"The Good Liar"

“The Good Liar”

Written by Catherine Mackenzie

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“The Good Liar” follows three women, Cecily, Katie, and Frannie, as the anniversary draws near of a tragic event that changed their lives forever. This event was a work building explosion, killing over 500 people, including friends and family of those main characters. We also start to learn the secrets about each of these women and how they were involved in the explosion in more ways than we initially think. We are launched into the three perspectives, but of course, nothing is really as all it seems. We meet Cecily, a widowed mother, who is trying to move on with her life. Katie is a mysterious nanny in Toronto, and we find out many details why she fled New York. Frannie was trying to contact her birth mother and become close to her, but the explosion affected that and prevented that from happening.

It’s very difficult to explain this book without giving away any of the spoilers, because most of the book that I did not like was a direct result of the spoilers. Other than the twists, I really did not enjoy the main characters. I only tolerated Cecily’s character, but even so, she felt difficult to sympathize with and was very naïve. Katie is intolerable and just a terrible person. Frannie is untrustworthy and flaky. So, do not trust any of these characters. Personally, when I read thrillers and mysteries, I do not really like unreliable narrators, because we spend the entire book thinking one thing and then it’s turned around and ripped to shreds. Sometimes, I think an unreliable narrator adds to the book, but all three unreliable narrators led to my dislike of the book.

Unfortunately, I was able to predict every (and I mean every) plot twist that occurred. Now, that does not flatter me or make me think I am the next Sherlock Holmes. It makes me think that the story was just too predictable. I do not mind if I read a thriller and I have guessed one of the plot twists, but every single one? I felt that I was reading Scooby Doo instead and guessed that the creepy, mean landscaper was the monster in a mask.

As I mentioned earlier, I cannot reveal the twists without spoiling everything, but my God, the payoff is not worth it. I really tried to give this book a chance, but there is hardly anything that I found redeemable. I enjoyed Cecily’s interactions with her children. The dialogue was standard. That’s pretty much it.

I received a free advanced reader’s edition in exchange for reading and reviewing purposes.