Review: The Liar’s Room by Simon Lelic

Title: The Liar’s Room by Simon Lelic
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A new spine-tingling thriller from the author of The New Neighbors that takes place over the course of a therapy session, in which neither patient nor therapist are who they claim to be.

Two liars. One room. No way out.

Susanna Fenton has a secret. Fourteen years ago she left her identity behind, reinventing herself as a therapist and starting a new life. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe.

But when a young man, Adam Geraghty, walks into her office, claiming he needs Susanna’s help but asking unsettling questions, she begins to fear that her secret has been discovered.

Who is Adam, really? What does he intend to do to Susanna?

And what has he done to her daughter?

Review:

The Liar’s Room by Simon Lelic is a suspenseful mystery with a unique premise.

Susanna Fenton is a counselor with a secret past. Her newest client Adam Geraghty seems to be a little bit familiar to her but she cannot put her finger on why.  It also quickly becomes apparent he has some sort of agenda for booking his session with her. Susanna is shocked when he begins revealing details about her former life.  She is even more frightened it becomes clear that Adam also knows more than he should about her personal life in the present.  How does Adam know so much about Susanna? More importantly, what does Adam want from her and how can Susanna save herself and her daughter, Emily?

Following a  very public scandal and personal tragedy eighteen years ago, Susanna walked away from her old life and reinvented herself. She is friends with the dentist with whom she shares office space, but she does not share any information about herself.  Susanna does not dwell on what happened in the past, but Adam gives her no choice but to tell him about what happened eighteen years earlier.

The story unfolds over the course of a few hours and takes place in Susanna’s office. Susanna’s past is revealed through a series of flashbacks and letters. Emily’s diary entries in the present show how Adam insinuated himself into their life. Susanna is an unwilling participant in the drama taking place in her office, but her fears for Emily’s safety compel her comply with Adam’s demands.

Although a little slow paced, The Liar’s Room is a very compelling mystery.  Susanna’s fear and guilt are palpable as she tells Adam what he wants to know. Adam’s unpredictable reactions and overall behavior keep Susanna and readers on edge throughout the story. Although some of the plot twists are not a complete surprise, Simon Lelic brings the novel to a somewhat unexpected conclusion.  A clever mystery that I enjoyed and recommend to fans of the genre.