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    Beautiful Lies: A Novel
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    Beautiful Lies: A Novel
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    Beautiful Lies: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Beautiful Lies: A Novel

    Written by Lisa Unger

    Narrated by Ann Marie Lee

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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 beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect-with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole.

    But that's not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door-a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.

    Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who's on her side and who has something to hide-even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.

    Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a true literary thriller with one of the freshest voices and heroines to arrive in years. Lisa Unger takes us on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine . . . .


    AN INTERNATIONAL BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH SELECTION

    A featured alternate selection of the Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, Mystery Guild, and Rhapsody Book Club.

    Also available as a Random House AudioBook, a Large Print edition, and an eBook.


    From the Hardcover edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateApr 18, 2006
    ISBN9781415934067
    Unavailable
    Beautiful Lies: A Novel
    Author

    Lisa Unger

    LISA UNGER, guest editor, is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty novels, including her latest, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. She has been nominated for or won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics, Audie, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice Awards as well as the Hammett Prize. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations, an honor held by only a few authors, including Agatha Christie. Lisa is currently copresident of the International Thriller Writers organization.

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    Reviews for Beautiful Lies

    3.5/5

    471 ratings52 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Ridley Jones, a 30-something New Yorker, is going about her everyday business when she receives a piece of mail containing a picture and a note. Both make her question her whole life.I didn't care too much for this book. The "bad guy" stood out like a sore thumb, the word "benevolent" was overused, the narrator mispronounced many words, the characters were dull, and the suspenseful action was missing. Maybe I didn't care, because there was nothing interesting to hold my attention. Actually, I was enjoying the beginning, but it quickly took a dive. (2.5/5)Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
    • 4/5
      Interesting mix of crime thriller/mystery with character-driven psychological novel. The protagonist's motivations seemed odd at times, but the layered mystery and multi-faceted character relationships were intricate and excellent. This author has a gift for conveying complex emotional states.
    • 2/5
      Beautiful Lies is the story of Ridley Jones, who, after appearing on television for an act of heroism, receives a mysterious package that indicates she may not be who she thinks she is. I don’t usually read thrillers and unfortunately reading this one hasn’t changed my opinion that this genre isn’t for me. While the novel was fast-paced and intriguing enough to keep me reading until the end, there were a few plot points that really bugged me:How is it possible that a relatively well-adjusted and seemingly normal person like Ridley doesn’t have a single friend in the world except her creepy ex-boyfriend and his strange mother?Why would her parents, no matter what their issues, not tell her what they knew when it became obvious that by keeping her in the dark they were endangering her life?I guess the bottom line for me was that I was unable to suspend my disbelief enough to really enjoy this novel. There are too many coincidences, too many things that don’t make sense and I also found the main character whiny.
    • 4/5
      Lisa Unger has written some very good novels, and that’s why I am willing to check out any of her others that I haven’t read yet. Sometimes I’ve been disappointed in her, though, so I don’t begin her books expecting to be awed.In the case of BEAUTIFUL LIES, Unger has written a good mystery. While it doesn’t awe me, it did keep me guessing throughout.The mystery begins with Ridley’s act of heroism. This gets her picture in the paper, people recognize her, and secrets are revealed. What makes this book better than the usual plot-driven mystery are Unger’s psychological insights. I also enjoyed her presentation. That is, not only does she write this novel in first person, but she truly speaks to the reader in a conversational manner.BEAUTIFUL LIES isn’t up there with IN THE BLOOD, but it’s certainly better than some of her later novels that deal in the supernatural.
    • 4/5
      Really keeps you guessing. You can see where it's going easy enough, but telling the good guys from the bad guys - that's another thing all together. Just like Ridley, you won't know whom to trust.
    • 2/5
      Forgettable thriller.
    • 3/5
      Slightly predictable, but interesting enough to hold my attention.
    • 2/5
      Wish the author had not asked the reader questions - over and over again.
    • 3/5
      Ridley receives unwanted notoriety after preventing a child from being hit by an oncoming car. What then ensues causes Ridley to question everything; her adopted parents, a serious boyfriend, her cherished uncle and painfully her troubled but worshiped brother. For just cause or a set-up?
    • 4/5
      Ridley rescues a child from being hit by a car and her picture appears in the newspaper. She soon receives a clipping in the mail. Her life is turned upside down because everything she thought she knew about her life and who she was my not be true.
    • 4/5
      Better than I thought it would be! Easy to follow with thought provoking statements by this author. Everyone can relate to the words in this book. I look forward to book #2.
    • 3/5
      Entertaining read with a good storyline. A little bit let down by a lingering ended, which didn't feel quite as well crafted as other aspects of the book, generally, though, a pretty enjoyable story.
