Caroline Cooney is known for her suspenseful stories, and If the Witness Lied is one of her best. The four Fountain children have been scattered as their family disintegrates. First, Mother dies of cancer, then Father is killed in what looks like a pointless accident. Could baby Tris really have pulled the brake on the car, causing the fatal crash? With Maddy and Smithy at separate schools, it's up to young Jack to try to put things together. Why does Aunt Cheryl want to expose young Tris to the publicity of a reality show? Why are the bills piling up? Jack tries to get his grandparents to do something, but in the end, the older children have to work together to expose the monster in the family. a heart-wrenching thriller that will have readers rooting for the family that learns how to come together to survive.