Proof of Lies by Diana Rodriguez Wallach Series: Anastasia Phoenix #1
Published by Entangled: Teen in March 2017
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
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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.
Proof of Lies by Diana Rodrigues Wallach was a fun spy-themed mystery/thriller. The story had a ton of secrets, lots of action, and even a bit of romance.
Anastasia has been jet-setting around the world with her scientist parents and her older sister. She’s a black belt and knows four languages. At the beginning of the story, Anastasia loses her parents after an argument about moving away from Boston. Soon after that her sister/guardian disappears and is presumed dead. Believing that her sister is alive has her digging into her sister’s life and traveling to Europe with Marcus, a boy she barely knows and whose parents work for the same company as her parents did. Dresden kids stick together after all. On this adventure to find her sister, secrets are revealed that may possibly turn her life around more than it already has.
As a YA thriller, Proof of Lies was on point. There were a ton of twists, lots of secrets, and enough action to keep me fully engaged and interested to see what happened next. There were also many moments where I thought Anastasia was being extremely reckless. (It wouldn’t be a good thriller without some recklessness after all.) I loved the spy twist, and I’m excited to see what happens next.
Sadly, the story did let me down in the romance department. Marcus is Anastasia’s love interest in the story, and I just didn’t feel the connection. Perhaps, there was an initial attraction, but beyond that, I didn’t quite get it. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two. I’m hoping it improves in the second installment.
If you’re looking for a new spy-themed mystery/thriller, I’d highly recommend Proof of Lies by Diana Rodrigues Wallach, especially if you don’t care much about the romance. Proof of Lies was a fun page-turner that kept me on my toes. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Anastasia, her sister, and her friends.
