Review: The Lying Game

Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Synopsis:
I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.

Ever since I first heard of this book, I wanted to read it. It has a cool name, a pretty cover, and an author who can write a complex, scary and interesting story. The Lying Game pretty much gave me all I expected.

The story is told from Sutton's perspective. Sutton's a ghost and she is weirdly connected to her long lost twin sister, Emma. Sutton can see Emma's thoughts, but she adds her own all of a sudden. It's like a POV within a POV. To be honest, I didn't like it. I'd fall into Emma's perspective and then all of a sudden, Sutton would make a comment and I would be reminded that there is an invisible girl there too. I don't see the point of having Sutton around yet, but since it's Sara Shepard, I expect there is one that pertains to the story.

Beside from that, I enjoyed the story. The murder plot is classic, but Shepard is able to make it original with the whole idea of the Lying Game. That's probably what I like the most- the game. Those girls are insane, but it leaves many plot lines open for exploring. Many interesting plot lines. It also gives motivation for Sutton's killer.

There are some memorable parts in this book, but it's exactly what I expected and it's good. I do wish the story was longer; I want to know more of what happens next, but this is a great intro to our characters (who are all interesting). It doesn't go too in depth about any of them though.

Overall, I think this is a start to a series that will probably get better as each book comes along. I'm not hooked, but this series has already roused my interest and I think it will be lots of fun to read.

3.5 stars

***& 1/2 *