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Страшная трагедия всколыхнула жизнь тихого курортного городка: во время пожара, загадочным образом начавшегося в доме миллионеров Гаррисонов, погибли четверо из пяти членов семьи. Ходят слухи, что во всем виноват Уин Хаскинс, сторож имения; и хотя полиция прямо не предъявляет никому обвинения, люди шепчутся у него за спиной, и опозоренный Хаскинс не может найти работу.
Его дочь Перл, желая восстановить доброе имя отца, затевает свое собственное расследование. Девушка даже не представляет, насколько ужасной окажется правда...
Его дочь Перл, желая восстановить доброе имя отца, затевает свое собственное расследование. Девушка даже не представляет, насколько ужасной окажется правда...
319 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2018
144 people are currently reading
8702 people want to read
About the author
Gillian French
12 books522 followersGillian French is the author of five novels for teens: GRIT, THE DOOR TO JANUARY, THE LIES THEY TELL, THE MISSING SEASON, and SUGARING OFF. Her debut adult mystery, SHAW CONNOLLY LIVES TO TELL, is slated for release from Minotaur Books in May 2025. Her short fiction has placed in many competitions, including Writer's Digest and Zoetrope: All Story contests, and has been published in such magazines are Weirdbook. She holds a BA in English from the University of Maine, and lives in her native state of Maine with her husband and four sons, where she's perpetually at work on her next novel.
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April 27, 2018
"It seemed everyone felt fascination-meets-revulsion in Tristan Garrison's presence, followed by but the police cleared him; they let him go, didn't they? Somehow, it wasn't a comfort. Not at all."
Over the past year I've become an avid fan of Gillian French; her writing is so character driven and atmospheric that it takes little to no effort in being transported to the setting of each of her novels. When I first saw the cover reveal for The Lies They Tell, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy and I'm so glad I did! This story was a seamless blend of mystery, suspense, and intrigue while also maintaining a traditional "YA Contemporary" feel, which is no easy feat. If you enjoy a plot that deals with dark, heavy content while sustaining a lighter, summer read feel, this may be the book for you.
As stated above, this is a character driven novel that centers around the past and present; the reader is guided along a thrilling path where both sides of the story are open-ended. Who really torched the Garrison estate? Why did Tristan survive? Will Pearl clear her father's name and reinstate his good reputation? How much danger is she really in? As the reader we find the answer to all these questions and more, and while I've heard that some people had this one solved from the beginning and others were 100% shocked by the ending, I think I was blissfully somewhere in between. The answer to the whodunnit did cross my mind a few times, but I still felt that I grappled with other solutions and genuinely felt the stun at the big reveal regardless of my prior thoughts.
I can't really say more about the plot for fear of spoilers, but if we're being honest my favorite things to talk about here are the characters and atmosphere. I have always dreamed of traveling seaside in Maine, and each time the urge hits me I grab one of two authors-Stephen King and Gillian French. While their writing style and content are on opposite ends of the spectrum, I find they both deliver the setting immaculately in their novels and fill a void in my reading soul that I didn't even know existed before. The writing is lush and descriptive in a natural way; instead of telling you what a summer in Tenney's Harbor is like, she says "Here, let me show you." The characters fit right into this style of writing as well; emotion is conveyed effectively and I felt those moments with Pearl as she experienced innocent, young love with Reese, turmoil over her father's situation, and terror as she realizes who murdered Tristan's entire family.
The sign of excellent YA fiction is when it can reach beyond the scope of teenagers and lure in readers of all ages, and the author has given us such an excellent example of this with The Lies They Tell. While a good bit of the middle portion is a slow burn, I believe the patient, character intrigued reader will really take to this growing build up and find themselves gripped from beginning to end. Highly recommended for those looking for a book that's not too dark but not too light over the summer.
*Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me an advance review copy. Mood board images acquired via We Heart It and can be found on my original post HERE.
Over the past year I've become an avid fan of Gillian French; her writing is so character driven and atmospheric that it takes little to no effort in being transported to the setting of each of her novels. When I first saw the cover reveal for The Lies They Tell, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy and I'm so glad I did! This story was a seamless blend of mystery, suspense, and intrigue while also maintaining a traditional "YA Contemporary" feel, which is no easy feat. If you enjoy a plot that deals with dark, heavy content while sustaining a lighter, summer read feel, this may be the book for you.
As stated above, this is a character driven novel that centers around the past and present; the reader is guided along a thrilling path where both sides of the story are open-ended. Who really torched the Garrison estate? Why did Tristan survive? Will Pearl clear her father's name and reinstate his good reputation? How much danger is she really in? As the reader we find the answer to all these questions and more, and while I've heard that some people had this one solved from the beginning and others were 100% shocked by the ending, I think I was blissfully somewhere in between. The answer to the whodunnit did cross my mind a few times, but I still felt that I grappled with other solutions and genuinely felt the stun at the big reveal regardless of my prior thoughts.
I can't really say more about the plot for fear of spoilers, but if we're being honest my favorite things to talk about here are the characters and atmosphere. I have always dreamed of traveling seaside in Maine, and each time the urge hits me I grab one of two authors-Stephen King and Gillian French. While their writing style and content are on opposite ends of the spectrum, I find they both deliver the setting immaculately in their novels and fill a void in my reading soul that I didn't even know existed before. The writing is lush and descriptive in a natural way; instead of telling you what a summer in Tenney's Harbor is like, she says "Here, let me show you." The characters fit right into this style of writing as well; emotion is conveyed effectively and I felt those moments with Pearl as she experienced innocent, young love with Reese, turmoil over her father's situation, and terror as she realizes who murdered Tristan's entire family.
The sign of excellent YA fiction is when it can reach beyond the scope of teenagers and lure in readers of all ages, and the author has given us such an excellent example of this with The Lies They Tell. While a good bit of the middle portion is a slow burn, I believe the patient, character intrigued reader will really take to this growing build up and find themselves gripped from beginning to end. Highly recommended for those looking for a book that's not too dark but not too light over the summer.
*Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me an advance review copy. Mood board images acquired via We Heart It and can be found on my original post HERE.
June 9, 2018
Tenney's Harbor, Maine a place with a large influx of the summer families, those westhy families who live in the big houses. Pearl, seventeen, lives here with her dad who is a caretaker for those big estates. Pearl herself works at the country club serving the wealthy. Then something happens, one of the family's estate starts on fire, a fire that will cause the death of four members of the family, except for the teensge son Tristan who was away at the time. Pearls life changes as her Dad is unofficially blamed for the fire, or at least not stopping whoever set it. It will cost him many of his caretaking jobs as many cancel his services.
Pearl decides to investigate by becoming friends with the son and his friends. I enjoyed Pearls loyalty to her father, loved how she wanted to find her own snswers. Of course she finds things that spurs her on, and this turns into a nice little mystery. Written for the YA audience, no blood no gore, I appreciated this straightforward mystery, something little found in adult thrillers nowadays. Took me back to my Nancy Drew past. The ending a little predictable, but did enjoy the journey to get there.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Pearl decides to investigate by becoming friends with the son and his friends. I enjoyed Pearls loyalty to her father, loved how she wanted to find her own snswers. Of course she finds things that spurs her on, and this turns into a nice little mystery. Written for the YA audience, no blood no gore, I appreciated this straightforward mystery, something little found in adult thrillers nowadays. Took me back to my Nancy Drew past. The ending a little predictable, but did enjoy the journey to get there.
ARC from Edelweiss.
June 11, 2018
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5
Review
This is the first book I have read by the writer Gillian French. I loved the synopsis and cover of the book so I knew I had to read it. (Pretty covers are my weakness).
I started the book with high expectatations. The character development and world building was amazing. I liked the setting of the place where rich people come and stay for the summer. Gillian French has done an amazing job. She has painted perfect picture of the houses and lives of the townies and the country club where the summer boys love to hangout.
Pearl Haskin is the only child in a broken family. Her father is a drunken man. He works as a groundskeeper. He was on duty when one of the summer boy, Tristan's family was shot in sleep and their house was set on fire. Only Tristan survived. The police couldn't find the murderer. Because of this incident Pearl's father couldn't get anymore jobs and Pearl had work even harder so they could pay their bills.
She works at a country club as a waiteress. Her friend Reese also works there and she has a crush on him but he is more into another girl but treats Pearl as a good friend. However, the summer boys started taking interest in her and she started hanging out with them more.
She is intent on clearing the name of his father so he could get his job back. For that, she started to investigate the murder herself. What she found out wasn't unexpected because somehow, I guessed what had happened and who murdered the family and I was proved right.
The ending was unsatisfying, though. I felt like the story was wrapped up abruptly. Everything happened so fast and yet felt so incomplete. Mainly because Pearl was left alone at the end. She was the center of attention for the summer boys and Reese and then there was no one there for her. I would have liked this story more if there was a happy ending to the story; if Pearl had found a love interest at the end.
Cover Art
On the cover, we see three boys standing by the shore and sparks of the fire. The color combination of black, white and red always works and looks pretty. The cover is perfect and reflects well to the story.
Conclusion
The story took pretty good time to develop and everything was so detailed. Unfortunately, I did not like reading it as much as I had expected I would. I struggled to finish it because I was intrigued to know if my guess was right. This book might not be one of my favorites but nontheless it might be good enough for mystery readers. If you like a slow-burning mystery novel, then you would definitely like this novel.
