Cover Image: Liar's Candle

Liar's Candle

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A fast paced engaging political thriller. It has a unique location and hooks you in.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

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I always enjoy a book when the setting is unique, and the background of being in Turkey was a fun added layer. This was a great political thriller and very fast-paced. I kept turning the pages and really enjoyed the journey.

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Will an internship at the US Embassy in Turkey turn deadly for Penny Kessler? The morning after a July 4th celebration, Penny wakes up in a hospital to find herself the center of attention. A terrorist blast has scrambled Penny's memories of the events leading up to the horrific explosion, but government officials from both countries think that the young woman has something to hide. Will Penny recover her memory in time to save herself?

Having read many espionage thrillers in the past, I was pleasantly surprised to see a female main character. The broad strokes of the novel were very similar to the aforementioned works, which was a bit of a disappointment. I had some issues with Penny's abilities of subterfuge and deduction, considering that she was a young woman with little to no experience. The fact that she was able puzzle out that which those more senior could not did not ring true. The plot had a fast pace and a good flow, which is why I would recommend Liar's Candle to those who like thriller and suspense novels.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Liar's Candle via NetGalley and the publisher, Scribner. The choice to review this book was my own.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

I think undue pressure is put on an author and their works when they are compared to other authors who are successful in the genre they have just published in. I think it is unfair to the reader to compare the title they are reading to other titles in the same genre. Some readers can't see the work for what it is and expect it to be exactly like the other book mentioned that they apparently loved. We don't want all books to be exactly like others that we like/love, that would get super boring and nobody would ever want to read. This debut from August Thomas has been lauded as reminiscent of the works of John le Carre and Olen Steinhauer. It's reminiscent because it is a spy novel. However, I can also see, after reading it, why Thomas is being likened to le Carre and Steinhauer.

Penny, an American intern spending her summer in Turkey, has just survived an explosion at the US Embassy during the American Independence Day party. As she lies in her hospital bed trying to come to terms with what she just lived through but most of her department and co-workers did not she becomes the focus of not just American intelligence but the President of Turkey. They are asking questions she has no idea how to answer or what answer is being sought. Nobody believes Penny is telling the truth, and to be fair she's not helping herself by exceeding expectations for what a run of the mill citizen would do in such a situation. She's not even sure who she can turn to or who she can trust but somehow and someway she's got to make someone listen to her and help her.

August Thomas loves Turkey. She has personal experiences from living there and studying the language. So in a nod to Turkey, she crafted a story about a 21-year-old who finds herself in extraordinary circumstances. Kudos to Thomas, she authored a story in a genre that has very few female authors. Wikipedia lists 127 notable writers of spy fiction, dead and living, and only seven of them are women. What's interesting, in my opinion, about spy fiction being male-dominated in authorship is there are some kick-ass female spies on TV. Alias and Covert Affairs come to mind. The screen has them and could use more of them, and now the world of reading needs to get on that train. Thomas kept the pace going, the action non-stop, and her intimate knowledge of Turkey was weaved into the story. I'm not sure if Thomas is going to write more, this title first published in 2018, but if she does I hope it is 1) spy fiction and 2) I run across it somehow so I can read it. I think Thomas is an author that has staying power as long as she has storylines and characters.

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Penny Kesler is a 21 year old intern at the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey and enjoying a July 4th party when a bomb explodes, killing hundreds and injuring Penny. When she wakes up the next day in a hospital, her bosses are there and believe that she is an important witness. Suddenly, everyone seems to be interested in her and Penny does not know who to trust. Soon, she finds herself on the run from her own government while trying to figure out what happened and where was Zach Robson, the young diplomat that she had been falling for this summer?

This was a fast paced, action packed political thriller with an interesting twist in the setting of Turkey with a female character Penny who knows the language and customs in the country. The descriptions of the various places that she went were some of my favorite parts of this book. The plot was interesting and seemed fairly plausible until about 2/3 through where several set pieces kicked the story off the rails a bit. Still, if you can suspend disbelief and get through those parts, this was an excellent debut novel. I hope that we get more from Ms. Thomas.

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Tight plotting and a compelling female protagonist fuel this spy thriller set in contemporary Turkey. A young embassy intern, Penny Kessler, finds herself in over her head when an explosion rocks an embassy reception. Penny's crush, Zach, disappears and more than 200 people are killed. Penny's superpower is translation, and she deploys this skill to great advantage while searching for the truth behind the embassy bombing. In the vein of John le Carré, LIARS CANDLE rings with elements of plausible fact: political gamesmanship, corruption, diplomatic intrigue. This world abounds with twisty scenarios and characters with hidden agendas. A smart, satisfying page-turner that marks the debut of this young, female novelist. August Thomas lived in Turkey as a Fulbright Scholar and renders exquisite details of setting, scenes, and tight dialogue–with nuances of translation. Highly recommended! Sequel-worthy. Pack this for your next international, long-haul flight.

