Starred Review in PW!
Starred review from Publishers Weekly! They had some lovely things to say about BLACK OUT in a starred review earlier this month.
And, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s an author Q & A in this week’s issue. Hope you have a second to check it out!
Well I need to be honest here, because this is a very, very special novel.
I’ve actually had a signed first since it was published but it was always languishing away in my section of un-read books.
When I registered all of my books at goodreads, the first message I got was from Lisa Unger thanking me for having bought her book.
Wow did I feel embarrassed!
So now I’ve read it and have to say, it’s sheer brilliance. Forget genres, sub-genres and all other labels. Don’t even glance at the recommendations on the cover { well do, but only after you’ve read Beautiful Lies }.
This is a novel of the highest quality.
The style of writing is a joy.
The New Jersey research was painstakingly done. This I attest to because the setting for part of the novel is where I live, and I know enough of New York geography to know the same high level of research was conducted there.
The premise of the novel? … Well for me that’s simple …. Nothing is ever what it appears to be.
Basically the main character a privileged Ridley Jones performs an act of bravery in the streets of New York and from there her whole life unfolds.
The novel moves seamlessly from the early 70s in New Jersey to New York today, back and forth, back and forth.
It is so pleasurable to read this type of dialogue in such a seamless manner as opposed to the current trend of flashbacks. It’s a wonderful technique and Ms Unger handles this brilliantly.
This novel even at it’s darkest moments, and there are some I assure you, there is always a glimmer of light or hope. This is often done by the author using a hint of humor and it really works.
The ending, will leave you shaking your head knowing that you have just read something really special.
As a summary, “Beautiful Lies” is exactly what this novel is ” Beautiful Lies “.
Douglas Nelson