The Lies They Tell

Gr 9 Up—Eighteen-year-old Pearl Haskins is one of the locals in Tenney's Harbor, ME, which is a popular summer destination for the wealthy. Tenney's Harbor is also known for the mysterious fire that swept through the Garrison mansion, taking the lives of four out of five family members. Pearl works at the local country club as a waitress, serving all of the upscale townspeople, while her father is a caregiver for different estates in town, including the infamous Garrison home. The town gossip now points to Pearl's father, who was on the estate the night the deadly fire happened. He is unable to get work because the summer crowd is now wary of his role in the suspicious fire, and Pearl needs answers. Tristan Garrison is the last surviving member of the Garrison family. Pearl is befriended by his friends and soon finds herself being invited to ritzy parties and events. She thinks these friendships could be a way to get some answers to her questions. What she begins uncovering was not was she expected; lies, deceit, and betrayal. This is a leisurely paced YA mystery. With intriguing characters and unexpected twists and turns, French keeps her readers guessing until the very end. Fans of E. Lockhart's We Were Liars and Allan Wolff's Who Killed Christopher Goodman?? should add this title to their must-read lists.