The Good Liar

Written by Catherine McKenzie

Narrated by Teri Clark Linden, Kate Rudd, Whitney Dykhouse and JD Jackson

Can you hide a secret with the whole world watching?

When an explosion rips apart a Chicago building, the lives of three women are forever altered.

A year later, Cecily is in mourning. She was supposed to be in the building that day. Instead, she stood on the street and witnessed it going down, with her husband and best friend inside. Kate, now living thousands of miles away, fled the disaster and is hoping that her past won’t catch up with her. And Franny, a young woman in search of her birth mother, watched the horror unfold on the morning news, knowing that the woman she was so desperate to reconnect with was in the building.

Now, despite the marks left by the tragedy, they all seem safe. But as its anniversary dominates the media, the memories of that terrifying morning become dangerous triggers. All these women are guarding important secrets. Just how far will they go to keep them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Apr 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543643022

Catherine McKenzie

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill University in history and law, Catherine practiced law for twenty years before leaving to write full time. An avid runner, skier, and tennis player, she’s the author of numerous bestsellers including I’ll Never Tell and The Good Liar. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and I’ll Never Tell and Please Join Us have been optioned for development into television series. Visit her at CatherineMcKenzie.com or follow her on Twitter @CEMcKenzie1 or Instagram @CatherineMcKenzieAuthor.

Reviews for The Good Liar

[booklover915 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

On an October morning in Chicago, a gas explosion rips apart an office building, killing five hundred and thirteen people and injuring more than two thousand. A year has passed, and filmmaker Teo Jackson is filming a documentary about the tragedy. Among those he interviews is forty-three year old Cecily Grayson, whose husband, Tom, was one of the victims. A second woman, Franny Maycombe, informs Teo that among the individuals who perished was her biological mother, Kaitlyn Ring. According to Franny, Kaitlyn gave Franny up for adoption shortly after giving birth to her.

"The Good Liar" is a complex psychological thriller in which Catherine McKenzie effectively uses flashbacks and alternate points of view to tell her intriguing story. Cecily describes her shock at losing Tom so suddenly. She was supposed to meet him in his workplace on the day of the disaster, and survived only because she was running late. Like others in this intricate tale, Cecily has secrets she is determined to keep hidden. A second narrator, Kate, left her family in the United States and is living in Montreal. Finally, in Teo's revealing conversations with the enigmatic Franny, she comes across as a sly young woman who craves love and attention.

This is a skillfully constructed, fast-paced, and suspenseful tale of domestic angst; betrayal; a budding romance; and fascinating (if not always likeable) characters who grapple with tough decisions. At first, McKenzie doles out limited information, but as the narrative progresses, the author discloses additional details that shed new light on the proceedings. In "The Good Liar," McKenzie demonstrates the toxic effects of duplicity; corrosive nature of guilt; and the impossibility of fully understanding what goes on in the minds and hearts of another human being.

[Tracy Wisneski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding story with compelling characters, great story arc, twists & turns and deeply fulfilling ending.

[irenecole · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fitting title for a novel holding so many secrets.
As the anniversary of the explosion that took the lives of over 500 people approaches, a documentary is being made about the effects on 3 families who've lost loved ones to the tragic accident. Cecily in particular, is a big part of it since a photo was taken of her that day at the site that now has made her face the poster for that deadly shocking day. Cecily has kept a secret about her reason for intending to meet her husband there, but she is not the only one. There are deeper, darker secrets that will be revealed. This was a real page turner that started with an explosion and ended with a bang!

I received an advance copy for review

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A quick read that kept me engaged, with an ending that surprised me.

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Once I started listening to this novel, it was hard to turn it off. I got wrapped up in the whole story, trying to figure out what had really happened as it went along. All of my questions weren't answered until the very end of the book. I did get a little frustrated with Frannie and how everyone seemed to fall under her spell, but otherwise I enjoyed this read.

[johnfishlock · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good shit!

[ezrider19 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG! It has been a good while since an an author that is new to me has captured my attention so well from the very start. If it wasn't for work and the need for sleep, I would have finished this is one day lol. I spent 5 hours yesterday reading it because I just couldn't put it down. And the ending...the ending was not something I expected, but it made me enjoy the book even more. If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you wanting more, then this is it. It also made my next book choice an easy one. I will be reading another of Catherine's books next.

