"Yes, I was on the grassy knoll."
"Yes, I did have sexual relations with that woman."
"Yes, Beyonce did have the best album."
Life would be very different if people always told the truth. But people don't—and it's a good thing, too. If everyone told the truth, we wouldn't have any mystery novels. How boring would that be? The Girl on the Train is a mix of people lying to others, lying to themselves, and deceiving us, the readers. So many pants on fire.
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- Does Rachel actively try to deceive people, or do her blackouts only cause her to deceive herself?
- In what ways do Megan's chapters deceive readers into thinking she's having an affair with a person she isn't?
- Is Megan deceiving Scott by not telling him about her baby, who she accidentally killed? Or is that none of Scott's business?
- What does Tom lie about? Why? Rachel says she'd love Tom even if he didn't lie. Do you believe her?