Pretty Ugly Lies

I went into this book with no expectations and no idea what the story was all about. Parts of the book I really enjoyed, and parts not so much. I listened to the audiobook, and maybe that was part of the confusion. The story jumped around a bit much. It opens with the murder that would have been near the end if it was written in sequence order. There were three narrators doing so many characters, it was difficult to follow. One did not always know who was speaking, which added to the confusion and the noir effect. The storyline seemed like Desperate Housewives meet Real Housewives of Oleander Drive. There is lots of drama, dark thoughts, cheating, depression, and murder. The common thread in this story was tired mothers, lack-luster spouses, and unfaithful love. The book is written with lots of unexpected twists which I really enjoyed. There were also some graphic scenes that I could have done without. Over-all it was good, just a bit disturbing.

Starting this book, I went in with zero expectations and ended up with a hurting heart and a connection to each character. Pamela Crane begins this story with a riveting murder scene and it's my job to figure out who did it. With four women, each with their own ugly lies, we get a peak into their worlds being held together by ugly lies. June, Jo, Shayla and Ellie have completely separate stories, all married with children and relatable situations. How will each one cope with the deceptions and who will snap? It took me a while to get into this book. As an audio, at times it was hard to keep track of the characters and their stories, but the deeper I got in, the more invested I became. That heavy sadness filled me as I listened and each one had their own motives for the murder. From cheating, to disabilities, to basic unhappiness, the women were motivated to keep their secrets, and continue their lives, As their lives unraveled, it became harder and harder for me to figure it out, and in the end, I was pretty surprised! It is a riveting listen, but it's not for the faint of heart. It is complex, thought provoking and thrilling. The narration by Jeff Harding, Lyssa Browne, Ruth Redman did a good job, though with the amount of characters, at times it was hard to determine which character was the focus. I enjoyed the emotional draw each one contributed to the story and it left me with the feeling I am sure was desired.