I really enjoyed parts of this. Other parts just required too much suspension if disbelief for me. I think there was still a good story here with out all of those twists. Also was I supposed to hate every character because they were all horrible.

What a fun and engaging read. I loved the use of different narrative styles - each chapter was either one main character's storyline or was part of an interview - which kept it fast paced and full of intrigue. The characters lives are complex and private until a tragic event and the publishing of one photo leads to their private lives instantly becoming public. As the characters become public figures, it remains harder and harder to maintain their family secrets. As the novel progresses the author foreshadows the truth yet all is not revealed until the final chapter. Of course, it's an added plus when the novel takes place in your home town.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for providing me with an early release of this book.

I love everything Catherine McKenzie writes and she has out done herself with The Good Liar! Written with the right amount of tension and surprise, this book captivates and keeps you totally on edge! I thought I had it figured out as to who done it and was totally surprised! Well done!

I love this series, another strong entry. There is somehing for everyone. My favorite: The Invitation. Awesome anthology of short stories. I look foward to the next installment. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

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.

I seriously love all of Catherine McKenzie’s books. If you’re like me, this one will not disappoint. It follows three people affected by a national tragedy, weaving their stories together as the plot develops. You see the stories of the victims, and how their lives may not have been as perfect as they seemed. There are several twists along the way (and, of course, at the end!) that I did NOT see coming. Loved it!

“Is it possible to be both, a terrific father and a terrible man at the same time? A man to admire and a man to hate?
The place: Chicago, IL
When: October 10th @ 10am (“Triple Ten”)
Who:
Cecily and Tom are married with two kids, Henry and Cassie. Tom works in the Chicago building that came crumbling down on 10-10 at 10am.
Joshua and Kaitlyn are married with two Girls. Kaitlyn recently went back to work in the building Tom works. She was also there that fateful day in October.
Kaitlyn and Cecily are best friends.
On October 10th after the explosion rocked the building that Cecily’s husband and friend were in, her entire left changed. She feels an overwhelming guilt because she was supposed to be there that morning, meeting with Tom. But that day, she ran late. Now, her husband and her best friend are declared dead.
One year later, as the anniversary of the explosion rapidly approached, Teo, a journalist who was there that day and snapped a picture of Kaitlyn after explosion, is now putting together a documentary of the disaster. It was because of this picture, Cecily became the poster child for this horrific event.
The story is being told from Cecily’s perspective, Kate’s perspective, and in an interview format between TJ and Franny. Franny, a woman claiming that Kaitlyn is her biological mother who sadly died in the explosion. A year later, another “explosion” happens… basically an explosion of everything everyone ever knew to be truth! Secrets.. so many. The characters in this story are intertwined in ways I could not imagine and as the story unravels, it still kept me guessing! I started this book one morning and didn’t stop until I finished it after midnight! Wow! Amazing!
You will NOT be able to put this book down!

My favorite Catherine McKenzie novel yet (and that is saying something)! There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, but looking back, I can't believe I missed. this is my favorite kind of novel, the one you can't put down and must know more. I read this in just a few sittings and was utterly enthralled from the first page. Read this book and thank me later.

This was an excellent book about some people affected by a disaster similar to 911. The lives of three women are changed in the aftermath of the explosion of an office building that killed hundreds of workers. Their families become famous in the media and, in addition to coping with the loss of loved ones, they are also hounded by paparazzi. There are secrets that unfold and the book really kept me guessing. Highly recommended!!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. I am a huge fan of Catherine McKenzie and have read all of her books, so I was really excited to have a chance to preview her latest book, The Good Liar. In her latest timely novel, a building has exploded and it has forever changed the life of Cecily, who lost her husband in the explosion along with her best friend Kate. Because of a picture taken of her at the scene, Cecily has become the "face" of this tragic explosion. As the poster girl for the explosion, she has been put in charge of a panel that has to determine how death benefits will be paid out to the survivors. This puts her in contact with Franny, who has come forward as a daughter that Kate put up for adoption at birth, Since she is technically a survivor, she feels she should be allowed to collect the death benefits from her mother.

So why is it called The Good Liar? Because everyone in this twisty novel is lying, and it is a suspenseful mystery to figure out who is lying and what is the truth. I loved this book and I can't wait until this book comes out to talk with my friends about it!

wow, she does it again, Catherine McKenzie really knows how to keep you reading! Who's telling the truth or who is being a good liar! The book is full of twists and turns and is addictive! Thanks for giving me an advanced copy!!

