Kathleen Troy

Thirteen-year old aspiring journalist Sage Christopher wakes up in a Las Vegas jail, after his dead beat father died in car accident. With no one else to take care of him, he spent the night in a cell before being handed over to the Children’s Home Society. The Society locate his estranged, elderly, grandparents in Evansville, Connecticut, and Sage is sent by train to live with them. Sage is given his father’s belongings and discovers old newspaper clippings about the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy newspaper tycoon, Jonathan Evans. A cryptic note with the clippings suggests Evans’ was murdered by someone named “C”. Sage discovers that his father was caught up in an elaborate blackmail attempt to keep the circumstances surrounding Evans’ disappearance secret. Evans’ body was never recovered, and the newspaper offered a $1 million reward to solve the mystery. As Sage settles into a new home and a new school, he secretly plots his escape from his grandparents’ house. But first, he must find “C”, solve Evans’ murder and cash in on the reward.   As Sage delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a connection to his own aunt and uncle, who bought the newspaper following Evans’ death. But, as Sage comes close to solving the case and claiming the reward, he grapples with his own moral dilemmas, his loyalty to his new family, and his desire for independence. ​

Never Believe a Lie Twice is a gripping novel for young adults, by author Kathleen Troy. The novel follows the journey of a young boy as he begins a new life in a new town, where family ties and dark secrets collide. ​The novel is filled with action, suspense, humor, and heartfelt moments as Sage struggles to overcome his traumatic past and accept his new family.  

A must-read for fans of mystery and adventure, the book sets the stage for an exciting series.

Star rating: 5 Stars 

Summary: A thrilling, fast-paced, whodunit and heartfelt coming-of-age story.