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I Can See Your Lies
FOR LOVE. FOR VENGEANCE.
Fin's reality is crumbling. Her husband has abandoned her, she's now a single mom to a nine-year-old daughter, her Los Angeles home is sweltering, and she's being haunted by disturbing hallucinations that make life a waking nightmare. Are the visions a product of stress, trauma, psychosis, or something else? The answers to those questions become more clear when Fin starts digging up dark secrets connected to her mother's cold-case disappearance, a once-rising actress who mysteriously vanished in 1979. Will Fin slowly unravel the truth? Or will it remain hidden forever beneath the glitz and glamour of illusion?
Fin's reality is crumbling. Her husband has abandoned her, she's now a single mom to a nine-year-old daughter, her Los Angeles home is sweltering, and she's being haunted by disturbing hallucinations that make life a waking nightmare. Are the visions a product of stress, trauma, psychosis, or something else? The answers to those questions become more clear when Fin starts digging up dark secrets connected to her mother's cold-case disappearance, a once-rising actress who mysteriously vanished in 1979. Will Fin slowly unravel the truth? Or will it remain hidden forever beneath the glitz and glamour of illusion?
158 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2024
4 people are currently reading
1061 people want to read
About the author
Izzy Lee
12 books40 followersNamed as one of A.V. Club's 10 female filmmakers to hire, Izzy Lee is a director and author on the rise. Lee has directed more than two dozen shorts and shadowed director Adam Egypt Mortimer on the SpectreVision film Archenemy. She’s about to unleash a long-awaited feature film, House of Ashes. Several of her short stories have found publication, including The Beginning in Dark Matter Ink’s Haunted Reels anthology, curated by Rustic Film’s David Lawson, Jr. Released on 2/13/24, I Can See Your Lies is her first book, also from Dark Matter Ink.
Lee’s award-winning films, including the Fangoria Chainsaw Award-nominated Meat Friend, have screened at major international genre festivals, such as Fantasia, Overlook, Morbido, FrightFest, Fantaspoa, Brooklyn Horror, Boston Sci-Fi, Boston Underground, Chattanooga, and more. From 2022-2023, Lee earned five Certificates of Completion from Sundance Collab’s directing, producing, and visual storytelling courses.
Lee’s award-winning films, including the Fangoria Chainsaw Award-nominated Meat Friend, have screened at major international genre festivals, such as Fantasia, Overlook, Morbido, FrightFest, Fantaspoa, Brooklyn Horror, Boston Sci-Fi, Boston Underground, Chattanooga, and more. From 2022-2023, Lee earned five Certificates of Completion from Sundance Collab’s directing, producing, and visual storytelling courses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 18, 2024
"Fin couldn't exactly drop kick a senior citizen for the small crime of being creepy" - I disagree 👀 Guys I've found your next read, you're welcome no honestly its fine you don't hav- oh okay I will accept books as a thankyou 🥰 I absolutley LOVED this, I couldn't wait to find out what on earth was going on, our protagonist Fin who may be slightly unreliable at first was a strong female lead done correctly, who doesn't love a woman with supernatural abilities who's out for answers? The portrayal of abusive relationships and their impact on women was blunt, evocative and incredibly realistic, some parts felt disjointed and quite jarring but I think it was intentional and served to mimic Fins disorientation, I'd say this definitely falls into the supernatural thriller genre more than horror but some parts of this were extremely chilling and it had a creepy atmosphere throughout, I love Izzys writing style it's cinematic and punchy, this had a strong film noir vibe, very unique twisty thriller, if it was a movie it would be drenched in sepia tones, can't wait to read more by this author!
December 22, 2024
Im a fan of the cover.
And it has a mix of cool concepts of a murder mystery, with paranormal gifts and women breaking generational trauma. But the writing was just… ok. Gimmicky lines, felt predictable—and I’m shit at predicting things in mystery books.
And it has a mix of cool concepts of a murder mystery, with paranormal gifts and women breaking generational trauma. But the writing was just… ok. Gimmicky lines, felt predictable—and I’m shit at predicting things in mystery books.
March 22, 2024
What a fantastic, quick read!! The combination of toxic masculinity, feminine rage and the power to see when someone is lying made this story read like a movie! This story follows Fin, who is trying to get away from her awful husband Jeff and find out what happened to her mother many years ago. It really delves into how hard it is to navigate life as a woman with all of the dangers of the “man’s world.” This is a roller coaster ride with many fun twists and turns with a thrilling ending! highly recommend!!
March 4, 2024
2.5⭐️
Fin can see when other people lie. Little black bubbles appear near their mouth. She doesn't tell people. The last time she did, they had her committed. She doesn't want to go back. She doesn't even remember what happened there. She has a bad habit of blocking bad events from memory.
Things are going bad again. She is having horrible waking nightmares. The only way to figure out what happened is to remember.
My Thoughts
The book has a lot of cliche plot points.
It takes place in LA, where everyone is an actor or an aspiring actor. Even her own daughter takes acting classes. Of course, it would be LA. The city of lies. 🙄
Her husband is an abusive drunk, having an affair with a younger version of herself. 😒
Her mother mysteriously disappeared, complete with a found diary. 😕
The author really seems to have a derogatory image of men. Coupled with a very weak outlook for women in the world. It's a man's world, powerful men pray on females, break their will and spirit, Yada Yada Yada. Every male in this book is a horrible person. At least our FMC has a job and can take care of herself.
The author gives a lot of unimpressed details throughout the story. At times, the urge to skim was hard to avoid, and I felt myself forcing my way through. It's already a shot book, but it still could have used an edit down. Yawning at such a short tale shouldn't be part of the reading experience.
If you're going to enjoy the story, try not to pay attention to the day heading at the top of each chapter. I don't know how to explain it properly, but it does not add up. A minor plot hole since it is just chapter headings.
Overall, I found it kinda over the top. The writing wasn't anything profound. The characters don't drag you in. The story is neither horror nor thriller. Sorta an in-between who done it, with a supernatural twist. The author showed some promise, but this book was a miss for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Fin can see when other people lie. Little black bubbles appear near their mouth. She doesn't tell people. The last time she did, they had her committed. She doesn't want to go back. She doesn't even remember what happened there. She has a bad habit of blocking bad events from memory.
