Plausible Liars: A Dr. Lindsey McCall Medical Mystery (2024)

It seems bizarre to be saying this, but I am genuinely grateful to Lin, and others like her, for sticking her neck out and saying what needs to be said. Even more bizarre is the suggestion that she is taking great risk in doing so, but here we are.

Lin has never been one to shy away from controversial issues, and there are few more controversial at the moment than the indoctrination of children by some of the more extreme elements of the trans community, fully supported by those organizations and powerful individuals with a vested interest. Whilst I don’t wish to put Lin in the firing line, I suspect this book is born of strong views toward this issue rather than neutral observation – views which I’m sure are shared by the huge majority of parents in the modern world. She is brave and honest; for an articulate and intelligent author who specializes in medical/legal procedural thrillers, this is a fertile (and inevitable, it would seem) battleground for her to throw her hat into the ring – and good for her, for she has risen to the challenge with the same degree of intelligence and articulate presentation she always does; there are the similarly determined, crusading traits of Lionel Shriver in this author.

The story will trigger some, no doubt, including many who have no apparent personal interest but rather symptomize products of a society which appears to have diverged from a safe path for children; the author cleverly metaphorizes this society with a particular character who sits on the jury, so representative of the arrogance of his rights-obsessed generation. Some in the book continuously refer to the misguided mindwashing and mutilation of the young as “evil”, and when you consider it, it is difficult to disagree that among some communities there is definitely a suggestion of sociopathic exploitation as a method of validation; this book, intentionally or not, asks the question of whether evil is ever too strong a word. It is scarily topical and, you suspect, forewarning of an increasingly likely trend, as longtime series protagonists Lindsey McCall and Kate Townsend find themselves in court accused of a hate crime which led to a teenager’s death, following his wish to detransition. That very word itself seems to bring a powerful, well-funded and arguably malevolent movement into galvanization, to ensure these two well-meaning women are severely punished as an example to those who question the ideology that the want to detransition is a fallacy, and the promotion of such in itself can be called a hate crime, exacerbated by a society hobbled by fear of stepping up.

Lin’s book is unafraid and from the heart, though from my own point of view I did feel that the religious orthodoxy of some of the main characters perhaps undermines the otherwise tremendously well-researched work the author carried out to create this book; there is suggestion of an inhuman aspect to the malevolence, and much talk about Genesis, which felt in complete contrast to Lin’s otherwise excellent presentation of a legal and moral case in a hugely contentious subject. But I know the author, and I know how important her faith is to her – it is her book and her prerogative to address the subject matter from her chosen angle. The religious aspect is important to the story, don’t get me wrong, but the book is absolutely at its best when it is challenging the intellectual and societal schisms in the subject with evidence and humanity.

A very important book, generally well crafted, though perhaps could do with a touch of polish, Plausible Liars needs to be read by all – and none less than a generation which, to most of us, seems to have totally lost its way – as always, the most vulnerable are those most at risk. Bravo, Lin.

Award-winning author Lin Wilder brings the fifth novel in her Dr. Lindsey McCall medical mystery series to light in Plausible Liars. The fascinating and compelling subject matter coupled with the sparks that fly from Wilder’s pen make it impossible to put this book down until the last page is read!

Investigative journalist Kate Townsend had no idea the number of feathers she was going to ruffle after writing and publishing her series, "Corrupting America’s Children: Creating Chemical Eunuchs." Danny Sugarman, a three-year-old in the same preschool as her son was not only the victim, but her inspiration to write the series. When Kate happened to arrive early one day to pick up her son, ‘JH,’ she happens to see a group of children in a circle dancing around Danny. He was crying and looking at a cake as the children danced in a circle around him chanting: "...Susan come out..." (pg. 65) After watching the activity for a few minutes, Kate walked over to the group and was disturbed when she witnessed young Danny in a skirt and "...crying hysterically, screaming that he didn’t want to be Mia, over and over. The other kids, including JH, started to cry, too..." (pg. 66) When Kate approached the teacher, Addison, to help, little did she know that her act of listening to Danny and helping him remove the skirt Addison thought would be okay to dress him in and replace his trousers, would be an act that would come back to bite Kate tenfold.

Meanwhile, Kate’s friend Dr. Lindsey McCall is at the center of quite a storm that is brewing and the epicenter of the storm she is about to be thrown into is transgender politics. Joey Carmichael used to be Zoey until he met Dr. T, and the journey of her gender transition was born. Joey is an impressionable young teenager and his mother, Cassie, was never going to be mother of the year. She had her own set of problems with drugs and alcohol. Joey’s confidante was his journal and that was his safe place to share his turmoil: "...when I was little, I looked exactly like Mom did at age three, then four, then five: freckles, curly red hair, and dimples. She showed me pictures to prove it. I’ve heard that some kids get stories read to them before bed. Not me. Just about every night, she would bring out that photo album and touch it and then me. “You’re going to look just like me, Zoey, honey.” Oh no, Cassie Carmichael, I am not going to look just like you. In fact, by the time I’m done, we won’t look like we’re in the same genus. OK, diary that might be a slight exaggeration, but you’ll see..." (pg. 3) Time and circ*mstances will expose whether it is Dr. T (or Dr. McCall) who has Joey/Zoey’s real best interests at heart. What both Kate and Dr. McCall would soon be subjected to is the fight of their lives for their respective freedoms or life behind bars.