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Penny Kessler is an intern at the US Embassy in Turkey. A bomb goes off there during the Fourth of July celebrations, killing over 250 people. Penny is injured and wakes up in hospital. A photo of her holding a US flag has become a symbol of the atrocity to the world’s media and everyone wants to know about her.

Penny is also of interest to her political masters and the Turkish authorities who think she has important information about the bombers, but she is bemused. She doesn’t think she knows anything and has to escape those who threaten her and try to work out why they want her.

I’m not normally a big action thriller fan, but I got caught up in the drama here. It was fun to see Penny put into a situation you think she can’t possibly escape and then see how she does. I found Penny’s mixture of intelligence and naivety convincing. The plot relies on quite few things falling into place for her but I guess that goes with the genre.

The story also takes in many locations and elements of Turkish life which were interesting to read about. The author explains the politics of the region with enough detail to make the story go but without overwhelming the general reader.

She highlights the competing interests and the moral ambiguity of the different factions, even those who supposedly represent the same institution. I thought the portrayal of Christina Ekdahl was particularly interesting. She is a senior CIA figure who has many admirable qualities but in getting to where she is has suffered losses and made compromises which have shaped her.

I’m always wary when publishers make big promises for first novels. I think comparing this one to John le Carré is pushing it a bit but it’s an entertaining, pacy thriller.

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LIAR'S CANDLE by August Thomas is an exciting, action packed thriller that I have been enthusiastically recommending. The main character is Penny Kessler, a college age intern at the United States Embassy in Turkey. Throughout the novel she transforms from a young, naïve and idealistic student and becomes hardened to the reality of violence and political corruption. The novel is enhanced by insights into the diplomatic world and vivid descriptions of Ankara, Istanbul and other sites in Turkey. Debut author Thomas has written a fast-paced story set in a part of the world filled with turmoil and where America's friends are not always who they seem. In fact, American politicians and civil servants (like CIA manager Christina Ekdahl, newbie agent Connor, and State Department employees Zach Robson and Brenda Pelecchia) also have their own motives and reasons for secretive activity. LIAR'S CANDLE involves a major bombing, kidnapping and plenty of espionage double cross; it received a starred review from Library Journal. I am definitely recommending this title as a summer read – once you start, you will not want to put it down!

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After a bomb is set off at the big July 4 party at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, young intern Penny Kessler wakes up in the hospital with everyone wanting to know what she knows. Several hundred people were killed in the devastating attack, and she ended up being the subject of an instantly iconic photo as she walked out of the bombed area holding an American flag — before she collapsed.

Penny had recently started getting close to a handsome and friendly diplomat stationed there, Zach Robson, and he had asked her to add a last-minute guest to the party list, one who had ties to extremists. She even had talked to Zach and this man right before the explosion, so various agencies from the U.S. and Turkey have representatives angling to question her about what she heard, observed or knew in any way. But she knows nothing. She’s a college student who’s an unpaid intern for the summer, who’s good at translating things from Turkish into English.

Zach has been missing since the bomb went off, possibly kidnapped by terrorists, so he’s not able to share what he knows. Everyone is looking to Penny. Unfortunately for her, the situation is complex and fraught with danger. She ends up on the run from her own government, joined and helped only by a young CIA employee. The two have to figure out the truth about what happened, which includes finding and rescuing Zach, and stay alive long enough to get the information into the right hands in the U.S. government — ones who aren’t trying to kill them first.

Liar’s Candle was a pretty entertaining spy novel. As a spy thriller I’d say it’s mostly average, but what I liked the most about it is the setting. The author is fluent in Turkish and has lived and studied in Turkey, so all of her personal experience comes through in the viewpoint of Penny and in bringing the city of Ankara and other areas of Turkey alive to the reader. It made me want to travel there and get immersed in the culture and see the historical sites, too.

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Liar's Candle by August Thomas is a highly recommended thriller.

Penny Kessler is a 21 year-old intern at the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, when, during a 4th of July celebration at the embassy, a bomb explodes killing 256 of Penny’s friends and colleagues. Penny is in the hospital, sedated, and doesn't realize that a picture of her has gone global in the media and she is the face that represents the international incident. Showing up at her bedside in the hospital, demanding that the doctor give her something to make her regain consciousness is Frank Lerman, a senior State Department official who is assisted by Connor Beauregard. Her boss, Brenda Pelecchia, tries to stop him to no avail.

