This is an enjoyable new protagonist with an interesting back story. She is not impetuous like so many protagonists now and she follows the rules. The part about her caffeine addiction was way over written and I had a hard time believing that a cop would not get an alarm fixed asap. While you see the ending coming it still pulls together nicely. I look forward to reading more in this series.

This is a debut book in a new series called Detective Alyssa Watt. I found it a little slow in parts and then picks up again. Alyssa Watt's younger brother was kidnapped right out front of their house while Alyssa was to be watching him. Only to turn up dead. Years later Alyssa has these memories pulled up when a young female goes missing. Detective Watt and her partner Cord think there is a serial rapist/killer on the loose, targeting females that resemble Alyssa Watt. The author has us following a few characters perspective including the "killer", what really happened to him in the past and why is he after these innocent females? With a twist of a plot some might not see coming this was a good read especially for a debut novel.

I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it but I am not 100% sure I will continue with the series.

This was a book I liked. It read as a fast paced thriller and it didn't take me long to finish.

I would recommend this if you are looking for a fast enjoyable read.

I love this book. It took me a little time to read it but it was a really good read. liked the characters and story line. really kept the reader into the story, Definitely relate to the characters which I think truly makes the book.

All His Pretty Girls is a outstanding fast paced thriller. A must read and buy for the holidays. Well written and well developed characters.

This was pretty good. I enjoyed the plot, writing and characters. There were some surprises and a great final zing at the end. My only criticism is that I felt the dialogue sections were a bit unnatural feeling/sounding at times (too formal maybe). Overall, it was an entertaining and quick read. I would recommend and check out more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Hera Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

A book that I could not put down. The tension builds as you wait to hear what happens next. An excellent story with a fitting conclusion. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of detective story.

Freaking awesome! And just like that, I have a new favorite!! All His Pretty girls by Charly Cox is compelling, exciting, and has some big twists. I loved the atmosphere Charly created in this one. It's nail-bitingly good! I loved reading this book and only hope that there are more to come- and soon!

When the beautiful Callie McCormick goes missing, Alyssa and her team of detectives leave no stone unturned in finding Callie and her kidnapper. Soon a woman barely alive is discovered on the New Mexico Mountains - she has been left badly violated, beaten, bruised, naked and close to death. With Callies's fate and her inability to find her weighing heavily on Alyssa's mind, Alyssa and her team rush against time to find who tormented Callie to death. Her search leads her to discover a string of other murders with no evidence left behind and a fingerprint of a dead man. But the cases have one common factor - All women missing bear a striking resemblance to Alyssa. Unbeknownst to her the killer/kidnapper knows her very well and has an old score to settle. But getting to Alyssa is not just his plan. He first plans to kill and torture all those who she holds dear in life starting with her youngest child. Will Alyssa save her family in time?

The book opens with a scene that hooks you straight in. I had the misfortune of watching The Ted Bundy Tapes on Netflix right before diving into this one and this made it 100% more spooky. The characters are amazing! I love Detective Alyssa Wyatt and her partner Cord runs around the town in hunt of a vicious killer. At first, I did not appreciate reading chapters from the POV of the killer. But as the book progresses, we see new stuff and shocking truths that will leave you wanting for more! Unlike other books, the killer is revealed quite early on but the intrigue doesn't die. The suspense just amps up and continues till the very last page is turned! Detective Alyssa Ward now is part of the Detective squad I am an absolute fan of and eagerly am looking out for the next book, and then next.
It's very difficult to believe that this book is Charly Cox's debut novel. It has everything that I look for in a book and then some. I'm extremely fascinated with Alyssa and cant wait to see what she does next!

Thank You, NetGalley, Hera Books and Charly Cox for an arc!

Quiet good if you like fast action crime but not a brilliant serial killer book ie the classic Silence of the Lambs. Loved the characters which hopefully will carry on in subsequent books from the author. Good storyline and all ties well together at the end. Given four stars on Good Reads.

