The Truth and Other Lies

A Novel

By: Sascha Arango

Narrated by: Corey Brill

NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

A literary crime thriller with “a clever plot that always surprises, told with dark humor and dry wit” (The New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice), this brilliant debut follows a famous author whose wife—the brains behind his success—meets an untimely death, leaving him to deal with the consequences.

Henry Hayden seems like someone you might admire, or even come to think of as a friend. A famous bestselling author. A loving and devoted husband. A generous and considerate neighbor. But Henry Hayden is a construction, a mask. His past is a secret, his methods more so. Only he and his wife know that she is the actual writer of the novels that made him famous.

When his hidden-in-plain-sight mistress becomes pregnant, it seems his carefully conceived façade is about to crumble. And on a rain-soaked night at the edge of a dangerous cliff, his permanent solution becomes his most 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, weaving lies, truths, and half-truths into a story that might help him survive. Still, the noose tightens.

Smart, sardonic, and compulsively readable, this 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.

Not sure what all the fuss was about

Maybe it wasn't a great translation, but I didn't see the humor or cleverness that many seemed to. Didn't find it compelling. Disappointed.

Beautiful writing

A dark comedy of errors, told beautifully. Like other reviewers I wonder at the choice of narrators since the protagonist is an Englishman. And yet, Mr. Brill's tone is pitch-perfect. How can people fall for this base, evil guy?...and yet, you almost do yourself. While there were some aspects of the plot that left me hanging, I can't wait for another novel from this author.

Wrong Narrator?

Intriguing book full of dark comedy which was muted by the Audio production.

I think Corey Brill is a talented narrator who just wasn't right for this book. He read the book, prose and characters, with an American accent and while stylistically he was excellent, it stripped some of the atmosphere from the book and often pulled me out of the story.

I don't blame the narrator but the seeming production decision that American's would prefer European novels if they were presented as if they took place in Akron.

Intriguing listen

This story held my attention all the way through. I like the pace of this book, the twists and I am really relieved about the ending. No spoilers-well worth my time and money!

Beautifully written

Very engaging storytelling with an interesting twist on an individual's "truths". I enjoyed it a lot.