Penny is briefly questioned about her relationship with Zachary Robson, an embassy employee who disappeared after the explosion, but then the Turkish Prime Minister arrives and takes her to the presidential palace as an "invited" guest/prisoner of Melek Palamut, daughter of the president. She is being questioned about Zach and everyone assumes she has some information that they all want. Penny miraculously manages to escape from the Presidential Palace and manages to run into Connor, who has been sent to retrieve her. Soon it becomes clear that there is a whole lot more going on than either Penny or Connor realize. Penny is believed to have crucial information everyone wants and someone wants them both dead. Penny has become the woman who knew too much, but what does Penny know?

Liar's Candle is a fast-paced thriller written with a nod to sheer escapism. Thomas, who was a Fulbright scholar in Turkey, captures life in Turkey and the local atmosphere, with an eye for detail, quite well. Do Penny's many astounding escapes and strategic feats stretch credulity? Sure they do. Do you have to suspend disbelief to enjoy the novel. Yup. Is it worth it to get to the end? It certainly is worth accepting everything this young, naive, untrained 21 year-old manages to accomplish in order to enjoy the story. The novel held my attention throughout, even when I was surreptitiously rolling my eyes over some spectacular exploit Penny pulled off. The bad guys are bad, the good guys good. Was I entertained? I certainly was and the rapid pace helped keep me reading.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Scribner via Netgalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/04/liars-candle.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2365848803
https://www.librarything.com/work/19779861/reviews/155105447
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https://twitter.com/SheTreadsSoftly/status/986744307653726208

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I really love a good suspenseful read, but I haven’t read a lot of political intrigue or espionage type suspense. I’m so glad I broadened my literary horizons and gave LIAR’S CANDLE by debut author August Thomas a chance. This novel tells the story of Penny, a young intern for the State Department stationed in Ankara, Turkey. At the Embassy’s 4th of July party, a terrorist bomb kills over 300 of Penny’s friends and colleagues and throws her life in utter chaos. A journalist takes a photo of Penny emerging from the rubble carrying a US flag and she quickly becomes the face of the tragedy. Zach Robson, the diplomat that Penny has been falling for, is missing and operatives in the CIA think he was a part of the plot. Penny quickly discovers that her own government wants her dead, but she doesn’t understand why. With only one ally, a rookie intelligence officer, she must figure out a way to stay one step ahead of the government entities pursuing her and stay alive.

This was a fascinating and exciting read full of details of the culture, landscape and language of Turkey. The author’s own extensive travels add a nuanced believability to the story that will keep you turning pages. Penny’s character starts out as a naïve, young woman and uses her bravery and intelligence to grow into a much more capable heroine by the novel’s satisfying conclusion. I was rooting for her the whole way and found Penny’s character to be engaging and likeable. It was refreshing to read about a female protagonist in this genre. The plot is entertaining and very readable and the pace of the novel moves very quickly. Although I found the twists in the story to be somewhat predictable and there wasn’t a big “what the heck just happened” moment for me, this did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel as a whole. I really enjoyed Ms. Thomas’s writing style and I will keep tabs on Penny when she undertakes her next international adventure. This is a very entertaining 4/5 star read for me.

Thank you to Scribner Books for providing me with an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

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Super fast international/political suspense. Fun, fast read.

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Although it falls into that torturous stretch between spring break and summer vacation, Liar's Candle distinguishes itself at the perfect beach read. Thomas maintains a breakneck pace with almost no reprieve: you could easily breeze through this novel in one marathon sitting. And although the action relies on the tenuous stability and roiling political undercurrents of modern day Turkey, it doesn't get distracted by manifestos. Stories like this are often underrated because they're content with the pure and simple entertainment of a reader. Personally I love thrillers that don't try to impress you with how clever they are or wrap up a deeper message inside their twists! In the spirit of unadulterated entertainment, I'm going to leave you with the top five reasons you should read Liar's Candle the next time you want a quick escape:

1. The main character, Penny Kessler, is a believable badass.

Penny has no special training, no innate skills, and no interest in espionage. She starts out as an average college-age intern and that's how she finishes her adventure as well. So often in these situations, the main character "discovers" latent talents that magically help them survive. Instead, Penny gets by with what she already has: fluency in Turkish, determination, and a fierce belief in the value of truth. She may benefit from a few spots of luck as well, but overall I was really pleased that Thomas stayed faithful to the idea of an average girl navigating an unimaginable situation.

