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Who Is the Liar
An ingenious novel of suspense about sisterhood, innocence, murderous games, and how far we’ll go to protect the ones we love.
In a tight-knit town in the 1980s, a child-killer is on the loose. And Topaz’s parents are on edge. At ten years old, Topaz is so vulnerable. But she has nothing to worry about. Her eldest sister, Ruby, has made sure of that. Swearing Topaz to secrecy, Ruby reveals she has trapped the monster in their root cellar.
Bound and bloodied in the cold space is kindly Brother Johnson from the Church. Pleading with Topaz to cut him loose, he says her reckless sister is a liar. Brother Johnson is right about that: Ruby does lie. She also likes to scare people. Still, even Ruby wouldn’t lie about this. Would she? The game—and the secret—is in her hands. But Topaz just wants to do the right thing.
Let Brother Johnson die in the cold space? Or try to set him free—and then see what happens next?
In a tight-knit town in the 1980s, a child-killer is on the loose. And Topaz’s parents are on edge. At ten years old, Topaz is so vulnerable. But she has nothing to worry about. Her eldest sister, Ruby, has made sure of that. Swearing Topaz to secrecy, Ruby reveals she has trapped the monster in their root cellar.
Bound and bloodied in the cold space is kindly Brother Johnson from the Church. Pleading with Topaz to cut him loose, he says her reckless sister is a liar. Brother Johnson is right about that: Ruby does lie. She also likes to scare people. Still, even Ruby wouldn’t lie about this. Would she? The game—and the secret—is in her hands. But Topaz just wants to do the right thing.
Let Brother Johnson die in the cold space? Or try to set him free—and then see what happens next?
283 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2025
2376 people are currently reading
9283 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
July 7, 2025
I got this book as a "first reads" through Amazon. I was very hopeful since it was being showcased. Most of the first reads I have gotten in the past have been pretty good.
I am not going to say it was bad...but I did almost DNF it several times. I did read it though, so I will leave this review.
I felt that this was a totally unbelievable plot line. I found myself getting bored by the repitition and I was continually rolling my eyes at the absurdity of the situations. Finally, the end was ridiculous. I am really not sure what the author was trying to write. Whatever it was, I didn't find it.
2 stars is pushing it for me.
I am not going to say it was bad...but I did almost DNF it several times. I did read it though, so I will leave this review.
I felt that this was a totally unbelievable plot line. I found myself getting bored by the repitition and I was continually rolling my eyes at the absurdity of the situations. Finally, the end was ridiculous. I am really not sure what the author was trying to write. Whatever it was, I didn't find it.
2 stars is pushing it for me.
July 6, 2025
What??
March 17, 2025
I got an advance copy of this book to read for a blurb, and WOW. I hiiiighly recommend if you like dark suspense. Ten-year-old Topaz is living a normal Midwestern life in the 1980s when her teenage sister confesses that she’s trapped a monster in their basement… Here’s my quote: "Laura Lee Bahr’s WHO IS THE LIAR is eerie, horrifying, and utterly original. She knows exactly how to bind a reader’s heart in twin ropes of worry and terror. This is a fantastically creepy tale that cuts close to the bone."
July 8, 2025
Unbelievable
The characters are all unlikeable. Perhaps it's because they seem so one dimensional. The ending is unbelievable. Why would Heather and her mother be so unemotional about what happened? How can the parents be so clueless? The ending gave absolutely no closure.
The characters are all unlikeable. Perhaps it's because they seem so one dimensional. The ending is unbelievable. Why would Heather and her mother be so unemotional about what happened? How can the parents be so clueless? The ending gave absolutely no closure.
July 4, 2025
Not believable
Come on. Four teenage, no make that five, girls know about a child molester being held in a root cellar under their home. And not one of them tells anyone. The oldest girl, age 16, somehow overpowered him and drug him home, tied him up and beat him. The guy is from their church, of course, and runs a youth group. Four children in the town went missing. Yet the older girl says he raped her and other girls and she's still around.
The youngest girl is who the author makes as the "view point", is torn between believing her sister and believing the man, who tells her he's innocent. She is afraid of her sister who is a bully. But it's still not believable she doesn't tell anyone and just keeps trying to determine who is lying. She does tell her twin sisters that are between her and her older sister though, and they too, keep the secret. Then the older girl gets sent to a camp and they still don't tell.
And it gets really unbelievable when the man escapes and tells no one what happened, saying his injuries are from a ski accident. Then he sneaks back during a slumber party to get some pictures the older girl has as evidence. His own daughter is there.
