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The Prized Girl
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From debut author Amy K. Green comes a devastating tale of psychological suspense: a teen pageant queen is found murdered in a small New England town, and her sister’s search for answers unearths more than she bargained for.
Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, ...more
Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, ...more
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A teenage pageant queen is found murdered in her small New England town. She comes from the picture-perfect family who gets together for Sunday dinners and are upstanding members of the community. When she if found dead, the main suspect is a man who has been coming to all her pageants, her "biggest" fan if you will. Most believe he could be the killer. Most, but not her older sarcastic, heavy drinking sister who has past issues of her own. She believes the main suspect is innocent and has her
...more
A tense twisted dark thriller. Amy K. Green’s debut was clever and addictive. Sisters, a murder, a small town, a pageant queen, teenage drama, a sick stalker, Bad behavior, dark secrets, missed opportunities, lost memories, obsession, coverups, lies. The story bounces back-and-forth between the perspectives of sisters Virginia and Jenny. We learn about the events leading up to the murder through the eyes of 14-year-old Jenny. We learn about the aftermath of the murder through the actions of
...more
Oct 23, 2019
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
from-publisher,
netgalley
This was a cleverly crafted novel, but one that I found myself having trouble connecting with the characters throughout. It could be that they felt too cookie cutter in dialogue and action, or it could be the fact that I felt I've already read a story similar to this one many times before. I do think readers who are looking to branch into the mystery/thriller genre may find this title more enjoyable than I did, and highly encourage those folks to check this one out for themselves.
*Many thanks to ...more
*Many thanks to ...more
Nov 08, 2019
Dennis
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
arc-publisher,
psychological-thriller,
2020-pub,
2019-read,
dark,
contemporary,
family-drama,
whodunnit
Folks, I read a lot of psychological thrillers, so when a good book follows a similar narrative that I'm already used to reading, it usually doesn't pan out well. The Prized Girl is written so perfectly, and the author obviously is very talented in storytelling. Let me just get that out in the open, because I really did enjoy the story overall. We have two point-of-views (Virginia's was my favorite) and they eventually uncover the mystery as we teeter between the two.
My main concern was that ...more
My main concern was that ...more
2.5 stars.
Thirteen-year-old Jenny is a former beauty pageant queen found murdered in her small New England town. The press is eager to report the details on the rape and murder of a beautiful girl who appeared to be living a picture perfect life. The police are confident they have solved the case before it even begins, focusing completely on an intellectually disabled man known to attend all of Jenny's pageants.
Jenny's older sister Virginia isn't so certain the police have it right and decides ...more
Thirteen-year-old Jenny is a former beauty pageant queen found murdered in her small New England town. The press is eager to report the details on the rape and murder of a beautiful girl who appeared to be living a picture perfect life. The police are confident they have solved the case before it even begins, focusing completely on an intellectually disabled man known to attend all of Jenny's pageants.
Jenny's older sister Virginia isn't so certain the police have it right and decides ...more
I really loved this. This was dark, twisty and took some routes I wasn’t expecting. I had to knock off a star because of how it ended, I really didn’t like how it all played out. I understand why it did, but I wanted something different. It really did surprise me and I didn’t want to put it down.
I really loved this one! I did not figure out the ending, it moved fast and was written in a way that made me pay close attention. The perfect combo for a thriller! Here is what I "officially" said about it!
Gripping prose, complex characters and dark family secrets propel this story about a murdered teen pageant queen to a perfectly unexpected finale. A stunning debut!
Gripping prose, complex characters and dark family secrets propel this story about a murdered teen pageant queen to a perfectly unexpected finale. A stunning debut!
2.5/5
The first month of the year and I’m already struggling with thrillers AGAIN. Sigh. I had high hopes for this one, the premise and structure sounded interesting enough and I’m always excited about a debut. Unfortunately for me this one just didn’t work at all, maybe I’ve just read too many similar books, but in the end, this was just a mess for me.