I recieved an e-ARC from Edelweiss and Harper Teen in exchange for an honest review.
Review
This is the first book I have read by the writer Gillian French. I loved the synopsis and cover of the book so I knew I had to read it. (Pretty covers are my weakness).
I started the book with high expectatations. The character development and world building was amazing. I liked the setting of the place where rich people come and stay for the summer. Gillian French has done an amazing job. She has painted perfect picture of the houses and lives of the townies and the country club where the summer boys love to hangout.
Pearl Haskin is the only child in a broken family. Her father is a drunken man. He works as a groundskeeper. He was on duty when one of the summer boy, Tristan's family was shot in sleep and their house was set on fire. Only Tristan survived. The police couldn't find the murderer. Because of this incident Pearl's father couldn't get anymore jobs and Pearl had work even harder so they could pay their bills.
She works at a country club as a waiteress. Her friend Reese also works there and she has a crush on him but he is more into another girl but treats Pearl as a good friend. However, the summer boys started taking interest in her and she started hanging out with them more.
She is intent on clearing the name of his father so he could get his job back. For that, she started to investigate the murder herself. What she found out wasn't unexpected because somehow, I guessed what had happened and who murdered the family and I was proved right.
The ending was unsatisfying, though. I felt like the story was wrapped up abruptly. Everything happened so fast and yet felt so incomplete. Mainly because Pearl was left alone at the end. She was the center of attention for the summer boys and Reese and then there was no one there for her. I would have liked this story more if there was a happy ending to the story; if Pearl had found a love interest at the end.
Cover Art
On the cover, we see three boys standing by the shore and sparks of the fire. The color combination of black, white and red always works and looks pretty. The cover is perfect and reflects well to the story.
Conclusion
The story took pretty good time to develop and everything was so detailed. Unfortunately, I did not like reading it as much as I had expected I would. I struggled to finish it because I was intrigued to know if my guess was right. This book might not be one of my favorites but nontheless it might be good enough for mystery readers. If you like a slow-burning mystery novel, then you would definitely like this novel.
I recieved an e-ARC from Edelweiss and Harper Teen in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2025
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This has Revenge meets Gossip Girl meets Riverdale vibes, but more boring. It’s got that "spoiled teens with no adult supervision in the Hamptons" thing going on.
It’s very rich versus poor. The pool owners and the pool cleaners. The haves and the have-nots.
This is definitely more of a character-driven novel, and honestly, the town of Tenney’s Harbour, the coastal Maine community setting, is really the most impressive character any way you look at it. When the summer rolls around again and the rich people start doing whatever rich people do in the summer—infiltrating coastal towns, becoming country club zombies in white shorts, I guess—I was immediately transported somewhere I've never been before.
This is honestly the best part of the whole book. It’s A+ next-level setting. And nothing else in the book lived up to this.
Pearl is kind of a boring main character. The Haves she befriends are stereotypes we’ve seen in every other teen story since the beginning of time. The girls are snotty and vapid. The guys are one unattended drink away from becoming another white boy who’s given probation because “he’s a really good swimmer."
The mystery of who started the fire and killed the Garrison family is answered almost immediately, the culprit being completely obvious. So much of the novel felt like a bad teen soap opera—who likes who? And who wants to sleep with who? And who has already slept with who?
It was billed as a thriller, but instead, I got loafers and champagne and some snotty bitches pointing out that Pearl doesn’t belong because she is just a waitress, while Pearl plans to Molly Ringwald her way into a dress she hopes will help her fit in.
So, while the setting and the class divide were done to perfection, the rest of this novel was flat to me. It’s definitely a sweaty, atmospheric vibe, but it’s hardly a thriller, barely a mystery.
This was a letdown, overall. That cover, though!
Also, #EatTheRich
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded down
This has Revenge meets Gossip Girl meets Riverdale vibes, but more boring. It’s got that "spoiled teens with no adult supervision in the Hamptons" thing going on.
It’s very rich versus poor. The pool owners and the pool cleaners. The haves and the have-nots.
This is definitely more of a character-driven novel, and honestly, the town of Tenney’s Harbour, the coastal Maine community setting, is really the most impressive character any way you look at it. When the summer rolls around again and the rich people start doing whatever rich people do in the summer—infiltrating coastal towns, becoming country club zombies in white shorts, I guess—I was immediately transported somewhere I've never been before.
This is honestly the best part of the whole book. It’s A+ next-level setting. And nothing else in the book lived up to this.
Pearl is kind of a boring main character. The Haves she befriends are stereotypes we’ve seen in every other teen story since the beginning of time. The girls are snotty and vapid. The guys are one unattended drink away from becoming another white boy who’s given probation because “he’s a really good swimmer."
The mystery of who started the fire and killed the Garrison family is answered almost immediately, the culprit being completely obvious. So much of the novel felt like a bad teen soap opera—who likes who? And who wants to sleep with who? And who has already slept with who?
It was billed as a thriller, but instead, I got loafers and champagne and some snotty bitches pointing out that Pearl doesn’t belong because she is just a waitress, while Pearl plans to Molly Ringwald her way into a dress she hopes will help her fit in.
So, while the setting and the class divide were done to perfection, the rest of this novel was flat to me. It’s definitely a sweaty, atmospheric vibe, but it’s hardly a thriller, barely a mystery.
This was a letdown, overall. That cover, though!
Also, #EatTheRich
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded down
June 27, 2018
RATING: 1.5/5 at most!
ARC provided by Edelweiss and Harper Teen in exchange for an honest review
The premise of this novel is what got me interested in reading it. I didn't expect much, except maybe likable characters and a decent storyline. Instead, I got something pointless and very disappointing. I swear if I see one more person comparing this to We Were Liars I’m going to lose it...
This is NOT a rant review. You have to actually care to rant and I simply don't. I am 100% detached from everything and everyone in this book. I just finished it and I already forgot most of what happened (which isn't much).
The ending is so predictable to the point where it's shocking. It's like ''Oh, that's the ending? Really? Did I read this right?''.
I think I'm being overly generous by giving this 1.5 stars. For some reason, I don't hate. It honestly feels like I read nothing. Maybe other readers will have a different experience and they'll see something worthy in this book.
ARC provided by Edelweiss and Harper Teen in exchange for an honest review
The premise of this novel is what got me interested in reading it. I didn't expect much, except maybe likable characters and a decent storyline. Instead, I got something pointless and very disappointing. I swear if I see one more person comparing this to We Were Liars I’m going to lose it...
This is NOT a rant review. You have to actually care to rant and I simply don't. I am 100% detached from everything and everyone in this book. I just finished it and I already forgot most of what happened (which isn't much).
The ending is so predictable to the point where it's shocking. It's like ''Oh, that's the ending? Really? Did I read this right?''.
I think I'm being overly generous by giving this 1.5 stars. For some reason, I don't hate. It honestly feels like I read nothing. Maybe other readers will have a different experience and they'll see something worthy in this book.
September 20, 2018
2.5 Stars
I didn't know how many stars to give The Lies They Tell, because I couldn't decide what type of book this was. I went into The Lies They Tell expecting it to be a murder mystery but what I got was more of a character driven story about The Have & Have Nots. So I didn't know if I should rate it based on what it was or what I thought it was.
The Lies They Tell is suppose to be about Pearl a "townie" waitress and her mission to prove her father had nothing to do with a mysterious fire that killed everyone in the Garrison family except eldest son Tristan. Pearl finds herself drawn to Tristan and his group of rich friends. What The Lies They Tell is really about is the everyday life of the people who live in resort towns year- round and how invisible they are to the rich summer house owners and tourist.
The so called mysterious fire was the least interesting part of this book. I knew who was responsible before I opened the book, it so obvious it doesn't take a genius to crack this case. I wish this had been marketed as a "slice of life" book. This book was less Girl On A Train and more Dawson's Creek. I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been expecting a twisty, mystery filled thriller.
If I was rating it as a mystery I would have given it 1 Star but if I rated it based on it being a character driven "slice of life" I would give it 3 Stars. I split the difference and went with 2.5 Stars.
No rec.
I read the Target Exclusive Edition with Bonus Material including an extra chapter and character sketches
I didn't know how many stars to give The Lies They Tell, because I couldn't decide what type of book this was. I went into The Lies They Tell expecting it to be a murder mystery but what I got was more of a character driven story about The Have & Have Nots. So I didn't know if I should rate it based on what it was or what I thought it was.
The Lies They Tell is suppose to be about Pearl a "townie" waitress and her mission to prove her father had nothing to do with a mysterious fire that killed everyone in the Garrison family except eldest son Tristan. Pearl finds herself drawn to Tristan and his group of rich friends. What The Lies They Tell is really about is the everyday life of the people who live in resort towns year- round and how invisible they are to the rich summer house owners and tourist.
The so called mysterious fire was the least interesting part of this book. I knew who was responsible before I opened the book, it so obvious it doesn't take a genius to crack this case. I wish this had been marketed as a "slice of life" book. This book was less Girl On A Train and more Dawson's Creek. I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been expecting a twisty, mystery filled thriller.
