Big Little Lies

I picked up Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty at the Bookstore in the Grove. I wanted a fun beach read and, having read Moriarty's bestselling chick lit book The Husband's Secret, I thought her murder-mystery-meets-fun-and-flirty style would be a good choice. To paraphrase Maria Semple, I believe the best books are the ones that keep us up late into the night. Some are Pulitzer Prize winners, some are book club favorites.

Big Little Lies is a page turner and a thriller without being heavy, despite incorporating some serious subject matter. Moriarty expertly leads the reader through some seemingly silly details that end up being key puzzle pieces in her storyline. The story's characters are all a bit flawed and, therefore, all the more human and endearing. Moreover, Moriarty deftly writes about domestic violence and paints a realistic picture of what goes on behind closed doors for one dysfunctional couple. In Big Little Lies Moriarty has nailed the ultimate writer's goal: show, don't tell. 

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