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shannkfitz's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. An enjoyably fast paced read, with multiple twists.
nerfherder86's review
4.0
Good and twisty mystery thriller. Gets very complicated. Three teens earn extra cash by running scams for classmates--forging permission slips, providing alibis for partying, trading exams, etc.--until one of the boys turns up dead and the other is the prime suspect! Max, now the suspect, learns his dead friend Preston and Max's girlfriend Parvati were also keeping secrets from him, as he gets pulled deeper into what really happened. Will he be able to clear his name? What was Preston really up to? Can Max trust anyone?
9th grade and up.
9th grade and up.
jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. While I didn't dislike this book, I did find it difficult to finish. The characters weren't believable or particularly likable, and the plot took twists and turns that, while predictable based on the plot line laid out, were so far flung that I felt I had to suspend reality far too much. I don't mind suspending reality from time to time, this book took too many leaps and forced the reader to stretch the bounds of believability far too often.
I found the whole "Liars, Inc." business to be completely irrelevant to the plot. Everything that happened within the book could have been accomplished without Liars, Inc. All Liar, Inc. served to do was make each of the three main characters look a tad more unsavory than they already looked. The author easily accomplished that without adding the extra, and unnecessary, element of Liars, Inc.
I found the whole "Liars, Inc." business to be completely irrelevant to the plot. Everything that happened within the book could have been accomplished without Liars, Inc. All Liar, Inc. served to do was make each of the three main characters look a tad more unsavory than they already looked. The author easily accomplished that without adding the extra, and unnecessary, element of Liars, Inc.
falconerreader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars? The book sucks you in, man; I read it all in one evening, and when I had to do other stuff, like make dinner and get the kids ready for bed, the whole time I was all, "Is Max okay?!?" I think my biggest disappointment, weirdly, is that a character I was hoping would turn out to be bad, didn't.
I'm hyper sensitive to "kids from troubled backgrounds" stories, since I've got two in my household. I loved the way Max's backstory explained a lot about him. The loss and abandonment issues were there, but having started out in a loving family, and losing his parents through tragedies, not their choice, left him better equipped to survive all that crap with some mental health and sense of self intact, if buried.
I'm hyper sensitive to "kids from troubled backgrounds" stories, since I've got two in my household. I loved the way Max's backstory explained a lot about him. The loss and abandonment issues were there, but having started out in a loving family, and losing his parents through tragedies, not their choice, left him better equipped to survive all that crap with some mental health and sense of self intact, if buried.
eviebookish's review against another edition
5.0
Paula Stokes' latest literary endeavor is an expertly plotted, thoroughly engrossing, devilishly convoluted, clever and truly surprising YA thriller / mystery for the more mature crowd (older teens and adults). This book falls somewhere between Gretchen McNeil's thrillers and Gillian Flynn's mind-benders. It's intelligent and intense, and thanks to Stokes quality writing style, it makes other YA thrillers look rather silly and far-fetched by comparison.
Max, Preston and Parvati are close friends. Max isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, (and by that I mean, he can be easily influenced and blind to things that are right in front of him) but he's street-smart and knows what to do to get by. One day, in order to get detention (to hang out with his girlfriend, Parvati), he takes the blame for something he didn't do. The other person is grateful enough to pay him for the favor. Everyone's happy. This is how he and his friends come up with Liars, Inc. They offer certain "services" for money, such as forging parental signatures, etc. Finally, when Preston needs a cover story to meet his online girlfriend, Max agrees to a pretend camping trip. But when Preston doesn't come back from his randez vous, and Max discovers his blood-covered phone in the trunk of his car, the situation quickly spins completely out of control. And with the discovery of Press' burned body, it only gets worse.
Liars, Inc is a well thought out and sophisticated thriller. I was hooked after the first few chapters. Max often comes across as completely clueless - or too trusting, if you will - but I wasn't frustrated with him at all. I actually sympathized with him and felt bad for him. He was a relatable, well fleshed out character, with an interesting backstory and some seriously heavy emotional baggage to drag along. And yet here he was, getting screwed over again. It felt really unfair, and I wanted him to fight back.
Stokes is a very eclectic writer. So far, she committed a lushly imagined YA historical fiction series (under a pen name) and a heart warming YA contemporary romance (Art of Lainey). Both of which are great and worth reading, but Liars, Inc. is - in my opinion - her best book to date. The blend of mystery and drama, combined with relatable and honest voice of the main character (Max), makes for a very convincing and emotionally engaging read. It's not a fast-paced, heart pounding kind of read, it's more of a slow-building, meticulously woven web of lies and deception with a completely jaw-dropping final reveal that you kind of see coming, but it still knocks you out good, because there's just no way you could have ever expected it. I really hope Paula Stokes sticks to writing thrillers and mysteries (and not only teen but hopefully adult ones too). Liars, Inc. is complex, but also amazingly effortlessly put together, and I think the author feels at home in this genre.
