Dead Honest — Clayton Lindemuth

Baer Creighton is a recluse. He sleeps in the woods outside his house, distills his own liquor, converts his money to gold and hides it inside a hollow tree. He writes letter after letter to his old girlfriend, Ruth, who left him more than 20 years ago for his older brother Larry. Baer leads such a solitary life because every time someone lies to him their eyes glow red and he experiences a small burst of electricity, making it physically painful for him to be in the presence of liars. And Baer learned long ago that people tell more lies than truth. When someone snatches Baer's dog and only companion, Fred, and throws him in a dogfight where he's blinded and nearly killed, Baer decides to fight back. To avenge Fred he must stand up to Joe Stipe, who controls the town through a complex web of corruption and deceit, confront his brother Larry, and face Ruth, the one person who has never lied to him, and the life they might have had together. Most painfully, he also must face up to his own self-deception.