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At the Speed of Lies
Karen McManus meets Courtney Summers in a ripped from the headlines YA thriller about if QAnon conspiracies played out in a high school. Starring a girl who uses a wheelchair.
Quinn was supposed to be having an epic junior year—not finding herself a third wheel to her best friend who suddenly has a new boyfriend and watching her older sister turn herself into a pretzel trying to make sure she has the best college applications possible. Which leads to Quinn’s sister joining a new club at school called Defend Kids that is working to help find the Turner kids who were kidnapped from a nearby town.
Suddenly the new club is all anyone is talking about, and it’s even helping Quinn grow her own social media platform. She runs an account about the goings-on around school and town and she notices loads of new followers every time she post about the missing Turner kids. When two of Quinn's classmates are kidnapped, suddenly the dangers that Defend Kids are trying to fight are all too real.
As the town comes out in search of the missing kids, tensions escalate around the school, there’s an uptick in social media trolling and bullying, and conspiracy theories abound. Before she knows it, Quinn is at the center of it all, trying to find out what’s going on and who’s behind it. Because if she doesn’t . . . Ava might just be pulled into something more dangerous than anyone ever imagined.
Quinn was supposed to be having an epic junior year—not finding herself a third wheel to her best friend who suddenly has a new boyfriend and watching her older sister turn herself into a pretzel trying to make sure she has the best college applications possible. Which leads to Quinn’s sister joining a new club at school called Defend Kids that is working to help find the Turner kids who were kidnapped from a nearby town.
Suddenly the new club is all anyone is talking about, and it’s even helping Quinn grow her own social media platform. She runs an account about the goings-on around school and town and she notices loads of new followers every time she post about the missing Turner kids. When two of Quinn's classmates are kidnapped, suddenly the dangers that Defend Kids are trying to fight are all too real.
As the town comes out in search of the missing kids, tensions escalate around the school, there’s an uptick in social media trolling and bullying, and conspiracy theories abound. Before she knows it, Quinn is at the center of it all, trying to find out what’s going on and who’s behind it. Because if she doesn’t . . . Ava might just be pulled into something more dangerous than anyone ever imagined.
Paperback
First published June 6, 2023
31 people are currently reading
3595 people want to read
About the author
Cindy L. Otis
3 books106 followersCindy is the author of AT THE SPEED OF LIES, a contemporary thriller out now with Scholastic. Cindy is also the author of TRUE OR FALSE, the critically acclaimed YA non-fiction read, which was a Golden Kite Award finalist.
She was born on the West Coast and raised in the northeast where she spends more time than she would like maintaining the tenuous peace between her pets.
She was born on the West Coast and raised in the northeast where she spends more time than she would like maintaining the tenuous peace between her pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 13, 2023
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“That’s the hardest thing about conspiracy theories and the people who believe them. Any proof you provide, they would likely never believe. If you tell them they are wrong, it often only makes them sure they’re right.
Conspiracy theories work because they make people distrust everything. And if you distrust everything, you’ll believe anything.”
If I had read the Author's Note for At the Speed of Lies before I started reading it, I might have been a little more prepared for what to expect and a little less critical of what I thought would be addressed. In her YA debut novel, Cindy L. Otis expressed that she wanted to show how one claim can suddenly be blown out of proportion, convincing the masses to act in a blinded frenzy without any regard to the validity of the matter. By only focusing on that issue alone, I think, other points were ignored that could have perhaps made it a more believable and substantial one. At least, then it would have made some sense. 🤷
“But that’s how these things usually work anyhow. Someone puts a conspiracy theory out there, and then multiple otherwise unrelated people seize it and take it another couple of steps
further.”
