Horrific serial killer Ted Bundy - who murdered at least 30 women in seven states between 1974 and 1978 - has been portrayed as intelligent, sharp, cunning, clever, wily, charming and so on. In the opinion of author Jessica Knoll, this erroneous portrayal is (at least partly) a 'cover up' by incompetent law enforcement officials who - after Bundy was arrested for multiple murders - allowed the killer to escape again and again. On the loose, Bundy continued his killing spree. Rather than take the blame, the authorities depicted Bundy as some kind of manipulative genius, which Knoll believes is patently untrue.

This novel, inspired by Bundy, depicts the unnamed character Knoll calls 'the defendant' as arrogant and academically challenged. In the book, the defendant attended a third-rate law school, because "despite hundreds of hours of preparation, his Law School Aptitude Test results were mediocre and his performance on the grammar part of the exam below high school level." Moreover, the defendant failed out of even this sub-par law school.

Rather than aggrandize the serial killer - as newspapers, books, documentaries, movies, television shows, podcasts, etc. - tend to do, Knoll focuses on the lives of several women impacted by the murderer.

As the story opens, it's a Saturday night in January 1978, and Pamela Schumacher, president of the smartest sorority at Florida State University in Tallahassee, is organizing the group's annual blood drive. Meanwhile, Pamela's sorority sisters, including her best friend Denise Andora, are leaving the sorority house to party with their fraternity brethren.

Later that night, at 3:00 AM, Pamela is awoken by hunger pangs and goes downstairs to make herself a peanut butter sandwich. Hearing a noise, Pamela sees a man with what looks like a child's baseball bat dart down the stairs and out the front door. Luckily, the shadow of the stairwell made it so Pamela could see the intruder, but he could not see her.

That night the defendant kills two of Pamela's sorority sisters, Denise Andora and Robbie Shepherd; maims two others, Jill Hoffman and Eileen Neilson; and beats up a young woman down the street.

During the media brouhaha that follows the terrible incident, Pamela Schumacher meets a woman named Tina Cannon, from Seattle, Washington. Tina is certain the defendant killed her friend, Ruth Wachowsky, four years ago. In July 1974, Ruth and another woman went missing from Seattle's Lake Sammamish State Park, and Ruth's body was never found.

Pamela and Tina pair up with a journalist called Carl Wallace to look into the defendant's criminal history. They learn that the defendant entered law school in Utah in 1974, and that's when women in the Salt Lake City area began to disappear. When one victim managed to escape and identify the defendant, he was arrested and extradited to Colorado, to stand trial for killing a woman there. That was when "law enforcement shit the bed." In Colorado the defendant engineered two escapes, one from a law library and one from a jail cell. He then went on to kill more women.

When Pamela, Tina, and newsman Carl go to Colorado to get information about the defendant's escapes, the police and prison officials are uncooperative, and - to explain away their ineptitude - opine that the defendant was "a force beyond anyone's control." This infuriates Pamela and Tina, who want it made clear that incompetent law enforcement contributed to the later murders at Florida State University.

Once the defendant is arrested for his crimes in Florida, Pamela must prepare herself to testify against him. This is a difficult and grueling experience, especially because the cocky defendant acts as his own attorney.

As trial preparations go on, flashbacks to the past flesh out the lives of Pamela, Tina, and Ruth, all of whom were victims, directly or indirectly, of the serial killer.

Since much of the story is set in the latter part of the 20th century, when the women's movement and LGBTQ+ rights were less established than now, Pamela, Tina, and Ruth are variously impacted by homophobia, sexism, misogyny, male chauvinism, etc. In addition, the women experience personal difficulties such as family dysfunction, bad parents, selfish boyfriends, sad losses, and so on. Thus, in addition to deflating the mystique surrounding the serial killer, author Jessica Knoll tackles issues pertinent to the women's private lives.

Knoll's approach is an effective way to deglamorize the serial killer and focus instead on women impacted by his terrible crimes. Still, it's important to understand the psychology of serial killers, most of whom seem to have troubled histories, in an effort to prevent such atrocities in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Knoll, and S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for a copy of the book.

Great read! I am a true crime junky and I loved this retelling of the Ted Bundy serial killings! Jessica Knoll takes the power from the killer and gives it back to the victims and their loved ones. Her use of strong, well developed female characters flips the narrative commonly found in thrillers. I can’t wait for this to hit the screen!

Short synopsis: Based on the true crime “celebrity serial killer” but from the perspective of a friend of the victims in the sorority house in Tallahassee Florida.

My thoughts: This was spooky and scary, because it really happened. I had to read this one during the daylight because it was giving me nightmares.

I really liked that the killer was known only as “The Defendant” throughout the book, his actual name is only used one time and it’s only his first name. I also liked that it leaned more towards the victims and finding justice for them. They should be remembered!

