The Liars by Ida Linehan Young

Alice and John MacDonald first met during the Spring of 1887 near Nain, Labrador. Brought together by circumstance and tragedy, Alice and John's relationship of convenience and respect grew to include the love for a new baby named Beatrice who had unexpectedly come into their lives during a train ride to St. John's. To the outside world they were a happy family of three living in Holyrood, Newfoundland but Alice and John are both haunted by the reality of a complicated past full of secrets, lies and false identities. When an escaped murderer turns up in the nearby community of Harbour Main, Alice and John's worst fears are suddenly realized. Not only could their secrets be revealed but the safety of the child they had both come to love as their own is in serious jeopardy. Faced with the heartbreaking decision to return their beloved daughter to the child's natural born mother, the ultimate act of love they are about to commit might mean that their daughter is forever gone from their unravelling lives. 

The Liars (2020) by Ida Linehan Young is the third book in a trilogy of historical fiction novels. As a sequel to the 2018 and 2019 paperbacks, the author picks up from the cliffhanger ending of The Promise (2019) and transitions readers through the narrative by utilizing familiar characters and settings we have grown to love. The storyline of mystery, intrigue and plot twists that Linehan Young expertly crafts in The Liars is the result of true events that occurred in the late 1800's in Newfoundland. Her ability to formulate a fictitious story by intertwining the results of her research with that of the plot details conceived in her mind is brilliant. While keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end, Linehan Young highlights "some of the not-so-pleasant histories that make up the foundation of our beautiful province, Newfoundland and Labrador".

The Liars is another compelling read for those who enjoy history, suspense and wonderfully descriptive writing. The female characters are strong, simple but complex individuals, who reinforce the theme that there is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child. Kudos to Ida Linehan Young in creating a work of art that will leave you wanting more! The Liars is a Flanker Press publication. 

Newfoundland author, Ida Linehan Young, reads the first chapter from The Liars.