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The Little Liar
Beloved bestselling author Mitch Albom returns with a powerful novel that moves from a coastal Greek city during the Holocaust, to America, where the intertwined lives of three survivors are forever changed by the perils of deception and the grace of redemption. Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis never told a lie. When the Nazi’s invade his home in Salonika, Greece, the trustworthy boy is discovered by a German officer, who offers him a chance to save his family. All Nico has to do is convince his fellow Jewish residents to board trains heading to “new homes” where they are promised jobs and safety. Unaware that this is all a cruel ruse, the innocent boy goes to the station platform every day and reassures the passengers that the journey is safe. But when the final train is at the station, Nico sees his family being loaded into a large boxcar crowded with other neighbors. Only after it is too late does Nico discover that he helped send the people he loved—and all the others—to their doom at Auschwitz. Nico never tells the truth again. In The Little Liar, his first novel set during the Holocaust, Mitch Albom interweaves the stories of Nico, his brother Sebastian, and their schoolmate Fanni, who miraculously survive the death camps and spend years searching for Nico, who has become a pathological liar, and the Nazi officer who radically changed their lives. As the decades pass, Albom reveals the consequences of what they said, did, and endured. A moving parable that explores honesty, survival, revenge and devotion, The Little Liar is Mitch Albom at his very best. Narrated by the voice of Truth itself, it is a timeless story about the harm we inflict with our deceits, and the power of love to ultimately redeem us.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2023
8500 people are currently reading
92158 people want to read
About the author
Mitch Albom
109 books116k followersAuthor, screenwriter, philanthropist, journalist, and broadcaster Mitch Albom is an inspiration around the world. His fiction and non-fiction books — which include 8 #1 New York Times bestsellers — have collectively sold 42 million copies worldwide in 48 languages. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, the bestselling memoir of all time, topped the list for four straight years and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. He has also written Emmy Award-winning TV films, stage plays, screenplays, a nationally syndicated newspaper column, and a musical. Through his work at the Detroit Free Press, he was inducted into both the National Sports Media Association and Michigan Sports halls of fame and was the recipient of the Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement.
Following his bestselling memoir FINDING CHIKA and HUMAN TOUCH, a web and audio weekly serial that raised funds for pandemic relief, he returned to fiction with the bestselling novels THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT and THE LITTLE LIAR. His much-anticipated new novel is a stunning love story about magical second chances called TWICE, which dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.
Albom spends the majority of his time in philanthropic work. In 2006, he founded the nonprofit SAY Detroit, which provides pathways to success for Detroiters in need through major health, housing and education initiatives. All profits from an original dessert shop and a gourmet popcorn line also help fund the nonprofit. He operates Have Faith Haiti, a home and school for impoverished children and orphans, in Port-au-Prince, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.
Following his bestselling memoir FINDING CHIKA and HUMAN TOUCH, a web and audio weekly serial that raised funds for pandemic relief, he returned to fiction with the bestselling novels THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT and THE LITTLE LIAR. His much-anticipated new novel is a stunning love story about magical second chances called TWICE, which dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.
Albom spends the majority of his time in philanthropic work. In 2006, he founded the nonprofit SAY Detroit, which provides pathways to success for Detroiters in need through major health, housing and education initiatives. All profits from an original dessert shop and a gourmet popcorn line also help fund the nonprofit. He operates Have Faith Haiti, a home and school for impoverished children and orphans, in Port-au-Prince, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,353 reviews
November 12, 2023
There are so many novels written about the Holocaust that it's a challenge to stand above the crowd. However, Mitch Albom does so with his latest novel, The Little Liar: A Novel. I love Mitch's writing style and was eagerly waiting to read this one. Of course, the timing of when I picked it up made the story even more haunting and harrowing than it already was.
Mitch doesn't hold back in telling of the horrors of the Holocaust. I know he is of Jewish descent, but I don't know if had any direct connection (such as relatives who perished or survived). In either case, it is so incredibly pertinent to keep telling people what happened during that time, whether or not your characters are fictional. There were some aspects that reminded me of The Devil's Arithmetic, a movie I saw this past summer that was based on a book. That is because Mitch really put the cruelty of the Nazi officers front and center, showing how horribly they treated Jewish people and anyone else they thought was beneath them.
I liked that this novel was shown from different perspectives, including that of Truth. Truth was the narrator of the story and was overseeing everything that happened. The only perspective I didn't like was that of Udo, the Nazi officer who was featured throughout. He was meant to be the enemy though and reading his perspective didn't make me sympathetic to him in the slightest. The only concern I had, which I hope was corrected for the final publication, is that Mitch referred to all the characters as protagonists at the beginning and Udo was most definitely NOT a protagonist. I'm glad he only did that once and then just called everyone characters.
I didn't know about the Jewish population in Greece or that the Holocaust had affected them too. So I learned something new from this novel.
While the novel went a bit long, it never got stale and it stayed interesting the whole time. However, some things just seemed too good to be true at times.
A lot of the story was heartbreaking, but I don't want to say anything further as to not spoil it. It is a must-read, especially right now. This book illustrates why "Never Again" is so important and why we need to keep Truth at the forefront of everything.
Mitch doesn't hold back in telling of the horrors of the Holocaust. I know he is of Jewish descent, but I don't know if had any direct connection (such as relatives who perished or survived). In either case, it is so incredibly pertinent to keep telling people what happened during that time, whether or not your characters are fictional. There were some aspects that reminded me of The Devil's Arithmetic, a movie I saw this past summer that was based on a book. That is because Mitch really put the cruelty of the Nazi officers front and center, showing how horribly they treated Jewish people and anyone else they thought was beneath them.
