14 Best Fictional Liars Ever
Let’s be honest and admit that we all love liars. Liars are fascinating. They have skeletons in their closets. They get away with all kinds of shenanigans. I’m a serious advocate for honesty and open communication in all situations, but if we were all like that, life would be pretty dull. The liars shake things up. You want to know their stories and why they lie. (Just like the crew in We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, available now! Enter our giveaway below and you could score a free copy!) How do they sleep at night? How do they justify their dishonesty? What is going on in their heads? Liars are unsolvable puzzles, which makes them a whole lotta fun to watch. It’s probably best to clear the liars from your social circle in real life, but on screen or in a book? Embrace them for their entertainment value.
Here’s a list of the best liars in fiction…ever. I’m sure there are quite a few that I missed, but these are definitely my favorite fibbers.
*SPOILER ALERT* This post contains some spoilers. I am not responsible for your ruined fictional entertainment if you keep reading.
1. Lady Olenna Tyrell – Game of Thrones
This granny has NOT lost her edge. She’s driven and determined to reach the Iron Throne (even now via her granddaughter Margaery) and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. Lady Olenna has got some murderous tricks up her sleeve. Those who have seen the latest episode know what I mean.*wink face*
2. Benjamin Linus – LOST
I experienced this thing I called “LOSTbumps” several times throughout the series, which were goosebumps so intense and unique that I had never experienced them before and haven’t since the show ended. One case of LOSTbumps occurred the moment Henry Gale showed his wicked smile in the hatch, the very moment our beloved castaways realized his whole identity was a lie. He was indeed an “other” and it was the most chilling exposed lie I’ve ever seen. It happened again in the first few moments of the season three premiere, when we see the Oceanic plane break apart in the sky and Ben immediately goes into President Other-mode, hurling directions at Ethan and Goodwin to infiltrate the two groups of survivors. And then…”I guess I’m out of the book club.” LOSTbumps everywhere.
3. Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer – Pretty Little Liars
An obvious four-way tie for these fabulous fibbers. They know how to lie, deny, deceive, and avoid exposure unlike any high school clique in history.
4. Creed Bratton – The Office
Who IS Creed Bratton? Is he homeless? Where did he come from? There are only three things we know for sure about Creed – 1) He loves stealing things. 2) He sprouts mung beans on a damp paper towel in this desk drawer – giving him a “distinct old man smell.” 3) Being able to scuba is of the utmost importance to him. After all, if Creed can’t scuba, what’s this all been about? What has he been working toward?
5. Claire Underwood – House of Cards
Oh, were you expecting me to give old Francis the spotlight here? Sure, he’s a world-class scoundrel, but none of his accomplishments would be possible without the support and complimentary ruthlessness that Claire provides. She would do anything to make sure they reach the top. Imagine them in Westeros?! The Iron Throne would be theirs, for sure.
6. Plutarch Heavensbee – The Hunger Games
This Head Gamemaker gave the rebellion the final push it needed to become an all-out war, and risked a whole lot to keep Katniss alive to continue her work as The Mockingjay. He did put her in danger multiple times, but he knew she could obliterate any obstacle placed in her path. Which she did.
7. George Costanza – Seinfeld
His whole life is a lie! Latex salesman importer/exporter, real estate agent, Yankee employee, and aspiring architect – this short, stalky, bald man was all hustle. Art Vandelay, at your service.
8. Selina Meyer – Veep
As the Vice President, Selina is constantly trying to keep the upper hand in the game of politics. Her team is a hardworking hot mess, but their screw ups are hilarious and their cover ups are even better.
9. Ron Swanson – Parks & Rec
He’s more an advocate for privacy than your typical liar, but this secret saxophone master has gone to great lengths hiding his alter ego, Duke Silver. It’s just Ron Swanson with a hat and an instrument, but somehow nobody recognizes the signature mustache?
10. Amy Dunne – Gone Girl
Is her creepy husband Nick to blame for her disappearance and suspected death? You’ll have to read Gone Girl to find out because I will not spoil those magnificent twists and turns for you. But I will say that she’s not as perfectly pure as she seems.
11. Kenneth Parcell – 30 Rock
Is Kenneth too innocent to be on this list? Perhaps….if anyone knew his real age! He appears to be immortal. It’s my favorite thing about him because it adds a touch of mystery and darkness to an otherwise sweet and meager Southern gent.
12. Emily Thorne – Revenge
Revenge is a major motivator, and Amanda Clarke has been using it to fuel her new hatred-filled lifestyle as Emily Thorne. Her quest for revenge stems from the wrongful imprisonment of her father and her goal to punish those who put him there.
13. Don Draper – Mad Men
He hated his life, so he took someone else’s and turned the name into a legend in the advertising industry. I mean, can we crown him King of Liarville? Well played, Dick Whitman.
14. The Sinclairs – We Were Liars
The Sinclairs are a beautiful, wealthy family with their own island to spend their summers on. The grandchildren have lived a particularly privileged and somewhat dramatic life because of their status and they get bored very easily. The grandkids include Cadence, the eldest grandchild; Johnny, the first grandson; Mirren, sweet and curious; and outsider Gat, an Indian boy and the nephew of Johhny’s mother’s boyfriend. These four are a clique full of liars, and quite a lot happens during “summer 15,” the phrase they use to mark their fifteenth year on Beechwood Island—the summer that Cadence (Cady) and Gat fall in love AND the summer that Cady was involved in a mysterious accident, in which she sustained a blow to the head and now suffers from migraines and memory loss. When Cady returns to Beechwood for summer 17, she starts to recover snippets of memory, and an wave of secrets and lies hits her, well as issues of guilt and blame. The best part about this thrill ride is the ending. YOU WILL NOT SEE THIS ONE COMING.
So many lies, so many fake names, so much excitement!
We Were Liars (out TODAY) is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel. Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.
Buy your copy here.
Giveaway Deets:
Answer this in the comment section below and you could win a FREE COPY of We Were Liars: Who is your favorite fictional liar and why?
*Only entries from residents of US and Canada will be considered.
Featured image by Helga Esteb via Shutterstock
