Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn, is not only a novel about the mysterious murders in Camille Preaker's hometown, but also about the individual relationships with her family and the townsfolk. Camille Preaker, a journalist from The Daily Post in Chicago, goes to Wind Gap, Missouri to write an article on the murders of little girls Ann and Natalie. Camille relives her childhood memories there and reconnects with her 13-year-old half-sister Amma, who hides her differences behind her popularity at school. After meeting Richard, a detective from Kansas City, Camille discovers the most unsettling truth of the murders of the little girls, but also about the murder of her sister Marian decades ago. The book has so many different plot twists, and I simply couldn't put the book down. Gillian Flynn's writing style is casual and conversation-like, making it easier for the reader to engage and stay hooked. I would recommend this book to any reader who's looking for a thrilling murder mystery with family trauma and small-town gossip but can handle the burdens of Camille's life. Content Warning: sex, abuse, drug-use.
- A.D. 10th-grade teen volunteer