Children’s Fate is the fourth in Carolyn Hughes’ series about the village of Meonbridge. Readers new to the series – or those who need their memoriesChildren’s Fate is the fourth in Carolyn Hughes’ series about the village of Meonbridge. Readers new to the series – or those who need their memories jogged – need not worry because the author incorporates useful recaps on events in the first three books. Indeed, new readers may be surprised to learn that life in Meonbridge has not been without incident over the years.
As before, Children’s Fate explores the social and economic impacts of the Black Death on life. “Folk weren’t tied to manors any more, or to one master.” The focus of the story is very much on the women of the village, in particular Emma Ward and her daughter Bea. Life in Winchester brings opportunities for those prepared to grasp them but also temptations, as Emma and Bea will discover. Their return to Meonbridge coincides with the Midsummer celebrations which involve torchlit processions around the village ‘bone-fires’, music and dancing, feasting and ‘fire-leaping’ by the young men.
Building on historical fact, the year 1361 sees the return of the plague, presaged in the belief of many by a solar eclipse. For some, the resurgence of the pestilence is an Act of God, a sign of the Almighty’s displeasure at the prevalence of sin in their communities. The only defence is confession or the power of prayer. Luckily, we live in an age when science can provide us with facts about the method of transmission. Our 14th century forbears lacked such information although the instructions to ‘keep your families at home, avoid public places where you can’ and wear a face covering were strikingly familiar.
Faced with the indiscriminate nature of the pestilence and the loss of loved ones, it’s no surprise the people of Meonbridge search for answers as to why some live and others die and that some, fuelled by grief, despair and fear, look for scapegoats. As is often the case, suspicion falls on outsiders and those who have recently returned to the village. leading to some dramatic scenes. The book’s conclusion sees happy endings for some and, for others, their just desserts.
Looking back at my reviews of the three previous books in the series – Fortune’s Wheel, A Woman’s Lot and De Bohun’s Destiny – I see a frequent comment is how the detailed depiction of daily life gives the books a real sense of authenticity. This latest book is no exception. In Children’s Fate you don’t so much read about the folk of Meonbridge as dwell amongst them for a few precious hours.
Merged review:
Children’s Fate is the fourth in Carolyn Hughes’ series about the village of Meonbridge. Readers new to the series – or those who need their memories jogged – need not worry because the author incorporates useful recaps on events in the first three books. Indeed, new readers may be surprised to learn that life in Meonbridge has not been without incident over the years.
As before, Children’s Fate explores the social and economic impacts of the Black Death on life. “Folk weren’t tied to manors any more, or to one master.” The focus of the story is very much on the women of the village, in particular Emma Ward and her daughter Bea. Life in Winchester brings opportunities for those prepared to grasp them but also temptations, as Emma and Bea will discover. Their return to Meonbridge coincides with the Midsummer celebrations which involve torchlit processions around the village ‘bone-fires’, music and dancing, feasting and ‘fire-leaping’ by the young men.
Building on historical fact, the year 1361 sees the return of the plague, presaged in the belief of many by a solar eclipse. For some, the resurgence of the pestilence is an Act of God, a sign of the Almighty’s displeasure at the prevalence of sin in their communities. The only defence is confession or the power of prayer. Luckily, we live in an age when science can provide us with facts about the method of transmission. Our 14th century forbears lacked such information although the instructions to ‘keep your families at home, avoid public places where you can’ and wear a face covering were strikingly familiar.
Faced with the indiscriminate nature of the pestilence and the loss of loved ones, it’s no surprise the people of Meonbridge search for answers as to why some live and others die and that some, fuelled by grief, despair and fear, look for scapegoats. As is often the case, suspicion falls on outsiders and those who have recently returned to the village. leading to some dramatic scenes. The book’s conclusion sees happy endings for some and, for others, their just desserts.
