Publication Date: August 2, 2025
Cyber security expert, Ted McCord, has been fired. He risked everything in a game far beyond his control.
Charlotte McCord never understood her husband’s addiction to the trappings of corporate life – the titles, the money, the promise of visible success he sees as opposite his Montana upbringing. Ted uncovered an embezzlement scheme, did something unthinkable to gain a promotion, and hid his actions from his wife. Then the guilty co-conspirators turned the tables on him. Charlotte leaves, taking their daughter. As Ted works to clear his name, Charlotte leans on her friends. But one friend’s secret shocks Charlotte, upending everything she believes about Ted. Unsure who to trust, she jettisons from hurt and anger to the tempting promise of solace in the arms of a handsome River Rescue officer.
Stretching from Pittsburgh’s urban skyline to the beautiful ranch country of Montana, What Lies We Keep is a moving story of corporate ambition that shakes the very foundations of a marriage and asks: What happens when we embrace the life we think we should have rather than the life we have?
As a husband, Ted McCord has made one mistake too many, leading his wife to walk away. However, that mistake creates a ripple effect of destruction.
What Lies We Keep combines marital drama and cybersecurity for a fascinating psychological thriller by Janet Roberts. It’s an intriguing tale featuring embezzlement, betrayal, and forgiveness.
The main character has been so busy trying to construct a perfect future life that he overlooks the bounties of the present. Charlotte, meanwhile, seems to be waiting for a chance to leave with their daughter.
Conflict oozes throughout the story, which adds to the emotional turmoil. Unraveling the house of lies leads to startling revelations not only about the past, but also about long-term friendships. Add in Charlotte’s attraction to another man, and the possibility of reconciliation with Ted looks bleak.
What Lies We Keep delivers a cautionary tale about how far someone will go in order to succeed.
Janet Roberts writes character driven, contemporary fiction set wholly or partially in Western PA, where her roots run deep. Her readers know to expect a female character who awakens to the discovery of her own inner strength while facing adversity. Her award-winning novel What Lies We Keep (2024) combines cybersecurity with domestic suspense. It is the 2024 Winner of the Literary Titan Silver Award, Firebird Book Award, Pencraft Summer Awards for Literary Excellence -Suspense, and TAZ Award – Mystery; 2025 International Impact Book Awards – Contemporary Fiction/Realistic Fiction; and a 2024 Finalist for the American Writing Awards’ Hawthorne Prize, 2024 American Fiction Awards – Best New Fiction, and 2024 American Book Fest Best Book Awards – Best New Fiction. Her poetry has been published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and in San Fedele Press’ Art in the Time of COVID-19. A member of Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), Pennwriters, and Sisters in Crime, she’s a former global leader in cybersecurity education and awareness with over a decade of experience. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA, where Frick Park is her favorite place for a hike. She loves travel, wandering through bookstores in other countries, reading on her porch swing, and sharing a bottle of wine with friends.
Great review! Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Thank you, Amy, for the lovely 5-star review! It made my day 🙂 ~ Janet