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Two Truths and a Lie
From the beloved internet humorist, a debut novel that introduces an unforgettable investigator to the drowned streets of L.A. in a hugely imaginative and heartfelt blend of noir and cyberpunk.
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...
But in a world where memories can be bought and sold, how can you truly know who anyone is—or what you yourself are capable of? Fast paced, funny, and shockingly romantic, Two Truths and a Lie is Raymond Chandler reinvented for the 22nd century.
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...
But in a world where memories can be bought and sold, how can you truly know who anyone is—or what you yourself are capable of? Fast paced, funny, and shockingly romantic, Two Truths and a Lie is Raymond Chandler reinvented for the 22nd century.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2025
41 people are currently reading
4934 people want to read
About the author
Cory O'Brien
4 books147 followersCory O’Brien is the author of Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes and George Washington Is Cash Money. He has written for numerous award-winning video games, including Monster Prom and Holovista, and designed multiple tabletop games, including Inhuman Conditions and Hand to Hand Wombat. He lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 6, 2024
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 4, 2025
Cory O'Brien's fictional debut--two parts murder mystery, two parts cyberpunk, one part speculative fiction--practically radiates genius from page one. The mostly flooded futuristic Los Angeles readers enter in Two Truths and a Lie is strange and hauntingly bizarre. An ironically introverted new culture now revolves around the currency of information, and all data (rumors, gossip, fact corrections) is used to pay the bills. People have altered their brains so that they can process, save, delete, and publish information instantly because of course whoever gets the story out first makes the most. Unfortunately, tech corrodes alongside memory, so what information is trustworthy? In a traditional murder mystery, testimony always offers an important set of clues. But what happens when testimony itself is worth a fortune on an open market? Everyone wants a piece of the information that they can retire on...even the murderer.
Cory O'Brien's world building is beautifully complex, yet the POV he uses acts as an easily intelligible guide. Our first person protagonist, Orr, is immediately endearing and colorful yet comically unreliable. We are told right away that the tech he's installed in his brain to gather, store, and/or delete information is old and faulty. He rarely leaves his home and his body is physically failing. Despite this, it's impossible not to love and cheer on this character. His voice is such a dominant element-- hilarious, quotable, sarcastically biting, deceptively demurring, and even at times philosophical. I couldn't stop reading largely because I just wanted to witness what he was going to say next.
The crux of the conflict driving the plot, an alleged murder and subsequent investigation, is every bit as compelling as Orr's voice. After all, how can police officers (or anyone for that matter) find any sort of truth in a murder mystery when information is money and hoarding that information means paying the bills? For Orr, leaving his tiny home (a crate suspended above water by cables--think the Stacks in Ready Player One but swinging above a water hazard) to talk to the police means losing a month's rent. But when the police show up and tell him they are holding his beloved friend Auggie as a primary murder suspect, Orr's loyalty to Auggie wins out. What follows is enough misadventure and mayhem to make anyone who knows the full story a very wealthy person.
This is a brilliant book, and one of the only murder mysteries I have ever felt compelled to reread all over again to better appreciate all of its layers. It's the sort of book you just keep right on thinking about for weeks, even months to follow, and that's a refreshingly satisfying reaction. I loved it.
Expected publication date: March 4, 2025
Cory O'Brien's fictional debut--two parts murder mystery, two parts cyberpunk, one part speculative fiction--practically radiates genius from page one. The mostly flooded futuristic Los Angeles readers enter in Two Truths and a Lie is strange and hauntingly bizarre. An ironically introverted new culture now revolves around the currency of information, and all data (rumors, gossip, fact corrections) is used to pay the bills. People have altered their brains so that they can process, save, delete, and publish information instantly because of course whoever gets the story out first makes the most. Unfortunately, tech corrodes alongside memory, so what information is trustworthy? In a traditional murder mystery, testimony always offers an important set of clues. But what happens when testimony itself is worth a fortune on an open market? Everyone wants a piece of the information that they can retire on...even the murderer.
