The Liar's Diary - Softcover

Francis Patry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 190584767X ISBN 13: 9781905847679

Publisher: Old Street Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

An accomplished poet with a keen eye for detail and the written word, Patry Francis has written a riveting debut novel that will thrill fans of Jodi Picoult and Sue Miller.

Answering the question of what is more powerful—family or friendship? this debut novel unforgettably shows how far one woman would go to protect either.

They couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship that will alter both their fates. When Ali Mather blows into town, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts (despite the fact that she is pushing forty), she also makes a mark on an unlikely family. Almost against her will, Jeanne Cross feels drawn to this strangely vibrant woman, a fascination that begins to infect Jeanne’s "perfect" husband as well as their teenaged son.

At the heart of the friendship between Ali and Jeanne are deep-seated emotional needs, vulnerabilities they have each been recording in their diaries. Ali also senses another kind of vulnerability; she believes someone has been entering her house when she is not at home—and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali’s soul.

When a murderer strikes and Jeanne’s son is arrested, we learn that the key to the crime lies in the diaries of two very different women . . . but only one of them is telling the truth. A chilling tour of troubled minds, The Liar’s Diary signals the launch of an immensely talented new novelist who knows just how to keep her readers guessing.

About this title

About the Author:

Patry Francis’s poetry and short stories have appeared in the Ontario Review, The Massachusetts Review, the Tampa Review, and The American Poetry Review, among other publications. She is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize and has twice been the recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council grant. The Liar’s Diary is her first novel.

From AudioFile:

Secrets and lies dominate the lives of tightly wound school secretary Jeanne Cross; her abusive physician husband, Gavin; her deeply dysfunctional son, Jamie; and her promiscuous new best friend, Ali Mather. As their friendship grows, Jeanne learns of Ali's series of affairs, and Ali discovers a dark truth about the Cross family. Marie Caliendo's narration is a little too exuberant for the text, frequently placing inappropriate emphasis in odd places. Her character voices, especially those requiring high energy, do the job, but overall the reading detracts from Patry Francis's disturbing first novel by calling attention to itself. Obsession, violence, and murder are the stuff of everyday life in this grim look at the facade of the perfect family. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Old Street Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 190584767X
• ISBN 13: 9781905847679
• Binding: Paperback