Pretty Dead Things: A Pageant Thriller Review
Book cover image from Source
In 2000, Izzy Whitmore, daughter of the very first Lone Star Princess winner, disappears from her small Texas town the night before her chance to compete in the pageant. Twenty-five years later, her twin sister Iggy returns to town for the annual pageant, and she is forced to relive the disappearance of her sister.
Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox follows the days leading up to the 2025 Lone Star Princess pageant through the eyes of Sarah Lynn — a current pageant competitor— as well as three women who lived through the 2000’s pageant and mystery of Izzy Whitmore.
Unexpected, Thrilling Twists
An intricate thriller, this novel wasn’t what I expected, and as someone who believes that they can sniff out twists and turns, I did not see its ending coming.
But admittedly, the novel took a while to get into. It jungled multiple character’s perspectives, forcing me to sometimes flip back chapters to keep everything on track. The first half also dragged on.
That latter half though? It came together so well. And all those excessive point-of-views I complained about threaded together oh-so-perfectly by the end. It was worth the effort.
Atmosphere Brings Pretty Dead Things to Life
Pretty Dead Things had an atmosphere that was both perfect for this pageant mystery but also realistic. Kelsey Cox, a local of the Texas Hill Country, wrapped in many details that made this town a three-dimensional place and not just a backdrop.
As a Texan myself, those local references— from the beloved HEB to the more niche Summer Moon — made this pageant come to life.
A Great Autumn Read
As autumn trickles in, Pretty Dead Things offers the perfect suspenseful read. With the Texas pageant atmosphere of Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’ contrasted with the unsettling undercurrent of Carrie, this novel is perfect for thriller enthusiasts and casual readers alike.
Need more great reads? Check these out!
- Murderer’s Creek – Short story of friendship gone wrong.
- Compost – A poetry about death and returning.
- Transcendence – Flash fiction on loss.
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Zina Mona
Zina Mona is a writer and student from Texas. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in the Trinity Review and 34 Orchard. She studies literature and economics, but in her free time, she loves watching Audrey Hepburn movies.
Visit her website to read more!
