It’s almost 18 months since the lovely folk at Harper Collins sent me a proof of The Good Liars by Anita Frank and with the paperback release almost upon us, it’s high time I shared a full review. I am delighted to do so today.
Out in paperback on 24th October 2024 from HQ, The Good Liars is available for purchase in all formats through the links here.
Sadly, having chosen this fantastic book for my October The People’s Friend paperback bookshelf, a glitch in the new scheduling meant they forgot to include it! Such a shame as The Good Liars is one of my favourite reads this year and I’d have loved to promote it further.
The Good Liars
In the summer of 1914, a boy’s disappearance is overshadowed by looming war.
Six years later, Detective Sergeant Verity arrives at Darkacre Hall armed with new evidence regarding the boy’s case – evidence which throws the spotlight firmly upon the once-esteemed Stilwell family.
Darkacre’s grandeur has faded, and the Stilwells no longer command the respect they once took for granted. While brothers Maurice and Leonard carry the physical and mental scars of their war service, Maurice’s wife, Ida, longs for the lost days of privilege and parties.
As Verity digs deeper into the events of that final halcyon summer, he uncovers dark secrets with far-reaching consequences. And as he does so, Darkacre Hall becomes an unlikely battlefield – one that not all will survive.
My Review of The Good Liars
The inhabitants of Darkacre Hall have a new employee.
The Good Liars is blisteringly good. It has everything any reader might desire from complicated relationships, through murder and mystery to a hint of the supernatural. I absolutely loved it.
Anita Frank’s writing is fabulous. The immediacy of the continuous present tense, the naturalistic dialogue and the beautiful, stark and stunning descriptions that are so wonderfully evocative, all combine into a skilled, immersive and gripping story. Every sense is catered for and every emotion is engendered by the writing, from fear and apprehension to disdain and pity.
The plot itself is, in my opinion, perfect. The brittle Gatsby-esque feel of post First World War events, contrasting with the realistic depiction of war action, combined with a fast moving, creepy narrative makes The Good Liars totally riveting. It’s one of those stories that draws in the reader completely. Certainly I guessed some of the plot’s aspects, but that made no difference to my enjoyment or engagement. In fact, I was all the more enthralled in witnessing the skill of Anita Frank in crafting her story. The title too couldn’t be more fitting. Liars abound, but some are better at it than others and some are more forgivable than others so that this is a narrative that questions morality. It makes the reader think even as they are entertained.
The reduced numbers of characters provide an intensity and intimacy that allows readers to witness their progression, and indeed decline, over the course of the book as they are gradually revealed. Through them Anita Frank illustrates mature and affecting themes, obviously exploring truth, as the title suggests, but also delving into love, marriage, war, guilt, forgiveness, spirituality, retribution, family, friendship and loyalty. Plot, character and theme are masterfully woven into a captivating, fantastic read and these strands are difficult to separate for individual comment as they are so integral and captivating. I loathed Ida with a passion, pitied Leonard (and equally felt conflicted and patronising in doing so), was unsettled by Victor and was entirely discombobulated by Maurice, unsure whether to feel sorry for him, or to think his evident shell shock distress was befitting and deserved – this maelstrom of reaction was very unsettling. And this is the ultimate power of The Good Liars. Whilst enormously entertaining, it is also profoundly, emotionally intelligent, illustrating how goodness and truth might be far less definitive than we imagine.
I thought The Good Liars was a deliciously told tale of secrets, intrigue and truth. It’s perfect for reading next to a roaring fire and is one of my favourite novels this year. I could not have enjoyed it more. Not to be missed!
About Anita Frank
Born in Shropshire, Anita studied English and American History at the University of East Anglia. She now lives in Berkshire with her husband and three children.
For further information, follow Anita on Twitter/X @Ajes74 and Instagram.
English (US) · 