    • 5/5
      Awesome book! What a thriller and a good story line-AND a local author as well!
    • 2/5
      Tightly-plotted thriller, though somewhat predictable and not, in my view, all that well written.
    • 5/5
      If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. Instead, a series of seemingly inconsequential decision unleashed a chain of events that brought a mysterious package to her door. A package that informed her that her entire world was a lie. Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley feels as if everyone in her life is a stranger. She has no idea who's on her side and who has something to hide - even her new lover Jake seems to have secrets of his own.
    • 3/5
      Beautiful Lies is what would happen if the parents in The Face on the Milk Carton were really terrible people. The main character, Ridley Jones, is a successful, beautiful, well-adjusted writing living in New York City. And I hate her for her first world whining throughout the book. On her way to work one morning, she saves a child's life (because, of course) and is instantly on the cover of newspapers and local magazines. Soon after she starts being contacted by a mysterious person who makes her question if her whole life has been a lie.For a thriller, I thought most of the characters were very 3 dimensional, even if I didn't like anyone. I've already talked about Ridley; her ex-boyfriend is hella-creepy; the new boy is hot, but has very questionable motives.The plot, even though it seemed contrived and didn't make much sense, was intense. I loved turning the page to find out what happened next. In fact, I almost gave this book 4 stars until the very last page made me roll my eyes at Ridley again. The book is written in first person, so we got to know her every thought and trust me, it would've been better if we didn't.
    • 4/5
      I have to say that I am a Lisa Unger fan. She writes solid stories, with well-developed characters. In this novel, a young woman has her whole life turned upside down while becoming involved in attempting to solve the mystery of her birth and early childhood. Solid writing, but sometimes gets a bit bogged down in the minutiae and unnecessary details. Overall, a very nice read.
    • 4/5
      I really like this book. The beginning is a little confusing but if u stick to it and get passed that point I believe it's a great book to listen to.
    • 3/5
      Spoilers ahoy!Another couple of thrillers with one, long story. A bit more uneven than the last two like these I read and also a bit outside the bounds of reality. Sure, they’re thrillers, but the protagonist is a flake and makes some pretty stupid decisions. Also, the conspiracy and criminal activity goes pretty deep and wide, but of course never too close to home. Unlikely enemies and unlikely friends abound. I stuck with her for two books, but probably won’t read a third if one ever gets published.Ridley Jones has had a pretty idyllic life. Well-loved by her parents she’s grown up to be a self-sufficient person making a career in freelance journalism. Part of the reason she can do this is the chuck of money left to her by millionaire Uncle Max who died in a car accident not long before the story opens. The only thorn in her side is her addict/street-person brother, Ace, and the fact that things didn’t work out with her fiance. He doesn’t seem to know that he’s been kicked to the curb though.When her instincts kick in and she saves a little kid from being squashed by a beer truck, she gets her 15 minutes of fame and as a result receives a mysterious communication from a stranger that causes her whole world to implode. She’s not really the child she thought she was and her parents have knowledge of a secret world where kids are “rescued” by well-meaning adults and “sold” to rich white people. Of course in her case, it is more complicated than that.Uncle Max is the big villain here, but I didn’t really buy it. He never showed himself until the end, and a cold smile wasn’t enough to do it. All the evidence against him was contained in little reports and files and because none of it was ever on stage, so to speak, it seemed remote and open for doubt. That Ridley came to believe it is clear, but nothing like that was conveyed to me as a reader. Esme and Zack took the stage with their evil deeds, but Max never did and so he remains distant and not much of a threat.Ridley is one of those leading characters designed, I think, to make the reader feel smart. I found her immature with very little control of her emotions. She flew into rages or sulks or the sack with no pause for thought about how these things might affect her. She was by turns paranoid and so trusting that you could hardly feel bad for the consequences because damn, she deserved to get fucked up, lied to and screwed over. Her first person style was also assumptive and sometimes featured stilted language. No one would talk like that or write like that, but after a while I let it go and chalked it up to Ridley’s being a writer. Eh, it got me through.
    • 4/5
      When Ridley Jones does a good deed and ends up in the news, she gets a package in the mail that turns her life upside-down. There are pictures, along with a note: “Are you my daughter?” Along with the new guy, Jake, who just moved in upstairs, Ridley tries to figure out what is going on.This was a different sort of thriller, I thought. Yes, there were guns and murders and such, but also lies and secrets to figure out. I guess most thrillers have that, too, but this one had different kinds of secrets and lies. It made it very interesting and suspenseful for me. I wanted to know what would happen, what had happened, and what was going on. I liked the main character, Ridley, and felt badly for her about some of the choices she had to make.
    • 3/5
      Ridley Jones is a freelance journalist living in an East Village apartment; she’s between assignments so has a free day and what better way to start that breakfast with her ex-boyfriend. On the way to meet him she happens to witness a situation with a distracted mother and a runaway toddler and saves the child from a potentially lethal traffic mishap. A Post photographer happens to capture her heroic act and she’s a minor celebrity for the next few days. But the publicity draws attention, and a mysterious package delivered to her door includes information that proves her entire life is a lie. Before long she finds herself at the center of a large conspiracy and doesn’t know whom to trust.

