Synopsis:
All three women who live at 1054 Mockingbird Lane have secrets . . . and with a body at the bottom of the apartment building’s staircase, their secrets need to stay buried.
Sylvia Webb has a plan. And a potential Mr. Right. He’s sweet, simple, and dependably clueless about what she’s really up to. The only thing unpredictable about him is his needy ex-girlfriend, who is close to shattering Sylvia’s dreams. But Sylvia’s not going to let that happen.
Riki McFarlan has a successful career and her amazing boyfriend is ready to settle down. Which would be great if she didn’t have feelings for her neighbor . . . who is also her close friend’s husband. With everything going so well, why is Riki flirting with something so wrong and . . . dangerous?
Embry Taylor is devoted to her children and husband, a bartender by night and aspiring actor by day. She is his biggest fan. But his career not taking off and tensions are high. Even sweet Embry has a secret she’s desperate to keep hidden.
Lies, secrets, and revenge.
With three neighbors for whom the stakes are so high, someone is headed for a downfall.
Review:
Author Stacy Wise previously penned Maybe Someone Like You and Beyond the Stars. Before turning to writing full-time, the California native spent a decade working in television casting on shows including Party of Five, The X Files, and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. The UCLA graduate then obtained a teaching credential and masters degree from Chapman University, and taught kindergarten and third grade. Wise relates that as a child, she was “pretty obsessed with reading, but I didn’t fully understand that books were written by actual people, if that makes sense. Authors didn’t fit into my world view — they were bigger than life — so the possibility of becoming a writer never entered my mind.” Even though by third grade, she loved writing (her teacher told her mother she was a good writer), she didn’t pursue writing as a career until her youngest of four children was in preschool. She thought, “Why not? No one will read it, so I have nothing to worry about.” As luck would have it, she met two other local women with children. The three of them formed a critique group and researched how to draft query letters in search of literary agents, and Wise landed the agent who was her first choice. “Looking back, I can say that it took so long to pursue writing because I was scared of failure. But after years of wanting to try, I finally was able to walk into writing with the mindset of a little kid who isn’t worried about the outcome — it was just fun. . . . I think the message is to follow your bliss.”
Remember, if at first you don’t succeed, lie, lie again.
Wise says the inspiration for Lie, Lie Again was the duality of female friendships. “They can be amazingly supportive, but there can also be relationships that have a toxic edge to them. I wanted to explore why people do certain things and feel justified in doing them while others would be horrified by their actions.” She aptly describes the book as “dramatic, fun, twisty, fast-paced, and emotional.”
The story is related via an alternating third-person narrative from the point of view of Wise’s three main characters. Sylvia knows betrayal all-too-well and it has left her bitter and bent on revenge. She is a fascinating character — vengeful, cunning, and yet surprisingly sympathetic. When she realizes that she has been played in a most cruel manner and will have to navigate the consequences on her own, she engineers a campaign designed to secure retribution. She rationalizes her actions by telling herself that she is entitled to wreak havoc in his life because he “should’ve known that playing with someone’s emotions like that was dangerous. But alas, it was a risk he’d chosen to take. He’d started this game, but she would finish it.” Of Wise’s three lead female characters, Sylvia is the most fully developed and complex. Wise gradually reveals the events in Sylvia’s lives that have formed her character. “Revenge had always been a close friend, but now it had become her, encompassing her entire being, . . .” because she is determined that no one will ever break her again.
Embry came to southern California four years ago with her handsome, charming husband, Brandon, so he could pursue an acting career. She’s sweet-natured, and struggling to be perfect and not complain as she supports his dream. She’s somewhat naive but definitely not a fool, and her suspicions are aroused by Riki’s behavior and her observations of the way Riki and Brandon interact. Still, she knows Brandon loves her and would never cheat on her with another woman . . . doesn’t she? He spends a lot of time attending acting classes and works as a bartender when not auditioning for roles he has failed to land. She spends a great deal of time alone caring for their adorable three-year-old daughter, Kylie, and seven-month-old Carson. She just can’t imagine how she will handle a development that will soon complicate their already tenuous lives.
Riki is a teacher and, in addition to being Embry and Brandon’s neighbor, a good friend. She has been in relationships that did not work out, but has dared to trying dating again with Chris. Riki has no desire to ever hurt Embry, but her growing feelings for Brandon are making it increasingly difficult to manage her relationship with the couple, and she finds herself comparing Chris to him. But is it really Brandon that she wants? Or does she just want someone to love her?
