Matt McAvoy Book Review

It seems bizarre to be saying this, but I am genuinely grateful to Lin, and others like her, for sticking her neck out and saying what needs to be said.  Even more bizarre is the suggestion that she is taking great risk in doing so, but here we are. 

Lin has never been one to shy away from controversial issues, and there are few more controversial at the moment than the indoctrination of children by some of the more extreme elements of the trans community, fully supported by those organizations and powerful individuals with a vested interest.  Whilst I don’t wish to put Lin in the firing line, I suspect this book is born of strong views toward this issue rather than neutral observation – views which I’m sure are shared by the huge majority of parents in the modern world.  She is brave and honest; for an articulate and intelligent author who specializes in medical/legal procedural thrillers, this is a fertile (and inevitable, it would seem) battleground for her to throw her hat into the ring – and good for her, for she has risen to the challenge with the same degree of intelligence and articulate presentation she always does; there are the similarly fearless, crusading traits of Lionel Shriver in this author.

The story will trigger some, no doubt, including many who have no apparent personal interest but rather symptomize products of a society which appears to have diverged from a safe path for children; the author cleverly metaphorizes this society with a particular character who sits on the jury, so representative of the arrogance of his rights-obsessed generation.  Some in the book continuously refer to the misguided mindwashing and mutilation of the young as “evil”, and when you consider it, it is difficult to disagree that among some communities there is definitely a suggestion of sociopathic exploitation as a method of validation; this book, intentionally or not, asks the question of whether evil is ever too strong a word.  It is scarily topical and, you suspect, forewarning of an increasingly likely trend, as longtime series protagonists Lindsey McCall and Kate Townsend find themselves in court accused of a hate crime which led to a teenager’s death, following his wish to detransition.  That very word itself seems to bring a powerful, well-funded and arguably malevolent movement into galvanization, to ensure these two well-meaning women are severely punished as an example to those who question the ideology that the want to detransition is a fallacy, and the promotion of such in itself can be called a hate crime, exacerbated by a society hobbled by fear of stepping up. 

Lin’s book is unafraid and from the heart, though from my own point of view I did feel that the religious orthodoxy of some of the main characters perhaps undermines the otherwise tremendously well-researched work the author carried out to create this book; there is suggestion of an inhuman aspect to the malevolence, and much talk about Genesis, which felt in complete contrast to Lin’s otherwise excellent presentation of a legal and moral case in a hugely contentious subject.  But I know the author, and I know how important her faith is to her – it is her book and her prerogative to address the subject matter from her chosen angle.  The religious aspect is important to the story, don’t get me wrong, but the book is absolutely at its best when it is challenging the intellectual and societal schisms in the subject with evidence and humanity. 

A very important book, generally well crafted, though perhaps could do with a touch of polish, Plausible Liars needs to be read by all – and none less than a generation which, to most of us, seems to have totally lost its way – as always, the most vulnerable are those most at risk.  Bravo, Lin.