory, and a good conclusion, but the way to get there wasn't great.
May 3, 2020
This was a great book. It tells the story of Caitlin Sommers, who has been missing for seven months and who has no idea what she did during that time. She only knows that she returned home with blood on her clothes and a gun, along with six prosthetic hands, in a bag. She and her husband Josh set out to try and solve the mystery. This was a fast paced thriller that kept you guessing. Just when you thought you'd figured it out, here comes another twist. The book was well written and the characters fully developed. A very enjoyable read.
October 31, 2015
A few thoughts right after finishing the book. (Will probably change the rating after I have time to fully accept the ending but one star for now.)
Reason for an one-star rating: the ending is total bullshit. I just can't understand why Caitlin would ditch Josh (the good guy) for Bix (the bad guy). Yes Caitlin spent 7 months with Bix as his girlfriend. But to be fair seven months as Katie, seven months that Caitlin does not, and probably never will, remember. To Caitlin Bix is merely an overall unlikable stranger that she has only knew for two days and had almost zero interaction with whatsoever. Even if Caitlin decides to ditch Josh (which to me is also totally unreasonable considering what Josh has been through while she was away and the fact that he indeed waited for her hoping she would comeback) there is no reason why she would left with someone only next to a total stranger. Yes Caitlin did experienced a lot after she came out of her fugue state, but it is makes zero sense why she would flush her 7-year-old perfect life with Josh down the drain and run off with a mere stranger.
In conclusion: bad guy (Bix) won, good guy (Josh) lost, 1 star.
Update: The plot was pretty linear as well. Not much twists and turns. Even assumption is basically proven in the next sentence or so.
Reason for an one-star rating: the ending is total bullshit. I just can't understand why Caitlin would ditch Josh (the good guy) for Bix (the bad guy). Yes Caitlin spent 7 months with Bix as his girlfriend. But to be fair seven months as Katie, seven months that Caitlin does not, and probably never will, remember. To Caitlin Bix is merely an overall unlikable stranger that she has only knew for two days and had almost zero interaction with whatsoever. Even if Caitlin decides to ditch Josh (which to me is also totally unreasonable considering what Josh has been through while she was away and the fact that he indeed waited for her hoping she would comeback) there is no reason why she would left with someone only next to a total stranger. Yes Caitlin did experienced a lot after she came out of her fugue state, but it is makes zero sense why she would flush her 7-year-old perfect life with Josh down the drain and run off with a mere stranger.
In conclusion: bad guy (Bix) won, good guy (Josh) lost, 1 star.
Update: The plot was pretty linear as well. Not much twists and turns. Even assumption is basically proven in the next sentence or so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2016
The prettiest one is a thriller about Caitlin who has been missing for 7 months and just appears at her home but can not remember anything from that time in her life.
Her husband is shocked to see her he thought she was dead plus she is covered in blood but not her own and in her bag is a gun and artificial hands.
A good read i had to keep reading this book just to see what was happening i had no idea what was going to happen next as she and her husband Josh back track to find out where she has been and what had been happening to her.
Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for a chance to read this book and not forgetting the publisher.
Her husband is shocked to see her he thought she was dead plus she is covered in blood but not her own and in her bag is a gun and artificial hands.
A good read i had to keep reading this book just to see what was happening i had no idea what was going to happen next as she and her husband Josh back track to find out where she has been and what had been happening to her.
Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for a chance to read this book and not forgetting the publisher.
December 25, 2015
This book amazed me
Mainly that it got 4 stars on Amazon.
The premise of a woman who goes into a dissociative fugue for seven months was difficult to swallow. I could let that ride until the two men in her life show up. I don't know any men that talk like that. Really. It's like the men's dialog was written by someone who had never spoken to a man before but imagined how they would talk. The constant teasing of the macho guy directed at the nerdy guy quickly became annoying and predictable.
Yeah - give this one a pass. I wish I did.
Mainly that it got 4 stars on Amazon.
The premise of a woman who goes into a dissociative fugue for seven months was difficult to swallow. I could let that ride until the two men in her life show up. I don't know any men that talk like that. Really. It's like the men's dialog was written by someone who had never spoken to a man before but imagined how they would talk. The constant teasing of the macho guy directed at the nerdy guy quickly became annoying and predictable.
Yeah - give this one a pass. I wish I did.
