A fine, literary novel, the setting reminded me of "Cold Mountain."

As much as "The King of Lies" is a mystery, it is also a family chronicle. In the North Carolina setting, as Work Pickens travels the countryside to see his love, Vanessa, the setting is reminiscent of "Cold Mountain" which was written by fellow North Carolinian, Charles Frazer.

Work Pickens is a defense attorney in Rowan County, North Carolina. He's called out of court and informed that his father's body has been found. Ezra, a powerful but universally disliked man, has been missing for almost two years. When his body is found and Work goes to the scene, the novel begins to spin with possibilities.

The night Ezra was last seen, the delicate family balance was destroyed. Certain facts about Work's sister, Jean, and her female companion, Alex, came to light. A confrontation developed and when Work's mother attempted to intervene, matters turned deadly.

Work is a man with both strengths and weaknesses. He does his best at defending his clients but isn't ambitious. He doesn't love his wife but is reluctant to call off his marriage and make a new life with the Vanessa, his true love.  The female characters are not strong, Work's wife, Barbara, his sister Jean and his girlfriend, Vanessa are all women who have been manipulated throughout their lives.

The story is told with literary excellence and Work Pickens is a character who will remain in the reader's thoughts long after the book is back on the shelves.