Elevator Pitch:

Kiss the Girls with one deadly twist

Read/Skip:

READ

In one of my favorite thrillers of all time, the hero dies after 100 pages, knocking you off-kilter for the rest of the book. It's a thin line to walk, how brave a writer should be: protect the sympathetic characters, or raise the stakes and let them face actual consequences? When a writer follows through with a threat, you can get mad or get on board.
All my pretty girls is particularly harsh on one of its characters, and seeing that part of the story told from its perspective makes for a shocking twist when the fate is revealed.
The beginning of this book reminded me of Silence of the Lambs, where Bill's kidnap victim, is humanized by not acting completely defenseless. When All my pretty girls gave voice to the kidnap victim of a serial killer, I immediately was on her side, rooting for her. Then I was taken off guard, and for the next chapters, I kept asking myself why Charlie Cox would choose such a twist. Later it became all clear. Serial killer stories are so overdone, to keep us afraid, you have to take these monsters and the story seriously. If there are no stakes, there is no tension. I got me on board. And All his pretty girls was all the more scary and hair-raising for it.
The pressure does let up a bit by the end when it delves into the back story of the serial killer; I am never a fan of too much exposition into the bad guy. Scarier is to read about a victim trying to survive, then the reason why somebody became evil.
What I enjoyed very much was the relation between Alyssa and Cord, the team of investigators. They are an unusual pair; Cord is a knockout and a very decent guy. Alyssa is a materfamilias, highly professional, empathic, and determined. Their relationship feels comfortable, relatable, and delightful. I also enjoyed the family scenes interspersed with the investigation. Alyssa's husband and kids are all well-drawn.
The final plot twist, well, I am not entirely convinced by it. This whole story gets tied up with a very snug knot, almost suffocating it, but by then, I was committed. I would have been happy to see the book finished at its climax, skip the wrap-up. Still, I am very much looking forward to reading more about this compassionate pair of detectives.

The gist:

Alburqueque (!) detective Alyssa Wyatt and her partner investigate the disappearance of Callie McCormick. Soon Callie is found alive, and it becomes clear she was kidnapped, and the perpetrator had done it before. The man has a type, and Alyssa Wyatt fits the profile. So while she is hunting this monster, this guy may be waiting right outside the detective's door, ready to strike again.

Oh Ok WOW!! What a surprise!!! My heart is still racing!

All His Pretty Girls, is a superb thriller and the debut of Charley Cox’s new crime series featuring Detective Alyssa Wyatt and let me tell you it was surprisingly a very great read! The story was gripping, captivating and suspenseful and I can’t believe it was a debut! I’m definitely going to read the next story in the series. It is a bit hard for me to write a review without revealing much but I'm going to try!

Alyssa is not your typical detective as in most of the police procedural reads - she’s happily married with two teenagers which is refreshing since in most of the books I’ve read, the detective almost never is settled home. Alyssa hasn’t sacrificed her personal life for her professional one, yet something has happened in her past that still haunts her. She's working with her partner Cord and her 5 stars team in Albuquerque Police Department, trying to apprehend a psychopathic criminal who in turn has his eyes on Alyssa!

There are lots of curveballs thrown at you throughout the story and if feels like you’re on a rollercoaster, not knowing or seeing where all those twists and turns are coming from.
If you’re a fan of this genre (like myself), make sure to add this to your TBR list and move it up. It’s worth skipping the other prospects and a definite pageturner!

I would like to thank again the author, publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Is this book really the debut?? Omg...it was amazing for the first book by this author. It had me hooked from beginning to end and I enjoyed every minute of this book. I'll definitely be reading more from this new author.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A serial killer chiller where the action never flags, the suspense is red-hot and the twists and turns jaw-droppingly brilliant, fans of the genre need to add Charly Cox to their list of must-buys. Her debut novel featuring Detective Alyssa Wyatt, All the Pretty Girls, is a nerve-twisting thriller guaranteed to have readers sleeping with the lights on for weeks.

Albuquerque Detective Alyssa Wyatt is on the hunt for a killer. When a woman is found badly beaten, barely alive and naked in the New Mexico mountains, Alyssa is immediately on the case, but little does she realise that she is about to be plunged into a case that will test her to her limits and challenge her like never before. Alyssa is on the hunt for a cruel and sadistic psychopath who is linked to a long and twisted series of deaths. But with no evidence linking the killer to the crime and next to no clues about his real identity, Alyssa is well and truly stumped. Can this case be solved? Will Alyssa have a breakthrough at the eleventh hour? Or will she be led down a dark and dangerous path that will put her in the firing line?

