Review of Suspense: Two Truths and a Lie

 

Summary:

While traveling to a school competition, a sudden blizzard forces Nell and her theater group to take shelter in a creepy, run-down hotel. They meet other groups sheltering there as well, including a rival team heading for the same competition. The first night in the hotel, the two groups play the game, Two Truths and a Lie, to pass the time. Things get dark when one game piece admits to multiple killings. Then it is discovered that the hotel was the scene of an unsolved double murder many years ago. Everyone is a suspect in the haunting confession. The next morning, one of Nell’s theater friends is found dead. Trapped without power or access to help, Nell and her friends must protect themselves and find a way to survive.

Criteria:

This book fit the criteria necessary. It was in the suspense category, published in the last 10 years, and I had not read it. It does not have as many accolades and awards as some of the other books reviewed  here but does have positive reviews from BookList, Publisher's Weekly, and School Library Journal.

Response:

This book did not resonate with me as strongly as some of the others. I wanted to read a suspense as one of my optional books because I gravitate toward suspense in my personal reading. I was hoping for a suspenseful diversion but Two Truths and a Lie fell somewhat flat. The setting  -- the run-down hotel -- was perfect for a spooky weekend, but the descriptions of it was so complex it was easy to feel lost in the description (which may have been on purpose as the travelers often mentioned feeling lost inside the sprawling hotel). And maybe it is my teacher-tired, grad-school overloaded brain but since there were 2 groups it was very hard to keep people straight and know what was happening. Again, maybe it was on purpose to create a sense of chaos where there would be chaos. My overall reaction is lukewarm. 

Henry, April. Two Truths and a Lie. Christy Ottavanio Books, 2022.