VBT# Two Truths, One Lie - Alex Sinclair
Have you ever played two truths and a lie at a dinner party? That innocent icebreaker game takes a sinister turn in Alex Sinclair's latest psychological thriller, and when I spotted this title, I couldn't resist. Having enjoyed one of Alex Sinclair's previous novels, I dove in with high expectations—though what I got was a solidly entertaining, if somewhat uneven, read.
The story centers on Maia and Brad, a couple still reeling from the devastating loss of their eldest child. They're finally ready to host their first dinner party since grief consumed their lives, joined by their youngest daughter Abby and a handful of friends. After a few drinks loosen everyone up, they decide to play the party game. When Brad's turn arrives, he casually drops a bombshell: one of his truths/lie is that he killed a man. While the other guests laugh nervously, Maia notices something chilling—her husband isn't joking.
This moment launches Maia down a rabbit hole of doubt and investigation. Who did Brad kill? Is this connected to their mysterious move from their small hometown? Sinclair effectively builds tension through Maia's perspective as she questions everything she thought she knew about her marriage and her husband's past.
The premise is genuinely intriguing, and Alex Sinclair deserves credit for taking a party game we've all played and weaponizing it into something genuinely unsettling. I found myself racing through chapters, desperate to uncover Brad's secret. The domestic suspense hits all the right notes initially, and the strained marriage dynamic feels authentic—particularly how grief has created distance between the couple.
However, I couldn't shake the feeling that this book needed to dig deeper. The death of their daughter felt oddly superficial given how central it is to their emotional landscape. Similarly, the revelation about "the man" Brad killed felt glossed over and anticlimactic. I wanted more weight, more consequence, more emotional complexity. Instead, the story stretched itself thin, dragging in places where it should have intensified.
This is what I'd call an average thriller—perfectly serviceable for a weekend read, but not one that will haunt you afterward. Alex Sinclair demonstrates solid craftsmanship, but the execution doesn't quite match the promise of that killer premise. If you're looking for a quick, twisty domestic thriller and don't mind some missed opportunities for depth, Two Truths, One Lie will satisfy. Just don't expect it to reach the heights of the genre's best.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IPIpKJ
Thank you so much for being a part of the adventure x 💛🖤
ReplyDelete