Frances Ashley has written the story of a girl named “Kitten” who murdered her childhood best friend. It’s a smash hit, inspires a cult following, and on the fortieth anniversary of it’s release, has her daughter, Meg Ashley, thinking about the effect it has had on her childhood and on her strained relationship with her mother. Presented with the opportunity to write a (maybe vindictive) tell-all by her mother’s new literary agent, Meg decides to seize her freedom and cut ties with Frances once and for all. But not without a bit of investigation. She returns to the island that inspired “Kitten” to meet with the woman who, in the court of public opinion, is Kitten, herself. The murderous girl who let the victim’s mother take the fall for her crime.

“The Weight of Lies” is wholly original, which is a pleasant surprise for someone like me who probably reads too much in one genre. This one is a standout. Emily Carpenter seamlessly weaves both the fictional “Kitten” and the “factual” investigation in alternating chapters, pulling off writing two books at once. It takes some amount of skill to pull that off and Emily does so deftly.

She tells the history of the island, both from its fictionalized version and its “real-life” one, in a way that each chapter, whether written from the persona of Frances Ashley or from the author’s, moves the plot forward. Pacing is excellent, and every time I put the book down, I wanted to pick it right back up again. I loved Meg and Koa, the creepy atmosphere of the island, the Native American history that is the backbone of “Kitten’s” story, and the undercurrent of possible lies and betrayal. At no point did I know who to trust. The surprises, and there were several, are well thought out and linear. The book gives just enough without giving too much. It’s a page-turning read that I recommend highly.
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Last year I read the fantastic Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Carpenter and I've been waiting a while now to read her next book The Weight of Lies. So, was this book as good as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls? Yes and no. Yes in that the story is intriguing and frustrating puzzling. But, no in that I was not as taken with the story in the book as in Burying the Honeysuckle Girls. Don't take me wrong, Emily Carpenter has once again proven that she can write a story that keeps your interest all the way until the end. But, I found the chapters from the book Kitten that intervened the story not as interesting as the rest of the book. Can't say why really, it just never really truly got to me in the same way that the rest of the story did.

Nevertheless, The Weight of Lies is a great book. Several times during the books progressed was I frustrated beyond words. I really wanted to find out what happened all those years ago when Meg Ashley mother was staying at the hotel on Bonny Island, Georgia. The events inspired her to write the cult classic Kitten. But, is there any truth to the book? Or is it all fiction? Meg travels to the island to investigate the truth and meets the woman behind the main character Kitten and is charmed by her. But, she keeps discovering lies after lies while she digs for the truth. And, it seems that her quest for answers is perhaps not healthy for her. Could she be in danger?

I liked this book because it's such a fantastic story with lots of twists and turns. Emily Carpenter has once again proven what a fantastic author she is and I can't wait to see what she write next!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ( )

This was such an interesting read. I really liked the main character - well, all the characters... and I could close my eyes and take it all in! ( )

This is one of the few books I didn't like yet finished reading.

It started out good, but it got more and more emotional and convoluted. The main character was likeable and sympathetic at first.

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be - overwrought. ( )

Full review to come, but: Go read this twisty book! ( )