Lies at First Sight

Sloane Caraway, a lonely, compulsive liar working as a nail tech in Brooklyn, impulsively claims to be a nurse when she helps a little girl, Harper, with a bee sting at the park. She's drawn to Harper's handsome father, Jay, and the beautiful, enigmatic mother, Violet. Sloane's lie is small but intoxicating, and it sets her on a path of deeper deception. She's desperate to be noticed, to be special, and her lies are the only way she knows how to make herself interesting. This first encounter is the spark that ignites a web of falsehoods, as Sloane inserts herself into the Lockhart family's orbit, craving the life and connection she sees in them.

The Nurse Who Wasn't

Sloane's lie about being a nurse quickly snowballs. Violet, grateful for Sloane's help, invites her into their lives, eventually offering her a job as Harper's nanny—specifically because of her supposed medical background. Sloane, who has a history of fabricating her way into belonging, can't resist. She becomes "Caitlin," a more polished, employable version of herself, and soon is spending more time with Violet and Harper, and, occasionally, Jay. The thrill of being needed and trusted is addictive, but Sloane's sense of self is increasingly tied to her ability to keep up the charade.

Home Truths and Habits

At home, Sloane cares for her ailing mother, who is the only person she doesn't lie to. Her childhood was marked by instability, poverty, and a desperate need to fit in—needs she met by inventing stories about herself. The habit is so ingrained that she sometimes believes her own lies. Sloane's longing for connection is palpable, and her relationship with her mother is both a comfort and a source of shame. She wants more from life, and the Lockharts represent everything she's ever wanted: beauty, stability, and belonging.

The Art of Reinvention

As Sloane grows closer to Violet, she begins to mimic her—her style, her hair, even her mannerisms. Violet encourages this, gifting Sloane clothes and inviting her to share in family rituals. Sloane's transformation is both literal and psychological; she's shedding her old self and becoming "Caitlin," the ideal friend, employee, and maybe even something more. The lines between admiration and obsession blur, and Sloane's sense of self becomes dangerously dependent on Violet's approval.

Violet's Invitation

Violet, who seems perfect on the surface, is herself deeply lonely and dissatisfied in her marriage. She confides in Sloane, sharing her insecurities and hinting at cracks in her relationship with Jay. The two women bond over shared experiences and a sense of being outsiders. Violet's invitation to Sloane to join the family on a summer trip to Block Island is both a reward and a test—a chance for Sloane to fully step into the role of surrogate family, but also a move in a larger, hidden game.

The Dinner That Changes Everything

A pivotal dinner at the Lockhart home cements Sloane's place in the family. She's drawn to both Violet and Jay, and the chemistry between her and Jay is undeniable. Violet seems to encourage this, even as she confides in Sloane about her marital troubles. The dinner is a microcosm of the tangled relationships at play: Sloane's longing, Violet's manipulation, Jay's charm, and Harper's innocence. It's clear that everyone is playing a role, and the boundaries between truth and performance are dissolving.

The Past Catches Up

Sloane's past as a compulsive liar and her history with a restraining order from a previous nanny job begin to surface. An encounter with her former employer, Allison, at the spa where Sloane works, threatens to expose her. Sloane's carefully constructed identity is at risk, and she's forced to confront the consequences of her lies. Meanwhile, Violet's own secrets begin to emerge, and it becomes clear that she's not just a passive participant in Sloane's reinvention—she's orchestrating something.

Becoming Caitlin

Violet encourages Sloane to fully embrace her new identity, even helping her change her appearance to more closely resemble Violet herself. Sloane is both thrilled and unsettled by this, but she can't resist the pull of belonging. The two women become almost interchangeable, and Sloane's sense of self is subsumed by her role as Violet's "twin." The dynamic is both intimate and predatory, with Violet pushing Sloane further into her own image for reasons that remain unclear.

Sisterhood of Secrets

Violet and Sloane's relationship deepens into a kind of chosen sisterhood, with both women confessing their loneliness and dissatisfaction. Violet suggests that they might even be related, given their similar backgrounds and appearance. She asks Sloane to become Harper's legal guardian in the event of her and Jay's deaths, a request that flatters and unnerves Sloane. The two women are now bound by legal, emotional, and psychological ties, and the stage is set for a dramatic reckoning.

The Island of Illusions

On Block Island, the Lockhart family—now including Sloane—plays at being the perfect unit. But beneath the surface, tensions simmer. Jay and Sloane's flirtation intensifies, encouraged by Violet, who seems to be orchestrating events. Sloane is both participant and pawn, swept up in the fantasy of family and belonging. The island setting heightens the sense of unreality, and the boundaries between the women blur further as they share clothes, secrets, and even Harper's affection.

The Perfect Family Unravels

Jay and Sloane's relationship crosses a line, and Violet's reaction is not what anyone expects. Instead of anger, she seems almost pleased, as if this was her plan all along. The family's facade crumbles as Violet confronts Jay and Sloane, revealing her knowledge of their affair and her own intentions. The power dynamics shift, and it becomes clear that Violet has been manipulating everyone, using Sloane's longing and Jay's weakness to set the stage for something much darker.

