I absolutely loved There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake. I've only read one book by him before this, Hostage Three, and having enjoyed that book I did think I'd probably like this book as well. What came as a surprise was how much I enjoyed it. I loved the diversity included, I loved this element of magical realism, I loved the mystery and I especially loved the inclusion of Native American myth.
This story doesn't have that many characters in it, but those it does are really interesting and intriguing characters and I loved discovering more about each of them, especially Shelby, Shelby's mother and Mark. The main character, herself, Shelby Cooper was a great character. I really enjoyed her mathematical exaggerations and the way in which she tells this story.
She leads a rather unusual and isolated life with her mother. Shelby is home-schooled and her life is very ordered and predictable. Her only 'treats' are on a Friday where she goes to the batting cage and then her and her mother have ice cream for dinner. And we get this sense straight away that Shelby's mother is very over-protective of her, despite Shelby being almost 18. The reasons for this become more apparent as the story continues but I loved all the questions that popped up as I was reading.
When Shelby is almost run over by a car everything changes. A coyote appears to Shelby and tells her that she will be told two lies and then the truth. And that's the beginning of this strange, intriguing story. One that covers truth and reality. It makes Shelby question her life and her identity as she struggles to know who she can trust and who she is. Some of my favourite parts of the story take place in The Dreaming, a sort of alternate reality in which Shelby finds herself in a fairy tale that mirrors some aspects of her own life.
There Will Be Lies was a really great book to read. It was interesting and felt different to anything I'd read recently. It has an engaging voice, great characters and I was reading it I felt like I was taken on a roller coaster ride! I really recommend it!
I just got approved for this one on Netgalley and am so excited to read it! Sounds intriguing! Glad you enjoyed this one Michelle!
I've always seen good things about Nick Lake's books, and this one looks really good!
It IS really good. I've only read one of his other books but I think I'll definitely have to look up his others. The one set in Haiti in particular.
See no I have to go and look at Netgalley! Michelle, you are adding to my TBR list. Love the inclusion of Native American myths.