Things are going bad again. She is having horrible waking nightmares. The only way to figure out what happened is to remember.
My Thoughts
The book has a lot of cliche plot points.
It takes place in LA, where everyone is an actor or an aspiring actor. Even her own daughter takes acting classes. Of course, it would be LA. The city of lies. 🙄
Her husband is an abusive drunk, having an affair with a younger version of herself. 😒
Her mother mysteriously disappeared, complete with a found diary. 😕
The author really seems to have a derogatory image of men. Coupled with a very weak outlook for women in the world. It's a man's world, powerful men pray on females, break their will and spirit, Yada Yada Yada. Every male in this book is a horrible person. At least our FMC has a job and can take care of herself.
The author gives a lot of unimpressed details throughout the story. At times, the urge to skim was hard to avoid, and I felt myself forcing my way through. It's already a shot book, but it still could have used an edit down. Yawning at such a short tale shouldn't be part of the reading experience.
If you're going to enjoy the story, try not to pay attention to the day heading at the top of each chapter. I don't know how to explain it properly, but it does not add up. A minor plot hole since it is just chapter headings.
Overall, I found it kinda over the top. The writing wasn't anything profound. The characters don't drag you in. The story is neither horror nor thriller. Sorta an in-between who done it, with a supernatural twist. The author showed some promise, but this book was a miss for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
May 11, 2024
New voices in horror are always a good thing. Izzy Lee is she has been bringing her unique point of view to horror films for a awhile, now but with this novel she is spreading her vision into the domain of prose scares. She first got on my radar with a series of short films that I first saw at Horrible Imaginings Film Fest where she stood out as a short filmmaker who turned limited resources into solid short films. I had her on the podcast to help raise money to make her first feature film House of Ashes. I am very excited for that film.
She is currently in post-production, so it is a little crazy that she managed to release a book at the same time. Released by Dark Hart collection which is the publishing arm of Sadie Hartman the author and long-time bookstagramer who is most often known as Mother Horror. I think many of us trust Sadie and her publishing this short novel is a great sign.
Izzy Lee is an accomplished horror storyteller, she understands the elements and can build them into an effective story. I Can See Your Lies is a short novel, a little longer than what I consider a novella but technically it is considered a novella. The good news is this book has plenty of story no matter how it is designated and is packed with creepy moments. Fin and her situation reminded me in a positive way of A Sarah Pinborough point of view character. Fans of Sarah Pinbrough’s feminist thrillers will like what is going on here, reminded me of Insomnia, which will soon be a TV series.
There are some first-novel growing pains, but I think an editor can often smooth those out. None of those things take away from the ultimate experience. Mostly some shifts or reveals in the novel could’ve used more build-up or foreshadowing. I get made fun of for thinking every movie is twenty minutes too long, in this case, my biggest problem with this novel is I wanted more. That is a good problem to have.
The story follows Fin, who has just learned her husband is cheating, the process of dealing with this includes looking into her mother. She lives in LA, her sister works in casting and they grew up without their famous mother who disappeared after filming a movie that won many awards including the big ones.
The strength of the novel is the movie industry's adjacent mystery, the first act focuses on Fin’s marriage as it breaks, it sends up the parallels with her long-lost mother’s experience which she learns through reading her journal. The supernatural elements involve Mrs. Don’t, a ghost/ imaginary friend that both Fin and her daughter are haunted by. This aspect of the story is not surprising but effective.
What’s going on?”
“I saw Mrs. Don’t again.”
Shit. Shit-shit-shit-shit.
“Where are you, baby? Are you in your room at
Auntie’s?”
“Yeah.” Then silence.
“Is she still there? Mrs. Don’t, I mean.” Fin peeled back
the bed’s comforter so as to inspect the sheets. They at
least looked clean.
“I’m under the blankets. I’m afraid to look.”
This is a very strong first effort. I hope When Izzy succeeds in film she will keep writing horror novels. A longer novel could have rolled out the backstory with a little more mood and vibe. I think a visual storyteller working for the first time at this length will have time to grow. I Can See Your Lies is a good debut, so don’t get me wrong. I think there is a lot to relate to in this novel, and fans of women-centric thrillers like Gone Girl, or Behind her Eyes should see this as a supernatural cousin.
She is currently in post-production, so it is a little crazy that she managed to release a book at the same time. Released by Dark Hart collection which is the publishing arm of Sadie Hartman the author and long-time bookstagramer who is most often known as Mother Horror. I think many of us trust Sadie and her publishing this short novel is a great sign.
Izzy Lee is an accomplished horror storyteller, she understands the elements and can build them into an effective story. I Can See Your Lies is a short novel, a little longer than what I consider a novella but technically it is considered a novella. The good news is this book has plenty of story no matter how it is designated and is packed with creepy moments. Fin and her situation reminded me in a positive way of A Sarah Pinborough point of view character. Fans of Sarah Pinbrough’s feminist thrillers will like what is going on here, reminded me of Insomnia, which will soon be a TV series.
There are some first-novel growing pains, but I think an editor can often smooth those out. None of those things take away from the ultimate experience. Mostly some shifts or reveals in the novel could’ve used more build-up or foreshadowing. I get made fun of for thinking every movie is twenty minutes too long, in this case, my biggest problem with this novel is I wanted more. That is a good problem to have.
The story follows Fin, who has just learned her husband is cheating, the process of dealing with this includes looking into her mother. She lives in LA, her sister works in casting and they grew up without their famous mother who disappeared after filming a movie that won many awards including the big ones.
The strength of the novel is the movie industry's adjacent mystery, the first act focuses on Fin’s marriage as it breaks, it sends up the parallels with her long-lost mother’s experience which she learns through reading her journal. The supernatural elements involve Mrs. Don’t, a ghost/ imaginary friend that both Fin and her daughter are haunted by. This aspect of the story is not surprising but effective.
What’s going on?”
“I saw Mrs. Don’t again.”
Shit. Shit-shit-shit-shit.