There were parts in the story that came across as a bit confusing, or unimportant…. But overall I was engrossed throughout the entire story and couldn’t wait to watch it unravel!

Read if you love:
* True crime
* Justice for victims
* Sorority sisters
* Flashback chapters
* Multiple perspectives

Bright Young Women is about some of the women affected by a serial killer that targets young women. Pamela is the president of her sorority and had stayed in one night. When she was woken up by a strange noise and continued her tour of the house since the chandelier was on when it shouldn't have been and some of her sisters had left a mess, she gets a good look at the man who is fleeing the house. On an earlier timeline, Ruth is staying with her mother after her father passes and her marriage has ended. Due to an occurrence during her school years, Ruth has complicated feelings towards her parents and is learning how to stand up for herself. When she comes upon a complicated grief program, she meets Tina and begins to find herself. After Ruth goes missing on the busiest beach day of the year, Tina is determined to find out what happened to her.

The story is told from the POV of Pamela and Ruth, with the timeline jumping around. The killer is mostly referred to as "The Defendant" so as to not give him any more notoriety. Instead, the story focuses on the women who were trying to get justice for the women they loved that were murdered by him. It also paints a good picture of how they had to remain composed so as not to appear "too emotional" and the ways they made sure the men around them felt smarter. Obviously, there are graphic and disturbing scenes, but for the most part I didn't find them to be too graphic. There is a scene where Pamela is being questioned by The Defendant and one of the members of his team that I did find incredibly disturbing, but that was more to do with The Defendant's behavior and reasoning for his line of questioning. I did find the pacing of the story to be a little slow, which is the only complaint I had to knock it down to 4 stars. The writing was wonderful, the character development was fantastic, and the portrayal of the women and The Defendant was very satisfying.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon Element for an advance copy of this book.

I am not a true crime junkie but some stories pull me in, like this one. How many victims of serial killers can you name? Probably not many or zero. Do you know the name Ted Bundy? Yep, thought so. How messed up is that. This story takes a unique perspective and names the victims so we focus on them and calls the killer “the defendant” to take power away from his name. It’s such a small detail but I think it makes a world of difference. I read this in a day as I was immediately hooked. It’s very character driven, which I enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book! Great for thriller and true crime fans. Also covers the complexity of relationships in a really beautiful and real way. I knocked one star off because of how obvious it was the Defendant was basically Ted Bundy. I’m sure that was intentional, but I think it would have been more unique if he wasn’t so similar. Overall a great read!

It’s Florida in 1978 and a soon to be infamous serial killer is about to enter a sorority house. Surviving the gruesome attack is Pamela, the sorority president. Across the country, Tina, thinks her friend was also murdered by the same person. They soon join forces to bring the killer to justice.

This book is based on a true crime and can be very descriptive at times of murder and sexual assault so if you are sensitive to that, be warned. I was so happy to be able to read this book, I loved all of Jessica Knoll’s books and this was probably my favorite! There are multiple time lines weaved through the book which kept this book face paced and me wanting to read on and on. It also brings up themes of misogyny and sexuality which complicates the road to justice. I love how Knoll does not even mention the serial killer’s name making sure this book focuses on the victims!

This book truly had the potential to be 5 stars. It is a story similar to that of the Ted Bundy murders. It intrigued me and I was pretty hooked from the beginning...until the jumping of timelines became so hard to keep up with. I usually love multiple perspectives and books that span across many years, but the author jumped around so much I felt like I was getting whiplash. I feel like this type of writing would have benefited from a before and after type of book.

A gripping books with uneasy characters. This was a great read. It felt like all the strings were attached at the end.

Was a bit hard to follow, but did appreciate the pacing and cuts to multiple timelines and perspectives. The beginning was unnecessarily dark and haunting, and could have greatly been softened to still achieve same effect.

Really interesting approach here to a story that has obviously been told so many times. All of the women were drawn with such specificity and tenderness, which I think is ultimately the point of the book: giving these women all the treatment they never got at the time. The last 25% meanders more than it should, but overall a strong book with a very compelling perspective. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for this review.

Somewhere between a 3.5 and 4.

Inspired by Ted Bundy, Bright Young Women is a character-driven, true crime story told through dual POVs and timelines. I originally opted for the audiobook (I LOVE Sutton Foster); however, the two narrators' voices were pretty similar, and the nonlinear timeline made it difficult to follow. One of the most remarkable parts of this story is that the Ted Bundy character is solely referred to as "The Defendant," taking power away from his personal identity and allowing the reader to focus on the victims' names and stories instead. This one started off really story, and I enjoyed some of the sub-plots, but there were sections where it also dragged.

