Book Review: In The Company Of Liars

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

In The Company Of Liars     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
David Ellis
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Legal Setting   Thriller
Putnam, April 2005, $24.95, 384 pp.

Famous novelist Allison Pagone is on trial for the murder of lobbyist Sam Dillon, but she is not mounting any credible defense. Instead she is more worried about her ex-husband who bribed three state senators to pass a law that would allow the drug Divalpro to be put on the state’s prior approved Medicaid drug list. She made a deal with federal agent Kat McCoy that she would allow the state to try her for murder if her ex-husband and daughter gain immunity from prosecution.

Although Allison is protected as part of the deal, a terrorist from the Liberation Front kills her because they believe she knows that a doctor they are working with has developed a medicine that will kill millions. The reason they believe this is because her lover lobbyist Sam Dillon was going before the grand jury. They didn’t know he had no idea about a terrorist plot but was going to testify about the bribery involving Allison’s husband and daughter. Kat believes that if they capture the head of the Liberation Front Allison wouldn’t have died in vain.

This novel is told in reverse chronological order similar to the movie Memento, a writing technique that is brilliantly successful in David Ellis’s capable hands. Even though readers know from the very first pages that Allison is murdered that adds suspense and enjoyment to this exciting thriller because although it looks like everyone’s motive are clear-cut, as the story progresses readers will see that things are not as they appear. IN THE COMPANY OF LIARS demonstrates that some government operations are ugly and morally wrong regardless of the ends.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner