The Lie

“Quietly suspenseful . . . successfully blends speculative politics with metaphysics.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A gripping thriller with compelling characters…. Readers will enjoy the suspense and be enthralled.”
—Readers’ Favorite, 5 stars

“The Lie takes a satisfyingly different foray into metaphysical and magical realism realms with a story that cultivates the unexpected and breaks new ground…. Original and intriguing.”
—Midwest Book Review

Cybersecurity whiz Jedd finds himself held captive, strapped to the ground in a dark tunnel, without food or water. June’s campaign website has been hacked and she is viciously attacked by protesters. Darah flashes back to the terror of life under the dictatorship in the States, when her mother was deported.

Just when this group of friends thought they had defeated their enemies, they’re faced with not one but multiple immediate threats. Rumors and accusations are flying, and the future of the democratic nation of California is at stake. Can they figure out who is telling the truth and who is lying before it’s too late?

A taut combination of political, techno-thriller, and metaphysical fiction that’s scaffolded on three realities—the ancient wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, our current post-truth world, and the near future—this sequel to The Die is a fast-paced story about friendship, courage, and how to restore and revitalize truth.

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about the Mahabharata
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Praise for The Lie

“As someone who grew up with stories from the Mahabharata, I was impressed by Berman’s insights and how she applied them in a futuristic world. The Lie—a seamlessly blended sequel to The Die—is the perfect read for anyone concerned about technology overreach and the preservation of democracy.”

Grishma Shah
Author of Anagram Destiny

“JThe Lie is set in an AI future, though not so far that we can get comfortable with our distance from it. Berman’s characters strive for truth and justice, but whose truth to believe when all information can be hacked and trusted sources may be deepfakes? A fascinating read!”

Joan Cohen
Author of The Deepfake

“The Lie couldn’t be more timely in this era of faltering democracy and hydra-headed social and environmental crises. As its characters struggle to dispel a fog of deceit spawned by a bullying dictator, the novel asks vital questions about the restoration and defense of truth, clarity, and integrity. The Lie’s grounding in ancient wisdom is a ballast to steady our unmoored century.”

Steve Masover
Author of Consequence

“The world Berman creates is genius in its futuristic qualities and juxtaposition of good and evil, light and dark, truth and lies. Its positive messaging, infused throughout, taps into the soul of our humanity and leaves the reader more hopeful that we can change the future for the better.”

Julie Hatch
Author of The Very Best of Care

“Is a lie more powerful than the truth? In The Lie, Berman crafts a tight, Orwellian narrative—where two plus two often equals five—set amid a battle for reality itself, in which deepfakes, political sabotage, and AI-fueled manipulation threaten to rewrite what it means to know the truth.”

Francesco Paola
Author of Left on Rancho

“The Lie, a sequel to Berman’s futuristic The Die, is not so futuristic. It is chillingly close to what we face in the world today. Truths, lies, and vulnerabilities drive this story; yet it has a sweetness in its portrayal of friendship and courage. I couldn’t put it down.”

Karen Uhlmann
Author of Intersections

“The Lie is another gift from Jude Berman, an ingenious story about truth, deception, friendship, and control in an age of deepfakes and misinformation. Jedd and his friends are deftly drawn and bring a deep humanity and hope to a scary and plausible near future. It’s a great inventive read, and I’m eager for more.”

Sheri T. Joseph
Author of Edge of the Known World

“A thought-provoking story in which technology and truth collide, The Lie speaks to what’s most important to us today: truth about ourselves, truth about each other, and truth about the society in which we want to live.”

Jen Braaksma
Author of Evangeline’s Heaven and Amaranth