For example, even in a situation such as this that was now bleeding out of the small town, the police should have been more involved - the frenzy that had enveloped the masses, would certainly not have gone ignored by more substantial people of power, the FBI? And the fact that it wasn't, made it harder for me to be convinced that this could happen. Also, why was no one confronting Cade?? 🙄
And then to offer these reasonings for not having Quinn's parents not involved more - because of what she was trying to do for them - or Cade's parents being MIA - so it just conveniently makes it possible for him to have sufficient amount of time on his hands to create the pandemonium he stirred up. These little details irked me while I was reading; but, once I read the Author's Note, I kind of understood why these things were written the way they were. The intention behind the story - which I don't believe was mentioned in the blurb - made all my own issues seem unnecessary. So, the rational part of me will have to let it slide. 🤦
“I can’t keep a grin from spreading across my face, because that’s the other thing about going viral—when you have attention, other people want it, too.”
Aside from showing how people can be pulled in by blindly following in any conspiracy theory that compels them to act irrationally, this book also showed the damage of how the innate urge and desire to be recognized on social media platform can be disadvantageous and dangerous. Both Quinn and Cade's initial intentions were to grow their online audience - that ten minutes of fame that could propel them to garner more attention from the masses.
And in that fierce drive, Quinn, herself, became blinded to that surge of popularity - getting satisfaction from watching her number of followers climb, the boost in Instagram likes on her posts. It becomes a competition - a race to see who can get the most hits, which post draws attention more, what can you do to appeal to your growing number of fan's interests.
Despite my own random thoughts, I appreciated that the author wrote the MC with a disability - it seems rather callous to say, but Quinn, with her own personal limitations and rationalizing of situations, offered a unique perspective of how a person looking in from the outside could get caught up in it all. Despite her confidence in standing up to her bullies who viewed her as weak, she was still very resilient in standing her ground on what made The Whine initially stood for, and how it was different from other social blogs. And then, to see how she realized the error of her ways and how she would have to adjust to situations with her own hindrances made it a more compelling and interesting read.
What this book did have in substance was how important and vital real-life friendship with the right people can be - how it can help save and protect someone from blinding themselves to the rush of online fame. The author handled that part very well, in my opinion; Quinn was very fortunate that she had a group of friends who were there to help her out, who could offer a more sensible approach to the events that were unfolding - some semblance of rationality amidst the chaos that helped her through the craze that had overtaken her community of family and friends.
The book also did not end with a satisfying conclusion - maybe, there's a possibility for a sequel or maybe it was intentional. A way for the author cautioning us that even if one person can be charged for the crime of spreading terror, there is still someone out there who can pick up the pieces from where they left off. And perhaps, it's our job, to be able to analyze things in a rational manner with a proper frame of mind, before events could take a drastic turn and damaging consequences that would be completely out of our control. 😔
“That’s the hardest thing about conspiracy theories and the people who believe them. Any proof you provide, they would likely never believe. If you tell them they are wrong, it often only makes them sure they’re right.
Conspiracy theories work because they make people distrust everything. And if you distrust everything, you’ll believe anything.”
If I had read the Author's Note for At the Speed of Lies before I started reading it, I might have been a little more prepared for what to expect and a little less critical of what I thought would be addressed. In her YA debut novel, Cindy L. Otis expressed that she wanted to show how one claim can suddenly be blown out of proportion, convincing the masses to act in a blinded frenzy without any regard to the validity of the matter. By only focusing on that issue alone, I think, other points were ignored that could have perhaps made it a more believable and substantial one. At least, then it would have made some sense. 🤷
“But that’s how these things usually work anyhow. Someone puts a conspiracy theory out there, and then multiple otherwise unrelated people seize it and take it another couple of steps
further.”