“Where are you, baby? Are you in your room at
Auntie’s?”
“Yeah.” Then silence.
“Is she still there? Mrs. Don’t, I mean.” Fin peeled back
the bed’s comforter so as to inspect the sheets. They at
least looked clean.
“I’m under the blankets. I’m afraid to look.”
This is a very strong first effort. I hope When Izzy succeeds in film she will keep writing horror novels. A longer novel could have rolled out the backstory with a little more mood and vibe. I think a visual storyteller working for the first time at this length will have time to grow. I Can See Your Lies is a good debut, so don’t get me wrong. I think there is a lot to relate to in this novel, and fans of women-centric thrillers like Gone Girl, or Behind her Eyes should see this as a supernatural cousin.
March 22, 2024
Very quick, exciting read. Izzy Lee created a group of compelling characters and some very unique supernatural elements. It combines Hollywood drama/gossip, crime/cold cases, and the paranormal in a way that easily draws the reader in and keeps them on the edge of their seat right up to the final page.
February 18, 2024
Review originally on
JamReads
I Can See Your Lies is a horror novella, the debut of Izzy Lee as a novelist, published by Dark Matter INK (under their line Dark Hart). A really cinematic novella which explores the supernatural themes in a context of the world being in shambles for the protagonist, Fin, who is also investigating what happened to her mother many years ago.
Fin's life is a mess. Her marriage is an abusive relationship, her husband is going to abandon her and she's left as the sole mother for a nine-year-old girl; along with the stress and trauma derived from these conditions, she starts to have disturbing visions. But not only her, as she's called from the school reporting her daughter has been frightening other kids with tales of a strange she's the only one seeing; things get even more complicated when she starts investigating the cold-case disappearance of her mother, whose secrets might be connected with their visions.
Overwhelmed, and with the journal of her mother, Fin takes some days in a remote location, without suspecting that the truth behind her disappearance is hidden in that place that mysteriously appeared on her computer. In such a short length, Lee weaves an intriguing story that compels you to continue reading, a novella that you will devour in a single sit.
The writing style is kinda cinematic, in the sense of playing with the visual elements, creating impactful moments; characters not as developed as I would have liked outside of Fin, some just fulfilling roles that are important for the plot, but overall, it's a satisfying balance taking into account the length.
I Can See Your Lies is a great horror novella, mixing trauma and impactful moments to create an engaging story; really eager to read more stories from Izzy Lee.
I Can See Your Lies is a horror novella, the debut of Izzy Lee as a novelist, published by Dark Matter INK (under their line Dark Hart). A really cinematic novella which explores the supernatural themes in a context of the world being in shambles for the protagonist, Fin, who is also investigating what happened to her mother many years ago.
Fin's life is a mess. Her marriage is an abusive relationship, her husband is going to abandon her and she's left as the sole mother for a nine-year-old girl; along with the stress and trauma derived from these conditions, she starts to have disturbing visions. But not only her, as she's called from the school reporting her daughter has been frightening other kids with tales of a strange she's the only one seeing; things get even more complicated when she starts investigating the cold-case disappearance of her mother, whose secrets might be connected with their visions.
Overwhelmed, and with the journal of her mother, Fin takes some days in a remote location, without suspecting that the truth behind her disappearance is hidden in that place that mysteriously appeared on her computer. In such a short length, Lee weaves an intriguing story that compels you to continue reading, a novella that you will devour in a single sit.
The writing style is kinda cinematic, in the sense of playing with the visual elements, creating impactful moments; characters not as developed as I would have liked outside of Fin, some just fulfilling roles that are important for the plot, but overall, it's a satisfying balance taking into account the length.
I Can See Your Lies is a great horror novella, mixing trauma and impactful moments to create an engaging story; really eager to read more stories from Izzy Lee.
November 5, 2025
This one found me by total chance — snagged it off the indie table at Twisted Spine in NYC during our most recent moto adventure to Brooklyn — and wow, what a ride. At novella length, it was the perfect quick pit stop read for my turtle-speed pace, but don’t let the size fool you… it packs serious punch.
I’ve always been fascinated by old Hollywood — that glitzy, shadowy 1950s-60s era of silver screens and cigarette smoke — and Izzy Lee drops you right there, behind the scenes with the actors and actresses we think we know but never really do. The supernatural twist — our protagonist’s eerie ability to see black bubbles hovering over liars — was the kind of magic I crave: subtle, symbolic, and just spooky enough to make it the ideal October companion.
What really impressed me was how much character Lee managed to build in such a short space. I actually felt for the protagonist, empathized with her loneliness, her perception, her curse (or gift?). It’s that blend of empathy, eerie realism, and cinematic atmosphere that made this read feel like a black-and-white film flickering in my mind.
A debut novella from a filmmaker who clearly knows how to frame emotion and suspense — now I’m off to hunt down her films! 🎥
If you love a fast, moody, perfectly balanced supernatural story with Hollywood grit and noir glow, toss I Can See Your Lies in your pannier. A flawless fall read that proves sometimes the best stories come in small packages.
I’ve always been fascinated by old Hollywood — that glitzy, shadowy 1950s-60s era of silver screens and cigarette smoke — and Izzy Lee drops you right there, behind the scenes with the actors and actresses we think we know but never really do. The supernatural twist — our protagonist’s eerie ability to see black bubbles hovering over liars — was the kind of magic I crave: subtle, symbolic, and just spooky enough to make it the ideal October companion.
What really impressed me was how much character Lee managed to build in such a short space. I actually felt for the protagonist, empathized with her loneliness, her perception, her curse (or gift?). It’s that blend of empathy, eerie realism, and cinematic atmosphere that made this read feel like a black-and-white film flickering in my mind.
A debut novella from a filmmaker who clearly knows how to frame emotion and suspense — now I’m off to hunt down her films! 🎥
If you love a fast, moody, perfectly balanced supernatural story with Hollywood grit and noir glow, toss I Can See Your Lies in your pannier. A flawless fall read that proves sometimes the best stories come in small packages.
March 15, 2024
Ever read a book that screamed for someone to adapt it into a visual media? I can now say I have. It's this.
