Books › The Lie Tree
The Lie Tree
377 pages
A shadowy historical mystery about a fiercely curious girl peeling back the polite veneer of society to expose the deadly secrets beneath.
What it feels like
This atmospheric historical mystery wraps the reader in a world of shadowy secrets and stifling societal rules. The narrative moves at a steady, suspenseful pace, driven by the intense curiosity of a protagonist who hides her sharp intellect behind the facade of a proper, unassuming young lady. The mood is tense and secretive, perfectly capturing the claustrophobia of rigid gender roles in historical Great Britain and the thrilling danger of stepping out of bounds. As the story unfolds, the emotional texture shifts from quiet frustration to the bold, subversive pursuit of truth amidst family scandal and murder. It is a deeply satisfying read for anyone who delights in watching a brilliant, underestimated young woman dismantle the lies of the adults around her.
- Mood
- mysterious
- tense
- shadowy
- curious
- Tone
- inquisitive
- secretive
- suspenseful
- subversive
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- hidden identities · gender roles and societal expectations · uncovering family secrets · the pursuit of knowledge · grief and scandal
- The writing
- Atmospheric and observant, capturing the tension between outward propriety and inward rebellion.
- The arc
- Moves from the stifling constraints of societal expectations to the thrilling, dangerous liberation of uncovering dark truths.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love historical mysteries driven by fiercely curious young women pushing back against the constraints of their time.
Content notes
- murder of a parent
- sexism and misogyny
- family scandal
About the book
Faith Sunderly leads a double life. To most people, she is reliable, dull, trustworthy a proper young lady who knows her place as inferior to men. But inside, Faith is full of questions and curiosity, and she cannot resist mysteries: an unattended envelope, an unlocked door. She knows secrets no one suspects her of knowing. She knows that her family moved to the close-knit island of Vane because her famous scientist father was fleeing a reputation-destroying scandal. And she knows, when her father is discovered dead shortly thereafter, that he was murdered.
Description from Open Library.
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