If I was rating it as a mystery I would have given it 1 Star but if I rated it based on it being a character driven "slice of life" I would give it 3 Stars. I split the difference and went with 2.5 Stars.
No rec.
I read the Target Exclusive Edition with Bonus Material including an extra chapter and character sketches
April 16, 2018
4.5 Stars!
It's been a really long time since I've read a YA mystery that has kept me on the edge of my seat, not only guessing at what was about to happen, but with what did happen as well. The magical whodunit.
I usually figure these things out and yet this time, I think I didn't want to be right. I didn't want to feel something for the bad guy. I didn't want it to be who it was and more importantly, because of it, I didn't see it coming as well as I should of and because of that, this had me turning the pages rapidly towards the end, eager to be wrong, eager to be right and most of all, wanting to know it all either way.
French craftily wove a tale riddled with darkness, deceit and lies. Something full of hate and prejudice. Of being wronged and unforgiving. Something oh so addicting and delicious in all its horribleness.
Needless to say, I loved every minute of it. A must read for everyone.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
It's been a really long time since I've read a YA mystery that has kept me on the edge of my seat, not only guessing at what was about to happen, but with what did happen as well. The magical whodunit.
I usually figure these things out and yet this time, I think I didn't want to be right. I didn't want to feel something for the bad guy. I didn't want it to be who it was and more importantly, because of it, I didn't see it coming as well as I should of and because of that, this had me turning the pages rapidly towards the end, eager to be wrong, eager to be right and most of all, wanting to know it all either way.
French craftily wove a tale riddled with darkness, deceit and lies. Something full of hate and prejudice. Of being wronged and unforgiving. Something oh so addicting and delicious in all its horribleness.
Needless to say, I loved every minute of it. A must read for everyone.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
April 2, 2018
The Lies They Tell
is a smart, light mystery with suspenseful undertones that will engage you from the beginning. Seriously, the first chapter, um, wow—talk about hooking me in right from the beginning. In a town plagued by the uber rich and the working class townies, Tenney’s Harbor, Maine, is a town not unlike other nautical New England towns that have been famously depicted in film and media in the past. I was immediately transported back to my time vacationing in the Hamptons and Rhode Island with this clever story. In Tenney’s Harbor, the uber rich are a tight knit community where competition is key and privilege is currency. The Garrisons are the picture perfect family and have mysteriously has been slaughtered in an arson on the family property. Pearl Haskins, eighteen year old country club server in Tenney’s Harbor, and her father are shamed as gossip and rumors run rampant. Pearl’s father was the caretaker of the Garrison property and is blacklisted in town due to his possible involvement and/or negligence in the Garrison tragedy. Plagued with guilt and embarrassment, Pearl’s father turns to alcohol to mask his pain, while Pearl is angry at the upper class enemy.
This summer, Pearl encounters a group of boys at the country club who gravitate towards her. These boys are some of the most privileged in town, and one has taken a liking to her. While Pearl is grossly unattracted to the demeanor exhibited by these boys, she decides to try and get in their inner circle so she can exonerate her father from any wrongdoing accusations by the townsfolk. As Pearl dives into the world of the glitz and glamour, she realizes that everything is not what it seems. With money comes power, and with power comes corruption, betrayal, and deception.
The Lies They Tell is such a refreshing read for the thriller fan because it’s original, straight-forward, and uncomplicated. We are usually given these stories that have over-the-top in-your-face tricks to attract an audience, but with The Lies They Tell we get something more tailored. This story is a slowburn at heart, so please make sure to read this story at the right time, or you may need to put this down and come back to it. I was just off a book hangover from another book and was ready for something light and new. The book is labeled Young Adult, but it doesn’t compare to other Young Adult reads that I’ve read recently because it’s not campy, dry, nor one-dimensional. The characters all have distinct personalities and stories that are stimulating. The ending is very satisfying and also is left for interpretation. I wonder if there will be a book two? *praying to the book Gods because I’m not ready to say goodbye just yet* The story deals with romance, family dynamics, income inequality and privilege, and alcoholism; but the story does not try to wrap this all in one complicated message. We touch on a variety of different subjects, but the main story arc is never lost or deterred. I really enjoyed Gillian French’s nautical spin on a contemporary mystery and am excited for what’s next.
This summer, Pearl encounters a group of boys at the country club who gravitate towards her. These boys are some of the most privileged in town, and one has taken a liking to her. While Pearl is grossly unattracted to the demeanor exhibited by these boys, she decides to try and get in their inner circle so she can exonerate her father from any wrongdoing accusations by the townsfolk. As Pearl dives into the world of the glitz and glamour, she realizes that everything is not what it seems. With money comes power, and with power comes corruption, betrayal, and deception.
The Lies They Tell is such a refreshing read for the thriller fan because it’s original, straight-forward, and uncomplicated. We are usually given these stories that have over-the-top in-your-face tricks to attract an audience, but with The Lies They Tell we get something more tailored. This story is a slowburn at heart, so please make sure to read this story at the right time, or you may need to put this down and come back to it. I was just off a book hangover from another book and was ready for something light and new. The book is labeled Young Adult, but it doesn’t compare to other Young Adult reads that I’ve read recently because it’s not campy, dry, nor one-dimensional. The characters all have distinct personalities and stories that are stimulating. The ending is very satisfying and also is left for interpretation. I wonder if there will be a book two? *praying to the book Gods because I’m not ready to say goodbye just yet* The story deals with romance, family dynamics, income inequality and privilege, and alcoholism; but the story does not try to wrap this all in one complicated message. We touch on a variety of different subjects, but the main story arc is never lost or deterred. I really enjoyed Gillian French’s nautical spin on a contemporary mystery and am excited for what’s next.
March 4, 2018
The Lies They Tell was boring. There’s no other way to put it. The beginning does nothing to grip you, aside from the initial prologue where the family dies, and the book really doesn’t improve from there.
I felt nothing for the characters, not even the main one. She didn’t have much of a personality.
Since this is a thriller, it could have at least had a decent twist. However, it’s pretty clear who the culprit is from the start. It was so obvious that I almost started to believe it couldn’t be them, and that there would be some sort of twist to mix things up a bit. But no. It was that person, and I wasn’t shocked at all.
If you’re looking for a good summer thriller, this isn’t one for you.
I felt nothing for the characters, not even the main one. She didn’t have much of a personality.
Since this is a thriller, it could have at least had a decent twist. However, it’s pretty clear who the culprit is from the start. It was so obvious that I almost started to believe it couldn’t be them, and that there would be some sort of twist to mix things up a bit. But no. It was that person, and I wasn’t shocked at all.
If you’re looking for a good summer thriller, this isn’t one for you.
December 13, 2019
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author, Gillian French, for an honest review.
A quadruple homicide, rich Summer boys, a drunk father and unattainable love.
Pearl Haskins is about to have the summer of her life.
The Lies They Tell documents Pearl’s time working the summer at the Tenney’s Harbor Country Club as a server to the rich and dismissive families of the elite. As a lower-class working townie, Pearl is well–aware of the divide between the Summer crowd and those who reside in TH year-round. The summer boys come from extreme wealth, and they have reputations for starting flings with townie girls and discarding them by the end of summer. Having resided there all her life, and her father working as a caretaker for the homes of these families, Pearl has always known to keep her distance and to not get involved.
So naturally when Bridges, one of the summer boys who is close friends with Tristan Garrison, asks Pearl out, I was instantly screaming DON’T DO IT! He’s playing a trick on you! He just wants sex! HAVEN’T YOU SEEN CARRIE?! But don’t worry guys, she doesn’t get murdered or assaulted on their first outing, or even the one after that.
* whew *
The story takes the reader through Pearl’s summer as she gets to know the boys she has always seen at a distance.
For Pearl, she justifies her time with them as a means to get closer to Tristan in order to learn the truth of the murders, and in turn, hopefully redeem her father’s reputation (which had been soiled by rumors that he was drunk on the job on night of the murders). But as she gets closer to Bridges and his friends, she begins to see a new side of them. They seem genuine and caring, and she even begins to enjoy the friendships that begin to blossom.
Of course, my favorite character in this story has to be Pearl. She embodies the anxieties and stresses that being an eighteen-year-old girl represents. She is sassy and has quick remarks to protect herself, but deep down she just wants to feel accepted and desired like everyone else. I was constantly smirking at her quick wit and ability to adapt to the situations she was thrown in. The girl is sharp and knows how to handle herself, and I love her for it! When it comes to the summer boys, this girl can hold her own, but when it comes to her best friend Reese…
*sigh*
That boy deserves to be slapped for the way he treats her in this, and that’s all I am going to say.
But the real focus of this story is Tristan and the death that surrounds him. After losing his entire family, for some reason he comes back to TH to spend the summer with his friends – doing way too much cardio and barely eating. Soon after the murders he was brought in by the police as a suspect, but the charges were dropped after he provided an alibi and proof that he was hours away at the time of the crime. Due to the trauma that he recently had to endure, it’s not surprising that he acts distant and prefers to be alone. But what is really intriguing about him is the thick fog of mystery that surrounds his character. The author does an excellent job of making you dissect everything he says and does, because you aren’t sure if you are supposed to love or hate him.