Lin Wilder has done an exceptional job of research (both medical and case study) and applied it to an equally fascinating read. The relatable believability and color applied to all characters in this riveting and very controversial read is fantastic. There are many opportunities throughout this read that have a sublime nuance toward all that humanity is faced with in our world today and all roads typically lead to: pick a side. I applaud an author with such enviable talents to incent awareness across many of the pages of this novel. There are triggering moments with outcomes that range from anger, sorrow, and the sense of innocence usurped to name a few. It’s difficult to site one particular scene toward either argument (for or against) gender transitioning or dysphoria when touching upon the storyline because Wilder has proficiently presented argument for both sides of the topic. Ergo, bravo! You have ‘shown’ your audience versus ‘tell’ and simply put, it is up to the reader to process and evaluate. Personally, I have great respect for Ms. Wilder for her unabashed willfulness to plant the seeds of faith throughout this read and it is because of this I personally maintain hope and faith for better times to come. Thank you for penning such a fascinating and educational read!

Quill says: Plausible Liars may be a work of fiction, but it is hauntingly real in the societal climate of today.

Dr. Lindsey McCall is the head of the Animal Science Center at a college. She starts to get to know one of the students who is friends with her daughter's roommate and realizes he is in need of some help. Joey is a transgender male and has been having regrets about transitioning from female to male. But, because of pressure from a doctor on campus, he feels the need to continue his journey. When Lindsey learns about this, she decides that she will help Joey to make the right decision and keep himself safe. She meets with her friend Kate Townsend who is an investigative journalist. Kate wrote an article regarding a teacher putting pressure on a student to identify as transgender in her 3-year-old's preschool classroom and received a lot of backlash from transgender activists regarding it. At first, Dr. Lindsey is unsure whether it is her place to get further involved with Joey's situation, especially after hearing what Kate went through, but when she hears that Joey has suffered a health scare due to the testosterone medicine he is taking, she decides that she needs to. But when Dr.Lindsey gets charged with a hate crime and blamed for Joey's health, she becomes part of an outrageous courtroom case. Will Dr. Lindsey be able to prove herself innocent in the US Department of Justice?

Opinion:
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. While this book was pretty long, I felt that it was a fast-paced read because it was such an eventful story. The storyline was very different than any book I have ever read, as I have not often seen books written about transgender politics. I really like how the author was able to write a fictional mystery book that still included factual aspects about this issue. I enjoyed getting to know the characters such as Joey, Dr. Lindsey, and Joey's friend Morgan. It was nice to see Morgan's unconditional friendship and support towards Joey, and Joey's perseverance and strength. Another specific thing I enjoyed about this book was how it was written from the perspective of multiple characters, focusing on Dr. Lindsey and Joey. This gives the reader an inside look into more of the characters and gives more perspective on the story as it was happening. The storyline of this book was very thought-provoking, and I felt I got to learn about issues which are not often discussed, such as trans-regret. I also think this book gives readers perspective on how extreme court cases surrounding these issues can be, such as when the SWAT team of FBI agents came to arrest Dr.Lindsey during the night. Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers!

A hard-edged drama that pulls no punches in the presentation of the storyline. Anyone who is on either side of the burgeoning Parental Rights debate would be smart to read this book.

We have here the classic case of no good deed going unpunished. Trying to help a child who is being driven to do things by a psycho leads Dr. Lindsay back into legal trouble.

The courtroom drama is so incredibly detailed and realistic it is gripping. The author is simply an expert at recreating the intensity of the courtroom with the written word.

The troubled youth at the center of the story is a character developed in a very touching way. The author is able to clearly point out that psychotics can come in many forms with many 'reasons' for their actions.

Strongly written with an intense storyline, this is a page turner. Remarkably well crafted and thought out, this book will either support your beliefs or challenge them. It is not a bad thing to read a book that challenges your beliefs. Fans of this author will love this book. A highly recommended read.

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Mr. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

"Plausible Liars" by Lin Wilder is a thought-provoking and gripping novel that tackles contemporary issues with depth and precision. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kate Townsend's journey into the world of transgender politics, alongside Lindsey McCall's legal challenges, makes for a compelling read. Wilder's exploration of complex characters and medical mysteries is both innovative and engaging, leaving readers eager for more.