November 10, 2025
Yikes!
The basic premise of this book was so interesting. I was drawn in from the very beginning. I wanted to know what in the world happened to Caitlin. Her disappearance and reappearance were so bizarre. I wasn’t happy about her trying to investigate it on her own, but that led to quite a story. She went through so much. From her troubled childhood to the time that she was living an alternate life, it was all a mess. Her journey to find out the truth put her in so much danger. I couldn’t wait to see how she’d get out of it. The two men that she had on her side were so loyal. I loved the way they showed up for her. The ending was so frenzied and tense. I loved the suspense.
The basic premise of this book was so interesting. I was drawn in from the very beginning. I wanted to know what in the world happened to Caitlin. Her disappearance and reappearance were so bizarre. I wasn’t happy about her trying to investigate it on her own, but that led to quite a story. She went through so much. From her troubled childhood to the time that she was living an alternate life, it was all a mess. Her journey to find out the truth put her in so much danger. I couldn’t wait to see how she’d get out of it. The two men that she had on her side were so loyal. I loved the way they showed up for her. The ending was so frenzied and tense. I loved the suspense.
October 4, 2017
I've actually had this book for quite some time and accidentally uploaded it to my phone from Audible, so I figured since it was already loaded and I was looking for my next book, that I would give it a go, and I am glad that I did!
There were parts of the story that were hard to follow, but it started off rock solid and at a good pace and maintained that throughout! I liked the idea of the story of the main character not knowing what happened and following her through trying to back trace her steps and figure out where she's been!
Overall, it was a great story that I recommend you read!
There were parts of the story that were hard to follow, but it started off rock solid and at a good pace and maintained that throughout! I liked the idea of the story of the main character not knowing what happened and following her through trying to back trace her steps and figure out where she's been!
Overall, it was a great story that I recommend you read!
December 23, 2016
‘Caitlin opened her mouth to reply, then seemed to realize that she had no idea what to say.’
Massachusetts author James Hankins is not only a movie star handsome man he is also a highly successful and honored writer. In addition to these skills he has been active as a lawyer (receiving his degree from University of Connecticut School of Law), was in health administration and embraced screenwriting. Attending NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he received the Chris Columbus Screenwriting Award. His five published books - SHADY CROSS, BROTHERS AND BONES, JACK OF SPADES, DRAWN and THE PRETTIEST ONE have been popular with the public and critics alike. As James states, `I write novels. They're all thrillers, with elements of other genres as well -- mystery, suspense, police procedural, paranormal/supernatural. I try to write books that make you want to read one more page before turning out the light . . . and then another, and, well, maybe just one more . . . ` James lives with his wife and twin sons just north of Boston.
James Hankins is a name already established but soon to be tattooed on the signpost as one of America's most significant writers in his chosen genre of Thrillers. Where he comes up with the off beat characters that should not be immediately appealing and takes us through a transformative acquaintance by the end of his book where we are committed fans is a gift. And he accomplishes this in a conversational tone that seduces us into the darkness of a place we otherwise would avoid - that old urgency to see what is in a darkened deserted cellar that hasn't seen a light source for years.
A `for instance', in introducing his main character he opens his book with this: ‘“My name is Caitlin Sommers,” she said aloud even though she was alone. Her feet hurt as she walked. Her legs were tired. She wasn’t sure why she was walking, but she kept going, her sore feet protesting as they carried her across the cracked pavement. Though the night was clear, she walked in a fog. What day was it? Did she have to work in the morning? If so, she’d have to be in the office by nine. For a moment, she wasn’t certain what office that was, then remembered she was a real-estate agent. She couldn’t imagine why that fact had momentarily escaped her. Something bumped against her leg and, looking down, she was mildly surprised to see that she was holding a small canvas bag by its strap. She wondered where she’d gotten it. She didn’t know where she was or how she had ended up there, walking across that pavement. She looked down and saw faded, painted white lines passing under her feet, one after the other, as she walked. She was in a parking lot. An empty one. No idea why. She’d simply woken up and there she was . . . wherever that was. But no, she hadn’t truly woken up, because she hadn’t been asleep. That was how it felt, though, like she’d been sound asleep and dreaming for days. Even now, wisps of pale memories shimmered briefly in her mind before disappearing quickly, the way snippets of dreams so often do moments after waking. I know who I am, she thought, then followed that thought immediately with, Why wouldn’t I?’