For example, even in a situation such as this that was now bleeding out of the small town, the police should have been more involved - the frenzy that had enveloped the masses, would certainly not have gone ignored by more substantial people of power, the FBI? And the fact that it wasn't, made it harder for me to be convinced that this could happen. Also, why was no one confronting Cade?? 🙄
And then to offer these reasonings for not having Quinn's parents not involved more - because of what she was trying to do for them - or Cade's parents being MIA - so it just conveniently makes it possible for him to have sufficient amount of time on his hands to create the pandemonium he stirred up. These little details irked me while I was reading; but, once I read the Author's Note, I kind of understood why these things were written the way they were. The intention behind the story - which I don't believe was mentioned in the blurb - made all my own issues seem unnecessary. So, the rational part of me will have to let it slide. 🤦
“I can’t keep a grin from spreading across my face, because that’s the other thing about going viral—when you have attention, other people want it, too.”
Aside from showing how people can be pulled in by blindly following in any conspiracy theory that compels them to act irrationally, this book also showed the damage of how the innate urge and desire to be recognized on social media platform can be disadvantageous and dangerous. Both Quinn and Cade's initial intentions were to grow their online audience - that ten minutes of fame that could propel them to garner more attention from the masses.
And in that fierce drive, Quinn, herself, became blinded to that surge of popularity - getting satisfaction from watching her number of followers climb, the boost in Instagram likes on her posts. It becomes a competition - a race to see who can get the most hits, which post draws attention more, what can you do to appeal to your growing number of fan's interests.
Despite my own random thoughts, I appreciated that the author wrote the MC with a disability - it seems rather callous to say, but Quinn, with her own personal limitations and rationalizing of situations, offered a unique perspective of how a person looking in from the outside could get caught up in it all. Despite her confidence in standing up to her bullies who viewed her as weak, she was still very resilient in standing her ground on what made The Whine initially stood for, and how it was different from other social blogs. And then, to see how she realized the error of her ways and how she would have to adjust to situations with her own hindrances made it a more compelling and interesting read.
What this book did have in substance was how important and vital real-life friendship with the right people can be - how it can help save and protect someone from blinding themselves to the rush of online fame. The author handled that part very well, in my opinion; Quinn was very fortunate that she had a group of friends who were there to help her out, who could offer a more sensible approach to the events that were unfolding - some semblance of rationality amidst the chaos that helped her through the craze that had overtaken her community of family and friends.
The book also did not end with a satisfying conclusion - maybe, there's a possibility for a sequel or maybe it was intentional. A way for the author cautioning us that even if one person can be charged for the crime of spreading terror, there is still someone out there who can pick up the pieces from where they left off. And perhaps, it's our job, to be able to analyze things in a rational manner with a proper frame of mind, before events could take a drastic turn and damaging consequences that would be completely out of our control. 😔
December 15, 2024
The author says she wrote this book to highlight the dangers that conspiracy theories pose and how they can affect young people through social media. Social media has certainly made the high school experience that much harder and more intense! But though this book has a specific message, the author did a nice job of creating believable characters and situations so it didn't feel at all didactic. Also, there is great disability representation with an MC who uses a wheelchair due to rheumatoid arthritis. The book highlights important disability concept such as that someone in a wheelchair may be able to stand and walk short distances, the idea that wheelchairs represent freedom and independence rather than helplessness and confinement, and the importance of not touching someone's wheelchair without their permission. The MC has realistic struggles, some of which have to do with her disability and others that don't. She is a typical teenager trying to work out what she should handle on her own and when to accept or even request help from those around her. This is a normal part of growing up for everyone, but can be more challenging to navigate for those with disabilities. All in all an excellent high school read!
August 21, 2023
This book!!! Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!