The Trap Is Set

Violet's true plan is revealed: she intends to fake her own death and frame Jay for her murder, using Sloane as her double. She's orchestrated Sloane's transformation so that, when the time comes, Sloane will be mistaken for Violet. Violet's motive is to escape Jay's control, protect Harper, and start a new life. Sloane, initially horrified, is ultimately complicit—her own desire for belonging and her anger at Jay's betrayal make her a willing participant. The plan is set in motion, with each woman playing her part.

The Gun and the Guardian

In a tense, emotionally charged scene, Sloane shoots Violet (non-fatally) as part of the plan, but the situation spirals. The police are called, and Sloane claims that Jay shot Violet and fled. Violet, with the help of an old friend, disappears, leaving Sloane to take her place as Harper's guardian. Jay is arrested for attempted murder, and the evidence—carefully planted by Violet—seems damning. Sloane is left to navigate the aftermath, grappling with guilt, relief, and a strange sense of triumph.

The Switch

Violet's disappearance is covered up with the help of her childhood friend, Danny, who ensures that the authorities believe she is dead. Sloane, now legally Harper's guardian and in possession of Violet's wealth, steps fully into her new life. The authorities, convinced by the evidence and Sloane's testimony, pursue Jay for murder. The switch is complete: Sloane is now Violet in all but name, and Violet is free to start over elsewhere.

The Husband's Fall

Jay, bewildered and betrayed, is arrested and charged with Violet's murder. He slowly realizes that he's been set up, but no one believes him. The evidence is overwhelming, and Sloane's testimony seals his fate. In a final, devastating twist, Jay is confronted with the truth: the woman he thought was his wife is gone, and the woman he thought he could control has outmaneuvered him. His downfall is both tragic and inevitable, the result of his own weaknesses and the women's cunning.

The Truth on Trial

As Jay's trial approaches, the full extent of Violet and Sloane's plan comes to light. Sloane, now fully inhabiting her new identity, testifies against Jay, ensuring his conviction. Violet, presumed dead, is free to start a new life with Harper, while Sloane enjoys the security and belonging she's always craved. The truth is buried beneath layers of lies, and the women's bond—born of desperation and deception—proves unbreakable.

The Gemini Twins

In the aftermath, Sloane and Violet (now living as sisters) move to California with Harper, leaving their old lives behind. They are bound by their shared secrets and the lengths they went to for freedom and family. Sloane reflects on the cost of her lies and the strange, twisted sisterhood she's found with Violet. The novel ends with the two women, now "Gemini twins," having remade themselves through deception, finally finding the belonging they always sought—even if it came at a terrible price.

Characters

Sloane Caraway ("Caitlin")

Sloane is a woman shaped by instability, poverty, and a lifelong need to be noticed. Her compulsive lying is both a defense mechanism and a way to make herself interesting, and she often blurs the line between truth and fiction even in her own mind. She's deeply lonely, caring for her ailing mother and longing for connection. When she meets the Lockharts, she sees a chance to reinvent herself and finally belong. Sloane's psychological complexity lies in her self-awareness—she knows she's a liar, but can't stop herself. Her journey is one of transformation, as she becomes "Caitlin," then, ultimately, Violet's twin and co-conspirator. Her relationship with Violet is fraught with admiration, envy, and a yearning for sisterhood, while her attraction to Jay is both genuine and a projection of her fantasies. Sloane's development is a descent into moral ambiguity, as her need for love and security leads her to participate in Violet's dangerous plan.

Violet Lockhart

Violet is the beautiful, charismatic mother of Harper and wife of Jay. On the surface, she's the perfect wife and mother, but beneath lies a woman deeply dissatisfied and trapped in a loveless, controlling marriage. Violet is both victim and perpetrator: she's been emotionally abused and betrayed by Jay, but she's also capable of cold calculation and manipulation. Her relationship with Sloane is complex—she sees in Sloane both a kindred spirit and a tool for her own escape. Violet's psychological depth comes from her ability to play multiple roles: loving mother, wronged wife, and ultimately, avenger. Her plan to fake her own death and frame Jay is both an act of desperation and empowerment, and her bond with Sloane becomes a twisted form of sisterhood.

Jay Lockhart

Jay is the handsome, charismatic husband and father whose charm masks deep flaws: infidelity, selfishness, and a need for control. He's both a victim of his own weaknesses and a perpetrator of emotional harm, especially toward Violet. Jay's relationship with Sloane is marked by flirtation and mutual attraction, but he underestimates both women. His downfall is the result of his inability to see beyond his own desires, and he becomes the scapegoat in Violet's plan. Jay's psychological arc is one of confusion, denial, and eventual realization that he's been outplayed.

