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Her Last Lie
A twisting tale of guilt, motherhood, and murder by the bestselling author of The Secret Couple . . .
When the body of Jen’s teenage son, Eli, is found at the edge of a lake, her shock and grief are overwhelming—and so is the activity swirling around her as the police investigate.
The guilt she feels because she was not at home the night her child was killed weighs heavy on Jen’s heart. But while she hides a secret, Jen yearns to know what happened—are Eli’s friends telling the truth? After she learns that Eli had a girlfriend, something his friends say he’d kept hidden from everyone, it becomes more and more difficult to separate the fiction from the facts. . .
Will Jen catch the killer of her beloved son while protecting those around her?
Praise for J. S. Lark
“Dark, deceptive and utterly delicious.” —Louise Douglas, author of The Secrets Between Us
“Engrossing . . . [A] psychological thriller that will leave you stunned and satisfied.” —Lisa Regan, USA Today –bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series
When the body of Jen’s teenage son, Eli, is found at the edge of a lake, her shock and grief are overwhelming—and so is the activity swirling around her as the police investigate.
The guilt she feels because she was not at home the night her child was killed weighs heavy on Jen’s heart. But while she hides a secret, Jen yearns to know what happened—are Eli’s friends telling the truth? After she learns that Eli had a girlfriend, something his friends say he’d kept hidden from everyone, it becomes more and more difficult to separate the fiction from the facts. . .
Will Jen catch the killer of her beloved son while protecting those around her?
Praise for J. S. Lark
“Dark, deceptive and utterly delicious.” —Louise Douglas, author of The Secrets Between Us
“Engrossing . . . [A] psychological thriller that will leave you stunned and satisfied.” —Lisa Regan, USA Today –bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series
366 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2023
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199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 26, 2023
3.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ October 23, 2023
Page Count ~388 (31 chapters +p)
POV ~ single 1st, with a few extra POV's at the end
Featuring ~ child death, secrets, lies
Jen's 15 year old son, Eli, has been found naked with a head wound in the lake. Was it suicide or murder?
As the story flows along we learn more and more about what Eli has been doing since they moved to town. Jen is also a single mom to 10 year old Jordan and I did feel the grief the family was feeling was well written, but in turn it was weird, too. Maybe because Jen was feeling Eli's presence near the lake, like he was trying to help her solve his case, which wasn't very realistic to me. I liked Jen's relationship with the boys father, Andre, and how they leaned on each other. Andre's mom was great, too!
What was interesting to me is that we got to watch the trial of the murderer for quite a few chapters. Usually it's just briefly stated how many years in the slammer they get, not full on court proceedings like we got here, which I did like.
Overall, I did enjoy this one well enough but I wasn't as gripped as I'd hoped I'd be. I liked the extra POV's at the end that rounded out the story to give us closure. The truth was quite shocking.
There is already some early love for this one, so don't let me deter you from reading it if you fancy the plot.
Side note ~ I absolutely love the cover and feel it depicts the scene perfectly.
*Thanks to the author and Rachel's Random Resources for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ October 23, 2023
Page Count ~388 (31 chapters +p)
POV ~ single 1st, with a few extra POV's at the end
Featuring ~ child death, secrets, lies
Jen's 15 year old son, Eli, has been found naked with a head wound in the lake. Was it suicide or murder?
As the story flows along we learn more and more about what Eli has been doing since they moved to town. Jen is also a single mom to 10 year old Jordan and I did feel the grief the family was feeling was well written, but in turn it was weird, too. Maybe because Jen was feeling Eli's presence near the lake, like he was trying to help her solve his case, which wasn't very realistic to me. I liked Jen's relationship with the boys father, Andre, and how they leaned on each other. Andre's mom was great, too!
What was interesting to me is that we got to watch the trial of the murderer for quite a few chapters. Usually it's just briefly stated how many years in the slammer they get, not full on court proceedings like we got here, which I did like.
Overall, I did enjoy this one well enough but I wasn't as gripped as I'd hoped I'd be. I liked the extra POV's at the end that rounded out the story to give us closure. The truth was quite shocking.
