Harmless...yeah. We'll stick with that, sure.
Five stars. I lost sleep and procrastinated my to-do list. That’s my gold-standard rating system, and Harmless Women earned it.
This fast-paced thriller follows three women: Avalon, Prim, and Bianca. Avalon is a con artist who drugs Prim, steals her money, gives her a Botox “makeover,” shaves her head to make identification difficult, and leaves her sedated in a remote cabin. Prim, meanwhile, believes she’s headed for a relaxing spa getaway, away from her demanding job and her self-absorbed, cheating husband. Bianca is searching for her missing daughter and slowly losing her grip on reality.
I was hooked from the very first chapter, when Avalon is making preparations for Prim’s “makeover.” The tension only builds from there.
I loved the moral ambiguity in this book. At first, I trusted Prim and hated Avalon. Then I started trusting Avalon and wondering about Prim. Eventually, I found myself rooting for both of them even when there may have been a couple of murders along the way. That kind of character complexity kept me turning pages long past my bedtime.
I also really appreciated the moments when strangers chose to help Avalon and Prim, even though they were on the run and wanted for murder. These characters could have easily turned them in, but instead offered help, adding another layer of humanity to a very dark story and reinforcing how compelling these women became as they fought to survive.
The title Harmless Women is beautifully ironic. Throughout the story, the women are pressured, by men and even by Bianca’s distorted worldview, to be subservient, obedient, and controllable. Instead, these women are strong-willed, intelligent, and determined to survive. This theme of underestimated women stood out to me and made the story even more compelling.
The pacing is fast and the writing style is straightforward, which made this a quick, intense read. The shifting points of view built tension effectively, particularly as Bianca’s storyline became increasingly unsettling. Her descent into instability with flies, filth, and rambling thoughts added a creepy psychological layer that kept me guessing.
I also appreciated the unexpected emotional bond that developed between Avalon and Prim. Both women had suffered immense trauma, and watching them form a connection and become stronger together was one of my favorite parts of the book.
That said, I did have a few minor critiques. Bianca’s role felt somewhat confusing at times, and I wasn’t always sure how her storyline would ultimately connect to Avalon and Prim. I also would have appreciated translations for the French phrases used in a few places in the book. And while I enjoyed the ending, I found myself wishing for an epilogue. These women worked hard for their survival, and I would have loved a glimpse of their happily-ever-after.
Content warnings include violence against women and child abuse.
Overall, this is a dark, fast-paced thriller with morally gray characters, unexpected twists, and a strong theme of underestimated women finding their strength. I would highly recommend this to fans of dark thrillers, psychological suspense, and anyone who doesn’t mind losing sleep to finish “just one more chapter.”
Because this is what happens when independent, intelligent women stop playing nice. I loved every minute of it.
A special thank you to St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
