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Lie to Me
Under the Greek shimmering sea, deep dark secrets lie just beneath the surface...
1960.
Shy eighteen-year-old Jean is resigned to yet another long empty summer stretching out before her, working for her father at the stables and dreaming of a life so different from her own.
Until one day, Vivienne Fenwick's sleek forest-green motor car squeals onto the dusty yard. With large sunglasses perched on top of a Parisian black bob, Vivienne is the most glamourous woman Jean has ever seen.
Along with her dashing husband Robert, Vivienne is a professional racing driver. They drive fast cars and sip champagne on beautiful yachts - and, most importantly, they like to win. When they ask Jean to be their new assistant for the summer, Jean jumps at the chance to leave behind the quiet English countryside for the sparkling azure sea and winding, pine-scented roads of Greece.
But the closer she gets to Vivienne and Robert, the more she becomes entrenched in their tempestuous relationship - and their secrets. And as they spend their days competing in ever more perilous mountain races and their nights in a haze of ouzo-drenched seduction, Jean starts to what price would she pay to keep her new life?
An utterly gripping debut psychological suspense thriller packed with twists, Lie to Me will keep you turning the pages until the stunning conclusion.
"Twisty and perilous . . . a touch of Ripley." - Charlotte Vassell, bestselling author of The Other Half, longlisted for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
1960.
Shy eighteen-year-old Jean is resigned to yet another long empty summer stretching out before her, working for her father at the stables and dreaming of a life so different from her own.
Until one day, Vivienne Fenwick's sleek forest-green motor car squeals onto the dusty yard. With large sunglasses perched on top of a Parisian black bob, Vivienne is the most glamourous woman Jean has ever seen.
Along with her dashing husband Robert, Vivienne is a professional racing driver. They drive fast cars and sip champagne on beautiful yachts - and, most importantly, they like to win. When they ask Jean to be their new assistant for the summer, Jean jumps at the chance to leave behind the quiet English countryside for the sparkling azure sea and winding, pine-scented roads of Greece.
But the closer she gets to Vivienne and Robert, the more she becomes entrenched in their tempestuous relationship - and their secrets. And as they spend their days competing in ever more perilous mountain races and their nights in a haze of ouzo-drenched seduction, Jean starts to what price would she pay to keep her new life?
An utterly gripping debut psychological suspense thriller packed with twists, Lie to Me will keep you turning the pages until the stunning conclusion.
"Twisty and perilous . . . a touch of Ripley." - Charlotte Vassell, bestselling author of The Other Half, longlisted for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2025
About the author
Olivia Gavoyannis
3 books14 followersOlivia grew up in Brighton and studied English literature at the University of St Andrews. She has a Journalism MA from City University, and lives and works in London as a journalist.
She is half-Greek and has been visiting the country with her family since she was a young child, when she first fell in love with the rich mythology, stunning scenery and of course the food. Returning to Corfu as an adult, she was struck by the dramatic - and often perilous - landscape and knew the island was the perfect starting point for a stifling psychological thriller.
She is half-Greek and has been visiting the country with her family since she was a young child, when she first fell in love with the rich mythology, stunning scenery and of course the food. Returning to Corfu as an adult, she was struck by the dramatic - and often perilous - landscape and knew the island was the perfect starting point for a stifling psychological thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 6, 2025
LOVED this book! Beautifully written and I was gripped from start to finish. Immediately made me want to book a flight to Greece!
July 14, 2025
Sultry and evocative, Lie to Me transports you straight back to the glamorous heyday of European rally driving — and with a sizzling slow-burn psychological plot to boot. This debut author is one to watch!
July 6, 2025
Such a great summer read - a proper page turner! Really recommend
June 29, 2025
Great book. Kept me hooked throughout. Would recommend!
July 5, 2025
Raced through this in a weekend. The beautifully luxurious writing sucked me into the Greek landscape - a perfect read for a stiflingly hot summer.
June 29, 2025
This is an amazing story that is beautifully told with rich, developed characters and a weaving, heart-racing plot. I read it in one go, turned to the front and started again. Such an enjoyable read.
June 9, 2025
We follow teenage Jean as she leaves behind her stifling summer job and troubled relationship with her father to embark on what should be an exciting opportunity: assisting the enigmatic Vivienne and her husband on their trip to Greece. The setup promises intrigue, escapism, and transformation—all set against the stunning backdrop of 1960s Greece.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is undoubtedly the setting. The descriptions of Greece are atmospheric and transportive. The author clearly put thought and care into immersing the reader in the Mediterranean environment, which was a highlight of the reading experience for me. The characters, particularly Jean and Vivienne, are also very well developed.
However, despite these strengths, I found the pacing to be a major drawback. The story unfolds at a sluggish rate, often weighed down by excessive and mundane details that don’t meaningfully move the plot forward. Additionally, the twists and turns of the plot were disappointingly predictable.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is undoubtedly the setting. The descriptions of Greece are atmospheric and transportive. The author clearly put thought and care into immersing the reader in the Mediterranean environment, which was a highlight of the reading experience for me. The characters, particularly Jean and Vivienne, are also very well developed.
However, despite these strengths, I found the pacing to be a major drawback. The story unfolds at a sluggish rate, often weighed down by excessive and mundane details that don’t meaningfully move the plot forward. Additionally, the twists and turns of the plot were disappointingly predictable.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC.
August 8, 2025
3.5 rounded up. The setting of the glamorous and exiting world of 1960s rally car racing was a really interesting backdrop for the story. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Greek Islands, the atmosphere, foods, sights and people. It felt fresh from the usual thrillers.
The characters were interesting, although not very likeable it was hard to figure some of them out as the moods seemed to shift day by day. I liked Anne and David, the seemed to be the only decent ones!
I thought the story was well written. It's a slow burn, and at first, it was difficult to figure out the dynamics between the three main characters and who, if any, I should be rooting for, which added to the mystery and intrigue. As the plot started to unfold, the pacing got quicker, and it became clear what was going on.
I enjoyed the ending which felt satisfying and everything came together nicely. This was a great debut, and I will look out for more books by this author.
This was an enjoyable sumner read, and I'd recommend it to crime/thriller readers.
Huge thanks to the author, publisher, and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
The characters were interesting, although not very likeable it was hard to figure some of them out as the moods seemed to shift day by day. I liked Anne and David, the seemed to be the only decent ones!
I thought the story was well written. It's a slow burn, and at first, it was difficult to figure out the dynamics between the three main characters and who, if any, I should be rooting for, which added to the mystery and intrigue. As the plot started to unfold, the pacing got quicker, and it became clear what was going on.
I enjoyed the ending which felt satisfying and everything came together nicely. This was a great debut, and I will look out for more books by this author.
This was an enjoyable sumner read, and I'd recommend it to crime/thriller readers.
Huge thanks to the author, publisher, and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
August 8, 2025
This was a decent read. I loved the concept. It was strong and kept me turning the pages!
The cover is designed well. The imagery is good. It made me want to sit by a swimming pool! I liked the colours. This was really well done.
The book was written really well and flowed nicely. The writing created really suspenseful situations which I really enjoyed.
The characters were strong. They all fit in really well. I liked Jean. I found Vivienne and Robert intriguing. Their relationship and secrets were interesting. I loved how it all unfolded.
I definitely recommend this book to you all.
The cover is designed well. The imagery is good. It made me want to sit by a swimming pool! I liked the colours. This was really well done.
The book was written really well and flowed nicely. The writing created really suspenseful situations which I really enjoyed.
The characters were strong. They all fit in really well. I liked Jean. I found Vivienne and Robert intriguing. Their relationship and secrets were interesting. I loved how it all unfolded.
I definitely recommend this book to you all.
August 2, 2025
A good read
Lie To Me by Olivia Gavoyannis.
This was a good read. I liked the cover and blurb of this book. I did like the story. But I didn’t like Jean, Vivienne or Robert. It did take me a few days to read. I had to keep putting it down. I found it slow in some places. I did like the setting. Greece. I really had no idea this was a debut, though. It was cleverly written. It was certainly different. Unique.
Lie To Me by Olivia Gavoyannis.
This was a good read. I liked the cover and blurb of this book. I did like the story. But I didn’t like Jean, Vivienne or Robert. It did take me a few days to read. I had to keep putting it down. I found it slow in some places. I did like the setting. Greece. I really had no idea this was a debut, though. It was cleverly written. It was certainly different. Unique.
July 16, 2025
A fantastic page-turner which gripped me till the end. An amazing debut novel and I can’t wait for more to come!
June 18, 2025
Lie to Me is a seductive, sun-soaked suspense thriller set in 1960s Greece. The story centers on Jean, a young and impressionable woman working in a stable, whose life takes a sharp turn when she’s swept up into the glamorous, dangerous world of rally racing.
Her guide into this new world? Well, that would be Vivienne – a stunning, enigmatic driver, with a rakish husband, and a tendency to collect people like trophies.
When Vivienne recruits Jean as her new navigator, it seems like a dream come true but under the Greek sun those dreams curdle quickly. The more entrenched Jean becomes in this group of daredevil drivers and their entourage, the more blurred the lines between mentorship and manipulation, attraction and control, become between Vivienne and Jean.
As the summer days become more stifling, the racing becomes more dangerous, and so does the ouzo-drenched seduction of Jean in the cat and mouse game being played, on and off track, by both husband and wife.
The plotting is so sharp it never takes a wrong turn. The narrative feels as precise as a navigator’s rally map filled with misdirection's, hairpin twists, and a relentless pace towards an unforgettable finish line.
As a fan of historic motorsport, especially from this era, I was blown away by Olivia’s attention to detail. Her respect for the sport, and for the pioneering women racers of the time radiates off the page. The story pulses with the thrill of high-speed chases on cliffside roads, the roar of the engines, and the sting of female betrayal.
Even without the psychological thriller elements in the book I would have been enthralled following these reckless, daredevil women, carving up Greece in their cars. But the layered tension, slow burn seduction, and the creeping sense of danger both on and off track elevate this to my new favourite destination thriller.
If you’re a fan of The Talented Mr Ripley (as I am – forever a favourite) and loved the glamour-meets-chaos vibe of Daisy Jones & The Six, this book absolutely belongs in your beach bag, or on your Kindle summer reading TBR.
Absolute banger, podium finish.
Thank you to the Embla Books and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.
Her guide into this new world? Well, that would be Vivienne – a stunning, enigmatic driver, with a rakish husband, and a tendency to collect people like trophies.
When Vivienne recruits Jean as her new navigator, it seems like a dream come true but under the Greek sun those dreams curdle quickly. The more entrenched Jean becomes in this group of daredevil drivers and their entourage, the more blurred the lines between mentorship and manipulation, attraction and control, become between Vivienne and Jean.
As the summer days become more stifling, the racing becomes more dangerous, and so does the ouzo-drenched seduction of Jean in the cat and mouse game being played, on and off track, by both husband and wife.
The plotting is so sharp it never takes a wrong turn. The narrative feels as precise as a navigator’s rally map filled with misdirection's, hairpin twists, and a relentless pace towards an unforgettable finish line.
As a fan of historic motorsport, especially from this era, I was blown away by Olivia’s attention to detail. Her respect for the sport, and for the pioneering women racers of the time radiates off the page. The story pulses with the thrill of high-speed chases on cliffside roads, the roar of the engines, and the sting of female betrayal.
Even without the psychological thriller elements in the book I would have been enthralled following these reckless, daredevil women, carving up Greece in their cars. But the layered tension, slow burn seduction, and the creeping sense of danger both on and off track elevate this to my new favourite destination thriller.
If you’re a fan of The Talented Mr Ripley (as I am – forever a favourite) and loved the glamour-meets-chaos vibe of Daisy Jones & The Six, this book absolutely belongs in your beach bag, or on your Kindle summer reading TBR.
Absolute banger, podium finish.
Thank you to the Embla Books and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.
May 28, 2025
I adored Lie To Me. Gorgeously atmospheric, with a cast of fascinating characters and a creeping plot that unfurls in gloriously twisting layers: this is the perfect summer read.
July 31, 2025
Really enjoyed this first novel from a promising new author. Highly recommended. Looking forward to the next one.
November 9, 2025
📚Lie To Me
✍🏻Olivia Gavoyannis
Blurb:
Under the Greek shimmering sea, deep dark secrets lie just beneath the surface...
1960.