And the final bit of nonsense, the man is killed by the younger girl with a rock and a fall down the stairs. And his own daughter helps hide his body in the cellar. And that's how it ends, body in cellar, parents that never go down there, girls that never tell anyone.
The author stretches reason to create the story she wanted to tell. Let's hope she doesn't try to make a part two of the story.
Come on. Four teenage, no make that five, girls know about a child molester being held in a root cellar under their home. And not one of them tells anyone. The oldest girl, age 16, somehow overpowered him and drug him home, tied him up and beat him. The guy is from their church, of course, and runs a youth group. Four children in the town went missing. Yet the older girl says he raped her and other girls and she's still around.
The youngest girl is who the author makes as the "view point", is torn between believing her sister and believing the man, who tells her he's innocent. She is afraid of her sister who is a bully. But it's still not believable she doesn't tell anyone and just keeps trying to determine who is lying. She does tell her twin sisters that are between her and her older sister though, and they too, keep the secret. Then the older girl gets sent to a camp and they still don't tell.
And it gets really unbelievable when the man escapes and tells no one what happened, saying his injuries are from a ski accident. Then he sneaks back during a slumber party to get some pictures the older girl has as evidence. His own daughter is there.
And the final bit of nonsense, the man is killed by the younger girl with a rock and a fall down the stairs. And his own daughter helps hide his body in the cellar. And that's how it ends, body in cellar, parents that never go down there, girls that never tell anyone.
The author stretches reason to create the story she wanted to tell. Let's hope she doesn't try to make a part two of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2025
A suspenseful story, told from the perspective of ten-year-old Topaz as she discovers a dark secret. I enjoyed the 1980's atmosphere and the tense premise.
‘Who gets to say who deserves what, and then who gives them what they deserve?… But sometimes innocent people pay the price for guilty people, and guilty people go free.’
I really enjoyed the audiobook narration by Cicely Meadows!
There were some far-fetched ideas throughout this story, which took away from the storyline and experience for me.
With thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this story, in exchange for an honest review.
‘Who gets to say who deserves what, and then who gives them what they deserve?… But sometimes innocent people pay the price for guilty people, and guilty people go free.’
I really enjoyed the audiobook narration by Cicely Meadows!
There were some far-fetched ideas throughout this story, which took away from the storyline and experience for me.
With thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this story, in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2025
awful
I barely have words for this story. Just awful. Absolutely awful. Waste of a read and left me feeling totally blah..
I barely have words for this story. Just awful. Absolutely awful. Waste of a read and left me feeling totally blah..
October 1, 2025
Wow. Did not see that coming.
I enjoyed reading this book from the point of view of the youngest sister. Topaz feels like she's never listened to because she is the youngest, despite that she's often the most rational and empathetic of the bunch. This story went places that I never expected it to go to.
I enjoyed reading this book from the point of view of the youngest sister. Topaz feels like she's never listened to because she is the youngest, despite that she's often the most rational and empathetic of the bunch. This story went places that I never expected it to go to.
July 17, 2025
What a waste of time.
We could have been in a bar, having a cocktail.
We could have been in a bar, having a cocktail.
July 7, 2025
Well, this was an unusual book and I'm not really sure how I feel about it. For one thing, the narrator is a ten-year-old girl, but she comes across as younger than that. For another, the plot line is not very believable. However, it did keep me interested wondering what the truth was, and it only took me about three hours to read. So, I'd say Who Is the Liar is a quick and mostly interesting read, but it's a little odd and not very believable.
August 7, 2025
| 𝟐.𝟓☆| 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊!
I did like this book in the first half but, towards the end I found myself skipping through sentences, reading only 4-5 words in each paragraph, just for the sake of finishing this book. I will point out why I disliked and liked this book, respectively.
I think the story was dragged unnecessarily. The narration was annoying, I mean what do I expect? It was led by a 10 year old. Personally, not a fan of this idea. I'm sure I would love to revisit this idea again through a different format of narration.
However I did like the way each chapter ended - always dropping a reveal, leaving you excited to start a new chapter. The suspense was written so well! The author did a great job in writing the characters, especially Brother Johnson, you will find yourself imagining to be in Topaz's shoes.
I did like this book in the first half but, towards the end I found myself skipping through sentences, reading only 4-5 words in each paragraph, just for the sake of finishing this book. I will point out why I disliked and liked this book, respectively.
I think the story was dragged unnecessarily. The narration was annoying, I mean what do I expect? It was led by a 10 year old. Personally, not a fan of this idea. I'm sure I would love to revisit this idea again through a different format of narration.
