Review: Proof of Lies by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Proof of Lies
(Anastasia Phoenix #1)
by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication date: March 7, 2017
Genre: YA Mystery
Rating:

Some secrets are best kept hidden…

Anastasia Phoenix has always been the odd girl out, whether moving from city to international city with her scientist parents or being the black belt who speaks four languages.

And most definitely as the orphan whose sister is missing, presumed dead.

She’s the only one who believes Keira is still alive, and when new evidence surfaces, Anastasia sets out to follow the trail—and lands in the middle of a massive conspiracy. Now she isn’t sure who she can trust. At her side is Marcus, the bad boy with a sexy accent who’s as secretive as she is. He may have followed her to Rome to help, but something about him seems too good to be true.

Nothing is as it appears, and when everything she’s ever known is revealed to be a lie, Anastasia has to believe in one impossibility.

She will find her sister.

My thoughts…

Proof of Lies is kind of like Spy Kids except instead of going up against masterminds to get her parents back, Anastasia’s sister has been taken and while the American authorities have deemed it a homicide, Anastasia is convinced her sister is still alive. She sets off to Rome in the hopes of finding her sister but instead lands herself in the middle of a massive conspiracy surrounded by spies. It’s a crazy adventure full of suspense, mystery, and action.

Proof of Lies is definitely an adventure. Anastasia is kind of a loner. Due to her parents’ jobs their family moves around a lot. I’m not just talking from one town or one state over but they move all over the world, constantly. So, when her parents are killed in a car accident, Anastasia and her older sister, Keira, hold down the fort in their last house. They’re getting by but the tension between her and her sister are high. They are each coping with the loss of their parents in different ways. Anastasia shuts down and Keira throws herself into booze and boys. However, one of those boys turns out to be the enemy that leads Anastasia on a wild goose chase through Rome in the hopes of getting her sister back.

I really enjoyed the fact that the story wasn’t just black and white. It wasn’t a bunch of spies attacking Anastasia and her sister because Keira was simply asking questions about their parents and their jobs. Pieces start to fall into place and you soon realize there’s a whole other conflict going on that goes so much deeper than just that. I don’t want to go into details about anything and accidentally give something way. Let’s just say that as the story progresses, more and more gets added to Anastasia’s plate and it’s a race against the clock sort of puzzle for her to solve.

While I enjoyed the suspense of this novel, there were times where I wanted to shake Anastasia for her stupidity. I mean, meeting a potential enemy alone, stupid… chasing after your sisters kidnapper down deserted roads, stupid… trusting ANYONE with your safety and important information, stupid. There were so many times where this girl should have died because she didn’t think. She had a couple other people with her on this journey that she could have relied on, told about her discoveries, but instead she goes to the enemy. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d gotten herself killed. Actually, I’m kind of surprised that she didn’t. However, I suppose this gives her character room to grow throughout the remaining books.

Proof of Lies is a fast-paced mystery filled with conspiracies and spies. While the main character had her flaws the story itself was a fun read. There was suspense, mystery, a tiny smidgen of romance, and even though part of the story is concluded, there’s still more that Anastasia and the gang need to uncover. If you’re in the market for a young adult suspenseful mystery, then give Proof of Lies a shot.

Favorite quote…

“Given how much he helped me, I knew I should comfort him, come up with the perfect thing to say, but there were no words. Hallmark doesn’t make an ‘I’m sorry your parents are criminals’ card. Maybe we should add it to the Happy Legal Guardian Day.”