All My Lies Are True

Set 30 years after the events of 2010’s The Ice Cream Girls, British author Koomson’s fascinating sequel charts the consequences of a murder. When Serena Gorringe and Poppy Carlisle were teenagers in Brighton, England, they were accused of killing their abusive teacher, Marcus Hansley. Poppy, from a poor white family, spent 10 years in prison, while Serena, from a wealthy Black family, was not convicted. The two, now both married with children, have tried to keep their pasts secret. Those lies of omission haunt Poppy’s brother, Logan, who starts an intense, secret romantic relationship with Verity, Serena’s 24-year-old daughter. Verity’s learning about the crime from Logan seriously damages her relationship with her mother. Verity vehemently opposes Logan’s insistence that he meet Serena to force her to admit she murdered Marcus and clear Poppy’s name. Verity’s resistance to Logan’s plan erupts in violence. Various believable twists put a new spin on the story of abuse while a touch of Rashomon upends the perception of each character. Koomson should broaden her American readership with this insightful psychological thriller. Agent: Anthony Harwood, Anthony Harwood Ltd. (U.K.). (Mar.)