Picked this one up looking for a new release- so so glad I did. I feel like I've been looking for a book like this forever. I used to think fair disability representation in YA might be something I would never see, but the author wrote about the experience so eloquently. The best part is that the plot had nothing to do with the MC's disability. It was so intriguing and well-organized- no stone left unturned. Fast-paced on a sentence level, with likable characters. A big thing I liked was that the language was respectable to the characters- they acted their age and the writer didn't underestimate the abilities of teens. Definitely a timely page-turner. 10/10
Picked this one up looking for a new release- so so glad I did. I feel like I've been looking for a book like this forever. I used to think fair disability representation in YA might be something I would never see, but the author wrote about the experience so eloquently. The best part is that the plot had nothing to do with the MC's disability. It was so intriguing and well-organized- no stone left unturned. Fast-paced on a sentence level, with likable characters. A big thing I liked was that the language was respectable to the characters- they acted their age and the writer didn't underestimate the abilities of teens. Definitely a timely page-turner. 10/10
July 29, 2024
I am all for disability representation & for teaching a younger generation how to spot cult-like falsehood/conspiracies but man, this was just bad. I can see how a young person might enjoy it more but it is not written as if it thinks the young people are smart by any measure. This was written as childish as possible, assuming that teenagers are dumb as rocks. I don't believe that's the case. I think teenagers are smarter than most adults & over time, they lose that curiosity that helps foster the growth of their intelligence, making them stupid adults.
May 3, 2023
UPDATE: Pre-order a SIGNED copy of AT THE SPEED OF LIES from Books of Wonder and get a limited edition sticker, bookmark, and character card: https://booksofwonder.com/products/97...
UPDATE: Galleys for AT THE SPEED OF LIES are now available for request on Edelweiss!
UPDATE: Galleys for AT THE SPEED OF LIES are now available for request on Edelweiss!
August 16, 2023
A character who has Rheumatoid Arthritis and uses a wheelchair!!! and was so unexpected once I started reading but it was a great surprise. Representation matters. Great library find!!
Fake News and How the spread of Misinformation works and causes harm and how easy it is for people to believe it and think they are doing good when in reality they are not and it is just furthering the conspiracies about the subject by putting a piece of truth in there.
Fake News and How the spread of Misinformation works and causes harm and how easy it is for people to believe it and think they are doing good when in reality they are not and it is just furthering the conspiracies about the subject by putting a piece of truth in there.
June 3, 2023
This isn’t my usual type of book but I was interested from start to finish. My heart started racing as the suspense was picking up. Like I really wanted Quinn to get to the bottom of things and be the conspiracy busting hero. This is also the first time I’ve read a book with the MC in a wheelchair and it was very eye opening. I feel like a book like this can be very informative with the world we live in today. Online conspiracy theorist and people pretending to do things online to get attention whether it be good or bad is at an all time high. So much of our world is online that it’s not hard to see the bad side of the web.
I really liked the romance between Quinn and Asher. He seemed like a sweet boy and even though he had foot-in-mouth syndrome a few times, he seemed like a great match for Quinn. When he said he was build her a ramp so she could come to his house my little heart was soaring. I also liked Ximena and Max. Both she and Quinn had good points about why they were mad at each other but they talked it out and got through it like friends should. The end had me smiling. I was proud of Quinn for standing up for what was right and fixing everything as we got to the climax. I really liked this book a lot and I recommend if you enjoy YA mysteries!
I really liked the romance between Quinn and Asher. He seemed like a sweet boy and even though he had foot-in-mouth syndrome a few times, he seemed like a great match for Quinn. When he said he was build her a ramp so she could come to his house my little heart was soaring. I also liked Ximena and Max. Both she and Quinn had good points about why they were mad at each other but they talked it out and got through it like friends should. The end had me smiling. I was proud of Quinn for standing up for what was right and fixing everything as we got to the climax. I really liked this book a lot and I recommend if you enjoy YA mysteries!
March 13, 2024
While it's imortant to get the word out about media literacy and the impact of conspiracy theories, I feel like I've been bludgeoned by the author, who also thinks I'm an idiot. Hopefully someone can do a more nuanced take on this topic for teens, maybe with a bit more emphasis on "researching a topic online means more than watching a few YouTube videos. "
June 29, 2021
So excited for this one!
Want to read
September 17, 2021Can’t wait. Cindy is a masterful writer. Her characters are smart and independent with unique backstories.