Cory O'Brien's world building is beautifully complex, yet the POV he uses acts as an easily intelligible guide. Our first person protagonist, Orr, is immediately endearing and colorful yet comically unreliable. We are told right away that the tech he's installed in his brain to gather, store, and/or delete information is old and faulty. He rarely leaves his home and his body is physically failing. Despite this, it's impossible not to love and cheer on this character. His voice is such a dominant element-- hilarious, quotable, sarcastically biting, deceptively demurring, and even at times philosophical. I couldn't stop reading largely because I just wanted to witness what he was going to say next.
The crux of the conflict driving the plot, an alleged murder and subsequent investigation, is every bit as compelling as Orr's voice. After all, how can police officers (or anyone for that matter) find any sort of truth in a murder mystery when information is money and hoarding that information means paying the bills? For Orr, leaving his tiny home (a crate suspended above water by cables--think the Stacks in Ready Player One but swinging above a water hazard) to talk to the police means losing a month's rent. But when the police show up and tell him they are holding his beloved friend Auggie as a primary murder suspect, Orr's loyalty to Auggie wins out. What follows is enough misadventure and mayhem to make anyone who knows the full story a very wealthy person.
This is a brilliant book, and one of the only murder mysteries I have ever felt compelled to reread all over again to better appreciate all of its layers. It's the sort of book you just keep right on thinking about for weeks, even months to follow, and that's a refreshingly satisfying reaction. I loved it.
February 23, 2025
Really enjoyed this read. Shades of William Gibson with a lot of intrigue and comedy thrown in. Orr made for a good main character and his perspective was fun throughout the whole read. This book does not give the reader all necessary details on a silver plate. So if you are looking for an easy cosy read this is not it. But if you want to lose yourself in a strange story this one is for you.
March 27, 2025
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 that 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.
I rec'd a print ARC copy from Pantheon Books to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 3.26.25
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 that 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.
I rec'd a print ARC copy from Pantheon Books to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 3.26.25
November 15, 2024
Gonzo cyberpunk noir, but a little too gonzo for my tastes. Imaginative, clever, with a great twist, but occasionally hard to follow: not always a lot to hold on to.
June 1, 2025
Wow. This was such an inventive and fully realized grimdark cyberpunk dystopia. It really had it all. It was kind of a detective novel but the worldbuilding was front and center and BOY was the worldbuilding good. I read this so fast because I couldn’t put it down. This is the type of book where you feel the character is so real and really lives in this wholly alien future and every bit of exposition you get feels naturally woven in and not just vomited out. Just wow to this one. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Read
February 15, 2025I’m not the right reader for this book.
We’re dropped into a dystopian world. No world building. No character development. No explanations for the weirdness we encounter in what is, apparently, normal daily life. Just, bam, here we are, figure it out along the way.
I kept muttering, “What am I even reading?”
I was sort of interested, but also supremely irritated. Irritation won out.
DNF
*Thank you (and apologies) to Pantheon Books for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley!*
We’re dropped into a dystopian world. No world building. No character development. No explanations for the weirdness we encounter in what is, apparently, normal daily life. Just, bam, here we are, figure it out along the way.
I kept muttering, “What am I even reading?”
I was sort of interested, but also supremely irritated. Irritation won out.
DNF
*Thank you (and apologies) to Pantheon Books for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley!*
March 25, 2025
This was Not Good. Overall premise? Gold. Strong start and a hell of a final couple of pages but man oh man all of the meat in this was a massive mess. I love scifi, but the world building was severely lacking here to allow me to suspend any disbelief and there were so many things that just didn't make sense and the characters felt like caricatures.
No thank you.
No thank you.
January 27, 2025
One of the best books I've read lately, a mystery sci-fi thriller meditation on how we live. Exciting, disgusting, very thought provoking, and utterly human, despite all the metal involved.
Thanks you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Thanks you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Read
April 26, 2025I like this new trend in SFF where instead of magical 19-year-olds falling in love, it's two middle-aged people with bad knees and trauma.
August 16, 2025
porca miseria!!!!
questi sono i libri per cui vale la pena essere al mondo!!