The author's summary is terse: ` When Caitlin Sommers finds herself alone in a deserted parking lot with blood on her clothes and no memory of the past few months, it seems like one of the nightmares that have tormented her for years…but it’s all too real. Desperate to learn the truth about where she’s been and what has happened to her but terrified of what she may find, Caitlin embarks on a search for answers. Her journey takes her from the safe suburban world she knows to a seedy town she’s never heard of, where a terrible truth from her past lies hidden—a truth she can’t quite remember yet can’t completely forget.'
Defining what makes James' writing so fine is a tough task - reading him is a better approach than critiquing him. But this book is such a perfect craft that it makes us eager to jump into another one - soon. And that will happen next year with THE INSIDE DARK. Highly Recommended.
Massachusetts author James Hankins is not only a movie star handsome man he is also a highly successful and honored writer. In addition to these skills he has been active as a lawyer (receiving his degree from University of Connecticut School of Law), was in health administration and embraced screenwriting. Attending NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he received the Chris Columbus Screenwriting Award. His five published books - SHADY CROSS, BROTHERS AND BONES, JACK OF SPADES, DRAWN and THE PRETTIEST ONE have been popular with the public and critics alike. As James states, `I write novels. They're all thrillers, with elements of other genres as well -- mystery, suspense, police procedural, paranormal/supernatural. I try to write books that make you want to read one more page before turning out the light . . . and then another, and, well, maybe just one more . . . ` James lives with his wife and twin sons just north of Boston.
James Hankins is a name already established but soon to be tattooed on the signpost as one of America's most significant writers in his chosen genre of Thrillers. Where he comes up with the off beat characters that should not be immediately appealing and takes us through a transformative acquaintance by the end of his book where we are committed fans is a gift. And he accomplishes this in a conversational tone that seduces us into the darkness of a place we otherwise would avoid - that old urgency to see what is in a darkened deserted cellar that hasn't seen a light source for years.
A `for instance', in introducing his main character he opens his book with this: ‘“My name is Caitlin Sommers,” she said aloud even though she was alone. Her feet hurt as she walked. Her legs were tired. She wasn’t sure why she was walking, but she kept going, her sore feet protesting as they carried her across the cracked pavement. Though the night was clear, she walked in a fog. What day was it? Did she have to work in the morning? If so, she’d have to be in the office by nine. For a moment, she wasn’t certain what office that was, then remembered she was a real-estate agent. She couldn’t imagine why that fact had momentarily escaped her. Something bumped against her leg and, looking down, she was mildly surprised to see that she was holding a small canvas bag by its strap. She wondered where she’d gotten it. She didn’t know where she was or how she had ended up there, walking across that pavement. She looked down and saw faded, painted white lines passing under her feet, one after the other, as she walked. She was in a parking lot. An empty one. No idea why. She’d simply woken up and there she was . . . wherever that was. But no, she hadn’t truly woken up, because she hadn’t been asleep. That was how it felt, though, like she’d been sound asleep and dreaming for days. Even now, wisps of pale memories shimmered briefly in her mind before disappearing quickly, the way snippets of dreams so often do moments after waking. I know who I am, she thought, then followed that thought immediately with, Why wouldn’t I?’
The author's summary is terse: ` When Caitlin Sommers finds herself alone in a deserted parking lot with blood on her clothes and no memory of the past few months, it seems like one of the nightmares that have tormented her for years…but it’s all too real. Desperate to learn the truth about where she’s been and what has happened to her but terrified of what she may find, Caitlin embarks on a search for answers. Her journey takes her from the safe suburban world she knows to a seedy town she’s never heard of, where a terrible truth from her past lies hidden—a truth she can’t quite remember yet can’t completely forget.'
Defining what makes James' writing so fine is a tough task - reading him is a better approach than critiquing him. But this book is such a perfect craft that it makes us eager to jump into another one - soon. And that will happen next year with THE INSIDE DARK. Highly Recommended.
March 1, 2018
Good read
I’ve had this book awhile and glad I finally read it as it was a good thrill ride, will definitely check out more from this author.
I’ve had this book awhile and glad I finally read it as it was a good thrill ride, will definitely check out more from this author.
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