There is already some early love for this one, so don't let me deter you from reading it if you fancy the plot.
Side note ~ I absolutely love the cover and feel it depicts the scene perfectly.
*Thanks to the author and Rachel's Random Resources for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
October 19, 2023
Undoubtedly centring on such an awful topic, I think Lark cleverly creates an atmosphere that is claustrophobic and muted from a mother’s grief. When I was reading the novel, I felt everything around me had dulled and I shared Jen’s suffering throughout, unable to imagine what she is experiencing.
My first read from Lark was powerful and I still remember the plot to this day. I think I am still looking for a repeat of those emotions from this author and don’t think it is achieved with this book – the quest continues and it is a hard one to follow-up on. Whilst this was a good read, I believe it was the atmosphere that contributed to my enjoyment of the story: struggling under a blanket of grief and trying to understand who would behind Eli’s death.
Jen trusts no one in this story and I found her character to be rather tragic. In the beginning, she feels like she has people she can rely on but, as the novel progresses, she learns that truths have been hidden from her. This ties in well with the novel’s title and I liked how it was ambiguous enough to apply to several characters. I admired Jen’s perseverance as she struggled to get through each day, supporting her younger son and shielding him from the press interference. Indeed, when her ex-husband arrives after learning the news of Eli’s death, I thought this gave Jen the strength she needed to lift herself upwards.
There were some surprising details in this story that I was not expecting. The repeated references to ghostly appearances, verging on spiritualism, was an unusual direction. Looking back, I’m not sure how well they sat within the plot development; it is like they were an added after thought to allow the story to move forwards. It’s a slow paced novel throughout and I thought the reference to ghostly clues were borderline unrealistic. Whilst I accept it as a reaction to the character’s grief, I was surprised at how strong this theme came to the development of the story. I would have preferred it to be more grounded on something “solid”.
The court case chapter was incredibly long towards the end and I thought the writer could have condensed this. On the other hand, it does reflect Jen’s wait for the truth and justice. The final reveals at the very end were surprising and I enjoyed seeing exactly what happened on the night Eli died. They contained many twists and turns and I thought this part reminded me of the pacy writing that I have enjoyed from Lark in the past.
Despite being such a difficult topic to read about, I liked this suspenseful mystery where no one, not even the police, appears trustworthy. Jen is alone in her grief, she is alone in her suspicions and the truth is tangibly within touching distance, she just has to ask the right questions.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My first read from Lark was powerful and I still remember the plot to this day. I think I am still looking for a repeat of those emotions from this author and don’t think it is achieved with this book – the quest continues and it is a hard one to follow-up on. Whilst this was a good read, I believe it was the atmosphere that contributed to my enjoyment of the story: struggling under a blanket of grief and trying to understand who would behind Eli’s death.
Jen trusts no one in this story and I found her character to be rather tragic. In the beginning, she feels like she has people she can rely on but, as the novel progresses, she learns that truths have been hidden from her. This ties in well with the novel’s title and I liked how it was ambiguous enough to apply to several characters. I admired Jen’s perseverance as she struggled to get through each day, supporting her younger son and shielding him from the press interference. Indeed, when her ex-husband arrives after learning the news of Eli’s death, I thought this gave Jen the strength she needed to lift herself upwards.
There were some surprising details in this story that I was not expecting. The repeated references to ghostly appearances, verging on spiritualism, was an unusual direction. Looking back, I’m not sure how well they sat within the plot development; it is like they were an added after thought to allow the story to move forwards. It’s a slow paced novel throughout and I thought the reference to ghostly clues were borderline unrealistic. Whilst I accept it as a reaction to the character’s grief, I was surprised at how strong this theme came to the development of the story. I would have preferred it to be more grounded on something “solid”.
The court case chapter was incredibly long towards the end and I thought the writer could have condensed this. On the other hand, it does reflect Jen’s wait for the truth and justice. The final reveals at the very end were surprising and I enjoyed seeing exactly what happened on the night Eli died. They contained many twists and turns and I thought this part reminded me of the pacy writing that I have enjoyed from Lark in the past.
