Sure, there are questions to be answered. That’s because “Family of Liars” is more a character study of Carrie than a follow-up thriller. It’s a delicate dance, and Lockhart mostly pulls it off: “Family” offers insights into Beechwood and familiar characters, enriching understanding of the first book, but it never feels like a side dish to a “We Were Liars” entree.

But as her father reminds her, the Sinclairs “take care of things when they need to be taken care of.”Īs a prequel, “Family of Liars” has a difficult task - it needs to tap into the fervor of the original novel for returning readers, without confusing new ones. It’s in this state, grieving and hooked on narcotics, that Carrie sets out for Beechwood,where she discovers her cousin has invited three non-Sinclair boys to visit - including the flirty, irresistible Pfeff.Īs the summer develops, Carrie’s relationships with her family, addiction, grief and Pfeff intensify, not always for the better. Shortly after the book opens, one sister drowns at Beechwood, and, after a jaw surgery, Carrie becomes addicted to the painkiller codeine.

Carrie grew up in Boston with three sisters.

We were liars book 2