The Good Liar: A Novel

By Nicholas Searle

Spinning a page-turning story of literary suspense that begins in the present and unwinds over almost a century, this unforgettable debut channels the haunting allure of Atonement as its masterfully woven web of lies, secrets, and betrayals unravels to a shocking conclusion

Veteran con artist Roy spots an obvious easy mark when he meets Betty, a wealthy widow, online. In no time at all, he’s moved into Betty’s lovely cottage and is preparing to accompany her on a romantic trip to Europe. Betty’s grandson disapproves of their blossoming relationship, but Roy is sure this scheme will be a success. He knows what he’s doing. As this remarkable feat of storytelling weaves together Roy’s and Betty’s futures, it also unwinds their pasts. Dancing across almost a century, decades that encompass unthinkable cruelty, extraordinary resilience, and remarkable kindness, The Good Liar is an epic narrative of sin, salvation, and survival—and for Roy and Betty, there is a reckoning to be made when the endgame of Roy’s crooked plot plays out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Feb 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781443444620

Nicholas Searle

Nicholas Searle grew up in the southwest of England and studied languages at the University of Bath. He spent more years than he cares to remember in public service before deciding in 2011 to leave and begin writing fiction. The Good Liar is his first novel. Nicholas lives in the north of England.

Reviews for The Good Liar

[daftboy1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story or Roy Courtney an elderly Conman who meets Betty. Roy is after her money, Betty isn't to gullible though and is planning to do the same to Roy. The book jumps back and forth to when Roy is a young man and tells the story of earlier con tricks. Roy is actually Hans who was young German informant just before the outbreak of World War II. He reported the Schroder family a wealthy family with 4 daughters and his own Parents. It was bleak for people who got reported to the Gestapo. The youngest Schroder girl survived the war and made it all the way to her 80s she was now known as Betty, she planned the whole thing with a bit of help to bring down Roy. Beat him at his own game. Good book easy to follow, I guessed the outcome quite early but I still enjoyed this story.

[jldarden · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Found this a little slow and an end twist you could see coming if you looked. Not recommended though I hear it's about to become a movie.

[welsh_eileen2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a disappointingly slow start, but the character of Roy began to grow on me.
His interesting life meandered backwards and forwards, but all in all it was a good read.
I was given a digital copy of this story by the publisher Viking via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[celerydog_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Outstandingly well-plotted debut novel with a thoroughly reprehensible and unreliable narrator: the eponymous hero, Roy Courtney. Starting from today and the set up of a con on Betty, the back story of the main characters is interleaved in alternating chapters. The twist can be deduced by the reader, but sublimely we are ahead of the characters, so even guessing whodunit does not diminish the reveal. I look forward to more reads from this author.

[gail616 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had trouble following this book at the beginning. The middle really picked up. I'm still not sure about the ending. It left me dissatisfied.