Andrew Wilson is the author of a highly renowned biography of Patricia Highsmith and THE LYING TONGUE is his début novel. In an interesting move the author starts his first novel with the comment "This is not the book I wanted to write. This is not how it was supposed to be at all." All I can say is if he writes what he wants to write and it turns out as good as this one, then bring on the next novel.Adam Woods is a young man with a degree in Art History and a vague desire to write a novel. With a decidedly dodgy romantic history, Woods heads off to Venice to take up a job as a companion to a young boy. When that post doesn't eventuate he finds himself as live in companion and carer for the reclusive, elderly novelist Gordon Crace. Gordon wrote one of "the" great English novels and promptly disappeared from general sight - never writing another novel. Crace is obsessive, insular, scared of the outside, unable to be left alone, alternatively clinging and moody, and Woods becomes increasingly obsessed with his employer's past. When he discovers that there has been talk of a biography that Crace, seemingly, has rejected out of hand, Woods can't help himself - he cannot stop himself from pursuing the truth behind Crace's past, the story of his famous novel and why he has ended up so reclusive, so timid.Nothing, absolutely nothing is as it first seems in THE LYING TONGUE. For most of this novel you're struggling to keep track of who is the good guy, who is the bad guy, and exactly what is going on - and all of this with effectively two main characters. There's just this general feeling of claustrophobia, corruption, seduction, manipulation and ruthlessness.You have to wonder about the influence of movies such as Sleuth (Michael Caine and Sir Laurence Olivier). Reading THE LYING TONGUE bought back thoughts of that movie time and time again - the storylines are nothing like each other of course, but there's something about the intensity of the two characters, their interactions, the menace, that for some reason triggered the memory.Amazingly there's very little guilt in either of the main characters in THE LYING TONGUE and that, along with the way that both of them seem to be more than happy to manipulate any circumstance to suit their own requirements, makes the whole novel almost breathtakingly ruthless. Mind you, the number of times that you're just flat out deceived by the twists and turns of the truth of these characters makes you get to the end of the novel wondering if you've actually read what you thought you read.
I only read about this novel last Friday. The cover photograph caught my eye. Then I read what the book was about and that the author is the acclaimed biographer of Patricia Highsmith - a favorite. I knew I had to read it. I rushed out and found a copy and devoured it over the weekend. Recently graduated from University, would be novelist Adam Woods can't believe his good fortune in landing a position as personal assistant to the reclusive writer Gordon Crace. Crace is an enigmatic figure. Forty years ago he published a phenomenally popular novel of murder at a boys school called "The Debating Society" before retreating into seclusion. An intensely private man, Crace wants nothing more than to be left alone with only the skeletons in his closet for company. However, one rarely gets what one wants - or deserves. Sensing an opportunity to exploit Crace and the mystery of his self-imposed isolation, Woods sets out to discover all he can about the man's past. As you can well imagine, what he finds isn't pretty. Andrew Wilson has done Ms. Highsmith proud. His is truly a novel of suspence, equal parts "The Aspern Papers" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley." I could only put it down reluctantly. Rarely have I found a work of fiction as compelling. His writing is graceful and fluid. There isn't a word or phrase out of place. Each idea, character and situation is presented clearly and succinctly. My only regret is that I read it too fast.
What do You think about The Lying Tongue (2007)?
TWISTED. DISTURBING. FAST-PACED.The whole plot was amazing, I don't know why this book isn't that popular. Though, there were some parts which felt a little flat, this suspence/mystery book can be compared with Dan Brown's pre-Robert Langdon books.Adam, a fresh graduate from London, went to Venice to leave his past and start a new life and write a novel. But when he arrives, all his plans change and he meets an eccentric, former best-selling author, Gordon Crace, to take him as a personal assistant. But when he finds himself struggling to begin his novel, he had an idea for his breakout book - a biography of Gordon Crace.It was amazing how everything will unravel as you flip through the pages. It was definitely an great read.
—Kyle Gio
I picked this up as a read alike for "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl, and at first blush, it certainly seems to fit the mold for a dark frame mystery. I was enthralled by the descriptions of the crumbling Venice palazzo and the claustrophobic relationship that developed between the central characters. I was even along for the ride when the plot deviated back to England but unfortunately the gusto behind the plot suddenly seemed to fizzle. The ending was cliched; almost as if the author either ran out of ideas or lacked the bravery to give it a truly diabolical ending.
—Kim
Adam Wood is a young Brit who's moved to Venice to try and write a novel. He ends up working for Gordon Crace, a reclusive writer. Adam discovers that Gordon is not all he seems and sets off to find out more.Sounds boring but I'm trying not to give away too much. Let's just say that Adam Wood is not all that he seems either, and our discovery of his less-than-wholesomeness draws you in the same way a car crash by the side of the road slows all the traffic down as everyone cranes their necks out of their cars to try and see something gory.**Spoiler** Adam Woods is a complete sociopath. That was what made this book unputdownable.
—Andrea
