Liars, Inc.

A dark and twisted psychological tale, which Kirkus Reviews called "captivating to the very end" in a starred review—perfect for fans of I Hunt Killers and Gone Girl.

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money. So with the help of his friend Preston and his girlfriend, Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something, and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn't think twice about it. But then Preston never comes home. And the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead to Preston's body.

Terrifying clues that point to Max as the killer….

• Framed for Murder: Max’s best friend Preston is dead, and all the evidence points to one person: Max himself.
• Unreliable Narrator: Max has never been a fan of the truth, but now he has to convince everyone he’s innocent. Can a professional liar talk his way out of a murder charge?
• Twisty Plot: The deeper Max digs into Preston’s disappearance, the more secrets he uncovers. In a world built on deception, nothing is what it seems.
• High School Thriller: From forging permission slips to providing cover stories, Max’s business "Liars, Inc." was supposed to be easy money—not a death sentence.

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell lies to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts a business providing forged permission slips and cover stories for the students of Vista Palisades High. Liars, Inc., they call it. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn't think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston's body.

Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer. But can Max find the real killer before it's too late?

Paula Stokes starts with one little white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the very end.

“Whatever you do, do NOT get a manicure right before reading Paula Stokes’s LIARS, INC. because you will ruin it chomping your fingernails down to the nub. This story twists and turns and screeches around every corner, but still manages to be a thriller with a big heart. Max Cantrell is a guy to root for, and maybe crush on too.” - Kristen Lippert-Martin, author of Tabula Rasa (Egmont, Sept 2014)

“Stokes continues to masterfully plant crumbs and red herrings on the road to the solving the mystery. The action is nonstop in this dark, psychological thriller. Readers will be on edge until the satisfying conclusion.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“An interesting mystery with plot twists and turns to keep teens reading.” - School Library Journal

“Twists and turns at all the right moments. Even the keenest mystery buffs will be hard-pressed to predict the book’s finale, which packs quite the emotional and physical punch. Captivating to the very end.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)