I liked that this novel was shown from different perspectives, including that of Truth. Truth was the narrator of the story and was overseeing everything that happened. The only perspective I didn't like was that of Udo, the Nazi officer who was featured throughout. He was meant to be the enemy though and reading his perspective didn't make me sympathetic to him in the slightest. The only concern I had, which I hope was corrected for the final publication, is that Mitch referred to all the characters as protagonists at the beginning and Udo was most definitely NOT a protagonist. I'm glad he only did that once and then just called everyone characters.
I didn't know about the Jewish population in Greece or that the Holocaust had affected them too. So I learned something new from this novel.
While the novel went a bit long, it never got stale and it stayed interesting the whole time. However, some things just seemed too good to be true at times.
A lot of the story was heartbreaking, but I don't want to say anything further as to not spoil it. It is a must-read, especially right now. This book illustrates why "Never Again" is so important and why we need to keep Truth at the forefront of everything.
November 6, 2024
There comes a point in which one wonders, how many different ways can an author tell the story of the Holocaust and not sound like another book we have already read.
And then, this one comes along.
And its creative storytelling, reaches a new level of heart and soul and sadness and grief and anger and love and as readers our hearts break.
Because it is truly a different and unique story. And we can’t help but want to read it. Even though it is another Holocaust story.
This is the story of 4 people.
And of course, six million people. During WWII.
But the focus is on 4 people, Nico, Sebastian, Fannie and Udo. Our narrator, we presume, is Truth.
And as we read, we recognize this as a parable story about hope. It is telling readers that Truth is at the center of everything. We just need to be aware of the liar first.
And, it is because of the lies that affect life and death to neighbors and families the question becomes…
How do those betrayals affect lives and relationships moving forward – and what truly is the Truth?
This is a brutal telling on the loss of that Truth during WWII. And what it means to tell a lie. It also explores the depth of forgiveness when faced with betrayal.
Can one seek atonement knowing it is a human need? How does one make things right after telling such lies?
And maybe in some ways it is asking us, as the reader to look deeply at our own relationship with truth – especially with so much division in our present world.
After all, if lies can be so pervasive, can’t truth, as well?
This book even though it is another Holocaust story, provides an opportunity for teaching and learning. Which makes it a perfect book group selection.
And then, this one comes along.
And its creative storytelling, reaches a new level of heart and soul and sadness and grief and anger and love and as readers our hearts break.
Because it is truly a different and unique story. And we can’t help but want to read it. Even though it is another Holocaust story.
This is the story of 4 people.
And of course, six million people. During WWII.
But the focus is on 4 people, Nico, Sebastian, Fannie and Udo. Our narrator, we presume, is Truth.
And as we read, we recognize this as a parable story about hope. It is telling readers that Truth is at the center of everything. We just need to be aware of the liar first.
And, it is because of the lies that affect life and death to neighbors and families the question becomes…
How do those betrayals affect lives and relationships moving forward – and what truly is the Truth?
This is a brutal telling on the loss of that Truth during WWII. And what it means to tell a lie. It also explores the depth of forgiveness when faced with betrayal.
Can one seek atonement knowing it is a human need? How does one make things right after telling such lies?
And maybe in some ways it is asking us, as the reader to look deeply at our own relationship with truth – especially with so much division in our present world.
After all, if lies can be so pervasive, can’t truth, as well?
This book even though it is another Holocaust story, provides an opportunity for teaching and learning. Which makes it a perfect book group selection.
February 9, 2025
I've been following Mitch Albom since Tuesdays with Morrie, and The Little Liar, his 2023 novel, tells the story of the Holocaust during World War II, focusing on the atrocities at Auschwitz.
First, the positives. Albom’s writing is always simple and easy to read. The story setting is compelling, using well-known historical events as a backdrop. The relationships between characters involve grand emotions, national hatred, and familial love and conflict, offering the potential for deep exploration of human nature.
However,
I feel Albom’s ambition is too great for this book. He stretches the timeline too long, attempting to cover 50-60 years of the 4 protagonists' experiences and intersections. His writing structure is ambitious, but his style and ability seem better suited for essays or inspirational works.
How to put it, the plot feels somewhat contrived, and the character development is more about serving the plot than adding depth. The story appears intricate but lacks the emotional impact. The characters have halos but lack depth.
The first protagonist, Nico, is given too much of a stage halo - extraordinary looks and intelligence, knowing 8 languages. He should be a smart and insightful child. However, influenced by his grandfather to be a "good person," he completely loses the necessary judgment at the age of 11, a time when he could think independently, leading to lifelong regret after being deceived.
Nico’s experiences - meeting a German officer, fleeing with gypsies, even encountering a movie star - develop too ideally. This setup makes her character seem superficial and unconvincing.
His brother is jealous and angry, but this emotion is expressed superficially and contradictorily, failing to delve into the complex relationship between good and evil, making his character seem flat.
Fanni’s character is also superficial, expressing love and hatred too bluntly.
While reading, I felt this work would be better as a screenplay, or perhaps Albom wrote it with a film adaptation in mind. The story is filled with dramatic conflict, which could give actors plenty of room to perform on screen. However, as a written work, it lacks depth and thought, leaving a somewhat bland impression.
If Albom could focus on a specific part of the story or use a reverse narrative, it might be more engaging. Combining an entire life with a single lie but lacking exceptional narrative skills results in insufficient appeal.
At the beginning, the story seems to follow a trope, exploring whether children should be taught to distinguish right from wrong. This is a trap: the root of the story's evil lies in the German officer exploiting the child's kindness. Without his manipulation, perhaps none of this would have happened. Therefore, kindness should indeed be preserved, but the key issue is identifying the source of evil.
