The Lying Woods

Starred review from October 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Owen Foster's mother turns up at his New Orleans boarding school to tell him that his father has embezzled millions from the company that had been the mainstay of his hometown, then disappeared. Now Owen and Maggie are the only ones left to face the suspicions and ire of the townsfolk, many of whom think his mother must have been involved in the theft and wonder if they know where his father is. Owen is torn between wanting to protect her over threats she is receiving and the desire to escape to his only refuge, the pecan orchard where he works after school. This is a mystery that introduces characters slowly, with a thoughtful alternating story line and backstory that allows the plot to maintain its pace. Owen's frustration and actions, along with the people whose futures were destroyed by his father, are understandable and build to a satisfying conclusion. VERDICT A first purchase for YA mystery shelves.-Betsy Fraser, Calgary Public Library, Canada

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2018
A teen is underprepared for the truths his father's disappearance uncovers in Elston's (This Is Our Story, 2016, etc.) latest.Senior Owen Foster, long-cloistered in affluence and his upscale New Orleans boarding school, can barely comprehend the shocking news from his mother: His father has been embezzling for years and now has disappeared, leaving his company, his employees' lives, and his family in shambles. Returning home, Owen finds himself the target of the town's rage; he gets threatening, unnerving messages accusing him and his mother of collusion. He tries to escape the endless demands to know where his father and the money are by working in an orchard with a nonjudgmental pecan farmer and by picking up the threads of an old friendship, but Owen is keeping his own secret from everyone--his dad sent him a letter right before he disappeared, suggesting they meet over Thanksgiving. Fans who have come to expect Elston's mastery of situational tension, double narratives, and enthralling mystery will not be disappointed with this newest tale that alternates between past and present perspectives as it barrels toward a stunning reveal. Owen's fall from a grace he never knew was funded by stolen money is visceral as he negotiates humility and defensiveness while relearning what he thought he knew about his father and himself. Characters are assumed white.Readers won't even notice the steady pull to the edges of their seats. (Fiction. 14-17)

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October 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 Elston (Rules for Disappearing, 2013) channels E. Lockhart as she overlays an eerie, mysterious atmosphere on top of a riveting family drama spanning decades. When Owen Foster's mother shows up unexpectedly at his glamorous New Orleans boarding school, he knows something is wrong. Following the news that his father was embezzling money from his fracking company and is on the run from the FBI, Owen moves back to his small hometown to help his mother through the fallout. With threats to his mother and a mysterious, encoded note from his father on his mind, Owen turns to the only two people in town who welcome him: his former best friend, Pippa, and a local pecan farmer, Gus. Alternating voices tell two intertwined stories: Owen's present-day drama and a similar story set almost 18 years prior. The narrative leads the reader through a few red herrings before revealing the stunning and powerful connection between the two voices. Family secrets and forgiveness drive this gorgeously plotted mystery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)