February 15, 2023
AT THE SPEED OF LIES takes on a timely topic – how rumors and conspiracy theories can take root and wreak havoc in the age of social media – and embeds it into a fast-paced, twisty YA thriller. Through the eyes of narrator Quinn Calvet, a high school junior, Instagram influencer and wheelchair user, the story also explores ableism, academic pressure, changing friendship dynamics and the pitfalls/responsibilities inherent in having a large online following. It’s all wrapped up in a YA package that’s got humor, a conspiracy theorist convention, and a little romance. Cindy Otis has real-world experience as a disinformation expert and it’s really cool that she’s used it to craft a story that’s not just a page turner: it also hopefully inspires readers to be thoughtful about how they engage with information that they find online. For more, be sure to check out her non-fiction book – TRUE OR FALSE: A CIA ANALYST’S GUIDE TO SPOTTING FAKE NEWS.
September 21, 2023
Enter the school club, Defend Kids, the club at the center of all the drama. A wild string of kidnappings turns some people into activists and others into skeptics, but where does the truth of these upsetting stories lie? What happens when you are inadvertently swept up into the wrong side of misinformation and conspiracies? AT THE SPEED OF LIES is a really timely YA mystery. I’d liken it to some recent current events and groups, but let’s not give anything away. I’m sure you’ll make the same connections if you read it.
What’s fun is that this book about conspiracy theories and extreme groups was actually written by a former CIA officer and national security expert.
♿️ Disability rep! The main character in ATSOL, Quinn, uses a wheelchair due to rheumatoid arthritis. What’s great is that her wheelchair use is there and acknowledged when it makes sense (like when her friends have to help her down stairs during an emergency school evacuation), but her disability is not used as her defining feature or her storyline. It’s like she’s a normal high schooler, you know, since she is!
What’s fun is that this book about conspiracy theories and extreme groups was actually written by a former CIA officer and national security expert.
♿️ Disability rep! The main character in ATSOL, Quinn, uses a wheelchair due to rheumatoid arthritis. What’s great is that her wheelchair use is there and acknowledged when it makes sense (like when her friends have to help her down stairs during an emergency school evacuation), but her disability is not used as her defining feature or her storyline. It’s like she’s a normal high schooler, you know, since she is!
July 13, 2023
I find conspiracy theories simultaneously confusing and compelling—and so does Quinn Calvert, the main character of this YA thriller from former CIA analyst Cindy Otis. All of the characters in this novel are relatable, real, and authentic, and none more so than Quinn. Not only does she have to juggle family, friendship, and romance, she also has to manage modern troubles like what it means to be a social media influencer and what happens when wild conspiracies take over the minds of people she knows and loves. That Quinn is disabled and uses a wheelchair adds another layer of complexity to the story, one that I found especially appealing and necessary (I struggle to think of another novel I've read with a disabled main character). Otis is a deft writer with a keen sense of pacing and a true talent for finding and sharing the hopes and heartaches of teens living in our complex and confusing world. This novel is a beautiful example of why both critical thinking skills and representation matter!
April 17, 2023
This fast paced, page turning, young adult thriller was really good! I found the characters to be well developed and the story to be engaging, twisty, and powerful. The story is told by main character, Quinn Calvert, who is a high school social media influencer and wheelchair user. Quinn finds herself caught up in a conspiracy and uses her Instagram platform to help her uncover the truth. This is a great work of fiction and definitely recommend this to fans of contemporary mystery thrillers.
July 18, 2023
This book has it all. It is about relationships, coming of age, the dangers of scams, romance, thrills and danger, disability and family. It teaches is a very easy way things all teens should know and think about. This is one to buy for your teen, grandchild or niece and nephew. They will love it.
February 2, 2023
At the Speed of Lies takes readers on a gripping, suspenseful ride through the fever swamp of online conspiracies and their real life consequences. It is truly a book for our time.
June 29, 2023
outstanding
This YA thriller kept me reading into the wee hours of the night to find out where the lies would end up. AT THE SPEED OF LIES , a fiction novel is so close to the truth!
