The Lie

The Lie by Mary Chamberlain tells the gripping story of Joan, once a singing star of the 1940s and 1950s, who now ekes out a lonely, impoverished existence. Her fate seems set until a chance encounter promises a comeback concert and an album.

Meanwhile, her sister Kathleen, a successful medical researcher, faces new challenges. She has been offered the directorship of a prestigious institute in Los Angeles upon retirement but is dealing with the fallout of her husband's affair, leading towards divorce.

In their old age, Joan and Kathleen find themselves drawing closer to each other. However, their newfound connection is threatened by a figure from Joan’s past, which jeopardises everything they've rebuilt together. As the sisters unearth the lies that have bound them, a more profound truth emerges that might drive them apart.

Set in three time frames, the novel unravels the complexities of the sisters’ lives as choices from the past and present collide, in a compelling narrative that explores the fragile bonds of family and the enduring quest for redemption.