He seems constantly lost in his thoughts and gives off the impression of not paying attention to anything around him, but its actually the opposite. He is sharp and opinionated, but not in a malicious or cruel way. His intelligence shines through and it is so easy to see the positive qualities in him that draw others in. And to be honest, he is just begging to be drooled over! With his uninterested facial expressions, quiet and closed-off demeanor, and resident tortured bad-boy aura – it was impossible not to fall in love with him. Tristan is the sorrowful beauty of a male who goes from king of the ball to social pariah overnight, and that’s just the beginning of his intrigue.
The author pulls you into the lives of the characters in such a natural and realistic way. She perfectly showcases the awkward encounters between boys and girls, the pressures and expectations that are put on you by your peers, and the person you have to morph into the fit in. These characters decisions are dictated by a look of expectancy or by a tension in the air that whispers prove yourself, prove that you are worthy. It made me angered and sad for what it means to be a teen, but it also gives me a thrill for how well French was able to shed light on how it truly is.
I was hooked on this story from the first page until the last, staying up into the wee hours of the morning to devour it. It’s a steady-paced YA mystery that gives subtle hints throughout the story, but keeps the reader completely in the dark until the end. As a true crime fanatic, I gravitate towards stories that slowly blossom and give insight into the human psyche. I want to know how the characters act to trauma or heated situations. I want to witness their reactions, read their body language and dissect the words and phrases they choose. I want to decide who is at fault by the evidence presented, and Gillian French allowed me to do just that.
In my book, this was a win and I absolutely love that it ended with answers shrouded in even more mystery.
A quadruple homicide, rich Summer boys, a drunk father and unattainable love.
Pearl Haskins is about to have the summer of her life.
The Lies They Tell documents Pearl’s time working the summer at the Tenney’s Harbor Country Club as a server to the rich and dismissive families of the elite. As a lower-class working townie, Pearl is well–aware of the divide between the Summer crowd and those who reside in TH year-round. The summer boys come from extreme wealth, and they have reputations for starting flings with townie girls and discarding them by the end of summer. Having resided there all her life, and her father working as a caretaker for the homes of these families, Pearl has always known to keep her distance and to not get involved.
So naturally when Bridges, one of the summer boys who is close friends with Tristan Garrison, asks Pearl out, I was instantly screaming DON’T DO IT! He’s playing a trick on you! He just wants sex! HAVEN’T YOU SEEN CARRIE?! But don’t worry guys, she doesn’t get murdered or assaulted on their first outing, or even the one after that.
* whew *
The story takes the reader through Pearl’s summer as she gets to know the boys she has always seen at a distance.
For Pearl, she justifies her time with them as a means to get closer to Tristan in order to learn the truth of the murders, and in turn, hopefully redeem her father’s reputation (which had been soiled by rumors that he was drunk on the job on night of the murders). But as she gets closer to Bridges and his friends, she begins to see a new side of them. They seem genuine and caring, and she even begins to enjoy the friendships that begin to blossom.
Of course, my favorite character in this story has to be Pearl. She embodies the anxieties and stresses that being an eighteen-year-old girl represents. She is sassy and has quick remarks to protect herself, but deep down she just wants to feel accepted and desired like everyone else. I was constantly smirking at her quick wit and ability to adapt to the situations she was thrown in. The girl is sharp and knows how to handle herself, and I love her for it! When it comes to the summer boys, this girl can hold her own, but when it comes to her best friend Reese…
*sigh*
That boy deserves to be slapped for the way he treats her in this, and that’s all I am going to say.
But the real focus of this story is Tristan and the death that surrounds him. After losing his entire family, for some reason he comes back to TH to spend the summer with his friends – doing way too much cardio and barely eating. Soon after the murders he was brought in by the police as a suspect, but the charges were dropped after he provided an alibi and proof that he was hours away at the time of the crime. Due to the trauma that he recently had to endure, it’s not surprising that he acts distant and prefers to be alone. But what is really intriguing about him is the thick fog of mystery that surrounds his character. The author does an excellent job of making you dissect everything he says and does, because you aren’t sure if you are supposed to love or hate him.
He seems constantly lost in his thoughts and gives off the impression of not paying attention to anything around him, but its actually the opposite. He is sharp and opinionated, but not in a malicious or cruel way. His intelligence shines through and it is so easy to see the positive qualities in him that draw others in. And to be honest, he is just begging to be drooled over! With his uninterested facial expressions, quiet and closed-off demeanor, and resident tortured bad-boy aura – it was impossible not to fall in love with him. Tristan is the sorrowful beauty of a male who goes from king of the ball to social pariah overnight, and that’s just the beginning of his intrigue.
The author pulls you into the lives of the characters in such a natural and realistic way. She perfectly showcases the awkward encounters between boys and girls, the pressures and expectations that are put on you by your peers, and the person you have to morph into the fit in. These characters decisions are dictated by a look of expectancy or by a tension in the air that whispers prove yourself, prove that you are worthy. It made me angered and sad for what it means to be a teen, but it also gives me a thrill for how well French was able to shed light on how it truly is.
I was hooked on this story from the first page until the last, staying up into the wee hours of the morning to devour it. It’s a steady-paced YA mystery that gives subtle hints throughout the story, but keeps the reader completely in the dark until the end. As a true crime fanatic, I gravitate towards stories that slowly blossom and give insight into the human psyche. I want to know how the characters act to trauma or heated situations. I want to witness their reactions, read their body language and dissect the words and phrases they choose. I want to decide who is at fault by the evidence presented, and Gillian French allowed me to do just that.
In my book, this was a win and I absolutely love that it ended with answers shrouded in even more mystery.
June 5, 2020
I'll admit I was going to give this a four-star rating until I saw the rating that Goodreads had up for it. Then I realized that my reading slump might have made me an easier reader to please.
Overall, the book was pretty interesting, a little eerie, and a little quirky sometimes. Like with any novel, I love the banter and I'm glad Pearl's was such a smartass. I liked that she wasn't a pushover even more. Plus, her lack of innocence when it came to handling the boys was just the cherry on top. I think Pearl's character was one of the few things I really liked in this novel.
She wasn't the most relatable character, but her actions and the distance she held with most of the characters were admirable. Especially with the way some of them pursued her. She played it safe, but at the same time dare-devilish enough that the plot could move forward.
As for the mystery. Well, there wasn't really one. I think there were just a few clues that Pearl found, which happened in three different scenes. Even when she discovered the last bit of evidence that 'solved' the whole mystery it felt rather set up. If anything this novel felt more contemporary than it did mystery, because of the lack of progress in the actual mystery.
I think I agree with a lot then criticism I saw about this book regarding the ending. It felt rather rushed. The minute she found the last bit of evidence it felt like the whole thing was set up so she would figure it out even though that clearly wasn't the case. It was also frustrating how Tristan's character didn't really change or become clearer by the end.
French spent a lot of time painting the characters, trying to show their traits without telling the readers, which was admirable. At the same time, like the Great Gatsby she also spent a lot of time painting pictures that weren't terribly important, but other times her writing was very suave and held a lot of subtleties which was cool. Like she would try to say something without actually saying it. (I had to reread some parts a couple of times admittedly)
French opened a lot of intricacies in her plot by creating so many developments. Many of which were entirely useless, especially towards the development of the mystery. Others were nicely satisfied with an ending, ultimately an unsatisfying ending. I think for a book with such an interesting setup, it was disheartening to get read such a lackluster finish.
And so while I hadn't meant to write something so lengthy, I think I've been able to understand what made this book feel so unsatisfactory. For such an interesting premise the story sure doesn't pan out well enough to hold that interest.
Overall, the book was pretty interesting, a little eerie, and a little quirky sometimes. Like with any novel, I love the banter and I'm glad Pearl's was such a smartass. I liked that she wasn't a pushover even more. Plus, her lack of innocence when it came to handling the boys was just the cherry on top. I think Pearl's character was one of the few things I really liked in this novel.
She wasn't the most relatable character, but her actions and the distance she held with most of the characters were admirable. Especially with the way some of them pursued her. She played it safe, but at the same time dare-devilish enough that the plot could move forward.
As for the mystery. Well, there wasn't really one. I think there were just a few clues that Pearl found, which happened in three different scenes. Even when she discovered the last bit of evidence that 'solved' the whole mystery it felt rather set up. If anything this novel felt more contemporary than it did mystery, because of the lack of progress in the actual mystery.
I think I agree with a lot then criticism I saw about this book regarding the ending. It felt rather rushed. The minute she found the last bit of evidence it felt like the whole thing was set up so she would figure it out even though that clearly wasn't the case. It was also frustrating how Tristan's character didn't really change or become clearer by the end.
French spent a lot of time painting the characters, trying to show their traits without telling the readers, which was admirable. At the same time, like the Great Gatsby she also spent a lot of time painting pictures that weren't terribly important, but other times her writing was very suave and held a lot of subtleties which was cool. Like she would try to say something without actually saying it. (I had to reread some parts a couple of times admittedly)
French opened a lot of intricacies in her plot by creating so many developments. Many of which were entirely useless, especially towards the development of the mystery. Others were nicely satisfied with an ending, ultimately an unsatisfying ending. I think for a book with such an interesting setup, it was disheartening to get read such a lackluster finish.
