Ridley Jones' parents had planned an easy life for her--married to a longtime family friend,who works with Ridley's father, Then, suddenly, she gets her 15 minutes if fane in New York City, and her life changes as a result. She meets a mysterious but alluring man new to her building, witnesses a murder and notices she is being followed and threatened. Who is behind this? Ridley sets out to unravel the mysteries that have suddenly cropped up in her life.
This was a lot of fun to read, gripping even, and more imaginative than most mystery/thrillers. ( )

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..." ( )

Interesting, moved quickly, the heroine, Ridley, is likeable, & the love interest, Jake, fascinating. ( )

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. ( )

Ridley Jones is a young woman from a well-to-do suburban family who sees a toddler in danger on a NYC street and swoops in to pluck him from danger. The attention she receives from this spontaneous act draws the interest of a mysterious fugitive who sends her a disturbing photograph and question. At the same time, Ridley meets a new neighbor, also a bit mysterious, with whom she feels a strong connection. She begins a torrid affair as she investigates the source of the photograph.

Ridley's life is thrown into chaos and she cannot decide whom she can trust. Her parents, their attorney, her former fiance, her new lover, and a police detective all want different things from her. Her druggie brother hints that all is not as it seems but refuses to say more. As she pursues the truth, she learns that just about everyone is lying to her in one way or another. Providing further details about how the plot develops might spoil it.

Ridley tells her story in the first person and displays an interesting mix of self-awareness and blind spots. Her philosophy seems to be that there's no use questioning what she's done so far; the only thing that matters is the next choice. I found this approach to life disturbing, especially the
lengths to which she takes it in the epilogue, where I couldn't tell whether I was hearing Ridley's ideas or the author's. This philosophy made Ridley a tough character to identify and sympathize with.

The style of the book was somewhat uneven, with some lovely images and occasional flat notes. On the whole it didn't detract from the story, and the visual aspects helped portray some situations well. The denouement went on for a long time, which fit the complex story but seemed forced. Overall it was an enjoyable but not outstanding read. ( )