For Terrell Matheus, the gunshot that killed his older brother was the defining moment of his life, and his decision to lie about the fact that he held the gun marked the point of no return.

A coming-of-age novel in the tradition of James Baldwin, The Lie tells the story of how a teenage boy's attempt to cover up the truth about a terrible accident sends his life spiralling out of control until finally, unable to live with his lie and the anger it creates in the town's African American community, he is forced to come to terms with the consequences of his actions and to face an uncertain future, shunned by both friends and family.