Deadly Beautiful
by Sam Baker
Published by Ballantine Books
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Peg Brantley
Although billed as a “thriller,” Deadly Beautiful is almost not quite a mystery.
Rather than a search for a missing supermodel who is possibly the victim of a serial killer, Baker writes a story about Tokyo, and the sad, shallow, self-absorbed world of the fashion industry. She includes a relationship retrospective and the struggle of one young woman to figure out a few things about life before she turns thirty.
The writer’s style is sometimes a pleasant read, and there are glimmers and hints of a storyteller about to break out, but the book is in need of some editing. The real story—the mystery part of the story—begins on page 223–of a 275-page book. While there is a decided difference between the pacing of UK authors who write mysteries, and American authors who do the same, the craft of writing fiction is not necessarily one even a top editor of a fashion magazine (Baker’s profession) can develop without effort.
Although Deadly Beautiful has good bones, don’t go into it expecting much in terms of a thriller.
Sam Baker is an author to keep an eye out for however, because she’s sure to develop her story-telling abilities.
Armchair Interviews agrees.