Read if you like:
-True crime
-Character-driven stories
-Victim-centric stories
-LGBTQIA+ representation
-Nonlinear timelines
-Dual POVs

I recently finished the arc of bright young women by Jessica Knoll.

Bright Young Women is based on the real life murders of two sorority members by Ted Bundy.

I rated Bright Young Women four stars. I enjoyed the main character Pamela a lot. I deducted one star from my rating because it was a very close retelling of Ted Bundy so there was not a lot of suspense for me.

If you liked The Girls by Emma Cline and the movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile abut Ted Bundy, you’ll like Bright Young Women

One of my favorites for 2023, hands down. This is a complex true crime thriller that follows a serial killer making his way around the United States, somehow escaping the law multiple times over. The story focuses mainly on the victims and those working hard to bring them justice, NOT the serial killer. I love how Knoll doesn't even name him, simply titling him "The Defendant".

I was so frustrated to read how women were treated in the 70's, not taken seriously, and seeing the significant impact that had on his delayed imprisonment and prolonged trial. Some parts of this book were difficult to read, and while this is a work of fiction, its storyline is parallel to many terrible acts in the 70's and 80's.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own. This book is out September 19, 2023

This book has it all: a serial killer, a sorority house, and lots of suspense leading up to the conclusion! Beginning with Pamela who is the chapter president of The House, the novel details her discovery of young women attacked and left for dead, even as she catches a quick glimpse of the intruder. And we're off...! Alternating in time from 1978 to 2021, the book is loosely based on real crimes as witness Pamela tries to make sense of what she saw, what she heard, and what other's reactions are. It's a fascinating look at how families, loved ones, and outsiders react when confronted with horrific crimes as suspicions run rampant in the efforts to protect other young women. Fast-paced and chilling, the book reminds us all to be vigilant as even the most un-assuming men can be capable of more than is ever imagined!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

As a young woman, I understand every aspect of this novel deeply. Even though most of us don’t deal with serial killers, we deal with men who harm and invalidate us in a million other ways. Knoll’s prose is gripping, and the plot never drags; every scene is necessary to paint the entire picture. My main gripe lies in the fact that I don’t know if a rich girl was the best vessel in which to tell this story. She had access to resources that most of us can only dream of having. However, it does go to show that no amount of wealth or privilege can shield you from misogyny.

Thanks to @Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

While i would not recommend this book electronically, i would recommend it in paper form. This book has chapters that vary between different characters and different time periods. it would be easier to keep track with a physical book.

i was completely entertained. i was hoping for a little more, but overall a good solid read.

Thank you NetGalley & Simon Element for this advance copy.
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I don’t usually enjoy fictional true crime books based on real life events. For me, they read like the author is exploiting the victim’s trauma for personal gain. I did not feel that was the case with Bright Young Women. If anything, Knoll downplays the grizzly parts and honors the victims and the women who fought for justice by bringing them to life through this slow paced character study. She paints a picture of how society, the media and the judicial system treated women during the late 1970s. We also get the coming of age stories, family dynamics and expectations that shaped these women. There were a few things throughout the story that felt oddly placed and the erratic pacing created confusion in some places. For the most part, it all wrapped up in a profound conclusion. Bright Young Women is wholly unique and rife with book club discussion topics. I’m really torn on how to rate this one, because even though I had a few quibbles, this book will stick with me for a long time.

Bright Young Women follows the story of the murders of two college women in their fraternity house, commited by a serial killer on the run. Pamela, the sorority's president and only eyewitness, makes her purpose to put the killer behind bars and never hurt another woman ever again. During the investigation, Pamela meets Tina, who is also seeking justice for the murder of her friend Ruth.

This book includes Pamela's POV both during the time of the murders and present time, and Ruth's, leading to the events of her unfortunate encounter with "The Defendant". I personally found Ruth's story way more interesting than Pamela's, but the both tellings worked very good together. As a good thriller, the author throws some hints here and there about some facts that are later revealed, but weren't well explained as I would have liked. For example, why and how Ruth's father died. It is hinted, but not totally confirmed. This guessing will make this book great for debates on book clubs, for sure.

Overall a great book with outstanding writing that kept me at the edge on my seat. It's perfect to read in a couple seatings.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc.

Thank you to the publisher for this eARC. As a fan of true crime, I'm happy to see a thriller that is based on some of the famous serial killers of the 70s. However, it deviates from the norm in that this story intertwines two narratives and several time periods. Though some might consider these competing narratives confusing, the headings at the change of chapters make it clear. The pacing is fantastic - whenever I put the book down, I would be thinking about it. I've read plenty of thrillers, but the focus on the female victims instead of the perspective of the killer himself, not even deigning to give him the glory of a name, embodies the new focus of contemporary true crime writing. The ending and the lead-up to it was so satisfying.