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The Lie Maker: A Novel Hardcover – May 16, 2023
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In this twisty, fast-paced thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Find You First and Take Your Breath Away, a man desperately tries to track down his father—who was taken into witness protection years ago—before his enemies can get to him.
Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son.
These are some of the last words Jack Givins’ father spoke to him before he was whisked away by witness protection, leaving Jack and his mother to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as best they could.
Years later, Jack is a grown man with problems of his own. He’s a talented but struggling author, barely scraping by on the royalties from his moderately successful first book. So when the U.S. Marshals approach him with a lucrative opportunity, he’s in no position to turn them down. They’re recruiting writers like Jack to create false histories for people in witness protection—people like Jack’s father.
The coincidence is astonishing to Jack at first, but he soon realizes this may be a chance to find his dad. Only there’s one problem—Jack’s father hasn’t made contact with his handlers recently, and they have no idea where he is. He could be in serious danger, and Jack may be the only one who can find him.
But how will he find a man he’s never truly known? A man who has done terrible things in his lifetime and made some deadly enemies in the process—enemies who wouldn’t think twice about using his own son against him.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherWilliam Morrow
- Publication dateMay 16, 2023
- Dimensions6 x 1.13 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100063276240
- ISBN-13978-0063276246
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Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars 9,196
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4.4 out of 5 stars 6,560
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4.3 out of 5 stars 2,372
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4.2 out of 5 stars 5,453
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4.5 out of 5 stars 6,582
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Price | $13.99$13.99 | $16.99$16.99 | $11.98$11.98 | $10.89$10.89 | $22.86$22.86 |
Editorial Reviews
Review
“A vein of humor runs through The Lie Maker, lightening the mood of a menacing tale…It takes a gifted writer to perfectly balance all the suspense, wit, violence and poignance in a book such as this. Lucky for us, Mr. Barclay is one of the best in the business.” — Wall Street Journal on The Lie Maker
“Barclay nails this riveting standalone thriller about a washed-up writer’s search for his long-lost parent… Barclay expertly knits the strands together and constructs a fully realized everyman in Givins. Crafty plotting and rich characters make this a winner.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Lie Maker
"[The Lie Maker] is filled with such imaginative plot twists and turns that it becomes physically impossible to put the book down at any point.... It is easily one of the best thrillers of 2023!" — Bookreporter.com
"The latest thriller from Barclay asks the reader to accept a slightly out-there premise but delivers a tightly plotted, surprising novel that winds up explaining why the premise wasn’t really so out-there at all. It’s the kind of thriller Barclay does so well: a story that constantly changes direction and forces readers to reconsider their notions of what the book is actually about. We soon find, when reading Barclay, that it’s better simply to put ourselves in the author’s hands and enjoy the ride, because trying to guess what’s going to happen is a fruitless exercise." — Booklist
"A twisty tale of skullduggery....[Barclay is] a pro." — Library Journal on The Lie Maker
“Barclay’s latest is a fun ride…with dips and swerves that should delight his fans.” — Kirkus Reviews on The Lie Maker
"A terrrific read.... Barclay does really spin a tale well." — Winnipeg Free Press on The Lie Maker
"Take Your Breath Away is finely paced and full of surprises. What places it above your average missing-spouse mystery is Mr. Barclay’s ability to make you not only believe in his characters but to care about them.” — Wall Street Journal
“Perhaps the most complex and unsettling of Linwood Barclay’s oeuvre so far.” — Toronto Star on Take Your Breath Away
“Linwood Barclay once again proves himself a master of pace, structure, and suspense. Take Your Breath Away had me guessing and turning pages all night, and I still didn’t figure it out till the end. Gripping, propulsive, and surprising—he wasn’t kidding, I’m breathless.” — David Koepp, Jurassic Park screenwriter and author of national bestseller Cold Storage
“Find You First starts with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. Barclay is a terrific writer, but he’s outdone himself with this. It’s the best book of his career. I couldn’t put it down, and you won’t be able to, either. If you enjoy thrillers, this is the real deal. It never lets up.” — Stephen King