[simplykelina · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Too Slow; Nothing happening

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow, this book was a surprise! Imagine a horrific tragedy happening in front of you, and your life being forever changed as a result. On October 10, Cecily is on her way to meet her husband when the building she is going to explodes as a result of a leak in the gas pipes. If she hadn't been late to the meeting, she would have been in the building. Her friend, Kaitlyn, is supposed to be in the building as well, and is pronounced dead. Joshua, Kaitlyn's husband, is left to care for their daughters.
Franny is the 3rd person who knew people in the building, and she has made it her mission to help the victims get compensation. Then, there is Teo, who is a documentary filmmaker telling the story of this tragedy, and highlighting the lives of these 3 victims.
However, all is not as it seems, and many lies have been told - and people have many secrets they are keeping. The book has a series of surprises in it, and it will keep you guessing as to what is true.
I really enjoyed this book, and learning about these people - their lives before and after the explosion. While things seemed good at the time, it is interesting to learn that there were cracks under the surface.
I will be looking for the other books by this author. Well done!
#TheGoodLiar #CatherineMcKenzie

[susanmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an advanced copy of The Good Liar by Catherine McKenzie through Netgalley and this is my review.
The Good Liar grabbed my attention initially because of the cover. Brilliant. Then, I heard many people talking about the book. I had to read it. I’m so glad I did. I finished it in a couple of days because once you start this book you will not be able to put down. I definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction, a little bit of drama, some twists and turns. If you enjoy reading about relationships in turmoil , husbands and wives, their children and their girlfriends, you will enjoy this novel.

[bookappeal · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book caught my eye because of the Chicago setting but the narrative contains almost no regional detail or flavor. As psychological suspense goes, The Good Liar lays out the story well, creating tension through multiple unreliable narrators who all have something to hide and through flashbacks to build the characters and show the experiences that led them to the crucial event on 10/10 when an office building in Chicago exploded, killing hundreds. Cecily saw the building explode - she was on her way to meet her husband in his office on the 15th floor - and her image, captured by a photographer on the street, becomes the signature image of the tragedy. A year later, Cecily still feels unworthy of that role - why does she feel like a fraud? Kate lives in Montreal but is concealing a connection to Chicago and the tragedy - what is it? Franny serves on the same family compensation committee as Cecily. She is revealed mostly through her interviews with the photographer for a documentary. Her responses to his questions indicate that something is not quite right with this woman -who is she? The groundwork laid by the author is complex and compelling but too many plot twists are predictable or hard to believe and the ending is completely unsatisfying.

[veronica.sparrow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

People's lives can be complicated and complex and sometimes that includes lies that we weave which end up spiraling out of control. Three women are unexpectedly forced to face these lies of their own making when an explosion completely destroys an office building killing hundreds of people. The various lies begin to unravel on the anniversary of the tragedy when a memorial and a documentary bring unpleasant truths to light.There are literally so many twists and turns in this story. At times I had to put the book down in order to process and think about what I had just learned. The only trouble I had is that I could not really connect with any of the three women. Then again, that may be one of the points of the book itself. Everyone has a dark side or an inner self that is less than completely truthful and definitely not one that we show to others. I received a copy from Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review.

[bonnie.franks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was gifted to me.I have read other Catherine McKenzie books and have enjoyed them. I still have one on my kindle to be read. I have to say that so far, this is my favorite.The characters in this book are people you will be able to relate to. You either are them, or you know them. They are your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends. That's why it's easy to pick up this book and read until your eyes slam closed. You can find out the particulars by reading the book jacket, but I can tell you how it made me feel. I loved that the story was told from more than one perspective. It made it seem more like you could figure it out. Wrong. I thought I had it all figured out about 7 times, I was almost right about 3 times, and I questioned my sanity at some point. I mean all of this in a good way. I'm trying to say the book grabbed me. It is also appropriately titled.But don't take my word for it, read it!

[kristymk18-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 StarsThe Good Liar follows three women, Cecily, Kate and Franny a year after an explosion in Chicago that soon becomes nicknamed Triple Ten. They were each effected by this tragic event in some way. This is a hard book to review without giving too much away. There are a lot of little twists, most of which I figured out, but the writing made it so I wavered in my conviction of my guess until the reveal. One thing I loved about these tiny twists were that they didn’t feel forced or contrived. They fit perfectly within the story and with the characters’ personalities. In a way the story is a mystery: what are these women hiding? Is it serious? Did it impact the events that happened on Triple Ten?The other part of the story really focuses on the characters themselves and their relationships. This was just as engrossing. I loved how this was told from all three of their perspectives but in different POVs. Cecily in first person, Kate in third and Fanny through a series of interviews. It fit well with how each character was portrayed and thought of. Although I’ve heard of author Catherine McKenzie before, this is my first book of hers, but it certainly won’t be my last.

[carole888fort · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of The Good Liar by Catherine McKenzie in exchange for an honest opinion. This is one great story. On October 10th, an office building in Chicago explodes, extinguishing the lives of more than five hundred people. The Good Liar is the story of three women whose paths cross and whose lives are changed forever by this tragedy: they are Cecily, Franny and Kate. It quickly becomes obvious that secrets dominate the storyline and all three women will need to tell lies to cope with each of their situations. This is a most fascinating novel and I could not turn the pages fast enough. The plot changes quickly and the suspense builds with each chapter. This is my first novel by Catherine McKenzie and I look forward to reading all of her previous and future books. The Good Liar is a must-read.

