Mark Haddon's novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time highlights the impact of lying on families and society, raising the question of whether it is ever okay to lie under certain circumstances. The novel demonstrates that people will do what they perceive to be the best thing at the time in their particular set of circumstances, and that whether they choose to lie or to tell the truth, consequences will arise that must be addressed.

In the novel, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time", Mark Haddon evokes sympathy in both parental figures. But with whom does more sympathy lie?