This YA thriller kept me reading into the wee hours of the night to find out where the lies would end up. AT THE SPEED OF LIES , a fiction novel is so close to the truth!
Read
March 25, 2024Well, I feel duped.
August 14, 2024
I loved the disability rep, but the story was not it 🙅🏼♀️
July 21, 2025
It was pretty good, I did think it was a little confusing but the general premise of it was good!
November 3, 2024
That was a wild ride! Super interesting and relevant! This book was kind of scary in how real it could be - in fact, this kind of stuff truly is happening. I also really appreciated that the main character was disabled. Not just disabled, but actually has the same autoimmune disease that I have. I will point out that hers is actually probably juvenile arthritis rather than rheumatoid arthritis, but maybe the author thought it would be more recognizable by readers. I’m excited to read more from this author.
July 6, 2023
There should be much more buzz about this book. It's literally the book for our time. A heart-pounding thriller, a coming of age story, and important social commentary all rolled into one.
June 21, 2023
At the Speed of Lies is a gripping young adult novel that takes place in a small town in upstate New York. Cindy Otis, the author, does a great job with the highly intelligent Quinn, her main character. With Quinn, we get to see the world through the eyes of a wheelchair user, a rarity in young adult fiction. As an ambulatory wheelchair user, I was so excited to find a character I could relate to. I hope that Ms. Otis has more YA fiction to come!
April 14, 2023
The perfect parable for teens in today’s tech-savvy world. This cautionary tale about the cost of mis-information should be required reading in every high school. Otis crafts a story that is equal parts compelling, endearing, and horrifying—in the best way possible. I give this five very enthusiastic stars.
June 9, 2023
2.75 rounded up to a three. I realize that I have an unpopular opinion about this book, but it wasn't quite what I thought it would be. I did enjoy the writing style and everything, but I think that the plot was a little too heavy handed on the lies that spread quickly thing. Everything happened so fast--which I understand was the point--but this made it lack some depth. I just felt that there was something missing from this, and it didn't really feel like a mystery/thriller...the messages are important (like don't believe everything you read online) but at the same time there was too much happening.
I feel like, at times, it took away from the story that Quinn was investigating the "missing kids conspiracy," because Quinn was in a wheelchair. Quinn's wheelchair was constantly mentioned, which is good because we need more characters like that, but it was mentioned a lot because the conspiracy plotline took over. I think that maybe I was expecting too much from this book.
I feel like, at times, it took away from the story that Quinn was investigating the "missing kids conspiracy," because Quinn was in a wheelchair. Quinn's wheelchair was constantly mentioned, which is good because we need more characters like that, but it was mentioned a lot because the conspiracy plotline took over. I think that maybe I was expecting too much from this book.
June 24, 2023
A great read with relatable characters, an interesting and believable setting, and a plot that will keep you up past your bedtime turning the pages. Cindy Otis turns her hand to fiction but uses her background in disinformation to full advantage here. The book has romance, suspense, family drama, and a look into the world of internet conspiracy theorists that will make you see them as three dimensional characters. The story addresses the dangers of chasing the dream of being an internet influencer and deals sensitively with the challenges of living in a wheelchair in a world built for people who can walk. The book has friendship, young love, mystery, adventure, heroism, villains, and more. What did the author leave out? She took Elmore Leonard’s advice and left out the boring parts. Read this you’ll love it!
June 21, 2023
i had to dnf this book after 10 chapters. the disability plot line is a subplot that has nothing to do with the story. there’s so many characters and never any resolutions or descriptions. it’s one of those books where u know what will happen next. and the social media aspect is like adding word count for no reason. i also think that the child trafficking crime plot shouldn’t be in a ya book at all. and why the hell is the hot athlete guy with the disabled girl trope just even trying to be written?! It’s very slow and I has no aspects of a thriller that are engaging
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2023
this author tried to teen romance-ify qanon…..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews