I am a huge fan of Lockhart’s other book, We Were Liars, and I was excited to receive Genuine Fraud in a mystery book subscription box. However, it does not even remotely hold its own against the previously mentioned other work. Jule is one of the most painfully unlikeable characters I have ever read, and at times I found it a real struggle to get through such a short book (262 pages). I did not at any point feel the suspense that the reviews on the cover promised me, due possibly to the way that the book was written in reverse chronological order. In fact, I didn’t find myself liking a single one of the character’s Lockhart has written for us in this book, and it greatly lacks the heart of We Were Liars, which is a real great shame and disappointment as a reader.
Despite all of this, the novelty of such an unlikeable main character was not lost on me, which is the only reason I gave this book it’s two stars.
Despite all of this, the novelty of such an unlikeable main character was not lost on me, which is the only reason I gave this book it’s two stars.