Behind Clues and Letters: The Darkest Lie Book Review

Behind clues and letters: The Darkest Lie Book Review

“The mother I knew would never do those things.

But maybe I never knew her after all.”

Clothes, jokes, coded messages…Cecilia Brooks and her mom shared everything. At least, CeCe thought they did. Six months ago, her mom killed herself after accusations of having sex with a student, and CeCe’s been the subject of whispers and taunts ever since.

As she counsels troubled strangers, CeCe started to have suspicions about her mom’s death. With the help of Sam, a new student and newspaper intern, she starts to piece together fragmented clues that point to a twisted secret at the heart of her community. Soon, finding the truth isn’t just a matter of restoring her mother’s reputation, it’s about saving lives—including CeCe’s own…

Behind Clues and Letters: The Darkest Lie Book Review

Pintip Dunn, the author gave me a lot to think about when I had the advanced copy of this book for THE DARKEST LIE BLOG TOUR. Judging the title and the book cover actually gave me an inconclusive idea of what would be the plot of the story. I mean, a girl sitting and a dark title is quite intriguing, yes? When I started browsing, I felt that the attack on the scenes and how the words were written well fits young adult fiction audience.

The story started with a Prologue when Cece (the protagonist) and the rest of her family are in her mother’s wake. I felt it was a dark and heavy start for a suicide, death and wake for a story line. Sooner it became clear to me how the story would revolve with Cece and about her mother’s mysterious death. It has the archetypal young adult scenes of a girl being bullied and a girl who found a new company after she lost almost all of her friends.

Why I like the book

I don’t know if I am just slow on determining or getting a hint who is the antagonist but for me, this is a whodunit.  While reading, I was like Cece who suspects someone, determines he is not, and then jumped to another suspect.

This is definitely a page turner. No words can explain how I became so thrilled while reading the book. You will feel like being a detective resolving a case. The integration of coded messages, hidden clues and notes which Cece started to notice during her doubt about her mother’s suicide worked for me.

Cece is an amiable character who started off as a weak teenager hiding insider her shell and morphed to a strong woman. She risks her life to uncover the enigma with her mother’s death. She holds to the belief that it’s not just suicide. She’s a girl whose life got messed up after her most admired person has been accused of being involved to a shameful act.

The addition of Sam’s character, the school’s newbie gave this book light scenes especially with their slowly burning romance.

Overall, the characters and how Dunn managed to create a very intense plot kept me on reading and I believe for others too. There are characters to hate, feel compassionate to and characters to love. The twists lie even on the most unexpected parts of the novel.  The conflict happened in a fast paced manner that you will not choose to stop reading. Intense fusion of mystery and thrill with young adult contemporary well told story will definitely make the curiosity stick in you. Obviously, I will recommend reading this book.

The Author

When her first-grade teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, Pintip replied, “An author.” Although she has pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never wavered.

Pintip graduated from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL.

Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. She is a 2012 RWA Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 double-finalist.

She lives with her husband and children in Maryland.

The Darkest Lie

Published Date: June 28, 2016

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Free Delivery Worldwide

You can purchase the book here:

The Book Depository: http://goo.gl/d5A2r4

Amazon: https://goo.gl/vy716Y

Pintip Dunn: http://www.pintipdunn.com/