Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica Published by Mira on July 28th 2015
Genres: Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 380
Source: purchased
Goodreads
Truly psychological in the thriller category, Pretty Baby takes us on a slow burn to a crashing climax. Also, probably more true-to-life as well, truth be known. Everyone has hidden motivations that dictates their every move.
Heidi is a bleeding heart devoted to her work with literacy. Her husband, Chris, is an investment banker focused on money, money, money. While Willow is the homeless, disturbed teenage mother that Heidi takes in, much to her husband and daughter’s chagrin.
Told in alternating chapters, Chris, Willow and Heidi slowly peel away the layers of crazy. Heidi can be a bit annoying and obnoxious to those who do not share her same concerns for society’s underprivileged and/or abused. Willow is the tragic image of all that can, and does, go wrong in an abused child’s life. Chris gradually becomes the mirror to Heidi and Willow, giving us an up close glimpse.
Pretty Baby was, overall, sad for me. Having worked with abused children and families for so long I know how heart-breaking it is to see a child you just can’t reach. . .to want to take a child under your wing and give her safety, shelter and love. What many don’t realize (or want to accept) is that there’s a lifetime of hurt, pain and trauma to overcome. Children are not automatically grateful for the love and care – many resist, push boundaries, test you to see what it will take to make you give up on them.
Pretty Baby clearly depicts what happens when what motivates us gets skewed; when perceptions are completely wrong; and how the best of intentions can all go horribly wrong.
Recommended for those who enjoy Tess Gerritson, Lisa Unger and Heather Gudenkauf.
What psychological thriller have you read recently? I need some recommendations to get me through til Kubica’s latest comes out in May! đŸ˜‰
