Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey

When seventeen-year-old Abigail goes missing, her best friend Emma, compelled by the guilt of leaving her alone at a party in the woods, sets out to discover the truth about what happened in this slice of small-town America.
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This is a nuanced psychological thriller that focuses on characters who feel isolated and misunderstood in a small logging town in Colorado. The setting of this insular town creates a feeling of claustrophobia - as if there is no escape for the characters or you, the reader. In this town, through some well-developed and heartbreaking characters, Bailey explores things such as racism, gender discrimination, domestic abuse and family trauma while pulling you along via an engaging mystery. 

Don’t expect to feel comfortable reading this. It is dark and haunting, most especially for those in the U.S. - I think - because it forces us to focus on the things we feel better pretending don’t exist. But as someone who grew up in a very small town, here’s a hint: they do.

Are things in this story heightened? Yes, of course. It’s a work of fiction. But the underlying divisions, traumas and lack of acceptance is VERY real. I only mention this because I’ve seen some readers being critical of how much of those things exist in this story, and I’d be willing to bet that those readers have never lived in small-town America.

Over the last few years, many authors have taken the tact of creating a world - within their work - in which society is fully accepting of other races, genders and sexual preferences. I can appreciate that approach, as it sets a good example, but sadly, it is NOT a reflection of how things currently are in many areas of our country. I find it refreshing to see an author represent what IS instead of what SHOULD BE, and I hope we see more of this.

Last but not least, the prose here is really quite beautiful. I especially appreciated all of the unique and creative descriptions. This is a very strong debut, and I’m eager to read more by Bailey!

This is out now! Thank you Atria Books for the ARC!