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Beautiful Lies: A Novel Audio CD – Audiobook, April 18, 2006

by Lisa Unger (Author), Jenna Lamia (Reader)

4.1 2,128 ratings

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An Instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

A Best Novel Finalist in the International Thriller Writer Awards

A Bookspan International Book of the Month

A CBS Best Summer Read

A Cosmopolitan Hot Book

A New York Post (Page Six) Hottest New Thriller

A BookSense Best Book of the Month

An Amazon Top Ten Thriller of the Year

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.

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

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A stunning, powerful novel! Lisa Unger’s taut prose grabs the reader from word one and never lets go. In this tantalizing tale of family suspense, beware of who you trust and be forewarned about what might happen next.” —Lisa Gardner, author of Alone

“A tense exploration of what lies beneath the white picket fence of ordinary life. Harlan Coben has a new rival for his thriller crown.” —John Connolly, author of The Black Angel

“Beautiful Lies is a heartfelt thriller full of twists, turns, and truths. . . . Lisa Unger writes with precision and insight—she’s a welcome new voice in suspense fiction.” —Jeff Abbott, author of Panic

“At last, a riveting suspense novel filled with psychological insight and amazing wisdom. Lisa Unger is a literate, savvy writer, and Beautiful Lies is a find! Read it now!” —Margaret coel, author of Eye of the Wolf

“Suspenseful, sensitive, sexy, subtle . . . The best nail-biter I have read for ages. Highly recommended.” —Lee Child, author of One Shot

From the Hardcover edition.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Audio; Abridged edition (April 18, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0739324284
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0739324288
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.54 x 0.99 x 6.24 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #11,716,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #135,448 in Books on CD
- #350,944 in American Literature (Books)
- #511,911 in Thrillers & Suspense (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 2,128 ratings

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Lisa Unger

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Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-one novels, including THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B. With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.

Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.

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4.1 out of 5

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barry

Superb First Novel

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2008

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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.

7 people found this helpful

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Neil Winward

It’s a good read

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2019

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If you aspire to write a novel, it is inevitable that you read others’ work in part to understand better how you would write the story. If everything you read is overwhelmingly good, there are feelings of awe and inadequacy. If some parts grate, you imagine how you would improve it - at the same time noting the presumption.

This debut novel is not free of phrases that grate, but there is a lot more to like than not. The story telling is very good. Some of the characters are there to fill a purpose rather than developed. The dialogue with the reader is at times odd, but also connects the author and the main character in an endearing triangle. Some of the insights are cliche; some of the phrases that are meant to be nicely turned are a little self-satisfied and distract. But then the insights that work - that seem authentic - do outweigh those that don’t.

This minor criticism is beside the point. I assume it will improve in subsequent novels. I think this is worth reading - I love novels set in New York City and this is well done.

3 people found this helpful

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WY Mom

Good story - repetitive text

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2011

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This book has an excellent idea/concept for the story, it's just not that well written. Obviously the editor didn't do a very good job editing and suggesting changes that could have moved this book into a much better category for me. The authors use of 1st person narrative is used in too loose of a "conversational style". She too frequently asks the reader questions about her state of mind or what we think of her state of mind and it got annoying by the end of the book. The use of foreshadowing in the opening of the book was a mistake as well because it gave away too much. It spoke of a lack of confidence in the material and was used to hook the reader rather than just tell the story.

One person found this helpful

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Michelaneous by Michele

"The Universe Doesn't Like Secrets,"

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2006

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I truly enjoyed this book. It wasn't necessarily about the story, although I was riveted, and compelled to turn pages to learn the outcome. Plain and simple, it was about the writing. Lisa Unger's style is refreshing and original. I felt like she, through the voice of her protagonist, was in the room with me, telling me this story.

Beautiful Lies is a first-person account of a young woman named Ridley Jones, who contemplates a single act, and the events leading up to this act, that change her life forever. She became a momentary celebrity after saving a child from being hit by a car. Because her heroic and selfless deed was inadvertently videotaped, the world witnessed it on local and even national television, and her exposure enabled the truth of her identity to be exposed as well.

Throughout the tale, Unger/Jones "talks" to her reader. "I know what you're thinking," she often writes. At first I found this a little annoying, but ultimately, I had to admit in each case, she did know what I was thinking. She had me that hooked. Throughout the story, she interjects little gems of wisdom regarding family dynamics where her parents and brother (her biological parents and biological brother???) are concerned, which had me nodding my head and saying "yes!" One of my favorite lines in the book is: "It's strange how memory gets twisted and pulled like taffy in its retelling, how a single event can mean something different to everyone present." Ultimately, the mysteries are revealed and all the characters--particularly the parents, the mysterious uncle, drug-addict brother, sexy man upstairs, ex-boyfriend and his mother, and the mob-linked laywer--are relevant and satisfying.

This is a great, fast read and I recommend it for readers who appreciate good story telling and down to earth characters.

Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

56 people found this helpful

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Bento Jose Pereira Lira

Otimo

Reviewed in Brazil on October 19, 2021

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Otimo

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Doe Kyu

Well organized

Reviewed in Canada on January 17, 2021

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Amazingly detailed description, I finished this english book only in 3days. I Would like to continue reading Lisa’s book. Very impressed

Christina McDonald

Fantastic literary thriller

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2017

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Lisa Unger is one of my favourite authors. All of her books have broadly developed characters and thrilling plots. In this book, Unger's debut, Ridley has rescued a young bow from being hit by a car and becomes an overnight New York hero. But her new fame takes her to places she never expected. This book is all about the lies between family, the lies between those you love, and Ridley finds out that nothing in her life is what she thought. This is a fantastic literary thriller and I highly recommend.

One person found this helpful

sphinxomatic

Spannend von vorne bis hinten!!

Reviewed in Germany on September 20, 2012

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Dieses Buch ist eines der spannendsten Bücher, die ich gelesen habe!!! Ich konnte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen. Es ist in sehr gutem Englisch verfasst und macht einfach nur Spaß!!

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