Despite being such a difficult topic to read about, I liked this suspenseful mystery where no one, not even the police, appears trustworthy. Jen is alone in her grief, she is alone in her suspicions and the truth is tangibly within touching distance, she just has to ask the right questions.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2023
Would have given 3.5 stars if possible.
For me this book was a little too twisty turny towards the end, and I didn't love the way the style changed to be peoples thoughts. This grated with the way the rest of the book was written.
Overall the story moved along at a good pace, and I enjoyed the way the characters interacted with each other.
Thanks to Bloodhound books for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
For me this book was a little too twisty turny towards the end, and I didn't love the way the style changed to be peoples thoughts. This grated with the way the rest of the book was written.
Overall the story moved along at a good pace, and I enjoyed the way the characters interacted with each other.
Thanks to Bloodhound books for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
November 24, 2023
Woah! This book certainly keeps you on your toes!
I felt I was right there with Jen throughout the whole book, if you start this, make sure you have plenty of time as it’s definitely a one sitting binge!
All of the characters seemed to have their own agenda’s and secrets, I’m not sure I even trusted the police at one point!
There is so much suspense, it had me hooked till the end, a must for thriller fans!
I felt I was right there with Jen throughout the whole book, if you start this, make sure you have plenty of time as it’s definitely a one sitting binge!
All of the characters seemed to have their own agenda’s and secrets, I’m not sure I even trusted the police at one point!
There is so much suspense, it had me hooked till the end, a must for thriller fans!
October 26, 2023
First, I want to thank J.S. Lark, Bloodhound Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review!
Ohh Her Last Lie by J.S. Lark needs to be on the top of your TBR list!! It is everything that I crave in a good psychological thriller and then some! It was fast paced, addicting, heartbreaking, thrilling, suspenseful, and so many wicked twists and turns your head will be spinning!
J.S. 's prologue was the shortest prologue I have ever read to get me hooked into Her Last Lie. However, It worked!! I was hooked and needed to know where she was going with this. I was able to get my answer later in the book.
Oh my heart just broke for Jennifer learning the news about her son dying! I can’t imagine what she was going through! I too would be in denial!! How do you then tell your younger son that his older brother has passed! I totally wanted to hop into the book and give them both a hug!
Her Last Lie’s storyline went into so many directions! Some incredibly important topics that were touched on. Infact, in one of the scenes I felt like I was right there! She was so descriptive and detailed. It was one of the harder scenes to read in the book.
This book would be a great addition to your book club discussion. Infact, L.S. Prepared some questions at the back of the book for her readers.
Ohh Her Last Lie by J.S. Lark needs to be on the top of your TBR list!! It is everything that I crave in a good psychological thriller and then some! It was fast paced, addicting, heartbreaking, thrilling, suspenseful, and so many wicked twists and turns your head will be spinning!
J.S. 's prologue was the shortest prologue I have ever read to get me hooked into Her Last Lie. However, It worked!! I was hooked and needed to know where she was going with this. I was able to get my answer later in the book.
Oh my heart just broke for Jennifer learning the news about her son dying! I can’t imagine what she was going through! I too would be in denial!! How do you then tell your younger son that his older brother has passed! I totally wanted to hop into the book and give them both a hug!
Her Last Lie’s storyline went into so many directions! Some incredibly important topics that were touched on. Infact, in one of the scenes I felt like I was right there! She was so descriptive and detailed. It was one of the harder scenes to read in the book.
This book would be a great addition to your book club discussion. Infact, L.S. Prepared some questions at the back of the book for her readers.
November 5, 2023
Oooo this was such a great read. I have debated how to write this review without giving too much away or spoilers, so I will try my best.
Can I just say that I wasn’t expecting to cry or even the emotions that came with reading this book, but cry I did from the start, having a teenager myself, we butt heads a lot so I felt every inch of Jens pain throughout this book.
When she received the devastating news that the body found on lake belonged to her son Eli, Jen does everything in her power to find out what happened - who was with him last? Why did they leave him? And not only that overcome her feelings of immense guilt at what she found at the time her son was dying.
