Ali Mather is popular, beautiful and loved by all --- especially by
the men in town. Being estranged doesn't mean a thing, as it has
still allowed her to have a husband and a couple of boyfriends at
the same time. An accomplished musician, she loves making music for
herself, her students and society as a whole. It's important that
she give back, and her music is the only way she knows how. Her
life seems truly complete, but the only thing she doesn't have is a
real friend --- someone in whom she can confide. Everyone needs
that, right?

Ali finds solace in befriending Jeanne Cross, an office worker at
the school. From the onset, things were awkward between them, but
eventually they both open up and discover they have a lot in common
--- more than they ever could imagine.

Jeanne's life is fairly ordinary. As the school secretary, she
enjoys her work. Raising her only child with her husband has left
her in a lurch for years, and she doesn't have any friends either
--- at least none she feels she can talk to about personal matters.
On the outside, their family seems perfect. But who knows what
lurks beyond the closed doors of the Cross household?

Getting to know one another doesn't come easy; Jeanne is
practically a loner. She has good reason, though. As the wife of
one of the town's most influential people, she has to keep up
appearances by day. But at night she lives on the prescription
drugs her husband gives her, in an attempt to undermine who she
really is. Why then did the good doctor marry her? Was it love, or
something else?

As Ali begins to bond with Jeanne, all of Ali's secrets come
tumbling out as well. She's having an affair with one of the
teachers and the local car dealer, and to top it off, it appears
she has a stalker. As thought becomes reality, Ali finds out an
awful secret --- one that will cost her dearly. The mystery
unfolds, but the one thing that remains and contains the real truth
is missing --- Ali's diary. Who finds it in the end? Sometimes,
things aren't as plain as they seem.

Patry Francis has written a great first novel. Completely pulling
the readers into the storyline, this journey takes you through
self-reflection, sensitivity and empathy --- not only for the
characters involved, but for real-life situations that occur every
single day. Francis forces you to take a closer look at the people
you call your friends and situations to which you don't even give
second glances. It's a cruel world out there, but the author excels
at exposing the world within. If you're in the mood for a good
suspense novel, don't sleep on THE LIAR'S DIARY. It's definitely
one for the shelf.