Lie or Die

by A.J. Clack

Ten strangers trapped in a television studioForty-two remote camerasFive dead bodiesOne Trust no oneWhen a casting call is announced for new reality TV show Lie or Die, Kass is tricked into auditioning by her best friend. Big Brother meets Mafia, Lie or Die pits contestants against each other as they try to discover who is a murderous agent and who is an innocent player. But when contestants start to turn up dead (the real kind, not the fake kind), Kass realises that not being eliminated and winning the game is the least of her worries. No longer a game of truth and lies, Kass and her friends are in a fight for survival. 'Reality' just got very real.

Genres: Thriller, Young Adult, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 27, 2024

Reviews

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kass is currently fighting with BFF Thea about a misunderstanding over an ex-boyfriend. She desperately wants to make things up with Thea so agrees to try out for a new reality show called Lie or Die, based on a party game called 'Mafia' (or Werewolves'). Ten contestants will compete to win a cash prize by unmasking the two 'agents' amongst them before the 'agents' can 'kill' the rest of players. The two girls are eventually accepted onto the set & things seem normal at first, but when the AI host 'Cohin' goes off-script & the eliminated contestants start turning up literally dead, Kass realises that they are trapped inside the contained set with a killer.

This is the second book I've read recently about a murderer stalking a group filming a new reality TV show. This one started off quite slow & I wasn't really getting into it, but around a third of the way in, the story line & pace took off & didn't look back. Kass was a great main character as she was probably the one the reader would naturally feel most empathy for. I also thought the idea of basing around the party game worked really well as it gave the narrative a solid structure. It did look as if things may veer out of control towards the conclusion, but thankfully the ending was intriguing with maybe a possible chance of a sequel. I ended up really enjoying this one & recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers.

TWs: murder, death, mention of suicide.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Firefly Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Horror Sickness · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review should be just: I do not often give YA books 5 stars, but here we are.

This book is truly Big Brother meets Mafia and I am obsessed with it. The book opens up with Kass wanting to get her best friend back. She is ready to do anything for Thea to forgive her. Even participate in this social experiment called Lie or Die where the most important rule is: Trust No One.

The game is supposed to be like a Mafia game but inside a house Big Brother style and a couple of other changes to spice things up. Well, that was the plan anyway.

When all the contestants are in the house, they will realize that the people eliminated from the game are actually killed. Now, trapped inside this house with no way to ask for help, their mission will be to survive and find out who is killing them and why.

You can read this book in one sitting. That is how enjoyable and thrilling it was. The way you are so immersed in this game and with the players is insane. I was living the experience with them and going through the trenches, not going to lie.

So much action, fun and blood. This has been one of my favorite YA books this year. Yes, it can be corny at times but it was the good kind of corny and I would reread this anytime.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Für einen Jugendthriller fand ich es sehr spannend.

[Hayley J T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely enjoyed the storyline as I am a huge traitors fan, but I think this is aimed more for a younger audience. An easy read.

[Jay Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really corny YA book but still guiltily enjoyed it.

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Grief, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Suicide

Representations: https://trello.com/c/NdCdD2wm/101-lie...

Oooooh I loved this. Started off really slow, but once things started happening it was really fast paced right up until the final page! But even then, the slower paced parts still kept me really hooked! I sped through this mostly in a single sitting, I just couldn't put it down.

The characters where a right mix, all different kinds of tropes (something that's jabbed at in the book by the characters themselves which was pretty fun). Some aggravating, some kind and lovely to read. Some where of course more 2d than others, but that's pretty understandable due to the nature of the plot. It was pretty surprising but a lot of the deaths did get emotion from me, even near the start with the characters that weren't too fleshed out.

I don't think the book was trying to be too smart, there was some pretty good twists though that I didn't fully predict. The characters felt like they where acting their age for sure (I think? I read them as mostly pretty young but I honestly can't remember any of their ages lol), but in a realism way and not an annoying way honestly. Plans aren't super complicated, actions fit to the character types and in general it flowed pretty well. It's not fully realistic, naturally, it's a pretty out-there plot with exaggerated characters and a semi-cartoon villain. But it makes for an incredibly fun, tense and mysterious read!

Loved the slight touch of Welsh, always appreciate that done well in books! The romance as well I felt was pretty good, there's not a massive focus on it and it can mostly be ignored pretty easily. Main focus is on strong friendships and the bonds made through trauma. The romance-type relationships are pretty realistic for the type of situation. Single weekend, very high stakes, more concerned with surviving than making out - you'd think that was a low bar to pass but like, that was pretty refreshing to read honestly.

I'm not sure if there'll be a sequel, but the final page seems to imply there will be? Or at least, it's open to another. But this absolutely can be a standalone without feeling like you're missing anything. If there was a sequel, the only way it'd make sense was if it does like what the film Escape Room: Tournament of Champions does, but I'd also like for it to go a lot deeper into the aftermath. I felt like that was cut really short and the very important messages and points there didn't have enough time to really evolve honestly.

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you already have a negative view of reality TV and its influence, this fast-paced thriller will serve as evidence for your negative opinion.
At the start of the book we hear that Kass is trying to get a place on a new reality TV show, Live or Die. The premise is simple…two agents, one detective and a number of players who are all competing for a major prize. Filmed continuously during the show it’s a high-stakes game where only those willing to do what it takes will survive.
Kass is rejected, but her best friend is not.
On the day the show is scheduled to begin, a most unfortunate accident means Kass is asked to step in at the last minute.
The set-up of the show takes a little longer than you’d imagine, but it introduces us to key players and offers hints at what might be to come. Itching prepares us for the shock of u folding events, and the blurring of TV manipulation and reality is cleverly presented.
From the moment the true nature of the game is revealed this has more of a horror-feel to it. It offers some interesting ideas about our obsession with people wanting to be in the public eye, but the ending felt like a rather cheap attempt to eke out something that worked once.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.

[Vicky Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fab YA thriller which kept me turning the pages. An interesting take on the reality TV idea. I was hooked on this one. Written in a snappy fast paced style, it was easy to follow and the twists just kept coming. A fun read with great ideas.

[Anna [=^×^=]☆☆☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first third of the book is very slow, but the next parts make up for it IMMENSLY. I couldn't put the book down lwk finished it in 2 days and im a really slow Reader. The main plot of the book is an amazing idea imo, as everyone knows of the game "mafia" and its pretty popular. Kass is an amazing character, but so are the other ones featured in the book, each one is pretty well thought out, which I thought made the book very immersive and well rounded. There were a few minor plot conviniences, for example Thea being found alive. But all in all I really enjoyed the book!! ^-^

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

Described as The Traitors meets Knives Out by Kat Ellis, I just knew Lie or Die would be right up my street, and when you know, you know, you know?

I’m terribly fond of locked room murder mysteries and while I’m not much of a reality TV watcher, I am obsessed with The Traitors, so Lie or Die and me? We really were a match made in heaven.

I had such a brilliant time with it! I flew through it effortlessly, I was caught up in the story from the very first chapter and I got deeper into it with every following chapter. The plan was to read this on the weekend, saving the final chapters for Sunday, allowing me to write a review right after turning the final page, but I literally couldn’t stop reading and I finished it in a day!

While Lie or Die has a cast of young adults, with their accompanying teenage worries, struggles and occasional angst, and may therefore appeal more to readers of YA books, I do feel that Lie or Die has plenty to offer readers who don’t usually go for YA. It definitely has that And Then There Were None vibe going for it, as well as a certain thought-provoking aspect regarding reality TV and its impact on both contestants and viewers.

I found Lie or Die an accomplished debut and I’ve added A.J. Clack to my authors-to-watch list. Lie or Die is an addictive and twisty rollercoaster of a story, oodles of murderous fun, and one I would happily recommend.