"In typical Barclay fashion, subplots and characters weave together in a tight, satisfying story. Perfect for fans of suspense novels by Harlan Coben and Lisa Gardner." — Library Journal on Take Your Breath Away
“An especially good read. The author keeps us guessing right up until the end.... Motives are hinted at and secrets gradually revealed, leading to an ending that will knock your socks off.” — Booklist on Take Your Breath Away
“An infectious thriller--one of Barclay’s best.” — Kirkus Reviews on Take Your Breath Away
"Suspenseful....The story will suck you in from the first chapter." — AARP Magazine on Take Your Breath Away
“Linwood Barclay has plenty of surprises up his sleeve that will have your head spinning.... Brilliantly crafted.... As the title states, prepare to have your breath taken away!” — Bookreporter.com on Take Your Breath Away
“[A] well-paced standalone…Barclay shifts among multiple viewpoints to keep the tension high.... Everyone is a plausible suspect, and the disparate plot pieces eventually fit together with the precision of a Chinese puzzle box. Barclay reliably entertains.” — Publishers Weekly on Take Your Breath Away
“Perhaps only John Grisham is his equal in creating show-stealing supporting characters.” — Sunday Times (London)
“Mr. Barclay is known for keeping readers on the edge of their seats. In Find You First he surpasses his own past successes with a multi-strand plot that bounces, in short, cliff-hanging chapters… Propelled by Dickensian twists of fate and Hitchcockian suspense, the book is populated by a large and colorful cast, including some chillingly pragmatic hit-people, a couple of foolishly adulterous spouses, a desperately lonely comic-book fan and an underage runaway in a gilded cage. All of them help Miles Cookson learn: ‘Being a parent is a lot more than just biology.’" — Wall Street Journal
“Prolific novelist Linwood Barclay delivers a clever twist on an old trope . . . Science meets megalomania in this up-to-date nifty entertainment.” — Washington Post
“Twisty, emotional, surprising, and told at a breakneck pace, Linwood Barclay’s The Lie Maker shows once again he’s one of the best thriller writers working today. This is a read-in-one-sitting kind of story.” — David Koepp, Jurassic Park screenwriter and author of national bestseller Cold Storage
About the Author
Linwood Barclay is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous previous novels and two thrillers for children. His books have been translated into more than two dozen languages. He wrote the screenplay adaptation for his novel Never Saw It Coming and his books The Accident and No Time for Goodbye have been made into TV series in France. No Time for Goodbye was a global bestseller. A native of Connecticut, he now lives in Toronto with his wife, Neetha.
Product details
- Publisher : William Morrow (May 16, 2023)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0063276240
- ISBN-13 : 978-0063276246
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.13 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #316,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,546 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery
- #7,933 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)
- #19,908 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Linwood Barclay is a former columnist for The Toronto Star and the author of several critically acclaimed novels, including Too Close to Home and No Time for Goodbye, a #1 Sunday Times (UK) bestseller. He lives near Toronto with his wife.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the compelling plot, suspenseful storyline, and well-developed characters. The book keeps them interested and guessing with its intriguing subject matter and fast pacing.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the characters and storyline engaging, with a surprising ending. The content is believable and keeps them turning the pages. Readers praise the writing style as well-crafted and fast-paced.
"...The suspense kept up the entire way. Very entertaining from the first page to the last page. BRAVO !" Read more
"I challenge you to put this down once begun. Great read, checks all the boxes! Super entertaining, very well written." Read more
"...So so good. Loved the plot and the development of characters and the way Mr. Barclay spun his tale. I was totally drawn in and curious...." Read more
"...In all honesty, without exaggerating, The Lie Maker is one of the best books I've read in a long, long time...." Read more
Customers enjoy the compelling and suspenseful plot. They find the book keeps them engrossed with its twists and great characters. The storyline has a different slant, which they appreciate.
"...Always love this author’s writing style. This plot is very original for me and I’m enjoying the reveal of all the characters...." Read more
"...So so good. Loved the plot and the development of characters and the way Mr. Barclay spun his tale. I was totally drawn in and curious...." Read more
"...It is brilliantly plotted and full of great characters. I read it over two days, and hated to put it down to go to bed the first night...." Read more
"...I liked the main character and his girlfriend and the ending made it worthwhile." Read more
Customers enjoy the character development and find the storyline engaging.
"...This plot is very original for me and I’m enjoying the reveal of all the characters...." Read more
"...So so good. Loved the plot and the development of characters and the way Mr. Barclay spun his tale. I was totally drawn in and curious...." Read more
"...It is brilliantly plotted and full of great characters. I read it over two days, and hated to put it down to go to bed the first night...." Read more
"...I liked the main character and his girlfriend and the ending made it worthwhile." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and intriguing. They describe it as informative and hard to put down. The subject matter is complex enough to keep readers guessing, but not too complicated that they get lost.
"...There’s so many pieces of this puzzle and everyone has me intrigued. The suspense kept up the entire way...." Read more
"...I was totally drawn in and curious. I appreciated the way he dropped hints and made me but the book down and think about what all was happening...." Read more
"...I couldn’t put it down. This book had me guessing the entire time. Just when I had it figured out, this author threw in a curveball...." Read more
"Great concept for the story. Makes a good thinking of subject matter. Well written & hard to put down." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They mention it's fast-paced and contains humor and wit.
"...Great plot, fast paced. Twists and turns galore! I’ll be picking this for my next book club. Can’t wait for more. Superb book." Read more
"...The story is interesting and the pacing is swift. As usual with Barclay, there were a couple unexpected twists, which were fun." Read more
"A well, structured, tense thriller that moved along at a terrific pace...." Read more
"...It is fast paced & contains humor & wit." Read more
Reviews with images
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Enjoying the book
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023‘23 - 5 STARS
DESCRIPTION : Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son. These are some of the last words Jack Givins’ father spoke to him before he was whisked away by witness protection, leaving Jack and his mother to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as best they could. Years later, Jack is a grown man with problems of his own. He’s a talented but struggling author, barely scraping by on the royalties from his moderately successful first book. So when the U.S. Marshals approach him with a lucrative opportunity, he’s in no position to turn them down. They’re recruiting writers like Jack to create false histories for people in witness protection—people like Jack’s father. The coincidence is astonishing to Jack at first, but he soon realizes this may be a chance to find his dad. Only there’s one problem—Jack’s father hasn’t made contact with his handlers recently, and they have no idea where he is. He could be in serious danger, and Jack may be the only one who can find him.
REVIEW :
I have read 14 previous books by Mr. Barclay, (10) 4/5 stars, (1) 3 star and (3) 1 star. His most recent book, Look Both Ways (‘22) I gave 5 Stars and his previous four other books, Take Your Breath Away (‘22), Find You First (‘21), Elevator Pitch (‘19) and A Noise Downstairs (‘18) all received 4 stars.
VERY consistent writer for me. Always love this author’s writing style. This plot is very original for me and I’m enjoying the reveal of all the characters. There’s so many pieces of this puzzle and everyone has me intrigued. The suspense kept up the entire way. Very entertaining from the first page to the last page. BRAVO !
- Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024I challenge you to put this down once begun. Great read, checks all the boxes! Super entertaining, very well written.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023Wow. Saw this on a ‘great books you should read this summer’ and ordered it. I was drawn in about the concept of the witness protection and bring a child of a murderer. I was curious to see if it was as interesting as the summary suggested. It was!!!
First book I have read by Linnwood Barclay. Loved it. I am a big John Grisham fan and this was similar in it’s ‘I want to keep reading to see what happens next’ style. So so good. Loved the plot and the development of characters and the way Mr. Barclay spun his tale. I was totally drawn in and curious. I appreciated the way he dropped hints and made me but the book down and think about what all was happening. It was fun to see which things I had wondered about then later happen and some not. It kept me guessing and super curious! My last new author took me 6 weeks to read, this one I read in 3 sittings over 5 days.
This is my first one from Mr. Barclay and I am ordering more of his books today! So excited!