      This is a fast-paced thriller with an intelligent, resourceful, courageous heroine who thinks – and acts – for herself. Yes, there is a romantic interest, but Ridley doesn’t just rely on Jake to save her. She’s strong-willed and independent, and takes matters into her own hands. Some plot points seemed to get a little overboard, but on the whole this was an entertaining read. I’d definitely read another book by Unger.
    • 2/5
      Full disclosure: I did not finish this book.

      I have a rule that if a book doesn't grab me within the first 50 - 100 pages (depending on how long it is) then I stop reading. Life is too short to read books that don't suck you in right off the bat.

      I didn't like Ridley - at all. I found her to be annoying, self absorbed, and clueless. Her narration also drove me crazy. I get that the point was that your life can change in a split second but I don't need to know every single detail of every minute of your day. It's boring and pointless and one of the reasons I stopped reading.
    • 3/5
      This was my first try reading a Lisa Unger book. I thought that Ridley was an interesting character, and liked the way she was portrayed in the book. That being said, she is one of the most contrary heroines ever, and it's sort of a miracle she wasn't killed!! I did think the relationship with Jake was VERY unlikely. Since trust is a major issue with her, it seems a bit unbelievable that she would bond to him immediately, and keep trusting him when all his lies and omissions are revealed. I'll definitely give the author another try, however.
    • 4/5
      My first foray into the world of Lisa Unger (who, despite having the same name as a childhood friend of mine, is not one in the same since, when this Lisa Unger was born, my friend was already in her teens.) A friend recommended this as a good car read author for my audio book addiction. Any book that name drops Veselka in the East Village gets points. It's Ukrainian law.I found it a good audio read for the car, well paced story, not too schmaltzy, and with some interesting character insights. Since I am one of those people who, when I pass a traffic accident or something like that, I count back to where I was when it happened, and what delayed me from being the car that was t-boned by a driver running a red light, I appreciated the whole initial premise of the novel: how would your life be different if you'd changed just one small, insignificant thing. I bumped this to 4 stars from 3.5 because of the mention of Veselka. Now I want some perogies.)
    • 5/5
      I really liked this book! It kept me guessing most of the way through though i did guess one of the "big reveals". It's a story about lies and secrets and choices. Ridley saved a little boy from being hit by a car and in doing so, her face became splashed over the media and she's been recognized. She gets a message that implies that she's not who she thought she was and in uncovering the truth, she finds danger. Who's telling the truth? Who can she trust? Even those she thinks she can trust are lying. Are they friends or enemies?
    • 5/5
      I couldn't put this one down! Unger creates an incredible adventure/suspense story that reads like a friend's diary!
    • 4/5
      This book had everything that I love, suspense, mystery, action, romance, and more. I am really happy that I found this book. I would definitely recommend this book to others and I look forward to reading more books by Lisa Unger.
    • 4/5
      Overall, I enjoyed this read. I think its main draw would have to be the sexy Jake - that's certainly how it came to be on my reading list - "You have to read this book. The main guy is Hot!", so I did.In fact, I've read it a few times. I love taking a ride with Ridley as her fears grow and she and Jake argue and make up. It's fun trip.What I didn't like: the whole premise of the book is based on Jake finding Ridley because her photo was plastered all over the media after she rescues a kid from a potential accident. However, as she is on her way out of her apartment, prior to said rescue, she stops to talk to her elderly neighbour, who complains about the new guy who has just moved in upstairs making too much noise. Later, this would appear to be Jake... So, I am confused. Had he actually found her BEFORE the rescue? I'm pretty sure that later in the book he says that he found her because of the media coverage. Since everything that happens in the book is meant to begin because of the rescue and resulting media coverage, I think it would be important to get the timeline right! If I am mistaken, please correct me!Other than that, there were a few typos in the edition I read (eg. 'break' instead of 'brake' during a car chase), but on the whole it was a nice read. I still give it four stars because I really DID enjoy reading it a great deal. Twice... ok, maybe 4 times.
    • 4/5
      Ridley Jones's life changes after she gets her picture in the news for saving a child's life. She receives a note and picture from a stranger asking if she is his daughter, she meets a mysterious sexy new neighbor, and she begins to worry that everything she thought she knew is one big lie. This book is full of action and suspense mixed with a little romance. I had trouble putting it down. I would like to read more like it.
    • 4/5
      This thriller about a life changing incident that uncovers unbelievable lies of the heroine's past and all woven together with an exciting love story - it makes for a great book. This is the first book of the author and it is a very entertaining read.