Fin's life is rough. She was warehoused in a mental hospital by her actor father when she told him she was seeing things. Where was her mom? Her mom's disappearance is just one of Hollywood's big scandals. No one knows.
She grows up, gets married, and has a daughter. Things start going off the rails when their daughter starts seeing things as well.
For 90% of the book, I was drawn in wanting to see just what was going to happen with Fin next. She's a character that, despite whatever craziness is happening, is deeply relatable. She's felt abandoned, loves fiercely, and strives for happiness for both herself and her daughter.
My only criticism is that once the narrative switches to something of a whodunit, it lost me for a bit. A lot of characters were introduced at one time and Fin further questions if everyone is who they say they are, so I broke out a piece of paper to follow along.
The ending is deeply satisfying but I also wish it wasn't so rushed. Overall, I give it a 4/5.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 7, 2025
I was given this book for free in exchange for review by the narrator.
Really didn't know what to expect I never heard of the author I reviewed a couple books for the narrator and I knew I liked her voice. Once again the narrator was great in this book.
The book itself was pretty good felt like watching a Netflix horror movie / mystery. I like the story that the author combined with the timeline. The first half felt more like a outline of a book but once it hit the halfway point the plot and the story really picked up. Not much of a twist at the end but the book really didn't need it. I would give this author a try again and I could see this book being made into a movie maybe not a major movie but a moving nonetheless overall really like the book
Really didn't know what to expect I never heard of the author I reviewed a couple books for the narrator and I knew I liked her voice. Once again the narrator was great in this book.
The book itself was pretty good felt like watching a Netflix horror movie / mystery. I like the story that the author combined with the timeline. The first half felt more like a outline of a book but once it hit the halfway point the plot and the story really picked up. Not much of a twist at the end but the book really didn't need it. I would give this author a try again and I could see this book being made into a movie maybe not a major movie but a moving nonetheless overall really like the book
April 23, 2025
I wish there had been a better balance between the domestic drama and the absolute fever dream that was the last 30% of this novella. The final act of this book, while the most interesting as far as the sci-fi/horror elements, felt underdeveloped and a bit out of nowhere as a result.
Also, in a world rife with books about generational trauma, I think this one does a just-okay job of dealing with it. It's short and entertaining, but I don't think I'll remember this one in a few months' time.
Also, in a world rife with books about generational trauma, I think this one does a just-okay job of dealing with it. It's short and entertaining, but I don't think I'll remember this one in a few months' time.
November 17, 2024
This was a really nice novella fully of mystery, suspense, the paranormal, and revenge and I really enjoyed it! I on the fence on if this novella would have been better suited as a full-fledged novel to flesh out more of some of the story (like the origin of the characters mysterious powers), but I also think that the story wasn’t too rushed and was satisfying throughout.
December 22, 2025
The writing was ok and I could predict a lot of stuff. It was creepy and scary for my taste (I don’t like horror), but I liked the arc of the story.
May 26, 2024
A fun and fast paced haunting, and a great debut novella.
February 10, 2024
“Men are dangerous when they’re afraid.”
📚
Finley Slattery has led a difficult life. Cursed with strange abilities, her actress mother vanished when she was young, and she’s been wronged by every man in her life. Abused and abandoned by her volatile husband, she’s a single mother who lives for her young daughter, loathes her Los Angeles home, and suffers from unnerving visions that continually bring her sanity into question. Determined to get answers, Fin digs into her mother’s unsolved case, unearthing dark histories rife with cruelty, secrets, and vengeance.
The description and cover of this book attracted me right off the bat, and while the beginning had a smoldering, page-turning quality and there was much to enjoy and appreciate here, the story didn’t quite come together (at least for this reader). Highlights included a unique premise and background mystery, gothic elements (my favorite!), historical Hollywood aspects, epistolary interjections, and clever plot twists.
Unfortunately, I struggled to stay engaged in the latter half, as a meandering plot bogged down by extraneous details made this feel like a rough first draft. Numerous typos, tense issues, and voice inconsistencies also made for a jarring experience that negated much-needed tension and suspense.
Further character development would allow readers to become invested and attached, while editing, rewrites, streamlining, and the employment of showing rather than telling would lend necessary depth and intrigue, as well as capitalize on the great creativity and potential present here.
Thank you to Dark Matter INK and BookSirens for providing an e-ARC of this forthcoming release. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
📚
Finley Slattery has led a difficult life. Cursed with strange abilities, her actress mother vanished when she was young, and she’s been wronged by every man in her life. Abused and abandoned by her volatile husband, she’s a single mother who lives for her young daughter, loathes her Los Angeles home, and suffers from unnerving visions that continually bring her sanity into question. Determined to get answers, Fin digs into her mother’s unsolved case, unearthing dark histories rife with cruelty, secrets, and vengeance.
The description and cover of this book attracted me right off the bat, and while the beginning had a smoldering, page-turning quality and there was much to enjoy and appreciate here, the story didn’t quite come together (at least for this reader). Highlights included a unique premise and background mystery, gothic elements (my favorite!), historical Hollywood aspects, epistolary interjections, and clever plot twists.
Unfortunately, I struggled to stay engaged in the latter half, as a meandering plot bogged down by extraneous details made this feel like a rough first draft. Numerous typos, tense issues, and voice inconsistencies also made for a jarring experience that negated much-needed tension and suspense.
Further character development would allow readers to become invested and attached, while editing, rewrites, streamlining, and the employment of showing rather than telling would lend necessary depth and intrigue, as well as capitalize on the great creativity and potential present here.
Thank you to Dark Matter INK and BookSirens for providing an e-ARC of this forthcoming release. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 11, 2024
Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
"𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮'𝓼 𝓷𝓸 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮...𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓮”
Fin is haunted by disturbing visions that she knows she has to keep secret. Now a single mum after fleeing an abusive marriage, she decides to look deeper into the disappearance of her mother, a case that has remained cold for decades.
As Fin explores the last known sightings of her mother, an up-and-coming actress in the 70s, her hallucinations become stronger and seem to want to lead her to the truth.
I absolutely loved this novella! Izzy Lee writes on the paranormal and mysterious with such flare and her characters felt so natural and real.
