If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry

If You Tell A Lie PDF by Lucinda Berry is about four friends at a summer camp for privileged, intelligent students. One of their counsellors is murdered. They are sworn to secrecy about what happened and seemed to leave it in the past, until decades later they receive a note. This is told in dual POV and dual timelines of then (school camp) and now.

As for dual POV, lucky the kindle shows which character’s chapter it is on each page, as the character development to make each unique and memorable wasn’t there, constantly had to check whose POV it was. Not ideal.

It explores difficult concepts, such as grooming and seems to attempt to explain a minor’s thought processes to an extent, which whilst reading I thought was done ok, however, I can’t comment for survivors so I won’t say more and stand to be corrected. It does use a trope that I’m not sure will fly with many readers and isn’t great to build a story around.

Now, what was originally going to reduce my rating (in addition to the above) was the (frankly) dumb decisions that got people to where they were, without the author explaining intentions driving such decisions. I thought maybe in the end it’ll all make sense. It doesn’t.

As for the ending, it was just not OK. So many things were not addressed – including, importantly, multiple character’s motivations and intentions. If there was some aspect delving into that, it wouldn’t have been as bad. But there was nothing. We also just know nothing about how the story ended for at least 3 characters. I was keen to find out the how and the why, but nothing.

Literally may as well not have read the mess as it goes no where. It ruined any enjoyment for what would have otherwise been a book I recommended to some for some escapism, despite how fanciful it is. The only saving grace may be is if it’s intended there be a sequel?

I would love to hear from others about this author’s novels. Is this a common theme (abrupt endings)? If so, I know her books aren’t for me. Otherwise, I’d be inclined to try her again.

About If You Tell a Lie PDF