Beautiful Animals

A Novel

By: Lawrence Osborne

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

On a hike during a white-hot summer break on the Greek island of Hydra, Naomi and Samantha make a startling discovery: a man named Faoud, sleeping heavily, exposed to the elements, but still alive. Naomi, the daughter of a wealthy British art collector who has owned a villa in the exclusive hills for decades, convinces Sam, a younger American girl on vacation with her family, to help this stranger. As the two women learn more about the man, a migrant from Syria and a casualty of the crisis raging across the Aegean Sea, their own burgeoning friendship intensifies. But when their seemingly simple plan to help Faoud unravels, all must face the horrific consequences they have set in motion.

In this brilliant psychological study of manipulation and greed, Lawrence Osborne explores the dark heart of friendship and shows just how often the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions.

©2017 Lawrence Osborne (P)2017 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Brilliant

Narratively and morally complex. Beautifully written. The sort of book that stays with one long after the last page has been read.

loved it

If you like the novels of Patricia Highsmith, you might like this book. It's got that sinister, ironic, dark thing going and you just know things are going to get out of hand and the ending won't be tidy. The descriptions of Hydra made me want to jump on a plane and go there. I loved it.

Outstanding Narration

Tim Campbell’s narration really carried this story. I love Lawrence Osborne’s books. Coupled with the narration quality this listen was a great pleasure.

Visions of a Greek Island

Enjoyed the story but it was simple and wasn't challenging enough for my tastes when it comes as a mystery.

please offer more of this author's books

I read this because I caught an NPR review of it. It's been a while since I have listened to a book so well written and well-narrated. I thought of Paul Bowles crossed with Patricia Highsmith. The narrator was superb. I would like to hear all of this author read by this narrator.

The only reason I did not give it a 5 is that the story itself was not as powerful as I felt it might be - but getting there was very engaging. To me, an ideal summer read - a compelling story with actual characters. This story is dark - but not near the pitch black of Paul Bowles. I enjoy this author's comfort with portraying the point of view of locals and the visitors/intruders from outside this island, as well as a refugee.

This one captured me.