Publication Date: March 22, 2022
A tangled web of lies draws together three women in this explosive thriller of revenge, murder and shocking secrets
At an elite private school nestled in the Colorado mountains, Natalie, an office assistant, dreams of having a life like the school moms she deals with every day. Women like Brooke—a gorgeous heiress, ferociously loving mother and serial cheater—and Asha, an overprotective mom who suspects her husband of having an affair. Their fates are bound by the handsome assistant athletic director Nicholas, whom Natalie loves, Brooke wants and Asha needs.
But when two bodies are carried out of the school one morning, it seems the tension between mothers and daughters, rival lovers, and the haves and have-nots has shattered the surface of this isolated, affluent town—where people stop at nothing to get what they want.
When two people are carried out of Falcon Academy, which serves the children of elite families, people wonder if it’s an accident, aggravated assault, or a homicide. This premise sets the stage for The Lying Club, a thriller by Annie Ward.
The story flashes back six months and weaves the underpinnings by introducing Natalie Bellman, Asha Wilson, and Brooke Elliman. Both Wilson and Elliman have children enrolled at Falcon Academy, while Bellman is an administrative assistant. From there, it alternates from past to present, where the police are questioning Bellman as a possible suspect.
As the story develops, it becomes clear that all three women have been keeping secrets. Their characters are exquisitely detailed, with Brooke serving as the epitome of a rich, entitled mama. Their flaws are on display, whether it’s Natalie’s penchant for taking things that don’t belong to her or Asha’s mistrust of her husband. Ultimately, the three women are linked together by an incident, and they become what is suggested in the title.
It’s an explosive story filled with mothers who are so passionate about protecting their children they will do whatever it takes to enact revenge if necessary. The author adds several twists to ensure the plot isn’t given away too soon. In fact, I was so busy focusing on the soccer thread that I didn’t realize I had missed some red flags.
The Lying Club delves into those with privileged lifestyles and then adds disadvantaged Natalie into the mix. It’s a fascinating story with a whodunit twist—and readers don’t even know the identities of the two people being carried out until later in the story.
ANNIE WARD has a BA in English Literature from UCLA and a MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute. Her first short screenplay, Strange Habit, starring Adam Scott was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and the Grand Jury Award winner at the Aspen Film Festival. She has received a Fulbright Scholarship and An Escape to Create Artists residency. She lives in Kansas with her family.
