Who Is the Liar

A Novel

By: Laura Lee Bahr

Narrated by: Cicely Meadows

An ingenious novel of suspense about sisterhood, innocence, murderous games, and how far we’ll go to protect the ones we love.

In a tight-knit town in the 1980s, a child-killer is on the loose. And Topaz’s parents are on edge. At ten years old, Topaz is so vulnerable. But she has nothing to worry about. Her eldest sister, Ruby, has made sure of that. Swearing Topaz to secrecy, Ruby reveals she has trapped the monster in their root cellar.

Bound and bloodied in the cold space is kindly Brother Johnson from the church. Pleading with Topaz to cut him loose, he says her reckless sister is a liar. Brother Johnson is right about that: Ruby does lie. She also likes to scare people. Still, even Ruby wouldn’t lie about this. Would she? The game—and the secret—is in her hands. But Topaz just wants to do the right thing.

Let Brother Johnson die in the cold space? Or try to set him free—and then see what happens next?

©2025 by Laura Lee Bahr. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Bahr keeps her cards close to the vest, gleefully toying with reader expectations via the first-person perspective of her young and conflicted protagonist. This one’s difficult to put down.”—Publishers Weekly

“At times a coming-of-age story and at times pure suspense, this dark and disquieting book will keep readers off balance all the way to the last page.”—Booklist

“An impressively crafted and original suspense thriller of a novel, Who Is the Liar is an extraordinary and fascinating read of the first order. Offering up an emotional rollercoaster of a ride for the reader from start to finish…Highly recommended.”—Midwest Book Review

Bravo!!

Wow.my heart pounded the whole time. I loved the point of view from Topaz. Love for your sister. What happens when fear festers and give rise.

suspense perfected

Laura Lee Bahr's novel is perfectly suspenseful , and an amazingly told story. I was riveted throughout the entire book, and it's haunting narrative is lingering with me still! Told from the perspective of a young girl, the author skillfully crafts her voice, demeanor and innocence while tackling an impossible situation. The book is horrific without cheap bloody or gore takes, and treats sensitive topics with honesty and grace. I can't wait to hear more from this author!

Who is the Liar - 3.5

Another book I'm confused about the rating...

The beginning of this book honestly made me laugh. The family dynamic felt so real — especially the “no food touching” debate. I felt personally seen. Just because food blends together later doesn’t mean I have to accept it touching on the plate now. EW. The banter between the parents and kids felt authentic and familiar in a way that pulls you in quickly.

But that lightness doesn’t last.

When the mom shifts from playful to serious because children in their town are going missing, the tone changes immediately. And as a parent (or honestly just a human), it hits hard. You can only warn your babies so many times. The fear underneath everything becomes palpable.

Topaz' perspective is what makes this book stand out; and the favored "baby" of the family. At just ten-years-old she narrates the entire book and is clearly young but with older sisters too shielded and guarded by the real dangers of life.
Ruby who is observant, sharp, strong-willed — and at times unsettling. She’s a victim in some ways, seemingly unloved, carrying a quiet sadness that sometimes twists into something darker.
The twins, Lilly and Lavender, round out a family dynamic that feels layered and intentional.

This is a deep, dark story to tell through the eyes of children. A small town with a kidnapper — possibly more than one — committing horrific crimes against kids, and the unsettling sense that some of the children (and even a few teens) might be taking matters into their own hands. The ambiguity adds to the tension. You’re constantly questioning who is guilty, who is lying, and how far trauma can push someone.

Heather absolutely broke my heart. Manipulated, angry, likely ignored — her storyline feels both heartbreaking and disturbingly real. There’s something especially disturbing about how adults, their naiveness, fail the children in this story, over and over.

And that ending. Twisted. Dark. Gut-wrenching. The kind that sits heavy long after you close the book.

This is an easy read, and it won’t be for everyone (the average rating reflects that), but if you appreciate morally gray characters, child perspectives that feel unsettlingly sharp, and stories that explore the damage secrets can cause — this one will stick with you.

Excellent, creepy psychological thriller

I loved this book~the story kept me on the edge of my seat, the family dynamics are complex and believable, the 10 year old main character is fabulous and having alarming events filtered through her perspective makes it creepy and compelling in the best way! I couldn’t put it down, and highly recommend it

Great book with some very thought-provoking content.

From the very beginning, I was glued to this book, but since finishing, I don't quite know where to start with my review. There's so much to unpack, but I'll just keep it simple.

Poor Topaz doesn't know what to believe, as she processes the huge secret that her sister, Ruby, has shared with her. Ruby, though known to lie, is her big sister. She'd never tell a lie of this magnitude, right? Brother Johnson, a man of God, couldn't possibly be the monster Ruby has painted him to be. He's supposed to help and protect, and he's really nice. Who does she believe? What is she going to do?