Liar's Paradox by Taylor Stevens

Published by Kensington on December 18, 2018

As the first book in the Jack and Jill series (currently consisting of this novel and Liar’s Legacy), Liar’s Paradox introduces Clare and her two children. In a backstory that evolves into the central story, we learn that while Clare worked for the CIA as an agent in Moscow, she ran into some trouble with her handler, a fellow named Boris who wanted to take her to bed. Clare was already in bed with Dimitry, the son of the Ministry of Defense. Her rejection of Boris places her in a precarious position, as does her pregnancy by Dimitry, who might or might not be a KGB agent. Clare expected Dimitry to join her when she escaped from Moscow but he never made the rendezvous, for reasons she didn’t understand at the time.

The pregnancy turned into the twins known as Jack and Jill. Like most of the other characters, including Clare, they have used a variety of names during their lives. By the time they were born, Clare had amassed a following of enemies, both inside and outside the CIA. She knew that children would be a vulnerability, so she raised them to survive without her. Their survival skills at this point are well honed, but the consequence of Clare’s unorthodox parenting is that her children hate her. Or maybe it’s sort of a love-hate relationship. They don’t want Clare’s enemies to kill her, if only because they would prefer to kill her themselves.

As the story begins, Jill is a 26-year-old drug addict with an enabling lover named Robert. Jack kidnaps her (the only safe way to deal with her) because Clare wants to see them. In a panic, Robert goes to the police and the media give Jack and Jill a troubling amount of publicity. When they arrive at Clare’s home in the woods, however, they discover that it is under assault. A fellow named Holden has accepted a contract from the Broker to kidnap Clare, an endeavor that leads to the death of most of his team members. Ironically, Jill has taken a few contracts from the Broker herself, the better to make use of her skills when she’s not high.

Much of the plot develops Clare’s backstory, including her search over the years for Dimitry, who seems to be resurfacing, and about whom Jack and Jill know little. In the present, the plot turns into a credible action story. Clare finds herself bound and under guard in a vessel at port. As Jack and Jill try to find her, they need to go through Holden, whose nature turns out to be a surprise.

Taylor Stevens is the reigning master at creating damaged female thriller protagonists. Jill is an intriguing character because of her animosity toward her mother and, for that matter, all of society. At times, she is nearly feral in her reaction to others, including Jack. When she gains control of herself, she is smart and extraordinarily capable, although still driven by emotions she barely recognizes.

While Clare is entering her senior years, she is still cunning, devious, and deadly. Taken together, Clare and Jill are two of the most formidable female action heroes in thrillerworld. As she always does, Stevens achieves a perfect balance of characterization and action in this novel and in the one that follows.

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