No Honor Among Liars

The Perfect Liar proves an engaging excursion into the lives two people who adeptly keep dark secrets, and one of whom artfully dons and advances in the skin of another. When the novel focuses on these aspects of Max W. and Susannah Gracia, the married protagonists of the novel, it’s a compelling, page-turning romp through deceit, murder, narcissism, and self-delusion. When it arrives at resolution, it breaks down, and that’s an unfortunate way to end a rather good novel.

Max W. grows up a street punk, a fellow with no real skills, but with a pretty high regard for himself. Roaming the country, he lucks into a ride with a young man from Charleston, SC, Max Westmoreland (yes, fictional grandson of that real Westmoreland). The pair end up in the Adirondacks at the mountain camp of Westmoreland’s family. One thing leads to another, as they always do in these novels, and Max W. (real name Phil Wilbur) kills Max and assumes his identity, that of young man with BFA and MFA credentials. Brassy Max goes to NYC, where he cons his way into a party given by the grande dame of art herself. There he mets the woman’s assistant, Susannah, and in a jiff he’s whisked her to his grubby apartment, gotten her undressed, used her to invent a new form of word art, and fallen hopelessly in love. Of course, he knows nothing about her and she nothing of him, but the chemistry binds them seemingly eternally. Even when Max learns Susannah has a son from another marriage, it doesn’t weaken but instead strengthens their bond.

By this time, very early in the novel, we know that Max W. is anything but a forthright and upright individual. Of Susannah, we know little. As the novel unfolds, we learn more about her life, and it’s less than pretty. Readers will discover that Susannah has undergone terrible psychological abuse undertaken in the guise of helping her cope with her paralyzing panic attacks. What these have accomplished is, the words of her young adolescent son, Freddy, to make her cray-cray. And paranoid, very paranoid. Yes, in addition to this, Susannah harbors another dark secret, one she believes only she knows.

Given all this, however, Max W. has made a name for himself, secured a cushy spot at a university in Burlington, VT, travels to do speaking engagements, and enjoys a nearly idyllic marriage to Susannah, as well as a good-buddy relationship with Freddy. Then the notes begin appearing and, well, fright, anger, and murder ensue.

Better than most of this type, the novel moves along nicely, and while some of the plot points might strike you as dubious if you pause to mull them over, they are credible enough. That is, until the final moments, when … well, let’s leave it a minor but important character acts completely against type to the point where you say, “No way.” Of course, you’ll have to get to the end for the author to disappoint you, especially when you probably will have enjoyed the journey there. ( )

No Honor Among Liars

The Perfect Liar proves an engaging excursion into the lives two people who adeptly keep dark secrets, and one of whom artfully dons and advances in the skin of another. When the novel focuses on these aspects of Max W. and Susannah Gracia, the married protagonists of the novel, it’s a compelling, page-turning romp through deceit, murder, narcissism, and self-delusion. When it arrives at resolution, it breaks down, and that’s an unfortunate way to end a rather good novel.

Max W. grows up a street punk, a fellow with no real skills, but with a pretty high regard for himself. Roaming the country, he lucks into a ride with a young man from Charleston, SC, Max Westmoreland (yes, fictional grandson of that real Westmoreland). The pair end up in the Adirondacks at the mountain camp of Westmoreland’s family. One thing leads to another, as they always do in these novels, and Max W. (real name Phil Wilbur) kills Max and assumes his identity, that of young man with BFA and MFA credentials. Brassy Max goes to NYC, where he cons his way into a party given by the grande dame of art herself. There he mets the woman’s assistant, Susannah, and in a jiff he’s whisked her to his grubby apartment, gotten her undressed, used her to invent a new form of word art, and fallen hopelessly in love. Of course, he knows nothing about her and she nothing of him, but the chemistry binds them seemingly eternally. Even when Max learns Susannah has a son from another marriage, it doesn’t weaken but instead strengthens their bond.

By this time, very early in the novel, we know that Max W. is anything but a forthright and upright individual. Of Susannah, we know little. As the novel unfolds, we learn more about her life, and it’s less than pretty. Readers will discover that Susannah has undergone terrible psychological abuse undertaken in the guise of helping her cope with her paralyzing panic attacks. What these have accomplished is, the words of her young adolescent son, Freddy, to make her cray-cray. And paranoid, very paranoid. Yes, in addition to this, Susannah harbors another dark secret, one she believes only she knows.

Given all this, however, Max W. has made a name for himself, secured a cushy spot at a university in Burlington, VT, travels to do speaking engagements, and enjoys a nearly idyllic marriage to Susannah, as well as a good-buddy relationship with Freddy. Then the notes begin appearing and, well, fright, anger, and murder ensue.

Better than most of this type, the novel moves along nicely, and while some of the plot points might strike you as dubious if you pause to mull them over, they are credible enough. That is, until the final moments, when … well, let’s leave it a minor but important character acts completely against type to the point where you say, “No way.” Of course, you’ll have to get to the end for the author to disappoint you, especially when you probably will have enjoyed the journey there. ( )

You know how some books give you a feeling of a certain time or place? This was one of those books. I’ve read quite a few that have done this, but I don’t find it to be that common. One that comes to mind is Sunburn by Laura Lippman. It’s not that the stories are that similar but the overall energy of the storyline-whether that is due to the story, the writing, or just the overall descriptions in the book-I’m not sure.
For me, it seems these kind of books revolve room to pretty dark and depressing subject. I find it especially when the woman and the man are both guilty of something evil. This book was very dark. The main characters all have their flaws. But you still like the characters. And in the end, that’s all that really matters, right? ( )

Susannah is a young widow and single mother when she marries Max. Max is a charismatic artist and popular speaker whose career has taken their family to a quiet Vermont town. Susannah believes her life is going to be perfect, but instead she finds a note taped to their door - I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Max thinks it's a prank. But after one of the couples in the neighbourhood comes to dinner, the husband dies in an accident while on a run with Max. Then another note is found on the door - DID YOU GET AWAY WITH IT? Both Susannah and Max are keeping secrets and someone else seems to know about them.

I'm sorry to say I ended up hating this book. There are no chapters and it makes for a long, drawn out story. I'm always wondering 'should I stop now?' And I didn't always know who was talking at first as there was no clear indication - I hope this is only in the ARC. It was so boring. None of it held my interest. I didn't like the characters. I was hoping it'd pick up. At 44% one of our unlikable main characters goes for a walk at night, picks up a dead fox and carries him home and begins slicing him up in great detail (or I think in great detail, I skipped the huge paragraph) After I skipped that paragraph, we went onto dead rabbits and that's when I decided I was done with the book. I love animals, I don't eat them, and I don't enjoy reading about them being hurt/killed/eaten in great detail. Nothing redeeming about the ending - it was anticlimactic and weird and I'm so happy I skipped all the shit in the middle, but disappointed I didn't start skipping earlier.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC. ( )

A very entertaining psychological thriller constructed around a skillful game of cat and mouse between a husband and wife. A real page-turner, and a very enjoyable read! ( )