Wise focuses on the lives of Sylvia, Embry, and Riki, including the prospect of the apartment building being sold and the land it sits on repurposed which would require all of them to move. And further complicates matters when a body is discovered at the bottom of the apartment building’s stairs, a victim of a broken stair step. But was it murder?
Lie, Lie Again is a fast-paced and engrossing tale that defies categorization in one specific genre. The tale is replete with domestic and relationship drama, but imbued with aspects of psychological thrillers, especially concerning Sylvia and her behavior. Wise deftly explores the women’s complicated friendships, illustrating how different reality often is from the way others’ lives appear to casual onlookers. While the lives of Sylvai, Embry, and Riki appear perfectly normal and even mundane, they are, in reality, fraught with conflict, tension, and, in Sylvia’s case, an unquenchable thirst for vengeance.
Lie, Lie Again is deliciously entertaining with a surprising and satisfying conclusion.
Excerpt from Lie, Lie Again
Chapter One
Before
Sunday, March 5
The world news section of the Sunday paper was spread across Hugh’s otherwise pristine kitchen table. Sylvia dutifully skimmed the headlines. Casualties! Crisis! Corruption! Why couldn’t they report good news? It seemed that paper sales would go up if they splashed uplifting headlines across the front page. She sipped her coffee and enjoyed the bittersweet tang of the powdered creamer she’d added. Hugh had introduced her to the chemical concoction. She’d initially mocked it, but now she was obsessed. Too much was probably deadly. She laughed to herself. The dreary news was clearly taking a toll. Doom and gloom. As much as she enjoyed her Sunday mornings with Hugh, she could do without the newspaper bit. But he loved his old-fashioned ritual, the familiar smell, and his eventual inky fingers. Trendy frameless glasses were perched on the tip of his nose, his half of the paper in a tight fold. Such a serious man. She liked that she had the power to make him smile.
He was absolutely perfect in an everyday-man sort of way. It was one of the things that made him so desirable. Would he be insulted by the everyday-man comment if she were to say it aloud? Words were funny. It was all too easy to misinterpret things when you weren’t privy to the vast array of thoughts in the other person’s head. She studied him as he read. Dark-blond hair, cool gray-blue eyes beneath the glasses. His lashes were stubby. There was really no nice way to say it, but on a man, stubby lashes weren’t so bad, were they? They were thick and full and gave him an assertive look. A reliable look, like he’d be the one to give you tax advice or walk you through the process of setting up a wireless remote. Yes, everything about him was steadfast and sturdy. Hugh was the Volvo of men. She laughed to herself. He certainly wouldn’t like that analogy. The man drove a Range Rover.
Meeting him had been a lucky fluke. He’d been wearing a wedding ring, and married men weren’t her type. But he’d pulled up a barstool next to hers at the Vertigo, and a conversation began to flow as smooth as the red wine she sipped. The lights in the bar were dim and golden, and unlike the name suggested, the place had a gentle, old-Hollywood feel. When she’d asked how long he’d been married, he laughed and slid off the ring.
“It’s a fake.” He’d proceeded to twist what she realized was cheap metal into a tiny infinity sign.
“Fake? Why?”
He’d leaned forward, eyes twinkling, and spoken quietly, like he was letting her in on a secret. “Well, it’s not like I’m fighting off women, but I’ve found that wearing a ring allows me to enjoy a drink without any weird vibes from a woman who thinks I’m hitting on her. Usually, I just want to talk.” With a humble shrug, he added, “I’m a people person.”
“And with the wedding band, you’re Mr. Safe Guy, not Mr. Slick.”
“Right.” He’d tucked the crumpled metal into his pocket. “Does that make me sound crazy?” His smile was genuine, and Sylvia found herself grinning back.
She’d inspected his face. He had to be in his thirties—late thirties, so he couldn’t be much older than her thirty-five years. Interesting that he was still single. “We’ll call it a unique approach. How’s that?”
“Fair enough.” He’d lifted his drink to hers. “I’m Hugh.”
“Sylvia.” As they’d clinked glasses, a sudden certainty had washed over her. After all the thinking and plotting and planning, he’d simply appeared in her path like a lucky penny.
Later that night, in a dark corner of the Vertigo foyer, they’d pressed their bodies together and kissed like lovers. As she drove home alone, she’d laughed to herself, amused that she’d left the Vertigo with an acute case of vertigo. Because of Hugh. How long had it been since a kiss had left her dizzy?