And so while I hadn't meant to write something so lengthy, I think I've been able to understand what made this book feel so unsatisfactory. For such an interesting premise the story sure doesn't pan out well enough to hold that interest.
May 4, 2018
1.5 STARS
The most exciting part of THE LIES THEY TELL is the blurb about the story. What starts off as a promising premise, a wealthy family murdered, their surviving son and a poor girl’s father suspects, never got off the ground for me.
While empathizing with her difficult life, I never connected with Pearl on an emotional level. She lacked personality and I didn’t seem clever enough to solve the mystery. Perhaps Gillian French’s use of third person POV kept the characters being fleshed out.
French use of multiple wealthy country club characters, down to their names, outfits and restaurant orders bogged down the story and had me struggling to keep people straight in my mind. As I said with French’s GRIT, THE LIES THEY TELL reads more like literary fiction than YA.
With such an exciting premise, THE LIES THEY TELL was a real letdown.
The most exciting part of THE LIES THEY TELL is the blurb about the story. What starts off as a promising premise, a wealthy family murdered, their surviving son and a poor girl’s father suspects, never got off the ground for me.
While empathizing with her difficult life, I never connected with Pearl on an emotional level. She lacked personality and I didn’t seem clever enough to solve the mystery. Perhaps Gillian French’s use of third person POV kept the characters being fleshed out.
French use of multiple wealthy country club characters, down to their names, outfits and restaurant orders bogged down the story and had me struggling to keep people straight in my mind. As I said with French’s GRIT, THE LIES THEY TELL reads more like literary fiction than YA.
With such an exciting premise, THE LIES THEY TELL was a real letdown.
June 28, 2018
3.5 Stars! Pretty decent YA novel! I'm so used to adult Thrillers that reading one for young adults is a very noticeable difference for me; not near as much on the edge of my seat as I would like to be, but at the same time i can enjoy the Simplicity of the writing and plot. I've read a handful of YA Thrillers in the past year and would put this one right up there at the top.
I will say that the ending was not a surprise, at all. Pretty much the opposite of a surprise, expected it to end this way from the first chapter on, but I don't want to deter anyone from reading this it's still turned out to be a decent read! I'm sure if I were about 15 years younger this book would be fairly intense and I expect it is a Smash Hit for its target audience! Alas, I will continue reading this author and look forward to her next effort!
I will say that the ending was not a surprise, at all. Pretty much the opposite of a surprise, expected it to end this way from the first chapter on, but I don't want to deter anyone from reading this it's still turned out to be a decent read! I'm sure if I were about 15 years younger this book would be fairly intense and I expect it is a Smash Hit for its target audience! Alas, I will continue reading this author and look forward to her next effort!
April 23, 2018
I actually really wanted to like this more than I did. I was looking for small town mystery and family secrets creating this dark and atmospheric story and I don’t feel like all of that was fulfilled. The story was mostly obvious and underdeveloped. The Lies They Tell follows Pearl Haskins as she tries to find answers about the Garrison tragedy, where a mysterious fire left only one family member alive. As Pearl grows closer to Tristan Garrison she looks to uncover the lies and betrayal surround that night.
Things I Liked
The writing was beautifully atmospheric. It fit perfectly with the setting and the mystery. There was this ethereal air that kept you slightly removed from the story, but in a good way. It was like keeping a secret, there was always more to know.
Things I Didn’t Like
I found the mystery to be relatively weak. This really isn’t a story about Pearl befriending the lone survivor of a tragedy to uncover a mystery, it’s more about her dating outside of her social class and navigating a judgemental best friend. They mystery didn't feel like the focus of the story, it was mroe of a b plot.
The characters mostly just felt there. I didn’t connect with any of them, or any of their relationships. I think the one that hooked me the most was Pearl and her father - because I’m always here for familial relationships, but there wasn’t a lot of it. The characters felt very distinct, not like they were a part of the same story.
I thought the ending was a bit of a letdown. It felt unfinished and unsatisfying and not in a mysterious “anything can happen” way, but in a “nothing at all happened and there’s no resolution way.”
Like I said, I feel like this was just weak overall for me. I was looking for a thrilling mystery that combined family, secrets, and small-town drama, but The Lies They Tell felt very surface level to me. I wanted a deeper, more complex story, but this was incredibly easy to read - even if it did frustrate me at times.
I received a copy of the book from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Things I Liked
The writing was beautifully atmospheric. It fit perfectly with the setting and the mystery. There was this ethereal air that kept you slightly removed from the story, but in a good way. It was like keeping a secret, there was always more to know.
Things I Didn’t Like
I found the mystery to be relatively weak. This really isn’t a story about Pearl befriending the lone survivor of a tragedy to uncover a mystery, it’s more about her dating outside of her social class and navigating a judgemental best friend. They mystery didn't feel like the focus of the story, it was mroe of a b plot.
The characters mostly just felt there. I didn’t connect with any of them, or any of their relationships. I think the one that hooked me the most was Pearl and her father - because I’m always here for familial relationships, but there wasn’t a lot of it. The characters felt very distinct, not like they were a part of the same story.
I thought the ending was a bit of a letdown. It felt unfinished and unsatisfying and not in a mysterious “anything can happen” way, but in a “nothing at all happened and there’s no resolution way.”
Like I said, I feel like this was just weak overall for me. I was looking for a thrilling mystery that combined family, secrets, and small-town drama, but The Lies They Tell felt very surface level to me. I wanted a deeper, more complex story, but this was incredibly easy to read - even if it did frustrate me at times.
I received a copy of the book from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2021
The Lies They Tell by Gillian French is a slow burn, young adult mystery, and I love that it's one of those books that hooks you from the very beginning. We start with a bang and then are transported into the future and to what Pearl’s life with her dad is like now. There is some suspense, lots of drama, tough subjects, and a big surprise right at the end. Even though it is a slow burn, this book was also quite the page-turner for me, and I was completely invested in finding out just what happened to Tristan’s parents. There is some sailing lingo that I wasn't super familiar with, but that in no way took away from the main plot of the book for me.
For some reason I'm always a fan of reading about rich kids engulfed in mystery, and The Lies They Tell definitely scratched that itch for me. This is a character-driven story which is part of the reason I think it is a slower burn, but it is also so much more than just a mystery. I really felt for Pearl and no matter what age you are, I don't think it's hard to connect to her. I listened to the audiobook and I thought Caitlin Davies' narration was a bit stilted, but other than that I really enjoyed listening to this one. If you are in the mood for a contemporary/mystery young adult novel that takes itself seriously I would recommend checking out The Lies They Tell. Just make sure you are prepared for a slow burn and not a fast-paced thriller.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via Edelweiss. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
For some reason I'm always a fan of reading about rich kids engulfed in mystery, and The Lies They Tell definitely scratched that itch for me. This is a character-driven story which is part of the reason I think it is a slower burn, but it is also so much more than just a mystery. I really felt for Pearl and no matter what age you are, I don't think it's hard to connect to her. I listened to the audiobook and I thought Caitlin Davies' narration was a bit stilted, but other than that I really enjoyed listening to this one. If you are in the mood for a contemporary/mystery young adult novel that takes itself seriously I would recommend checking out The Lies They Tell. Just make sure you are prepared for a slow burn and not a fast-paced thriller.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via Edelweiss. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
May 8, 2018
The Lies They Tell is a Young Adult standalone mystery. This is my first book by this author.
The narrator is 18 year old Pearl (3rd person POV). The story takes place in Tenney’s Harbor, a tourist town in Maine.
The mystery concerns The Garrison tragedy, a fire that killed most of that family. Pearl is trying to figure out what happened.
Since this takes place in a tourist town there are the Townies like Pearl and her best friend Reese. They live there year round and many work at The Club. Then there are the rich people who come mostly just for the summer. This group includes Tristan, Bridges and Akil.
This book is supposed to be a mystery. But it was not the key focus in the first half of the book. It did pick up in the second half. But the story was not interesting enough for me. The story is told in 3rd person narration and this did not work well for me. It made me feel a big disconnect to the characters. And I had a very hard time getting into the story.
I did like Pearl. She was determined and I liked that she did not take crap from the rich boys. There are two rich boys who take an interest in her. And this part of the story was intriguing.
Overall, this book did pick up for a bit in the second half. But I just wanted more from the mystery aspect.
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.
The narrator is 18 year old Pearl (3rd person POV). The story takes place in Tenney’s Harbor, a tourist town in Maine.
The mystery concerns The Garrison tragedy, a fire that killed most of that family. Pearl is trying to figure out what happened.
Since this takes place in a tourist town there are the Townies like Pearl and her best friend Reese. They live there year round and many work at The Club. Then there are the rich people who come mostly just for the summer. This group includes Tristan, Bridges and Akil.
This book is supposed to be a mystery. But it was not the key focus in the first half of the book. It did pick up in the second half. But the story was not interesting enough for me. The story is told in 3rd person narration and this did not work well for me. It made me feel a big disconnect to the characters. And I had a very hard time getting into the story.
I did like Pearl. She was determined and I liked that she did not take crap from the rich boys. There are two rich boys who take an interest in her. And this part of the story was intriguing.