6 stelle su 5, senza alcun dubbio...
un cyberpunk folle e originale came pochi altri..
a partire dal protagonista, un vecchio irriverente reduce della guerra ex pilota di droni con ancora diversi assi nella manica, con un bel pò di malattie veneree in un mondo in cui la maggioranza usa sangue sintetico, ma lui continua a tenersi il suo sangue bio con tutte le sue malattie per usare il suo dispositivo corticale invasivo, vecchia tecnologia, ma dalle difese alte, e possibilità sconosciute ai più moderni..
in una Los Angeles semi sommersa, dove la valuta più preziosa sono i dati personali, prende il via una complicatissima ma succosissima indagine per omicidio.. ma in un mondo dove i ricordi possono essere venduti o comprati, come puoi sapere chi ha fatto cosa? e cosa hai fatto tu stesso? e se tu sei i tuoi ricordi, se li vendi non sei più completamente te? e chi li acquista diventa un pò te?
tra templi religiosi in cui farsi cancellare qualsiasi ricordo, tra innesti bio-cibernetici, computer mentali, realtà aumentata, droni a guisa di animali, cervelli sintetici in cui stoccare i propri ricordi e poi ridownlodarli, tra barche e macchine volanti, furti d'identità assurdi, Cory scrive uno dei più visionari e originali romanzi cyberpunk degli ultimi anni..
ho amato tutto di questo romanzo.. compresa la struttura di come è stato scritto.. una prima parte interessantissima in cui veniamo catapultati in un mondo strano con strana tecnologia e strani neologismi.. spiazzante ma anche divertente.. poi piano piano tutto si fa più chiaro, fino alla parte centrale in cui tutto va in pezzi.. Cory comincia a giocare coi ricordi, comincia a cancellarli, a crearne di falsi, gioca persino con i capitoli e i paragrafi.. il tutto molto straniante ma esaltante.. e le ultime 100 pagine sono da capogiro.. in cui abbiamo il punto di vista di Orr frammentato in vari sciami di droni, online e nel suo corpo fisico in una scalata folle e assurdamente intrecciata, in una cascata di rivelazioni e controrivelazioni da panico.. la scrittura è così creativa e visionaria da dare i brividi.. e un finale degno di tutto il resto.. insomma, una goduria continua..
questi sono i libri per cui vale la pena essere al mondo!!
6 stelle su 5, senza alcun dubbio...
un cyberpunk folle e originale came pochi altri..
a partire dal protagonista, un vecchio irriverente reduce della guerra ex pilota di droni con ancora diversi assi nella manica, con un bel pò di malattie veneree in un mondo in cui la maggioranza usa sangue sintetico, ma lui continua a tenersi il suo sangue bio con tutte le sue malattie per usare il suo dispositivo corticale invasivo, vecchia tecnologia, ma dalle difese alte, e possibilità sconosciute ai più moderni..
in una Los Angeles semi sommersa, dove la valuta più preziosa sono i dati personali, prende il via una complicatissima ma succosissima indagine per omicidio.. ma in un mondo dove i ricordi possono essere venduti o comprati, come puoi sapere chi ha fatto cosa? e cosa hai fatto tu stesso? e se tu sei i tuoi ricordi, se li vendi non sei più completamente te? e chi li acquista diventa un pò te?
tra templi religiosi in cui farsi cancellare qualsiasi ricordo, tra innesti bio-cibernetici, computer mentali, realtà aumentata, droni a guisa di animali, cervelli sintetici in cui stoccare i propri ricordi e poi ridownlodarli, tra barche e macchine volanti, furti d'identità assurdi, Cory scrive uno dei più visionari e originali romanzi cyberpunk degli ultimi anni..
ho amato tutto di questo romanzo.. compresa la struttura di come è stato scritto.. una prima parte interessantissima in cui veniamo catapultati in un mondo strano con strana tecnologia e strani neologismi.. spiazzante ma anche divertente.. poi piano piano tutto si fa più chiaro, fino alla parte centrale in cui tutto va in pezzi.. Cory comincia a giocare coi ricordi, comincia a cancellarli, a crearne di falsi, gioca persino con i capitoli e i paragrafi.. il tutto molto straniante ma esaltante.. e le ultime 100 pagine sono da capogiro.. in cui abbiamo il punto di vista di Orr frammentato in vari sciami di droni, online e nel suo corpo fisico in una scalata folle e assurdamente intrecciata, in una cascata di rivelazioni e controrivelazioni da panico.. la scrittura è così creativa e visionaria da dare i brividi.. e un finale degno di tutto il resto.. insomma, una goduria continua..
