The Lie Tree: The award-winning, dark and atmospheric gothic mystery - Softcover

Hardinge, Frances

Softcover

ISBN 10: 150986816X ISBN 13: 9781509868162

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books, 2018

Synopsis

Winner of the Costa Book of the Year

'I can't think of anyone who would not love this story' – Matt Haig, author of The Midnight Library

The Lie Tree is a wonderfully creepy and atmospheric gothic novel by Frances Hardinge, award-winning author of Cuckoo Song and Fly By Night.

When Faith's father is found dead under mysterious circumstances, she stumbles upon a strange tree amongst his belongings. Faith, a gifted liar, is amazed to discover that the tree thrives on untruths - and delivers secrets to those who consume its fruit.

Convinced that the tree holds the key to her father's murder, Faith begins to use its powers to try and get to the bottom of the mystery. But webs of lies are far easier made than untangled, and there are truths at the heart of this small island community that are better left buried . . .

'Dark, thrilling, utterly original' – Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls

About this title

About the Author

Frances Hardinge spent a large part of her childhood in a huge old house that inspired her to write strange stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University, then got a job at a software company. However, a few years later a persistent friend finally managed to bully Frances into sending a few chapters of Fly By Night, her first children's novel, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer. The book went on to publish to huge critical acclaim and win the Branford Boase First Novel Award. She has since written many highly acclaimed children's novels including, Fly By Night's sequel, Twilight Robbery, as well as the Carnegie shortlisted Cuckoo Song and the Costa Book of the Year winner, The Lie Tree.

From the Back Cover

The Lie Tree
The leaves were cold and slightly clammy. There was no mistaking them. She had seen their likeness painstakingly sketched in her father's journal. This was his greatest secret, his treasure and his undoing. The Tree of Lies. Now it was hers, and the journey he had never finished stretched out before her.
When Faith's father is found dead under mysterious circumstances, she is determined to untangle the truth from the lies. Searching through his belongings for clues she discovers a strange tree. A tree that feeds off whispered lies and bears fruit that reveals hidden secrets. The bigger the lie, and the more people who believe it, the bigger the truth that is uncovered.
But as Faith's untruths spread like wildfire across her small island community, she discovers that sometimes a single lie is more potent than any truth.

A beguiling tale of mystery and intrigue from the award-winning author of Fly By Night and Cuckoo Song

Edition details

• Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 150986816X
• ISBN 13: 9781509868162
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432