Overall, this book did pick up for a bit in the second half. But I just wanted more from the mystery aspect.
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.
Read
April 29, 2018A YA literary mystery set on Mt Desert Island in Maine. Local girl Pearl's father was the caretaker of a house that was burned to the ground with the Garrisons, a wealthy family, inside. Now he drinks to help him ignore the curious stares and whispers, while she gets involved with a rich crowd of guys who includes the only surviving member of the Garrison family.
This is most definitely not a fast-paced thriller. I thought the plot lagged a bit ⅔ way through but overall a good choice for mystery lovers who like authors like Laura Lippman.
Read my full thoughts on JRR - Jen Ryland Reviews! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
This is most definitely not a fast-paced thriller. I thought the plot lagged a bit ⅔ way through but overall a good choice for mystery lovers who like authors like Laura Lippman.
Read my full thoughts on JRR - Jen Ryland Reviews! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
April 15, 2018
The town of Tenney's Harbor, Maine is your typical, small-town summer getaway destination, where a fine, societal line exists between the wealthy summer residents and the blue collar "townies".
A year ago, this small town was shaken by the shocking murder of the prestigious Garrison family. Someone shot and killed the Garrisons, then setting fire to their home. The only remaining Garrison was 17 year-old Tristan.
As if the murder itself wasn't shock enough to the town, Pearl Haskin's family is effected by the murder in a way that turns their world upside down. Her father, who works as a caretaker for the expensive properties of the summer folk, was working for the Garrisons on the night of the fire, and therefore had to bear the brunt of speculation and police questioning. Ultimately, Win Haskin lost all of his current jobs and recommendations, leaving their family in a financial hole and pushing him toward the bottle.
But it's that time of year again and the 'boys of summer' are returning to their vacation homes. When Tristan and his pose of polo-clad pals start attending meals at the clubhouse where Pearl works, she starts to slowly integrate herself into their lives.
How much information can Pearl find out? Can she succeed where the police have thus far failed? And what dangers might lie behind doing so?
★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★
This is a great YA contemporary/mystery. While the mystery of the Garrison murder is always just below the surface and the ultimate priority of Pearl's every move, the plot is very much character driven. We learn so much about not only Pearl and her family, but also about Tristan and his closest friends--Bridges and Akil. There are also several female characters that are originally perceived as very snooty and annoying (in my opinion.. as many 'popular' girls that age can come across), but throughout the novel you learn pieces of their own stories that make them have more depth and character.
Pearl will break you heart and will elicit so much respect from you for a girl of her age. At only 18-years-old, she has very much become the glue that holds her household together. Her father has spiraled down the drain after losing employment due to the Garrison case. He is very much struggling from alcoholism and has a very depressive outlook on life right now. Pearl becomes his caretaker and demonstrates a very strong work ethic for a teenager.
There is romance in this novel, but it is never the front-runner in the plot. Pearl experiences heartbreak and jealousy through a relationship with her best friend Reese and begins a slow-burning romance with one of Tristan's best friends (as well as a very odd/mysterious relationship with Tristan himself).
The pacing was very slow, but I felt that was appropriate for the target age group for this novel (marketed for grades 9+). I am used to reading lots of police procedurals and crime thrillers, so I kept wanting to investigate more into the deaths of the Garrisons. But that is exactly what Pearl is doing--to the extent that an 18 year-old is able to do so. She literally Trojan Horses herself into this group of prestigious and arrogant boys in order to gain access to any information they might have in relation to the Garrison murder.
Overall, I really enjoyed this title! It was very nostalgic--we can all remember what it was like to be 18--young and free, but with so many burdens that seem beyond our control. Pearl is a strong female lead in that she does not stand back and let these burdens overtake her family. She is determined and headstrong and does what she has to do to protect her father (and her family).
Trigger Warning(s): Murder, Fire, Alcoholism, Child Abuse, Insinuated Sexual Assault
Thank you to Gillian French & HarperTeen for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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May 11, 2018
I wasn’t ready for this book. If Pearl wasn’t a teenager and the point of view weren’t all hers, I’d even argue this isn’t YA. I’m always glad when a writer takes her YA seriously.
After her father loses most of his jobs thanks to a tragedy happen right under his watch, Pear is working at the club when one of the rich guys seem to take special interest in her. She knows not to fall for their sweet talks, but his friend Tristan, the sole survivor of the tragedy, makes it impossible for her to stay away. Especially when she finally comes across a clue that could finally help unravel the happenings during that day, and who knows recover the trust her father has lost.
It took me a while to warm up to Pearl but she is a nice character. I like how she is smart but will still make mistakes, she felt very real in her fascination. What really got me in this story, though, was the atmosphere. It reminds me of some early 2000’s, maybe late 90’s TV series, something like Young Americans meets Gossip Girl meets One Tree Hill? I guess the nostalgia it brought me was what pulled me most while reading this.
I don’t think it’s perfect. The mystery itself, while I couldn’t predict it beyond doubt, I can’t say it was that twisty. Even though characters like Tristan could seem mysterious at first, they were just weird after all, which was a little bit of a disappointment. You won’t end this book feeling at awe or anything.
Still, this was really good. Gripping, enticing. I felt in my skin the temptation Pearl was under. Sometimes I’d fear Tristan, sometimes I just couldn’t help that weakness in my knees. This is a writer I’m sure to follow from now on.
It’s really rare for me to recommend YA’s to other age ranges, but this book could appeal to an older audience. As I mentioned, it’s not A-grade mystery but it’s still thrilling enough. If this is your thing, you may like this one.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
After her father loses most of his jobs thanks to a tragedy happen right under his watch, Pear is working at the club when one of the rich guys seem to take special interest in her. She knows not to fall for their sweet talks, but his friend Tristan, the sole survivor of the tragedy, makes it impossible for her to stay away. Especially when she finally comes across a clue that could finally help unravel the happenings during that day, and who knows recover the trust her father has lost.
It took me a while to warm up to Pearl but she is a nice character. I like how she is smart but will still make mistakes, she felt very real in her fascination. What really got me in this story, though, was the atmosphere. It reminds me of some early 2000’s, maybe late 90’s TV series, something like Young Americans meets Gossip Girl meets One Tree Hill? I guess the nostalgia it brought me was what pulled me most while reading this.
I don’t think it’s perfect. The mystery itself, while I couldn’t predict it beyond doubt, I can’t say it was that twisty. Even though characters like Tristan could seem mysterious at first, they were just weird after all, which was a little bit of a disappointment. You won’t end this book feeling at awe or anything.
Still, this was really good. Gripping, enticing. I felt in my skin the temptation Pearl was under. Sometimes I’d fear Tristan, sometimes I just couldn’t help that weakness in my knees. This is a writer I’m sure to follow from now on.
It’s really rare for me to recommend YA’s to other age ranges, but this book could appeal to an older audience. As I mentioned, it’s not A-grade mystery but it’s still thrilling enough. If this is your thing, you may like this one.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
February 1, 2019
1 star rating
I should not have read this one. I was bored the entire time. I did not ever connect as this type of trope story had been done countless times. There was nothing original, scary, suspenseful, or interesting about it.
I should not have read this one. I was bored the entire time. I did not ever connect as this type of trope story had been done countless times. There was nothing original, scary, suspenseful, or interesting about it.
September 12, 2022
This wasn't bad, but I didn't love it either. This was a book with a great story but not a lot of emotion going on. As Nenia said in her review (we buddy-read it and neither of us bailed for once! Wheee!!!), I would have liked more romance and more viciousness, more connection between the characters. Pearl was just kind of there, with no hobbies or interests, and it took some major reading between the lines to decipher her feelings about anything other than Reese or her dad. The writing style reminded me in some ways of The Raven Boys, with lots of detail and a slow pace, but without much emotional payoff. There was a TON of buildup here, but then the story ended pretty abruptly, so it didn't feel as satisfying as it might otherwise have with the aforementioned emotional elements.
January 8, 2019
”I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me.”- The Great Gatsby
The best way to describe this novel is The Great Gatsby coupled in with This Side of Paradise, with a touch of nautical Gossip Girl to boot. Being troubled and rich has never been made to look so deliciously good.
Pearl Haskins is a “townie” in a small vacation resort town in Maine. It’s dead during the year, but in the summer the marginally rich and filthy rich alike come to play. At the country club where she works she sees the same familiar faces vacation in her town each year, seemingly living their perfect lives with their perfect families. The Garrisons are no exception, except for the fact that everyone in their family but their oldest son perishes in a house fire (but not before being shot to death). Six months later, Pearl sees Tristan Garrison frequent her country club with his trio of followers, and she makes it her mission to figure out what really happened to the Garrisons.
This is a book that it very subjective, and by that I mean that I can see this as a polarizing read. It’s marketed as a mystery, but there really is very little of it. So if you’re looking for a book like that, I would skip this one. If you’re looking at a literary mystery that focuses more on the class differences between people and the tensions between the rich and their help, you’ve got yourself a winner. When it comes to that, Gillian French absolutely nailed it on the head. She did a wonderful job really peeling back the layers and tension that come between Pearl and her friends (“townies”) and the rich families they work for. She captures their attitudes and frustrations extremely well, and it made it almost impossible for me to put down the book. Being as I like books like that, I lucked out with this pick.