I’m just going to highlight what was problematic for me quickly because I think for the right reader this may work great, that reader just wasn’t ...more
The first month of the year and I’m already struggling with thrillers AGAIN. Sigh. I had high hopes for this one, the premise and structure sounded interesting enough and I’m always excited about a debut. Unfortunately for me this one just didn’t work at all, maybe I’ve just read too many similar books, but in the end, this was just a mess for me.
I’m just going to highlight what was problematic for me quickly because I think for the right reader this may work great, that reader just wasn’t ...more
A fast paced and absorbing suspense!
I loved the consistent back-and-forth of sister perspective storytelling, and how their time-lines built to an unexpected, and well thought out climax.
I couldn't have imagined thinking as Jenny did, when I was in eighth grade, but child pageants and a modern world can be a daunting reality indeed.
This unassuming and poignant thriller has immense potential to take readers by storm!
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
I loved the consistent back-and-forth of sister perspective storytelling, and how their time-lines built to an unexpected, and well thought out climax.
I couldn't have imagined thinking as Jenny did, when I was in eighth grade, but child pageants and a modern world can be a daunting reality indeed.
This unassuming and poignant thriller has immense potential to take readers by storm!
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
An impressive debut novel – a good solid mystery thriller. Who killed Jenny the former teenage pageant queen? Through dual story lines we learn of Jenny’s life leading up to her murder and in present day, we hear Virginia’s story. Virginia is Jenny’s troubled half-sister who is detached from the family, attending the funeral barely noticed, and then takes an interest in learning the truth about the murder after the police appear to be rushing to judgment on their main suspect. The story held my
...more
I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. As soon as I read the premise of this book I wanted to read it, it reminded me a little of Jon Benet and the whole pageant scene with the small town feel thrown in. The story is told from Jenny, the pageant teen who dies perspective, and her older sister, Virginia, who is trying to find out who killed her. The stories weave and intertwine seamlessly making for one interesting story.
The Prized Girl
by
Amy K. Green
**
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC ebook.
**
This story is told in a back and forth story line between Virginia now; and Jenny before her untimely demise.
**
Jenny was a beautiful 14 year old girl. Her mother started her in beauty pageants at a young age and she was always top of the pack. Through her pageant career she came across Benjy, whom I believe was a bit touched. He was her biggest fan, until one day she gave him a note saying she was done with the ...more
by
Amy K. Green
**
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC ebook.
**
This story is told in a back and forth story line between Virginia now; and Jenny before her untimely demise.
**
Jenny was a beautiful 14 year old girl. Her mother started her in beauty pageants at a young age and she was always top of the pack. Through her pageant career she came across Benjy, whom I believe was a bit touched. He was her biggest fan, until one day she gave him a note saying she was done with the ...more
The Prized Girl is a tense tale of small town murder, it was a huge page turner to be sure but if I'm honest it didn't quite do it for me.
On the plus side the writing was excellent, the story fairly rocked along and there were emotional thought provoking layers to it that were compelling. A young girl, a pageant queen, killed before her life really began, a sister who was absent, parents who were hiding secrets, this was a truly twisted tale.
My problem was I didn't really engage with the ...more
On the plus side the writing was excellent, the story fairly rocked along and there were emotional thought provoking layers to it that were compelling. A young girl, a pageant queen, killed before her life really began, a sister who was absent, parents who were hiding secrets, this was a truly twisted tale.
My problem was I didn't really engage with the ...more
Ok, I'm just going to say it...I hate pageants. Long before the unfortunate JonBenet Ramsey murder happened back in 1996, I hated pageants. It is so not my thing. That being said, I was still thoroughly invested in watching all the news about the murder and watch all the documentaries out of pure fascination. To this day, my opinion is that it was the parent of one of JonBenet's rival pageant contestants who got sick of her getting all the glory. Moving on...