3.4 / 5 stars
First, the positives. Albom’s writing is always simple and easy to read. The story setting is compelling, using well-known historical events as a backdrop. The relationships between characters involve grand emotions, national hatred, and familial love and conflict, offering the potential for deep exploration of human nature.
However,
I feel Albom’s ambition is too great for this book. He stretches the timeline too long, attempting to cover 50-60 years of the 4 protagonists' experiences and intersections. His writing structure is ambitious, but his style and ability seem better suited for essays or inspirational works.
How to put it, the plot feels somewhat contrived, and the character development is more about serving the plot than adding depth. The story appears intricate but lacks the emotional impact. The characters have halos but lack depth.
The first protagonist, Nico, is given too much of a stage halo - extraordinary looks and intelligence, knowing 8 languages. He should be a smart and insightful child. However, influenced by his grandfather to be a "good person," he completely loses the necessary judgment at the age of 11, a time when he could think independently, leading to lifelong regret after being deceived.
Nico’s experiences - meeting a German officer, fleeing with gypsies, even encountering a movie star - develop too ideally. This setup makes her character seem superficial and unconvincing.
His brother is jealous and angry, but this emotion is expressed superficially and contradictorily, failing to delve into the complex relationship between good and evil, making his character seem flat.
Fanni’s character is also superficial, expressing love and hatred too bluntly.
While reading, I felt this work would be better as a screenplay, or perhaps Albom wrote it with a film adaptation in mind. The story is filled with dramatic conflict, which could give actors plenty of room to perform on screen. However, as a written work, it lacks depth and thought, leaving a somewhat bland impression.
If Albom could focus on a specific part of the story or use a reverse narrative, it might be more engaging. Combining an entire life with a single lie but lacking exceptional narrative skills results in insufficient appeal.
At the beginning, the story seems to follow a trope, exploring whether children should be taught to distinguish right from wrong. This is a trap: the root of the story's evil lies in the German officer exploiting the child's kindness. Without his manipulation, perhaps none of this would have happened. Therefore, kindness should indeed be preserved, but the key issue is identifying the source of evil.
3.4 / 5 stars
December 3, 2023
I love when a work of fiction helps me learn something new. This was my first time reading a book set during the Holocaust. I was unaware Greece had been invaded by Nazis. Thousands of Jews were deported by train from Salonika, Greece to Auschwitz, where they were faced with certain death. Albom does his best to expose to the reader the true terrors that occurred. 16 pages into the book, a baby was thrown from the window of a train. 😳 I wish I were kidding! I used to stay away from historical fiction, and I have no idea why. These are now some of my favorite books. 🥺
November 20, 2023
TEN THOUSAND STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
December 24, 2023
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This was quite interesting and I loved the concept.
The story is narrated by the voice of “Truth” (just like “Death” was the voice in “The Book Thief”, by Markus Zusak but here the impact is much lower).
This was somewhat refreshing, as I have never read a book about the Holocaust that was set in Greece but ends in America.
The story was well executed (although there were large gaps between time), and its development was heartbreaking, as expected from such a topic.
My main complaint is that I did not feel connected with the characters.
I did enjoy the twist at the end.
This was my first book by this author.
I have already separated “The Stranger in the Lifeboat”.
Ebook (Kobo): 225 pages (default), 69k words
Hardcover (Harper): 352 pages (6 parts, 45 chapters)
This was quite interesting and I loved the concept.
The story is narrated by the voice of “Truth” (just like “Death” was the voice in “The Book Thief”, by Markus Zusak but here the impact is much lower).
This was somewhat refreshing, as I have never read a book about the Holocaust that was set in Greece but ends in America.
The story was well executed (although there were large gaps between time), and its development was heartbreaking, as expected from such a topic.
My main complaint is that I did not feel connected with the characters.
I did enjoy the twist at the end.
This was my first book by this author.
I have already separated “The Stranger in the Lifeboat”.
Ebook (Kobo): 225 pages (default), 69k words
Hardcover (Harper): 352 pages (6 parts, 45 chapters)
August 26, 2025
4 different stories, six million people and a tragedy that shaped all their lives…
This is a unique story about the Holocaust in WWII. We get 4 different view points and our hearts are completely engulfed in every emotion they felt. Unlike other holocaust stories, Albom brings his unique perspective and provides profound introspection while we learn about our 4 characters.
Like all his other stories, this stays with you long after you put it down. It’s a story you’ll want to share, to talk about and to live rent free in the best books of your memory.
This story, like his others, is exceptional.
Thank you to the publisher for providing the novel in exchange for my honest review.
This is a unique story about the Holocaust in WWII. We get 4 different view points and our hearts are completely engulfed in every emotion they felt. Unlike other holocaust stories, Albom brings his unique perspective and provides profound introspection while we learn about our 4 characters.
Like all his other stories, this stays with you long after you put it down. It’s a story you’ll want to share, to talk about and to live rent free in the best books of your memory.
This story, like his others, is exceptional.
Thank you to the publisher for providing the novel in exchange for my honest review.
January 5, 2024
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom is truly one of the best books I have ever read. Taken place during WW2 Greece. The nazis take a family leaving one child scared and hiding behind. Later two brothers reunite. One brother makes a terrible assumption. Leaving 2 brothers pitted against each other. I learned a lot as well
February 24, 2024
This book is not ‘historical fiction’ in the true sense, but it is historical with fictional characters.
I have been reading about WWII and the Holocaust almost as long as I have been reading and
this is the first book I have read that tells the story of the Greek Jews during the Nazi occupation of Greece. This was all new to me and I couldn’t think of a better way to learn about something I didn’t know before!
