Cover Image: All His Pretty Girls

All His Pretty Girls

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Member Reviews

Gripping, thrilling, scary what a book. Full of tension and suspense, a nail biting read which I found very hard to put down. A psychopath and his playthings. A serial killer par excellence. Detective Alyssa Wyatt and her team have been tasked with finding this killer. This case brings up memories she has tried so hard to bury. Little does Alyssa realise that both her and her family are now in the crosshairs of this sadistic killer. I spent most of this read sat on the edge of my seat, plenty of heart in your mouth moments. A psychological serial killer like no other. This book is a MUST READ for all readers of this genre. An easy five stars and so Highly Recommended. I LOVED IT!!!!!!!
I would like to thank the author, Her a Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

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Thank you Netgalley and Hera Books for this ARC

A great debut crime thriller with a surprising twist. An engaging story with well written characters. I also liked that her husband is written as a supportive character and not just there in the background.
Detective Wyatt, who is way too dependent on coffee, is on the hunt for a killer who is plotting his revenge against her. A real page turning psychological thriller. Looking forward to more of this series.

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Alyssa Wyatt is a seasoned detective, with a very loving and supportive family, and a secret. She becomes involved in a murder investigation where the victims all have physical similarities to her.

This was a very exciting read. At the start the chapters jump back and forth in time to give us an overlap of the events as they are happening. I have to admit, it was a bit confusing at first, but I got used to it after a few chapters and then it made complete sense. There was a very interesting and unexpected twist towards the end.

I was utterly convinced of the twisted nature of Evan Bishop, the murderer. There was no doubt about his motivations or intentions. Alyssa was a very well developed character as well. I felt very immersed in the story and with Alyssa’s feelings about everything that was happening in her world.

This was well written and definitely a great first novel from Charly Cox. I would love to read more of her work.
I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Charly Cox has written a superb thriller!
Detective Wyatt is whip smart and fuelled by caffeine (which makes her super relatable!), she loves her family and her job. I also though it was nice that her husband was supportive and successful in his own life as opposed to being ‘forced’ to be a house husband as men often are when there’s a strong female protagonist.
The story is vibrant and Cox really does lure you into thinking that it’s just another thriller but little do you know that there’s a BIG twist coming. A five star read for me and a must read for fans of the genre.

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When a woman disappears and is thought to be the target of a serial killer, Detective Alyssa Wyatt and her partner try to find the missing woman. After it was mentioned several times that Alyssa resembled the woman, I figured, hmmm, who could possibly be the next target? While I wasn't wrong, there was an unexpected angle to that story that did surprise me. It was good, 4 stars, and I'd read more if this became a series. (I could do without so many references to coffee...)

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A debut novel that reads like an established series. I was hooked from the very first page. It’s rare for a book to make me feel claustrophobic right away!

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This is a very good debut novel from Charly Cox featuring Detective Alyssa Wyatt. Set in New Mexico, Alyssa is investigating a murdered woman, which turns into a serial killer investigation. The book is well written with interesting characters, well thought out. a good crime thriller and told between the past and present time, which is important to the story. It was fast paced but the constant reference to coffee irritated me! That was my only negative, so I am happy to recommend this book and author and I look forward to more from this author. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

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Fast-paced, tension, and more than a bit of the creepy. I enjoyed it. I was working my kindle over-time. I loved the twist. Coffee, coffee, coffee. I would recommend this book to others.
Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy to review.

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This book kept me sitting on the edge of my chair. I had no clue that it would end the way it did.
Serial killer with a twist.

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When a woman is found, barely alive, on a New Mexico mountainside, Detective Alyssa Wyatt finds herself in charge of a race against time to find the perpetrator before he attacks again. With her partner and team members she finds herself up against a man who has every intention of being found, but only on his terms.

As is usual there is a backstory which, in this instance, has made Alyssa into a successful police officer and mom who is determined to deal with her guilt by being the best she can be and find justice for those whose lives have have been torn asunder by the results of crime against their families.

I was amazed this was the first book by this author as it was tightly written, the characters were persuasive, and the antagonist seriously flawed. I don't usually like knowing too much of what is planned by the bad guys in advance but in this case it gave a heightened sense of anticipation and jeopardy which kept me reading just one more chapter until I had devoured the entire thing in two sittings.

There is no mention of whether this is the first book in a series or a stand alone but I hope Alyssa, her family, and partner, Cord, will return as all have great potential to be put through the wringer by Charly Cox for a good few stories yet!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys first  class storytelling from talented new writers who can only continue to improve and impress.

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I enjoyed reading this book, so I was disappointed at the abrupt ending. I wanted to know more about how things played out. The story was very in depth, and just when I thought here's the end, this should be interesting, it was done in one little paragraph. Maybe this will be a series so I can get the answers that I need. This book is scary, brutal, realistic, and sad all at the same time. I liked the strong family dynamic through out the story, and the author has a good writing style. I would definitely read more from this author, despite my disappointment at the ending.

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I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a creepy and dark story. I was hooked on page one and couldn't wait to dive deep into the story. Cox’s writing style is absolutely wonderfully descriptive in such a dark way. The story line was strong and well developed through the entire book and the story flowed very well.

Of all the mystery/thriller books I have read, this is the first time I've really hoped gets a sequel. I could easily see this extending way past this first book. I am anticipating the author letting us know we might get more to this story (please.. Pretty please?)

