The Fake

When Shelby meets Cammie at a grief support group, they bond over their shared experiences and anguish. Cammie helps Shelby face her anxieties and reclaim some of the life she lost when her wife passed away. Similarly, when Gibson, juggling a recent divorce and depression, encounters Cammie at a bar, she awakens the passion and playfulness that his life is lacking. Though she is initially a godsend, it soon becomes clear that Cammie is weaving a web of dishonesty and deceit that she can’t possibly sustain. Is she scamming them for attention? Amusement? Or something more sinister? Whittall (The Best Kind of People) crafts a character-driven literary novel full of mystery and manipulation. Cliffhangers and foreshadowing create a tense and engrossing atmosphere, though the ending lacks resolution for the compelling crescendo. Narrators Steve Campbell, Reena Dutt, and Emma Galvin give emotional and expressive performances of the alternating perspectives. Their impassioned portrayals capture the flawed, but relatable, facets of the cast of characters.