Looking back at my reviews of the three previous books in the series – Fortune’s Wheel, A Woman’s Lot and De Bohun’s Destiny – I see a frequent comment is how the detailed depiction of daily life gives the books a real sense of authenticity. This latest book is no exception. In Children’s Fate you don’t so much read about the folk of Meonbridge as dwell amongst them for a few precious hours....more
I’ve become a great fan of this series set in late Elizabethan London. I’ve read the first four books in the series – The Angel’s Mark, The Serpent’s I’ve become a great fan of this series set in late Elizabethan London. I’ve read the first four books in the series – The Angel’s Mark, The Serpent’s Mark, The Saracen’s Mark and The Heretic’s Mark – but, strangely enough, not this book’s predecessor, The Rebel’s Mark, despite having a copy on my bookshelf. Unfortunately, by the time I realised, I didn’t have time to go back and read that before reading this latest instalment. But I definitely will. Although The Sinner’s Mark can be read as a standalone reading the series from the beginning will allow you to witness the progress of the relationship between physician and reluctant spy, Nicholas Shelby, and Bianca Merton, owner of the Jackdaw tavern. Also making a return appearance from previous books are Rose and Ned Monckton, now charged with overseeing the Jackdaw whilst Bianca pursues her apothecary business.
More significant is the arrival of a figure from Nicholas’s past, a strange and rather macabre individual who appears to want simply to renew their friendship but whom Bianca instinctively suspects may not be exactly what he seems. It creates an unaccustomed tension in Nicholas and Bianca’s relationship. What I particularly like is the way Nicholas’s and Bianca’s previous experiences have informed the development of their characters over the course of the series. Bianca retains the quick-wittedness gained from the adventures of her youth. However, her eagerness to see the wicked brought to justice means she sometimes places herself in risky situations. She is fiercely protective of Nicholas, conscious that his inability to save loved ones many years before has left him with feelings of guilt and a desire to make amends. Bianca warns, ‘Be careful, Nicholas. There’s nothing wrong with compassion, provided it doesn’t leave you blind to danger’.
Once again, the backdrop to the story is the turbulent period towards the end of Elizabeth I’s reign. As Robert Cecil warns, ‘There is a cold current running beneath the surface of this realm, Nicholas… a current I don’t much care for. People have come to the realization that the queen cannot live for ever. They can smell change coming. And change can be fertile ground for trouble’. Ah, yes, Robert Cecil. As I’ve noted in previous reviews, no historical mystery set in the reign of Elizabeth I would be complete without a member of the Cecil family. Having thought he’d successfully extricated himself from Cecil’s spy network, Nicholas finds himself having to call on Cecil’s help when his father is arrested for possessing a seditious tract. Owing Cecil a favour is a distinctly uncomfortable position to be in and it results in Nicholas being unwillingly drawn into investigating a plot that aims to create mayhem.
One of the things I’ve loved about the previous books is the way the author conjures up the sights, sounds and smells of Elizabethan London and he does it again here, this time adding a theatrical flourish with a famous playwright being amongst the actual historical figures to feature in the book.
Ending with fireworks, The Sinner’s Mark is a thrilling addition to a wonderful series. If you’re a fan of historical mysteries and haven’t discovered the series yet, then you’re in for a treat....more
The Emperor's Shield is the ninth book in the Legionary series featuring Roman soldier, Pavo. It's only the second book in the series I've read - the The Emperor's Shield is the ninth book in the Legionary series featuring Roman soldier, Pavo. It's only the second book in the series I've read - the other was number seven, The Blood Road - although I've also read two books in the Rise of Emperors series co-written with Simon Turney.
As the book opens, Pavo has swapped the military life for that of a farmer - or, at least, that's what he thinks.
The Roman Empire is divided and in turmoil, well on the path to its eventual decline and fall, with the bonds that held its disparate parts together weakening and enemies beyond its borders a growing threat. Add the machinations of those hungry for power within the Empire and you have a time bomb waiting to explode.
It's no surprise that Pavo's military experience and strategic nous sees him receiving a recall to the service of Emperor Theodosius. It's a recall he initially refuses until the repercussions of the turmoil in the Empire come frighteningly close to home. 'F**k Rome and its fat aristocrats and magnates. All that matters to me is my family... They are my empire.'
Reading the author's note one realises just how skilfully he has conjured an exciting story out of historical fact, adding fictional characters such as the secretive Frugilo, Pavo's faithful friend, Sura, and, of course, Pavo himself.
Once again, Pavo lives up to his reputation as a formidable fighter, an inspired tactician and a loyal comrade. But you can't see and do the things Pavo has without it having an impact. As he confides, 'In my sleep, I see the ones who have fallen. So many, too many'. But is the scene that haunts his dreams over and over again, a memory of his past or a vision of the future?