May 17, 2025
A hard boiled detective story rewritten for the modern (and future) era. Think Dashiell Hammett meets Neuromancer, written by someone with a modern understanding of technology. Inventive, engaging, entertaining, and… actually good!
January 4, 2025
In a distant future where memories are currency Orr Vue is at the bottom of society. When his former lover is arrested for murder of an illustrious member of society, Orr is pulled back into his former life of information investigation, except this time he's helping the cops. Determined to find out who the true murderer is, he slowly realizes there are more layers and players involved than he could possibly imagine.
I really enjoyed this story. It weaves a complex story around a world where memories, truths, and lies are traded like money. Once memories are traded you lose it from your mind. The author played with this concept expertly. The ending has you questioning the lengths the characters would go through for love and power. The sarcasm and wit of Orr made me laugh despite the dangerous situation he finds himself in. Overall i felt this was a strong science fiction story with a very unique premise.
Thank you Goodreads for gifting me this book for review.
I really enjoyed this story. It weaves a complex story around a world where memories, truths, and lies are traded like money. Once memories are traded you lose it from your mind. The author played with this concept expertly. The ending has you questioning the lengths the characters would go through for love and power. The sarcasm and wit of Orr made me laugh despite the dangerous situation he finds himself in. Overall i felt this was a strong science fiction story with a very unique premise.
Thank you Goodreads for gifting me this book for review.
January 9, 2025
learning this man wrote a lot of the stuff for monster prom and monster camp,, everything has connected. AIDAN and calculester my AI boyfriends
May 3, 2025
I wanted to like this, but I seriously could not follow this story.
May 21, 2025
If you are looking through new releases and want something different that is:
1. Weird
2. Short and briskly paced
3. A standalone
4. A fun time
This one's for you!
1. Weird
2. Short and briskly paced
3. A standalone
4. A fun time
This one's for you!
June 19, 2025
what a sexy little freak of a book. i was HOOKED from the first chapter. how was i not supposed to immediately be in love with this cynical, chaotic, malady-riddled 68 year old balding bisexual war veteran with a rat tail. an insane world to boot, both believable and unbelievable in the best ways. i am a sucker for any story that revolves around memories, and this one did not disappoint. that concept was explored in so many interesting ways, from currency to a vehicle for truth (or the bending of truth), to the point that you question what even makes someone human, if not their memories. and the subtle tenderness of the love story that endured despite the gaping black hole of trauma. everything about this book is so nasty and gorgeous
June 22, 2025
This is a straight down the middle hard boiled detective fiction novel, without the homophobia but with a ton of new weird elements piled up around the edges. Typically for this type of detective novel, there's no characterization - the main character's just gruff and world weary and the author hits that note over and over. All the future elements don't obfuscate the fact that this is a bog standard genre book.
May 26, 2025
After reading the jacket blurb and a cursory look at GR, I was excited to read this novel. I nearly dropped it after several chapters, but ultimately decided to finish it. I had several problems with it, including a failure to connect with the narrator on an emotional level, the whole data as currency premise, and a general dissatisfaction with what passed for a plot. Honestly it felt like an amalgam of several other sci-fi and cyber punks that I've read, including Blade Runner and Neuromancer. Don't see this as the beginning of a series, for me at least.
September 1, 2025
This story is sort of a neo-noir dystopian piece. Sam Spade meets Cyberpunk. I don't recall reading something quite like it before, and in that way it was good. Inventive. The world building was good, going into details where they mattered, and doing hand-wavy, "don't bother looking behind the curtain" stuff where they didn't.
But there were parts of it that were unsatisfying to me. The world information economy, for one, just didn't quite work in in my mind. But perhaps others wouldn't be bothered.
I was using this one to test how to get Libby to load an e-book to my Kindle. And yes, it worked. And the book was good enough that I completed it.
But there were parts of it that were unsatisfying to me. The world information economy, for one, just didn't quite work in in my mind. But perhaps others wouldn't be bothered.
I was using this one to test how to get Libby to load an e-book to my Kindle. And yes, it worked. And the book was good enough that I completed it.
