I am a terrible liar, or so I’ve been told.

Wait!! I’m not terrible as in I lie all the time. I’m terrible at telling lies because my facial expression gives it away.

My friend, Don, is an amazing illusionist and he does a number of “mind-reading” tricks. The fun part is that he tests them on some of us at the office. No matter how hard I try, he is always able to “read” me.

I would make a terrible poker player. And a terrible spy!

State of Lies
by Siri Mitchell

Published by Thomas Nelson
Publication Date August 13, 2019
Genres: Suspense, Mystery, Clean Romance
Setting: Virginia, Washington DC Contemporary
Main Character Ages: 35-60
Written for: Adults
Pages: 368

Synopsis:

One woman is forced to question everything she knows in this domestic suspense novel from award-winning author Siri Mitchell.

Georgie Brennan may be a world-class quantum physicist, but she grapples with life as a single mother after her husband is killed. When she receives a message from beyond the grave, it leads her to question the details of her husband’s death.

As she follows the clues he left behind, her discoveries increasingly implicate those closest to her. When her father is nominated as the new United States Secretary of Defense, she must uncover the truth before his confirmation hearing—even as the same people who killed her husband are now after her. Nothing is at is seems. Lies are truth; enemies are friends. Even her child is at risk. As every possibility but one disappears, Georgie may find herself to be the antithesis of everything she’s thought herself to be.

I would like to thank Celebrate Lit, Netgalley for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

I made a big mistake! Then I made it all over again! First, I took advantage of a short window of time before heading off on a team outing to get started reading State of Lies. All day long as I was with my team, while I was supposed to be building relationships and having fun, I kept thinking about the story. Sure, I was doing the other things as well, but still. The story was lingering in my mind and I was wondering what was coming next.

When I finally had a chance to read again that evening, it wasn’t quite enough time. And I’m not one who can stay up all night reading. Knowing I had a long day coming, with lots of driving, I forced myself to put the book down with about an hour to go in it, and I went to bed. I’d like to say I fell asleep right away. That would be a lie. There I was, trying to stop thinking about what I had read and what was going to happen next. Arrgghh!!! (In a good way, of course!)

What a wonderful story!

I loved the quirky physicist, Georgie, who wore t-shirts with pithy science jokes. Her scientific bent helped her to ferret out the mysteries her deceased husband Sean had left behind.

Some of the author’s chick-lit snark did make its way into this story and kept it from becoming overwhelmingly intense. Flashbacks provided a touch of romance and more question marks about the mysterious man she married.

As Georgie delved into the past, seeking answers about what really happened in Operation Desert Sabre and Bosnia, tidbits of history were shared – just enough that I learned some new things and not so much to make it a history lesson.

Here are a couple of things to note:

While other books Siri Mitchell has written are Christian fiction, and while publisher Thomas Nelson is a “Christian” publisher, this story is not Christian fiction. I wouldn’t even put it in the “Inspirational” genre. It is a great book, it is clean, it simply doesn’t have any spiritual references or a particularly Christian message (that I can recall).

As I mentioned, the story is “clean”. Don’t be turned away by the opening lines. I am pretty conservative in what I feel is appropriate in terms of sexual innuendo in the books I read, and this one stays well on the side of okay. Another scene later in the story gets closer to that line but, again, it remains clean.

There is drinking. Georgie’s friend, Jenn, drinks quite a bit. It is neither encouraged nor discouraged, it simply is. I know this is a problem for some readers, so if that is you, heads up.

If you enjoy suspenseful stories with a political bent that keeps you guessing, I can highly recommend State of Lies.

A Sense of Place

by Siri Mitchell

I’m so excited about the release of State of Lies! Among the many reasons for my excitement is the fact that I set the story in my own home town: Arlington, VA. Here are some things you might not know about Arlington:

1. Arlington was originally included within the borders of Washington, DC.
2. Arlington isn’t actually a city – it’s a county. We’re the smallest self-governing county in the nation.
3. Arlington regularly takes the top spot as the most educated place in the country.
4. Arlington LOVES books. I count at least a dozen different little libraries in my neighborhood alone.
5. Our region often has a hurricane warning or two every hurricane season. Can you guess where I’ve seen the longest lines when people start to make last-minute preparations? It’s not the grocery store; it’s not the hardware store. It’s the library! (Why wouldn’t you stock up on books too?)
6. We host Arlington National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Pentagon.
7. We are home to the very first Five Guys hamburger joint location.
8. We are also home to the headquarters of over a dozen national agencies as well as organizations like Rosetta Stone and Nestlé.
9. People who attended our high schools include Sandra Bullock, Warren Beatty, Shirley MacLaine, Katie Couric, and Patch Adams.
10. The thing I love most about Arlington? Its people. Countless government contractors; members of the federal workforce live here. I number them among my friends and neighbors. I’ve never met a group more dedicated, more informed, or more determined to put their expertise to good use. And guess what? My heroine, Georgie Brennan, is one of them!

 

 

Siri's State of Lies Pinterest Board

(click here to go directly to the board on Pinterest)

Blog Stops

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Among the Reads, August 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 20

Blogging With Carol, August 21

CarpeDiem, August 21

Josephine Anne Writes, August 21

Fiction Aficionado, August 22

All-of-a-kind Mom, August 22

Genesis 5020, August 22

Andrea Christenson, August 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 23

Pause for Tales, August 23

Through the Fire Blogs, August 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 24

Inspired by fiction, August 25

Because I said so and other adventures in parenting. , August 25

Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife, August 25

For Him and My Family, August 26

Rebekah Jones, August 26

Betti Mace, August 26

As He Leads is Joy, August 27

Wishful Endings, August 27

Reflections From My Bookshelves, August 27

Moments, August 28

Mary Hake, August 28

Remembrancy, August 28

Just the Write Escape, August 29

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29

Hallie Reads, August 30

Bigreadersite , August 30

Living Life Free in Christ, August 30

Connect in Fiction, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31

Texas Book-aholic, August 31

janicesbookreviews, September 1

A Reader’s Brain, September 1

Inklings and notions , September 1

Life of Literature, September 2

Henry Happens, September 2

Real World Bible Study, September 2

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