The Emperor's Shield is historical fiction with something for everyone. There are intense, bloody and bone-crunching battle scenes, including some brilliant set pieces such as the storming of a seemingly impregnable fortress. There is detail of Roman army structure, weaponry and military strategy that oozes authenticity. (A helpful glossary is provided for those who don't know their hexareme from their liburnian.) And an element of mystery is introduced by means of a man known only as Peregrinus, whom we know is a wily and ruthless traitor at the very heart of Theodosius' inner circle, but whose identity remains a secret. His mission is to create havoc, something he does very successfully with others paying the price of his deadly game.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Emperor's Shield. The author reveals the next book will be the last in the series. What does the future hold for Pavo? I'd like to hope it involves a peaceful life alongside his wife and son - after some more exciting adventures of course....more
In the Shadows of Castles is the follow-up to 1066: What Fates Impose which I read back in 2018. We probably all know that King Harold was defeated bIn the Shadows of Castles is the follow-up to 1066: What Fates Impose which I read back in 2018. We probably all know that King Harold was defeated by Duke William of Normandy (aka William the Conqueror) at the Battle of Hastings, but what happened after that? You might assume that having won that battle and claimed the crown of England (his coronation having taken place in Westminster Abbey where King Charles III will be crowned on 6th May 2023) William was in full control of the country. Think again, because England was far from subdued, as the book demonstrates. Many English nobles were unwilling to accept William as their king and were engaged in trying to form alliances that would enable them to defeat the conquerors or, at the very least, confine them to small areas of the realm. They were also outraged by the Normans’ savagery towards the population: the seizure by force of land, the destruction of property, summary executions, rape and murder.
Alongside detailed accounts of events in the turbulent years following the Battle of Hastings and the actions of key historical figures, the author cleverly introduces a group of fictional characters to personalise what might otherwise have become a litany of military skirmishes and political intrigue. (To help keep track of everyone, the book has a dramatis personae – helpfully divided into English and Norman characters – and a useful map.) Much my favourite part of the book was following the fortunes of four fictional characters: Bondi, a housecarl to King Harold; Whitgar, a thane (minor noble); and sisters, Morwenna and Elfwyn. I liked seeing how their individual stories converged and how, together, they overcome adversity in its many different guises. I must admit to a particular fondness for Bondi (who features in the book’s opening chapter) and for the feisty Morwenna. In fact, there are a surprising number of women in positions of power, such as William’s wife, Matilda who acted as regent of the duchy of Normandy for a time – between bearing him ten children.
The author’s enthusiasm for this period of history is evident and if you like your historical fiction packed with detail you won’t be disappointed. But there are also some exciting scenes, including a perilous journey through the snow and a dramatic escape by ship. And the closing chapter of the book suggests we may not yet have reached the end of the story.
William I left a physical legacy in the form of the many castles he built up and down the country, such as in Durham and York. And of course, we also have the Bayeux Tapestry which depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. A late 19th century replica of the tapestry is on display in Reading Museum (my home town)....more
When I read Helen Cullen’s debut novel The Lost Letters of William Woolf back in 2018 I commented that the real achievement of the book was the way shWhen I read Helen Cullen’s debut novel The Lost Letters of William Woolf back in 2018 I commented that the real achievement of the book was the way she explored the dynamics of the relationship between William and his wife, Clare. It was a portrait of a marriage that had gone slightly astray because they had lost the ability to communicate openly and honestly about their feelings, hopes and ambitions.
The author repeats that feat – in fact, with even greater skill – in The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually. The book depicts the relationship between Maeve and Murtagh and, in particular, Maeve’s struggles with being the sort of mother to her four children she would like to be. In fact, to be the sort of person she would like to be.
Following the tragic events of the opening chapter, the reader is taken back in time to witness Maeve and Murtagh’s first meeting and the blossoming of their relationship. It’s not hard to understand what attracts Murtagh to the beautiful, spirited but mercurial Maeve, a budding actor. In reality though Maeve’s life is something of a performance. As she observes, ‘Here people see the theatre student, the vinyl collector, the poet, Murtagh’s girlfriend, the American, the actress; so many different things, and none of them are the sick girl, or the other far worse things we know some folks called me’.
