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…