The mystery itself is fairly easy to figure out, even for those who seem to have a hard time figuring out who-done-its. Some people might get a little miffed at that, since most of the fun of reading a mystery novel is that pleasantly surprised/holy crap feeling when you discover who really committed the crime.
However, I personally think that the author wrote it this way intentionally. To me, this book is not a a who-done-it. Hell, it isn’t even a why-done-it. as it is a character study. A character study, as well as a social class study. The only minor complain I have with the direction she went with it is that she spent so much time crafting the characters and putting emphasis on that particular storyline that the big reveal and the villain itself seem hastily put together.
I think a lot of people won’t like this book because it’s an unconventional mystery that actually doesn’t put a whole lot of emphasis on the mystery itself. However, if you like stories that highlight class differences and lifestyles of the rich and the tensions that go along with it, you’ll like this book.
The best way to describe this novel is The Great Gatsby coupled in with This Side of Paradise, with a touch of nautical Gossip Girl to boot. Being troubled and rich has never been made to look so deliciously good.
Pearl Haskins is a “townie” in a small vacation resort town in Maine. It’s dead during the year, but in the summer the marginally rich and filthy rich alike come to play. At the country club where she works she sees the same familiar faces vacation in her town each year, seemingly living their perfect lives with their perfect families. The Garrisons are no exception, except for the fact that everyone in their family but their oldest son perishes in a house fire (but not before being shot to death). Six months later, Pearl sees Tristan Garrison frequent her country club with his trio of followers, and she makes it her mission to figure out what really happened to the Garrisons.
This is a book that it very subjective, and by that I mean that I can see this as a polarizing read. It’s marketed as a mystery, but there really is very little of it. So if you’re looking for a book like that, I would skip this one. If you’re looking at a literary mystery that focuses more on the class differences between people and the tensions between the rich and their help, you’ve got yourself a winner. When it comes to that, Gillian French absolutely nailed it on the head. She did a wonderful job really peeling back the layers and tension that come between Pearl and her friends (“townies”) and the rich families they work for. She captures their attitudes and frustrations extremely well, and it made it almost impossible for me to put down the book. Being as I like books like that, I lucked out with this pick.
The mystery itself is fairly easy to figure out, even for those who seem to have a hard time figuring out who-done-its. Some people might get a little miffed at that, since most of the fun of reading a mystery novel is that pleasantly surprised/holy crap feeling when you discover who really committed the crime.
However, I personally think that the author wrote it this way intentionally. To me, this book is not a a who-done-it. Hell, it isn’t even a why-done-it. as it is a character study. A character study, as well as a social class study. The only minor complain I have with the direction she went with it is that she spent so much time crafting the characters and putting emphasis on that particular storyline that the big reveal and the villain itself seem hastily put together.
I think a lot of people won’t like this book because it’s an unconventional mystery that actually doesn’t put a whole lot of emphasis on the mystery itself. However, if you like stories that highlight class differences and lifestyles of the rich and the tensions that go along with it, you’ll like this book.
October 24, 2025
Pearl lives in a small, oceanside Maine town where there is a fine line between the rich and poor. She is part of the latter and works at the town’s country club along with her dad. Six months earlier, four out of five Garrison’s (one of the rich families who live on Millionaire Row) were shot in their sleep and their house was set ablaze. Pearl’s father was on duty that night and didn’t see anything suspicious until he smelled the flames, and by then it was too late to save the family. Now he is blamed for not seeing the intruder and not saving the family, and on top of that, many people think he was the one to set the house on fire and murder the family.
Tristian is the sole survivor of the Garrison family. He was hours away in the mountains when his family was murdered. Now he is back in town for the summer with his two best friends and they typically dine at the country club. Tristian’s best friend Bridges suddenly becomes enamored by Pearl and asks her out. Pearl says yes even though she hates rich people. She has her own secret agenda to solve the murder and proclaim her father’s innocence. Pearl and Bridges venture to parties and go on boat rides. Then Pearl’s best friend Reese (whom she is crushing on) realizes that Pearl is hanging with Tristian’s posse and shuns her for a good portion of the book.
This was very bland and slow paced and ultimately not for me.
I received an ARC of The Lies They Tell from Edelweiss.
Tristian is the sole survivor of the Garrison family. He was hours away in the mountains when his family was murdered. Now he is back in town for the summer with his two best friends and they typically dine at the country club. Tristian’s best friend Bridges suddenly becomes enamored by Pearl and asks her out. Pearl says yes even though she hates rich people. She has her own secret agenda to solve the murder and proclaim her father’s innocence. Pearl and Bridges venture to parties and go on boat rides. Then Pearl’s best friend Reese (whom she is crushing on) realizes that Pearl is hanging with Tristian’s posse and shuns her for a good portion of the book.
This was very bland and slow paced and ultimately not for me.
I received an ARC of The Lies They Tell from Edelweiss.
April 8, 2018
This book is between a three and a four star read for me. I really liked it because I did feel drawn into the setting and characters and I did finish the book within a couple of sittings. My only disappointment came from the lack of a big "aha" moment. The mystery was too easy to figure out and the ending not very satisfying. I did like the main character a lot and I felt her relatable and realistic.
December 6, 2017
With haunting, gorgeous prose, THE LIES THEY TELL is a masterful mystery that
will transport you to the dark coast of Maine where big secrets lurk in small
towns. Privileged summer families, murder, intoxicating boys and a fierce
heroine converge in this novel perfect for fans of WE WERE LIARS and ONE OF US
IS LYING.
will transport you to the dark coast of Maine where big secrets lurk in small
towns. Privileged summer families, murder, intoxicating boys and a fierce
heroine converge in this novel perfect for fans of WE WERE LIARS and ONE OF US
IS LYING.
May 2, 2018
Review coming...
May 18, 2018
*1.5*
I was so incredibly excited for The Lies They Tell. I love mysteries, and while this book was not getting the best reviews, I still held out hope. Now that I've finished the book, however, I feel that I should have listened to the reviews, as The Lies They Tell unfortunately was not the book for me.
The Lies They Tell falls into the 'meh' category. I didn't love it nor did I hate it; instead, it was just kind of there. I had no problem finishing it, as I wanted to know how it ended, but at the same time, I never became hooked or felt a wave of emotions.
The Lies They Tell focuses on Pearl, a recent high school graduate who has spent summers catering to the needs of her town's elite. There wasn't much to Pearl. She wasn't incredibly interesting, and I never felt that she was the strongest character. I didn't like how she was so willing to throw her true friendships aside, and I also felt that she was incredibly indecisive. Sometimes I felt as if she was aiming to prove Tristan was the culprit while other times I felt as if she wanted nothing more than to shield him from the world. She brought that level of indecisiveness to all her relationships, particularly with the boys. Tristan, Reese, and Bridges...they all seemed to blend together. I was never fully behind her relationship with Bridges - they was never a true connection there - and her unrequited love with Reese became too much over time. There were so many times that everything with Reese could have been solved with a simple conversation, but Pearl was never willing to take it to that level. I also didn't like how she was so quick to throw him to the side...
The synopsis stresses a twisted mystery, but it took a long time to get to that mystery, and even then it wasn't the most gripping one out there. I could see the culprit coming from miles away. I wanted more suspense, more sleuthing, more clues. I liked the times at which she teamed up with Reese to look for clues, but those times were slim. Instead of focusing the mystery, The Lies They Tell focused on the divide between the rich and the poor of the town. In some ways, I liked that topic - it was interesting to see how the town's people interacted, how their was such a great divide - but at the same time, I never felt that Gillian could have taken it further. There were so many more things that could have been said regarding the video, the jobs, etc.
In all, The Lies They Tell never managed to truly 'wow' me due to a variety of reasons. Fans of slower paced reads may enjoy it; however, if you're looking for a fast paced mystery, this probably won't be the book for you.
*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
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I was so incredibly excited for The Lies They Tell. I love mysteries, and while this book was not getting the best reviews, I still held out hope. Now that I've finished the book, however, I feel that I should have listened to the reviews, as The Lies They Tell unfortunately was not the book for me.
The Lies They Tell falls into the 'meh' category. I didn't love it nor did I hate it; instead, it was just kind of there. I had no problem finishing it, as I wanted to know how it ended, but at the same time, I never became hooked or felt a wave of emotions.
The Lies They Tell focuses on Pearl, a recent high school graduate who has spent summers catering to the needs of her town's elite. There wasn't much to Pearl. She wasn't incredibly interesting, and I never felt that she was the strongest character. I didn't like how she was so willing to throw her true friendships aside, and I also felt that she was incredibly indecisive. Sometimes I felt as if she was aiming to prove Tristan was the culprit while other times I felt as if she wanted nothing more than to shield him from the world. She brought that level of indecisiveness to all her relationships, particularly with the boys. Tristan, Reese, and Bridges...they all seemed to blend together. I was never fully behind her relationship with Bridges - they was never a true connection there - and her unrequited love with Reese became too much over time. There were so many times that everything with Reese could have been solved with a simple conversation, but Pearl was never willing to take it to that level. I also didn't like how she was so quick to throw him to the side...