Thanks!!!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2023I had read several Linwood Barclay novels, and enjoyed them all, but somehow he fell off my radar five or ten years ago. While waiting for the next Michael Connelly, CJ Box and Gregg Hurwitz novels to be released, I was looking for something to read and this book popped up on my Amazon account. I'm so glad it did! In all honesty, without exaggerating, The Lie Maker is one of the best books I've read in a long, long time. It is brilliantly plotted and full of great characters. I read it over two days, and hated to put it down to go to bed the first night. I won't review the storyline--other reviewers have covered it well--but suffice to say it has everything you want in a great thriller--suspense, wit, people you care about, a little violence (not excessive or gratuitous), a big plot twist, and a satisfying ending. I shed a few tears, had some good laughs, and was sad to see it end. I can't recommend this book more highly. I'm already ordering more Barclay books as we speak.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2023Almost didn't finish it because it sounded too far-fetched but I was glad I did. I liked the main character and his girlfriend and the ending made it worthwhile.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2025The book was fantastic. Amazon's delivery was the pits! I ordered on 11/27/24 and it was FINALLY delivered on 12/8/24. Ridiculous!
- Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2024Arrived in great condition however the novel itself was not my favorite. Wasn’t terrible by any means, but it isn’t one that I would read again.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2025This is one of my favorite authors. As with all his books, nothing is what it seems. Two brothers, one with some mental issues ( the author handles these issues with a gentle and understanding touch.)This would make a great short mini series on tv. The brother with issues unintentionally drags his brother into a murder. He also drags in the FBI and has telephone conversations with Bill Clinton( which the FBI dont believe along with others)
This story is rich with plenty of twists and has a just wonderful ending. Please, give this one a try, you won't be disappointed.
Top reviews from other countries
- N. TurnerReviewed in Canada on February 5, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars More great Linwood Barclay
Ever wondered how a fiction writer could factor into the inner working of the witness protection program? I certainly hadn’t, but Linwood Barclay has. In his most recent novel, The Lie Maker, Barclay uses the witness protection program as a plot device, but takes the premise and adds a unique twist to spin the story off in a totally unexpected direction. Struggling author Jack Givens, whose father was whisked away into witness protection when Jack was a child, is approached by the US Marshalls Service to do some lucrative work for the program. As is often the case in a Barclay thriller, Jack is an unassuming man suddenly caught up in intrigue and danger far beyond his life experience, and we’re off on a rollicking, well-rounded, intelligent thriller. The story is peopled by intriguing characters, the writing is crisp, and the peril to Jack and the people in his life unfolds with an urgency that keeps us on the edge of our seat. The Lie Maker is Linwood Barclay at the top of his game, and his game is in the upper echelon of today’s thriller writers.
- NatieReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 19, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars great author
Linwood Barclays is a great writer I have never read a book of his that I didn’t enjoy.
Gripping from start to finish.
- Michelle SCReviewed in Australia on September 7, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars The Lie Maker - Excellent Read
This was an excellent book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Interesting storyline, interesting characters, well written. An added bonus for me was the location - Boston/New England. I live in Australia now, so reading this with all the references to the New England area was really enjoyable for me.
I highly recommend this book. It was my first Linwood Barclay and I will be looking for more.
- Lauren MahoneyReviewed in Canada on June 17, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Another Linwood Barclay Great read!
Another Linwood Barclay Great read! Twists and Turns Loved it!
- Lady DidoReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Another original storyline
This book is written in the style used nowadays by several authors; the chapters dodge from narrative written in the third person and focusing on various characters, to chapters written in the first person from the aspect of the main player, in this case Jack. Sounds complicated – and it does disrupt the narrative a bit – but it generally works. You get quite a broad grasp of the story as it unfolds whilst getting first-hand insight into the thoughts and feelings of the hero.
Linwood Barclay loves to get hold of a novel idea and work a complex plot around it. This time, the idea of witness protection has piqued his imagination. Can someone really disappear so completely into a new identity that they really can’t be found? He has taken this idea and woven it into an intriguing story – a story not without its flaws, but fascinating nevertheless.
Without giving the plot away, the denouement wasn’t a complete surprise – many readers would have been ahead of the plot. But it was very entertaining and ultimately satisfying.