The Prettiest Girl in the Grave

How it reads

The Prettiest Girl in the Grave is horror (extreme horror, specifically), and its dominant mood is eerie. It's atmospheric and uncanny, with a sense that something is wrong. It moves fast: plot-driven and hard to put down, the kind of book that carries you along even when you're tired.

It's set in a small town setting, in the present day, told in the third person, staying close to one character. Its central concerns are identity, secrets and survival. In weight it's light and escapist — easy to fall into.

It stands alone, so there's nothing else you need to read first or after. The ending is dark — no rescue, no neat bow. At 190 pages it's a single-sitting book. It's moderately known: read by plenty of people, but not a household name.