Pretty Little Dead Girls: A Tale of Murder and Whimsy

"Run, Star Girl."

BRYONY ADAMS IS DESTINED TO BE MURDERED, but fortunately Fate has terrible marksmanship. In order to survive, she must run as far and as fast as she can. After arriving in Seattle, Bryony befriends a tortured musician, a market fish-thrower, and a starry-eyed hero who is secretly a serial killer bent on fulfilling Bryony’s dark destiny.

Mercedes M. Yardley’s Pretty Little Dead Girls: A Novel of Murder and Whimsy is a dark, lovely fairy tale with lyrical language and a high body count. It features a cover by Hugo Award Winner GALEN DARA.

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Review:

Never have a read a book with more lyrical and beautiful prose. Bryony Adams is a girl with a target painted on her head and all who look at her see the marks of death upon her. All the days of her life she is aware that death knows her name and as the bodies begin to fall around her like desiccated daisies she grabs onto life and holds it tight. Much like the jonquil flowers she loves the most, this girl is dainty with stars in her eyes and magic in her hair.  There is a sweetness like a thermonuclear butterfly just waiting to flutter across your heart. I loved it. Every second.

The desert calls for her bones and Bryony knows she must run as far and wide as she can...but death hasn't forgotten dear star girl...no. It plots and thinks and gnashes its teeth mindful of opportunity. The bodies, as they always do, start to fall and time begins to draw to a close. Her beloved husband knows the truth. That death will not stop until it breaks Bryony's bones in its teeth--and that he will do everything in his power to stop it.

What an amazing book. Mercedes M. Yardley is on my must buy list and as soon as I got even close to finishing this one (thank  you Ragnarok for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review) I went out and ordered the e-book of one of her other titles. 

There is not another author I have found who weaves a fairy tale out of cold blooded murder quite like Mercedes Yardley. It brought tears to my eyes and a bittersweet longing to my heart. I even drew a very sad and horrific picture for the release party but thankfully it was already over before I posted it so hopefully no one lost their lunch with my hideous drawing skills.

But I digress--if you love a novel that will take you away from the world and delight you with a tremendous state of bliss then you must meet Bryony and travel with her on her journey to outsmart death, the desert and one very particularly persistent serial killer. 

I will find and read every bit of this author's work because I do not want the romance to end. Not now...not ever. It is...magic...

5/5  

Some other reads you're going to want:

I am going to name my next dog Nuclear Lulu. It just freaking rocks. Just saying...

So keep up the excellent writing Mercedes! You are amazing!!