I loved Alyssa’s character. She was flawed but incredibly relatable and really easy to connect with. All the relationships in this book seemed very authentic and genuine. The backstories were well thought out and easily connected to each character.

The overall pace of this book was great. It was fast paced and didn't drag along at all. There were so many twists and turns and it just really keeps you guessing. If you want a good police procedural mystery thriller…. This book is for you!

Thank you to Charley Cox, Hera Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title. This review will be posted on www.featheredfables.wordpress.com closer to the publication date.

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Great new author! I love how her past comes into play with this plot and the killer. It flowed nicely. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

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Wow! Couldn’t put it down and I can’t believe this is a debut novel.

The book is well written and keeps you guessing the whole way. I love the main detective characters-the author does really well to get you involved and caring about them.

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Really enjoyed this book. Very scary and well written. I would recommend this title to anyone looking for an original and suspenseful read.

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Found this book amazing! Would love to read more of her books.
5**** from me
Would definitely recommend this to others

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I thought this book was so engaging. It really had you trying to make the connections in the case on your own very early on. The characters were so well thought out and I loved watching them develop in such a short span of the story. This read like I was watching a movie and I loved that about it. It was such a quick read that I feel like I need to pick it back up and start from the beginning to see what I missed the first time through. I am so excited to see what else Charly Cox has in store for us for the future. I devoured this novel. I haven't found a book that made me feel a compulsion to keep going like this one did in a long time and I loved it so much! This is a solid crime drama/ thriller pick and I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen!!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2987194466

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This is author Charly Cox debut novel and she should give herself a well-deserved pat on the back. All His Pretty Girls is a hard to put down page turner. Mid way through, just when you thought you were reading a very good thriller crime novel, the story takes a turn that will have you even more engrossed.

The story follows Alyssa Wyatt a Detective, mother and wife (her husband deserves an award for best supporting spouse). Detective Wyatt finds herself with a case that quickly goes from tracking a missing woman to a serial killer with an unexpected link to her own life. The events are told through dated chapters that go back and forth between present time and past which at first was a little confusing but ended up being important to the style of storytelling.

The characters are well written and generally likable aside from a few annoying habits and others who seemed too good to be true. The story is an intriguing combination of harrowing and refreshing at the same time because the author manages to paint a vivid picture of loving families, families torn apart and the sadistic actions of abusers and serial killers all at the same time.

For a first time novelist Charly Cox did a great job and I’m eagerly looking forward to more of her work.

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This was a creepy, suspenseful thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought Alyssa, the main character, was flawed but likeable. Her relationship with her partner, Cord, and her family were authentic. The twist was one that I did not see coming, so I enjoyed that as well. I will definitely read more from Charly Cox in the future!

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In a debut both chilling and cheeky, Charly Cox introduces the protagonist mystery lovers have been dying to meet.
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Detective Alyssa Wyatt isn’t your typical cop. The mother of two “stands just five-foot-three but carries herself with a six-foot-four attitude.” Her mom glare can set a grown man straight. And she worries about her interfering mother-in-law.

Together with her partner Cord Roberts*, Wyatt hunts down the bad guys, the really bad ones, and brings them to justice.

When a woman’s badly beaten body is discovered buried in the mountains just outside of Albuquerque, Wyatt is on the case, but something about this perpetrator makes her uncomfortable.

He’s disarmingly familiar. She’s haunted by a mysterious past. Could the two be connected?

We won’t lapse into spoilers here, but we can share that as the bodies pile up and the deranged killer closes in, in this fast-paced game of cat and mouse, it’s not always clear who’s doing the hunting and who’s being hunted.

Cox will keep you guessing until the very end, but one thing is certain: If Wyatt doesn’t crack the case in time to save the next victim… it might just be her.

Can a suspense novel about a detective and the serial killer who’s stalking her really make a fun read?

Absolutely. In a refreshing twist, caffeine-addicted, compulsive cleaner, mom-wife-detective Alyssa Wyatt is down-to-earth, and Cox assimilates – rather than suppresses – the heroine’s feminine tendencies.

Ponytails get tied and untied. Mom guilt creeps in (what mother doesn’t get swallowed up in it sometimes?). And husband Brock’s “solid chest” is the place where Wyatt rests her weary, crime-solving head. Yet with a gun in her hip holster and a black coffee in hand, this wife and mother remains at the top of her game.

At the same time, not even Wyatt’s obsession with capturing the killer is an excuse for letting the dust settle at home. Because at the Wyatt residence, even a busy criminal investigator needs time out to vacuum, and even a murderer in hiding can appreciate that it’s dust-free under the bed.

It’s juxtapositions like these that make Cox’s writing so readable. Her willingness to lighten the tension with stereotypical mom moments works. And with narrative threads that invoke hardboiled crime fiction, and character names taken straight out of a western (Tex Rivers!), the story is riveting and fun.

Does it stretch the imagination? Of course it does, precisely as demanded by the genre and readers’ enjoyment of it.

Though we’re not generally thriller readers at VP, Charly Cox has us hooked. Our advice: Pick up All His Pretty Girls for the suspense. Bolt your doors in advance (you can thank us later). Then settle in and get to know Alyssa Wyatt, a woman and mother who, like so many of us, is parenting her teenagers, scrambling to get dinner on the table, and killing it at her day job.
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*Is it just us, or is anyone else wondering: Is Cord modeled on the fictional heartthrob Cordero Roberts from the nineties soap opera “One Life to Live?”
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Disclosure: We were provided an advance copy of this title
in exchange for a fair an honest review.

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