Truth be told, it wasn’t because he was an extraordinary kisser, though he’d been perfectly acceptable in that department. The excitement had stemmed from Hugh’s infinite potential as a partner. He would be the one to father her future child. The two of them would make a beautiful baby together. A smart one too.
The baby-wanting was a fascinating new thing for Sylvia. When the calendar had landed on December thirteenth last year, quietly sliding her from thirty-four to thirty-five, her biological clock had transformed from the steady tick of a metronome’s beat into a freight train doing doughnuts off the track. It was unusual for her to want something so badly. Sure, she could hook up with some guy and get herself pregnant, but there was risk involved. Bad genes, for one. And she wasn’t interested in a baby with a side of herpes.
Her instincts had been right about Hugh. He was free of both. She smiled at him from across the table before returning her gaze to the headlines. One in the bottom corner caught her eye. “Mad cow disease was found in a cow in San Diego,” she read aloud. “That’ll do wonders for the meat industry.”
“Huh?” He adjusted his glasses and looked at her.
“Mad cow disease,” she repeated. “It says here that humans who consume the contaminated beef could be at risk of developing prion disease, which is . . . blah, blah, blah . . . Ah, here! ‘A degenerative brain disorder that can quickly disable or kill its victims.’ Well, that sounds delightful. Do you think the cows literally go mad ?” She chuckled. “Bumping into each other and mooing incoherently before they keel over? I mean, it’s kind of sad but funny too.”
“There’s nothing funny about mad cow disease, though it’s rare for humans to get it. If I recall correctly, they would have to consume infected tissue or some such.”
Sylvia smiled. “It’s rare? Do you see what you did there?”
He chuckled.
“Anyway, we should become vegetarians.”
Hugh thumped his paper to the table and slid off his glasses, awarding her with an amused look. “We’ll drink green juice and eat pounds of kale.” A kitchen timer buzzed, and he stood. “Or we can indulge in buttermilk biscuits. They’re vegetarian and they’re ready.”
“You are a prince among men. I’ll get the butter and jam.” As she took the jam from Hugh’s tidy refrigerator , her mind trailed to the cows. How could a cow go mad? They didn’t deserve to suffer that way, though some humans she knew might.
Well, even if Hugh thought she was joking, she was going to stop eating meat for the foreseeable future. Going mad by way of eating beef sounded dreadful. Sanity was something she treasured. Besides, it wouldn’t be too difficult to give up meat. She was already faking it for the neighbors in order to avoid a repeat of the dreadful cheesy beef and tater tot casserole that Embry had brought over for no discernible reason several weeks ago.
“It’s just the neighborly thing to do,” Embry had explained in her syrupy southern accent when Sylvia had inquired as to the occasion.
“It looks delightful for the meat-eating crowd, but I’m a vegetarian. What a pity,” Sylvia had responded, assuming an appropriately disappointed expression. “But you should enjoy it with your family. I’m sure it’s Kylie’s favorite!”
Kylie was three. And really, did anyone over three enjoy tater tots? Embry was sweet but dim. Hopefully she wouldn’t get any bright ideas and show up one night with a quinoa and collard greens casserole. Sylvia grimaced as she brought the jam and butter to the table.
Hugh transferred four of the biscuits to a plate, his hands tucked into large black oven mitts. “Here we are. Piping hot,” he said as he delivered the biscuits.
Sylvia plunked one onto her plate and sliced it open with a knife, quickly slathering butter across the middle so it would melt into the doughy nooks. She began to spoon thick jam on top. “What is this? It’s all coagulated.” She laughed as she poked her spoon at the glop. “It looks like cat guts.”
“Sugar-free,” he said absently. “Lil—” He stopped abruptly and forced a cough into his closed fist. “Ahem. Wrong pipe. Anyway, what I was saying is, there have been a number of articles lately about how less sugar is better.”
You almost said Lily. Sylvia stiffened but forced herself to soften her shoulders along with her expression.“Less sugar is better.” She took a bite of gooey goodness, but it might as well have been tar. Her hackles were up. This was the third time he’d mentioned his ex in a week. Lily. That meek woman who walked as though her bones were healing from fractures. They had bumped into her a few weeks ago at a coffee shop. Hugh had stood to hug Lily when she’d timidly approached their table, her overcast eyes darting to Sylvia.