2. Her partner, the rookie intelligence officer, is a gay man with defining characteristics other than his sexuality.

Connor, an undercover intelligence officer who gets tangled up in the aftermath of the embassy attack, is gay. And even though the professional impact of his coming out is touched upon—particularly the reaction from fellow soldiers and how a superior uses it to manipulate him into obedience—Connor gets development far beyond his sexuality. He's a patriot, clever and pragmatic, with a dry sense of humor that buoys some of the darker moments. His caution serves as the perfect foil to Penny's fervor; when the plot turns toward the theatrical he keeps it tethered to reality. The conspiracy at the center of Liar's Candle may find resolution, but I would happily read another book about Connor's exploits.

3. Everything unfolds over a day and a half, similar to a season of 24.

The compressed time frame helped keep the action at a fever pitch throughout Liar's Candle. Characters race from Ankara to the Syrian border to Istanbul, all over little more than a day. Between Penny's search for Zach and the truth about the embassy bombing, and the frantic damage control by conspirators at home and abroad, there's barely a moment to breathe. Compulsively readable, Liar's Candle shapes up as the perfect vacation read, whether you're stuck at the airport or lounging on the beach!

4. While you may predict a couple of the twists (I know I did) you're guaranteed to be surprised at least once.

When I had correctly guessed a couple of the early reveals, I worried that Liar's Candle might be too obvious to hold much entertainment value. Needless to say, several of the later twists I either only half-guessed correctly or missed completely! The plot falls into that perfect middle ground between oversimplified and unnecessarily convoluted. Thriller aficionados might not be utterly captivated throughout, but for readers who aren't as deeply steeped in the genre and its conventions, Liar's Candle provides plenty of twists and thrills without tying your mind in knots.

5. Thomas' writing style sucks you in and won't let go—perfect for a political thriller!

No matter how carefully plotted, a thriller can fall apart if an author's style simply doesn't complement the action at hand. Thomas accommodates it perfectly, doling out information in a simple, accessible style. Most of the narrative color is reserved for descriptions of Turkish locales, locals, and culture; Thomas studied Turkish and lived in Istanbul as a Fulbright scholar, clearly developing an affection for the country. (The untranslated Turkish scattered throughout Liar's Candle was a little annoying, although that may change between review copies and the final print.) Her prose paints a vivid picture of the setting without getting in the way of plot points.

One of the better thrillers I've read recently, Liar's Candle works well as a stand-alone...but I can't help but hope that we'll be treated to more of Penny and Connor in the future!

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Ok -right up front just accept that some of this is totally implausible and then enjoy the ride. Thomas has made an impressive debut. Choosing a State Department intern- Penny- has her heroine and using her clearly expert on the ground knowledge of Turkey is what sets this apart from the standard conspiracy thriller. Penny is just terrific! As is Connor. And then there's Zach. And Christina. One of my favorites is Brenda, a consummate State Department officer with a heart. The story moves quickly, the plot doesn't flag, you'll learn something about Turkey, and you'll find yourself questioning lots. Thomas does an especially nice job with the little things about each character, even those who only make cameos. I was also intrigued by several small insider things about CIA (such as the use of Sametime) even though other parts are classic spy novel stuff (and the Starbucks is definitely open before 0800!). I'm a cynic about this type of novel but honestly, it's a darn good read. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Highly recommend.

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This was a really engaging spy thriller/regular-girl-caught-up-in-secrets story that I found doubly interesting because of the setting (Turkey), which is a place I knew very little about prior to reading. Penny scrimps and saves to achieve her dream of being an intern at the embassy in Turkey. Things are going swimmingly - right up until a bomb goes off. And nothing - and no one - is the same afterwards...

The "regular girl caught up in something" genre is particularly fun, I suspect, because we all tend to think of ourselves as an Everywoman (Everyman). When ordinary, seemingly unexceptional, characters find themselves in exceptional circumstances, it is easy to transpose ourselves into/onto their character and find ourselves in the thick of the action. This is rewarding not only from an engagement perspective (it's always fun to be lost in a story) but also from a self-congratulatory one (it's also always fun to imagine that we too would be heroic and save the day).

Liar's Candle offered the opportunity for all of the above - and it was packaged in a story that was easy to read, populated by characters that were sneaky and suspicious (even when they weren't lying through their teeth) and a delightful melange of egomaniac, stalwart true believer, earnest young thing, and jaded professional. The setting was described with just the right amount of detail to create an evocative background for the action. I found myself trawling the internet for pictures of the places described within the text, just to see if my imagination was translating the author's imagery appropriately. (If you're curious - sometimes yes and sometimes no... I suspect there really is no way to conjure Ottoman Empire lavishness from words alone if you, like me, have no real-world experience of it).

