A BEAUTIFUL LIE  artfully disguises a character who is bent and delusional but oh so pleasing.

Emily provides a useful service that tends to overwhelm most people. She helps her clients declutter and get organized. There is much more to Emily than her color-coded pages and her totes. On the surface level, she is amiable and affable. Below her professional facade lurks a personality that would blow the cover off most psychology textbooks. Emily is not disorganized; in fact, her mind is very precise and focused.

A person doesn't need to worry about enemies when they have a friend like Emily. She has their backs and perhaps much more. Emily is very territorial and clingy. Like a vine, once she roots, she is very difficult to pry away. Emily is almost excessively obsessed with her desire, and her targets are very calculated. Her latest obsession is her new client, Cap, short for Calliope, an artist. The way Emily's eyes devour Cap's every move and word is very cringeworthy. Emily has planned every scenario and nuance for her target. Her scheming and conniving are top-notch. She's very clever, but no one, nor is any plan, infallible.

As I read each chapter, I kept wondering, would she dare do this or that? Not only did she, but Emily surpassed my expectations for her proclivities and her perniciousness. No one is immune to her plans, not family members, long-time friends, or loyal staff. I kept waiting for the whistle to be blown on her because much occurs in a short time span, and the patterns were apparent with her being the common denominator. However, Emily is a cool and deliberately decisive character who just keeps slithering from scheme to scheme.

Emily's stalking is next level. It was amazing how she wormed and weaseled her way into the inner sanctum and set up permanent residency. Her observations and maneuverings to remove all the impediments so she can obtain her heart's desire are truly a master class in deception. She possesses more tenacity and temerity than a villain in a James Bond movie. Emily's character evoked a level of animosity in me that I haven't experienced in a while from reading.

The depth of her planning and execution was mind-blowing. I was surprised at the revelation of how far she was willing to go to accomplish her goals. I did wish Emily had to atone for her actions, perhaps in a similar manner as she has disposed of some of her impediments. I am certain one of the characters would be up for the task.

THE BEAUTIFUL LIE  will keep readers turning the pages not only to discover just how low Emily is willing to descend but also to witness who remains standing.