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Bright Young Women cover art

Bright Young Women

By: Jessica Knoll
Narrated by: Chris Henry Coffey, Corey Brill, Imani Jade Powers, Sutton Foster
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Summary

'A compelling, almost hypnotic read' - Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of None of This is True

Bright Young Women is a compulsive, extraordinary novel inspired by the real-life sorority targeted by America's first celebrity serial killer in his final murderous spree. From Jessica Knoll, author of the New York Times bestseller and #1 Netflix movie Luckiest Girl Alive.

January 1978. Tallahassee. When sorority president Pamela Schumacher is startled awake at 3 a.m. by a strange sound, she’s shocked to encounter a scene of implausible violence – two of her friends dead and two others, maimed. Thrust into a terrifying mystery, Pamela becomes entangled in a crime that captivates public interest for more than four decades . . .

On the other side of the country, Tina Cannon has found peace in Seattle after years of hardship. When Ruth, her best friend, goes missing from Lake Sammamish State Park in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of beachgoers on a beautiful summer day, Tina devotes herself to finding out what happened to her.

When Tina hears about the tragedy in Tallahassee, she suspects the same man the papers refer to is responsible. Determined to make him answer for what he did to Ruth, she travels to Florida on a collision course with Pamela – and one last impending tragedy.

Praise for Bright Young Women:

'Jessica Knoll at her best: an unflinching and evocative novel' - Laura Dave, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me

'Cleverly constructed [. . .] psychologically astute and written with flair' -
The Sunday Times

'This book is extraordinary' - Catherine Ryan-Howard, author of Run Time

©2023 Jessica Knoll (P)2023 Simon and Schuster Audio

What listeners say about Bright Young Women

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Staggeringly good!

Written from perspectives we never usually hear when we hear ‘serial killer’, this is a captivating book. Hard to put down and speaks to a wider view of women’s lives and condition. This book shocks and appalls but yet there’s so much more in it that every woman will recognise and identify with. Such astute observations of character and beautifully written. The narration is perfect too. Probably the best thing I’ve read this year. Read it, read it!

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Listen to this…

I started this with no clue or understanding that it’s a story written within a factual timeline. To listen to a crime book with such a great lean towards the victims and survivors, loved ones and friends was brilliant. Belittling the killer and the myths. Superbly written and up there with best book Iv heard in a while. 5/5 from me.

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The story we all need know

TBH the story of the defendant in this story has always nauseated me. This is the story we should all care about. It was told so well, the beautiful details of the young women’s relationships with those they were closest to will stay with me for a very long time.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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We need more books like these!

We tend to focus on killers but forget the victims. I know that this is a fictionalised version of events but really felt enlightening.

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Gripping story, easy listening performance

Very good performances from the 2 main voice actors for the main 2 characters meant I was pulled into the story immediately. A couple of "oh damn" moments towards the end meant this was an excellent listen!

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Brilliant perspective from the people who matter

What a fantastic representation of the survivors, and honour to the victims. Highly recommend reading this perspective, which scrapes away at the glamorisation of the character of ‘the defendant’.

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Complex and intriguing

I took me a while to get into the sway of jumping from person to person, and time to time but once I did, it was great. Narrators were fabulous and differentiated the characters from One another perfectly. Clever book with intriguing characters. Loved it!

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  • HC
  • 11-04-24

I loved it

This is a fantastic listen from start to finish. The characters are so engaging and the sexism so damn believable sadly.

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Powerful and moving

An insightful retelling of a famous story from a different angle which, really hooked me in. This book really made me consider my previous listening to true crime in a new way which, I am thankful for.

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Fantastic

This is worth the listen, devoured it in a couple of days. Narrated very well

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