Liars, Inc. is compelling and entertaining, but also quite thought provoking. It makes you wonder about things. Like, do we ever truly know the people around us? Can we tell who is lying and who is telling the truth? How well do we know our neighbors, friends from school, colleagues? Do we know what dark secrets they're hiding? What they're capable of? It's really the scariest part of this book, if you think about it. Paula Stokes did a fabulous job playing up our most basic fears. I can't wait for her next book!
Max, Preston and Parvati are close friends. Max isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, (and by that I mean, he can be easily influenced and blind to things that are right in front of him) but he's street-smart and knows what to do to get by. One day, in order to get detention (to hang out with his girlfriend, Parvati), he takes the blame for something he didn't do. The other person is grateful enough to pay him for the favor. Everyone's happy. This is how he and his friends come up with Liars, Inc. They offer certain "services" for money, such as forging parental signatures, etc. Finally, when Preston needs a cover story to meet his online girlfriend, Max agrees to a pretend camping trip. But when Preston doesn't come back from his randez vous, and Max discovers his blood-covered phone in the trunk of his car, the situation quickly spins completely out of control. And with the discovery of Press' burned body, it only gets worse.
Liars, Inc is a well thought out and sophisticated thriller. I was hooked after the first few chapters. Max often comes across as completely clueless - or too trusting, if you will - but I wasn't frustrated with him at all. I actually sympathized with him and felt bad for him. He was a relatable, well fleshed out character, with an interesting backstory and some seriously heavy emotional baggage to drag along. And yet here he was, getting screwed over again. It felt really unfair, and I wanted him to fight back.
Stokes is a very eclectic writer. So far, she committed a lushly imagined YA historical fiction series (under a pen name) and a heart warming YA contemporary romance (Art of Lainey). Both of which are great and worth reading, but Liars, Inc. is - in my opinion - her best book to date. The blend of mystery and drama, combined with relatable and honest voice of the main character (Max), makes for a very convincing and emotionally engaging read. It's not a fast-paced, heart pounding kind of read, it's more of a slow-building, meticulously woven web of lies and deception with a completely jaw-dropping final reveal that you kind of see coming, but it still knocks you out good, because there's just no way you could have ever expected it. I really hope Paula Stokes sticks to writing thrillers and mysteries (and not only teen but hopefully adult ones too). Liars, Inc. is complex, but also amazingly effortlessly put together, and I think the author feels at home in this genre.
Liars, Inc. is compelling and entertaining, but also quite thought provoking. It makes you wonder about things. Like, do we ever truly know the people around us? Can we tell who is lying and who is telling the truth? How well do we know our neighbors, friends from school, colleagues? Do we know what dark secrets they're hiding? What they're capable of? It's really the scariest part of this book, if you think about it. Paula Stokes did a fabulous job playing up our most basic fears. I can't wait for her next book!
makenna's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
This is one of those books where at times it was definitely predictable and it was slightly ridiculous that Max was not putting the pieces together, but yet I found myself being sucked into the story. Usually I am not a fan of Mystery/Thriller book, but something about Paula's Mystery/Thrillers are exactly what I like. The one downfall for this book was that I didn't like any of the main characters from the very beginning, which made it hard to care for them; When Max was getting framed for his best friend Preston's murder I didn't care that Max was getting framed because he was being stupid at the time and really annoying me, but the interest in the mystery about what really happened (and if my prediction were right) were what kept me going. I will admit, by the end I did get a soft spot for Max and even Parvati), but I wouldn't say I grew to really like them. Overall, other than a few issues with the characters at the beginning of the book, I did REALLY love this book as a whole, and it has me all the more excited for Hidden Pieces.
This is one of those books where at times it was definitely predictable and it was slightly ridiculous that Max was not putting the pieces together, but yet I found myself being sucked into the story. Usually I am not a fan of Mystery/Thriller book, but something about Paula's Mystery/Thrillers are exactly what I like. The one downfall for this book was that I didn't like any of the main characters from the very beginning, which made it hard to care for them; When Max was getting framed for his best friend Preston's murder I didn't care that Max was getting framed because he was being stupid at the time and really annoying me, but the interest in the mystery about what really happened (and if my prediction were right) were what kept me going. I will admit, by the end I did get a soft spot for Max and even Parvati), but I wouldn't say I grew to really like them. Overall, other than a few issues with the characters at the beginning of the book, I did REALLY love this book as a whole, and it has me all the more excited for Hidden Pieces.
walkman2020's review against another edition
5.0
Much like a lie, this story starts with a simple premise - high school students forming a company and supplying lies to fellow students. It, however, quiet spirals out of control as a student goes missing and the lies expand to cover up the first one.
