Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger

Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger

Review by Lauren

source: copy for review; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: A weekend retreat in the woods and an innocent game of three truths and a lie go horribly wrong in this high-octane psychological thriller filled with romantic suspense by a Lambda Award–winning author.

Deep in the forest, four friends gather for a weekend of fun. 

Truth #1: Rob is thrilled about the weekend trip. It’s the perfect time for him to break out of his shell…to be the person he really, really wants to be. 

Truth #2: Liam, Rob’s boyfriend, is nothing short of perfect. He’s everything Rob could have wanted. They’re perfect together. Perfect. 

Truth #3: Mia has been Liam’s best friend for years…long before Rob came along. They get each other in a way Rob could never, will never, understand. 

Truth #4: Galen, Mia’s boyfriend, is sweet, handsome, and incredibly charming. He’s the definition of a Golden Boy…even with the secrets up his sleeve. 

One of these truths is a lie…and not everyone will live to find out which one it is.

Review: I've read almost all of Brent Hartinger's novels and this one is definitely a favorite of mine! First off, I'm excited that a book with prominent gay characters is being pushed so heavily by a major publisher. Times are changing, and to show we appreciate it, we have to buy these books. Order a copy, ask your library for a copy, tell people about the book.

Anyway, back to the actual story! This is told from Rob's point of view. He is staying in a cabin over the weekend with his boyfriend Liam, Liam's best friend Mia, and Mia's boyfriend Galen. It's supposed to be a nice time to hang out and get to know each other better. Unfortunately, things aren't that easy. First, there satellite phone goes missing and this is their only way to call for help if they need, since nobody's cell phone gets a signal. Then there's a mysterious fire, and on and on.

I was never sure what was happening. Is someone else staying in a cabin near them, playing tricks or is it something more deadly? What about the four people in the cabin? Can any of them be trusted? But why would they mess with their boyfriend/girlfriend/friend?

I would recommend just reading the book and getting lost in the story. Don't worry so much about the answers, because sometimes mysteries are better that way. You allow yourself to be taken by surprise and to enjoy the reveals. Of course, if you do want to read close and try and guess, be my guest! I hope the experience is still enjoyable for you!

Definitely another good read from Hartinger; it's perfect to read now if you don't like "spooky" stories in the fall, but you could always buy now and save for an October night too!