Nineteen-year-old Michael Salter vanishes from his family's Scottish estate, and his childlike aunt's confession of drowning him initiates a decade of silence and deceit. The Salter family, bound by the crumbling grandeur of Peattie House and a legacy of secrets, attempts to maintain their facade after Michael's disappearance. As they gather for a significant family event, the carefully constructed web of lies begins to fray, forcing a confrontation with the truth of Michael's fate and the profound cost of their collective silence.

The Financial Times describes "The White Lie" as an elegantly written novel featuring eccentric characters, twists, and shocking revelations, highlighting its exploration of family secrets and the price of grandeur. The description suggests a narrative that intricately weaves together past and present, examining how deeply individual decisions resonate through generations. The novel appears to be a character-driven mystery that probes the complexities of family dynamics and the corrosive nature of prolonged deception. Its focus on a decaying aristocratic family and their hidden truths points to a literary exploration of legacy and consequence.