This novel is sure to be another huge hit from my favourite Canadian author, Catherine McKenzie.I absolutely loved this book and quickly devoured it much like I've done with all of Mckenzie's other books. This book was told from three alternating women's perspectives through first person point of view, third person point of view and lastly with an interview style point of view. This novel follows three women that are linked by an awful workplace explosion and the way Mckenzie interweaves these characters was brilliant. Full of suspenseful twists and turns I enjoyed every moment of this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thanks to #netgalley, #catherinemckenzie and #lakeunionpublishing for my advanced ecopy of #thegoodliar. It was a fun book told from three different perspectives. I thought the author did a great job of capturing the way people present themselves to others vs. what they know to be the whole truth they hide. Though I struggled with some major willing disbelief, the book was a fun ride with, thankfully, a few characters who were genuinely good enough to root for.

I love the way Catherine McKenzie writes her characters, there are so many ways to learn who they are and yet who you wonder are they really who they seem, by the choices they make, the secrets they hide. A gas explosion decimates the building where Cecily's husband Tom works, and his co-worker Kate. Folks are running blocks away from the debris, and smoke, and fate kept one woman from being in that building while another lost her husband, and another her mother. The story is told ten years later in a documentary, with alternating voices of each women. What happens over the years is told, how these three women are connected and what their lies have propelled them to do, each chapter building more palpable suspense and questions. This book is compelling and brilliantly written and I highly recommend it as one of this authors best, if not the best to date!

There are so many twists and turns in this book. One minute you think you know where the story is going, and 30 seconds late BAM, it heads a different direction. The plot itself is fantastic, as are the characters. Another great book by Catherine McKenzie!

Soooooo good! I loved the characters and the pace of the book felt natural and worked well.
The many, many twists and turns kept me on my toes and this was a “can’t put down” book.

I, too, thought about that quote, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." I thought about how lying takes people down paths they never wanted to go and never ends the way they think it will. That is part of the draw to this book...I didn't know where the path was going.. So, when I took that first step into the first page of the book, I was caught in the web a bit. Then the more I read, the more tangled up into the web I became until I couldn't stop reading and had to find out what was going to happen, who was lying and how they were going to be found out. The story was a tangle of characters whose lives were caught in each other's lies and deceptions. I couldn't get out until the very end and I was so surprised. This is my first novel by this author and look forward to reading more of hers. I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Amazing book. My first by this Author. The story revolves around 3 women who all have a connection to a building explosion where over 500 people died. One runs away from her husband and children (letting them think she died). One who was about to divorce her husband. One who was trying to find her biological mother. The relationships are masterfully interwoven. I did not expect the ending. Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Cecily, Kate, and Franny have all been affected by a tragedy in Chicago. A building exploded and many lives were lost. As the one year anniversary of tje exploaion nears, the women each struggle. Cecily and Franny are participating in a documentary about the tragedy. Kate is living in a different city, but plagued by memories of that day. All three women have explosive secrets big and small. As the book progresses, we uncover lies big and small.

I raced through this psychological thriller! At first it was hard to know who to root for. I couldn't wait to discover who was the Good Liar. This book had it all- mystery, life lessons, a love component, and twists and turns. Loved it!

"So Many Lies"
This book revolves around 3 women and the aftermath of a tragedy that links them all together.
Reporter Teo is filming a documentary about the "Triple Ten" a day in Chicago's history in which a building exploded killing over 500 people.
Cecily, who lost her husband and best friend and is desperately trying to hold her family together while trying to keep a secret hidden.
Kaitlyn ( Kate) who is running from someone or something, and trying to keep her secrets hidden.
Franny ( Eileen) who desperately wants a family to belong to and will stop at nothing to keep her secrets hidden. These women are all connected in both the tradegy and their secrets.
This is my first book by this author and I was mesmerized from the first page, this book had a grip on me and I loved the characters and the secrets surrounding these ladies
I highly recommend this book, be prepared for a fantastic ride!

This novel is set a year after a (fictional) office building explosion in Chicago that killed more than 500 people, introducing us to three different women whose lives were affected in different ways by the tragedy. I went into this book thinking that it would be a mystery/thriller, but really it's more of a character study with just undertones of psychological thriller. LOTS of twists and turns, some of which I predicted and some of which really surprised me. Enjoyable read and would definitely make a good book club choice.

