About the Book
Author: Marbeth Skwarczynski
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Plague of Lies
The man who taught him how to live was living a lie.
Scott Andrews was content to be a rule-follower, happily attending church and youth group while planning a future with his beautiful girlfriend, Cindy. He and his friends planned to change the world. But when his mentor is exposed as a fraud, Scott’s life turns upside down. He’s forced to grow up, but unlike the man who betrayed him, Scott is determined to live honestly.
Lauren spent her life believing she was a mistake. Then, on her eighteenth birthday, a letter arrives from the father she’s never met. It seems out of character for a deadbeat dad who wanted nothing to do with her. But with the letter in hand, Lauren’s life suddenly has a purpose. She’ll confront the man and demand to know why he abandoned her so many years before.
It’s time for the truth to come out.
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My Review
This is an intense book for young adult readers. Characters are high school age. The issues explored are widespread and serious. The plot centers around teen pregnancy with quite a bit about abortion. There is also the immoral failing of a youth pastor and subsequent church cover-up. One of the characters is cutting. One church displays public church discipline. So there are a number of possible trigger situations within this novel.
Nonetheless, the novel deals compassionately with the serious issues. There are characters who have sinned but do the right thing after. One character, Scott, highlights the necessity of honesty, which is another major theme. There is a clear gospel message included as well as a salvation experience. I liked this novel. Just be aware it is not a simple Christian novel for youth but one that deals with the very real issues facing teens today.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author
My first foray into writing was a book about the biblical character Ruth. I spent years rewriting and shelving the book before finally submitting it to Elk Lake Publishing. They loved the book, and helped me prepare it for publication. Now, my work of biblical fiction, Princess of Moab: A Novel of Ruth, is finished and ready to find its readership.
I also have a contemporary Christian fiction series called The Rose Collection. These timely novels spotlight healing after spiritual abuse. I keep my characters grounded in the real world, so while they grow, learn, and seek solutions, they must also confront the detritus of the past. I write what I know, whether firsthand or through close observation, infusing the joy, happiness, and humor that come with spiritual freedom and love. The Rose Collection goes further than the deconstruction of broken spirits to the reconstruction of rescued souls.
My non-fiction book, The Women Who Set the Precedents: An Exploration of the Bible’s Bill of Rights for Women, is a deep dive into the prophecy of Bathsheba. Each chapter explores the life of a biblical woman as she embodies the principles of empowerment, intelligence, and spiritual maturity mentioned in the iconic, but often misapplied, last chapter of Proverbs.
More from Marbeth
I wrote Plague of Lies during school holidays while teaching at my church’s Christian school and raising two teen boys. Some of the conflict in the novel was inspired by the sudden appearance of a youth pastor from another school (my sons played against that school in basketball and football). He joined our church and was immediately placed in leadership positions. Later, it came out that he was fleeing from a bench warrant.
My story follows the fallout after a beloved church leader and mentor is exposed as a fraud and shuffled off to another church. I wanted to explore what happened to one of the students left behind as he attempts to pick up the spiritual pieces of his life.
While the book contains some heavy subject matter, it also offers hope, encouragement, and relatable main characters.
Scott Andrews, a seventeen-year-old who is blindsided by his mentor’s moral failing, has a failing of his own. But, instead of running away, he repents and becomes determined to live his life with complete honesty.
Eighteen years later, the fallout of the lies and betrayal continues as Lauren Andrews-Gianni reconnects with her long-lost father and learns the truth about her birth, why Scott walked away, and how he remembered her during their forced separation.
The rebuilding of Scott and Lauren’s relationship is the crux of the book and serves as a picture of how our Heavenly Father is preparing a home for us
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 4
Simple Harvest Reads, February 5 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, February 6
Artistic Nobody, February 7 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 8
Guild Master, February 9 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 9
Leslie’s Library Escape, February 10
Fiction Book Lover, February 11 (Author Interview)
Lots of Helpers, February 12
A Reader’s Brain, February 13 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 14
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 15 (Author Interview)
Books Less Travelled, February 16 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, February 16
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, February 17 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Marbeth is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/vm5xP/plague-of-lies-celebration-tour-giveaway
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
