Title:  In The Territory of Lies

Author:  Lois Stickell and Peg Robarchek

Format:  Paperback and Kindle

Published:  2012

Synopsis: (from Amazon)  Which matters most…money or family? Linda Haverty needs money – desperately. Shea Dillon wants to break a family curse and save her daughter’s life. Rumors of a sacred manuscript that was once at the heart of a family squabble send Linda to the internet in search of the long-vanished document, which is surely worth millions. Her search leads to Shea, a distant relative, and the centuries-old tug-of-war over the manuscript resumes. Can a holy manuscript curse a family for generations? If so, can the curse be broken? The answer lies with two women stranded in the territory of lies.

My Rating: 

What an interesting book.  In The Territory of Lies is written primarily through emails and message board postings, which allows for a fast read.  There are other instances where the story is told in old letters and a journal.  The uniqueness of the writing was actually quite fascinating, although at first, I must admit, I wasn’t sure how well it would work.  The characters are well-developed, and being told through emails and such, we see them through their own eyes as well as their perception of the other characters.

The main storyline is quite simple: two women meet through a genealogy message board and find that they are related.  They discover that there is an illuminated manuscript somehow tied to the family and thus begins the adventure of trying to find the long-lost heirloom.  But of course there’s more to the story.  Each woman has her own motive for finding the book, as well as her own demons to overcome.  You are definitely on this journey with them throughout the book.

While the book was somewhat predictable, there were a few unexpected twists, and I really had no idea what would actually happen in the end.  Although a little pricey for an eBook, I’m glad I took a chance.  It was a fun read and I really did enjoy the manner in which the story was told…very unique.

Purchase In The Territory of Lies on Amazon:  Paperback or Kindle.