baronessekat | 2019 reading challenge: a book becoming a movie this year

The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm rounding up to 3 from a 2.75.

Roy is a conman and has lived his life since WWII scamming women out of their money. Now in his 80's he wants one, maybe two, more scores to set him up for what remains of his life. Using online dating ap for seniors he sets his sights on Betty, a widow who lives in the countryside of England, as his next mark.

I picked up this book because I heard of the upcoming movie and when I heard that movie is to star Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren as Roy and Betty I knew I wanted to see it just for them, but wanted to read the book first.

The problem is that this book was... tough. Not the topic, just the pace and storyline. Even half way through I was wondering if it was worth it. Luckily I read some reviews and they all said that you have to slog through the first 50-60% in order to get to the meat of the story. So I kept at it. (but I did bump the speed of the audiobook playback to 1.5 to get through it)

I did like the BIG twist at the end. But I can't say that the story is one that I would recommend to others to read. But I do still want to see the movie because 1) the lead actors (how can anything those two be horrendous?) and 2) I actually want to see how they adapt a book that jumps back and forth in Roy's time line into a cohesive movie.

As for the book... can't say I'd recommend it.

View all my reviews