The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a haunting read that will make you think and demands to be discussed. Stephanie Oakes has crafted a novel that could be ripped from the headlines and will make you question the meaning of justice.

Synopsis: ‘The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly’

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.

And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.

Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it’s clear that Minnow knows something—but she’s not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith — and the power of having faith in oneself.

Review

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is beautifully written, heartbreaking and enraging all at the same time. This is the kind of novel that begs to be read and then discussed at length. It makes you think about the world we live in and the true meaning of justice.

Minnow Bly has grown up in the Kevinian cult. Lead by a ruthless prophet, children are beaten, young teen girls are made to marry men decades older than them, and rebelling could cost you your life. The story starts in the present where Minnow is being sent to juvenile detention for assault. There are four things we know about Minnow: her hands have been cut off, she has escaped something horrific, she viciously attacked someone, and the Prophet is dead. Minnow’s story unfolds through flashbacks to her time in the cult and her present situation in the detention center. Minnow’s journey is about self-discovery and sifting through the lies told to her and the lies she tells.

Stephanie Oakes has created a story that will shock and horrify readers but also make them think. While Minnow’s story is hard to read, it could have been easily taken from the headlines. The prose are gorgeously written and atmospheric. The Scared Lies of Minnow Bly is a psychological thriller, a commentary on our justice system, and a must read book.