Scattered Lies
by Madison
(Influential Writers Publishing)
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Scattered Lies, the debut novel from Madison, gives the reader everything that makes Urban Fiction delicious. On the surface, this novel is full of high-priced cars, upscale backdrops and inner-city squalor. The entertainment factor is high, but the psychology of and interaction between the characters of Scattered Lies is what will make this a great read. Madison created characters with deep, dark layers giving the reader plenty to digest.
Scattered Lies starts in the middle and works its way to the beginning and the end simultaneously. This is one of the things that makes the novel such an interesting read. Most of the characters are related to each other in multiple ways. As the characters reveal bits and pieces through strong dialogue, the plot twists unravel and will make the gears turn inside of the critical readers’ minds. If you have to go back and re-read parts of Scattered Lies, rest assured that it is not due to poor editing. The complex plot twists keeps the reader engaged.
Although Greg is not the central character in terms of the amount of pages dedicated to him, he can be directly or indirectly attributed to the tangled web of events the author Madison has put together. Greg is a locked up master-mind of a criminal enterprise. More than just a common street thug, Greg’s vision for what was possible for his Melrose Projects crew is infinite. Greg attempts to set his people up for legal success gained mixed results. The intricate mix of personalities, abilities and sense of loyalty is what will separate Scattered Lies from the average Urban Fiction book.
Gabrielle is Greg’s loyal wife and a successful lawyer. Her parents are ashamed of her decision to marry a convicted criminal. Her love for Greg is as genuine as his love for her. The bond gives her the strength to be married at a distance. The monthly conjugal visits are great sexually but not enough to convince her to have children. Gabrielle met Greg while hanging out with her cousin, Denise. The bond with Greg was instant but is later strained when Gabrielle starts to figure out exactly how Greg landed in prison.
Denise, Greg’s protege, shows the most promise out of Greg’s associates. Instead of becoming a statistic, Denise became the exception to the rule. From teenage “good girl gone bad” to ruthless killer to a mature business executive, Denise is a testament to the fact that bad people can come from good families and good things can come from bad people. In the hood, she is known for making people who cross her disappear. At her day job, she is known for keeping everything under control and getting things done no matter what. However, she can’t stay away from street thugs with nothing to offer besides mind-blowing sex. She’s seen it all from being pimped to contract killings to multi-million dollar real-estate deals, and Denise still manages to keep a job strictly for the health benefits.
Tony is a nobody in the hood who is at the helm of a platinum-selling music career with the help of Greg’s direction and connections. With average looks and an overboard ego, Tony lives a life that most wanna-be rappers would die for. He is able to obtain a beautiful girlfriend who is equally successful in her R&B career. His sexual addiction makes it hard to enjoy his girlfriend. Unlike Denise, he has a rep for being a pushover in the streets.
In her debut novel, Madison shows her mastery of melding together name brand items with high level psychology. The characters in Scattered Lies know enough about each other to know that there is more to know. It is that surface tension that keeps the reader afloat amid infinitely deep plot twists. The realistic dialogue is matched with issues that will hit home with many readers: family favoritism, being in love with old flames, skeletons in the closet coming back to destroy stability, among others.
The additional characters and scenarios perfectly accommodate the flavor and complexity of Scattered Lies. Denise’s niece Morgan deals with issues that most teenagers struggle with such as teenage sex, being a critical thinker at a young age and being treated differently because of beauty. Gabrielle’s clientele also engages issues like money laundering practices by wealthy people and rich women who are sexually addicted to boy toys from the hood.
There were two things that did not sit comfortably with me: the book’s cover and the book’s ending. Past the fact that “shattered” rhymes with “scattered”, the only connection I could see between the book cover and its story was that two shards of the broken glass had an image of a microphone (Tony, the rapper) and a woman wearing an unbuttoned shirt with a pearl necklace (presumably Denise, but possibly Gabrielle). However, this cover is much more welcomed and classier than just posting up a pin up model. Scattered Lies’ ending was shocking, but not satisfying. Given the lives of the characters up to that point, I struggle to see how ending the story that way brings closure to the various plot twists or opens the opportunity for sequels.
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Nice review, Pinckney! I wanna read this…
You do long and great reviews as usual! This is my reviewer-colleague and dear online friend 4life.
Dream Yours,
Adrienna
http://www.adriennaturner.webs.com
Ive read a lot of book and Scattered Lies is one of the best books Ive read in a long time. I read that book in one day i could not put it down. Trust me its worth the money. I cant wait for part 2 i know its gonna be off the hook so hurry up Madison
I actually purchased this book for five dollars. LMBAO! It was the last copy on the stand. When I questioned the guy that was selling it he said was new book, that’s why it’s was being sold at that price.
Needless to say, I thought the cover was actually tasteful giving the fact that everyone “Urban†books cover looks the same. This was definitely something different.
Chile….I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I so agree with the reviewer, the conversation between the characters was excellent.
Another thing, I loved about book the character was all some- what educated. Unlike most, Urban/Street lit, Madison illustrated a different vision. She exposed you to the good and bad of growing up in the project. Oh, and can I say Greg is the man!! I just love his swag. A lot of so called dealers need to take a page out of his book.
