Redemption : A Review of Barbara Taylor Sissel’s Crooked Little Lies

When I received Crooked Little Lies as part of BookSparks University’s FRC2015 ‘courseload’ I was intrigued. Listed as ‘Manipulation Sciences’ in the Suspense Departent, Barbara Taylor Sissel’s newest novel features a suspense-filled story that does not disappoint. Thank you to BookSparks (and Lake Union Publishing) for giving me a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Lauren Wilder is recovering from a severe injury, as well as being one year sober. The pain pills are out of her system, but she has a lot of making up to do with her family and the community. When a local man named Bo is reported missing and Lauren is the last one to see him, community members (and even the police) start to look at Lauren. Despite this, she reaches out to Bo’s sister, Annie. As she begins to frame a friendship with Annie (and  get further from members of her family), Lauren starts finding pills stashed around her home, and begins to doubt herself.  She has to do some detective work on her own as Bo’s body is found; Lauren’s blackouts start matching up with mounting questions—and her husband, her sister and her two children are not the only ones she needs to prove herself to—Lauren must find out who killed Bo. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to solve the crime, even if it means Lauren is responsible for Bo’s death.

While this was my first Barbara Taylor Sissel novel, I had a lot of fun with the book. The writing was approachable, and the characters were well-developed. It felt very natural to be sympathetic and yet hard on Lauren due to her past struggles. It is never an easy thing to go through this—and Sissel’s writing perfectly captures what is is to be an ex addict, and how fine that line a person trying to redeem themselves has to walk.

While this book was full of good characters, Lauren was my favorite. The way she was written, it was easy to put myself in her seat, and wonder what I would do in her situation.

Crooked Little Lies is available in ebook, paperback and audio cd, from your favorite retailer. Pick it up today!
Thanks to BookSparks for including this in #FRC2015.