I had no idea who was involved with Eli’s death, then the pieces started to fall together and wet are treated to the court case played out in full - don’t think I have read many books that go in depth to that process, but I loved it and how that fateful night played out.
What I was most shocked at and never saw coming was that ending!! Oh my god that was just brilliant.
definitely a 5 star read!!
Can I just say that I wasn’t expecting to cry or even the emotions that came with reading this book, but cry I did from the start, having a teenager myself, we butt heads a lot so I felt every inch of Jens pain throughout this book.
When she received the devastating news that the body found on lake belonged to her son Eli, Jen does everything in her power to find out what happened - who was with him last? Why did they leave him? And not only that overcome her feelings of immense guilt at what she found at the time her son was dying.
I had no idea who was involved with Eli’s death, then the pieces started to fall together and wet are treated to the court case played out in full - don’t think I have read many books that go in depth to that process, but I loved it and how that fateful night played out.
What I was most shocked at and never saw coming was that ending!! Oh my god that was just brilliant.
definitely a 5 star read!!
October 28, 2023
As a mother myself, this was such an emotional read - but what a brilliant twisty plot to get to grips with.
When the body of Jen's teenage son, Eli, is found by the lake, Jen is absolutely beside herself and filled with so many different feelings.
She needs to know what happened and who killed him and of course why!?
This is such a tough topic to cover and I absolutely felt the tension right from the start. The writing perfectly captures the atmosphere and heavy guilt that followed Jen around.
I felt so much for her. Left alone to deal with her own grief and look after her younger child just feels like the worst thing that could happen to a mother. But it was really nice to see her estranged husband and his mother offering support. It's a rare find, but nice to see in this instance.
There were many twists and I as I went in feeling suspicious, I had no clue who was the killer and I kept switching my theories and suspexta throughout.
This didn't feel like an onorous read, but it was definitely a little slower paced than I'd expected, which gave me time to really sit back and make judgements on the characters.
This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it - will be looking forward to seeing more in the future.
When the body of Jen's teenage son, Eli, is found by the lake, Jen is absolutely beside herself and filled with so many different feelings.
She needs to know what happened and who killed him and of course why!?
This is such a tough topic to cover and I absolutely felt the tension right from the start. The writing perfectly captures the atmosphere and heavy guilt that followed Jen around.
I felt so much for her. Left alone to deal with her own grief and look after her younger child just feels like the worst thing that could happen to a mother. But it was really nice to see her estranged husband and his mother offering support. It's a rare find, but nice to see in this instance.
There were many twists and I as I went in feeling suspicious, I had no clue who was the killer and I kept switching my theories and suspexta throughout.
This didn't feel like an onorous read, but it was definitely a little slower paced than I'd expected, which gave me time to really sit back and make judgements on the characters.
This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it - will be looking forward to seeing more in the future.
October 28, 2023
This is such a heartfelt book as Jen finds her eldest son dead, she faces a parent's worst nightmare, what happened and what hurt her boy, and now Jen wants to know. we go thought a series of emotions with Jen's denial. hurt, rage, anger, upset and acceptance that her son is gone, but her hardship is well throughout, making it relatable.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resource and Bloodhound Books for my arc copy; here's my honest review from the heart.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resource and Bloodhound Books for my arc copy; here's my honest review from the heart.
September 29, 2023
This was an emotional novel but one that kept me turning pages right into the small hours. Jen’s son Eli is found dead beside a lake one morning and through her shock and grief she realises that she doesn’t know who to trust. As a Mother and Grandmother I found it gripped my heart in places, I wanted to dive into the book and help her. I was reduced to sobbing by the last few chapters. A wonderful novel in spite of my tears.
March 15, 2024
Excellent!
October 26, 2023
have read J.S. Lark's books previous to this and just hoped it would be as good as what I have read. Take my word that it put me through the proverbial wringer, never mind the characters!
Her Last Lie is a psychological suspense thriller that pulls the reader in right from the start. As a mother, this was an emotive read for me. Dealing with sensitive issues such as the loss of a child through murder. This book had me on tenterhooks from start to finish. I could feel Jo's guilt and grief so clearly as a mother. It just emanated through the pages as I read.
