I enjoyed this book and read it in just two days. I'm not usually a fan of characters talking directly with the reader as if we are having a conversation, but it worked here.

On the downside, the conversations with the reader were too frequent, and the author tried to hammer home her personal philosophy on life ad nauseam.

Still, the story itself was engaging and the premise was original. I would also recommend this book for its main character and her philosophy, just try to put up with her preaching. There are other books in this series, but I don't think I want to read them; I like the way this one ended and left the future open for the characters.

I admit, I read Sliver of Truth before I purchased this novel. I thought I would not enjoy this book because I had already read the ending, the concluding sequel. Surprisingly, this book grabbed me and would not let me go. I admit, some of the conclusions do not mesh with what I remember from the second book, but I feel , if I go back and reread the beginning of Sliver of Truth, the problems will be suitably resolved. Mz Unger has a unique writing style and voice that I enjoy. She engages the reader and occasionally the main character speaks to the reader. I recommend these two books, but don't follow my lead, read this one first!

I'm of a mixed mind as to how to rate this book. The story line did capture my interest and I kept turning pages because I did want to see where Ridley Jones would take me in her extraordinary journey. The story premise was inventive, although I did figure things out well in advance of the author's exposition of the big mystery. By the time I read about it, it was more like, "Well, yeah, no kidding."

The heroine is a blend of level-headed and steady, but with a clearly shallow take on Jake, her love interest. A few too many descriptions of his "ripped" physique wore me down. Her love for her brother, Ace, described as "mythic," was not comprehensible. It's hard to get past Ridley as fairly one-dimensional and uninsightful, in spite of a fair bit of sermonizing on the wisdom of the universe and truisms according to Ridley. No heroine is perfect, though, and you just have to forgive some of it.

There was repetition of description - "aroma" kept catching my eye, and 47 instances of the word "choice" used as in the "you have to make a choice." I felt beaten over the head by it. And on the topic of description, there was way too much narrative and recollection. I would much prefer to see a scene and infer the message than to be told over and over how people are, what they think and why. There were also a couple of POV shifts that caught me.

Most grating of all, though, was the constant shift to talking to the reader. There were countless instances of this, and each time, I was reminded that I was reading instead of getting lost in the story. I don't want to be talked to by the author.

As a first novel, it ain't bad, but it could have used a lot more editing. The beginning was disjointed and frustrating, and the ending went on interminably. Just when I though we were done, I turned the page and there was another chapter. To be fair, there was one really nice surprise in the book that was nicely handled and pleasing. So all in all, I'd rate this book as 2 stars.

Ridley's life was comfortably norma until the day she dashed out into traffic to save a toddler from being mowed over by an out of control driver. From the moment her photo was plastered across tabloids and papers and she experienced her 15 minutes of fame as a hero, her life as she knew it was over. After receiving a cryptic letter and photo saying she was not who she thought she was, Ridley ends up following a convoluted and dangerous path that has her questioning everything - and everyone - she's ever believed in.

This was an exciting novel! Different from what I normally read, I was immediately pulled in by the deepening mystery. No complaints here!!

I must admit I started reading this book when it first came out and after about 70 pages it didn't do much for me so I stopped reading it. I just finished reading Lisa Unger's third novel BLACK OUT - a stand alone novel not about Ridley Jones like her first two. It was one of the best books I have ever read so I had to revisit this book and am I ever so glad I did.

I did find the beginning 70 pages again to be slow but after that Lisa Unger truly comes into her own and provides a subperb edge of your seat thriller with nail biting suspense. Her novels have a level of depth and the story is a highly entertaining journey that results with a very plausible and satisfying conclusion. Her characters are very believable and she does an excellent job of revealing their true personalities slowly so that many appear mysterious and end up not being what they first appeared at all. She is also an expert at dropping the red herrings - realistic plot developments with twists and turns that will shock you and keep the pages quickly turning. Even if you thing you know what is going on you will be shocked at how she masterfully brings all the pieces together.

The novel begings with Ridley Jones jumping in front of a car to save a little boy and the media attention of her actions brings her face to the attention of many people. She receives a picture of a little girl with two adults and she looks like the woman. The picture asks ARE YOU MY DAUGHTER? Thus begins the mezmerizing journey. Ridley turns to those closest to her and slowly all the comforts of the life she thought she was living slowly disolve. Those she trust suddenly seem to have ulterior motives and secrets seem to be running rampant. She meets a new man Jake who seems to bring much needed intimacy and trust to her life but then she wonders if she can even trust him. She suddenly doesn't know who anybody really is.

The plot builds with amazing suspense as it tells a very believable story. The title BEAUTIFUL LIES means something very important in this book. But are beautiful lies a good or bad thing? Lisa Unger is now one of my favorite authors. She writes with intelligence and provides no holds barred thrillers with never ending suspense. If you have not read her yet give this book a shot. You will be very glad you did. This very talented author will probably become a favorite of yours too.

Excellent debut.