Such Pretty Flowers by K. L. Cerra ~ a Review

by MK French

Holly received strange messages from her brother Dane prior to his death, which police have called a suicide due to psychosis. She goes to Savannah and meets his girlfriend Maura, a florist involved in the city's high society. In following her and trying to learn more about Dane's death, Holly is drawn to Maura and the dark allure the woman has. As she gets closer to Maura, Holly risks finding out exactly what happened to Dane the hard way.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2023; Bantam; 978-0593500255
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); psychological thriller

Holly and her parents are grieving after Dane's violent apparent suicide following an intense but short bout of psychosis. She initially finds Maura off and a bit creepy, but still moves in with her quickly when her roommate's fiance wants to get a separate condo for the two of them. The two quickly glom onto each other, and it's only partially due to Holly wanting to know more about Dane's final moments. Because Holly doesn't always delve into her own motives for doing anything, we feel her confusion keenly. The repetition of flowers and its images throughout the text adds a dreamy quality to the story, pulling you in just as Maura draws Holly's attention.

The creepy vibe and floral aesthetic of this book are ultimately chilling once we find out what's going on. The final third of the book had me racing through it to find out what happened next. The flowers, tea, and ghostly, haunted atmosphere helped sell the body horror elements that became more prominent at the very end. I don't know what I feel about Maura, but she's compelling and complicated, and I couldn't look away from this book.

Buy Such Pretty Flowers at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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