However I did like the way each chapter ended - always dropping a reveal, leaving you excited to start a new chapter. The suspense was written so well! The author did a great job in writing the characters, especially Brother Johnson, you will find yourself imagining to be in Topaz's shoes.
August 19, 2025
3.75 This was oddly bingeable but had some plot choices/character choices I didn't care for.
August 27, 2025
Laura Lee Bahr’s ‘Who is the Liar?’ is told from the perspective of tween Topaz. Some of it turned out to be a bit heavier than I had anticipated but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I liked the audiobook narration by Cicely Meadows and felt she got the tone just right.
July 3, 2025
I received this book as an Amazon First Read.
I almost DNFed this one and was prepared to give it 1 star until the last 30 or so pages. The narrator and protagonist is a 10-year-old girl, Topaz, who is written like a much younger child. Her oldest sister, 16-year-old Ruby, is a sociopath who harms her sisters physically and emotionally. There's a serial killer on the loose who rapes and murders children. And Ruby, who we learn is a former victim of the wealthy, well-respected murderer, manages to catch him, restrain him in her family's apparently soundproof basement cold storage room, and torture him while she decides how to kill him and dispose of the body.
The premise is ridiculous, and the plot only becomes more ludicrous from there, as Ruby reveals her secret to Topaz, who begins to fall under the murderer's spell and question who is the liar: her sister or the man beaten and starving in their basement.
I did not find the writing particularly strong, and while I recognize that writing from a child's point of view is difficult, this was a particularly poor example of it. I also find myself hung up on the fact that the girls' Aunt Jess clearly knows Ruby had been molested--which implies her parents also know--but apparently does nothing about it, even though she clearly believes Ruby, distrusts men, and cares about what happened to her niece.
I almost DNFed this one and was prepared to give it 1 star until the last 30 or so pages. The narrator and protagonist is a 10-year-old girl, Topaz, who is written like a much younger child. Her oldest sister, 16-year-old Ruby, is a sociopath who harms her sisters physically and emotionally. There's a serial killer on the loose who rapes and murders children. And Ruby, who we learn is a former victim of the wealthy, well-respected murderer, manages to catch him, restrain him in her family's apparently soundproof basement cold storage room, and torture him while she decides how to kill him and dispose of the body.
The premise is ridiculous, and the plot only becomes more ludicrous from there, as Ruby reveals her secret to Topaz, who begins to fall under the murderer's spell and question who is the liar: her sister or the man beaten and starving in their basement.
I did not find the writing particularly strong, and while I recognize that writing from a child's point of view is difficult, this was a particularly poor example of it. I also find myself hung up on the fact that the girls' Aunt Jess clearly knows Ruby had been molested--which implies her parents also know--but apparently does nothing about it, even though she clearly believes Ruby, distrusts men, and cares about what happened to her niece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2025
This book had so much potential, but never quite got there. The characters were unbelievable (young girls calm about murder?!?), there was little 80’s nostalgia, and the end was flat. There were a few moments of suspense that were good, but overall it was unsatisfying.
August 15, 2025
Couldn’t put this down. There was something so thrilling and scary about this book and at the same time it was so implausible and unrealistic. I liked the way it was written so, the 5 stars are for keeping me so entertained (and anxious).
September 10, 2025
2.7 ⭐️
Je trouve que ça faisait aucun sens genre s'était pas réaliste
La fin était vraiment merdique sérieux je suis vraiment déçue
Je trouve que ça faisait aucun sens genre s'était pas réaliste
La fin était vraiment merdique sérieux je suis vraiment déçue
July 2, 2025
Best Book of 2025
Brilliant! Every detail, captures the Zeitgeist of the 1980s. Each character is richly developed. And the plot is layered with the precision of a master storyteller. A true American classic that can be read over & over again!!
Brilliant! Every detail, captures the Zeitgeist of the 1980s. Each character is richly developed. And the plot is layered with the precision of a master storyteller. A true American classic that can be read over & over again!!
August 1, 2025
That really was just horrible. Could not have been less believable and every character sucks. Easily the most oblivious set of parents in the world. At least this was an Amazon First Reads so I didn’t have to pay for it with anything more than my time.