Massive thanks to Firefly Press and Graeme Williams for the paperback review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle Sarkisyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The intention behind the game creation and the killers motivation fell flat, and truthfully, the repeated Taylor Swift references were a bigger jump-scare than the seemingly, but not quite there yet, horror elements.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but the ending felt rushed, kinda ruined it for me.

[GraceyBookster · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.75 ⭐️
🎧 Audiobook🎧

This had great premise with a mix of Traitors/Big Brother vibes but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. I just found it quite juvenile and mostly boring. I wasn’t invested in any of the characters and the twist was a bit predictable. It’s a shame as I had this on my TBR for ages but you can’t have them all.

[elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’ve been reading lots of YA thrillers for the past two weeks but this is definitely my favourite one so far. great plot and lots of twists, fast pacing and great characters. easily read in one sitting!

[oobagoomba98 · Rating 3 out of 5]

it did what it set out to do. i had fun.

[TheVegetarianAntichrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Circa bis zur Hälfte passiert nichts…doch dann geht es richtig ab.
Abgefucktes Ende.

[Sophia Werndl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 ⭐️✨️ (very unexpected)

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

[Cruz Zamora · Rating 2 out of 5]

fell flat, where was the mystery? where was the connection to characters? it just was not it, but had the vision to be great.

[Drauli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Idee ist toll und man kann das Buch gut lesen. Für mich schreit diese Geschichte nach vielen guten Plot Twists. Mir haben die aber gefehlt.

[Kayleigh (BookwormEscapes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

AD/PR - This one is actually The Traitors, but the Traitors are Agents, the Faithfuls are Players AND there’s a secret Detective who gets to ask the status of one person per night. Oh and there’s a courtroom where the accused are tried and sentenced to death in the electric chair (not real until it is 👀😏). Overseeing proceedings is an AI called Cohin who’s super creepy. What else?? It’s like the Big Brother house and there’s even a diary room! It’s older YA but a MUST for adults because it doesn’t feel young at all.

Honestly, this was BINGE. WORTHY. What a rollercoaster! I loved that apart from Kass we didn’t know who the Agents and Players were. It made for such a fun guessing game where you analyse everyone’s words and actions. The murders were brutal which I’m here for. Morbid, but I love it 👀😂. It was soooo gripping and thoroughly entertaining. It felt like watching a full season of The Traitors! I was engrossed and the final part was genuinely heart stopping! I looooved how it ended… the last page 😱💀. Can we please have series 2?!!

[ellie ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, binge-worthy story! This book was riddled with twists and turns. It heavily reminded me of all of my favourite things, like, The Traitors, Knives Out and Pretty Little Liars (if you know, you know). Lie or Die was such an unpredictable story that had me racing through the pages to find answers. This was definitely the most enthralling thriller/mystery i’ve read in a LONG time. I loved the whole gameshow aspect and grew to love each of the characters for their individuality. It was an added joy to discover the author is from South Wales <3

Thank you Firefly Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rush! Ten people locked into a Big Brother style house, meant to figure out who the Agents are and who the Players are, find their game going horribly wrong. With no one sure who's on what side, they'll have to find a way to work together if they want to survive.

This is fast paced and exciting. Because it's all narrated by one character, there was never a doubt that she'd get into the show, even when she's initially rejected, and there were a couple of really obvious bits of foreshadowing - for instance, the moment Kass looks up at a high gantry and thinks about how she'd never willingly get up there, I knew that at some point she'd have to get up there. There's also a really obvious drugging scene that no one catches on to, but then they were exhausted, terrified and half starved by then. (Warning, the next one's a bit gruesome, keep reading only if you're sure you're ok with that: at one point they open a secret door and find a body inside. The body has been there for three or four days by that stage. Wouldn't they be able to smell it?)

Those little points aside - and again, from outside the story it's always easier to see what's going on - this is a really good read. The characters don't give much away, I hadn't guessed a couple of the twists, and the thought of being trapped somewhere like that is really claustrophobic. The whole set up is very clever.

