Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and death by suicide. As a domestic thriller, this novel builds tension and drama through lies and deceit that are enmeshed in the familiar comforts of everyday life and driven by people closest to the <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/protagonist/">protagonist</a>. <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Character" href="https://www.supersummary.com/the-five-year-lie/major-character-analysis/#733335">Ray Cafferty</a> exemplifies the turmoil of malicious familial deception. Ray hides his true nature for years, getting both Ariel and her mother to depend on him both personally and professionally. Personally, he stands as a seeming <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/antithesis/">antithesis</a> to his abusive brother, Edward, allowing Ariel’s mother to believe that a romance with Ray will lead to the loving relationship she never had with his brother. Professionally, Ray takes over the family company Chime Co. under the guise of caring for Ariel and her mother. He frames his control of the firm as sparing them the trouble of doing so, enabling Ariel to have an undemanding job and preserve time and energy for glass blowing; likewise, her mother is free to spend her time daydreaming about her wedding. When Ray’s real personality comes to light—exposing him as a greedy, conniving man who killed his brother to frame him for his own misdeeds—it destroys the family and threatens the lives of the people who most trusted him.

Deception in the Domestic Sphere

The Impact of Technology on Personal Lives

Greed Spurs Immorality

Values & Ideas

Books on Justice & Injustice

Challenging Authority

Emotions & Behavior

Fear

Relationships

Marriage

Power

Revenge

Genres

Romance

Trust & Doubt

Book Events

Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love

Sarina Bowen

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore The Five Year Lie and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Five Year Lie Summary and Study Guide

Background

The Five Year Lie Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 14

The Five Year Lie Prologue-Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 15-28

The Five Year Lie Chapters 15-28 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 29-43

The Five Year Lie Chapters 29-43 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 44-54

The Five Year Lie Chapters 44-54 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

The Five Year Lie Character Analysis

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Themes

The Five Year Lie Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Five Year Lie Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

The Five Year Lie Important Quotes with Page Numbers

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Essay Topics

The Five Year Lie Essay Topics

The Five Year Lie

Themes

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