Review – Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder by Brandi Bradley
Synopsis
In Brandi Bradley’s Southern noir crime novel, “Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder,” maintaining appearances is more than important–it’s a matter of life or death. When a young entrepreneur is killed, everyone in town points fingers at his picture-perfect fitness influencer ex-girlfriend, Gabbi – including the victim’s best friend, Jenna. As Detective Lindy D’Arnaud and her partner Boggs search for a motive, they begin to wonder if this is a case of jealous violence or something much deeper. In Lindy’s personal life, things aren’t much clearer. When Lindy’s wife’s ex-boyfriend–and sperm donor to their baby–decides to move back to town, she finds herself competing for her wife’s affection. Told through the shifting perspectives of Lindy, Gabbi, and Jenna, “Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder” is a page-turner brimming with quick wit and juicy gossip.
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Review
This thriller is told from three distinct voices – Lindy, Gabbi, and Jenna – which adds to the story’s complexity. The voices are very different, and I felt like three different people were telling this story, and it wasn’t one voice as sometimes happens. I could see their personalities come through in the cadence and thought processes.
Ethan is murdered, but who did it? There are multiple possibilities, and I did not suspect the killer. Perhaps I should have, considering the limited number of suspects, but this person did not hit my radar. Some clues are subtle but help to clear at least one of the characters.
Outside of the murder, there is jealousy, desire, and secrets. I was drawn into the story as I followed the character’s hope, dreams, and desires. The small town setting is similar to one you might find in any part of the country but seems to capture the essence of Kentucky.
The drama between the characters seems like it would fit on a college campus or on a soap opera, and it does add some entertainment to the story.
But even with the drama and the murder, there is still an underlying hope for success. The book includes some tidbits from a self-help guru sprinkled throughout. These words are wise and might give someone pause to reassess their own life.
This was an intense read, and we give it 4 paws up.
About the Author
Brandi Bradley is an indie author and educator who lives in the great city of Atlanta, Georgia. She writes short stories and novels about crime, family drama, flea markets, cowboys, rowdy girls, and gossip. She has had short stories and essays published in Juked, Louisiana Literature, Carve, and Nashville Review. She teaches writing at Kennesaw State University. “Mothers of the Missing Mermaid” (2023) is her debut novel of secrets by the sea in Destin, Florida. Bradley’s second book, “Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder” is out March 2025.
