Liar, Dreamer, Thief

By: Maria Dong

Narrated by: Hannah Choi

A young woman’s carefully constructed fantasy world implodes in this brilliantly conceived novel that blurs distinctions between right and wrong, comedy and tragedy, imagination and reality: "Surreal . . . leaves you with the creeping certainty that there is a different world lurking just under the surface of our own, filled with technicolor lies and terrible truths" (Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling and Hugo-award winning author).

Katrina Kim may be broke, the black sheep of her family, and slightly unhinged, but she isn’t a stalker. Her obsession with her co-worker, Kurt, is just one of many coping mechanisms—like her constant shape and number rituals, or the way scenes from her favorite children’s book bleed into her vision whenever she feels anxious or stressed.

But when Katrina finds a cryptic message from Kurt that implies he’s aware of her surveillance, her tenuous hold on a normal life crumbles. Driven by compulsion, she enacts the most powerful ritual she has to reclaim control—a midnight visit to the Cayatoga Bridge—and arrives just in time to witness Kurt’s suicide. Before he jumps, he slams her with a devastating accusation: his death is all her fault.

Horrified, Katrina combs through the clues she’s collected about Kurt over the last three years, but each revelation uncovers a menacing truth: for every moment she was watching him, he was watching her. And the past she thought she’d left behind? It’s been following her more closely than she ever could have imagined.

A gripping listen, as well as a sensitive exploration of mental health, Liar, Dreamer, Thief is an intimate portrayal of life in all its complexities—and the dangers inherent in unveiling people’s most closely guarded secrets.

©2023 Maria Dong (P)2023 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"Narrator Hannah Choi brings Katrina’s story to life with outstanding characterizations and superb pacing. The intimacy of the first-person narration further draws listeners into Katrina’s increasingly unsettled mind . . . This fast-paced, surreal tale will hook listeners from the beginning. A perfect fit for fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train."—Library Journal

"Liar, Dreamer, Thief is a surreal thriller that blurs the line between daydream and nightmare. It leaves you with the creeping certainty that there is a different world lurking just under the surface of our own, filled with technicolor lies and terrible truths."—Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling and Hugo-award winning author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

"Clever, urgent, and deeply compassionate. This novel hooked its claws into me and didn't let go—a brilliant, brutal debut that's also deeply thoughtful in its examination of family, mental health, and diaspora. Absolutely stunning."—Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

Winner of a book!

This book made me as compulsive to finish it as the main character, Katrina, was to resolving the mysteries in her life. It was lovely to read about a character who suffers from mental health issues but is extremely intelligent. I love Katrina and am grateful to Maria Dong for bringing her to life so vividly and honestly. I look forward anxiously to Ms Dong’s next book! ❤️

Brilliant and unique

Liar, Dreamer, Thief
The lovable heroine of Liar, Dreamer, Thief is Katrina Kim who is the daughter of Korean immigrants. She suffers from mental illness and has developed an unhealthy obsession with a male coworker that she’s pretty much stalking. When this coworker vanishes, he leaves a cryptic message for Katrina and she vows to find out what has happened with him. She also escapes to a fantasy world in her mind as a safe place when life throws too much at her. This is a book about coping mechanisms as a way of survival.

I had a difficult time getting ahold of this one early and when it was finally released, my usually well stocked library did not have the audio. Thankfully Audible had it and I grabbed it. Sadly the only review on Audible was a one star review from someone who clearly either didn’t understand it or even read it for that matter. While this book is not for everyone, Maria Dong has perfectly captured a complex character in Katrina and has written a beautiful and touching story.

Weird, but surprising

When I first started this book, I was t sure I was going to “get into it”, but I kept listening. I’m glad I did as it ended up being very interesting and the plot twist I did not see coming, which I always enjoy when I can’t not figure it out! If you do listen- know it might take a few hours before you feel like you understand the main character.

Dizzying debut!

Besides the amazing narration and overall pacing and plot foundation, this book left me breathless. Im glad I went for the audio though, the focus to detail and overall descriptors worked better this way. Loved this story and all the bits and fragments of Katrinas life scattered and torn and found again. The ending went fast and shocked me!

Worth the read

It was super slow at first but once the author is done with character development it quickly gets exciting! Worth sticking with it.

Loved it

A fun and weird mystery
That creates another way of seeing the world.
My advice: trust the author and dive into this world of unicorns, kitchen alternate dimensions and even some family reunions.
Loved this one.

Fantastic Mind Bending Mystery

Spending time inside the head of our main character was disorienting and spooky, I love her. I would really love to see a film adaptation of this. I really connected with the main character's escapist tendencies and hyperassociative relationship with music. It was really nice to have a driving character who was obsessive and liked to pick at things. Beautifully written and performed!

Outstanding debut!

Brava, Maria Dong. Dennis Lehane meets Lewis Carroll. I laughed. I cried. I cringed. Please keep writing!!

Not as Good as I Had Hoped

Selected from editors description. Just didn’t grab me . Seemed shallow & hard to follow. Probably just me.

Ambitious but Uneven Tale

"A Mixed Bag: 'Liar, Dreamer, Thief' Receives Three Stars for an Ambitious but Uneven Tale"

"Liar, Dreamer, Thief" is an ambitious novel with an intriguing premise that had moments of brilliance but ultimately left me with mixed feelings. The story explores complex themes of identity, morality, and the consequences of one's actions, and it kept me engaged in parts. However, the pacing felt uneven, with some sections dragging on while others rushed through crucial developments. The characters, though well-conceived, lacked depth in places, making it challenging to fully connect with their journeys. While it's clear the author has talent, the execution could have been more polished. Despite its shortcomings, "Liar, Dreamer, Thief" offers glimpses of potential and may resonate with readers who enjoy thought-provoking narratives.