This was a good suspense novel, with a few twists thrown in. I had some of those twists figured out, but it was still fun to read. I will say this is a little bit of a departure from what this author typically writes, and I missed some of the attachment to the characters I expected to experience. That's how it lost a star for me. I'd still recommend it and am glad I checked it out. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for a chance to read this ARC!

Catherine Mckenzie writes such great stories, such real characters. This book was fantastic, keeps you guessing right til the end... who is telling the truth? There are so many lies in this story that it is hard to tell.

The Good Liar tells the story of 3 women.. 3 women who all have a connection to the building explosion in Chicago. They are all trying to carry on with their lives a year after the explosion but they all carry the burden of the truths that are yet to come out.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions

Everybody lies and this book is a prime example of that. A gas explosion occurred in a building at 10am on the 10th of October which is the 10th month of the year, the Triple Ten explosion, which killed 513 people. And there are 3 main characters who form the triangle of this story, each is connected to the other in lies and secrets.

Cecily, who lost a husband in the explosion, Frannie who lost a mother, and Kate who lost everything form the 3 angles of the triangle. The story explores the lives of the characters, both past and present, all leading up to an explosion of lies and truth. Each pull and push by the character leads to the angle being changed. The acute lies soon lead to the truth revealed in an obtuse manner. Till the last paragraph of the book, the right angle leads to a perfectly, shockingly straight line…

Catherine McKenzie’s style of writing is one of slow immersion, where the story is narrated layer by layer, where each layer adds to the story as well as leaves a clue behind. The story took some time for me to catch on, precisely 2 days and then I could finish in a couple of hours.

I generally do not like such slow starts, maybe I do not have the patience for such a slow built-up. That would be my only niggle. I always thought that there are never good liars but liars who lie good. And this book has three of them, one of them is a good liar, the second is a liar who is both lying and telling the truth, and the third is liar who lies good. Now it’s up to you to find out who is who. Good luck and happy reading!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Lake Union Publishing, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Catherine McKenzie and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Catherine McKenzie is back with another novel that pushes the reader to think while enjoying this fast paced story. On October 10th at 10am (Triple Ten), an explosion rocked a building in Chicago, leaving more than 500 dead and destroying many families. This story surrounds the lives of three women with intimate ties to that explosion and the personal tragedy that befell them. Cecily has spent the last year coming to terms with the loss of her husband, Tom, and how she will raise two children on her own. Not only does she have that on her plate, but she was on her way to see Tom when the explosion occurred and her face was caught by a freelance photographer, making her the ‘face’ of the tragedy. Cecily has been forced to endure the faux-celebrity of being ‘that woman’, personifying the Triple Ten event for the last twelve months. Franny Maycombe has become a friend of Cecily’s over the last year, as they both sit on the compensation board for the families of the victims, in hopes of bringing some financial stability during these trying times. Franny lost her biological mother in the blast, an event that is still hard to digest. Franny was adopted as an infant and just recently discovered her birth mother who lived in Chicago, only to see her killed after such a short reunion. Franny’s story emerges in a series of interviews conducted by an eager filmmaker, trying to create a documentary of the Triple Ten event a year later. The more the reader learns of Franny, the more mysterious she becomes. The third woman who plays a key role in the story is Kate, who has relocated to Montreal and tried to put the events of Chicago behind her. Kate has a secret that no one knows and a family that presumes she is never coming back. With the anniversary of the Triple Ten, Kate is forced to come to terms with what happened and her role in the larger scheme of these. Cecily, Franny, Kate... three women who have suffered, though all have also been holding onto a lie from that day; a lie that could destroy them. Keeping it under wraps might be the only way they can come out of this as a good liar, if such a thing exists. McKenzie offers up another wonderful piece of writing that is sure to attract the attention of many, as it is thought provoking and leaves a definite aftertaste. Those familiar with her work will likely enjoy this piece, though new fans are sure to emerge as well.