[miss.mesmerized · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Later, the incident would be called “Triple Ten” – on 10th October at 10 o’clock a Chicago office building is ripped apart by an explosion killing more than 500 people. Cecily becomes the picture of the tragedy because a photograph of her staring at the building in disbelieve was taken as the most striking image to visualize the people’s feeling. She lost her husband in the tragedy, and now she and her two kids are alone. But why was she there, at all, at her husband’s work place, at that time of the day? Another woman’s life is also altered by the event, but Kate has seen it as a chance – and seized it to escape her old life and to leave the country. Now, she is in Canada, observing from across the border what happens at her former home, the place where her husband and her children mourn her death. But a couple of months after the events, things take a different turn and this brings both of them back to the day of the tragedy – and back to the lies they told.“The Good Liar” is a cleverly constructed mystery novel centred around three women. At the first glance, they seem to be the average wife with an ordinary life. But as soon as you get to look under the surface, you stare into an abyss of lies, of fraud and betrayal. None of them is the pitiable victim, they all contributed to their fate – but who of them is really evil and who just acted out of desperation?The many twists and turns make you assess the situation anew over and over again. It takes some time to understand the links between the three and then you eagerly start to develop your theories about what had happened before. For some of the characters, this is a bit foreseeable, for others it isn’t and that’s what I liked best. Catherine McKenzie is a brilliant writer who knows exactly how to pace her story which keeps you read on and on and on to find out what happened actually. And at the same time, you are always asking yourself: what would I have done in her place? A perfect psychological thriller which does not offer any easy black-and-white explanations but points out the different shades of grey.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story pulls you in and holds you to the end, and even then, you need the epilogue to complete, and all the while you are thinking of 9 11 instead of 10 10, a real page turner.No one is who they appear, and when the bomb shells drop you are left flabbergasted and they just kept coming. The author has created characters that you will care for and feel like you are walking in their shoes, but would you do what these women did? A story that will make you think, and can we find out what is important to these people, for some it is family, but for others?This is one you don’t want to miss, and it will keep you thinking about it long after the last page is turned, and the last twist is dropped!I received this book through Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

[fredreeca · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Chicago building explodes. Why? How? The answers will surprise you. It forever changes the scope of three women’s lives.This book started with bang and was unstoppable. Cecily watches as her husband’s building explodes. She is not as sad as she should be. She and her husband were getting divorced. Kate, Cecily’s best friend, was supposedly killed in the blast. Then, there is Franny. She is supposedly Kate’s daughter which Kate gave up for adoption years ago. With these three story lines intersecting and crossing, you never know what to believe. This story is twisty. You think you know what’s going on and it changes again.Well! Catherine McKenzie has done it again. Years ago, I won a copy of her first novel, Spin. I have been a fan ever since. Her writing changes with every book. I love how she never writes the same book twice. Plus her characters are people you know. She creates the best characters with true flaws.This is a twisty story and it keeps you guessing all the way till the end!I received this novel from the author for a honest review.

