In the Company of Liars

Written back to front

IN THE COMPANY OF LIARS is a murder mystery written in reverse order. No need to cheat by going to the last chapter to see ¿who-done-it¿. My only problem was even after I finished reading the book and learned all the surprising twists and turns, I still didn¿t know who killed Allison! The book is well written but it was hard to follow a story in reverse order. Allison Pagone is an award-winning novelist with an ex-husband, Mateo, and daughter, Jessica and she is dead. Agent Jane McCoy and her partner Owen Harrick, are working two ends against the middle to try to complete their assignment from the Bureau. She has created a scenario that is suppose to keep everyone safe and yet stop the bad guys. Can she juggle all the balls to make it happen? The story includes Sam Dillon, a lobbyist; Larry Evan, an American journalist; Ram Haroon, a Pakistani National, Irv Shiels, the SAC Officer for the Bureau; Dr. Lomas, a research scientist; Flanagan-Maxx, a pharmaceutical company and Divalpro, the blood pressure drug FM produces. The first 200 pages were slow reading. Many paragraphs were repeated over and over until I thought would die of boredom if I continued to read the novel. But I did and the last 100 pages was the best part of the whole story. At that point, it was spell-binding reading and caused me to stay up late to finish it. These last chapters also were where the twists and turns were found. Early on, I had a certain character pegged as the bad guy and I was certain that he was calling all the shots. But, watch out, David Ellis turned the tables so fast and with such obvious clarity that I wondered why I didn¿t see where he was taking the story earlier on.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

similar to the movie Memento

Famous novelist Allison Pagone is on trial for the murder of lobbyist Sam Dillon, but she is not mounting any credible defense. Instead she is more worried about her ex-husband who bribed three state senators to pass a law that would allow the drug Divalpro to be put on the state¿s prior approved Medicaid drug list. She made a deal with federal agent Kat McCoy that she would allow the state to try her for murder if her ex-husband and daughter gain immunity from prosecution.--- Although Allison is protected as part of the deal, a terrorist from the Liberation Front kills her because they believe she knows that a doctor they are working with has developed a medicine that will kill millions. The reason they believe this is because her lover lobbyist Sam Dillon was going before the grand jury. They didn¿t know he had no idea about a terrorist plot but was going to testify about the bribery involving Allison¿s husband and daughter. Kat believes that if they capture the head of the Liberation Front Allison wouldn¿t have died in vain.--- This novel is told in reverse chronological order similar to the movie Memento, a writing technique that is brilliantly successful in David Ellis¿s capable hands. Even though readers know from the very first pages that Allison is murdered that adds suspense and enjoyment to this exciting thriller because although it looks like everyone¿s motive are clear-cut, as the story progresses readers will see that things are not as they appear. IN THE COMPANY OF LIARS demonstrates that some government operations are ugly and morally wrong regardless of the ends.--- Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Refreshingly Brilliant Plot

This novel opens with three different story lines. FBI Agent Jane McCoy holding a gun on a well-known doctor, a Marine squad attacking a convoy in the Middle East to capture a sought after terrorist, and minutes after the death of mystery writer Allison Pagone. Allison was on trial and about to be convicted for the murder of her alleged lover. Just what ties all of these plots together? To say anymore would ruin the masterful job that Mr. Ellis has done in writing this novel in chronological reverse. He succeeds in crafting a tale with narrative breadth and emotional scope seldom encountered in mystery fiction. The novel proceeds to a flawless slam-bang conclusion-or should I say beginning? The result is a haunting, deeply satisfying novel that transcends general limitations and lingers in the mind long after the book ends. An excellent read. Patricia Kersten

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ingenious

This was the first David Ellis novel I had picked up and read and boy, was I impressed! Tremendously well written and incredibly clever to start at the end and work your way back to the beginning with all of those twists and turns. This is an author I will certainly keep my eyes out for.

Fantastic!

I can't even imagine how difficult this book must have been to write. It is a work of art, and a great read. And while I don't want to spoil it for anyone, I would suggest to Barbara that she go back and read the first few chapters again - I think she missed the whole point!

Who can read a book in reverse?

I really tried to read this book, but was totally confused reading in reverse. This author is a good one, I just ordered all his other books, but had to put this one down.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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