The ensuing police investigation just cranks everything up a notch to make it an expertly woven story. As the plot begins to unfold and secrets rise to the surface, It does begin to appear that Jo's son's life wasn't as clear-cut as it seemed. I was literally on the edge of my seat the more I read, making guesses that were completely wrong!
As the pages flew by, the amount of wrong guesses racked up until I just read as fast as I could to find out the answers! I was kept in suspense to the point that I was judging every single character! J.S.Lark has achieved her aim with Her Last Lie and has done it so well. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a tense, emotional rollercoaster of a book. One which will leave you thinking long after you have finished reading.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and the author for the gifted book to write my review.
Her Last Lie is a psychological suspense thriller that pulls the reader in right from the start. As a mother, this was an emotive read for me. Dealing with sensitive issues such as the loss of a child through murder. This book had me on tenterhooks from start to finish. I could feel Jo's guilt and grief so clearly as a mother. It just emanated through the pages as I read.
The ensuing police investigation just cranks everything up a notch to make it an expertly woven story. As the plot begins to unfold and secrets rise to the surface, It does begin to appear that Jo's son's life wasn't as clear-cut as it seemed. I was literally on the edge of my seat the more I read, making guesses that were completely wrong!
As the pages flew by, the amount of wrong guesses racked up until I just read as fast as I could to find out the answers! I was kept in suspense to the point that I was judging every single character! J.S.Lark has achieved her aim with Her Last Lie and has done it so well. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a tense, emotional rollercoaster of a book. One which will leave you thinking long after you have finished reading.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and the author for the gifted book to write my review.
May 28, 2024
Read Completed 5/28/24 | 3.75 stars
This was an interesting read that started off immediately with the death of Jen's son Eli, and then slipped into a little bit of more of a drama feel than thriller for a while. I was definitely interested in getting to the bottom of how he died and who killed him, and while I was curious, the pacing was still a bit slower in the middle. I did enjoy my read overall, though there were a few things that I didn't love.
Firstly, let's talk about good things, starting with the ending! That really sealed the deal for me and some of the reveals we got in the end were so wild. I loved that the author was able to slip a few more surprises in there for us, even after revealing so much already! Honestly, it made me round up this rating and leave the book at a 3.75 instead of 3.5.
I did like the characters as well. Everyone in the book is flawed but it's also not so much that it makes you hate them. They really did feel human and everyone makes mistakes. There was a clear villain in the end and you do end up hating that person, but for good reason.
The few things I didn't like did affect the reading experience, but not horribly. Like I said before, the pacing was a bit slower and more dramatic in the middle of the book. That wasn't a bad thing and it was almost more character-driven during that section, getting to really know the ins and outs of all of the families and people of the town that are potentially connected to this case. What I didn't love was the addition of extra POVs only in the very end to explain everything that happened. While I liked the ending, it felt a bit clunky to have random extra POVs just to explain how everything went down. I'm no writer, but I wish there was a way to have that more incorporated in the story... maybe include some of them at random in the middle.
I also didn't love that towards the end, Jen relied heavily on being visited by Eli's spirit/presence/memory/ghost to help her solve the mystery. He sent them a few clues in dreams and flashes and it was just odd when this wasn't a part of the book the whole way through. I had no issues with feeling him at the place where he died and feeling close to him that way, but having actual clues being sent through dreams was out of place.
This was such a random pick on Hoopla and I'm glad I read it! Aside from the things I didn't really enjoy, the author did a great job with the ending and totally floored me with some of those reveals/twists! That really left me happier with the book than I expected to be.
This was an interesting read that started off immediately with the death of Jen's son Eli, and then slipped into a little bit of more of a drama feel than thriller for a while. I was definitely interested in getting to the bottom of how he died and who killed him, and while I was curious, the pacing was still a bit slower in the middle. I did enjoy my read overall, though there were a few things that I didn't love.