When Murtagh is given the opportunity to pursue his career as a potter on Inis Óg, a small island off the coast of Galway in Ireland, it means Maeve giving up her own aspirations. It’s just one of the things that creates the first small fissures in Maeve’s mental state. Those fissures will gradually expand until the whole edifice comes crashing down. As the book progresses, we witness heartbreaking moments such as Maeve recording in her journal her ‘good’ days and ‘bad’ days and finding the second have become more numerous than the first. She worries about the impact the days when despair overwhelms her is having on her children, and on Murtagh in particular. ‘Murtagh is so loyal, he would never leave me. He would endure the challenge of living with me and my moods and my difficulties until the end of time if I let him.’
It leads her to take a decision born out of love but which won’t appear that way to her family. Just the opposite in fact. It’s only years later that some kind of understanding dawns, bringing together a family which has become fractured, resentful and distant from one another. I absolutely fell in love with Murtagh who is the most wonderful character. I felt I shared with him every moment of joy, every moment of grief and silently cheered when he reflected, ‘There was room in his life for one more dream, maybe.’
If this is making it sound like a story of interminable sadness, I can reassure you it is not. There are moments of humour too and the book ends on the most wonderfully uplifting note. I’m not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears at some of the sadder moments but also got slightly misty-eyed at the end. I thought The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually was wonderful and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it....more
The Capsarius introduced the reader to Titus Cervianus, a combat medic in the Imperial Roman Army, although of course the army was made up of many difThe Capsarius introduced the reader to Titus Cervianus, a combat medic in the Imperial Roman Army, although of course the army was made up of many different nationalities from provinces conquered by the Roman Empire. Cervianus himself is from Galatia, part of modern day Turkey.
Bellatrix sees the return of a number of characters from the first book, including the seemingly indestructible centurion, Draco, and Cervianus’s friend, the irrepressible Ulyxes. Ulyxes is a great character. ‘The man moved through the world like a trireme, making large waves and leaving a wake that rocked and undulated and turned lives upside down.’ Ulyxes’ remarkable memory makes him unbeatable when it comes to games of chance and proves important at critical moments in the story.
One of the standout sections of the book for me was the description of the Twenty Second Legion’s punishing and dangerous trek through the desert, blisteringly hot during the day and bitterly cold at night. ‘The mounds of grey and brown began to blend into one another as the hours wore on, dust causing the men to gag, weariness and uneven ground leading to stumbles and falls, each one rewarded with a jab from an officer’s vine staff and a lash from his tongue.’ I was amazed by the distances Roman legions were expected to march – over twenty miles in a day – carrying their kit and supplies with them.
It soon becomes apparent that Rome has seriously underestimated the Kushites both in terms of their military capability and their sense of purpose. The legion’s overstretched supply lines and reliance on native scouts whose loyalties are suspect make them vulnerable, with disastrous results. We all know war is a nasty business but, as we learn in the book, both the Romans and the Kushites had particularly gruesome ways of dealing with those they defeated or conquered. Indeed, those who are squeamish may want to skip over a few of the scenes.
Cervianus and his fellow legionaries find themselves in one precarious situation after another. At one point, low on food, weapons and manpower, and facing the prospect of an attack by a vast horde of bloodthirsty Kushites, one of his comrades succinctly sums up their position. ‘We couldn’t fight off a drunk Syrian catamite with the shits.’ A useful phrase next time you find yourself up against the odds.
I love the way the character of Cervianus has developed through the two books. From being a self-confessed loner when we first meet him, shunned by the rest of his contubernium, he has developed some firm friendships – notably with Ulyxes – and earned the respect of both his peers and senior officers not just for his medical skills but for his intuition and his courage in battle. His fixedly rational perspective on life, so prominent in the first book, has become more nuanced. Absorbing the culture and religious beliefs of the areas he has travelled through has made Cervianus begin to believe there is a guiding hand determining his future path in life, that there is something he is meant to do or to prevent from happening. After all, why else allow him to survive so many precarious situations? It’s also given him a valuable insight into what motivates the deadly opponents the Twenty Second face.
History records the outcome of the conflict between Rome and Kush, and the author himself describes The Capsarius and Bellatrix as a duology. So does Cervianus’ story end here? The author teases the reader with a tantalising possibility.