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"The Prized Girl" was utterly ...more
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"The Prized Girl" was utterly ...more
It's hard to believe The Prized Girl is a debut novel. As a devoted thriller reader, I'm wondering where has Amy K. Green has been all my life (you are amazing), and, what other captivating stories does she have up her sleeve? Whatever it is, I definitely want to read more from this author. This story is all consuming. At first it feels like simple teenage angst with a dose of sibling rivalry rolled into a domestic family drama. It turns out, things are much more deep, complicated, dark, and
...more
When you are the outcast of the family and your sister, that was everyone's favorite, turns up dead, it shouldn't be that hard. Except she was still your sister and you want answers. You won't get the answers until the the very end of this non-stop ride that keeps you guessing at every turn. Fans of Gillian Flynn can pick this up while waiting on her next book.
When a girl teen girl is murdered in a small town, her sister starts to investigate and solve the crime.
The author uses dual narrative, alternating between the weeks leading up to the murder, told by Jenny, the victim, to current day narrative by her sister Virginia,
This book has twists and turns up until the end of the story that I didn't see coming. I lost the connection with the story several times, not sure if it was because of the switch between past and present or just the content of the ...more
The author uses dual narrative, alternating between the weeks leading up to the murder, told by Jenny, the victim, to current day narrative by her sister Virginia,
This book has twists and turns up until the end of the story that I didn't see coming. I lost the connection with the story several times, not sure if it was because of the switch between past and present or just the content of the ...more
Ex-beauty queen, 13 year old Jenny is found murdered. The local town is floored and fans pour in to pay their homage. The suspect has finally been captured, and everyone can sleep a little easier.
26 year old Virginia is Jenny’s half sister. Her dad and stepmom treat her like she’s the world’s biggest delinquent, disappointment, and crappy sister. Unlike everyone else, Virginia isn’t convinced that the suspect is the one who killed her sister. She’s determined to find the true killer even if she ...more
26 year old Virginia is Jenny’s half sister. Her dad and stepmom treat her like she’s the world’s biggest delinquent, disappointment, and crappy sister. Unlike everyone else, Virginia isn’t convinced that the suspect is the one who killed her sister. She’s determined to find the true killer even if she ...more
5/5 star read for this psychological coming of age novel.... Thank you to Dutton books for sending me an ARC of THE PRIZED GIRL in exchange for an honest review. Releasing JANUARY 2020.
*TRIGGER WARNING* this book does have context of sexual/mental/physical abuse*
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Set in a small town we hear from two sisters at two very different points in their lives.... Jenny... the younger 13yr old perfect pageant queen as she starts to unravel what life truly looks like and what becoming a teenager throws ...more
*TRIGGER WARNING* this book does have context of sexual/mental/physical abuse*
.
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Set in a small town we hear from two sisters at two very different points in their lives.... Jenny... the younger 13yr old perfect pageant queen as she starts to unravel what life truly looks like and what becoming a teenager throws ...more
Jenny has been a pageant queen since she was little; now 13 she is still on top of the pageant circut. Jenny was tired of doing pageants and her mother was not taking it well.
Then there is Virginia, she is Jenny’s half sister. Virginia is nothing like Jenny, she is not perfect and she is not into pageants; she is the complete opposite of her sister.
One day the news comes that Jenny has been murdered and raped, this takes a serious affect on Virginia; she is determined to find out who killed ...more
Then there is Virginia, she is Jenny’s half sister. Virginia is nothing like Jenny, she is not perfect and she is not into pageants; she is the complete opposite of her sister.
One day the news comes that Jenny has been murdered and raped, this takes a serious affect on Virginia; she is determined to find out who killed ...more
A good psychological thriller starter book!
I’m writing this review with some hindsight and have had some time to stew on my thoughts.
The plot totally brought on some JonBenét Ramsey vibes. Like I’m 75% sure most of the plot was modeled after several theories about the infamous unsolved case.
While the story drew me in, there were definitely parts that were ‘ewwww’.
Remember that scene in F.R.I.E.N.D.S where they find out about the jellyfish sting? That was my reaction to some of this book.
Virginia ...more
The Prized Girl by Amy K. Green is a great thriller with plenty of mystery! It was easy to follow the characters and plot while at a steady, decent pace. Alternating characters/chapters make this a fun one! Definitely recommend it!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Releases 2020, detailed review to come!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Releases 2020, detailed review to come!
