The Truth Trap [Paperback]

Frances Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2003

Alone in a city full of strangers and accused of the murder of his beloved small sister, fifteen-year-old Matt McKendrick struggles to survive her loss and prove his innocence to the two police detectives assigned to the case. One of them believes him; the other, convinced he is guilty, is determined to make Matt confess and pay

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Matt's parents were killed in a car accident. He and his little sister Katie, deaf since birth, have come to Los Angeles to escape the authorities who want to put Katie in a home. Hiding in an abandoned theater while Matt looks for work, Katie is brutally murdered. And Matt's nightmare begins.

He is accused of killing his beloved sister, and before he can defend himself, he is thrown into jail.

A few days later he is released -- confused and alone in a strange city where the only people who know him suspect him of murder. His chances for a new life depend on the two policemen who first arrested him: Tony Prado, who sees through the proud, hot-tempered, very scared young man to a boy who needs to be trusted and loved...and Les Ryder, who sees a juvenile delinquent who probably killed his own sister.

Matt must prove that Tony is right. But before he can do that, he has to learn to believe in himself again. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Frances A. Miller began writing the Matt McKendrick books when her life was awash with teenagers?her children, neighbors, and students. By the time the fourth book was published she had accumulated thousands more through letters and school visits. A grandmother now, she is telling and writing stories joyfully for a younger audience.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: IUniverse (May 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059527322X
• ISBN-13: 978-0595273225
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,271,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great mystery driven by great characters, July 18, 2000

By 

Robert James (Culver City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Truth Trap (Library Binding)

"The Truth Trap" is one of the best young adult novels of the last decade. A hard-hitting look at the pain and suffering of Matt McKendrick, the novel shows his attempt to survive the murder of his sister. Adding to that difficulty is the fact that he is the police's primary suspect! Having taught this book for a number of years, I can tell you that the scene in jail is enough to convince any male teenager not to commit a crime; it's unforgettable. Matt is a survivor, however, and he fights back against the loss of his sister and his reputation. An excellent page-turner, "The Truth Trap" will keep you up at night until you finish. My sole warning to the reader: there are three sequels, and the murder mystery is not solved at the end of the first novel (which sometimes angers my students, until I tell them that the sequels are in our school library!).

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have read and reread this book, and loved it every time!, July 4, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Truth Trap (Mass Market Paperback)

I first read this book about five or six years ago and loved it. My friends bought me the sequels, and they're great, too. ("Aren't You the One Who...?", "Losers and Winners", and "Cutting Loose"). I've reread "The Truth Trap" a few times, always looking in the library for it, and I'm finally going to buy it now. Amazingly, each time I read it I find something new: another nuance, another aspect of emotion. Miller is a great author, giving the reader deep looks into the characters' personalities and emotions. Her plots are unbeatable for excitement and interest. Having read each of the four books about Matt McKendrick a few times, I still find myself getting teary-eyed. Sometimes I just skim the book, looking for all the good parts (many per book). I strongly recommend these books!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this, January 27, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Truth Trap (Mass Market Paperback)

Matt McKendrick is without a doubt one of the best characters I have ever met in the pages of a novel. He is so real. Frances Miller is an amazing writer. Her books are exciting, funny, sad. After reading her books (The Truth Trap is the first of a four-part series) you walk away with new friends.