Reviewed by Na’Yel Camper
Mike Nemeth’s A Tissue of Lies (Historium Press 2025) is an exciting mystery set in 1966 about family secrets and the impact of lies. This story follows Eddie, a 15-year-old boy who finds himself caught in a web of deception that changes everything he thought he knew about his family. Fast-paced, suspenseful, and emotionally engaging, A Tissue of Lies makes a great read for anyone who loves mysteries and stories about personal growth.
Eddie is a smart and curious teenager whose life takes an unexpected turn when he learns about his brother Danny’s explosive secret of being homosexual and his mother’s buried drug abuse.
His father also has a secret past, and as Eddie unearths more secrets, he begins to realize that his family isn’t as perfect as he thought. Eddie’s struggle to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong is the heart of the story.
Eddie is relatable and believable, especially for young readers, and as he grows emotionally, he learns important lessons about trust, loyalty, and the consequences of secrets with the help of a friend, Marcy. Eddie learns that his father, Frank, a union official and the parish bookkeeper, is involved in unethical activities that include skimming money from the Sunday collection plate.
Eddie starts out as a normal teenager, but by the end, he’s matured and has a deeper understanding of the world around him. His growth is seen in this moment in the book: “The lies weren’t just about my dad; they were about everything. And now, I couldn’t un-know them.”? Eddie’s family’s lies have affected every part of his life.
One of the strengths of A Tissue of Lies is that the story moves quickly, and there’s always something new to discover. Even though some parts of the plot, such as his family secrets disrupting his understanding of his loved ones, might be predictable, the emotional journey pulls the reader in. The story was more than just solving a mystery—it’s Eddie growing up and learning tough lessons about trust and the truth.
A Tissue of Lies is a thrilling mystery you won’t want to miss out on. This novel offers an emotional look at family, trust, and the consequences of lies. Eddie’s journey from a neglected kid to maturity, his struggle with family deceit, and the challenges of growing up in a chaotic time make the story powerful.
Mike Nemeth
About the Author:
Mike Nemeth is a retired IT executive living in suburban Atlanta with his wife, Angie, and their rescue dogs, Sophie and Scout. The novels Defiled (Amazon bestseller) and The Undiscovered Country (winner of the Beverly Hills Book Award for Southern Fiction) are prescriptions for America’s social ills disguised as crime fiction thrillers. Mike is also sports fan and has written nonfiction books about college basketball and college football. Previously Mike wrote “The Missing Ingredient,” an article published in the New York Times which explained why college football rankings are always wrong.
About the Reviewer:
Na’Yel Camper is a freshman at Reinhardt University and is on a basketball scholarship for the Women’s Basketball team. She plays the small forward position. Additionally, she is a nursing major and plans to earn a bachelor’s in nursing and become a travel RN.
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