Mystery / Thriller
Date Published: June 6, 2017
REVIEW
Wicked Suspense with a
Masterful Touch of Horror
Meg Ashley’s young life has been
overshadowed by domineering mother Frances. Flamboyant, charismatic, and
thoroughly self-absorbed, Frances Ashley’s claim to fame is having authored the
iconic 70s horror novel KITTEN. Categorized as fiction, dark rumors started by
her legion of fans allege it to be more fact than imagination. Rumors ascribe
the book’s plot to be based on an actual murder that took place on Bonny Island
many years ago. When Meg is given a chance to get out from under her mother’s
thumb by writing a tell-all book about life with the illustrious celebrity, it
includes returning to the remote island and discovering what she can about the decades
old killing. Although warned to stay away, an intrepid spirit and need for
revenge for a miserable childhood burn brightly in her heart. They combine to
override the very real possibility of the murderer still being alive and
willing to do anything to keep the secret from being exposed.
THE WEIGHT OF LIES by Emily Carpenter is a
fantastically entertaining read! Ms. Carpenter is a sharpshooter of a wordsmith
and terrific storyteller to boot. She weaves a tale that you will pull you into
the maelstrom of this sinister world of lies and deceit, and you’ll love her
for including you in it.
The central idea is brilliant, and made
more so by the way Ms. Carpenter has chosen to let the story unfold. The
chapters are written in tandem so we are treated to tastes of the fictional
best-selling KITTEN in between vibrant throbbing slices of Meg Ashley’s sojourn
into the past. The clashes between mother and daughter reek of desperation and
isolation from the most important person in their lives. The supporting
characters are exceptionally well-defined, as is the chief suspect Doro
Kitchens. Doro is the person that Frances’ cultish fans have pegged as Kitten,
and finding out exactly how much she’s like the fictional character is half the
fun.
There’s nothing I like better than a
spidery dollop of the macabre with my mysteries, and that’s what happens here. I
was screaming for Meg to get off that island from the moment she set foot on
it, but luckily Ms. Carpenter didn’t listen and kept right on writing! The result
is a story that’s rich, complex, and designed to let you simmer in the juices
of intrigue. I sped through, turning pages as fast as I could process the
clues, and guessing right along with Meg as to who did what to whom. What
happens is made worthwhile by a slam bang of an ending that comes out of the
cleverly crafted tale and slaps you silly.
Five stars to Ms. Carpenter and THE WEIGHT
OF LIES! Wait, does that make ten? Well, it should! I highly recommend picking
this one up and sinking into a remarkably original story. Now all Ms. Carpenter
need do is finish writing KITTEN! I would love to purchase such a companion
piece and keep them on my bookshelf as a matched set! Seeing her in a red wig
and winging it in a Frances-type pose on the back cover would be too much!
In keeping with the rules of full
disclosure, I received an ARC copy of this novel on NetGalley in exchange for a
fair and honest review.
ORDER NOW
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
EMILY CARPENTER, a former actor, producer,
screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant, graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University. Born and raised in Birmingham,
Alabama, she now lives in Georgia with her family. BURYING THE HONEYSUCKLE
GIRLS is her first novel. You can visit Emily online at
emilycarpenterauthor.com.
