Surviving the Lie

CrimeReads, A Most Anticipated Book of the Summer

“In ace Los Angeles Times crime reporter James Queally’s new novel, Surviving the Lie, private investigator Russell Avery returns to the fray. After being bounced from his job at a New Jersey newspaper, Avery is drawn into the search for a former colleague who’s gone missing. But he gets more than he bargained for when he meets a group of violent conspiracy theorists.” —Paul Wilner, Alta

“[A] story which couldn’t be more topical or timely . . . There’s plenty of action, peril and Queally doesn’t shy away from the brutality of groups like The Line. However, there is humour too and even some domestic romance. Along the way we visit different New Jersey cities, all lovingly described as only a native like the author could. What elevates Surviving The Lie is the author’s examination of some key themes in today’s media.” —Crime Fiction Lover

“Queally’s new Russell Avery novel is the most timely yet: a powerful story about disappearing journalists, conspiracy theorists, ex-cops, and the struggle to control truth in modern America. Queally is writing with a special fire these days, and his work is a must read for crime fans.” —Dwyer Murphy, CrimeReads

“This unique blend of mystery, thriller, and quest story is the third and final installment in Queally’s popular Russell Avery series . . . Avery narrates his own story with delightfully caustic wit. Readers will leave with an appreciation of just how endangered and how valuable contemporary journalism is. Queally knows what he’s writing about; he’s a Pulitzer Prize–winning criminal justice reporter for the Los Angeles Times.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Queally is an award-winning journalist and author who has integrated his storytelling skills into an explosive tale of aggression and vengeance. Fueled by savvy social media use and vivid secondary characters while hewing to a twisty plot, this final chapter for Russell compares well to the violent novels of popular authors whose heroes often suffer just as much as their villains.” —Barbara Conaty, Library Journal

“Queally sends out his trilogy featuring PI Russell Avery on a high note . . . Brisk pacing and well-drawn characters propel the narrative, balancing high-stakes action with an incisive exploration of journalistic ethics and the ever-shifting line between fact and fiction. It’s a resonant, hard-hitting end to an impressive series.” —Publishers Weekly

“James Queally brings the Russell Avery trilogy home with a story that feels both timely and steeped in history. Surviving the Lie propulsively highlights what we lose in times of division over fact-based realities: the real stories of everyday people who, when confronted with wrongdoing, still try to do the right thing. Queally masterfully presents a bruised noir about a journalist who keeps trying to quit the truth, even as it refuses to quit him.” —Tod Goldberg, author of Only Way Out

“Surviving the Lie is a high-stakes, fast paced mystery that’s as timely as it is terrifying. James Queally uses his insider knowledge as a Pulitzer prize-winning crime reporter to craft a story that explores the dangerous friction between facts and the fictions we choose to believe. Russell Avery’s final installment is a must read for fans of Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan books and Alex Segura’s Pete Fernandez series.” —Kellye Garrett, award-winning author of Missing White Woman

“Queally’s Russell Avery books have the ingredients that make up a great detective series—a compelling, complicated protagonist, a lived-in setting, and timely, evocative challenges. Surviving the Lie is no exception. Queally crafts a mystery that feels of-the-moment and pulsing with life. As Avery grapples with a decaying world, we’re right there with him—strapped to the front seat and eager to see what’s next. A fitting finale to a great series.” —Alex Segura, New York Times and USA Today-bestselling author of Secret Identity, Alter Ego, and Daredevil: Enemy of My Enemy