All in all this was a very entertaining spy story with a lot of tail-spinning twists and merry-go-round twirls. I quite enjoyed it, and will look for more from August Thomas as a result!

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Penny Kessler is an intern at the U.S. Embassy in Turkey. A bomb explodes during an event there, and Penny wakes up in the hospital. Everyone beilieves her to be a crucial witness, yet she has no idea what it was she was supposed to have witnessed. When she starts to realize that those who seem to be her ally in this are instead working for the other side, she realizes she has no idea who to trust and goes on the run,
This book is jam packed with action and suspense. I couldn't put it down. I am looking forward to many more by this author!

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This book surprised me. When I first got into it, I thought it was going to be a shallowly written, stereotypical "girl is stupid, man saves her' kind of spy thriller. Yet August Thomas pleasantly surprised me in her debut outing with truly authentic characters and exciting plot twists. Penny Kessler is a 21 year old American intern at the Turkish embassy when a bomb goes off and kills hundreds of innocent people. As Penny gets wrapped up in the search for the perpetrator, she meets an intriguing group of people: the daughter of the Turkish president, the female section lead of the CIA, the agricultural desk jockey who is actually an intelligence officer, and an assortment of folks just trying to kill her. Author Thomas does not denigrate Muslims or Turks, does not play to racist hatred, puts strong females in important roles - impressive. Penny acts perfectly her age - impulsive, sassy, smart, and thoroughly twenty-one. I loved that the author didn't make her out to be a stupid girl, but a young one who has much to learn about trust and truth. My favorite though was her sidekick, Connor, who totally runs against the typical male hero - former Naval officer, current CIA agent, is openly gay, questions his actions in following immoral orders, is not superhuman but wholly human. I turned pages quickly and was thoroughly entertained by this story.

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What could be better for any college-age daughter than an internship at a USA embassy just about anywhere in the world? Penny Kessler did hard work in college studying the language and history of Turkey, and she luckily landed precisely the internship she wanted at the US embassy in Ankara. Life was perfect. Then an explosion at the Fourth of July party brought it all to an end.

Penny's story moves quickly with characters that I had to decide whether she should believe their stories or not. She found herself in mortal danger and had to rely on people to get back to her boss and safety. This novel moves like the best version of "Homeland" and the current geopolitical situation. Penny has skills for getting in and out of life-endangering crises and bravely carries on.
LIAR'S CANDLE was a crisp, sharp, read for me. I hope to see more from the author and would love to see this novel made into a movie.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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Send out the alarm, here is a book that doesn't scream sequel that is well written.
Let me sum it up like this:
Penny
A picture
A problem
Set in Turkey where I was deployed for 18 months the writer gets even the feel of the place down I thought. Great book with a female lead that stays female and heroic!!!

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As soon as I saw the summary for this one, I had to read it. I don't run into very many books that give a glimpse into the life of Foreign Service Officers or the diplomatic intern life, so I had to read it. I'm so glad that I did as it was quite a page turner.

Penny is an intern at the U.S. Embassy in Turkey and owing to the happenstance of surviving a horrendous bombing, her life is further turned upside down in a race against the clock. With so many people on so many sides looking for Penny, it's difficult to know who she can trust. That includes the CIA operative along for the ride, Connor. They're both sucked into a maelstrom of overlapping lies from all sides and bullets and bombs being tossed at them too, as if they didn't have enough challenges. There's a lot at stake and the truth is being crafted by official puppeteers on both sides. I quite enjoyed the pace for the most part. I am guilty of wanting Penny to have mentioned some things to aid in Connor helping her to put the puzzle together, that were kind of a big deal to me (& to the solution ultimately) but then this would've been a novella not a novel. The descriptions of Turkey were lovely and I quite enjoyed Penny's personal interactions with the Turkish people along the way. While this story doesn't end completely happily (it can't given the body count), some of the worst offenders do get what's coming to them and there was a measure of satisfaction in that. This was a fairly quick read with chapters that aren't overlong and each ending on a propulsive note.

Overall, I'm mostly glad for the focus on those who serve in posts abroad and the important diplomatic work that happens by regular dedicated people. It's not glamorous, the pay isn't great, the hours are long, the stretches of time away from family and home country are long and mostly they go completely unknown & unnoticed by the citizenry they serve.

I've been on a really good streak this year with my ARC choices and I'll be looking for the next from August Thomas (who has a very good debut on her hands here). Recommended.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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