Review: Never Tell a Lie

I'm not really a huge mystery/suspense novel fan, although I make exceptions for Janet Evanovich and Diane Mott Davidson. However, this one caught my attention when I saw a blurb about it in a trade journal.

I started reading it this morning...when I looked up, two hours had passed, and I was finished. It's a fast-paced read to say the very least.

In Never Tell a Lie, author Hallie Ephron examines the issue of how much you know about your spouse, and to what lengths you would go to defend them.

When David and Ivy, in preparation for the imminent birth of their first child, hold a yard sale at their Massachusetts Victorian home, they are surprised by the arrival of Melinda, an old high school classmate. When Melinda mentions that her mother used to work for the home's previous owner, and she used to play there as a child, David invites her in for a tour.

However, Melinda goes missing, and the police arrive at David and Ivy's door to ask questions, since it was the last place she was seen alive. And the question comes up...did anyone actually see her leave the house?

David comes under investigation, and Ivy learns of secrets in their marriage that rattle her faith in his innocence. Did he, in fact, have anything to do with Melinda's disappearance? All the while, Ivy's due date is getting closer and closer, and the stress of the situation is taking its physical toll.

Sometimes mysteries can be a little "too pat," and I can say that this book suffered from that a little bit. That said, it was an engaging and quick read, and Ephron is a skilled storyteller.