March 29, 2025
3.75/5 rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! Two Truths and a Lie is a funny, heartfelt, yet dark story that takes place in a future in which a land that may have been the United States is underwater and data is currency. It's both a murder mystery and love story under layers of deception and half truths. I really enjoyed this novel! The format felt fresh, the writing was witty and biting, and I found myself reading 40% of the book in one sitting. The narrative did felt disjointed towards the end and I was confused at points with who crossed who and who different characters worked for. I appreciated some of the ambiguity, but I wish certain aspects were more fleshed out. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! Two Truths and a Lie is a funny, heartfelt, yet dark story that takes place in a future in which a land that may have been the United States is underwater and data is currency. It's both a murder mystery and love story under layers of deception and half truths. I really enjoyed this novel! The format felt fresh, the writing was witty and biting, and I found myself reading 40% of the book in one sitting. The narrative did felt disjointed towards the end and I was confused at points with who crossed who and who different characters worked for. I appreciated some of the ambiguity, but I wish certain aspects were more fleshed out. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
March 29, 2025
The vibe, world, and the authorial voice is great. However, the plot and the consistent need to have a twist harms it. There’s a lot of good ideas in here, but I think just too many ideas muddy the theme, core character arcs, and even the general plot at times.
November 22, 2024
🌟🤖 Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O'Brien: A Cyberpunk Noir Thriller that's Out of This World! 🌟🤖
OMG, you guys, I just finished reading Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O'Brien, and I am blown away! 🤯 A massive thank you to Knopf Books for sending me an ARC of this incredible book, which hits the shelves on March 4, 2025. Buckle up, because this review is going to be a wild ride! 🎢🚀
First things first, can we talk about this world? A mostly underwater Los Angeles, where information is the most valuable currency, and memories can be bought and sold? Sign me up! 🌊💻 This book is like Blade Runner meets The Maltese Falcon, with a dash of Inception thrown in for good measure. It's a mind-bending, heart-pounding, rollercoaster of a read, and I couldn't put it down! 📖💥
Our protagonist, Orr Vue, is an aging combat-drone veteran with a troubled past and a heart of gold. When the cops show up at his door looking for data on a murder he's not even aware has happened, things get interesting real quick. And when his old boyfriend, Auggie Wolf, shows up as the number one suspect, Orr is forced to stretch his atrophied spy skills and take his illegal horde of drones out of retirement. Cue the explosions, the chases, and the cyberpunk shenanigans! 💥🛡️
Here's what made this book a 4-star read for me: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Compelling premise: The concept of a world where memories can be bought and sold is so unique and intriguing. It's like Total Recall meets Minority Report, and I am here for it! 🎬💭
♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Engaging characters: Orr is a flawed and relatable protagonist with a complex past, and I loved watching him navigate this crazy world. Plus, his dynamic with Auggie is everything! 💘🤖
♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Fast-paced action: This book is a thrill ride from start to finish, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was literally gripping my Kindle like it was a rollercoaster safety bar! 🎢📚
♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Blending genres: Two Truths and a Lie successfully combines elements of cyberpunk, noir, and mystery, creating a fresh and exciting read that's perfect for fans of all three genres. 🌟📚
That being said, there were a few things that kept this book from being a perfect 5-star read for me:
♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Complex world-building: The intricate technological details might be overwhelming for some readers. I consider myself pretty tech-savvy, but even I had to reread a few passages to fully understand what was going on. 💻😵
♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Fast-paced narrative: While I loved the action, I did feel like the plot was moving a little too quickly at times. I would have liked to see a bit more character development and world-building in between the explosions and chases. 💥😐
In conclusion, Two Truths and a Lie is a must-read for fans of cyberpunk and noir fiction. It's a thrilling, action-packed, and thought-provoking read that will leave you questioning the nature of reality and the power of memory. So mark your calendars for March 4, 2025, because this book is not to be missed! 📚💥
Until next time, keep exploring the neon-lit streets of the future! 🌆🤖
March 13, 2025
This was fun. It is a novel full of ideas that have seen the light of day in other sci-fi novels, which are here packaged and woven together in new and novel ways with lovely writing.
