The Darkest Lie

by Pintip Dunn

Overview

Clothes, jokes, coded messages...Cecilia Brooks and her mom shared everything. At least, CeCe thought they did. Six months ago, her mom killed herself after accusations of having sex with a student, and CeCe's been the subject of whispers and taunts ever since. Now, at the start of her high school senior year, between dealing with her grieving, distracted father, and the social nightmare that has become her life, CeCe just wants to fly under the radar. Instead, she's volunteering at the school's crisis hotline-the same place her mother worked.

As she counsels troubled strangers, CeCe's lingering suspicions about her mom's death resurface. With the help of Sam, a new student and newspaper intern, she starts to piece together fragmented clues that point to a twisted secret at the heart of her community. Soon, finding the truth isn't just a matter of restoring her mother's reputation, it's about saving lives-including CeCe's own...

"A twisty, fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing to the end."-Shannon Grogan, author of From Where I Watch You

"This one will tug your heart and leave you breathless!"--Natalie D. Richards, author of Six Months Later

"A headlong rush into the shadows of secrets that should not be kept." -Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496703583
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	06/28/2016
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

When Pintip Dunn's first-grade teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she replied, "An author." Although she has pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never wavered. Pintip graduated from Harvard University, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. She now lives in Maryland with her husband and three children. Pintip is a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 doubleáfinalist. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, YARWA, and The Golden Network. Visit her online at pintipdunn.com, or follow her on Twitter @pintipdunn.

Editorial Reviews

05/30/2016
In a romantic thriller that unfolds in the aftermath of profound loss, CeCe Brooks's mother, Tabitha, has allegedly committed suicide, following rumors that she was sleeping with the high school quarterback. Hounded by students and reporters, CeCe tries to keep a low profile during her senior year. Dunn (Forget Tomorrow) believably conveys Cece's anger, shame, and growing distrust, and the mystery intensifies when CeCe's father reveals that he doesn't believe Tabitha killed herself or slept with the student. The answers may lie at the crisis hotline where she worked, so CeCe volunteers there to investigate. New student Sam wants to help, but CeCe worries that he's trying to dig up dirt to win a journalism scholarship. When CeCe is threatened, she wonders whether a killer may be on the loose, and the suspects multiply. Layered on top of the mystery is romance, with CeCe torn between her feelings for Sam and Liam, a fellow crisis center counselor. While Dunn's writing can be overwrought at times, CeCe's attempts to preserve her mother's reputation keep the story's emotional stakes high. Ages 14–up. Agent: Beth Miller, Writers House. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"An exhilarating read." —Library Journal

"CeCe's attempts to preserve her mother's reputation keep the story's emotional stakes high." —Publishers Weekly

"Readers’ hearts won’t stop racing as they make their way through this suspenseful novel, whether the palpitations are caused by a tense scene, a juicy breakthrough in the plot or a bit of dreamy romance. There are no unnecessary details to bog down the plot; every character, event and beautifully written description keeps the story going at a steady pace, and readers never feel as if they’re being led to a dead end. Dunn’s heartbreaking novel might show a sickening side of humankind, but the end result is a hopefully and moving narrative that will stick with readers." —RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars Top Pick

"Dunn manages to take what sounds like another un-of-the-mill teacher-student relationship story and turn it into a dark conspiracy. Mystery fans will race through the pages to find out what really happened the night Tabitha Brooks died. Recommend for fans of other “who do we trust” mysteries, such as the works of Michele Jaffee, Natalie Richards, and Hannah Jayne." —Booklist

"This one will tug your heart and leave you breathless!" —Natalie D. Richards, author of  Six Months Later

"Equally heartbreaking and heroic, CeCe is a character you'll root for. You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough!" —Romily Bernard, author of the FIND ME trilogy

"The Darkest Lie is not only a twisty, fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing to the end, but also the story of a fearless girl struggling to understand the mother she lost, and uncover the secrets around her death that others want to stay hidden." —Shannon Grogan, author of From Where I Watch You

"The Darkest Lie is a headlong rush into the shadows of secrets that should not be kept - and proof that the most dangerous lies of all are the ones we tell ourselves." —Michelle Zink, author of The Prophecy of Sisters

From the Publisher

06/01/2016
Gr 9 Up—CeCe is left reeling after her teacher mother committed suicide following a student's claims that he was having an affair with her. CeCe feels abandoned and betrayed by her mother. She is also slut-shamed when her mom's story comes out. When her despondent father admits that he doesn't think her mother committed suicide and that there might be clues at the crisis hotline she started and worked at, CeCe faces the horrifying reality and sets out to learn the truth and possibly clear her mom's name. Meanwhile, a mysterious texter tries to keep her from digging too deep, and an adorable, geeky new kid and teen reporter, Sam, keeps bumping into her to report on her mother's death. The stakes are high, the allegations are damning, and the romance is hot. The tone may be overly dramatic and too weighed down with lackluster similes for discerning teens, yet the suspense is fast-paced and entertaining. While CeCe's self-image issues are a little tedious, readers will find her likable and enjoy the interplay between her and the other characters, even if they are archetypal. VERDICT An exhilarating read; most suspense fans will be able to overlook the melodramatic writing. Purchase where thrillers fly off the shelf.—Rachel Reinwald, Lake Villa District Library, IL

School Library Journal