Some girl dies. Film editor Marissa has read better loglines for films, but still jumps at the chance to travel to a small island to work with the legendary - and legendarily demanding - director Tony Rees. But she soon discovers that on this set, nothing is as it seems. There are rumours of accidents and indiscretions, of burgeoning scandals and perilous schemes. In the midst of this chaos, Marissa is herself drawn into an amateur investigation of the real-life murder that is the movie's central subject. The only problem is, the killer may still be on the loose. And he might not be finished.

"A fine comic writer" - The Times, Crime Book of the Month

"Part of the fun is figuring out L.A. film editor Marissa Dahl...an engaging narrator who's up for [solving the crime], her encyclopaedic knowledge of cinema serving as her north star" - Los Angeles Times

"Funny, fast-paced, and a pleasure to read" - Wall Street Journal

"Elizabeth Little's fantastic new book is part parable of the film industry, part feminist thriller, and part ode to the rise of the true crime podcast" - CrimeReads, Best Psychological Thrillers of 2020

"One of the year's most anticipated thrillers" - Bustle

"A valentine to the intoxications of filmmaking and film-viewing" - New York Times Book Review

"Both a captivating thriller and a snarkily funny send-up of Hollywood pretensions, the book glories in movie references - film fans will be especially rewarded" - The Seattle Times

"Pre-order this one now. Go ahead, put it in your basket... Little has an extraordinary gift for capturing voice... She depicts perfectly what it feels like to be a little different and on the outside... Startling plot twists. I can't recommend this one highly enough" - Crimespree Magazine

"The standout feature of Pretty as a Picture is its idiosyncratic heroine, whose observational skills and deductive reasoning make her a true twenty-first century rival of Sherlock Holmes" - Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

"Murder and mayhem plague a film set on a secluded island... Readers fascinated with the behind-the-scenes machinations of a movie set will be enthralled, plus there's a frisson of romantic tension... A quirky and distinctive heroine headlines this fun and fast-paced thriller loaded with cinematic flourishes" - Kirkus Reviews

"Little scores with the achingly vulnerable Marissa, whose specific set of skills enables her to see the big picture before anyone else. Psychological thriller fans will be well satisfied" - Publishers Weekly

"Half the fun in Pretty as a Picture-Elizabeth Little's follow-up to the excellent Dear Daughter-lies in its narrator's singular, knowledgeable, and savagely funny voice... A suspenseful thriller with an entertaining play on the locked-room mystery trope, Pretty as a Picture more than cements Little's reputation as a spectacularly sharp and captivating writer" - Seattle Review of Books

"Little once again delivers a dark, witty thriller. Movie fans will be delighted with the behind-the-scenes setting and the numerous cinematic references... This character-driven whodunit is mainly propelled by Marissa, an intelligent, charming protagonist whose neurodiversity is well portrayed" - Library Journal

"An unconventional crime novel with an unconventional heroine and an uncommonly high dose of humor" - Chicago Tribune

"The California writer's prose style is so nimble and engaging, her dialogue so smart and quippy, you'd follow her anywhere. . . . A sharply detailed satire of movie-set misbehavior and Hollywood's absurd sense of entitlement, filtered through the cynical eye of an under-appreciated editor" - Air Mail

"An exciting locked-room mystery that touches on domineering personalities, art and the #MeToo movement, helmed by an unconventional heroine... Little's cinematic eye and affinity for strong plotting guide the fascinating Pretty as a Picture as the author smoothly goes behind the scenes of moviemaking while delving into characters' psyches... Little's debut novel, Dear Daughter, was a standout of 2014. Pretty as a Picture seals her as an author to watch" - Associated Press

"Pretty as a Picture is propelled by a sharp, sardonic voice and an engaging protagonist. . . . The novel includes many film references to delight cinephiles, and the mystery will keep readers guessing, but the main attractions are Marissa and her vivid inner life" - Shelf Awareness for Readers

"A fun, slightly eerie, definitely scary look at real murder in a make-believe world" - New York Journal of Books

"Very funny... This book celebrates women who have each other's backs and put their friends ahead of their men" - The New York Times Book Review

"The perfect murder mystery... If you're looking for an intriguing yet ultimately heartwarming murder mystery novel that you will absolutely read in only one or two sittings, ignoring your responsibilities (it's that gripping!), Pretty as a Picture is the book for you" - Hypable

"I failed to guess how much I would love this book. . . . Little's style of writing in this book was perfect. . . . Any cinephile will enjoy this book. . . . Add in a colorful cast of characters and murder, and you've got something irresistible" - City Book Review

"Like the best of cinema, Pretty as a Picture seduces with its surface charms only to ultimately sustain you with the depth of its subtext... Told with biting humor, keen intellect, and detailed precision, this is both a meta mystery and sharp satire that solidifies Elizabeth Little's place among the genre's most compelling and original talents" - Criminal Element

"--Praise for Elizabeth Little--" - ..

"Any cinephile will enjoy this book. All the movie quotes and references alone were worth it, but add in a colorful cast of characters and murder, and you've got something irresistible" - Manhattan Book Review