In John Hart’s first novel, a lawyer, ”Work” Pickens, is accused of murdering his father, Ezra, when his body is found. It seems clear to the police and the district attorney that Work had seen his father’s will and wanted the $15 million being left to him before Ezra changed his mind. And Work, sure that his emotionally disturbed sister, Joan, did it, is willing to take the rap for her.

Work and Joan had been raised in a dysfunctional family with a very rich, very despicable father who hated girls/women. He always domineered over Work’s life and still did even when Work was an adult and able to make his own choices. As he put it, he “lived Ezra’s truth,” letting his father choose his career and his wife, and even allowing Ezra to alienate Work from Joan.

As the book progresses, we see Work realize more and more how he has been living the “truth” of the king of lies.

Because I had read and loved Harts later novels (DOWN RIVER and THE LAST CHILD), I expected THE KING OF LIES to be at least as good. I was right.