Unbeknownst to Alyssa, the killer is somebody who knows her very well. She has no idea who this dangerous criminal might be or what his motivation is, but Alyssa has incurred the wrath of a vicious killer with a score to settle – and he will go to any lengths to ensure that Alyssa loses everything that she holds dear to her heart. As jeopardy edges ever closer, this brutal maniac has Alyssa well and truly in his sights and he is not about to rest until he wreaks his revenge and is satisfied that his prey has lost everything – including her life.

In a breathless game of cat and mouse, there can only be one winner and Alyssa is determined not to let this heinous murderer claim any other victims. Can Alyssa solve the case and save herself? Or will she end up putting herself and others in mortal danger?

Sinister, scary and absolutely terrifying, All His Pretty Girls is a top-notch thriller that will have readers jumping out of their skin. In the grand tradition of Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter, All His Pretty Girls is an edgy, engrossing and enjoyable thriller that will chill readers to the bone and keep them entertained (and spooked!) from beginning to end.

Charly Cox certainly knows how to pen spine-tingling edge of your seat thrillers and with All His Pretty Girls, she has written a first class read that will have readers counting down the days until the next Detective Alyssa Wyatt novel.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of all his pretty girls by Charly Cox. This was a really good book. There is something about it being in New Mexico in the desert and mountains that made it even creepier. I loved the detective because she was a strong female and there were lots of scary and fun twists and turns.

Charyl Cox’s debut novel did not feel like one. The maturity and balance with which the plot is handled speaks of years of experience and boy was I pleasantly surprised with this compelling narrative.
With unexpected twists and turns the story takes us on a thrilling roller coaster ride of mystery and suspense. A young woman is found brutally beaten, naked and left to die and Albuquerque Detective Alyssa Wyatt is called in to investigate.
Little did she know who she was up against. Alyssa realises she is at war with a scheming psychopathic serial killer and this was not his first victim and definitely not his last. The narrative literally sent a shiver down my spine and made my heart pound right out of my chest.
And as we reach the end of this roller coaster and we get a feel of how it is going to end, it picks up pace again and plunges the readers into an unbelievable climax which leaves us wondering what hit us.
Balancing her professional life perfectly with her personal life which consisted of her loving husband and two children Alyssa is a picture of confidence, efficiency, compassion and understanding. A painful incident in the past has made her what she is today.
When we read the book, we feel so helpless along with the victims and are appalled by the monstrous actions of the abductor – can anyone be so evil? Once again the story line switches between the POV of Alyssa and the abductor and allows us a peek into the mind of the psychopath.
Even after I swiped the last page away on my kindle, this was such an intense read that I carried a part of the book in my mind for a very long time.

Set In Albuquerque, New Mexico, this new thriller series introduces Detective Alyssa Wyatt, a hard-working but family oriented cop.

When a woman’s body is found, just barely living, Alyssa and her partner Cord investigate.

This book varies a little in that we are introduced to our killer quite early on, we know who he is. A deranged psychopath with designs on Alyssa.

The book is written from both the point of view of Alyssa, and also the killer, as he tells his side of the story.

Alyssa is a strong protagonist, she’s happy, loves her family and job, but there is a dark memory from her past that continues to haunt her..

Sharply plotted, and full of tense twists, this is extremely well written. A book to draw in the most avid of crime fans, this one has enough dark and dramatic moments to keep you entertained and reading as the tension is ratcheted up through the book.

An extremely confident, exciting and chilling new entry on to the crime thriller scene, a very good debut, I look forward to more from this talented new author.

Recommended Read

4 🔥🔥🔥🔥

This is the first novel to feature Detective Alyssa Wyatt.

Someone is abducting women, torturing them and then killing them…….they all have a similar look.

Alyssa and her partner Cord are beginning the investigation and things get dark and dangerous for Alyssa and her family…..

Meanwhile, Alyssa is still struggling with an event from her childhood, that has left her with a feeling of guilt and this case is bringing that to the fore….

I can’t say much more as I would really hate to spoil any part of this twisty thriller. It’s so immersive and has some real heart in the mouth moments too, all credit to Charly Cox’s creative writing. It flows so easily, with a fast pace and really is unputdownable.

Thank you to The publishers and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.

This is the first book in the Detective Alyssa Wyatt series and I cannot wait to read the next one! The twists kept coming and the ending left me wanting more.

