When the Truth Lies by Timothy Michael Carson
Reviewed by A. Jarrell Hayes
Often, when we think of deceit and lies, we think of someone deceiving and lying to us. That type of betrayal, especially from a loved one or trusted friend, can be painful to bear. But when one lies to oneself, that betrayal is usually more devastated. In Timothy Michael Carson’s novel When the Truth Lies, the reader experiences through the eyes of four characters just how destructive lies can be.
There’s Markus, the handsome and successful executive. He’s also a player; using sexual conquests of women -- and alcohol -- to combat the nightmares of him being molested and raped as a child by his male cousin. Instead of confronting the issue, he lies to himself through self-destructive acts that plague his soul and conscious.
Uniyah is an aspiring singer. She’s headstrong and, after suffering heartbreak at the hands of a fiancé, she locks up her emotions. She is engaged in an affair with a man she knows is married, but believes sex is a replacement for intimacy. She put off finishing college in order to pursue her dreams of stardom. Brandon is her songwriter and producer, and also one of her closest friends.
Brandon is an openly gay -- but masculine -- male, who, like Uniyah, has had his share of heartbreak. He’s a hopeless romantic, though, and searches for love on the Internet. He searches for acceptance in others to deal with his own insecurities and self-doubts.
Lastly, there’s Tyrone, a bi-curious guy who meets Brandon in a chat room. He wrestles with his allure to men, but keeps seeing women, thinking that being intimate with women might cure him of his gayness and allow him to live a life acceptable by mainstream society.
Set in Atlanta, GA, the story intertwines the four characters. Using the backdrop of the music industry and a singing contest at a club, the four characters become acquainted with one another. But the budding relationships between Markus and Uniyah, and Brandon and Tyrone are based on lies that threaten to destroy friendships and lives.
Carson has a straightforward way of writing, which works well with the intricate story that he weaves. The story starts off slowly on the main plot; focusing on sub-plots that flesh out the main characters but add to the main story marginally. There are a few inconsistencies and time flows at an irrational pace, but neither distract too much from the story. When the Truth Lies is an interesting story, reminding readers that it’s okay to be true to yourself; someone always gets hurt when relationships are based on lies.
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There’s Markus, the handsome and successful executive. He’s also a player; using sexual conquests of women -- and alcohol -- to combat the nightmares of him being molested and raped as a child by his male cousin. Instead of confronting the issue, he lies to himself through self-destructive acts that plague his soul and conscious.
Uniyah is an aspiring singer. She’s headstrong and, after suffering heartbreak at the hands of a fiancé, she locks up her emotions. She is engaged in an affair with a man she knows is married, but believes sex is a replacement for intimacy. She put off finishing college in order to pursue her dreams of stardom. Brandon is her songwriter and producer, and also one of her closest friends.
Brandon is an openly gay -- but masculine -- male, who, like Uniyah, has had his share of heartbreak. He’s a hopeless romantic, though, and searches for love on the Internet. He searches for acceptance in others to deal with his own insecurities and self-doubts.
Lastly, there’s Tyrone, a bi-curious guy who meets Brandon in a chat room. He wrestles with his allure to men, but keeps seeing women, thinking that being intimate with women might cure him of his gayness and allow him to live a life acceptable by mainstream society.
Set in Atlanta, GA, the story intertwines the four characters. Using the backdrop of the music industry and a singing contest at a club, the four characters become acquainted with one another. But the budding relationships between Markus and Uniyah, and Brandon and Tyrone are based on lies that threaten to destroy friendships and lives.
Carson has a straightforward way of writing, which works well with the intricate story that he weaves. The story starts off slowly on the main plot; focusing on sub-plots that flesh out the main characters but add to the main story marginally. There are a few inconsistencies and time flows at an irrational pace, but neither distract too much from the story. When the Truth Lies is an interesting story, reminding readers that it’s okay to be true to yourself; someone always gets hurt when relationships are based on lies.
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