Tell Me Lies (Mass Market Paperback)

If you don't mind the idea of being able to cheat on your other half and morally get away with it because he cheated on you first, you will probably enjoy this book.

I for one don't agree with it so I have put this book back on my book shelf and will not read it again.

It has not put me off reading any other of her books, as I said before, they are FANTASTIC.

Tell Me Lies is the story of Maddie Faraday who, during the course of a clean-out of her husband, Brent's, car, finds a pair of black, crotchless underwear under the seat - and they are not hers! But that situation turns out to be the least of Maddie's problems - throw in an 8-year-old daughter who notices something awry with her parents, as well as two nosy neighbors, a best friend who has a big secret of her own, and gorgeous C.L. Sturgis, the boy who took her virginity 20 years before, back in town trying to get some answers. Oh, and then there's that pesky little murder that really sends Maddie over the edge....

This is a funny story about a marriage gone wrong in the middle of a small town that sees everything. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to finally reading the rest of my Jennifer Crusie collection. If you are looking for something light, yet page-turning, I suggest Tell Me Lies with two thumbs up - and that ain't no lie!

Maddie lives in Frog Point, Ohio, a very small town where everybody knows everybody's business, and the business of their neighbor's long dead ancestors to boot. Maddie, forever the good girl, has never given anyone anything but "nice" things to say about her, her daughter Emily, and her soon-to-be-in-divorce-court husband Brent. Not even her mother, nor her best friend since grammar school, know how unhappy she has been with her marriage to a man who is not often home, and disinterested when he is. She had threatened to leave him once before when he cheated on her, but this time she is positive - the marriage must end.

Then her old high school flame turns up at her door. Says he's looking for Brent. Maddie hasn't seen him for twenty plus years, and although she is distracted and upset, she still feels the chemistry radiating between them. Later, she confronts Brent with his infidelity. He becomes enraged and knocks her around - something he has never done in all their married life. He leaves, slams the door behind him, and Maddie never sees him again - alive! And Maddie is a prime suspect in the murder investigation.

This lighthearted romance, with a good mystery included, also deals with some serious issues - a youthful middle age woman's coming of age, among them. Ms. Crusie fills her novel with humor, terrific characters, and lots of good lovin'. Maddie's dilemmas just seem to grow in number, as she tries to prove her innocence, redefine her life and care for and protect her grieving daughter. Jennifer Crusie reminds me of a Midwestern, Susan Isaacs, who is from Long Island. Their ethnicity and 'regionality' notwithstanding, both women tackle humor, romance and mystery in a similar way - and both are terrific writers. This is a really good light read, with a twist - don't miss it!
JANA