This week we’re reading

Finding the perfect thriller is rare so when it happens, it’s something to really treasure.

As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I know there’s a lot on offer so I’m always excited when I get my hands on a new one in the hope it might be the next big thing. So, it was with anticipation that I started reading Pretty Guilty Women.

Arriving at their friend’s wedding, Ginger, Lulu, Emily and Kate are all bearing gifts and a lot of secrets. When a man is found murdered, each confesses that they alone committed the crime. Why did they do this? Only they know – but they’re not telling anyone...

Although the thriller and crime genre is ever expanding, proving our macabre obsession has yet to be exhausted, most books stick to a winning formula, leaving little room for anything radical. Radical may be too strong a word but Pretty Guilty Women brings something original in its concept that turns the typical murder mystery formula on its head – one of the most appealing aspects of the book. While it may not be your typical whodunnit, that doesn’t mean it lacks twists and turns – they are plentiful enough to keep you wondering.

It was just as satisfying as other murder mysteries to see truths slowly emerge, but with a different approach to the telling of the story, it was a refreshing way to present a thriller.

Pretty Guilty Women may not have your typical thriller plot but the same cannot be said of the writing style. It was competent enough but lacked an edge, concentrating on the dramas of the domestic lives of these suburban women. So, rather than being a gritty and dark thriller, it does at times veer towards being light and frothy in its delivery. It’s likely to draw comparisons to Big Little Lies as it’s in a similar vein – fans of Liane Moriarty will find it equally addictive.

Worth mentioning are the characters, who are all flawed and not very likeable. While most authors try to provide an array of unlikely heroes and heroines to inspire interest, this isn’t the case for Lamanna. It’s a risky move that could have alienated readers but lends itself well to the plot, making it more credible that each woman may be motivated to not only claim to have killed someone but is capable of doing so.

An enjoyable if not utterly compelling read, Pretty Guilty Women proves that the thriller genre still has room for a few tricks up its sleeves.

Review by Emma Reekie.

Pretty Guilty Women By Gina Lamanna, Sphere, £7.99