Adam Woods has just graduated from a university in England
and is about to embark on a new challenge in his life by
becoming personal assistant to Gordon Crace, a famous and
aging author who makes his home in a crumbling palazzo in
Venice. Adam, wanting so much to become a writer, soon
launches his own career by writing Mr. Crace's biography.
Except that Crace is not aware of Adam's plan.
As Adam begins his research, he uncovers some unsavory and
disturbing evidence that leads him to England where Crace
was a teacher. With information gathered, he returns to
Venice with enough for the book and big plans for the right
time to approach Crace. But it's the surprise that awaits
him when he returns that is completely unexpected.
Andrew Wilson's THE LYING TONGUE is a compelling
mystery about two very dark and disturbing people. This
debut novel is masterfully told with the suspense carried
to the very last page.
Fresh from finishing university in England, Adam Woods
arrives in Venice to begin a new chapter in his life. He
soon secures employment as the personal assistant of Gordon
Crace -- a famous expatriate novelist who makes his home in
a dank and crumbling palazzo, surrounded by fabulous works
of art, piles of unanswered correspondence and the memories
of his former literary glory.
Before long Adam becomes indispensable to the feeble Crace,
and he finds himself at once drawn to and repelled by his
elderly employer's brilliant mind and eccentric habits. As
Adam comes to learn more about the scandal that brought
Crace to Venice years ago, he realizes he has stumbled upon
the raw material that could launch his own literary career
and makes a bold decision: He will secretly write the
famous author's biography. But outsmarting Crace is easier
said than done, and the two soon find themselves locked in
a bitter contest over the right to determine how the story
of Crace's life will end. Against the haunting backdrop of
the serene city, the two men engage in a ruthless game of
cat and mouse that builds to a breathtaking and unexpected
conclusion.