The synopsis stresses a twisted mystery, but it took a long time to get to that mystery, and even then it wasn't the most gripping one out there. I could see the culprit coming from miles away. I wanted more suspense, more sleuthing, more clues. I liked the times at which she teamed up with Reese to look for clues, but those times were slim. Instead of focusing the mystery, The Lies They Tell focused on the divide between the rich and the poor of the town. In some ways, I liked that topic - it was interesting to see how the town's people interacted, how their was such a great divide - but at the same time, I never felt that Gillian could have taken it further. There were so many more things that could have been said regarding the video, the jobs, etc.
In all, The Lies They Tell never managed to truly 'wow' me due to a variety of reasons. Fans of slower paced reads may enjoy it; however, if you're looking for a fast paced mystery, this probably won't be the book for you.
*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Book Blog | Twitter | Bloglovin | Goodreads
April 6, 2019
Quick review for a read that I finished quickly, but felt a little like a slog in places. I probably should have opted to read "Grit" before "The Lies They Tell" because I had more investment in the premise of the former than the latter. Somehow I got my hands on this one and I couldn't stop until I finished it. That's not to say that the experience of "The Lies They Tell" was a compelling one. I wanted to know what happened...and while I got that, it didn't feel very satisfying upon finishing the book.
There are some mysteries where you know what's going to happen and who the villain turns out to be from very early on in the story. However, such stories still manage to thrill you for the journey the story takes you on and seeing how the pieces fit together. This is not one of those books. The bare bones of the mystery is compelling, some of the characters definitely have interesting backgrounds and conflicts, but the overarching narration of this plodded for much longer than it should have. The prologue showing the fire and the family that died was tragic enough, yet it took a while for the story to get going. This isn't to knock Pearl's point of view (told in third person), whom I did end up caring for throughout the story. Her overarching story was worth following as well - between the conflict with her father/family, her changing personal relationships, even trying to understand who might've actually done the crime to get the blame of the town off her father's back.
None of excuses that you literally can guess the villain from the first few chapters of this book. And if it isn't obvious then, the creepy cave-dwelling sequence makes it really obvious (I will admit that was one of my favorite scenes in this novel, so I'm not knocking that, but seriously, you can guess the villain then.) And none of it excuses the rather lazy way that the final act of this book came together and how Pearl figures it out. (Really? So that set up was basically a way to make a Lifetime movie worthy action sequence at like the 97% mark of the novel? There were scenes that foreshadowed that eventual encounter, but still. Arggggggh.)
I wanted to love this book much more than I did, especially since I'm a big fan of YA mysteries (and mysteries in general). There were parts of it I did like, including the audiobook narration by Caitlin Davies. It gets a solid 3 stars from me, but it's not a book I would re-read after going through it the first time through.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
There are some mysteries where you know what's going to happen and who the villain turns out to be from very early on in the story. However, such stories still manage to thrill you for the journey the story takes you on and seeing how the pieces fit together. This is not one of those books. The bare bones of the mystery is compelling, some of the characters definitely have interesting backgrounds and conflicts, but the overarching narration of this plodded for much longer than it should have. The prologue showing the fire and the family that died was tragic enough, yet it took a while for the story to get going. This isn't to knock Pearl's point of view (told in third person), whom I did end up caring for throughout the story. Her overarching story was worth following as well - between the conflict with her father/family, her changing personal relationships, even trying to understand who might've actually done the crime to get the blame of the town off her father's back.
None of excuses that you literally can guess the villain from the first few chapters of this book. And if it isn't obvious then, the creepy cave-dwelling sequence makes it really obvious (I will admit that was one of my favorite scenes in this novel, so I'm not knocking that, but seriously, you can guess the villain then.) And none of it excuses the rather lazy way that the final act of this book came together and how Pearl figures it out. (Really? So that set up was basically a way to make a Lifetime movie worthy action sequence at like the 97% mark of the novel? There were scenes that foreshadowed that eventual encounter, but still. Arggggggh.)
I wanted to love this book much more than I did, especially since I'm a big fan of YA mysteries (and mysteries in general). There were parts of it I did like, including the audiobook narration by Caitlin Davies. It gets a solid 3 stars from me, but it's not a book I would re-read after going through it the first time through.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
April 2, 2018
“The Lies They Tell”
Written by Gillian French
Review written by Diana Iozzia of Bookworm Banter
“The Lies They Tell” follows our main protagonist, Pearl Haskins, as she discovers the mystery of why the house of one of the richest families in town has burned to the ground. Nearly all of the Garrison family perished, except their eighteen-year-old son, Tristan.
Pearl is stuck in a love triangle, or square, I guess, as she tries to help her father and his alcoholism. Pearl works as a waitress at a country club during the summer, still planning her way out of the town to college in the fall. Pearl befriends a group of rich kids from the club, soon starting to fall for Bridges and Tristan, while still sort of pining for her co-worker, Reese.
This book reminds me of 90210 meets “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote. Who killed the Garrisons? Was it their surviving son? Was it Pearl’s father, who was there working as the caretaker that night? Could it have been someone else entirely?
I enjoyed some of this book, but not much. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I was younger. As a twenty-two-year-old, sometimes it can be difficult for me to get into the mindset of a teen to read young adult fiction. Most of the characters, barring Bridges, were a little too unrealistic for me. I really enjoyed the dialogue, it is very realistic and representative of teens. Often in young adult fiction, we’re “treated” to talk of Facebook and Snapchat and Instagram and Kim Kardashian, so it was nice to have a break from “teens”.
There’s a bit of uncomfortable sexual harassment in this book, but the characters did call out the harassment which I appreciated. As for the alcoholic father premise, this pops up in too many teen fiction novels. I’m tired of the teens having to be responsible and fix their parents. The names are very glamorous and of course make sense for the novel. Bridges, Tristan, Hadley, Quinn. They all sound a bit like the author researched wealthy teen names.
There were scenes that I enjoyed. I enjoyed the boat sailing scenes, because it offered a new location / setting that’s not often incorporated into teen fiction. I felt a little “Talented Mr. Ripley” in some parts, which I liked. The climax and the reveal behind the murders was good, but I don’t think it was a shocking enough plot twist that made the book feel worthwhile. The book is slowly paced, and I don’t mind a slow paced book if it eventually builds to a fantastic reveal, with great little tidbits in the middle. I recommend it for teens, but if you’re above the age of 20, perhaps this book may be a little too young for you.
I received an advanced review copy for my honest reviewing purposes.
Written by Gillian French
Review written by Diana Iozzia of Bookworm Banter
“The Lies They Tell” follows our main protagonist, Pearl Haskins, as she discovers the mystery of why the house of one of the richest families in town has burned to the ground. Nearly all of the Garrison family perished, except their eighteen-year-old son, Tristan.
Pearl is stuck in a love triangle, or square, I guess, as she tries to help her father and his alcoholism. Pearl works as a waitress at a country club during the summer, still planning her way out of the town to college in the fall. Pearl befriends a group of rich kids from the club, soon starting to fall for Bridges and Tristan, while still sort of pining for her co-worker, Reese.
This book reminds me of 90210 meets “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote. Who killed the Garrisons? Was it their surviving son? Was it Pearl’s father, who was there working as the caretaker that night? Could it have been someone else entirely?
I enjoyed some of this book, but not much. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I was younger. As a twenty-two-year-old, sometimes it can be difficult for me to get into the mindset of a teen to read young adult fiction. Most of the characters, barring Bridges, were a little too unrealistic for me. I really enjoyed the dialogue, it is very realistic and representative of teens. Often in young adult fiction, we’re “treated” to talk of Facebook and Snapchat and Instagram and Kim Kardashian, so it was nice to have a break from “teens”.
There’s a bit of uncomfortable sexual harassment in this book, but the characters did call out the harassment which I appreciated. As for the alcoholic father premise, this pops up in too many teen fiction novels. I’m tired of the teens having to be responsible and fix their parents. The names are very glamorous and of course make sense for the novel. Bridges, Tristan, Hadley, Quinn. They all sound a bit like the author researched wealthy teen names.
There were scenes that I enjoyed. I enjoyed the boat sailing scenes, because it offered a new location / setting that’s not often incorporated into teen fiction. I felt a little “Talented Mr. Ripley” in some parts, which I liked. The climax and the reveal behind the murders was good, but I don’t think it was a shocking enough plot twist that made the book feel worthwhile. The book is slowly paced, and I don’t mind a slow paced book if it eventually builds to a fantastic reveal, with great little tidbits in the middle. I recommend it for teens, but if you’re above the age of 20, perhaps this book may be a little too young for you.
I received an advanced review copy for my honest reviewing purposes.
May 3, 2018
Easy to read and not that long. Not suspenseful, mysterious, or thrilling past maybe the first chapter or two. Everything was way too obvious and Pearl didn’t seem purposeful in anything she did. She wasn’t so much investigating as stumbling around wherever anyone happened to invite her. All of the characters felt stilted and disconnected from each other and the reader. Often they did things that made no sense just to push the plot along. And I thought it was really strange that Pearl started thinking about sleeping with any dude she was left alone with for five seconds even if they’d barely spoken to each other. It is possible for males and females to have other types of interactions. The ending was abrupt and so obvious it felt silly. Nothing felt resolved. I was just left feeling like, “Why did even read this?”
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