Bright Young Women: A Novel

Bright Young Women follows two women pursuing justice against a serial killer. The novel opens on a Saturday night in 1978, hours before a murderer attacks a Florida sorority house. Among the survivors is Pamela Schumacher, a sorority president and key witness whose life is forever changed. Across the country, Tina Cannon becomes convinced that her missing friend was targeted by the same man—referred to in the papers as the All-American Sex Killer—and that he has struck again. Determined to find answers, the two women join forces in a search that leads to a final confrontation. The novel blends psychological suspense and true crime, focusing on the victims and survivors rather than the murderer himself. It examines cultural attitudes toward serial killers and true crime. The book was a New York Times Notable Book of 2023, an Instant New York Times Bestseller, a Goodreads Choice Award Finalist, and an Edgar Award Finalist for Best Novel. It was named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, The Washington Post, Harper's Bazaar, Kirkus Reviews, CrimeReads, and Booklist.