This book grabbed me right from the beginning & wouldn't let me stop until the last page. The story is told through three women's perspectives. It's about a gas explosion that occurs in Chicago that blows up a building & kills over 500 people. Cecily is standing in the street when it happens as she was running late for a meeting with her husband in that very building. A photographer takes her picture looking up at the horror & she becomes the poster child for the tragedy. A year later she is preparing for the anniversary & helping that same photographer with his documentary. Kate is in Canada avoiding the topic of the anniversary & trying not to look at any of the footage. Franny had lost her just found adopted mother in the tragedy & was helping on the committee that was aiding the victims' families. That's all I can say about this book without giving the story away. The plot twists & turns through these three women & I highly recommend you buckle up & enjoy the wild ride! You won't be able to put it down.

Lies simmering on the back burner.

Bring to a rapid boil.......and, wowzers, watch the spillover seeping onto the innocent and onto the guilty as well. Eternal blisters and forever scars.

The Windy City is the backdrop as Cecily Grayson rushes up the concrete stairs that meet the street level of The Loop. "Late" has an indelible mark on her back. Continuous rushing leaves her breathless with her head down and feet planted on each step. As she raises her head slightly, Cecily comes into contact with a massive explosion that hurls her to the ground with the power of the impact. A stranger grabs her hand and pulls her in the opposite direction towards safety.

But there will no longer be even a wisp of safety from here on out for Cecily. Her husband, Tom, worked in that building and so did her best friend. Her grief will find no privacy either as that stranger snapped a photo of her at the shocking moment it hit.......hair and clothing swirling and chaos reverberating with its horrifying aftermath on her face.

As time moves slowly forward, Cecily is contacted by Teo Jackson who is creating a documentary of the Triple Ten explosion based on his photo of Cecily. (10th month, 10th day, at 10 am) Cecily's photo has left her with the kind of notoriety that she longs to avoid. She has also been selected to be on the Compensation Committee for the 513 victims of the tragedy. This is where she meets Franny Maycombe. Franny has just found her birth mother who appears to be a victim of the explosion.

Catherine McKenzie has put out enough place settings at this story table to make your head spin. You don't have enough time to swallow down the first course while she serves up the next. Relentless sizzle to this one, dear readers. Just like we like it. Fast and furious with more rabbits in the hat than a magician at a kiddie party. Whoa! The lies spill out until we're knee deep in the stuff. And secrets that will have you wincing as they all come tumblin' out.

Do yourself a favor and start out the New Year with a definite bang. This one makes more noise than a trove of clanging party favors. Enjoy the explosive ending for sure.

I received a copy of The Good Liar through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to Catherine McKenzie for the opportunity.

What an excellent piece of writing! I could barely put this book down once I started. Catherine McKenzie brilliantly weaves together the stories of three women who all have their own secrets to keep about the Triple Ten tragedy. Every time I thought I had figured out one of them, McKenzie would prove me wrong and lead me down a new rabbit hole. The character development was fantastic; Cecily, Kaitlyn, and Franny each had personality traits that I could identify with, making me emotionally invested in each of them in different ways.

This is the first of McKenzie's novels I've read, but The Good Liar has definitely made me interested in reading her other novels. Thanks NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a great read!

4.5 stars! What an addictive story!

This novel follows three women affected by the devastating tragedy of a building explosion in downtown Chicago that kills over 500 people and injures many others. These women move forward with their lives, trying to pick up the pieces after their traumatic personal losses. There are many secrets, lies and hidden agenda’s within this twisted tale – I was hanging on every word!

This is my first book by Catherine McKenzie and I fell in love with her writing! I’m a new fan and will be searching for her previous books to read ASAP! I found myself completely immersed within these characters lives and predicaments. The writing was smooth and captivating and simply perfect!

My reason for taking away ½ star was that there were a couple parts of the story that seemed slightly unrealistic to me – nothing too extreme, but enough that it left me questioning a few things.

This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Kendall, Jan, Berit, Sarah, Julie, Stacey and Diane. As always, it was wonderful discussing and dissecting this book with them.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Catherine McKenzie for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 spectacular stars rounded up! Almost perfect!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is my first book by,?Catherine McKenzie... but definitely not my last!