“Lily! What a surprise to see you. This is Sylvia, one of my coworkers.” His tone had grown deeper, like he’d switched to his office voice. “We’re having a quick briefing before we meet with Jeff.”
She’d perked up, though her eyes still looked like rain. “Oh, hi. Nice to meet you.” Shifting her gaze back to Hugh, she said, “I decided to run out for a coffee, since Hunter is with my mom.” She sounded apologetic, like getting coffee was a crime.
After she scurried away, Hugh tipped his head close to Sylvia’s. “Sorry for lying about the work thing,” he whispered, his stubby lashes fluttering. “She’s an ex.” He circled his finger next to his ear, indicating Lily was nuts. “If she thinks I’m dating again, she could very well do something desperate, like harm herself. Or me, for that matter. I don’t want to feel responsible for her crazy.”
“You’ve never mentioned a crazy ex-girlfriend.”
He smiled. “I’m not supposed to, right?” Leaning back, he added, “At least, that’s what I read in a magazine. It would lead you to think I have questionable judgment.”
“Interesting theory. What makes her crazy? She seemed painfully normal.”
He sat up straighter. “I’d rather not bad-mouth her. Besides, I don’t have to worry about you. You’re tough, not a fragile flower like—” He cleared his throat and sat up straighter. “Like I was saying, we should include the goal analysis matrix in the report.”
Sylvia shifted her gaze to the left, and there stood Lily, waiting for her coffee mere feet away. Hugh was good. Keenly aware. It was odd that he’d dated a woman like Lily. She looked like a flimsy scarecrow in her sloppy leggings and a peach tunic that nearly swallowed her. So very different from Sylvia, who never would’ve worn such an atrocious ensemble, even for scrubbing the toilet.
Hugh prattled on about goals and numbers and bottom lines while she nodded, still contemplating Lily. That shade was dreadful on her.
Hugh’s expression suddenly relaxed, and his shoulders dropped. “She’s gone. Sorry about the ramblings.”
“Don’t worry. I completely ignored every word,” she said brightly. “By the way, who’s Hunter?”
“That!” He’d rolled his eyes. “A Pomeranian. We got him together, but now he’s Lily’s. She treats him like a baby.”
Hugh had scoffed about Lily a few weeks ago, but maybe he wasn’t as over her as he’d claimed . It was mind-boggling. Sylvia had so much more to offer. And she was not about to stand for being second best. Hell no. She dipped a spoon in the jam and pulled it back out . Clotted red clumps hung from it. She laid the dirty spoon on her plate and jumped to her feet. “I have to go.”
“But we just started eating.”
Drawing her lips into a tight line, she said, “Sorry. You know how I love buttermilk biscuits, but I just remembered I’m supposed to meet with Belinda and Sarah. It’s a work thing. I’ll text you later.” Her vagueness was purposeful. It was important he understood she’d lied. She checked his face for signs of frustration and smiled slightly at the way his thumb and pointer finger gripped his chin, as though he were trying to find the solution to a problem.
It’s right in front of you, babe. Stop mentioning your ex, and we can move forward.
“I hate that you have to go. Can I see you next weekend?”
She took her plate to the kitchen and stopped to kiss him full on the lips. “Call me. I really do need to run. Bye.” With a flourish, she swung her purse to her shoulder, grabbed her overnight bag, and left. She took a few steps, then stopped in the carpeted hallway of his apartment building.
Now what? Usually her Sundays were filled with Hugh. All day and into the night. But leaving had been necessary. The only option, she reassured herself as she started for the elevator. So what if she wouldn’t see him for a week? He wouldn’t see her either. It went both ways, didn’t it? He would miss her when he was off in Vegas or Phoenix or wherever his job took him. Traveling for work was something that had sounded so glamorous until she met Hugh. Now it was only a drag. But she played it off as though it didn’t bother her in the least. She was fun and carefree, after all. The opposite of Lily.
She rode the elevator to the lobby, deep in thought. As much as she wanted to believe she had the power in this relationship, a swing in balance was threatening, and it was giving her a stomachache. Strange. She was typically adept at keeping her feelings separate from her relationships. Some might claim it wasn’t healthy, but for her, it was necessary. Better to cut a man off before he could do the cutting.
That said, she wasn’t ready to sever ties with Hugh. But he needed a nudge in the right direction. If he mentioned Lily again, she would leave again. It would be like electric-shock therapy. He seemed like a fast learner. She certainly hoped he was.
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