throwaway girls

Throwaway Girls is a Kirkus Best Books of 2020!!

https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/files/Kirkus_120120_Best_of_2_Online.pdf

“This haunting debut infused with social commentary on privilege and power is one that readers looking for suspense will enjoy. The author uses the relationships between characters, the second narrator shrouded in mystery, and the overall sinister, menacing tone to create a captivating tension that will keep readers going until the end.

A smart, memorable mystery.”

— Kirkus -- STARRED Review

“An extraordinary debut, THROWAWAY GIRLS brings to mind Kara Thomas’s and Megan Miranda’s brand of dark contemporary thrillers, with a resourceful, unapologetically defiant voice, a skillfully crafted mystery, and stunningly powerful prose. Taut, poignant, and utterly cinematic, I couldn’t put this book down.”

— Elle Cosimano, Edgar Award Nominee and International Thriller Award Nominee, and author of NEARLY GONE, HOLDING SMOKE and SEASONS OF THE STORM

“Atmospheric and haunting, Throwaway Girls is a missing girl mystery with a fierce social conscious and writing so lush, it will leave you gasping for air.”

— Kit Frick, author of See All the Stars, All Eyes on Us, and I Killed Zoe Spanos

“Throwaway Girls made my heart pound and break at the same time. I couldn’t put it down!”

— Amanda Panitch, author of Damage Done and Never Missing, Never Found

“An atmospheric, beautifully written debut, THROWAWAY GIRLS keeps the reader in suspense til its final page, while also deftly tackling serious topics. Contos is a writer to watch. Put THROWAWAY GIRLS on your 2020 must read list. You do not want to miss it!”

— Liz Lawson, author of The Lucky Ones

A timely edge-of-your-seat thriller from a debut writer to watch.

Caroline Lawson is three months away from freedom, otherwise known as graduation day. That's when she'll finally escape her rigid prep school and the parents who thought they could convert her to being straight.

Until then, Caroline is keeping her head down, pretending to be the perfect student even though she is crushed by her family and heartbroken over the girlfriend who left for California.

But when her best friend Madison disappears, Caroline feels compelled to get involved in the investigation. She has her own reasons not to trust the police, and she owes Madison --- big time.

Suddenly Caroline realizes how little she knew of what her friend was up to. Caroline has some uncomfortable secrets about the hours before Madison disappeared, but they're nothing compared to the secrets Madison has been hiding. And why does Mr. McCormack, their teacher, seem to know so much about them?

It's only when Caroline discovers other missing girls that she begins to close in on the truth. Unlike Madison, the other girls are from the wrong side of the tracks. Unlike Madison's, their disappearances haven't received much attention. Caroline is determined to find out what happened to them and why no one seems to notice. But as every new discovery leads Caroline closer to the connection between these girls and Madison, she faces an unsettling truth.

There's only one common denominator between the disappearances: Caroline herself.

Andrea Contos's debut is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. The suspense never lets up, even as the story raises important questions about class differences and how they are reflected in law enforcement. And the multilayered plot unfolds from two alternating points of view, making for dramatic changes in tone and pace throughout.

With its unforeseeable twists involving an intriguing and intertwined cast of characters, this dark and moody story will keep readers guessing till the very end.

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