In Two Perfect Lies, Richards crafts a “Freida McFadden for YA” thriller that explores the dark side of loyalty. Clara Cutler is a social outcast with a criminal record until Lily Dalton, the school’s It girl, takes her under her wing. For two years, their friendship is Clara’s lifeline until mysteriously a folder is found in her backpack containing a deadly hit list and recipes for explosives. Though Clara knows it belongs to Lily, Lily denies it, and even suggests that Clara’s knowledge of chemistry proves that the folder is hers. As the targets on the list begin to meet “accidents,” Clara is forced into a desperate race to clear her name while everyone—including the authorities— already views her as the primary suspect. One by one, former friends of Lily concede that they too were framed, and it becomes clear that Clara’s savior is a predator. This breakneck, atmospheric read cements Richards’s status as a master of the YA mystery genre. Readers who love stories about toxic friendships and “perfect” girls with murderous intentions will eat this up.