Harper Lockhart

Harper is the young daughter of Violet and Jay, the emotional center of the story. She represents innocence and the stakes of the adult characters' actions. Her medical vulnerability (real or exaggerated) is used as a plot device to draw Sloane into the family and to justify Violet's choices. Harper's relationship with Sloane becomes maternal, and with Violet, deeply loving. She is the reason for Violet's drastic actions and the prize in the battle between the adults.

Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie is a talkative, observant neighbor on Block Island who becomes an unwitting witness to the Lockharts' unraveling. Her outsider perspective provides credibility to the events and helps anchor the story in reality. She is manipulated by Violet to serve as a witness for the "new" family unit, and her testimony is crucial in the aftermath.

Danny Shepherd

Danny is Violet's first love and now her loyal confidant and co-conspirator. He helps orchestrate Violet's disappearance and the cover-up of her "death." Danny's presence adds depth to Violet's backstory and provides the practical means for her escape. His loyalty is rooted in a shared history of pain and survival.

Allison McIntyre

Allison is the mother from Sloane's past who exposes her history of lying and the restraining order. Her reappearance threatens to unravel Sloane's new life and adds tension to the narrative. Allison represents the consequences of Sloane's compulsive lying and the fragility of her constructed identity.

Sloane's Mother

Sloane's mother is ailing and dependent, the only person Sloane doesn't lie to. She represents Sloane's roots, her guilt, and her longing for a better life. Their relationship is both loving and fraught, as Sloane's desire for independence clashes with her sense of duty.

Laura ("Dolly Parton")

Laura is a wealthy, eccentric client from Sloane's nail salon days who becomes an unexpected source of support. She provides the legal and financial means for Sloane to secure guardianship of Harper and helps facilitate the final escape.

Detective Edgerton

Detective Edgerton is the lead investigator on the case, representing the law's inability to see through the layers of deception. He is methodical but ultimately outmaneuvered by Violet and Sloane's plan, serving as a symbol of the system's limitations.

Plot Devices

Unreliable Narration and Identity Shifts

The novel's structure relies on the reader's uncertainty about what is real and who is telling the truth. Sloane's compulsive lying, Violet's manipulations, and Jay's self-deception create a web of unreliable perspectives. The use of identity shifts—Sloane becoming Caitlin, then Violet; Violet becoming Sloane—serves both as a plot device and a commentary on the fluidity of self. The narrative structure is circular, with events and lies echoing and refracting through different characters' points of view.

Doppelgänger Motif and Twinning

The motif of twinning—Sloane and Violet becoming near-identical in appearance and manner—is central to the plot. This doppelgänger device is used to facilitate the murder plot, but also to explore themes of envy, identity, and the longing for sisterhood. The "Gemini twins" motif recurs, symbolizing both the characters' bond and the dangers of losing oneself in another.

Foreshadowing and Red Herrings

The novel is rich in foreshadowing: Sloane's history of lying, her transformation, and Violet's encouragement all hint at the coming switch. Red herrings—such as Sloane's attraction to Jay, the threat of exposure from Allison, and the focus on Harper's health—distract the reader from Violet's true plan. The narrative is structured to keep the reader guessing, with each revelation recontextualizing earlier events.

Legal and Procedural Realism

The use of legal documents (wills, guardianship papers, divorce filings) and police investigation adds realism and stakes to the story. These devices are not just background detail—they are the mechanisms by which Violet and Sloane's plan succeeds and Jay is framed. The procedural elements heighten the tension and provide a sense of inevitability to the unfolding drama.

Psychological Manipulation and Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a recurring device: Jay gaslights Violet, Violet manipulates Sloane, and Sloane gaslights herself. The characters' psychological games are both a source of suspense and a commentary on the ways women are forced to adapt, perform, and survive in a world that undervalues them.

Analysis

Count My Lies is a razor-sharp psychological thriller that explores the dangers and seductions of reinvention. At its core, it's a story about women who are forced to lie—to themselves, to each other, to the world—in order to survive and claim agency in a system rigged against them. Sloane's compulsive lying is both a symptom of trauma and a tool for self-creation, while Violet's masterful manipulation is a desperate bid for freedom from a controlling, unfaithful husband. The novel interrogates the boundaries between admiration and obsession, victimhood and complicity, truth and performance.

The "Gemini twins" motif is both literal and metaphorical: Sloane and Violet become mirrors for each other, each seeking in the other what they lack in themselves. Their bond is both empowering and destructive, a sisterhood forged in secrecy and violence. Jay, the charming but ultimately weak husband, is both a catalyst and a casualty—his downfall is a critique of male entitlement and the blindness of those who underestimate women.

The book's structure—layered with unreliable narration, shifting identities, and legal machinations—keeps the reader off-balance, mirroring the characters' own uncertainty about who they are and what is real. The final twist, in which Sloane and Violet escape together, leaving Jay to take the fall, is both satisfying and unsettling. It raises questions about justice, morality, and the price of freedom.

Ultimately, Count My Lies is a story about the power and peril of self-invention. It asks: How far will we go to belong? What are we willing to become to escape the roles we've been assigned? And can we ever truly count our lies—or are we, in the end, defined by them?

Last updated: April 28, 2025