WOW! This book was just so delightfully twisted! The title really should have been; Who is the Best Liar of Them All? It is so hard to review a book like this, because you don’t want to give anything away.... such an amazing rollercoaster ride.... I want you to enjoy the ride as much as I did!

Along with the twisty plot were some pretty fantastic characters...Cecily was so likable and relatable, I really could see a lot of myself in her... a mom just really wanting the best for her kids after going through a major tragedy and some other pretty major issues... Kate and Frannie I found less likable and less relatable.... but they were pretty darn well developed..... and I really did spend the majority of the book trying to figure out the psychology behind their actions..... liars lying to each other, nothing more unreliable than that!

I emphatically recommend this book to all psychological thriller fans and anybody that enjoys a crazy ride of a book!😍

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we begin to deceive.
And never is that more evident than in the stories of three women: Cecily, Kate, and Franny, in the aftermath of an explosion that kills over 500 people.

Cecily was supposed to be in the building at the time the explosion took place, but was running late. Her husband and best friend were killed that day, and she is a survivor in mourning. Franny, is a young woman in search of her birth mother, a woman who was killed that morning when the building exploded. And then we have Kate, the most mysterious of the three. She’s on the run and in hiding, but why? What is her story?

The story line toggles back and forth from the past, before the explosion, to the current day, the one year anniversary of the tragedy. All of these women are harboring secrets. Even the dead had secrets. Are some secrets worth keeping or is the price too high? When is a lie justified? Where is the line drawn? The twists and revelations continued right up to the last page. And just who is lying and who is the best liar of them all? You will start to question just who the good liar is: Franny, Kate, Cecily, all three, or someone else? My opinion changed several times as I read.

I found the author’s writing style engaging, her characters interesting, and the story line a page-turner. The characters were compelling and I admit to being shocked on more than one occasion. After I turned the last page I found myself going back and re-reading certain parts and questioning some of my assumptions. There are moral dilemmas to grapple with, and there are circumstances that are debatable, which is why I think this would make a fantastic thought-provoking book club choice.

 Many thanks to Netgalley, Catherine McKenzie, and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of the e-book for review.
*As requested, this review will publish on Goodreads on March 3, and Amazon on April 3.

Cecily's life is torn to pieces when the two people she loves - her husband, Tom, and her best friend, Kate - are killed in an assumed terrorism-related attack on their workplace. As if that wasn't devastating enough, Cecily becomes the face of the tragedy when a photographer and documentary maker, Teo, captures Cecily fleeing the site of the explosion while attempting to visit Tom on his coffee break. The image becomes iconic and symbolic of the tragedy, something Cecily feels she will never ever be able to escape.

Cecily's life, which includes her two teenagers, is thrust into the scrutiny of the press. She feels like she must portray the image of a grieving widow, and not anything less. But as the reader learns, nothing about Cecily's marriage to Tom or friendship with Kate was as perfect as the media would like to believe. We learn that Tom had cheated on Cecily only a few months prior to the incident, and that Kate had mixed feelings about being a friend to Kate, a mother to two girls, and a wife to her husband, Jack.

We also learn that Kate had a dark past no one knew about, including her husband Jack and her supposed best friend, Kate. A young woman in her 20s named Franny comes forward to the press claiming she was Kate's daughter who Kate gave up for adoption. Franny becomes involved with the compensation process for victims and their families of the tragedy, so much so that Cecily, who is also involved with the same organization, begins to wonder if she ever really knew Kate at all.

Cecily becomes involved with Teo after the viral photograph, and agrees to be part of a documentary on the tragedy that Teo is filming. Teo decides that Franny, Kate's family, and Cecily's family are the foci of his documentary, and what he uncovers about all three of them will unravel everything you thought you knew about the victims and the survivors.

This book is an interesting study on how narratives of victims can get flattened in the press, and the immense pressure women feel to conform to their roles as wives, mothers, and friends. It reminded me a bit of Janelle Brown's Watch Me Disappear.

I admit I read ahead of my reading group because 1) I am stuck at home in pain recovering from ankle surgery, and 2) this book was just that good! This is one of the heart-pounding reads that you will not be able to put down. This book will be available for purchase on April 2, 2018.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Catherine McKenzie, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of The Good Liar.

Wow! What a terrific book. So many twists and turns and surprises. I could hardly put it down. Another great story by Catherine McKenzie!!!