Who Is the Liar

In a tight-knit town in the 1980s, a child-killer is on the loose. And Topaz’s parents are on edge. At ten years old, Topaz is so vulnerable. But she has nothing to worry about. Her eldest sister, Ruby, has made sure of that. Swearing Topaz to secrecy, Ruby reveals she has trapped the monster in their root cellar.Bound and bloodied in the cold space is kindly Brother Johnson from the Church. Pleading with Topaz to cut him loose, he says her reckless sister is a liar. Brother Johnson is right about that: Ruby does lie. She also likes to scare people. Still, even Ruby wouldn’t lie about this. Would she? The game—and the secret—is in her hands. But Topaz just wants to do the right thing.

“Bahr keeps her cards close to the vest, gleefully toying with reader expectations via the first-person perspective of her young and conflicted protagonist. This one’s difficult to put down.” —Publishers Weekly

“At times a coming-of-age story and at times pure suspense, this dark and disquieting book will keep readers off balance all the way to the last page.” —Booklist

“An impressively crafted and original suspense thriller of a novel, Who Is the Liar is an extraordinary and fascinating read of the first order. Offering up an emotional rollercoaster of a ride for the reader from start to finish…Highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review

“Disturbing, tense, and deeply uncomfortable, Laura Lee Bahr’s Who Is the Liar is a vicious, harrowing examination of family, deception, and the inevitable loss of innocence. I inhaled this novel in one feverish sitting and was left breathless by the very end. Most importantly, Bahr’s powerfully incisive novel accomplished a nearly impossible task: This book genuinely shocked me.” —Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke

“Laura Lee Bahr’s Who Is the Liar is eerie, horrifying, and utterly original. She knows exactly how to bind a reader’s heart in twin ropes of worry and terror. This is a fantastically creepy tale that cuts close to the bone.” —Victoria Helen Stone, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Jane Doe

“Haunting and beautifully written. Should be a contender for the Shirley Jackson Award.” —Francesca Lia Block