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A review by themadcaptain
Lies She Told by Cate Holahan
2.0
I saw a review for this one that was basically "amazing until the last 75 pages" - and while I don't know the actual page amount, I really have to agree. I'd say this is a killer (pun intended - sorry, had to happen) story until the ending where it really seems to hurt itself in confusion.
I love the idea of a mystery within a mystery - especially when it all parallels and ties together. When done well, that kind of thing can be really effective.
However, I did not like the way the twist was handled, or how the narrator (or author - I can't really tell who's opinions it was) handled anything involving gay characters. The way she spoke made it seem like she was trying really hard to sound progressive, and really not doing the best job. Referring to someone as "a homosexual" feels like something you'd hear in the 80's ("But I'm a Cheerleader" kept popping into my head).
As must as I hate any kind of "kill your gays" plotline going on, I almost feel like it would have been better if her husband (name escapes me) had been the one to kill Nick, because then at least it wouldn't have had as many issues as "the angry wife finds out her husband is gay and kills his lover and them him"
And again, I can't really figure out if it's the author not knowing how to write about LGBT people - or the narrator being the type of person who touts the "I'm super open-minded and progressive!" ideals until it applies to her own life.
Closing thoughts - basically this book was really good until the ending.
I love the idea of a mystery within a mystery - especially when it all parallels and ties together. When done well, that kind of thing can be really effective.
However, I did not like the way the twist was handled, or how the narrator (or author - I can't really tell who's opinions it was) handled anything involving gay characters. The way she spoke made it seem like she was trying really hard to sound progressive, and really not doing the best job. Referring to someone as "a homosexual" feels like something you'd hear in the 80's ("But I'm a Cheerleader" kept popping into my head).
As must as I hate any kind of "kill your gays" plotline going on, I almost feel like it would have been better if her husband (name escapes me) had been the one to kill Nick, because then at least it wouldn't have had as many issues as "the angry wife finds out her husband is gay and kills his lover and them him"
And again, I can't really figure out if it's the author not knowing how to write about LGBT people - or the narrator being the type of person who touts the "I'm super open-minded and progressive!" ideals until it applies to her own life.
Closing thoughts - basically this book was really good until the ending.