Bellatrix is another completely immersive journey back in time for fans of action-packed, richly detailed and fast-paced historical fiction....more
I enjoyed Helga Flatland’s previous book, A Modern Family, for its perceptive examination of the impact on the various members of one family of an uneI enjoyed Helga Flatland’s previous book, A Modern Family, for its perceptive examination of the impact on the various members of one family of an unexpected announcement. The author returns to similar territory in this book using Anne’s cancer diagnosis as the starting point for an insightful exploration of how this affects her relationships with her daughter, Sigrid, her granddaughter, Mia, and other members of her family.
In fact, the strained relationships in the family go well beyond Anne. For example, Sigrid and her daughter Mia find it difficult to communicate, principally because of the breakdown many years before of Sigrid’s relationship with Mia’s biological father, Jens. Sigrid’s relationship with her current partner, Aslak, with whom she has a young son, is also showing signs of strain.
Having praised the author’s ‘spare, precise prose’ in my review of A Modern Family, I was surprised to find the writing style quite different in this book. I confess some of the long sentences made up of multiple clauses separated by commas left me craving a full stop or semi-colon. I can only assume this was a deliberate style choice by the author intended to convey the undisciplined nature of the thoughts running through the minds of the main characters. Although it did affect my reading experience a little, it didn’t prevent me being drawn into the story which unfolds in chapters alternating between the points of view of Anne and Sigrid.
A particularly touching element of the book is Anne’s relationship with her husband Gustav, incapacitated following a series of strokes, the first of which occurred when Sigrid was young. Gustav is now in a nursing home needing round the clock care. It was also interesting to see Anne reflect on the way her diagnosis has changed her role within the family. It seems to her a curious role reversal that Sigrid and Magnus (Anne’s son) are now organizing between themselves who will look after her following her operation and treatment.
The fact that Sigrid is a doctor (a General Practitioner) provides another fascinating angle to the story. Being more aware than most of the likely outcome of her mother’s illness only seems to increase Sigrid’s sense of powerlessness. At the same time, it brings to the surface memories of her childhood when her mother’s attention was on her father not her. Whether justified or not, the forgotten birthdays, unprepared packed lunches and unlaundered school uniforms have left Sigrid with a lifelong feeling of abandonment, betrayal even. This is possibly why Sigrid invests so much of her professional time in one of her patients, a troubled young woman named Frida.
As her illness progresses, Anne’s focus becomes all about leaving behind good memories for others, things that will make her family remember her with affection. It’s partly this that provokes the trip to France, a place Anne had always planned to visit with Gustav, although I didn’t find it quite the pivotal event the blurb suggests.
One Last Time explores the unexpected events that can bring chaos and confusion to a family, exposing pre-existing strains but also potentially providing the opportunity for the healing of old wounds. It’s a powerful and emotional story told with a deft touch....more
Winner of the Costa First Novel Award in 2020, Love After Love is the touching story of two rather lonely souls – Betty Ramdin and Mr Chetan, and BettWinner of the Costa First Novel Award in 2020, Love After Love is the touching story of two rather lonely souls – Betty Ramdin and Mr Chetan, and Betty’s son Solo. Betty is a widow who experienced violence during her marriage. Solo feels the absence of a father and is withdrawn and friendless. Mr Chetan has secrets of his own and longs to be part of family. Through mutual affection and laughter, the three of them form a happy household unit. As Mr Chetan observes, ‘People have all kind of families’. Unfortunately their amiable arrangement doesn’t last and Betty finds herself estranged from her son.
Over the course of several years, events in the lives of Betty, Solo and Mr Chetan encompass topics such as the plight of undocumented migrants in the United States, racial and sexual discrimination, and mental illness. The book explores whether a terrible act, even if carried out in order to protect another, can ever be forgiven and whether bonds which seem broken irrevocably can ever be mended.
The three characters are so well-drawn that it’s impossible not to feel both sympathy for – and, at times, frustration with – each of them as they face their different personal struggles, their disappointments and their shattered dreams. I found Mr Chetan’s story particularly affecting. I’ll admit to shedding tears at one point and silently begging the author, ‘No, you can’t do that!’ As Betty reflects, ‘We are forever getting more than we can bear. Always’.
Although it took me a while to adjust to the use of patois and the rhythm of the prose, it really brought the story alive and I enjoyed being introduced to Trinidadian idioms such as ‘I don’t want to put goat mouth on it’, ‘Every bread has its cheese’ or ‘Monkey know which tree to climb’. (Sorry, you’ll have to look them up if you can’t work them out for yourself!) I also loved learning about the food, customs and culture of Trinidad.