Firstly, let's talk about good things, starting with the ending! That really sealed the deal for me and some of the reveals we got in the end were so wild. I loved that the author was able to slip a few more surprises in there for us, even after revealing so much already! Honestly, it made me round up this rating and leave the book at a 3.75 instead of 3.5.
I did like the characters as well. Everyone in the book is flawed but it's also not so much that it makes you hate them. They really did feel human and everyone makes mistakes. There was a clear villain in the end and you do end up hating that person, but for good reason.
The few things I didn't like did affect the reading experience, but not horribly. Like I said before, the pacing was a bit slower and more dramatic in the middle of the book. That wasn't a bad thing and it was almost more character-driven during that section, getting to really know the ins and outs of all of the families and people of the town that are potentially connected to this case. What I didn't love was the addition of extra POVs only in the very end to explain everything that happened. While I liked the ending, it felt a bit clunky to have random extra POVs just to explain how everything went down. I'm no writer, but I wish there was a way to have that more incorporated in the story... maybe include some of them at random in the middle.
I also didn't love that towards the end, Jen relied heavily on being visited by Eli's spirit/presence/memory/ghost to help her solve the mystery. He sent them a few clues in dreams and flashes and it was just odd when this wasn't a part of the book the whole way through. I had no issues with feeling him at the place where he died and feeling close to him that way, but having actual clues being sent through dreams was out of place.
This was such a random pick on Hoopla and I'm glad I read it! Aside from the things I didn't really enjoy, the author did a great job with the ending and totally floored me with some of those reveals/twists! That really left me happier with the book than I expected to be.
November 4, 2023
This was the first novel by J. S. Lark that I have read. It was well worth the time invested.
It is a riveting psychological thriller with suspense building as we follow Jen's attempts to figure out who killed her son. Jen is a teacher who has moved to a smaller town after her marriage breaks down. As she is taking the ferry to school one morning she sees a crowd gathering at one end of the lake. Later that day she is informed that her son Eli has been found dead by the lake. It appears that he either hit his head on a rock or was hit by a rock wielded by an assailant. Jen feels an enormous amount of guilt because her son tried to phone her while she was having a sexual liaison with the female owner of the town ice cream parlor.
As the plot unfolds we learn that some of Eli's friends were partying in the area that night. Eli's friend claims that Eli separated from them and intended to return home by himself. So, once it is determined that Eli was killed, the question becomes, who killed him?
We are presented with a suspect that the police like for the deed. But Jen has her doubts. Jen's husband Andre, who is now partnered with another woman, comes to the town to help her.
There are many twists and turns in this story. I did not guess who the perpetrator of the crime was. Kudos to Ms Lark for this fine intriguing novel.
It is a riveting psychological thriller with suspense building as we follow Jen's attempts to figure out who killed her son. Jen is a teacher who has moved to a smaller town after her marriage breaks down. As she is taking the ferry to school one morning she sees a crowd gathering at one end of the lake. Later that day she is informed that her son Eli has been found dead by the lake. It appears that he either hit his head on a rock or was hit by a rock wielded by an assailant. Jen feels an enormous amount of guilt because her son tried to phone her while she was having a sexual liaison with the female owner of the town ice cream parlor.
As the plot unfolds we learn that some of Eli's friends were partying in the area that night. Eli's friend claims that Eli separated from them and intended to return home by himself. So, once it is determined that Eli was killed, the question becomes, who killed him?
We are presented with a suspect that the police like for the deed. But Jen has her doubts. Jen's husband Andre, who is now partnered with another woman, comes to the town to help her.
There are many twists and turns in this story. I did not guess who the perpetrator of the crime was. Kudos to Ms Lark for this fine intriguing novel.
October 24, 2023
After shockingly finding out that Jen’s son Eli died, the questions on if it was suicide or something more sinister was being questioned.
After finding out her soon died, Jen was on a mission to finding out what happened to him. The tension was very present from the very beginning of the book.
This topic can be intense if you have kids, feeling like you weren’t there to protect them and stop evil from hurting them. Which can make Jen’s feelings of grief and guilty very understandable and relatable.