This is such an engaging piece of work, with the missing persons case and paranormal experiences blending so well together. The pace of the plot was perfect and there were no dull moments.
I loved the creepy imagery of Fin’s visions, especially when she could tell people were lying. I could see this transferring so well into a film but the book is genius!
It's a quick read but definitely an intriguing one. I can't wait to read more by this author.
"𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮'𝓼 𝓷𝓸 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮...𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓮”
Fin is haunted by disturbing visions that she knows she has to keep secret. Now a single mum after fleeing an abusive marriage, she decides to look deeper into the disappearance of her mother, a case that has remained cold for decades.
As Fin explores the last known sightings of her mother, an up-and-coming actress in the 70s, her hallucinations become stronger and seem to want to lead her to the truth.
I absolutely loved this novella! Izzy Lee writes on the paranormal and mysterious with such flare and her characters felt so natural and real.
This is such an engaging piece of work, with the missing persons case and paranormal experiences blending so well together. The pace of the plot was perfect and there were no dull moments.
I loved the creepy imagery of Fin’s visions, especially when she could tell people were lying. I could see this transferring so well into a film but the book is genius!
It's a quick read but definitely an intriguing one. I can't wait to read more by this author.
February 22, 2024
Wow! I’d like to thank BookSirens and Dark Matter INK Publishing for receiving the free ARC. These are my honest thoughts and review and I am leaving them voluntarily.
I did not really know what to expect going into this book. I do like paranormal and “light horror”, and creepy stories. And I love mysteries and dual timelines. This book blew me away!
Fin sees when people are lying- she sees black bubbles around their chin! Her mother disappeared 20 years ago, and Fin is struggling to figure out what happened to her. She is also married and has a daughter. Her daughter Marnie (her daughter) is able to see when people lie as well. Marnie can also see a ghost- Mrs. Don’t.
There is so much going on in this book- but in a good way. Many twists. I loved that the author used mystery as the foundation to fuel this story. I don’t like to give spoilers, and so it is hard to write my review- but I’ll try!
The characters were very fleshed out. I understood Fin’s lack of confidence, and was rooting for her. The relationship between she and her daughter was really written well, and you knew that Fin was totally committed to her daughter.
Fin’s relationship with her husband is also well written, so well in fact that I was always anxious when the scene was between those two.
Fin’s father was a jerk! And his treatment of his daughter when she was reaching out at a young age for help with seeing the black bubbles and being able to tell when people lied was awful. However, as you read and learn her mother’s story, you realize A) he was awful to her mother and B) his decision as to what to do about Fin’s abilities was probably a self serving way to protect himself!
I felt this book was very creepy, and I was so drawn in because I had to know who was doing the killing! Highly recommend this if you like creepy, very well written, adrenaline pumping crazy good ghostly/horror!
I did not really know what to expect going into this book. I do like paranormal and “light horror”, and creepy stories. And I love mysteries and dual timelines. This book blew me away!
Fin sees when people are lying- she sees black bubbles around their chin! Her mother disappeared 20 years ago, and Fin is struggling to figure out what happened to her. She is also married and has a daughter. Her daughter Marnie (her daughter) is able to see when people lie as well. Marnie can also see a ghost- Mrs. Don’t.
There is so much going on in this book- but in a good way. Many twists. I loved that the author used mystery as the foundation to fuel this story. I don’t like to give spoilers, and so it is hard to write my review- but I’ll try!
The characters were very fleshed out. I understood Fin’s lack of confidence, and was rooting for her. The relationship between she and her daughter was really written well, and you knew that Fin was totally committed to her daughter.
Fin’s relationship with her husband is also well written, so well in fact that I was always anxious when the scene was between those two.
Fin’s father was a jerk! And his treatment of his daughter when she was reaching out at a young age for help with seeing the black bubbles and being able to tell when people lied was awful. However, as you read and learn her mother’s story, you realize A) he was awful to her mother and B) his decision as to what to do about Fin’s abilities was probably a self serving way to protect himself!
I felt this book was very creepy, and I was so drawn in because I had to know who was doing the killing! Highly recommend this if you like creepy, very well written, adrenaline pumping crazy good ghostly/horror!
March 10, 2024
Predictable, bland, unoriginal, and poorly-written. I haven't had such a bad time reading a book in forever. It's 145 pages so it should have been a single day read but ended up taking me a week. Awful. Worst book I've read in a long time. Would give 0 stars if I could because there's nothing redeeming about this book.
March 24, 2024
oh my god. a read for the girls honestly. creepy and unsettling in the best way. it was interesting and i really enjoyed the approach of it all
May 20, 2024
The writing is full of cliches and cringe lines like, “the joys of childhood innocence” which stand out because the actual story is really unique. I’ve never read anything like it, and so some of the predictability in the plot stands out in contrast to its weirder surprises.
You can guess her daughter inherited her special gift of seeing through lies before it’s discovered by the main character, Fin. Also for a novella, it’s full of unnecessary clutter in the first half, such as door shutting, picking up a bag or putting down a notebook, sitting down, etc. Novice writing problems.
The husband Jeff’s character is too much unexplained anger and lacks depth, not believable and seems written to show man bad, woman good. “Men are dangerous when they’re afraid…” the main character often thinks.
No! PEOPLE are dangerous when they’re afraid.
Are we in a world where backstabbing manipulative people don’t appear in all genders?
That being said, the story kept me engaged. It spans only 2 weeks, each chapter dedicated to key events that happen day by day.
If you hate men and like weird little mysteries, this is a good book for you. There are multiple eye-rolling scenes that seem only there to show how bad all men are, or should we be suspicious of the old man at the beach playing toss with his dog? The writer has Fin interpret his scan of her in her puffy jacketed figure as ogling her body. It makes no sense except as the authors attempt to alert us to this character while conveying a message: misandry is justified by a world of misogynists.
I kept thinking the author must have been really fucked over by dudes and is revenge writing. For me it’s an annoying current in an otherwise interesting story. When every male character in a story-husband/ father/ casual acquaintance down to the gas station attendant- is a bad guy or written to show how dumb men can be, the potency of what’s bad is diminished. Fin also seems unconscious of her own entitlement in many scenes, and it doesn’t read as though the author did so on purpose.
