Hold on, let me catch my breath. Moments ago I just finished the thrilling novel, Unpretty, by Sharon Carter Rogers and it was quite the read. I devoured this book in just a few short hours due to an explosive beginning that will have the reader on edge from the first paragraph all the way until the last sentence of dialogue is uttered.
Roger’s novel of suspense is quite dark; surprisingly dark as it has themes of faith, Jesus, and God throughout. But what better way to expose the Light of the world than by plunging the reader into a deep evil that is the opposite of God.
The central character in Unpretty is Hummingbird Collins (I had trouble getting past the name), a young woman who runs her family’s bookstore in Lehigh, West Virginia. When a bomb goes off at an art gallery just down the street from her store, Hummingbird is the only witness who can identify the man who committed the deadly crime. A day before the bombing, a detective goes missing, as he has been abducted by members of a cult known as the Michelangelus Movement. Shortly thereafter, Hummingbird begins receiving one-sided-conversation tape recordings from the bomber. He is the insane leader of the cult on a mission to rid the world of all “unpretty” things. His mission is inspired by Michelangelo’s painting, Last Judgment, at the Sistine Chapel. The painting plays a large role in the story, and is basically another character in this action-packed story.
With the help of Hummingbird’s brother, a local police detective, and an old family friend who is a former pro-football player, the unlikely team tries to find the madman to stop the killings, find the missing detective, and to vindicate those killed in the past by the cult.
Unpretty is written at a break-neck pace, with precious few moments to take a breather before the frantic action begins again. It will have you turning pages as fast as possible. Even though the story and the actions of the characters are quite evil, this story is not without hope. As it will be in the end of time, goodness triumphs over evil. However, Roger’s ended the story with a very ominous feeling; the kind of ending that gives you unsettling chills.
This novel was written so well, I’ll still be thinking about it long after I’ve passed it on to others to enjoy. Rogers is excellent at including details that keep the story moving, without overdoing it. There was only one twist in regards to the bomber’s father that I saw coming a mile away, but overall this book was unpredictable and had me guessing. If you want a book that not only makes you think but weaves an excellent plot with rich characters, Unpretty is for you.
Reviewed by Melissa Paulson
