The Lie Murder in Suburbia

This two-part series is a competent and occasionally compelling entry into the documentary sub genre of true crime investigation, telling the story of a case from start to finish.

It is difficult for a documentary to match the drama and intensity of a fictional police show because — well, they can’t make up plot twists or dramatic turns. They have to stick to what happened. Sometimes that is enough in this program. I found the victim’s mother to be a sympathetic and observant woman. I may not have watched the entire mini-series if not for her.

The main suspect was a very shallow person, and only interesting to me for the way he at once seemed to try to elude suspicion yet through his actions and speech also seemed to create doubt in his own innocence. Again, most of my interest in learning whether he committed the crime was based on the mother, not any interest in him as a suspect.

It was watchable for me, but not compelling except in places.