The story is narrated by Truth (similar to “The Book Thief” narrated by Death which I also loved).
There are four main characters – Nico, his brother Sebastian, their friend Fannie and the Nazi officer Udo.
This is their journey, as told by Truth, and if you look closely you will find a stark correlation to current world affairs.
Eleven year old Nico has been taught to tell the truth – something he has taken very seriously. Nico supposes that others also tell the truth and so it’s no surprise that he is duped by a Nazi officer with lies that the Jews are being relocated to a nice place where they will have good jobs and be safe. Nico eagerly encourages his friends and neighbours, including his entire family, to board the trains in Salonika.
(Before World War II, Salonika (Thessaloniki) had the largest Jewish community in Greece. During the years 1941 to 1943, following the German occupation, the ancient and vibrant Jewish community of Salonika was destroyed).
Once Nico discovers that he has been duped and sent his family to their certain death he has no further use for the truth. Here begins his life of lies. Lies of omission, lies for reasons and lies for no reasons at all.
You may find fortuitous twists in the story. There are coincidences that you may find outlandish. But with all the literary devices employed by the author none of it has detracted from the story he set out to tell.
This was a page-turner for me. Many themes are explored in these pages such as courage, deceit, betrayal, the choices we make and their consequences.
“Once, in earlier times, the Angel of Truth decided to walk among the people and share its message of positive power. Alas, the people turned away whenever Truth got close. They covered their eyes. They ran in the other direction.”
I have been reading about WWII and the Holocaust almost as long as I have been reading and
this is the first book I have read that tells the story of the Greek Jews during the Nazi occupation of Greece. This was all new to me and I couldn’t think of a better way to learn about something I didn’t know before!
The story is narrated by Truth (similar to “The Book Thief” narrated by Death which I also loved).
There are four main characters – Nico, his brother Sebastian, their friend Fannie and the Nazi officer Udo.
This is their journey, as told by Truth, and if you look closely you will find a stark correlation to current world affairs.
Eleven year old Nico has been taught to tell the truth – something he has taken very seriously. Nico supposes that others also tell the truth and so it’s no surprise that he is duped by a Nazi officer with lies that the Jews are being relocated to a nice place where they will have good jobs and be safe. Nico eagerly encourages his friends and neighbours, including his entire family, to board the trains in Salonika.
(Before World War II, Salonika (Thessaloniki) had the largest Jewish community in Greece. During the years 1941 to 1943, following the German occupation, the ancient and vibrant Jewish community of Salonika was destroyed).
Once Nico discovers that he has been duped and sent his family to their certain death he has no further use for the truth. Here begins his life of lies. Lies of omission, lies for reasons and lies for no reasons at all.
You may find fortuitous twists in the story. There are coincidences that you may find outlandish. But with all the literary devices employed by the author none of it has detracted from the story he set out to tell.
This was a page-turner for me. Many themes are explored in these pages such as courage, deceit, betrayal, the choices we make and their consequences.
“Once, in earlier times, the Angel of Truth decided to walk among the people and share its message of positive power. Alas, the people turned away whenever Truth got close. They covered their eyes. They ran in the other direction.”
February 13, 2025
4.25 ⭐️s
Raise your hand if you get a bit burnt out from the saturated market of World War II historical fiction?
Me: 🙋♀️
Raise your hand if after seeing all the high ratings on Goodreads for “The Little Liar”, you thought, “OKAY, I’m going in!”
Me: 🙋♀️
Raise your hand if you encourage other WWII weary readers to do the same.
Me: 🙋♀️
Two unique elements made it a standout:
Setting: Greece, which was uncharted territory for my World War II reading
Narrator Perspective: the virtue of truth
Of course, Mitch Albom’s writing and characters are always superb, but the setting and narrator are what made this book a fresh read of an oft covered topic.
Raise your hand if you get a bit burnt out from the saturated market of World War II historical fiction?
Me: 🙋♀️
Raise your hand if after seeing all the high ratings on Goodreads for “The Little Liar”, you thought, “OKAY, I’m going in!”
Me: 🙋♀️
Raise your hand if you encourage other WWII weary readers to do the same.
Me: 🙋♀️
Two unique elements made it a standout:
Setting: Greece, which was uncharted territory for my World War II reading
Narrator Perspective: the virtue of truth
Of course, Mitch Albom’s writing and characters are always superb, but the setting and narrator are what made this book a fresh read of an oft covered topic.
March 11, 2023
I know this book isn't out yet but I'm just so excited for it. I'm counting down the days.
I've recently finished reading all of Mitch's books and have loved every single one of them, so I have no doubt that this will be the same.
Mitch, you can do no wrong and I will always read anything you release :)
I've recently finished reading all of Mitch's books and have loved every single one of them, so I have no doubt that this will be the same.
Mitch, you can do no wrong and I will always read anything you release :)
February 23, 2024
Maybe it's our current political climate, but for me, this wasn't just about Hitler's invasion of Greece, but was a giant reminder of what's happening in the world (again) today. This book is a work of fiction, but truth is the underlying theme. Albom cleverly uses Truth as his narrator, as Truth was sorely lacking when Nazis first scourged the earth, and it is lacking now in those trying to gain power once more.
Humans "lie, and those lies let them think they are God. Truth is the only thing that stops them. And yet, you cannot drown out noise with silence. Truth needs a voice."
Albom's message seems very clear to me.
"A lie told once is easy to expose. But a lie told a thousand times can look like the truth and destroy the world."
Is he talking about anyone in particular, besides Hitler, that is? Because I know someone who keeps telling this really Big Lie and he's certainly destroying major areas of the world.
