Telling a lie is like striking a match.
It's is a curious little light of your own making that casts shadows of deceit and the more it spreads, the likelier it is that someone will catch fire and burn.
If you don't watch out, this lie will kill you.
A long awaited Saturday is finally here! For me, it's definitely a weekend for relaxation and reading. If you're looking to do the same, I'd like to recommend This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher which I finished earlier this week. It's a thrilling read where five teenage characters cover their secrets like a deck of cards. A year ago, a fellow classmate, Shane Ferrick, was killed tragically at a party. However minor, they all played a part in his untimely death. One year later, they are all invited to attend a murder mystery dinner party under the guise of a scholarship opportunity. As the game continues and each card is revealed, their secrets and lies take a deadly turn as they discover the real reason why they were all brought together: revenge.
I liked that the chapters were individualized by the five characters and how they were given alternate names to suit their real life personas. I particularly enjoyed reading the Underwater Acrobat's (aka Juniper Torres) narrative because she pieced together the wider picture of their circumstances early on. I felt that readers could easily place themselves with the Underwater Acrobat and how she was trying to deal with the circumstances that caused a rift between her and her childhood friend, Disappearing Act (Ruby).
After the author took such lengths to establish the history of each character and the roles they played in what happened to Shane, I wish there had been more development with the dinner party. The creepy mansion environment, dark setting, and porcelain dolls all created a great atmosphere that started off the evening's events. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but after the first event, I looked forward to another dinner party themed event that would build on the foundations of anticipation and chills the author had established. This unfortunately didn't happen which I found to be a bit of a shame since there was so much potential to heighten the suspense of the story.
There aren't any surprises because readers know the nature of the book early on. Narrative wise, This Lie Will Kill You followed a conventional structure for YA murder mysteries. There is a great twist at the end, however, that will have you double back and read the chapter again. All in all, I'd rate this a three star read.
Let's play a game.
You are the Underwater Acrobat. Are you up to the challenge of solving this word search?
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About the Book
This Lie Will Kill You
by Chelsea Pitcher
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: December 11, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Synopsis:
Tell the truth. Or face the consequences.
Clue meets Riverdale in this page-turning thriller that exposes the lies five teens tell about a deadly night one year ago.
One year ago, there was a party.
At the party, someone died.
Five teens each played a part and up until now, no one has told the truth.
But tonight, the five survivors arrive at an isolated mansion in the hills, expecting to compete in a contest with a $50,000 grand prize. Of course…some things are too good to be true. They were each so desperate for the prize, they didn’t question the odd, rather exclusive invitation until it was too late.
Now, they realize they’ve been lured together by a person bent on revenge, a person who will stop at nothing to uncover what actually happened on that deadly night, one year ago.
Five arrived, but not all can leave. Will the truth set them free?
Or will their lies destroy them all?
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About the Author
Chelsea Pitcher is a karaoke-singing, ocean-worshipping Oregonian with a penchant for twisty mysteries. She is the author of The S-Word, The Last Chengeling & The Last Faerie Queen.
Watch for her new YA thriller, This Lie Will Kill You, coming December 11, 2018 from S&S/McElderry!
Giveaway
Prize: 10 copies of This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher
Starts: 12/4
Ends: 12/19
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