Liar by Tate James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I don't usually gravitate towards danger, yet something inside encouraged me to give Liar a try. James pushes emotions to the limit. Unpredictable turns into hard to put down. From maybe to absolutely, Tate James knows how to deliver breathless.



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Tanen Jones’ debut novel The Better Liar introduces an intriguing premise: Can we ever really reinvent ourselves, or are we inevitably constrained by our inherited traits and upbringing? The book begins as Leslie Voigt concludes her search for her runaway sister when she finds the woman dead in an apartment in Los Vegas.  Robin had snuck out over ten years prior, and her death by apparent drug overdose-while unsurprising to her older sister-is particularly inconvenient at that moment.  Their mother died when they were children, and their father has also just passed away recently. His will specifies that both daughters must be physically present during its reading for either of them to collect their inheritance.  The reader remains in the dark about why Leslie is so impatient about getting her share, but she is obviously desperate to get her hands on the money.  When she encounters a young woman resembling Robin at a restaurant near her sister’s apartment, she sees a potential solution. Leslie tries to persuade the stranger to accompany her to Albuquerque so she can impersonate her sibling at the lawyer’s office.  Mary is an actress and just happens to also be looking for some easy cash, so she agrees to collude with the fraud for an equal share.  Leslie soon discovers, however, that she may have aligned herself with a dangerous and unstable person who has her own nefarious agenda in mind.  Filled with outrageous coincidences and implausible events, The Better Liar stretches a reader’s credulity to the limit.  The book is certainly exciting and has some interesting plot twists but suffers from uneven writing and some confusing diversions that occur throughout.  Jones also ambitiously takes on the delicate subject of Postpartum Depression, despite admitting in the afterword that she has no direct experience with it.  While experience is not always necessary for an author to appropriately address an issue, the portrayal here rings false and might even be potentially offensive by those who have suffered from this devastating illness.  So, while the underlying ideas and objectives of The Better Liar are admirable, their execution unfortunately fall far short in this initial effort.

Thanks to the author, Ballantine Books/Random House and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Burton St Clair, a successful author, is killed after a reading at a local library and Jude and Carol end up investigating this murder.  I gather that this is the 18th book in this series of cosy crime thrillers but the first for me. The characters are reasonably well-developed although perhaps a bit cliched at times but the plot is quite original and moves along at a good pace. I read it in two days and, although this is not my favourite genre, it was OK but nothing special. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I discovered The Liar’s Girl through Barnes and Noble serial reads. I started out using that medium, however as the story progressed, my curiosity could not survive the wait for the daily installments so I purchased the book. Well worth the money spent.

The story started out slow, but it gradually progressed and pulled me in page-by-page until I found myself deeply invested. I had to know the identity of the Canal Killer.

Will is considered Ireland’s most prolific serial killer. Found guilty for the stalking and drowning of five young college females at nineteen. Currently serving time in a Psychiatric hospital in Dublin. However, ten years later when a young woman’s body is found in the canal and the evidence shows similarities to the murders they sentenced Will for, it gave rise to questions. Was Will innocent or did he have an accomplice?

Allison has spent the last ten years of her life trying to escape her past. Knowledge that she dated a serial killer and the fact her best friend was one of his victims weighed heavily on her. Just when she believed she had it under control, the Gardai showed upon her doorstep requesting she returned to Ireland has Will had information they needed and would only share it with her. 

What followed was a tale rife with secrets, uncertainties and questions. I kept wondering is Will guilty or innocent. After all, he confessed but then you discover they coerced his confession, and it raises more questions. 

The story moved between the past and present. In doing so we get a contrast Allison’s, emotional struggles then and now. It would have been nice if Will’s perspective then and now was provided, throughout the story. It was not until near the end that things were revealed through his eyes and what a revelation. 

Allison struggled not only with the memories from the past but also with the bombardment from the media. After all she is the ex-girlfriend of a serial killer. In addition, she struggled with believing Will’s Innocence I understood why she would feel that way and it could not have been easy for her.

The contrast between Allison of the past and present showed how much she had grown. Allison of the past was young, immature and gullible. Allison of the present was smarter and not easily led.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall an exciting read. I am glad I got the chance to read this one. I would definitely read more from this author.