The Good Liar

Starred review from February 19, 2018
Cecily Grayson, the heroine of this complex, thought-provoking psychological thriller from McKenzie (Fractured), is rushing to meet her husband one morning when a building explodes in downtown Chicago, killing 513 people and injuring many more. Catatonic with shock, Cecily becomes the iconic symbol of the tragedy after someone snaps her picture at the scene. Flash forward a year; Cecily’s story intertwines with those of Kate Lynch, who survived the explosion, and Franny Maycombe, who has become an activist for the compensation rights of the survivors. The revelations that emerge as these vivid and relatable characters come to terms with their guilt—and reflect on the cost of the lies they tell themselves and others—make for a constant realigning of allegiances for readers as well as for the characters themselves. Who the good liar may be, and what that phrase might actually mean, are questions that will resonate long after the book is finished. Many will devour this book in one sitting. Agent: Abigail Koons, Park Literary Group.