Back to WWII, I somehow missed the history lesson about Greek Jews being transported from Salonika to Auschwitz. The story Albom has constructed is from three children's perspectives and I came to really care what was happening to them. This author expresses himself with his heart and a genuine brilliance. I'll read anything he publishes.
Humans "lie, and those lies let them think they are God. Truth is the only thing that stops them. And yet, you cannot drown out noise with silence. Truth needs a voice."
Albom's message seems very clear to me.
"A lie told once is easy to expose. But a lie told a thousand times can look like the truth and destroy the world."
Is he talking about anyone in particular, besides Hitler, that is? Because I know someone who keeps telling this really Big Lie and he's certainly destroying major areas of the world.
Back to WWII, I somehow missed the history lesson about Greek Jews being transported from Salonika to Auschwitz. The story Albom has constructed is from three children's perspectives and I came to really care what was happening to them. This author expresses himself with his heart and a genuine brilliance. I'll read anything he publishes.
April 20, 2025
The Truth (the narrator) tells of the genocidal, anti-Semitic, barbaric, racist, unfathomable pogrom committed by Nazi invaders and neighbors alike. The Truth tells of the devastating obliteration of Greek Jewry, Hungarian Jewry and other Jewish communities. The Truth speaks of true heroism by those who refused to stand by and by those who kept hope and tradition alive. The Truth speaks of the survivors who vowed to never forget and took the words NEVER AGAIN quite literally. Completed in the summer of 2023 this book is especially timely and significant in the face of the monstrous barbarity of October 7th and the lies that continue to follow it. Required, fascinating, and heartbreaking reading for all humans. Well done Mr. Albom.
January 29, 2024
Wow, what a ride! This is your not run off the mill WWII book where the Truth was the narrator. It echoed "The book thief" where the Death was the narrator.
Nico, Sebastian, and Fannie are three Greek Jewish kids who get just enough freedom and love to know its taste before it's taken away from them. The story is fast and brutal. It takes you in such a grip you can't function well until you finish it.
The author does an outstanding job
Nico, Sebastian, and Fannie are three Greek Jewish kids who get just enough freedom and love to know its taste before it's taken away from them. The story is fast and brutal. It takes you in such a grip you can't function well until you finish it.
The author does an outstanding job
August 20, 2024
“If you want to get away with lying, first change the language.”
THE LITTLE LIAR has a great premise, an interesting perspective, an intriguing story, and a great idea for a narrator. And it is a good read and one I am glad I have under my belt. Mitch Albom does a nice job with this book. He really does. But as I was reading it, I kept wondering what this great premise would have looked like in the hands of a truly stellar writer. Someone like a Mark Helprin, or a Kent Haruf. However, I will give credit where it is due. Mr. Albom has taken the Holocaust and given a unique and compelling version of a well-worn story in this novel.
The plot, Nico Krispis is 11 years old when his Greek town comes under Nazi occupation, and the deportation dictated by the Final Solution comes to his life. This little boy has never told a lie…until he is tricked into giving misinformation to his fellow Jews. Other key characters are a Nazi officer named Udo Graf, Nico’s older brother, Sebastian, and a friend of the family that both boys have a crush on, Fannie. The story takes us from the 1940s to the mid-1980s.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is that it is told by a 3rd person omniscient narrator. The Narrator in this case is the Angel of Truth. This device is well deployed by Mr. Albom, and for me was the most intriguing and well-done aspect of the text. When you are presented with unvarnished truth, with no pretense or disguises allowed, it gives the reader no room to question what they are reading. If Truth says it, it is! No unreliable narrators or questions in this book.
Quotes:
• “Humans can be trusted only to watch out for themselves.”
• “Humans lie constantly, especially to their Maker.”
• “But just as ignoring proper food will ultimately decay your body, so will handpicking the Truth eventually rot your soul.”
• “Sometimes, it is the truths we don’t speak that echo the loudest.”
• “Like many decisions that change a life, it comes silently, without fanfare.”
• “But a lie comes in many disguises; sometimes, it looks like safety.”
• “We are all one fateful act from a redirected destiny, and the price we pay can be immeasurable.”
• “Perhaps it’s because the lies you die with are the first thing the Lord peels away-the lies you have told, and the lies that have been told about you.”
• “Jealousy rarely forgets.”
• “When it comes to lies, governments can outlast anyone.”
There are lots of nuggets of great human truth strewn throughout THE LITTLE LIAR, and I am very glad that I read this book. Lines like the following are all over this text, and they serve as a powerful reminder of the great responsibility, and consequences, of the Truth. “Truth calls for a reckoning, whether immediate or in the distant future.” We would all do well to realize how very true that statement is!
Another thing that I appreciated about this book was that its bent was toward human redemption and the goodness that humanity is capable of. I think too often in literature we can forget about that, and if we don’t strive to recognize the goodness we are capable of, then all is lost. I won’t have a problem with a book that strives to remind us of that fact.
THE LITTLE LIAR has a great premise, an interesting perspective, an intriguing story, and a great idea for a narrator. And it is a good read and one I am glad I have under my belt. Mitch Albom does a nice job with this book. He really does. But as I was reading it, I kept wondering what this great premise would have looked like in the hands of a truly stellar writer. Someone like a Mark Helprin, or a Kent Haruf. However, I will give credit where it is due. Mr. Albom has taken the Holocaust and given a unique and compelling version of a well-worn story in this novel.
