Little Liar

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, rape, sexual violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, mental illness, sexual content, and cursing. 

In Little Stranger, the first book of the duology, Malachi, recently released from prison, is bent on revenge against Olivia, convinced that she betrayed and abandoned him. He rents an apartment opposite Olivia’s and surveils her. On Halloween night, he dons a gas mask, kidnaps Olivia, and brings her to an isolated cabin in the woods, where he chains her in the basement, tortures her, and rapes her. When she discovers his identity, she leaves, even though she is still in love with him and is not angry about what he has done. She decides to go ahead with her arranged marriage to Xander Reznikov. However, on the morning of her wedding day, Olivia realizes that she needs to be with Malachi, despite all his flaws. With Jamieson’s blessings, she runs from the wedding and returns to Malachi as the novel ends.

The narrative of Little Liar resumes where the plot of the previous novel ends. Since her return, Olivia and Malachi have spent almost every moment together.