Skin Deep

4.5 starsI absolutely adore Liz Nugent. All three of the books I have read by her have been fantastic. A completely underrated author and if I have to start shouting from the rooftops to get more people to read her books, I will!So the book starts off with you finding out something terrible has happened in the present time and then you go back and get to see everything that led to it. In this case, a woman who appears to be down on her luck has a slight problem on her hands. You see there's a dead body at her place and well, it's starting to smell. After that crazy introduction, we basically start at the beginning in which a young girl named Delia is living on a sparsely populated island off the coast of Ireland. The story follows Delia from childhood all the way into adulthood.If you loved the author's other book, Unraveling Oliver, you will most likely enjoy this one as they are both more character driven novels rather than plot based. That's not to say that nothing interesting happens in the novel because there is definitely a lot of drama, but Delia herself is the strength of the book. Delia was an interesting character to me because in some ways you feel like you got deep in her head but in other ways she felt a bit mysterious, like someone you didn't completely understand. She's such a complex character and it's like I couldn't take my eyes off her which meant I kept flipping the pages, wanting to learn more about her. Liz Nugent just really nails it when it comes to featuring fascinating characters in her novels.Definitely recommend giving this book a try especially if you enjoy stories with imperfect characters. I will now try my best to patiently wait for the author to come out with her next novel!

Once you start reading one of Liz Nugent' s books you just can't put them down. They are compulsive. Waiting for the next one.

“I wondered when Rigor Mortis would set in, or if it already had.”This is the opening line of Liz Nugent’s third novel. As always, her opening lines are meant to shock us, and pull us right into the story...Having enjoyed “Unraveling Oliver” (a strong 4 stars for me) and Lying In Wait (a 5 star favorite, this year), I decided that for Christmas, I would order a copy of this book, which was released in Ireland and the U.K. this April, because I just did not want to wait for the U.S. release...Unfortunately, her third effort was not nearly as strong for me.Born on the Island of Inishcrann, Delia is beloved by her father, and told she will grow up to be Queen of the Island. It’s a land rich with folklore, but poor in many other ways. The residents are few, and there are not enough women, for every man born there, to have a wife.The novel is sprinkled with the legends that the residents believe in.But, fate would take Delia to the mainland when she is just a beautiful, young girl, away from her father, perhaps the only person she ever felt love for. And, away from the sea, to which she is drawn, and always yearns to return to.Delia is incapable of bonding with others, but she will find that she can coexist with those who can provide her with something she wants.Like “Unraveling Oliver”, this is a character study, but unlike her first, this book does not alternate between each character’s perspective, though at about the 50% mark, you will be sporadically offered a “one chapter” observation from someone who has been a part of her life.I found that I prefer when Ms. Nugent writes from the alternating perspectives of her characters, as she did in her first two novels....the pace being much faster when she does.Again, she delivers a dark novel, which I am sure will please many of her fans, more than it did me, though I will still be eagerly watching for her next release.

I LOVE LIZ'S BOOKS! This is the third Liz Nugent book I have read- started with Unraveling Oliver then Lying in Wait. I ordered Skin Deep and it arrived sooner than expected! I HIGHLY recommend Liz Nugent's books with some caveats: her books do not have happy/pleasant/justice served endings, if you are the type of reader who needs closure of that type you likely will not like her books. Also, her characters tend to have sociopathic and psychopathic traits, so if you need a protagonist you can root for (or even find tolerable) you will be very unhappy. Caveats aside, her books are searing and the writing is wonderfully done. Her talent for drawing you into the mind of the character is astounding. If you are looking to read her books, I would start with Unraveling Oliver. Skin Deep and Lying in Wait are wonderful but are the deep end of the pool- jump at your own risk!

Loved the writing style and the interesting folk tales which popped up throughout the book.Thought the ending was terrifc!

Liz Nugent has outdone herself with her latest amazing work, Skin Deep. Perhaps I should go back and remove a star from my rating of her previous novel, Lying in Wait, as it doesn't even compare to this one. I rarely give a 5-star rating.What a picture of depravity and ugliness she weaves in the character of stunningly beautiful Delia Russell. The reader is quickly drawn into the story, particularly while learning details of Delia's sad childhood which contributed to her sociopathic personality.I've noted a few reviewers were unhappy with Skin Deep's conclusion, but I believe it was most fitting....and a haunting example of poetic justice which the reader won't soon forget.

5 brilliant stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️TW: unwanted pregnancy, substance abuse, abusive relationship, death by fireBeforehand let me say that if you, as a reader needs to love a character then this book is not for you.Only recently I discovered this book, thanks to a member of a book group that I follow.It was published in 2018 and for some unknown reasons, it has not yet been published in Canada, not even as an ebook.I was able to purchase a paperback copy from UK, through Amazon.ca.This was my 5th book by this author and once again she surprised.Her writing and storytelling skills are superb!She creates despicable and unlikeable characters that at the same time are very intriguing.This is a character study and the development of the storyline, although slow, is quite absorbing.I would not label it as a thriller, but as a suspenseful drama. It really triggers your curiosity and emotions.The insertion of some dark tales (Irish folklore) as an intermission, as well as short POVs by different characters was very clever.I must confess that, even though I disliked the main character’s personality, there was a moment that I was tearful and felt happy for her.Only a good writing and storytelling could have touched me this way, hence my 5 stars.The revelation at the end was a huge surprise, and the way it happened was shocking.I can hardly wait for her next book.Paperback (Penguin Random House UK): 374 pages (or 390 from cover to cover)

A brilliant story that will have you hooked. Read it in 3 days 😅 A story you will remember for a long time!!!

The story goes in a very dynamic pace, the personal drama is very well described and despite the terrifying events occurring all the time, they are presented in such a way so you accept them as normal. I read all her books and it’s difficult to say which one is the best, as they are all masterpieces! Can’t wait for the next one apparently coming in March

Un livre passionnant, bien écrit. Un incroyable talent de conteuse. On suit l'itinéraire d'un monstre d'égoïsme et de vanité dont l'absence d'empathie peut se révéler fatale pour certains. Mais attention le montre n'est pas toujours celui qu'on croit. Le récit raconté à la première personne possède également des petits chapitres de témoignages d'autres protagonistes. L'auteur a également parsemé son récit d'incroyables petits contes cruels de 2 ou 3 pages que le père de l'héroïne lui racontait quand elle était petite. La morale de ces contes est également aussi cruelle que celui qui les raconte. Seul bémol, le livre est si captivant que le rebondissement final est inutile, voire grandguignolesque. C'est le troisième livre de Liz Nugent que je lis et je ne me lasse pas de sa fantastique galerie de personnages qui ignorent l'empathie, la sympathie ou qui ne savent tout simplement pas vivre avec les autres sauf pour les exploiter. Bravo.

I haven't read a thriller like Skin Deep for a while. Read the book in 2 days. No spoiler alerts.....fantastic read!!