The plot, Nico Krispis is 11 years old when his Greek town comes under Nazi occupation, and the deportation dictated by the Final Solution comes to his life. This little boy has never told a lie…until he is tricked into giving misinformation to his fellow Jews. Other key characters are a Nazi officer named Udo Graf, Nico’s older brother, Sebastian, and a friend of the family that both boys have a crush on, Fannie. The story takes us from the 1940s to the mid-1980s.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is that it is told by a 3rd person omniscient narrator. The Narrator in this case is the Angel of Truth. This device is well deployed by Mr. Albom, and for me was the most intriguing and well-done aspect of the text. When you are presented with unvarnished truth, with no pretense or disguises allowed, it gives the reader no room to question what they are reading. If Truth says it, it is! No unreliable narrators or questions in this book.
Quotes:
• “Humans can be trusted only to watch out for themselves.”
• “Humans lie constantly, especially to their Maker.”
• “But just as ignoring proper food will ultimately decay your body, so will handpicking the Truth eventually rot your soul.”
• “Sometimes, it is the truths we don’t speak that echo the loudest.”
• “Like many decisions that change a life, it comes silently, without fanfare.”
• “But a lie comes in many disguises; sometimes, it looks like safety.”
• “We are all one fateful act from a redirected destiny, and the price we pay can be immeasurable.”
• “Perhaps it’s because the lies you die with are the first thing the Lord peels away-the lies you have told, and the lies that have been told about you.”
• “Jealousy rarely forgets.”
• “When it comes to lies, governments can outlast anyone.”
There are lots of nuggets of great human truth strewn throughout THE LITTLE LIAR, and I am very glad that I read this book. Lines like the following are all over this text, and they serve as a powerful reminder of the great responsibility, and consequences, of the Truth. “Truth calls for a reckoning, whether immediate or in the distant future.” We would all do well to realize how very true that statement is!
Another thing that I appreciated about this book was that its bent was toward human redemption and the goodness that humanity is capable of. I think too often in literature we can forget about that, and if we don’t strive to recognize the goodness we are capable of, then all is lost. I won’t have a problem with a book that strives to remind us of that fact.
January 6, 2024
I am shocked that so many people gave this book 5 stars. It is simply not good. It is poorly written, shallow, terrible (no) character development, unrealistic and predictable. As I read it, eagerly awaiting it to end, I feel like Albom had no plot plan, rather was adding ideas as he went along. Two stars, rather than one, since it is a Holocaust story - having value in case it is the only book of this genre that a person reads.
June 10, 2025
O carte absolut minunată, cu personaje care ți se întipăresc în minte. Deși este vorba despre perioada Holocaustului, povestea este atât de bine scrisă încât ai impresia că este prima carte cu acest subiect pe care o citești.
Mi-a amintit mult de "Hoțul de cărți" din trei motive: Holocaustul, un copil ca personaj principal și un personaj-narator deosebit. Dacă în "Hoțul de cărți" avem Moartea ca povestitor în unele momente, aici avem Adevărul.
Datorită accentului pe care îl pune pe regăsirea familiei și pe relația atât de frumoasă între membrii ei, cartea mi-a amintit și de "Culegătorii de afine".
Nu am suficiente cuvinte să recomand această poveste!
Mi-a amintit mult de "Hoțul de cărți" din trei motive: Holocaustul, un copil ca personaj principal și un personaj-narator deosebit. Dacă în "Hoțul de cărți" avem Moartea ca povestitor în unele momente, aici avem Adevărul.
Datorită accentului pe care îl pune pe regăsirea familiei și pe relația atât de frumoasă între membrii ei, cartea mi-a amintit și de "Culegătorii de afine".
Nu am suficiente cuvinte să recomand această poveste!
March 10, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom was an absolutely heartbreaking, heartwarming incredible story. The strength and willpower of these characters was astronomical.
It was definitely a box of kleenex read for me.
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom was an absolutely heartbreaking, heartwarming incredible story. The strength and willpower of these characters was astronomical.
It was definitely a box of kleenex read for me.
February 27, 2025
finished this in school and it’s one of the most moving books I’ve ever read for school and i really loved
ೃ⁀➷ 𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭: reading this for school and I’m actually so excited 🤭 knowing my English teacher it’s probably gonna be heartbreaking
ೃ⁀➷ 𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭: reading this for school and I’m actually so excited 🤭 knowing my English teacher it’s probably gonna be heartbreaking
February 12, 2024
I find the book somewhat reminiscent of ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak. Both books delve into the time of the Holocaust, but they tell different tales and struggles. While the emotions are similar, they are also distinct. As a devoted fan of Mitch Albom, having read his previous works such as Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, I must say that this particular book felt like a profound awakening for my soul.
The story revolves around four protagonists: Nico, Fannie, Udo, and Sebastian. I was captivated by the author's ability to intertwine their lives while still maintaining the individuality of their war experiences.
Nico, a little liar who becomes the savior of many, will touch your heart and make you contemplate how a single lie can both take lives and transform a young boy into a pathological liar, ultimately aiding in his survival. Fannie, a girl who manages to preserve her innocence despite witnessing the worst of times, narrates the tale of the war's atrocities, suffering, and survival. Sebastian, who remains haunted by the war even after its end, dedicates his life to bringing justice to the victims by uncovering the identities of high-ranking Nazi officers. Lastly, Udo, who manages to live his life unrecognized.
This beautiful tale exposes the heart-wrenching truth of the Holocaust. It is a work of fiction that sheds light on the darker aspects of history. Without a doubt, it is the best book I have read this year. Any words of praise for this book would fail to do it justice. It is a must-read!
The story revolves around four protagonists: Nico, Fannie, Udo, and Sebastian. I was captivated by the author's ability to intertwine their lives while still maintaining the individuality of their war experiences.
