Review: A Suitable Lie

A Suitable Lie by Michael J. Malone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded to 4 for this author’s bravery in tackling domestic abuse that portrays a man as victim rather than perpetrator. The writing was sound, the characters believable, but what really sold me was my own reaction. Initially, when it was revealed that Andy was being abused, and rather horrifically at that, my response was a knee jerk reaction to see him as weak and unreliable. I actually at one point stopped reading and thought, “What the HELL?” I was victim blaming! I couldn’t believe that my own biases were that deeply ingrained that I didn’t even consciously choose that path, and instead it just sort of happened! When I realized what I had done, I was mortified. Any book that can make me rethink my own prejudices is one worthy of praise. Predictable, somewhat slow and not exactly,an enjoyable read, it is instead one that might actually change your perspective as it did mine.

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