What I liked:
The theme of generational trauma is passed from mother to daughter. Fin’s visions are presented as uncertain- are they “delusion, haunting, mental illness”? When her missing/ dead mother speaks to her from the TV screen, Fin half asleep, realizes she been sleeping on the remote. She could have turned on the set in her sleep, which randomly played one of her mother’s old movies and it mixed into her dreams. So there’s usually an explanation for the strange phenomenon- but still a hint of the possibility that it’s really happening.
(Semi spoiler but not really)
It struck me as odd the way what happens to mean husband Jeff is left kind of vague, since that’s the opening trigger in the story. I thought the entire story would shift back to some resolution of their relationship or provide more explanation about what happened. In the real world, he’d have friends and family reporting him missing and police would be doing forensics on that blood on the carpet at the end. The way Fin took off for Oregon suddenly would make her a prime suspect in the disappearance. I know it’s not that kind of story, but there are holes in that part of the plot. Even if Fin has no memory of it, another character like her daughter could flesh it out through dialogue.
This story is engaging, relatively well plotted. It could shine with more editing.
You can guess her daughter inherited her special gift of seeing through lies before it’s discovered by the main character, Fin. Also for a novella, it’s full of unnecessary clutter in the first half, such as door shutting, picking up a bag or putting down a notebook, sitting down, etc. Novice writing problems.
The husband Jeff’s character is too much unexplained anger and lacks depth, not believable and seems written to show man bad, woman good. “Men are dangerous when they’re afraid…” the main character often thinks.
No! PEOPLE are dangerous when they’re afraid.
Are we in a world where backstabbing manipulative people don’t appear in all genders?
That being said, the story kept me engaged. It spans only 2 weeks, each chapter dedicated to key events that happen day by day.
If you hate men and like weird little mysteries, this is a good book for you. There are multiple eye-rolling scenes that seem only there to show how bad all men are, or should we be suspicious of the old man at the beach playing toss with his dog? The writer has Fin interpret his scan of her in her puffy jacketed figure as ogling her body. It makes no sense except as the authors attempt to alert us to this character while conveying a message: misandry is justified by a world of misogynists.
I kept thinking the author must have been really fucked over by dudes and is revenge writing. For me it’s an annoying current in an otherwise interesting story. When every male character in a story-husband/ father/ casual acquaintance down to the gas station attendant- is a bad guy or written to show how dumb men can be, the potency of what’s bad is diminished. Fin also seems unconscious of her own entitlement in many scenes, and it doesn’t read as though the author did so on purpose.
What I liked:
The theme of generational trauma is passed from mother to daughter. Fin’s visions are presented as uncertain- are they “delusion, haunting, mental illness”? When her missing/ dead mother speaks to her from the TV screen, Fin half asleep, realizes she been sleeping on the remote. She could have turned on the set in her sleep, which randomly played one of her mother’s old movies and it mixed into her dreams. So there’s usually an explanation for the strange phenomenon- but still a hint of the possibility that it’s really happening.
(Semi spoiler but not really)
It struck me as odd the way what happens to mean husband Jeff is left kind of vague, since that’s the opening trigger in the story. I thought the entire story would shift back to some resolution of their relationship or provide more explanation about what happened. In the real world, he’d have friends and family reporting him missing and police would be doing forensics on that blood on the carpet at the end. The way Fin took off for Oregon suddenly would make her a prime suspect in the disappearance. I know it’s not that kind of story, but there are holes in that part of the plot. Even if Fin has no memory of it, another character like her daughter could flesh it out through dialogue.
This story is engaging, relatively well plotted. It could shine with more editing.
February 9, 2024
Finley is in an abusive relationship with her husband Steve and he is also verbally abusive to their daughter Marnie. She is also the daughter of a famous actor named Theo an actress named Meredith when she finally leaves her abusive relationship she drops her daughter off at her mom‘s sister her aunt Mary and goes in pursuit of what happened to her mom who went missing when she was just a toddler. Finley has an ability to know when people are lying and her daughter has that ability and it seems like more but as she goes in pursuit of the answers she seeks it seems she has now been being plagued by strange phone calls whose messages get erased ghostly sightings and other things that have her hanging by her fingernails to sanity. She is also in possession of her mom‘s diary something she didn’t have before and it seems the more she reads it the more these things happen. Is she being haunted or these pleas for help or warnings of danger? When she arrives at the remote B&B she runs in to the guy she rented it from name Charlie who at first gives her a sleazy vibes then when he introduces his self she clearly knows he’s lying but why? Certainly listen to the warnings and continue her search? This book was so good and although the writing I must say wasn’t the best the story is a really really great one I couldn’t wait to find out what all this mess was about and even when I thought I figured it out there were other things in the plot that kept me glued to the pages. I love a great ghostly haunting and this is that and more and there’s a part in the book or something comes up and you’re like OMG I forgot about that and that twist was an awesome one I truly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it although I only gave it three stars it is a definite solid 3.5 star read! I would have given it more but found the writing style to be strange or different I DK either the way the story is so worth reading this book for. I want to thank Book Sirens and the author for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
February 18, 2024
Finley can perceive when other people are lying, through her inner perception the faces of liars break out in black pustules. She also has nightmare visions of blood flowering on carpets. She grows up to become wary of telling other about this gift, as her father had had her committed to a mental hospital at thirteen years old.
Unfortunately her gift did not go away, and soon she is convinced that her husband is cheating on her. She then learns her little daughter Marnie has inherited her gift. Her husband is just as unenlightened in her attitude towards Marnie.
Finley decides it is time to leave her husband, who is becoming increasingly violent. She also hopes to get to the bottom of what had happened to her mother, who had disappeared when she was a baby. Her aunt gives her her mothers diary to read, but fears neither she nor Marney may never see Finley again again if she pursues her search, away from home.
The search for answers to her mother's cold case does indeed prove to be deadly dangerous. However, learning about her mother proves to be a path of great self discovery. Will she be able to get to the bottom of the mystery, or will she also disappear the way her aunt fears?