Such a scary story. It had some very twisted details. I was hoping for Jenny to receive rest after all the time that was going by. There was times when I wanted to read between my fingers. Everyone should know that some towns, family, and friends are not what they seem. This book covers all the factors.I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway for a honest review.
I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review
What a fresh take on the dead teenage beauty queen! I enjoyed this one considerably more then I expected- I’ve read so many books with this theme that felt cliche and overwrought, but this one was a pleasure to read, more of a book to savor then a fast burn. I loved both girls. Can’t wait to see more from this writer!
What a fresh take on the dead teenage beauty queen! I enjoyed this one considerably more then I expected- I’ve read so many books with this theme that felt cliche and overwrought, but this one was a pleasure to read, more of a book to savor then a fast burn. I loved both girls. Can’t wait to see more from this writer!
Thanks Dutton for the advanced copy of The Prized Girl [Pub. Date January 2020]
To the outside world Jenny, a young pageant queen appears to live the perfect life. However, once she is found murdered the secrets of her actual life are uncovered.
Virginia, Jenny’s stepsister, determined to find answers, teams up with the detective working the case. Together they look into Jenny’s life, her friends, and two obsessed pageant fans.
The Prized Girl is told in alternating narratives- Jenny’s and Virginia ...more
To the outside world Jenny, a young pageant queen appears to live the perfect life. However, once she is found murdered the secrets of her actual life are uncovered.
Virginia, Jenny’s stepsister, determined to find answers, teams up with the detective working the case. Together they look into Jenny’s life, her friends, and two obsessed pageant fans.
The Prized Girl is told in alternating narratives- Jenny’s and Virginia ...more
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Prized Girl is a standalone mystery thriller and debut from Amy K. Green. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Penguin on their Dutton imprint, it's 384 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a darkly taut psychological thriller told in alternating PoV between two sisters in a small town. Their family dynamic is extremely dysfunctional, with themes of emotional and physical abuse, substance abuse, ...more
The Prized Girl is a standalone mystery thriller and debut from Amy K. Green. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Penguin on their Dutton imprint, it's 384 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a darkly taut psychological thriller told in alternating PoV between two sisters in a small town. Their family dynamic is extremely dysfunctional, with themes of emotional and physical abuse, substance abuse, ...more
Jenny is thirteen a former beauty pageant girl and when she’s found murdered the police began to investigate the people around her. Soon they pick up and charge her number one fan. A developmental challenged man who had an unhealthy fascination with her. Jenny’s half sister Virginia doesn’t believe the police have the correct person in jail and begins her own investigation into what really happened that fateful night with the help of the lead detective on Jenny’s case. Virginia has been
...more
There are two points of view told for this story. There is Jenny and her older sister, Virginia. Jenny's point of view/voice was more "raw". Plus, I found Jenny's story to be a sad but intriguing one. It was Virginia that I found to be more broken than her sister. However, her voice was not as interesting.
When it came to the two sisters; it felt like I was reading two different stories and not two storylines that ran concurrently to mesh into one final ending. Despite this factor, I did read ...more
When it came to the two sisters; it felt like I was reading two different stories and not two storylines that ran concurrently to mesh into one final ending. Despite this factor, I did read ...more
Really enjoying this book. Written from first-person and third-person, very different but very well written and it grabs you from the beginning. A lot of a dark sarcastic dialogue which tends to be my favorite. Debut author, comes out on January 14th #dutton #amygreen
A super twisty debut!
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I'm a Boston and LA based author and my debut suspense thriller The Prized Girl is available for pre-order now (Dutton, 1/14/2020).
I also work as a Production Accountant, most recently on the 2019 film Little Women. Working in accounting on movies is a little like cleaning the costumes at Disney World; it's not glamorous, but you get access to more behind the scenes details than you'd ever want.
...more
I also work as a Production Accountant, most recently on the 2019 film Little Women. Working in accounting on movies is a little like cleaning the costumes at Disney World; it's not glamorous, but you get access to more behind the scenes details than you'd ever want.
...more
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