Killer
Author: Sara Shepard
ISBN: 9780061566134

*Spoilers ahead if you haven’t read any of the books in the Pretty Little Liars series

Killer, the sixth book in the intriguing Pretty Little Liars series begins with our four favorite girls discovering Ian’s dead body in the woods. When they go to the cops for help and return, the body is gone. From this point on, the girls are labeled “pretty little liars” in the media, and the cops are wary to trust anything they say.

This book deviates from the norm thus far in that we delve more into each girl’s personal story. Aria struggles with her mom’s new relationship with Xavier, a guy Aria had met and flirted with at an art opening. Emily finally has the perfect boyfriend, but his mom hates her and will do anything to end the relationship. Spencer thinks she’s adopted and begins the search for her birth mom. Hanna will do anything to steal the spotlight from her almost step-sister Kate, even if it means dating someone she isn’t sure she’s really into.

All of this drama culminates in a fiery, shocking ending that brings all four girls face to face with the one person they never thought they’d see again- Ali.

As I read through some reviews of this book on Goodreads, I found myself agreeing with a few people who mentioned that the repetition of scenes bothered them. This book often dives a few years into the past on the night that Ali disappeared always adding a new clue or two. I like the suspense, and I love uncovering the details right along with the girls, but I do agree that I’m getting  a little bit sick of reading the same descriptions book after book.

The book seemed to be lagging until we got to those last few intense chapters. From there, I was hooked and I didn’t put the book down until the shocking ending. I was seriously left with my jaw on the ground and ran out to the bookstore immediately to pick up the seventh book in the series, Heartless.

4/5

Heartless
Author: Sara Shepard
ISBN: 9780061566165

Heartless by Sara Shepard is the seventh and second to last book in the Pretty Little Liars series. Like I mentioned above, I picked this book up immediately after finishing Killer. I did not want to wait to find out what would happen next.

This seventh installment begins with Ali, Aria, Spencer and Hanna laying in the smoky woods after seeing Ali. They are immediately taken to the hospital, where doctors tell them that they hallucinated seeing Ali due to smoke inhalation. The girls are all reeling after their fiery ordeal.

In this book, A influences all four girls in different ways. A sends a note to Hanna’s dad and she is sent to a mental institution. Aria goes to a seance to communicate with Ali again. Spencer goes through her dad’s hard drive and uncovers a terrible and hidden secret. A even convinces Emily to go to Lancaster and pretend to be Amish where she learns the truth about Darren Wilden.  A has our four girls wrapped around her finger.

When all girls are arrested and later released, they discover one more terrible secret. A has struck again…and killed another girl on Rosewood.

Oh man, I tore through this book so quickly. I had chills as I read the final pages and when my phone rang in the middle of a chapter, I jumped a mile out of my seat. Shepard truly knows how to write a mystery. I don’t know how she kept all the details straight, but her writing style kept me glued to the page.

One book left! I’ll be picking it up this week, hopefully!

5/5