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are all kinds of lies - that small lie of omission, that little white lie, and then there are major lies that affect not only you but the people around you. This is a book about 3 women with lies that they are keeping from others. It's a page-turner of a book as the lies are exposed and their secrets are reveled. In my opinion, it's Catherine McKenzie's best book yet.The novel starts a year after a huge explosion in Chicago killed over 500 people and follows the lives of three women whose lives were affected: Cecily, mother of two whose husband died in the explosion and who is the poster child of the survivors because of a photo that was taken right after; Kate, who ran away from the explosion and her family and has moved to Canada to keep her identity hidden and Franny who is looking for her birth mother when the building goes down - with her mother in it. These three women are all hiding something from the world - will they be able to keep their lies hidden or will the real stores come to light in the glare of the publicity and the documentary that's being made? It's a roller coaster of a book and will keep the reader's attention until the very last page.Thanks to the publisher and the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[teachlz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG! WOW! I am totally blown away by this incredible, riveting, psychological thriller , “The Good Liar” by Catherine McKenzie. I finished this in almost one sitting, only stopping to use the lady’s room. I highly recommend this intense captivating novel for anyone that appreciates an amazing chilling thriller. I can even see this being made into a screenplay for a major film. I, for one will be sitting in a front row seat. Kudos and Bravo to Author Catherine McKenzie for writing such a descriptive and vivid novel that weaves and interconnects the lives of several characters and the explosive devastating tragedy. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Some live in a dysfunctional life, and some are more pathological liars than others. Is there any one that doesn’t lie? There is the small white lie, as when your best friend who has worked hard dieting and exercising, who puts a very tight dress on, and asks you how it looks? There is the lie of omission, by not presenting it, or ignoring it, therefore, it really isn’t a lie? In Catherine Mckenzie’s novel, the lies and deep secrets get more intense and suspenseful. I would compare some of these lies in relationship to Pinocchio, the wooden puppet who wants to be a little boy, but his nose grows, every time he lies. In this case, Pinocchio’s nose would be wrapped around the world several times. In “The Good Liar”, I appreciate the way that Catherine McKenzie takes a terrible national tragedy, and then comes up with three characters, who have such dramatic secrets and lives. There are twists and turns, and ups and downs, that I did not see coming. There are betrayals and danger. Do you really think you know someone? Think again, and enjoy “The Good Liar” by Catherine McKenzie. Happy Reading! I received an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review and opinion.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 Cecily is on her way to meet with her husband, when the office building in which he works is destroyed by an explosion. Over five hundred dead, her husband among them. Her life, as well as two other women, Kate her best friend, and Franny, a young woman with some curious ties to them both. Cecily will become the face of the bereaved, a widow and now the single mother of two children. On the surface things appear simple but all these women have secrets they do not want known.An addictive read, quickly paced with many, many twists and turns. Hard to know what was happening, because as soon as I thought I knew what would happen, the novel took a different turn. There were a few things I just couldn't come to terms with, things that I couldnt quite process as believable. Who was the Good Liar? One of them or all of them? I did, however, love the ending. This is one book that after you read the end, makes you see everything, re-evaluate what you previously read in a new and different way. Very well done. It also made for a great sisters discussion.ARC from Netgalley.

[jenn88-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An explosion has just taken down a building in Chicago, killing 513 people. Cecily Grayson was supposed to be inside that building but was running late. She watched the explosion knowing her husband and her best friend were both inside. Kate escaped disaster and is now living thousands of miles away, praying her past won't catch up with her. Franny is a young woman who is searching for her birth mother. While watching the morning news that day she knew that the woman she was desperate to meet was inside the building. The tragedy once again dominates the news now that it's the one-year anniversary. And these three women have their own secrets and lies that are becoming impossible to keep hidden.

Another five star read by Catherine McKenzie. She's one of those authors that I don't really have to read what the book is about because I already know it's going to be great, whatever it is. She creates such vivid characters and lives for those characters that it's impossible for me not to feel as though I'm part of. Her writing is so effortless that I can't believe how many pages I've read when it's (sadly) time to put the book down. I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.

[jenniferlynn-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely LOVED this book. I think it was my favorite Catherine McKenzie book so far. I was hooked from the moment I started and didn't want to put the book down. Cecily is on her way to meet her husband when his office building explodes. A photographer snaps a picture of Cecily as the debris from explosion swirls around her before pulling her to safety. Cecily not only lost her husband in the fire but also her best friend Kaitlyn. The book alternates between Celily and Kate. Kate is an au pair in Montreal and walked away from her husband and children. Then there's Franny. Franny showed up at Kaitlyn's funeral claiming to be the daughter Kaitlyn gave up for adoption. The Good Liar fits pretty much every character in the book. I was not expecting the ending (but I loved it). With Franny and Kate I didn't know who to believe. Franny immediately reminded me of "Tania Head" from the 9/11 survivors. I definitely recommend this book (and Catherine McKenzie's other books). Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author, Catherine McKenzie, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

[pgchuis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.A year after a gas explosion destroys an office block in Chicago, killing hundreds of people, Teo is making a documentary about how it has affected three families. Cecily lost her husband Tom and she and her children received generous compensation. Joshua lost his wife Kaitlyn (Cecily's best friend), but there have been issues with the evidence proving she was among the dead, so his compensation has been delayed. Finally there is Franny, the child Kaitlyn gave up for adoption 20 years ago, but about whom she never told either Joshua or Cecily. An additional thread features Kate, who fled the explosion and ran away to Montreal, where she works as a nanny. This thread is worked in to the main narrative fairly early on.I found this novel gripping and well-written. There are revelations throughout which make the reader re-evaluate what is true about the characters and about how they are connected to each other. I found Kate rather an opaque character, whose actions made little sense to me. Cecily on the other hand was easier to identify with and I enjoyed the chapters featuring her with her children and/or Teo. There were also parts of the story told by way of scripts from Teo's interviews and these worked well to vary the narrative voice.I am deducting a star for the ending. SPOILERSFranny having caused the explosion seemed to me an unnecessarily dramatic twist, and I was also confused about why Franny's sister claimed so vehemently that Franny was not adopted. I feel like this should be a matter of incontrovertible public record.