Nico, a little liar who becomes the savior of many, will touch your heart and make you contemplate how a single lie can both take lives and transform a young boy into a pathological liar, ultimately aiding in his survival. Fannie, a girl who manages to preserve her innocence despite witnessing the worst of times, narrates the tale of the war's atrocities, suffering, and survival. Sebastian, who remains haunted by the war even after its end, dedicates his life to bringing justice to the victims by uncovering the identities of high-ranking Nazi officers. Lastly, Udo, who manages to live his life unrecognized.
This beautiful tale exposes the heart-wrenching truth of the Holocaust. It is a work of fiction that sheds light on the darker aspects of history. Without a doubt, it is the best book I have read this year. Any words of praise for this book would fail to do it justice. It is a must-read!
June 23, 2024
Tackling a fraught subject, in an environment where books like these run the risk of further watering down an already saturated topic, Albom brilliantly brings the story to life. This thoughtfully, and precisely brings together four disparate, yet fully interconnected stories in a way that captivates the mind while putting one’s heart through the paces of every emotion. Poignantly penned and reverently recorded, Albom skillfully captures the lives and innermost thoughts of our four protagonists, helping us understand their motivations at every step. I appreciate the combination of interior depth and external transcription, a blend not often struck with such adeptness. This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
November 11, 2023
It is not your memories which haunt you. It is not what you have written down. It is what you have forgotten, what you must forget. What you must go on forgetting all your life.
~ James Fenton, A German Requiem.
The Little Liar has been a brilliant read. A wonderfully narrated story that's heartbreaking and heartwarming, filled with hope, love and courage.
"Some would say you can trust nature, but I disagree. Nature is fickle; species thrive then flame out. Others suggest you can trust faith. Which faith? I ask".
The Little Liar is the story of Nico Krispis, who used to live in Salonika, Greece, with his family. Nico is known through his home town as one who never tells a lie, but when the Nazis invade the city, a German officer decides to take advantage of the trust that everyone has in Nico.
Truth is a straight line. But human life is a flexible experience. You exit the womb curling into a new world, and from that moment forward, you bend and adjust.
This beautiful book is narrated by Truth itself, and it kept reminding me of The Book Thief.
A must-read.
[One Spring, Gurs Camp, 1941. yadvashem.org]
==========
In a world full of lies, honesty glimmers like silver foil reflecting the sun.
==========
But harmony and humankind make a short marriage. Something always seems to happen.
==========
Sometimes, it is the truths we don't speak that echo the loudest.
==========
Of all the lies you tell yourself, perhaps the most common is that, if you only do this or that, you will be accepted.
==========
Humans do a great deal to be liked.
==========
Evil seeks the dark. Not because it is ashamed. Darkness is simply more efficient. Fewer complications. Less outrage.
==========
We are all one fateful act from a redirected destiny, and the price we pay can be immeasurable.
~ James Fenton, A German Requiem.
The Little Liar has been a brilliant read. A wonderfully narrated story that's heartbreaking and heartwarming, filled with hope, love and courage.
"Some would say you can trust nature, but I disagree. Nature is fickle; species thrive then flame out. Others suggest you can trust faith. Which faith? I ask".
The Little Liar is the story of Nico Krispis, who used to live in Salonika, Greece, with his family. Nico is known through his home town as one who never tells a lie, but when the Nazis invade the city, a German officer decides to take advantage of the trust that everyone has in Nico.
Truth is a straight line. But human life is a flexible experience. You exit the womb curling into a new world, and from that moment forward, you bend and adjust.
This beautiful book is narrated by Truth itself, and it kept reminding me of The Book Thief.
A must-read.
[One Spring, Gurs Camp, 1941. yadvashem.org]
==========
In a world full of lies, honesty glimmers like silver foil reflecting the sun.
==========
But harmony and humankind make a short marriage. Something always seems to happen.
==========
Sometimes, it is the truths we don't speak that echo the loudest.
==========
Of all the lies you tell yourself, perhaps the most common is that, if you only do this or that, you will be accepted.
==========
Humans do a great deal to be liked.
==========
Evil seeks the dark. Not because it is ashamed. Darkness is simply more efficient. Fewer complications. Less outrage.
==========
We are all one fateful act from a redirected destiny, and the price we pay can be immeasurable.
November 27, 2023
This book felt kind of like grandpa Simpson trying to tell me a story about the Holocaust. It was rambling, way too “tell, don’t show,” and I didn’t feel any connection with the characters because they went pretty much entirely on instinct. No thoughts, just vibes. I liked the concept of truth as a character, until that was ruined at the end. And I didn’t mind exploring the idea of the impact that trauma can have on your ability to process the importance of truth. But this was probably his weakest book.
December 5, 2023
5⭐️ 5⭐️ Best book I’ve read in a very long time!
‘A man, to be forgiven, will do anything’.
‘Sometimes a lie is merely truth that is yet to happen’.
‘Humans are broken. Susceptible to sin. They were created with minds to explore, but they often choose to explore their own power. They lie. And those lies let them think they are God. Truth is the only thing that stops them.’
‘When you lie about everything, you belong to nothing’.
‘A man, to be forgiven, will do anything’.
‘Sometimes a lie is merely truth that is yet to happen’.
‘Humans are broken. Susceptible to sin. They were created with minds to explore, but they often choose to explore their own power. They lie. And those lies let them think they are God. Truth is the only thing that stops them.’
‘When you lie about everything, you belong to nothing’.
December 21, 2023
This is in contention for one of the worse book I've ever read. Rife full of unbelievable scenarios and a storyline that became more and more hard to swallow as it progressed. When I started this I was hoping it would be a book I could pass on and recommend at my book club. I won't.
