Truth & Lies

Whether exploring the consequences of concealing the truth or excavating the mysterious nature of truth itself, the titles in this collection discuss the intersections among honesty, factualness, legitimacy, deception, falsehood, and lies.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

by Agatha Christie

Publication year 1926

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Social Class, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, British Literature

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, first published in 1926, is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie, often called the “Queen of Mystery.” Christie has 66 detective novels to her name, as well as 14 short story collections. She is considered the best-selling fiction author of all time, with her books selling more than 2 billion copies worldwide. Christie also wrote a play, The Mousetrap, which has run continuously in London’s West End since its premiere... Read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Summary

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

by Charles Dickens

Publication year 1870

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Conflict

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Victorian Period, Classic Fiction, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction, British Literature, World History, Victorian Era

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel written by English novelist Charles Dickens. Dickens completed about half of the novel before he died in June 1870, and he had already begun publishing the novel in serial form. Because the novel revolves around the mysterious disappearance, and possible murder, of the titular character, many individuals have speculated about how Dickens would have resolved the mystery had he completed the text. In the existing portion... Read The Mystery of Edwin Drood Summary

The Myth of Sisyphus

by Albert Camus

Publication year 1942

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Death, Truth & Lies, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Philosophy, Depression & Suicide, Religion & Spirituality, Absurdism, French Literature, Philosophy, World History, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

One of the monuments of 20th-century philosophy, The Myth of Sisyphus, by Nobel Prize-winning author Albert Camus, delves deeply into the emptiness of life and how to cope with it. Published in France in 1942, during the darkest days of World War II, the book resonated strongly with French readers and soon had a worldwide following. The 2018 edition of the 1955 English translation by Justin O’Brien forms the basis for this study guide.The book’s... Read The Myth of Sisyphus Summary

The Naturals

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Coming of Age, Family, Self Discovery, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Psychology, Trauma & Abuse, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

The Naturals (2013) is a Young Adult suspense novel by American author Jennifer Lynn Barnes. It is the first novel in the Naturals series, which follows Cassie, a teenager with a natural talent for profiling people based on a careful study of their behavior. Cassie meets other teenagers with similar abilities when she joins a special FBI program meant to use their skills to solve murders. Throughout the series, Cassie must also work to solve... Read The Naturals Summary

The Night She Disappeared

by April Henry

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger, Fear

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Night She Disappeared is a young-adult thriller by American author April Henry. Published in 2012 by Henry Holt, The Night She Disappeared tells the story of Kayla Cutler, a high-school senior kidnapped while on a pizza delivery, and Gabie Klug, her coworker, who discovers that she was the perpetrator’s intended target. As Gabie races to uncover the truth before it’s too late, The Night She Disappeared tackles themes of class-based prejudice and the fallibility... Read The Night She Disappeared Summary

The Night She Disappeared

by Lisa Jewell

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Grief, Mothers, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Finance, LGBTQ+, Love & Sexuality, Parenting, Relationships, Trauma & Abuse, Grief & Death, Social Class, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read The Night She Disappeared Summary

The Night Watchman

by Louise Erdrich

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Appearance & Reality, Truth & Lies, Indigenous Identity

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, US History, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Politics & Government, American Literature, World History

... Read The Night Watchman Summary

The Note

by Alafair Burke

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Nostalgia, Regret, Race, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Social Class, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read The Note Summary

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

by Neil Gaiman

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Family, Appearance & Reality, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger, Good & Evil, Memory

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Horror & Suspense, Religion & Spirituality

In The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013), a dark fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman, a young boy accidentally brings an evil entity from another reality into his world, and he needs the help of three mysterious women to try to get rid of the threat. A number-one New York Times bestseller, the novel won several honors, including the British Book Awards Book of the Year and the Locus Award for best fantasy... Read The Ocean at the End of the Lane Summary