As the title of the novel underlines, Lies He Told Me explores the erosion of trust through secret-keeping and deception. Throughout the narrative, both the protagonist and the reader must constantly question who can be trusted. Delving into the morality of secrecy and its impact, the book illustrates a range of reasons for dishonesty in personal and professional relationships.

David Bowers’s dishonesty about his identity drives the novel’s plot. Only Camille Striker, the U.S. Marshal assigned to protect him, knows David is the former accountant, Wesley Price. For David, concealing his true identity is an essential survival mechanism to protect him from the mobster he testified against. He also considers it vital to safeguard his family. While David is not the person he claims to be, his love for his wife and children is genuine. Through David’s character, the novel questions whether it is possible to build authentic and lasting bonds with others while also telling significant lies.

The exploration of Marcie Bowers’s state of mind as she unearths David’s dishonesty contributes psychological depth to the novel. Questioning her husband’s loyalty, as evidence initially points toward an extramarital affair, she then discovers that his entire identity is faked.