Explore the real-world places that appear in The Lies We Tell by Liliana Hart. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include CIA Headquarters (George Bush Center for Intelligence), Arlington National Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Georgetown Waterfront Park and 6 more.
Langley, VA — the agency that shaped Gabe and Grace
The story follows Gabe Brennan and Grace Meredith, married CIA operatives. This map treats the agency's Langley headquarters as the symbolic home of their careers and of the life they built before their daughter was killed by a sniper. It stands for the world of secrets and lies that defines both characters. The book's text does not name this site, so it is placed here as the real-world equivalent of their employer.
The CIA's Langley campus opened in 1961 after construction approved under President Eisenhower. It was renamed the George Bush Center for Intelligence in 1999. It has been the agency's headquarters for over sixty years.
The campus is an active, secure government facility closed to the public. Only the exterior approach on the George Washington Memorial Parkway can be seen from a distance.
Arlington, VA — a place of national mourning
Grief drives the novel after the sniper's bullet kills Gabe and Grace's daughter, and the couple separate, each mourning in a different way. Arlington stands in for the solemn spaces where such loss is faced, in contrast to Gabe's work and Grace's violence. The book's text does not name this site, so it is used as a thematic stand-in.
The cemetery was established in 1864 on the grounds of Robert E. Lee's family estate. It is the burial place for over 400,000 service members, veterans, and their families.
Arlington National Cemetery is open daily to visitors. It includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the changing of the guard ceremony, and the Kennedy gravesites.
Visit: Arlington National Cemetery (monument)
National Mall — a stage for quiet reckoning
Gabe Brennan throws himself into work after his daughter's death, while Grace Meredith hides her pain behind violence. Open public spaces like the National Mall suit the tense encounters of former partners who now stand on opposite sides of the line. This site serves as an imagined meeting ground for the estranged couple. The book's text does not name it, so it is used here as a thematic stand-in.
The Lincoln Memorial was designed by Henry Bacon and dedicated in 1922. Marian Anderson sang here in 1939, and Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech here in 1963.
The memorial is open 24 hours and managed by the National Park Service. It is a major destination for visitors and a gathering place for demonstrations.
Visit: Lincoln Memorial (monument)
National Mall — long sightlines and sniper's-eye views
A sniper's bullet is the event that destroys Gabe and Grace's family, and the hunt for the killer drives the plot. The Mall's long open sightlines evoke the vulnerability of that moment and the tactical thinking of Gabe's elite team. This is an interpretive placement because the text does not name the site.
The Washington Monument was completed in 1884 after decades of delays. At 555 feet, it was the world's tallest structure until the Eiffel Tower surpassed it in 1889.
The monument is part of the National Mall and surrounding grounds, which are open to visitors. The interior elevator has operated on timed tickets.
Visit: Washington Monument (monument)
Georgetown, DC — a riverside spot for clandestine meetings
Grace becomes a mercenary for hire, and sooner or later her path crosses Gabe's as each pursues the same goal from opposite sides. Quiet riverside spaces like this one represent the sort of meeting place where such confrontations might happen. The book's text does not name it, so this is an interpretive placement.
Georgetown was a tobacco port established in the 1750s, older than the capital itself. The waterfront was industrial for much of its history before being redeveloped into a park in the 2000s.
The park is a public green space along the Potomac with fountains, walking paths, and views of Key Bridge. It is open daily.
Visit: Georgetown Waterfront Park (park)
Potomac River — crossing between D.C. and Virginia
The story moves between Gabe's world of agency teams and Grace's life as a hired killer. The bridge is the link between the District and the Virginia suburbs where the intelligence community lives and works. It stands for the thin line that separates Gabe and Grace. The text does not name it, so this is an interpretive placement.
Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1923 and is named after the author of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Its arches span the Potomac between Georgetown and Rosslyn.
The bridge carries traffic and has pedestrian walkways with views of the river and skyline. It is a public landmark.
Visit: Francis Scott Key Bridge (landmark)
L'Enfant Plaza, DC — the public face of tradecraft
Both Gabe and Grace are trained CIA operatives, and their skills in deception shape every move they make against each other. The museum is a real-world counterpart to that tradecraft. The text does not name it, so this is a thematic placement.
The International Spy Museum opened in 2002 in a former Penn Quarter location and moved to L'Enfant Plaza in 2019. It holds one of the largest collections of espionage artifacts in the world.
The museum offers exhibits on spy gadgets, Cold War history, and modern intelligence. It is open daily with ticketed entry.
Visit: International Spy Museum (museum)
York County, VA — reputed CIA training site
Gabe and Grace built their careers as CIA operatives, and the agency's reputed training ground is where such skills would have been honed. Gabe later assembles an elite team to hunt his daughter's killer. The book's text does not name this site, so it is used as the real-world analogue of that training.
Camp Peary was established as a Navy Seabee training base in 1942. It is widely reported to be a CIA training facility, though the government has never fully confirmed its use.
The property is a restricted military reservation closed to the public. Only the surrounding area outside the gates can be seen.
Fairfax County, VA — wild terrain near the capital
The pursuit of the sniper takes Gabe's team and Grace's mercenary work into tense, high-stakes confrontations. Remote natural terrain like this is the kind of place where such hunts could be imagined. The text does not name it, so this is an interpretive placement.
Great Falls was surveyed by George Washington, who promoted the Patowmack Canal here in the 1780s. The land became a national park site in 1966.
The park offers hiking trails and overlooks of the Potomac's dramatic falls. It is managed by the National Park Service and open daily.
Visit: Great Falls Park (park)
Alexandria, VA — historic streets near the capital
Before the sniper's bullet, Gabe and Grace had a seemingly perfect life with careers they loved and a daughter they adored. Quiet Virginia neighborhoods like Old Town evoke that domestic life that was shattered. The text does not name it, so this is an interpretive placement.
Alexandria was founded in 1749 and was a major colonial port. George Washington and Robert E. Lee both had ties to the town.
Old Town is a walkable historic district with restaurants, shops, and waterfront views. It is open to visitors year-round.
Visit: Old Town Alexandria (landmark)
Chantilly, VA — gateway for global operations
Grace works as a mercenary for hire, and Gabe's team operates around the world. Major airports are the practical starting points for such missions. This is a thematic placement, as the text does not name the airport.
Dulles opened in 1962 with a terminal designed by Eero Saarinen. It is the major international airport serving the Washington area.
The airport handles millions of passengers each year. The Saarinen terminal remains an architectural landmark.
More by Liliana Hart: All Liliana Hart books
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