Take as a starter that memories can be extracted and stored as data outside our actual brains. This isn’t new, but when those memories become things that can be bought, sold, and “remembered” by others - and “forgotten” by those who originally had the experiential memory - this idea can become the foundation of a complete economic system. And, once that’s in place, there are always bad people who want to exploit that system as criminals for their own profit. And to make the world complete, there are bound to be good guys - whether police or private persons - who try to hold the bad guys to account.
And there you have the framework for a great, and pretty intricate whodunnit. If there’s one downside that makes me take a star away from a full five star review, it’s that the story is so intricate I actually lost track a little bit as the final ends were being tied up. There were just enough characters and novel circumstances that were wildly crazy that I had to work hard to put all the pieces together. Maybe I should give the author credit for making me do that, but as it is, I feel a little unsatisfied.
That is balanced, however, by some language, and imagination are terrific. Example: “ The bacon-fat smell of Tijuana dogs competed for airspace with the sweet stink of weed, the French-fry scent of biodiesel, and the methane belch of a local meat factory as my driver wove through foot traffic with deranged confidence.” or, “ When you pile up as many memories as I’ve got, it becomes impossible to really know yourself. Am I the things I remember? Am I the way I feel about those memories now? Or, like the sidewalk under the sea, am I the things I don’t remember? The things I’ve chosen to forget?” The latter penetrates to the heart of the ideas examined in the novel.
There are other fun mechanisms, such as the ability of an appropriate enabled person to directly see out of the eyes of devices being used as tools, and the graceful way that such a person slips in and out of thinking they are that device. And more. I don’t want to spoil the book by giving away all the secrets.
If you’re tired of the usual ways that some sci-fi ideas around human extension into technology is used, try this book out. You’ll be satisfied.
I had the opportunity to read an advance review copy of the book, and give my review without obligation or bias.
Take as a starter that memories can be extracted and stored as data outside our actual brains. This isn’t new, but when those memories become things that can be bought, sold, and “remembered” by others - and “forgotten” by those who originally had the experiential memory - this idea can become the foundation of a complete economic system. And, once that’s in place, there are always bad people who want to exploit that system as criminals for their own profit. And to make the world complete, there are bound to be good guys - whether police or private persons - who try to hold the bad guys to account.
And there you have the framework for a great, and pretty intricate whodunnit. If there’s one downside that makes me take a star away from a full five star review, it’s that the story is so intricate I actually lost track a little bit as the final ends were being tied up. There were just enough characters and novel circumstances that were wildly crazy that I had to work hard to put all the pieces together. Maybe I should give the author credit for making me do that, but as it is, I feel a little unsatisfied.
That is balanced, however, by some language, and imagination are terrific. Example: “ The bacon-fat smell of Tijuana dogs competed for airspace with the sweet stink of weed, the French-fry scent of biodiesel, and the methane belch of a local meat factory as my driver wove through foot traffic with deranged confidence.” or, “ When you pile up as many memories as I’ve got, it becomes impossible to really know yourself. Am I the things I remember? Am I the way I feel about those memories now? Or, like the sidewalk under the sea, am I the things I don’t remember? The things I’ve chosen to forget?” The latter penetrates to the heart of the ideas examined in the novel.
There are other fun mechanisms, such as the ability of an appropriate enabled person to directly see out of the eyes of devices being used as tools, and the graceful way that such a person slips in and out of thinking they are that device. And more. I don’t want to spoil the book by giving away all the secrets.
If you’re tired of the usual ways that some sci-fi ideas around human extension into technology is used, try this book out. You’ll be satisfied.
I had the opportunity to read an advance review copy of the book, and give my review without obligation or bias.
July 3, 2025
In a post-war, post-environmentally catastrophic Los Angeles, most of which is under water, Orr Vie, a combat veteran with a fleet of illegal drones, is nearing 70 in a worn out body, making his living by fact checking data through his implanted cortical device. Also a former detective, he is drawn into a murder investigation in which almost everyone - his client, the police and emancipated AI entities - seem they would just as soon he be dead as successful in his efforts.
But Orr persists because the life of his former love, Auggie, may be at stake and the cynical pansexual misanthrope is a romantic at heart.