The book unfolded in an interesting way through out the story, you learn more about her relationship with her son’s, their father and also the spiritual being and much more.
Though the story did move at a good pace but some parts made me feel like it wasn’t believable and a little slower paced. There were many twist and turns that brought it back to life near the end of the book that keep you in the dark on if or who may have done it.
Thanks to bloodhound books for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
After finding out her soon died, Jen was on a mission to finding out what happened to him. The tension was very present from the very beginning of the book.
This topic can be intense if you have kids, feeling like you weren’t there to protect them and stop evil from hurting them. Which can make Jen’s feelings of grief and guilty very understandable and relatable.
The book unfolded in an interesting way through out the story, you learn more about her relationship with her son’s, their father and also the spiritual being and much more.
Though the story did move at a good pace but some parts made me feel like it wasn’t believable and a little slower paced. There were many twist and turns that brought it back to life near the end of the book that keep you in the dark on if or who may have done it.
Thanks to bloodhound books for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
October 24, 2023
"Her Last Lie” is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that explores the devastating aftermath of a mother's loss. Jen's grief and guilt are palpable, as she wrestles with the knowledge that she was not there to protect her son when he needed her most. The author skillfully weaves together the threads of the police investigation, the reappearance of Eli's father, and Jen's own hidden secret, creating a tense and suspenseful narrative.
As the plot unravels, the question of what really happened to Eli grows increasingly elusive, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. With each revelation, the complexity of Eli's life becomes clearer, and the sense of urgency to uncover the truth intensifies. The characters are well-developed, and the emotional depth of their grief is expertly portrayed. Overall, this is a thought-provoking and compelling read that will keep you guessing until the very end.
As the plot unravels, the question of what really happened to Eli grows increasingly elusive, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. With each revelation, the complexity of Eli's life becomes clearer, and the sense of urgency to uncover the truth intensifies. The characters are well-developed, and the emotional depth of their grief is expertly portrayed. Overall, this is a thought-provoking and compelling read that will keep you guessing until the very end.
October 23, 2023
This book catches your attention right from the beginning and doesn't let go. The story is told from different perspectives and there are a few sub plots that all tie into the main plot. It is a story where you have an investment in one or more characters and finding out how all of the fast paced events affects their lives and how they are going to turn out in the end. Fast paced, thrilling, and full of secrets and surprises this book will have you feeling torn between wanting to finish it quickly to find out how it all ties up or reading slower to savor the story. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be looking up any others they have written and reading them. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.
October 24, 2023
I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed their writing style as well as their attention to details that made the story feel realistic. This is a well written story full of secrets and you realize just maybe you didn't know your son as much as you thought. This is a fast paced story that is hard to put down and easy to read. A story that has twists and turns like no other. There is great growth with the characters throughout which just added to the entertainment value of the story. They are connectable, relateable characters that made the story come to life. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to seeing what is next for this author. I highly recommend this book.
October 25, 2023
This book had me from the start - Jen moved to the Lakes after the breakdown of her marriage with her two sons Eli & Jordan. On ghastly morning she discovers Eli has been murdered and then has to navigate her own grief as well as her younger sons. Jen has to deal with her guilt of not being home the night Eli was killed and not having been in contact with him but little does she know that there was much more going on than she could ever have been aware of.
A really well written story that keeps you guessing right until the end - I had no idea who the killer was! Definitely worth a read.
I was given an ARC of this book but all views expressed are my own.
A really well written story that keeps you guessing right until the end - I had no idea who the killer was! Definitely worth a read.
I was given an ARC of this book but all views expressed are my own.
October 22, 2023
The pacing of the novel is spot on. The author maintains a relentless momentum, propelling the story forward with a series of revelations and unexpected twists. This creates a sense of urgency that makes the book difficult to put down.
J.S. Lark's writing style is engaging and evocative, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of the story. The author's ability to connect to your emotions is commendable.
That said, this book isn’t for everyone. There are a lot of grief emotions and it can get heavy at times. If you can make it through it’s worth it.
J.S. Lark's writing style is engaging and evocative, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of the story. The author's ability to connect to your emotions is commendable.
