Ty B. Moore makes a valiant effort in his first novel, "The Liar's Truth," delving into issues other authors may not dare to touch, such as black men on the "down low," serious depression and disintegrating relationships. The book is intent on sending a powerful message.

Moore lets readers witness each character's struggles through personal narration, revealing the internal confusion each is facing. Tanisha, a successful recording artist focused on her career, debates breaking off a long-term relationship with a boyfriend she suspects is cheating. She's elated, however, when he finally pops the question. A-list actor Jamaal is distraught over his train wreck of a marriage, but finds himself hooking up with men on trips to Atlanta. LeJuan is on the top of his game as a professional basketball player, but he fouls out when it comes to his personal life.

The novel follows a format similar to recent award-winning films like "Crash" or "Babel." The characters turn out to be connected in the end in surprising ways.

The critical flaw in Moore's telling of the story is what English teachers refer to as the "history dump." Instead of letting a character's history slowly unveil itself, every detail that could've influenced the character's life is painstakingly described.

Just as you become enthralled with the current plot, the characters revert to recounting their tortured histories. These lengthy flashbacks distract from the present, making you want to skip ahead. This adds an element of confusion since readers are already juggling the stories of three characters.

Despite this - and some grammatical errors - the story is a page-turner. Celebrities usually make for poor main characters because they're not relatable. But these celebrities aren't arrogant and are genuine. This leaves you cheering for them, hoping they'll come out on top. Curiosity will keep you reading until the last page.