The future tech O'Brien creates for this tale is fascinating, as most characters use the above-mentioned implanted cortical devices that allow them to communicate via a version of digital telepathy, information/data/memories are valuable currency and people are able to wear digital masks that hide their identities. And, in the spirit of The Jetsons, cars fly. I found the technocratic, corrupt society O'Brien describes to be shockingly believable for the most part and I believe certain aspects of it may be upon us sooner than we might expect.
I consumed this story as an audiobook and I give full credit to narrator Tim Lounibos for making it such a gripping experience, as he voices the hard-boiled central character, Orr, as well as other men and women and, most fascinatingly, the emancipated, vocally flat AI entities Orr encounters and must struggle to outwit.
But Orr persists because the life of his former love, Auggie, may be at stake and the cynical pansexual misanthrope is a romantic at heart.
The future tech O'Brien creates for this tale is fascinating, as most characters use the above-mentioned implanted cortical devices that allow them to communicate via a version of digital telepathy, information/data/memories are valuable currency and people are able to wear digital masks that hide their identities. And, in the spirit of The Jetsons, cars fly. I found the technocratic, corrupt society O'Brien describes to be shockingly believable for the most part and I believe certain aspects of it may be upon us sooner than we might expect.
I consumed this story as an audiobook and I give full credit to narrator Tim Lounibos for making it such a gripping experience, as he voices the hard-boiled central character, Orr, as well as other men and women and, most fascinatingly, the emancipated, vocally flat AI entities Orr encounters and must struggle to outwit.
April 7, 2025
Reading this reminded me so much of the first time I read Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, which also starts fast and dumps you into a dystopian world where everything's radically different from our world in a dark and ugly but also still wryly funny kind of way. In the setting of Two Truths and a Lie, data and information and memories are the only currency, and the protagonist, Orr Vue, is an almost completely sessile 68-year-old who rents out his brain for corporate fact-checking. Which bites him in the ass on page 1, when the cops start calling about a factoid he checked that points to a murder investigation.
This is a classic murder mystery full of big, colorful characters with twisty motivations and twisty identities, but it's also a cyberpunk dystopian novel about the aftermath of the AI wars, the problems (and benefits) of being a military veteran full of old, experimental brain-tech in a world where everyone else's gear is newer and fancier, and the questions of identity that come in a world where people can easily swap memories, but not copy or duplicate them. It takes a lot of attention and focus to read, because there are so many players, they're double-dealing on so many different levels, and things move fast — think Chinatown at double speed with an AR overlay, Shadowrun levels of hacking, and Snow Crash levels of humor. But it's worth that focus… if you can keep up with a story this dense, arch, and full of dick jokes.
This is a classic murder mystery full of big, colorful characters with twisty motivations and twisty identities, but it's also a cyberpunk dystopian novel about the aftermath of the AI wars, the problems (and benefits) of being a military veteran full of old, experimental brain-tech in a world where everyone else's gear is newer and fancier, and the questions of identity that come in a world where people can easily swap memories, but not copy or duplicate them. It takes a lot of attention and focus to read, because there are so many players, they're double-dealing on so many different levels, and things move fast — think Chinatown at double speed with an AR overlay, Shadowrun levels of hacking, and Snow Crash levels of humor. But it's worth that focus… if you can keep up with a story this dense, arch, and full of dick jokes.
February 16, 2025
Two Truths And A Lie by Corey O’Brien, from the beginning when our protagonist is talking about paying his rent with scandals and gossip, I was lost, but having said that I still persisted and finished the whole book, and that is a testament to this authors, humorous writing ability. The mystery is set in a futuristic world where everyone lives and warehouses in containers hanging from the ceiling by rope, although there are some not quite so lucky who live in other accommodations. When the police show up the 67-year-old main character doesn’t stick around, but gets out of there ASAP and takes it up on himself to solve a crime he at first knows nothing about. if you want to read a story by a very imaginative author, who has humorous pros with great world building in an action packed plot, then read this one. I only hope you understand it more than I did, but not to say I didn’t like it because I did they were just a couple of times I was a tad bit confused by what was happening. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #CoryO’Brien, #TwoTruthsAndALie,
July 28, 2025
Two Truths and a Lie is a weird little beast—in the best possible way. It's sharp, funny, a little unhinged, and occasionally heartbreakingly sincere. Set in a future where the U.S. is probably underwater and data is basically Bitcoin with extra sass, this book mashes together a murder mystery, a queer love story, and a slow spiral into paranoia... all while side-eyeing you through every page.