At times heart-warming and at others heart-breaking, I absolutely adored Love After Love and I can understand why it has garnered so much praise from readers....more
The Borrowed Boy alternates between the stories of two women whose paths cross by chance because of one small Polish boy, four year old Danek.
Angie WiThe Borrowed Boy alternates between the stories of two women whose paths cross by chance because of one small Polish boy, four year old Danek.
Angie Winkle dreams of nothing more than making what she fears may be her final visit to the seaside town of Jaywick Sands. It holds happy childhood memories of staying in the chalet of her best friend’s grandparents. Angie recalls a time of simple pleasures: building sandcastles, picnics on the beach, ice cream and toffee apples.
When the chance arises to share the experience with Danek (or Danny, as she calls him) she convinces herself it is a gift of fate. “There was no such thing as coincidence. The universe had heard her heartfelt plea and given her this chance.” She eagerly grasps the opportunity to taste the life she might have had if she’d become a mother or grandmother. It’s fair to say she’s a natural at it and the relationship that develops between Danny and Angie is heartfelt and touching. It gives Angie a chance to erase dark moments in her life and to distract her from what she fears lies ahead.
Nikoleta’s dream is of a new life in London with boyfriend Kamil and young Danek. But that dream has rapidly turned into a nightmare. She finds Kamil’s refusal to involve the police in the search for Danek and instead use his own network of contacts both frustrating and perplexing. Her trusting nature and naivety makes her ignore the many warning signs that everything is not what it seems.
Initially, Angie is disappointed to find Jaywick Sands rather faded and rundown, not the lovely place she remembers. However, as she and Danny discover, the residents of Jaywick Sands are much more community minded and welcoming than they at first appear. That’s just as well when the story moves in an entirely different and unexpected direction. As certain individuals will find out, “Outsiders didn’t stand a chance when Jaywick came together to protect their own.”
The Borrowed Boy is a touching story about facing up to the future and finding friendship where you least expect it. “Sometimes when you think that you are at the end of a road and have no place to go, a new way opens up to you.”...more
The author is clearly fond of similes; in fact, so fond that waiting for them at the end of a sentence became somewhat distracting at times. DependingThe author is clearly fond of similes; in fact, so fond that waiting for them at the end of a sentence became somewhat distracting at times. Depending on your point of view, the examples that follow are imaginative, laboured or simply perplexing.
‘She shrank like a caterpillar on its back’ ‘Nofar’s guilt, like a Persian cat, rubbed her legs fleetingly, sat for a brief moment on her lap, then moved onward.’ ‘Smiles have a way of catching a person’s eye, like a red balloon gliding in the sky and drawing the glances of people below.’ ‘Her thoughts, like pizza-delivery boys on their motorcycles, reached the most remote streets.’ ‘Love is a very delicate thing, the truth can trample it like a hippopotamus running wild.’ ‘The words were like a can of petrol thrown on the small ball of fire in her stomach.’ ‘Her face was red and swollen, but to Lavi she looked like a wonderful grapefruit.’
I wasn’t entirely convinced by the introduction of a secondary storyline and a new character, Raymonde, in part two of the book. Although consistent with the theme of the book – that lies take on a life of their own and are difficult to take back – I struggled with the nature and context of her deception. It was more deliberate and studied than Nofar’s spur-of-the-moment outburst. I suppose it could be argued that, in sharing the stories of her dead friend, Raymonde was at least ensuring they would be heard.
I also found it hard to identify with the characters in the book or become engaged in the central relationship between Nofar and Lavi, which seemed a little on the creepy side to me. Although never stated, the book is set in Tel Aviv but I didn’t get a particularly strong sense of place; much of the action is confined to Nofar’s family’s apartment or the dingy alley beside the ice cream parlour where she works. The exception was a night time scene in which Nofar looks out over the city from the roof of the family’s apartment.
I felt the novel worked best as an exploration of lies and their consequences. Pretty much all the characters in the book lie in one way or another. Some are motivated by a desire for attention or sympathy, others to show off or to make believe they’re living a different, more exciting life. Their lies range from the ‘white lie’ to out-and-out deceit or, as in Nofar’s case, to false accusation. The book also demonstrates the way lies can take on a life of their own, make the teller vulnerable to manipulation and unwittingly compromise the integrity of others....more
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