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Friday, June 7, 2019

Book Review - Living Lies by Natalie Walters

Book Synopsis

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret.

At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.


My Review
Living Lies is a mystery set in small town Georgia.  Lane Kent is a young widow;  she returns to her hometown with her young son.  She runs a diner, deals with family politics (literally - her father is running for office), and struggles with depression.  When she finds the dead body of a girl in the woods, she becomes involved in a mystery that brings her into close contact with deputy Charlie Lynch, who is also new to town.  They work together to solve the mystery before more lives are lost.

I wanted to read this novel because I enjoy mysteries, and I was curious about the small town Georgia setting.  I am from Georgia and tried to place the fictional town from clues in the story.  I wonder if the author was inspired by Richmond Hill, Georgia, because of several references in the novel - the Ogeechee River, Ways Station, a little Henry Ford history.

This was a real stay-up-late read for me.  I read it in record time because I really wanted to know what happened in the mystery.  This book has elements of both a traditional mystery and a romantic suspense novel.   I felt the author did an especially good job of blending these two genres.

Lane was a strong protagonist, especially as she is seen moving through her own stuggles with depression and the difficulties of being a young widow.  She pushes through to really try to help others, not just by solving the mystery, but also helping an older veteran friend who is dealing with PTSD.  I really liked the relationship between Lane and Charlie, which began slowly as friendship and evolved into a romance as they worked together.

The small town atmosphere was especially appealing and well done.  I loved the way the author evoked a sense of place with descriptions.   

There was even a cute, sometimes naughty, little terrier dog (Charlie's dog Bane) in the book!

I recommend Living Lies for readers who enjoy traditional mysteries, romantic suspense, and small town settings.  I look forward to reading future mysteries by this author.


Author Bio
Natalie Walters is a military wife who currently resides in Hawaii with her soldier husband and their three kids. She writes full-time and has been published in Proverbs 31 magazine and has blogged for Guideposts online. Natalie comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is passionate about supporting them through volunteer work, races, and writing stories that affirm no one is defined by their past.

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