There's what might be a sequel hook at the end, or might be just meant to leave us unsettled. Either way works and I'll be watching out for more by the author. Great read.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

LIE OR DIE is a tense thriller set in a reality tv show that gets murderous.

I really liked how this book took the psychology and manipulation of a reality TV show, where everything is designed to fray tempers and generate drama, and went "what if this was hijacked to kill people?" It works really well to make Kass doubt herself because everything is trying to generate moments that will get people watching, so maybe it is just good effects? And then, once it's clear it is murder, it leads to this trapped feeling with the claustrophobia of all the cameras.

This also feeds in nicely to a discussion about the impacts of reality TV. What does it say about us as consumers? What does it do to contestants - the good and the bad? How ethical is it all?

As for the thriller part of the tale, there were several parties with motives in the show, which was a nice way of complicating the situation. Different people have agendas they want to see playing out. This means it's not so much red herrings but clues pointing to different solutions, and it makes it much harder to work out who to trust.

Kass' relationship with Thea is an interesting dynamic. It feels very one sided, like Thea expects so much more of Kass and Kass can't see just how toxic it's got. It was interesting seeing how Kass' desire to please Thea drove her and how it evolved over the game, with the ending showing promising signs of growth!

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bunch of fame-hungry young adults are assembled for a reality TV show based around a ruthless game called ‘Lie or Die’- what could possibly go wrong?

Fans of reality TV probably have some immediate ideas!

And Then There Were None meets Mafia with The Traitors’ production team, ‘Lie or Die’ is a YA thriller full of tension and twists.
Hats off to AJ Clack for writing a novel which hangs so much on dialogue and managing to keep the pace, tension and interest up.

I’m not a fan of Reality TV really but if anything this fact might have even heightened my enjoyment of Lie or Die - ha ha ha (evil laugh). My point: it’s definitely not just for diehard fans!

I enjoyed the self-awareness of the contestants (eg their tropes) and thought the teenagers were believable and interesting characters despite the fact we only meet them in the house, with all of the artifice and posturing that entails. I think that’s another sizeable achievement.

A gripping, highly readable YA thriller. Remember, readers: trust no-one!

[AmyJ_booktok · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating - 3⭐️

Lie or die, a new reality tv show basically a mix of big brother and the traitors is open for applicants. Cass is an average girl with a strong hatred for being on camera, couldn’t think of anything worse, but after a guilt trip from her best friend she applies. Out of 1000 people she knows she has a slim chance of ending up in the house but somehow she finds herself in the lie or die house. Everything is exciting and nerve racking, but then strange things start to happen. Fake deaths aren’t looking fake, bodies are found. What sort of reality tv show is this…

I was beyond excited to start this one, the idea of a thriller with a splash of traitors is my cup of tea. The idea was there and it was deffo a fun read but the execution fell a bit flat. It felt a bit too YA for me and I guessed multiple twists.

[Slime · Rating 2 out of 5]

I genuinely enjoyed the story and idea behind it.

I could tell it was aimed a bit more towards a teen audience which, was a bit off putting as an adult but, this is my own problem as i forgot to check that before purchasing.
I definitely think i would have preferred if it was a little more fleshed out and, i noticed few switches between narration style which did throw me slightly off.

Overall, would recommend for a short read if you are interested in the summary :)

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise sounded fun but the plot and characters were lacking.

Kass had some development and Lewis slightly but the rest were all two dimensional and a bit cliche

It took too long setting up the characters and story and it just didn’t lead to anything interesting

Hate giving new authors a low rating but just didn’t vibe with the book

[Kat Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love reality TV shows like The Traitors or Squid Game: The Challenge with all those delicious, back-stabby vibes, you need to read this book. There were so many twists, fantastic characters, and a full-throttle pace that kept me breezing through the pages. An excellent read!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

I really want to read more books by this author ;-;