This novella is beautifully written, in a style that is polished, almost literary. A little more editing will not harm in one or two cases, however. Themes cover those of inherited trauma as well as psychic gifts, and what needs to be learnt to avoid being attracted to abusive mates, and repeating the generational patters of abuse. All this against the background of the glamour and depravity of Hollywood.
This author is not only a gifted story teller, but a director of small films too, certainly the visual details would translate well on film.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unfortunately her gift did not go away, and soon she is convinced that her husband is cheating on her. She then learns her little daughter Marnie has inherited her gift. Her husband is just as unenlightened in her attitude towards Marnie.
Finley decides it is time to leave her husband, who is becoming increasingly violent. She also hopes to get to the bottom of what had happened to her mother, who had disappeared when she was a baby. Her aunt gives her her mothers diary to read, but fears neither she nor Marney may never see Finley again again if she pursues her search, away from home.
The search for answers to her mother's cold case does indeed prove to be deadly dangerous. However, learning about her mother proves to be a path of great self discovery. Will she be able to get to the bottom of the mystery, or will she also disappear the way her aunt fears?
This novella is beautifully written, in a style that is polished, almost literary. A little more editing will not harm in one or two cases, however. Themes cover those of inherited trauma as well as psychic gifts, and what needs to be learnt to avoid being attracted to abusive mates, and repeating the generational patters of abuse. All this against the background of the glamour and depravity of Hollywood.
This author is not only a gifted story teller, but a director of small films too, certainly the visual details would translate well on film.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 8, 2024
Wow. Let me just start off with that, wow. This novella blew my mind. The writing was SO good and the story was super intriguing. This follows Finley (Fin) through marriage struggles, parenting struggles, and the last thing being her mind. Is she being haunted? Is she losing it? She can physically see when people are lying but is there more to it than that? All while trying to figure out why her mother disappeared years ago.
Reading this, I got all the Haunting Adeline vibes, but without the spice, this was definitely more of a thriller. BUT in the beginning, when Adeline moves into her grandmother's house and is reading her Gigi's diaries trying to figure out who murdered her. This reminded me of that but with Finley reading her mother's diary trying to figure out what happened to her and why she disappeared.
The thing I loved most about this book was the struggles of just existing as a woman in today's world and patriarchal society was captured so incredibly well. Especially seeing the mirroring of Finley and her mother's relationships and the struggles they both faced.
I knew this was a novella going in, I was prepared. BUT I just wish I had more, more detail and possibly more from Finley's mom's perspective with a dual POV. I know it gave us her diary, but I just wanted a bit more. The plot and writing was so good I would have loved to have had more time and details to enjoy it longer.
*Thank you BookSirens for providing me with this advance review copy for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Reading this, I got all the Haunting Adeline vibes, but without the spice, this was definitely more of a thriller. BUT in the beginning, when Adeline moves into her grandmother's house and is reading her Gigi's diaries trying to figure out who murdered her. This reminded me of that but with Finley reading her mother's diary trying to figure out what happened to her and why she disappeared.
The thing I loved most about this book was the struggles of just existing as a woman in today's world and patriarchal society was captured so incredibly well. Especially seeing the mirroring of Finley and her mother's relationships and the struggles they both faced.
I knew this was a novella going in, I was prepared. BUT I just wish I had more, more detail and possibly more from Finley's mom's perspective with a dual POV. I know it gave us her diary, but I just wanted a bit more. The plot and writing was so good I would have loved to have had more time and details to enjoy it longer.
*Thank you BookSirens for providing me with this advance review copy for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 5, 2024
I wasn’t keen on this at first as a lot of the statements seemed like very surface level feminism - BUT, it did grow on me considerably by the end. There were some interesting concepts here, although I think they would have benefitted from being fleshed out more in a full length novel rather than a novella. It also felt like two completely separate books were being stuck together until they came together at the end - obviously part of the suspense is not knowing how they’ll come together, but for 98% of the book they felt too separate. There were also a little too many cliches thrown together and the tone was often quite strange, which could perhaps be because the author is used to working in film? And while I appreciated the disjointed time in the book and how that was mimicking Fin’s own awareness of her surroundings, it felt as if too much was missing - e.g. we missed some days where Fin was doing nothing, and for what reason? As in, there were times when things should have been happening but apparently nothing did… But overall I enjoyed the concept of this and quite a bit of the execution, and would be happy to see where Izzy Lee goes next with her writing career.
I received an ARC of this book for free via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC of this book for free via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 7, 2024
This was a great novella! In it we follow Finley who can see when people lie - her reality is crumbling and she is being haunted by disturbing hallucinations. Will she be able to uncover the truth of her mother’s disappearance?
The writing was really good and I highlighted a lot of amazing quotes. This book deals a lot with what it means to be a woman in a mans world and it was so disturbingly true. Fin is such a good, strong female character and I loved following her! The concept of being able to see when someone is lying is really cool and interesting - it added a little twist to the story. The supernatural elements were creepy and the fast paced made this quite the page turner. I feel like because it was quite short, I felt a little lost at times and I wanted more context on some things. Overall though it was a really unique and easy to read novella.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of horror novellas and stories of female characters getting revenge. It reminded me a little of Simone St James - especially the novella Ghost 19!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing was really good and I highlighted a lot of amazing quotes. This book deals a lot with what it means to be a woman in a mans world and it was so disturbingly true. Fin is such a good, strong female character and I loved following her! The concept of being able to see when someone is lying is really cool and interesting - it added a little twist to the story. The supernatural elements were creepy and the fast paced made this quite the page turner. I feel like because it was quite short, I felt a little lost at times and I wanted more context on some things. Overall though it was a really unique and easy to read novella.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of horror novellas and stories of female characters getting revenge. It reminded me a little of Simone St James - especially the novella Ghost 19!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 11, 2024
First of I wanna say it's more so a 3.75 for me but overall it's a good book so I rounded it up.
Personally to me it wasn't really all that much horror or Thriller as I didn't feel much tension building up since the novella is so short. As soon as something darker/tense happened everything unravelled. So I would describe it more as a murder mystery.