If there's one thing that this Ginger Book Geek likes, it's discovering new authors and Charly Cox is definitely a new author for me. Having enjoyed reading 'All His Pretty Girls' as much as I did, I will definitely be reading more of Charly's work in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'All His Pretty Girls' but more about that in a bit.
I found the character of Detective Alyssa Wyatt to be a very interesting one. Alyssa is different to a lot of Detectives in the fact that she has a happy and settled home life with her husband and her two children. Quite often in other books most detectives seem to be so dedicated to their work that their personal lives suffer, but not in this case. She also has a close personal working relationship with her work partner too. There's nothing going on between them but I think that they share an almost sibling like relationship in that they bicker at times but they know that in times of trouble each will have the other's back. Alyssa has suffered some personal trauma in the past, which has affected her greatly and this experience ultimately led to her becoming a detective in the first place. Alyssa is kind, compassionate, sensitive, determined, occasionally stubborn and she is like a dog with a bone in the sense that if something doesn't seem right then she will not let it go until the matter has been investigated fully and her curiosity has been satisfied. Alyssa was a likeable character and I look forward to learning more about her in future books in the series.
It didn't take me long at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I would find it extremely difficult to be parted from the book for any length of time. So it proved to be. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters and I would still be sat there reading over half a dozen chapters later. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and when I looked up to check how much I had read, I was staggered to realise that I had been reading for at least two hours. I think part of the attraction was the fact that the lead detective was just so likeable that I began to think of her as a friend and I had to keep reading to make sure that she finished the story in one piece. The pages turned over very quickly and I seemed to charge through the story. I was disappointed when I got to the end. I don't mean that I was disappointed with how the story ended but I was enjoying the characters, the storylines and the author's writing style so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'All His Pretty Girls' is extremely well written. Charly grabs your attention from the start and once she has hold of that attention then she won't release it or you until you get to the last word on the last page. Charly describes the events in the book so realistically that I felt as though I was part of the story myself and I was helping Alyssa solve the case. Everything that the characters went through, I went through. For me, this book was well paced. The story starts with a bang, it hits the ground running and maintains the pace throughout.
Reading 'All His Pretty Girls' was like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns. This was one of those books that had me totally gripped and I was on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, 'All His Pretty Girls' is a cracking start to what I hope will become a long term series. I can't wait to work on more cases with Detective Alyssa Wyatt. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and particularly to those readers who enjoy stories featuring strong female detectives. The score on the board just has to be 5* out of 5*.

When a young couple find a savagely beaten, naked woman in the New Mexico mountains, Detective Alyssa Wyatt is plunged into a particularly testing case. The woman, Callie McCormick, is seemingly the latest victim of a mysterious psychopath who is linked to a string of deaths, but who has, so far, left no clues as to his identity. When Wyatt finds herself close to a breakthrough, she unwittingly puts herself straight in the firing line. The killer knows who she is and wants her to know his name, even if it means destroying everyone around her…

I don’t often read crime books set in the USA, preferring, instead the more familiar UK criminal justice system. There was something about All His Pretty Girls that grabbed my attention, however, and piqued my interest enough to make me want to read it. All I can say is, I am so glad I did! It is hard to believe that this is the author’s debut, as it is a confident, well-written serial killer novel with some fantastic twists and turns!

Alyssa Wyatt is a great character with an emotional backstory which has shaped her police career. I liked the relationship she had with her team, particularly her partner, and thought it made a refreshing change to see a united team, all focused on the job in hand. In books like this, I am accustomed to seeing the detective having an erratic home life so it was pleasing to read scenes involving her supportive, well-balanced family – even if there is a little bit of animosity towards her mother-in-law!

The killer in the book is a particularly heinous one and there are several descriptive scenes which should come with a health warning! His shadow box containing ‘mementos’ of his previous victims was particularly graphic, and you could feel the panic Callie was feeling as she wondered what her fate would be. In a clever piece of writing, I also felt some sympathy towards the killer as we read about his childhood, and realised what a horrific start to life he had.

All His Pretty Girls is a fast-paced, breathtaking read and is one that I struggled to put down. This will definitely be making my list of favourite books of 2019 and I sincerely hope that this is not the last we see of Alyssa.