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 pageant queen named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny's tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. The most obvious suspect is one of her fans, an older man who may have gotten too close for comfort. But Jenny's half-sister, Virginia—the sarcastic black sheep of the family—isn't so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.
But for Jenny's case and Virginia's investigation, there's more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lies beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny's life. Alternating between Jenny's final days and Virginia's determined search for the truth, the sisters' dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.
Infused with dark humor and driven by two captivating young women, The Prized Girl tells a heartbreaking story of missed connections, a complicated family, and a town's disturbing secrets.
Praise for The Prized Girl
“So fun and gritty! Couldn't put it down, and then couldn't stop thinking about it once I finished.”—Georgia Hardstark, My Favorite Murder cohost and #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A darkly funny thriller with a shocker ending.”—People
“Expertly told in a crisp, fast-paced style . . . [with] stunning twists and a shocking surprise ending.”—Associated Press
“This suspense novel, with its sharp turns, will have you guessing until the very last page.”—Star
“Told in alternating points of view between Virginia and Jenny, this is a story that readers will never see coming.”—The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
“This disturbing tour behind the scenes of a stolen childhood exposes cringe-inducing truths—and leads to a shocking conclusion.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Its nicely twisting plot will hold readers’ interests.”—Booklist
“At times funny, at times haunting, The Prized Girl is a raw, beautiful page-turner; the perfect whodunit for today's world. Green's compelling characters step off the page and into your heart.”—Bryan Reardon, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Jake and The Perfect Plan
“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!”—Wendy Walker, author of The Night Before
