Review of "The Lie Maker: A Novel of Suspense" by Linwood Barclay

Novelist Jack Givins published two successful books but his agent, Harry Breedlove, says he can't place Jack's third book. Harry has another offer, though. SOMEONE wants to speak to Jack, and this person gave Harry a burner phone to pass on. Jack is to expect a call.

All this mystery intrigues the writer, so when a U.S. Marshall named Gwen phones, Jack agrees to meet her.



Gwen offers Jack a job writing 'fake backgrounds' for people in the witness protection program (called WITSEC). Jack's first assignment is to pen a history for a man called 'Bill.'



Jack insists on meeting Bill so he can write a believable background. With blindfolds and great secrecy, Jack is driven to a safe house to meet the witness. Once Jack gets a feel for Bill's interests and abilities, he does his best to create a credible biography.



All this is very hush hush, and Jack is forbidden to tell ANYONE about this writing job, even his girlfriend, journalist Lana Wilshire.



After penning Bill's false history, Jack confides to U.S. Marshall Gwen that his own father, Michael Donohue, was taken into the WITSEC program twenty-five years ago.



Michael Donohue was the muscle for a shady character named Galen Frohm, who owned a string of cheap motels. Frohm insisted on BIG kickbacks from linen suppliers and other vendors who serviced the motels, and if they protested, Frohm sent Michael to beat them up......or kill them if necessary. Thus Michael was a murderer who had ruined many lives.



When Galen Frohm's scheme came to light, Michael testified against the extortionist, after which Michael entered the WITSEC program. Jack's mother refused to accompany her criminal husband, and she and Jack - who was a heartbroken nine-year-old at the time - severed ties with Michael.



Now Jack would like to see his dad, and he asks Gwen if she can set it up. Gwen says she'll try, and then reports that - shockingly - Michael has disappeared. The WITSEC program has lost track of him. This is bad news all around, because - though Frohm died in prison - some of his people are still around, looking to kill Michael.



Meanwhile, Jack's journalist girlfriend Lana is pursuing two news stories. A judge who was walking his dog suddenly disappeared, as did a doctor on her way home from the hospital. Lana is very interested in both incidents, and she means to find out what happened.



Jack sets out to find his missing father; Lana sets out to investigate what happened to the judge and doctor; and after much intrigue, skullduggery, and danger, all the story threads come together.





Jack is too naïve, and some parts of the book stretch credulity. Still, the story kept my interest, and I'd recommend it to fans of thrillers.

Rating: 3.5 stars