April 23, 2024
Mitch Albom has written a deeply touching account about the experiences of four individuals during, and after the holocaust. It is a troubling, yet beautiful account that will impact each reader and disturb them greatly.
August 6, 2025
OK, who cried after reading this? Because I certainly did. It’s such a heartbreaking masterpiece by one of my favorite authors.
I’ve read a few books about the Holocaust, and just like those in the past, each story tore my heart apart—piece by piece. I can’t and I don’t want to imagine the suffering of millions during the hell that was WWII. No amount of books, manifestos, documentaries, or public records could describe the agony and fear brought upon by evil itself.
How Mitch Albom tells a story of family, love, atonement, and survival in such a creative way tugs at my heart, and I couldn’t help but cry with the characters. Two particular scenes in the book made me close my eyes and appreciate the freedom I hold in my hands.
It’s a very powerful read—a painful journey through time with a lot of lessons. PICK THIS UP. ADD THIS TO YOUR NEXT READ.
I’ve read a few books about the Holocaust, and just like those in the past, each story tore my heart apart—piece by piece. I can’t and I don’t want to imagine the suffering of millions during the hell that was WWII. No amount of books, manifestos, documentaries, or public records could describe the agony and fear brought upon by evil itself.
How Mitch Albom tells a story of family, love, atonement, and survival in such a creative way tugs at my heart, and I couldn’t help but cry with the characters. Two particular scenes in the book made me close my eyes and appreciate the freedom I hold in my hands.
It’s a very powerful read—a painful journey through time with a lot of lessons. PICK THIS UP. ADD THIS TO YOUR NEXT READ.
January 25, 2024
Best-selling author Mitch Albom delivers another powerful, emotional story of love, loss and family with his new novel, “The Little Liar”.
Nico Kripsis, beloved by his entire family and the community that knew him, never told a lie. He was honest, to a fault, with everyone around him, and he could always be relied on to tell the truth, regardless of the consequences. Until one day, when Nico was eleven years old, World War two infiltrated his small Greek community, and his life changed forever. Nico was soon lying to his countrymen, his family, and everyone he met. What started off as a desperate ploy to stay alive became a lifestyle, turning him into “The Little Liar”.
The story is narrated by “Truth”, who, through the experiences of Nico, his brother Sebastian, their neighbour Frannie, and Udo, a chief SS officer, Albom tells the often-forgotten story of the tragedies the Jewish people of Greece experienced during World War Two. Nico’s community was completely wiped out, a town that once held fifty thousand people dwindled to less than two thousand, the entire Jewish community shuttled away on trains, never to be seen again. Albom writes with so much feeling that I, too, was able to experience the desperation, the grief and the utter despondency of all of the characters (with the obvious exception of Udo, who was the villain from page one and remained so throughout).
There are numerous World War two novels that speak about the Holocaust and every time I read one, I am always moved. Albom clearly has done his research, and I appreciated his nod to the Greek experience, as it provided me with a previously unknown perspective.
Nico was a relatable and human character, a young boy who valued truth above all until life’s tragic circumstances came alone, changing him into a pathological liar. Frannie and Sebastian, brought together through grief and remaining together for comfort and safety, brought their own open-hearted and raw experiences to the tale. Udo’s rise through the SS, too, was the counterpart to the Kripsis’ family heroism and bravery, and I was determined to see Udo receive his comeuppance.
Albom is one of my favourite authors and novels like “The Little Liar” are the reason why. His novels are short, yet they pack an emotional punch that stays with me for days. Albom’s thought-provoking plots and genuine characters keep me singing his praises, and I look forward to reading anything and everything he touches.
Nico Kripsis, beloved by his entire family and the community that knew him, never told a lie. He was honest, to a fault, with everyone around him, and he could always be relied on to tell the truth, regardless of the consequences. Until one day, when Nico was eleven years old, World War two infiltrated his small Greek community, and his life changed forever. Nico was soon lying to his countrymen, his family, and everyone he met. What started off as a desperate ploy to stay alive became a lifestyle, turning him into “The Little Liar”.
The story is narrated by “Truth”, who, through the experiences of Nico, his brother Sebastian, their neighbour Frannie, and Udo, a chief SS officer, Albom tells the often-forgotten story of the tragedies the Jewish people of Greece experienced during World War Two. Nico’s community was completely wiped out, a town that once held fifty thousand people dwindled to less than two thousand, the entire Jewish community shuttled away on trains, never to be seen again. Albom writes with so much feeling that I, too, was able to experience the desperation, the grief and the utter despondency of all of the characters (with the obvious exception of Udo, who was the villain from page one and remained so throughout).
There are numerous World War two novels that speak about the Holocaust and every time I read one, I am always moved. Albom clearly has done his research, and I appreciated his nod to the Greek experience, as it provided me with a previously unknown perspective.
Nico was a relatable and human character, a young boy who valued truth above all until life’s tragic circumstances came alone, changing him into a pathological liar. Frannie and Sebastian, brought together through grief and remaining together for comfort and safety, brought their own open-hearted and raw experiences to the tale. Udo’s rise through the SS, too, was the counterpart to the Kripsis’ family heroism and bravery, and I was determined to see Udo receive his comeuppance.
Albom is one of my favourite authors and novels like “The Little Liar” are the reason why. His novels are short, yet they pack an emotional punch that stays with me for days. Albom’s thought-provoking plots and genuine characters keep me singing his praises, and I look forward to reading anything and everything he touches.
November 17, 2024
This was such a deeply moving story. Mitch Albom truly knows his way with words and truly knows how to make you emotional. It's a beautifully sad story, but a great read!
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