Publisher: Atria Books
Released: June 23, 2015
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Rating: ★★★★

Dark, witty, and suspenseful, this literary crime thriller reminiscent of The Dinner and The Silent Wife follows a famous author whose wife—the brains behind his success—meets an untimely death, leaving him to deal with the consequences.

“Evil is a matter of opinion…”

On the surface, Henry Hayden seems like someone you could like, or even admire. A famous bestselling author who appears a modest everyman. A loving, devoted husband even though he could have any woman he desires. A generous friend and coworker. But Henry Hayden is a construction, a mask. His past is a secret, his methods more so. No one besides him and his wife know that she is the actual writer of the novels that made him famous.

For most of Henry’s life, it hasn’t been a problem. But when his hidden-in-plain-sight mistress becomes pregnant and his carefully constructed facade is about to crumble, he tries to find a permanent solution, only to make a terrible mistake.

Now not only are the police after Henry, but his past—which he has painstakingly kept hidden—threatens to catch up with him as well. Henry is an ingenious man and he works out an ingenious plan. He weaves lies, truths, and half-truths into a story that might help him survive. But bit by bit the noose still tightens.

Smart, sardonic, and compulsively readable, here is the story of a man whose cunning allows him to evade the consequences of his every action, even when he’s standing on the edge of the abyss.

THE TRUTH AND OTHER LIES is a suspenseful story about a calculating psychopath and the twisted things his mind conjures to save himself from prickly situations. Henry Hayden is a famous German author, well-loved by readers, especially his female fans. On the outside, he seems perfect – talented writer, loving husband, ideal life. Except that it’s all a lie. His wife is the real author of his popular novels (she didn’t want the fame), and he just found out that his mistress is pregnant with their child. He also has a dreadful past he wants to keep secret at all costs. Henry makes one miscalculation, and his entire phony world begins crumbling.

This was a strange book filled with odd and somewhat unlikable characters, yet I really enjoyed it. The plot was fast-paced and kept me on my toes. A few times I had to stop and think, “Wait, what just happened?” But, that’s understandable while being inside Henry’s disturbed mind. There were parts in the book that left me with unanswered questions, particularly with a couple of the secondary characters (why were they there?), and also with the manuscript his wife was currently working on (what was in it?). Overall, though, I thought this was a dark and riveting read that kept me hanging on until the end — will keep you guessing at what are the lies and what is truth.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.