The Liar’s Diary by Patry Francis

When Ali starts work as music teacher in a small town school she causes a stir right from the start. But she doesn’t seem to care what other people think – she’s friendly with the students but shuns the gossipy other teachers. Far from the stereotype middle-aged teacher, free thinking and a little wild, she draws admirers from all quarters including the mousy school secretary Jeanne who has led an apparently uneventful life.

Jeanne disapproves of Ali when she begins an affair with a married colleague but despite their differences they become friends when Ali asks for a lift to work in the mornings. Soon Ali is confiding in her and begins pushing Jeanne to admit that all is not perfect in her life. Though she is in an unhappy marriage she refuses to acknowledge even to herself what the effect is on her and her son Jamie, who is outwardly cheerful and happy but drastically overweight and failing at school.

After Ali’s tells Jeanne that someone has been snooping around her house while she is out, a series of events unfolds that tests their friendship to the limit and leads Jeanne to finally face up to the problems at the heart of her world.

The Liar’s Diary twists and turns and Patry Francis manages the tension like a master right through to the stunning final revelation which was shocked me in a way that no book has since  We Need to Talk About Kevin. She creates convincing characters and makes it easy to slip into the world she has constructed. It’s the kind of book you look forward to curling up with at the end of the day.

Verdict:

A great book from a first time author who could go all the way to the top of the best seller lists.

Buy The Liar’s Diary at Amazon.co.uk