From the Publisher
Gorgeously written, chilling, and twisty, The Lies They Tell kept me guessing until the very end. Small-town mystery at its best.” — Carlie Sorosiak, author of If Birds Fly Back and Wild Blue Wonder
“Gillian French combines class struggles, family drama, and, of course, murder, like an alchemist, creating something greater than its parts. This book lingers in the best way possible.” — Lamar Giles, Edgar Award Finalist and author of Fake ID and Endangered
“The Lies They Tell kept me guessing until the final pages. Readers will root for Pearl as she navigates an undercurrent of darkness and deception. A strong heroine, a satisfying conclusion—one of the best YA novels I’ve read all year.” — Paula Stokes, author of Liars, Inc.
“French describes in unflinching, haunting prose the social inequities and rugged, often treacherous landscape that define the ‘real’ Maine. An excellent teen mystery that reveals far more than ‘whodunnit.’” — Maria Padian, author of Wrecked
“With haunting, gorgeous prose, The Lies They Tell is a masterful mystery where big secrets lurk in small towns. Privileged summer families, murder, intoxicating boys, and a fierce heroine converge in this novel perfect for fans of We Were Liars and One of Us is Lying.” — Shannon M. Parker, author of The Girl Who Fell and Rattled Bones
“Absolutely propulsive storyline. Every single character is written with precision and complexity, while the setting is vividly provoked and lovingly portrayed.” — Jessie Ann Foley, author of Neighborhood Girls and Michael Printz Honor Book The Carnival at Bray
“A lush summer atmosphere, class tensions, and complex romantic feelings all hit pitch-perfect notes in this slow-burning mystery.” — Kirkus Reviews
“With intriguing characters and unexpected twists and turns, French keeps her readers guessing until the very end. Fans of E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars and Allan Wolff’s Who Killed Christopher Goodman? should add this title to their must-read lists. A valuable addition to thriller shelves.” — School Library Journal
“Much as in her debut Grit, French gives a disturbing picture of the world bought by privilege and power.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Pearl is an empathetic character, and French does an excellent job of highlighting the tension between social classes in this slow-burning mystery, as well as the difficulties of navigating family drama. “ — Publishers Weekly
“The Lies They Tell is one of the most satisfying displays of the mystery craft that I’ve read all year.” — Press Herald
Kirkus Reviews
A lush summer atmosphere, class tensions, and complex romantic feelings all hit pitch-perfect notes…An eerie, well-drawn mystery.”
author of Fake ID Lamar Giles
Combines class struggles, family drama, and murder. This book lingers in the best way possible.”
author of Neighborhood Girls Jessie Ann Foley
A little bit Gatsby, a little bit The Girl on the Train. An absolutely propulsive storyline.”
School Library Journal
With intriguing characters and unexpected twists and turns, French keeps her readers guessing until the very end.”
author of Wrecked Maria Padian
Unflinching, haunting prose. An excellent teen mystery that reveals far more than ‘whodunnit.’”
Carlie Sorosiak
Gorgeously written, chilling, and twisty, The Lies They Tell kept me guessing until the very end. Small-town mystery at its best.
Paula Stokes
The Lies They Tell kept me guessing until the final pages. Readers will root for Pearl as she navigates an undercurrent of darkness and deception. A strong heroine, a satisfying conclusion—one of the best YA novels I’ve read all year.
Maria Padian
French describes in unflinching, haunting prose the social inequities and rugged, often treacherous landscape that define the ‘real’ Maine. An excellent teen mystery that reveals far more than ‘whodunnit.’
Shannon M. Parker
With haunting, gorgeous prose, The Lies They Tell is a masterful mystery where big secrets lurk in small towns. Privileged summer families, murder, intoxicating boys, and a fierce heroine converge in this novel perfect for fans of We Were Liars and One of Us is Lying.
Jessie Ann Foley
Absolutely propulsive storyline. Every single character is written with precision and complexity, while the setting is vividly provoked and lovingly portrayed.
Lamar Giles
Gillian French combines class struggles, family drama, and, of course, murder, like an alchemist, creating something greater than its parts. This book lingers in the best way possible.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Much as in her debut Grit, French gives a disturbing picture of the world bought by privilege and power.
Press Herald
“The Lies They Tell is one of the most satisfying displays of the mystery craft that I’ve read all year.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Much as in her debut Grit, French gives a disturbing picture of the world bought by privilege and power.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Much as in her debut Grit, French gives a disturbing picture of the world bought by privilege and power.
Kirkus Reviews
2018-02-20
After the murder of a wealthy family, a girl is determined to find the killer and exonerate her father.Pearl Haskins lives with her father in the tourist town of Tenney's Harbor, Maine, where she works as a country-club waitress alongside her best friend and unrequited crush, Reese. Rich summer tourists descend upon the town, treating the locals as servants—but this summer is different. Six months earlier, all but one member of the wealthy Garrison family were murdered while they slept. Pearl's father had been the substitute night watchman on duty, and, with the murders remaining unsolved, people blame him for the tragedy. Now her father's business has dried up, the debt collectors are calling, and he's turned to drink. When sole survivor Tristan Garrison and his friends show an interest in Pearl, she lets herself be swept into the world of the summer people, aiming to find out the truth and clear her father's name—but getting too close may cost her everything. A lush summer atmosphere, class tensions, and complex romantic feelings all hit pitch-perfect notes in this slow-burning mystery. The final reveal may not be very shocking, but immersion in the world of small-town Maine and Pearl's dangerous game of chess compensate. One tourist family is Indian; all other major characters are white.An eerie, well-drawn mystery. (Fiction 14-18)