Denise, my favorite was she’s a diamond in the rough. She represented what so many women are going through today. She proved it’s not where you came from but where you’re going.
Although I didn’t like the ending, it was a still good. All night I asked my self so many questions as to why…But I must say it was good. Sans a little error the book was great!!
Finally a novel I can get excited about. I purchased three copies of this book about a month ago when it was on a “stocking stuffer special” Buy 3 get 1 Free. I like to support new Authors even though at times I have been disappointed with the product – it’s about support.
The cover is what actually got me to buy the special, it caught my attention and I wanted to know what the book was about. It doesn’t scream “hood Book” and allows itself to be marketed to all races. I think the cover fits the story, it shows how fragile and delicate relationships are and the consequence deception, Lies, and mistrust brings.
This book is a DEFINITE read, Joey you hit it on the head with this review, if I had not already read the book, instead of leaving this comment I would be on Amazon adding it to my Cart.
This sounds like a good read and the reviews here make you know that it is a good read….this is a must add to my tbr…..
WOW! Great review!
This is a really good book. One of the best I have read this year. There is sex, mystery, and laughs. All the things I love in a good read. Though the characters are from the streets, I found their struggles to be very relatable. I’d suggest this to anyone who likes urban fiction. It’s a real page turner and will keep you guessing.
I am so glad I purchased this book. One of my girlfriends said she heard about it from a co-worker. I hesitated at first feeling like it was going to be the same old hood book. OMG, was I wrong. THE BOOK WAS GREAT.I picked it up from one of the streer vendors in the bronx. I almost missed my stop reading it on the train. I actually finished it in one day. I couldnt put it down, anxious to see what happened to Denise and how out of control Tony was going to get.
Great Job Madison. I dont believe this is a debut. The book was written like a pro. Any word on part two???
Hi There
First, I’d like to say HAPPY NEW YEAR and may you have many many more. I wanted to write on Madison page just a comment. I could not. So, I am writing you. I read the book Scattered Lies, and the book was good. But, the end was not good in my opion. The cliff hanger should have been better. Like why didn’t the book at the end say something like: “Look forward to part” or” Part 2 coming soon” or maybe write a little something that was going to be put in part 2? At the end it did not even mention there was going to be a part 2. I was really upset at the ending.
I’ve read a couple of books like Madison’s, that ended the same way. And, to tell the truth I did not even bother to ask anyone if there was going to be a part 2. I didn’t have anything to look forward to. The other books I mentioned 1 of them didn’t even come out with a part 2. I am not a writer but, I would want my book fans to have something to look forward to reading my next book.
Well, anyway I wish Madison, the best in her book career.
Sincerely,
Dee
PS: Is there going to be a part 2?
Hey Dee,
Thank you for postive feedback. And yes, there will be a part two. I will make sure when we go for another print to include a page that states look for part two.
May I ask, where did you purchase the book from.
Loved the review Pinkney!!
Well I came across this book at a book store in Texas called The Dock Shop. I was in there looking for a couple of things. I struck up a conversation with the lady that worked at the shop. I was asking her about some books for my daughter when I noticed she was reading this book.
Bare in mind, I don’t read hood books. Not interested in reading about a bunch of drug dealers, and hoes. It degrades black people. Like, others stated it’s the covers that really grab your attention. It was very classy and unique something you don’t normally see with Urban Books.
So, I asked her the name of the book, she said Scattered Lies. She grinned, and said let me get you a copy, trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Needless to say, I read it in one night I could not put this book down. It didn’t have the typical scheming, and killing going it. But it was interesting, in a different way. There interaction was real and relatable, something you don’t’ see.
Joey, you were right about good can come from bad people. Trust me, they are not you typical shoot’em projects people, they all have realistic issues. It’s sad, but Madison tapped on real issues. Sad to say but the world is full of Tonys’, Denises’, Gabrielles’ and Morgans’.
My favorite characters in the book are Denise, Gabrielle they don’t take shit from no one. I love those too.
Oh, yeah and Greg….
I agree with Dee, I didn’t like the ending but it was a good book.
When is Part two coming out…
Thanks everyone! Trust me, I will make sure the second book leaves you breathless.
just out my newsite page.http://www.wix.com/iammadison/madison
Great review Joey….your the best!
Madison,
I would first like to say Thank you! The trilogy of Scattered Lies is jaw dropping!!!! My sister, two best friends, and myself just finished reading the series! We can not stop talking about it! You did a wonderful job!!!! I would love to know more about you. Wow, how did you come up with the ideas and plots. You were amazing! I like to think of myself as an actress and I had started saying I was Denise. But afterwards she went a little too hard for me! lol So then I started saying ok I will be Gabby! I could sit and talk about this series for ever! I really really think you should look into making this a movie! It is really that good! If you find the right movie producer this could be huge for you. I know I sound like a groupie and maybe I will talk that. I 30 years old and I am a school counselor at a High School. I do not know why I felt the need to tell you that but I did. But again 2 thumbs up this was an AMAZING triliogy!
love your work,waiting for part 3 of Scattered Lies,can you tell me when it will be out keep up the good work.