Unpretty by Sharon Carter Rogers

Reviewed by Katie Hart

"...the plot kept up a twisting pace with many surprises. The vivid word pictures sprang to life."

How far does one go for art?

Detective Jonathan Shelby falls victim to an ambush and wakes up in a reality his worst nightmares could only hint at.
The next day, an art gallery blows up. Artist Hummingbird Collins might have seen the bomber minutes before the explosion. Hospitalized but okay, she returns home to find a series of microcassettes being taped to her door.

Detective Buck Barnes has his hands full with the investigation into the bombing and Shelby’s disappearance, and he suspects Hummingbird is somehow connected. But she refuses to talk.

Kinseth Roberts has been conflicted since his – their – accident, but the voices clamoring in their mind lead them on many adventures. Things get noticed, things like prisoners and paintings and strange goings-on at the house across the cul-de-sac.

Tying all these together are hand-scrawled notes reading, “Unpretty.”

With her sophomore novel, Sharon Carter Rogers beckons readers deep into a secret society where life becomes art, names become numbers, and nothing is as it seems. While Rogers’ first book dipped into the supernatural, this intellectual thriller has hints of horror.

The characters themselves, however, seem a bit on the inanimate side. While understanding their motivations and actions, I found it hard to connect with any of them. Despite his schizophrenia, Kinseth was the most relatable character.

Instead, I enjoyed this book for its plot and excellent prose. Even seeing so many angles of the story, the plot kept up a twisting pace with many surprises. The vivid word pictures sprang to life. Recommended for those who enjoy a deep story filled with thought-provoking questions.

Katie Hart loves the written word. She's published several articles, poems, and nearly 200 reviews in magazines and websites such as Christian Communicator, Church Libraries, Infuze Magazine, Christian Library Journal, and ChristianBookPreviews.com. She's written two novels and is working on her third, a fantasy. Also a Christian music fan, she helps out regularly with concerts at her church and strives to promote the artists and bands she enjoys. Visit her online at her blog.