In the beginning of the book I saw some spelling/grammatical errors (I remember 3 I think) but that didn't bother me. In the beginning I couldn't fully get into the writing style but after I got used to it I really liked it!
There was another issue I had in the beginning but throughout the story my perspective of it changed and I no longer saw it as an issue.
Overall I really liked the story and it was well written. I also don't read novellas that often so that could be why it felt a bit rushed to me. However considering it is a novella I really liked the pacing and I never got bored. I would definitely recommend the book!
This book was given to me as an arc so I'm also really appreciative of having been given a free copy and being able to review it!
Personally to me it wasn't really all that much horror or Thriller as I didn't feel much tension building up since the novella is so short. As soon as something darker/tense happened everything unravelled. So I would describe it more as a murder mystery.
In the beginning of the book I saw some spelling/grammatical errors (I remember 3 I think) but that didn't bother me. In the beginning I couldn't fully get into the writing style but after I got used to it I really liked it!
There was another issue I had in the beginning but throughout the story my perspective of it changed and I no longer saw it as an issue.
Overall I really liked the story and it was well written. I also don't read novellas that often so that could be why it felt a bit rushed to me. However considering it is a novella I really liked the pacing and I never got bored. I would definitely recommend the book!
This book was given to me as an arc so I'm also really appreciative of having been given a free copy and being able to review it!
March 20, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. A noir-ish thriller with strong paranormal elements. Fin, married to an abusive husband, needs a break from her life. Her nine-year-old daughter has the same gift - curse? - that Fin does: an ability to see when someone lies to her, in the form of black bubbles or mold forming over the person's face. So Fin leaves her daughter with Fin's aunt and heads up the coast, in search of her own mother, who disappeared when Fin was two.
There was a lot of cool stuff in this book - maybe too much. A lot of threads to keep track of, this horror trope, that horror trope. Why did Fin head for a little town in Oregon to look for her Mom? If a reason was given, I missed it. And the title itself, Fin's ability to tell when someone is lying to her, ended up kind of falling by the wayside.
That said, I enjoyed the read quite a bit. Fast-paced, with some very creepy imagery. (Which makes sense, considering the author's film-making background!) And I'd rather a book with too much going on than too little.
There was a lot of cool stuff in this book - maybe too much. A lot of threads to keep track of, this horror trope, that horror trope. Why did Fin head for a little town in Oregon to look for her Mom? If a reason was given, I missed it. And the title itself, Fin's ability to tell when someone is lying to her, ended up kind of falling by the wayside.
That said, I enjoyed the read quite a bit. Fast-paced, with some very creepy imagery. (Which makes sense, considering the author's film-making background!) And I'd rather a book with too much going on than too little.
February 27, 2024
This novella had me waking up from my sleep so I could finish once I started!
I questioned the credibility of the FMC from time to time but I actually loved the way the author wrote her. Her “ability” would have freaked me out and the fact that I wasn’t sure if we were dealing with delusions, ghosts, aliens?! Yeah I didn’t piece it all together until the end and big reveal, but I could speculate. The pacing of the story was great and had me trying to get to the end so I could find out the truth… like I said, waking up in the middle of the night because I HAD to know!
This would’ve been a 5 star if there was more time spent on the FMC’s and her daugther’s “trait” but I feel like that would’ve taken away from the novella aspect. But overall the story was great and would love to see more from the author in the future.
I questioned the credibility of the FMC from time to time but I actually loved the way the author wrote her. Her “ability” would have freaked me out and the fact that I wasn’t sure if we were dealing with delusions, ghosts, aliens?! Yeah I didn’t piece it all together until the end and big reveal, but I could speculate. The pacing of the story was great and had me trying to get to the end so I could find out the truth… like I said, waking up in the middle of the night because I HAD to know!
This would’ve been a 5 star if there was more time spent on the FMC’s and her daugther’s “trait” but I feel like that would’ve taken away from the novella aspect. But overall the story was great and would love to see more from the author in the future.
February 29, 2024
I received this book as an arc from Booksirens and, am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Consider me a fan of this author just from reading this novella alone. Fins mom Meredith disappeared when Fin was a toddler. She was an actress on the verge of becoming the next big thing before she vanished. In the present day Fin is in an abusive marriage. She has a young daughter named Marnie. Marnie shares the same gift as Fin. She can see otherworldly things. So as Fin sets out to find out what happened to her mom once again, she’s given her mom’s diary by her aunt Mary. What follows is an eerie mystery.
This book is well written and descriptive. It will have your wheels turning trying to figure out who is who. I loved the diary entries and the twist.
The cover art is gorgeous. Off to see if the author has written anything else!
Consider me a fan of this author just from reading this novella alone. Fins mom Meredith disappeared when Fin was a toddler. She was an actress on the verge of becoming the next big thing before she vanished. In the present day Fin is in an abusive marriage. She has a young daughter named Marnie. Marnie shares the same gift as Fin. She can see otherworldly things. So as Fin sets out to find out what happened to her mom once again, she’s given her mom’s diary by her aunt Mary. What follows is an eerie mystery.
This book is well written and descriptive. It will have your wheels turning trying to figure out who is who. I loved the diary entries and the twist.
The cover art is gorgeous. Off to see if the author has written anything else!
February 8, 2024
This was a great little novella that I devoured in a day. The story griped me until the end.
It follows Finley and her daughter who are living a difficult life with Finley’s husband Jeff. He’s verbally abusive to both his wife and daughter.
Both are plagued with a seeing gift that alerts them to other’s lies. Finley is also trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance (she was a famous actress).
The ending was a tad predictable but still there was enough doubt to keep me guessing. All in all a good fast read if you’re in the mood for a mystery with a little paranormal flair.
It follows Finley and her daughter who are living a difficult life with Finley’s husband Jeff. He’s verbally abusive to both his wife and daughter.
Both are plagued with a seeing gift that alerts them to other’s lies. Finley is also trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance (she was a famous actress).
The ending was a tad predictable but still there was enough doubt to keep me guessing. All in all a good fast read if you’re in the mood for a mystery with a little paranormal flair.
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