I can admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this piece, even if I felt there was something holding it back. I kept thinking to myself that this book is on the cusp of being ‘great’ for me, but lacked something on which I cannot place my finger. As though superb is on the other side of a thin cellophane wall, but I was kept from it by McKenzie holding something back with the story and her characters. The three women who spend much of the time in the spotlight could not be more different and similar at the same time. Cecily is struggling with digesting Tom being gone and the strains within her marriage. Franny wants nothing more than to connect with her biological mother’s family, as well as slide into the middle of the drama that is Triple Ten mourning. Kate hides herself away, though has an interesting backstory for leaving and choosing to make her way up to Canada. All three propel the story forward, working with a handful of well-crafted secondary characters. The story is rich in both backstory and character development, a strong suit for McKenzie, and said pieces help form a strong foundation on which the story can rest. There is something eerie and yet heartwarming about the story and the way it develops. Struggle is woven throughout, though each of the three protagonists comes at it from a unique perspective. Added to that, the constant theme of lies and deception helps to imbue a strong sense of distrust between characters and forces the reader to judge the actions of those on the printed page, while also trying not to be too harsh. McKenzie uses some interesting techniques in the book to pull out the plot, with the direct approach that Cecily portrays, the more ‘interview-centric’ release of information that Franny utilises, and Kate’s thoughts and flashbacks to deliver her own personal angle. All three work effectively, as does the documentary that pushes the story along, though there seems to be something missing that kept me from proclaiming that this was another masterpiece. I suppose the slow development that led to an abrupt end, as though the reader was expecting a climax and had the carpet pulled out from under them. However, McKenzie’s writing is so strong and alluring that some weaknesses cannot take away from the overall pleasure that comes from reading this novel.

Kudos, Madam McKenzie, for dazzling and keeping things fresh throughout. I have encouraged others to read your work in the past and will continue to do so.

Thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and once again I was not disappointed. This is a psychological thriller told by three woman, Cecily, Franny and Kate the question is, which of the three woman is The Good Liar, there is a lot of deceit, their three stories are linked together following an explosion in an office building, Cecily’s husband Tom is killed in the explosion. It’s approaching the 1st anniversary and Cecily and Franny are both telling their stories for a documentary. There are many secrets and lies right to the very end... an excellent read 4.5 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.

WOW!! This was one wonderful book. I had such a hard time putting it down. Wanted to know what was going to happen next.
This is told from Cecily, Kate, at times Kaitlyn, and Franny’s voices. Each has a different story to tell. All have lies and some have some truth mixed in. It’s one that will have you asking did they really do that or was it more. It’s the story of loss and grief, running and returning only to run again. From the first page I knew without a doubt it was going to be a page turner.
I so enjoyed this awesome book and can’t wait now to read more by this author. I’m honored to have won a paperback copy of this, signed, from the author.
I received this copy from Lake Union via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I give no spoilers but can promise you won’t be disappointed in this book. It’s so good from the beginning to the big ending where so much comes out about the characters. You will never guess the ending. It’s quite the shocker.
Love it and had to give it 5 stars

THE GOOD LIAR by Catherine McKenzie is a fast-paced thriller and that's no lie.

When Cecily is captured in a photograph moments after the building her husband works in explodes, she has no idea that her life is about to become a TMZ special. In the year that follows, she tries to deal with the inner conflicts she has about being the poster girl for the tragedy and her blooming feelings for another. Told with dual narration, we get the same tension from Kate's chapters where she has literally tried to run away from everything that happened that day to find out that she can't seem to outrun her past. This novel has plenty of good dialog and tension and will keep you guessing until the very last chapter. A very enjoyable read.

Wow, wow, wow!! This is a stunning read and will keep you turning page after page. You will want answers to your questions. My favorite quote was: "Some things are better as secrets. People can be hurt by the truth." Now isn't that the truth. Lies are told sometimes to protect us and sometimes to protect others. There are little white lies, lies of omission and outright, big, fat lies. Lies can hurt. They can hurt us and they can hurt others. This is a book about lies. Some are huge and some are small. This book is told in the voices of Cecily, Kate and Franny. This quite simply works. We follow their lives after a terrible tragedy in Chicago, where many lives were lost and others were irrevocably changed forever. The characters are richly woven and complex. This book flows well and the transition between voices is smooth. The characters are believable and true to life. I mean, haven't we all lied at some point in our lives. The dialogue is rich with honesty. There is betrayal and there is loss. This book at times made me cry and got me angry at other times. What was the biggest lie of all? Well you must read this book to find out. I never wanted it to end, but I did get all my answers with the explosive ending. Explosive is the only word I can think of to describe it. I highly recommend that you all get this book. You will not be disappointed. It will keep you guessing until the end and I love that in a book. Sometimes a lie is just a lie and sometimes it comes with devastating results. No spoilers here. You just have to read the book.

4.5 stars

I received an ARC of "The Good Liar" from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine McKenzie for the opportunity to read this book.

OMG, this book will be THE thriller of the season. Just when I think that I have the plot figured out, it twists and then turns. I love that the book had the viewpoint of three protagonists which made it a rich and meaty story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could NOT put it down once I started it!! DEFINITE RECOMMEND!!