What We Thought: Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

Beautiful Lies

by Lisa Unger

November 13, 2014

Beautiful Lies is a character driven fast paced psychological thriller with a storyline about how the consequences of a good deed reveals the sad truth of  the early life of Ridley Jones, the main character. Ridley’s story is revealed with the help of a new neighbor, Jake. He enters her life at a time when she has questions about a long term relationship with a former boyfriend and family friend, Zack

The focus of the story is about child abuse and rescue, adoption, and the unintended consequences of good intentions gone badly. Family secrets spiral out of control to reveal concealed truths about parents, siblings, her Uncle Max, family friends, biological and adoptive parents, and lost children. Events in the story are realistic and readers said that the family dynamics of adoption likely could have happened. Ridley was not close to her mother but was indulged by her rich Uncle Max. Her father was supportive of her and her brother Ace was a lost soul addicted to drugs.

Another theme was that of choice and how important freedom was to Ridley. She was determined to uncover the true relationships of her adoptive and biological families and her place in both. Upstairs neighbor Jake is determined to find out about his early life and how both of them are connected to each other.

Readers liked the conversational style of the story along with the first-person narration. Book club members agreed that issues about adoption raised in the story were less likely to be the same in the younger generation today. This led to a discussion of how readers raised their own children. Children are raised in a more permissive society, and secrecy -- although it surely exists -- is not as prevalent as in previous generations. Open adoption and the Safe Haven law were discussed as examples.

Readers are ready to read Sliver of Truth, the next book in the Ridley Jones series.

This Month's Selection: Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

Holmes Mystery Readers

Beautiful Lies
by Lisa Unger

Tues., Nov. 19
2:00 p.m.

What if your family was a lie? What if your name was a lie? 

 What if your whole life was just a pack of Beautiful Lies?

If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the lie she used to call her perfect life. Instead, she’s in the wrong place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that begins with a mysterious package on her doorstep. A package that informs her that her entire world is just an illusion. Forced to question everything she knows about herself, Ridley wanders into dark territory, where everyone is hiding something.

First in the Ridley Jones series.

What We Thought: Vanished by Joseph Finder

Mystery Readers Book Club

October 16, 2014

Vanished by Joseph Finder

Vanished is an action-packed story of suspense full of mysterious plot twists leaving readers wondering what was going on and who were the good guys. How could we know if the characters were actually good or bad? The readers had to come to their own conclusions, and not everyone agreed.

Several readers did think that the story was written more for guys because of the action and associations with guns and military activities. To appeal more to these traditional female readers, the author may want to tone down the technical details of his stories and add some romantic scenes in future books.

The character of Gabe, nephew of hero Nick Heller, was well drawn. He was accurately portrayed as a typical adolescent and added flavor to the drama of the intense characters and their secret, malevolent agendas. Nick’s sister-in-law Lauren was not a sympathetic character as the story went along and most readers didn’t like her. Of course her husband Roger, Nick’s brother was totally portrayed as a soulless psychopath. It is a good thing that Gabe is his stepson and most likely will end up going into business with his Uncle Nick.

This book prompted a lot of discussion about the background stories of the characters, both major and minor, and their connections to each other. Also, were these people sincere or just playing around with people for their own benefit? Dysfunctional relationships; family, business and criminal were definitely themes that drove the characters in their desire for wealth and power.

Even at the conclusion of the book questions remained. Who was Candi Dupont? Readers will have to look at Joseph Finder’s second Nick Heller book, Buried Secrets, for more answers to what makes Nick Heller tick.

Have you read Vanished? Do you agree or disagree with the group's  opinion? Feel free to add your voice in the comments and become a virtual member of the monthly Mystery Readers Book Club!

This Month's Selection: Vanished by Joseph Finder

Vanished
by Joseph Finder
Thursday, Oct. 16
2:00 p.m.

The only one with any chance of finding Roger is his brother, Nick. A private spy trained in the Special Forces, Nick Heller specializes in digging up secrets that those of influence would rather keep hidden. He and Roger have been estranged for years, ever since a bitter scandal tore their family apart. But Nick will do anything to protect Lauren and his nephew—even if it means taking on the most lethal enemy he’s ever faced.
Plunged headlong into a desperate chase, Nick begins making shocking discoveries about Roger’s life—and his own. As he finds himself embroiled in a very personal, high-stakes investigation, Nick must take on a powerful and deadly conspiracy that will stop at nothing—and spare no one—to protect its secrets…

What We Thought: Alone by Lisa Gardner

Alone by Lisa Gardner

Alone is a classic mystery and psychological thriller with a complex storyline that requires a reader’s close attention to detail in order to follow the action and discover the answer to what really happened on the night in Boston’s Back Bay when a police sniper shot and killed a husband who appeared to be threatening his wife and young son with a gun. Catherine Gagnon, the dead husband’s wife and alleged victim, was able to insinuate herself into the life of Bobby Dodge of the Massachusetts State Police and wreak havoc with his career and  relationships. 

Although everything was resolved by the end of the book, readers were surprised by the convoluted lives of characters who were introduced along the way. Did Catherine set up Bobby and was she responsible for murder? Why was a Judge involving himself in a murder investigation? Why was the doctor and the ADA murdered? What does a puppy have to do with a serial killer? This book prompted a lot of discussion about the motives and backgrounds of all of the main characters. Survivor’s guilt was definitely a theme that was discussed as a motive of more than one character; Bobby alone on the roof, Catherine alone in her captivity and Richard, the serial killer alone in solitary confinement. Members realized that Catherine may not be finished with her mayhem and plan to read more about her in Gardner’s second book, Hide.

Readers thoroughly enjoyed the author’s first book in her D.D. Warren series, and look forward to the next meeting and discussion of Vanished, the first book in the Nick Heller series by Joseph Finder.