Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O'Brien Published by Penguin Random House on March 4, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Science Fiction Fantasy
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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In a mostly underwater near-future Los Angeles, aging combat-drone veteran Orr Vue now lives a simple and small life, trading snippets of what's become the most valuable information. So when the cops show up at his door looking for data on a murder he’s not even aware has happened, things get interesting for the first time in 25 years.
At first, Orr is happy to exchange whatever he knows about the demise of InfoDrip’s top exec to buy booze and pay rent on his memory storage, but that plan goes to hell when Orr’s old boyfriend, Auggie Wolf, shows up as the number one suspect. Forced to stretch his atrophied spy skills and take his illegal horde of drones out of retirement alongside his busted knees, Orr finds himself in the crosshairs of the militarized police, a family of megarich corporate heirs, a clan of emancipated AIs, and a cult. Barely avoiding getting killed with every clue he collects, Orr realizes he's uncovered not just a murder, but a conspiracy that threatens Auggie’s very existence. Ahh, the things we do for love...
A near future LA that is mostly underwater where everything revolves around info rather than money is the backdrop to this noir style murder mystery. Cory O’Brien is a debut author and I was eager to give his cyberpunk noir mystery a shot because I was intrigued by this genre blend.
Two Truths and a Lie goes full immersion into decrepit combat veteran Orr Vue’s present life. Like many, he’s living on wit and luck only a hair from starving. Then the police bang on his old cargo container door and he’s plunged into a murder situation involving a former lover as chief suspect. Orr is suddenly up to his processor in danger and the guy sticking his neck out for some of the powerful players in the case to lop it off.
I have to admit I nearly tossed in the chips on page two. I felt like I was trying to translate a book from a foreign language I only had a nodding acquaintance with. But, I decided to stick it out and eventually I caught onto the lingo of Orr’s world and what it meant. Orr himself was a character I slowly came to appreciate and start to connect with. Nothing and nobody are as they seem and he’s such an underdog. He gets beat down and gets right back up to tough it out. There are so many tangles and twists. I confess that I didn’t even try to untangle most of it. I thought a few of the other principle characters were colorful and fascinating particularly his ex. I couldn’t decide if Auggie was on the up and up or playing Orr to get his help.
There were some great suspense and action sequences especially in the second half when it read like a thriller. First half had some lag as Orr slowly got on the trail of the truth and all the worldbuilding and intros had to happen.
In summary, this was not my usual fare and was a gamble since I’ve never read or watched cyberpunk, but noir has long been a fav so I went with it and it paid out. Will this be for everyone? No, but I think those who enjoy a fully immersive very detailed cyberpunk world and shades of gray characters and situations will be a good bet for Two Truths and a Lie.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I’m not sure how this book got past me, this is my first time hearing about it. It definitely sounds intriguing!
This one found me and I’m so glad. 🙂 I think you would really get into it, Tammy!
I like the sound of this one too.
It is one of the most unique books I’ve read in a long time. Maybe the library will carry it for you to check out. 🙂
Sometimes it can be fun to venture out into something you don’t normally read.
I agree. This one was so worth the gamble, Mary. 🙂
I’m glad you stuck with it!
I would have missed out on something really fab. Glad I stuck with it, too, Carole. 🙂
Ok, like you I enjoy Noir and have not tried cyberpunk. Great review. I would try this. lol
Yes, it was a grand reading adventure. 🙂
Yea for reading outside your comfort zone. I do love when authors just dump you into their world and you have to figure it out as you go. That said, there has to be some level of understanding and familiarity to make it work. Sounds like you were able to hang on until it clicked.
LOL, it was full immersion in a tank of ice water at first, but yes, then it started to work and I was into it.
Happy to hear sticking with it paid off. This does sounds like a unique and engaging read after some perseverance!
Yes, me, too, Rachel! I didn’t have high hopes at first when I felt so lost- not even having a gamer’s perspective-, but eventually, it started to make sense to me. Good story and worth it. 🙂
The cover is cool, and I’m glad you were able to get into it when you stuck it out. I can say that would probably have made me DNF it instead. Thanks for sharing!
Sometimes its hard to decide if a book will work out after reading more pages or not. I was glad this one did. 🙂