The Truth and Other Lies

By: Sascha Arango

Narrated by: Saul Reichlin

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Pause-resisting, dark, and with an antihero to rival Highsmith's Tom Ripley, international best seller The Truth and Other Lies will have you gripped, second-guessing the line between truth and fiction.

From the outside, Henry Hayden has a perfect life: He's a famous novelist with more money than he can spend, a grand house in the country, a loyal, clever wife. But Henry has a dark side. If only the readers and critics who worship his every word knew that his success depends on a carefully maintained lie. One he will stop at nothing to protect.

His luck must surely run out, and he simply can't allow that to happen. In thrall to paranoia and self-interest, Henry makes a fatal error that could cause the whole dream to unravel, and despite his Machiavellian efforts, events swiftly spin out of control as lie is heaped upon lie, menace upon menace. And it turns out that those around him have their secrets, too....

©2015 Sascha Arango (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

?lost in translation

part of me hopes that this book was in German and then translated which is why it's so bad. The plot is unbelievable, without spoiling it, it makes no sense. the narration is wooden. luckily short enough to put up with.

Great twists

I love a book where the twists are such a surprise and this book delivers that in spades. Great characters, fresh storyline and the narrator is fab too.

The Untalented Mr.Hayden

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator. There is nothing to fault Saul Reichlin's reading other than his being entirely the wrong voice for this book, if, that is, the intention of the author is to secure the support of listeners for his main character. He comes over as a boring old and somewhat feeble minded loner.Also, the suggested similarity to Patricia Highsmith's anti-hero, Ripley, was overplayed.. Although it was a reason I personally bought the book, the differences were so great it helped spoil my appreciation of this story.

Would you be willing to try another one of Saul Reichlin’s performances?

No

Do you think The Truth and Other Lies needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

The opening is there for a follow-up book but Mr. Ripley he is not. I would not be interested in a sequel.

Any additional comments?

I first read Patricia Highsmith's Ripley series many decades ago and have revisited them on several occasions since. I loved the audacity of her drawing the readers into his world and head and her ability to have us routing for him despite his ever increasing crimes. So the idea of a second Ripley was too good to miss.Sadly, for me, the only similarity between Ripley and Hayden is that they are both male and both become killers, a fact which they both, obviously, wish to conceal. Although Hayden is supposed to be a charming man, no evidence of this projects itself from the novel: he signs autographs and gives away monetary gifts but then he is rich and famous so can easily afford this. Ripley, on the other hand, is a charmer, even virtually penniless he insinuates himself into people's trust and affections despite their sometime opposition. Moreover, Ripley is pro-active in what he does, things just seem to happen to Hayden.Taken on it's own merits alone, it was a reasonable read but I would encourage potential buyers to get the written book not this audio edition.