Liar, Liar is set in the contemporary, bedroom community of Almaden, California, and is close to Mr. Pierce's work as a computer troubleshooter. He hopes the location and environment will be a good place for Sean to get a fresh start with people who don't know about his past; a past that includes breaking, entering and stealing as part of a gang led by a Mr. Rosniak who fenced the stolen property. Mr. Pierce is unhappy with Sean's choice of a close friend, Marsh, who lives next door and seems aimless.