That said, this book isn’t for everyone. There are a lot of grief emotions and it can get heavy at times. If you can make it through it’s worth it.
October 24, 2023
Jen, the central character in this book, is immensely relatable, and her emotional journey through shock and grief is vividly depicted, allowing me to feel every twist and turn alongside her. The story's suspense is intense, particularly as secrets and lies are unveiled, making it tough to determine who can and cannot be trusted.
For those who appreciate suspenseful narratives with a strong emotional core, 'Her Last Lie' is a must-read. It's a journey through a mother's absolute worst nightmare, and I genuinely relished every heart-pounding moment."
For those who appreciate suspenseful narratives with a strong emotional core, 'Her Last Lie' is a must-read. It's a journey through a mother's absolute worst nightmare, and I genuinely relished every heart-pounding moment."
October 19, 2023
I was totally engrossed from the opening. The plot is very clever and full of endless twists and turns. The quality of writing is superb.
This is a dark and unsettling story. It is intimate and full of psychological suspense. The tension towards the end is absolutely nail-biting.
A very fine example of just how good crime fiction can be. The author's ability to make all the characters look as guilty as hell until she finally reveals the killer is phenomenally perfect.
This is a dark and unsettling story. It is intimate and full of psychological suspense. The tension towards the end is absolutely nail-biting.
A very fine example of just how good crime fiction can be. The author's ability to make all the characters look as guilty as hell until she finally reveals the killer is phenomenally perfect.
October 25, 2023
A good read with well developed characters that really brought a lot of emotion to the story but not as “gripping and page turning suspense” as I enjoy with my favorite genre thrillers. At times I had to go back and “reread” things but all in all a good story and enjoyable, just not as quick paced and edge-of-your-seat. I will look for other works from this author though! Thanks to BloodHound books for my ARC.
February 10, 2024
To me, this book was amazing. It's one of the only books to actually surprise me at the end. Most of the time, I can usually figure out what happened before I get to the end, & even though I find the book to be really good, I'm left a little annoyed with myself because there's no twist I didn't expect. This book, though, had a huge twist, I did not expect. I definitely recommend this one if you're into crime thrillers, suspense novels.
October 19, 2023
This is an exceptional and emotive piece of fiction. Well written with lots of twists. A really good page turner. I'm afraid I couldn't wait to find out who did it and so I read the last page and then went back to find out how we got there!
I was given an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
I was given an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
October 24, 2023
An interesting take on a whodunit with the extra weight of being a book about child murder. As usual the parents are looked at as the first suspects but the book shares this focus with the parents searching for the murderer.
Lots of plot twists and false trails lead the reader on a merry dance which only adds to the enjoyment.
Well worth reading.
Lots of plot twists and false trails lead the reader on a merry dance which only adds to the enjoyment.
Well worth reading.
November 14, 2023
An emotive but compelling read that had me hooked right from the very start. I was utterly gripped from the very first page until the last page, I couldn't put it down.
It is well written with a compelling story line and well developed characters. The pacing is good, the tension is high and there are a good number of twists, i really enjoyed it
It is well written with a compelling story line and well developed characters. The pacing is good, the tension is high and there are a good number of twists, i really enjoyed it
February 23, 2024
Wow!! This book starts out kind of slow. Plus I kept getting annoyed with the main character for not being a better parent. But by the middle of the book it got very interesting and began the twists! My favorite line is, “that’s one for the mental mantle” But the ending of this book is gripping. Twists just keep coming!
October 10, 2023
This story had me so involved with the characters. Those who I thought were good guys really weren't, those I thought were bad guys were riding the fence until the very end. A very emotional story. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
October 17, 2023
What a read full of twists and turns. I was not expecting that ending! I felt for Jen, Jordan and Andre throughout the story. An emotional read, one which kept me gripped throughout wanting to know what would happen next.
October 23, 2023
This author was new to me. This book was very interesting it was a murder mystery. Also it was a little slow but I was trying to guess what happened but once again I failed.
Now you have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about! Curious???? Try it you might like it.
Now you have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about! Curious???? Try it you might like it.
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