In a mostly underwater future Los Angeles, aging combat-drone veteran Orr Vue gets entangled in a murder investigation involving the currency of information, leading to a conspiracy that threatens his old boyfriend's existence. The novel blends noir and cyberpunk elements, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the lengths one would go for love and power in a world where memories can be bought and sold.

Reader Review Summary

Cory O'Brien's debut novel "Two Truths and a Lie" is a phenomenal genre-blending masterpiece that brilliantly combines elements of cyberpunk, noir mystery, and LGBTQ fiction into an imaginative and wildly entertaining read. Set in a near-future Los Angeles that is mostly submerged underwater, the book immerses readers into a vividly realized world where information and memories have become the most valuable commodities.

The story follows Orr Vue, an aging combat drone veteran who now scrapes by trading information snippets to make ends meet. When the police show up investigating a high-profile murder, Orr gets reluctantly pulled into the case due to his past connection with the prime suspect - his former lover Auggie. What ensues is a deliriously twisty and action-packed thrill ride as Orr navigates the seedy underbelly of this cyberpunk dystopia, encountering militarized police forces, shady megacorporations, rogue AIs, and mind-bending conspiracy theories.

From the opening pages, O'Brien exhibits a remarkable skill for worldbuilding, slowly immersing the reader into the complex future society he has conceived. The concepts he explores - the commercialization of memories, advanced neural implants that allow information processing and sharing, and more - are among the most creative takes on cyberpunk tropes in recent years. Yet O'Brien makes this crazy futuristic world feel disturbingly plausible and richly textured.

But it is the voice of Orr Vue, the narrator, that is the true showstopper. Dripping with curmudgeonly wit, sarcastic humor, and unabashed vulnerability, Orr is an unforgettable creation. His quotable inner monologues and dialogue become a consistent source of laughter even amidst the most high-stakes developments. O'Brien deserves immense credit for crafting such a vivid and distinctive character voice that leaps off the page.

The mystery plot driving the narrative is equally ingenious, continuously subverting expectations as new layers of conspiracy get peeled back. Like any great neo-noir tale, the central case sends Orr down a dizzying rabbit hole of lies and deception where the truth becomes hazier by the minute. The fact that information itself is a lucrative commodity in this world adds a brilliant meta layer to the familiar archetypal story.

While the sheer ambition of O'Brien's imaginative vision occasionally causes the narrative to get convoluted and slightly difficult to follow, the book as a whole represents a stunningly assured debut. The fast-paced, darkly comedic tone, sumptuously described setting, and beating queer heart at the core of the story add up to an unforgettable reading experience.

Part wise-cracking cyberpunk odyssey, part poignant meditation on memory and identity, "Two Truths and a Lie" is genre fiction at its most wildly original and deeply humanistic. Cory O'Brien is an enormously talented voice, with the potential to become a leading figure in speculative fiction for years to come. Highly recommended for fans of authors like William Gibson, China Mieville, and Richard K. Morgan.