I loved the vibe: the structure is playful and clever, the voice is biting and whip-smart, and it constantly kept me on my toes. That said—toward the end, the plot took a turn into "wait, who double-crossed who again?" territory. There's a lot of deception, and while some ambiguity felt intentional and cool, some of it felt like it could've used another draft or ten. I’m all for layered storytelling, but I needed a conspiracy wall and some red yarn to keep track by the finale.
Still, it’s bold, it’s queer, it’s chaotic, and I’m glad I read it. Definitely one for folks who enjoy genre-bending narratives that aren’t afraid to be messy, meta, and emotionally real.
I loved the vibe: the structure is playful and clever, the voice is biting and whip-smart, and it constantly kept me on my toes. That said—toward the end, the plot took a turn into "wait, who double-crossed who again?" territory. There's a lot of deception, and while some ambiguity felt intentional and cool, some of it felt like it could've used another draft or ten. I’m all for layered storytelling, but I needed a conspiracy wall and some red yarn to keep track by the finale.
Still, it’s bold, it’s queer, it’s chaotic, and I’m glad I read it. Definitely one for folks who enjoy genre-bending narratives that aren’t afraid to be messy, meta, and emotionally real.
February 11, 2025
A blend of noir and cyberpunk, this tale was unique and humorous.
Since memories were currency in this world, it was hard to be certain who anyone really was or what they were capable of, which raised thought-provoking questions about identity and kept the tension up.
I enjoyed Orr’s character from the start but it took a while to get into a rhythm reading this because the world-building was limited. I was dropped into a complex world and given only minimal explanation to get my bearings.
Once the investigation got going, I was hooked. The ending provided some resolution and yet left some open questions about how far you’d go for love, power, money or revenge.
ARC provided by Pantheon Books. Opinions are my own.
Since memories were currency in this world, it was hard to be certain who anyone really was or what they were capable of, which raised thought-provoking questions about identity and kept the tension up.
I enjoyed Orr’s character from the start but it took a while to get into a rhythm reading this because the world-building was limited. I was dropped into a complex world and given only minimal explanation to get my bearings.
Once the investigation got going, I was hooked. The ending provided some resolution and yet left some open questions about how far you’d go for love, power, money or revenge.
ARC provided by Pantheon Books. Opinions are my own.
April 26, 2025
This novel is set in a near future where at least large parts of what was formerly dry land is under water, older people who fought in an unspecified war have implants hardwired into what used to be their left eye (younger people have less invasive versions) and information is now the going currency. Orr’s old boyfriend Auggie contacts him after he comes under suspicion of murdering the man for whom he used to be the live in personal assistant. There are a few twists and turns in the plot as Orr tries to figure everything out. Initially I thought the concepts the author was using in his world building was interesting. Unfortunately, the plot dragged and the main characters were not ones it was easy to empathize with.
June 9, 2025
I admire the idea on which this is built.
Unfortunately I think such ideas make for a difficult book.
The plot's main arc was worked out carefully – I think. I am not sure I understood it completely.
But there are no characters that engaged me, especially as we move deeper and we're not sure who's who anyway. And the subplots felt as if the author made them up on the fly. Especially the way he keeps revealing more and nore drones as he needs them.
What knocked this down for me was the need for so many "You see, Jim, what you couldn't have known is that this man (audience gasps) is actually running under the memories of his ex-wife's hairdresser's physiotherapist, who is herself a vicious infantryman in hiding."
Unfortunately I think such ideas make for a difficult book.
The plot's main arc was worked out carefully – I think. I am not sure I understood it completely.
But there are no characters that engaged me, especially as we move deeper and we're not sure who's who anyway. And the subplots felt as if the author made them up on the fly. Especially the way he keeps revealing more and nore drones as he needs them.
What knocked this down for me was the need for so many "You see, Jim, what you couldn't have known is that this man (audience gasps) is actually running under the memories of his ex-wife's hairdresser's physiotherapist, who is herself a vicious infantryman in hiding."
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