Lisa Unger’s latest book is Served Him Right. Critic Oline Cogdill recently reviewed Unger’s book for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, and shared the review with us. You can order a copy of the book through The Poisoned Pen’s Webstore, https://tinyurl.com/3buhcsw7
Book review: Revenge is red-hot in Lisa Unger thriller ‘Served Him Right’
‘Served Him Right’ by Lisa Unger; Park Row; 384 pages; $30
Revenge is said to be best served cold, but in Lisa Unger’s engrossing supernatural-esque thriller “Served Him Right,” payback is ladled out red-hot, no holds barred, with no mercy.
Unger, who lives in Clearwater, has a reputation for solid stand-alone thrillers that have landed on bestseller lists, with unusual plots and unconventional motives shrouded in dark-but-not-oppressive atmospheres. That same approach elevates “Served Him Right.”
The novel works well as a story about sisters and sisterhood, toxic relationships, payback, herbs and a touch of the mystic.
Ana Blacksmith doesn’t hold back her feelings, especially when she’s mad, unhappy or in a bad relationship, which is frequently. To commemorate her recent breakup with Paul Hayes, Ana gathers her sister, Vera, and their closest friends for an “ex-orcism,” during which they will purge all references to Paul in any semblance of social media, photographs or memories. While it is acknowledged that one of the women may still have to deal with Paul, as they work at the same firm, the friend pledges as few interactions as possible. And, yes, it’s a festive brunch.
The party has just begun, the drinks poured, when a police detective arrives, informing the gathering that Paul’s body has been found in a shallow grave, near a remote hiking trail they each have visited. Paul was a nasty man, a known sexual harasser, liar, betrayer, cheater and a variety of other attributes, none of them good. No one will miss him. But did Paul deserve to be murdered? Well, the title “Served Him Right” pretty much sums it up.
Ana, with her anger issues and manipulative ways, is the prime suspect, not just to the police but to her sister, relatives and all her friends. If she didn’t do it, everyone believes she at least was involved in Paul’s death. As Vera says, “my sister does have a way of pushing people to their limit, making them do things they wouldn’t without her subtle influence.” Still, Paul had more enemies than anyone realized.
The two sisters could not be more different. Vera has a stable marriage, two bright children and money, while Ana is a hot mess. Despite making a good salary, Ana is supported by Vera because she is always broke and a chronic shopper, and she has a penchant for choosing the worst men. Still, the sisters are extremely close. After their parents died, the sisters were raised by their aunt, a noted herbalist who practiced the “science” of plants.
Unger delves into the lives of each woman, altering the points of view among the friends, sisters and the police. The characters’ personalities keep the suspense high as Unger steers “Served Him Right” into a bit of practical magic.