Before you can blink, you are taken on a roller coaster ride filled with twists, turns and unexpected surprises which will keep you turning the pages and breathlessly trying to figure it out.
Paula Stokes, delivers a sophisticated, intricate YA novel which can stand side by side with the classics. Max Cantrell and his friends will remain with you long after you finish the final page and realize you had been holding your breath for the last forty pages.
Great read and one of the most amazing covers I've ever seen.
Before you can blink, you are taken on a roller coaster ride filled with twists, turns and unexpected surprises which will keep you turning the pages and breathlessly trying to figure it out.
Paula Stokes, delivers a sophisticated, intricate YA novel which can stand side by side with the classics. Max Cantrell and his friends will remain with you long after you finish the final page and realize you had been holding your breath for the last forty pages.
Great read and one of the most amazing covers I've ever seen.
missriki's review against another edition
5.0
Max Cantrell is no stranger to the well-crafted lie. He thinks nothing of it when his best friend Preston and girlfriend Parvati suggest starting a little side business to make extra money that involves crafting well thought out lies and alibies for fellow high school students. What’s a forged permission slip or cover story in the grand scheme of things? Things are going great and the money is pouring in until Preston needs a lie of his own to cover a trip to meet a girl he met online. Max hooks him up but finds himself in hot water when Preston never returns home and his dead body turns up. Looking every bit the guilty suspect, Max must find Preston’s real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Woah. This book is all sorts of trippy. It’s got just about everything you could possibly ask for in a gritty contemporary suspense/thriller. Entitled teens with too much time and money on their hands? Check. A diverse cast of characters that are more than cookie-cutter images? Check. More ups and downs than a roller coaster? Check. I mean it- this book has everything.
What stands out the most in this incredibly well crafted story is the deft plotting. I mean, it is absolutely tight in every way, with convoluted, yet totally believable twists and turns on every page. Paula Stokes is an expert plotter. It is mind-bending in its originality and kept me guessing until the very end. I absolutely did not see that ending coming, and I love to be surprised.
I loved Max as the main character and found him highly likable; despite his tendencies to lie and cheat to get what he wants. When it comes down to it, he’s unreliable in many ways, but his heart is in the right place. Speaking of unreliable, Parvati is by far the most interesting character I’ve encountered in YA in a long time. There’s something not altogether right about her- from her secrets to her thought process. Something about a character that might have some sort of personality disorder driving her every decision was incredibly appealing to me, and I loved the dramatic tension it lends to the story. Max is enthralled by her, and for good reason, yet you can’t completely trust her. It’s all quite delicious.
With an intricately plotted mystery and diverse cast of characters, this book is completely engaging. I read it one sitting because I was absolutely unable to put it down. Each chapter ended, leaving me desperate to turn the page to find out what happened next. This book will thrill fans of mysteries and thrillers, and will keep them guessing until the very end.
Woah. This book is all sorts of trippy. It’s got just about everything you could possibly ask for in a gritty contemporary suspense/thriller. Entitled teens with too much time and money on their hands? Check. A diverse cast of characters that are more than cookie-cutter images? Check. More ups and downs than a roller coaster? Check. I mean it- this book has everything.
What stands out the most in this incredibly well crafted story is the deft plotting. I mean, it is absolutely tight in every way, with convoluted, yet totally believable twists and turns on every page. Paula Stokes is an expert plotter. It is mind-bending in its originality and kept me guessing until the very end. I absolutely did not see that ending coming, and I love to be surprised.
I loved Max as the main character and found him highly likable; despite his tendencies to lie and cheat to get what he wants. When it comes down to it, he’s unreliable in many ways, but his heart is in the right place. Speaking of unreliable, Parvati is by far the most interesting character I’ve encountered in YA in a long time. There’s something not altogether right about her- from her secrets to her thought process. Something about a character that might have some sort of personality disorder driving her every decision was incredibly appealing to me, and I loved the dramatic tension it lends to the story. Max is enthralled by her, and for good reason, yet you can’t completely trust her. It’s all quite delicious.
With an intricately plotted mystery and diverse cast of characters, this book is completely engaging. I read it one sitting because I was absolutely unable to put it down. Each chapter ended, leaving me desperate to turn the page to find out what happened next. This book will thrill fans of mysteries and thrillers, and will keep them guessing until the very end.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
4.0
I am not typically a huge thriller reader, but for Paula Stokes, I will make an exception. Read the rest of my review here