November 27, 2025
Laura Lee Bahr may be one of the most criminally underrated authors working today. Her ability to craft excellent prose aside, it's always been her ability to voice her narrators that really gets me. In "who is the liar" she perfectly captures the voice of a 10-year-old girl raised in a conservative household during the cultural turmoil of the satanic panic. It's no spoiler to say that the tension in this book comes from trying to figure out, along with our 10-year-old Topaz, who is lying and who is telling the truth. We have her older sister Ruby who says she's captured a child killer in the basement. We have the alleged child killer, proclaiming his innocence and trying to befriend the young protagonist. In her naivete, poor Topaz has no idea what to do, and Bahr takes us into the mind of a child who is ill equipped to deal with such a fraught situation. My favorite thing about this book? Every chapter ends with a line that makes you have to turn the page and start the next one. It's propulsive as hell. I felt the book was also perfectly paced, and I got a little worried toward the end that things would have to wrap up fairly quickly given the heightened drama, but Bahr nailed the landing and gave me a wonderfully haunting final line that demonstrates her excellence of craft. Don't spoil it for yourself. It'll be tempting to read ahead, but don't do it. Let it wash over you just as the author intended and you will be justly rewarded with a tight, unique thriller.
July 8, 2025
I got this book through Amazon First Reads and while the storyline originally caught my attention and I moved it to the top of my TBR list, it failed to please in the end.
I though the plot was unique when reading the blurb but quickly found it simply unbelievable and lackluster. When reading thrillers I like to think "what if xyz happens" and unfortunately I was only asking myself "when" while reading this book.
I also despise a book with a very sudden ending that leaves the story practically unfinished, and this one was a big flop for me.
I will compliment the author on her writing style. I enjoyed reading the story from Topaz's point of view and felt like I could hear her little voice as she spoke, so I would be willing to try and read another work by the author.
I was really just hoping for more out of this read.
I though the plot was unique when reading the blurb but quickly found it simply unbelievable and lackluster. When reading thrillers I like to think "what if xyz happens" and unfortunately I was only asking myself "when" while reading this book.
I also despise a book with a very sudden ending that leaves the story practically unfinished, and this one was a big flop for me.
I will compliment the author on her writing style. I enjoyed reading the story from Topaz's point of view and felt like I could hear her little voice as she spoke, so I would be willing to try and read another work by the author.
I was really just hoping for more out of this read.
September 1, 2025
Where is the real build with good and full details? WTF was that it! Bad choice on my part from KU first picks that month.
October 3, 2025
I enjoyed this so much. I will say at times I had to stop reading with how spooky it was.
July 3, 2025
Kind of monotonous and not very interfering
August 20, 2025
Unfortunately, this book was not the one for me. With the narrator being a fourth grader, this book felt like it would’ve been more appropriate for a much younger audience (with the occasional curse word).
The plot was unrealistic and I could 100% put that aside to enjoy the ride. However, the last quarter was just toooooo much.
The audiobook narrator did well, portraying a young character and her young sisters.
Although this book wasn’t for me, I hope other readers enjoy! Who Is the Liar by Laura Lee Bahr was released on August 1, 2025. Thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The plot was unrealistic and I could 100% put that aside to enjoy the ride. However, the last quarter was just toooooo much.
The audiobook narrator did well, portraying a young character and her young sisters.
Although this book wasn’t for me, I hope other readers enjoy! Who Is the Liar by Laura Lee Bahr was released on August 1, 2025. Thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2025
I'm really conflicted about this book. Yes, it was very readable but there was some repetition. Using the 10 year old Topaz was sometimes engaging and yet at other times, annoying. The author had a hard time contriving ways to convey ideas from a strictly kid point of view. And did Topaz seem like 10 or 6? Sure parents can be clueless but these folks were like Mormon stereotypes. I found the twins to be disturbing! And poor Ruby, the eldest, left me with a lot of questions! Then there was the ending...
July 28, 2025
It started off good, unbelievable but good. I feel like the ending was way too quick, all this building up, and then a single chapter for the consequences
August 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️.75
My true thoughts after finishing this book is why…and that all that for just one sentence at the end.
However… I did like the story up until the beast got out. After that it felt like the book was rushed to end.
The narrator did a good job. She definitely made it seem like a younger child was telling the story.
I’m still sitting with my thoughts. I did an immersion read.
My true thoughts after finishing this book is why…and that all that for just one sentence at the end.
However… I did like the story up until the beast got out. After that it felt like the book was rushed to end.
The narrator did a good job. She definitely made it seem like a younger child was telling the story.
I’m still sitting with my thoughts. I did an immersion read.
October 4, 2025
1 star because -10 stars wasn’t an option.
August 24, 2025
I got it as an Amazon first reads and was pleasantly surprised how captivated by the book I was when I started it. It kept me intrigued even after the first few reveals but then it just got a bit too unbelievable. Especially once the man's daughter was involved?!? And the ending?! I wasn't super happy with that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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