Shy eighteen-year-old Jean is resigned to yet another long empty summer stretching out before her, working for her father at the stables and dreaming of a life so different from her own.
Until one day, Vivienne Fenwick's sleek forest-green motor car squeals onto the dusty yard. With large sunglasses perched on top of a Parisian black bob, Vivienne is the most glamourous woman Jean has ever seen.
Along with her dashing husband Robert, Vivienne is a professional racing driver. They drive fast cars and sip champagne on beautiful yachts - and, most importantly, they like to win. When they ask Jean to be their new assistant for the summer, Jean jumps at the chance to leave behind the quiet English countryside for the sparkling azure sea and winding, pine-scented roads of Greece.
But the closer she gets to Vivienne and Robert, the more she becomes entrenched in their tempestuous relationship - and their secrets. And as they spend their days competing in ever more perilous mountain races and their nights in a haze of ouzo-drenched seduction, Jean starts to what price would she pay to keep her new life?
My Thoughts:
Lie to Me is a seductive, sun-soaked suspense thriller set in 1960s Greece. The story centers on Jean, a young and impressionable woman working in a stable, whose life takes a sharp turn when she’s swept up into the glamorous, dangerous world of rally racing. Raced through this in a weekend.
enjoyed the ending which felt satisfying and everything came together nicely. This was a great debut, and I will look out for more books by this author.
Thanks NetGalley, Embla Books and Author Olivia Gavoyannis for the complimentary copy of "Lie to Me" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#EmblaBooks
#OliviaGavoyannis
#LietoMe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Olivia Gavoyannis
Blurb:
Under the Greek shimmering sea, deep dark secrets lie just beneath the surface...
1960.
Shy eighteen-year-old Jean is resigned to yet another long empty summer stretching out before her, working for her father at the stables and dreaming of a life so different from her own.
Until one day, Vivienne Fenwick's sleek forest-green motor car squeals onto the dusty yard. With large sunglasses perched on top of a Parisian black bob, Vivienne is the most glamourous woman Jean has ever seen.
Along with her dashing husband Robert, Vivienne is a professional racing driver. They drive fast cars and sip champagne on beautiful yachts - and, most importantly, they like to win. When they ask Jean to be their new assistant for the summer, Jean jumps at the chance to leave behind the quiet English countryside for the sparkling azure sea and winding, pine-scented roads of Greece.
But the closer she gets to Vivienne and Robert, the more she becomes entrenched in their tempestuous relationship - and their secrets. And as they spend their days competing in ever more perilous mountain races and their nights in a haze of ouzo-drenched seduction, Jean starts to what price would she pay to keep her new life?
My Thoughts:
Lie to Me is a seductive, sun-soaked suspense thriller set in 1960s Greece. The story centers on Jean, a young and impressionable woman working in a stable, whose life takes a sharp turn when she’s swept up into the glamorous, dangerous world of rally racing. Raced through this in a weekend.
enjoyed the ending which felt satisfying and everything came together nicely. This was a great debut, and I will look out for more books by this author.
Thanks NetGalley, Embla Books and Author Olivia Gavoyannis for the complimentary copy of "Lie to Me" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#EmblaBooks
#OliviaGavoyannis
#LietoMe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 21, 2025
I did find this a very slow burn. I couldn't really appreciate why it was set in 1960 particularly either. The story could have been set in any time period, it would have made little difference to the plot. There is glamour inferred, but where money and fast cars are concerned, there's always glamour no matter what the era. Just my thoughts, but I can't say the story evoked a swinging sixties vibe.
Nevertheless, in spite of the story taking a long time to develop, it did keep me turning the pages. Jean lives on a farm with her father. She spends her days cooking and cleaning for her ungrateful dad and working in the stables looking after the horses stabled there. It's here that she first meets Vivienne and her husband Robert when Vivienne stables her horse there. Jean is struck by Vivienne's glamour, her cool attitude and her lifestyle so when Vivienne offers her a means of escape from the farm, inviting her to partner her as navigator in her rally driving races, Jean doesn't need to be asked twice and jumps at the chance. Even if it's only to escape her boring life of drudgery on the farm.
Jean is young and impressionable and as time goes on she becomes somewhat besotted with Vivienne, she's everything Jean isn't but would love to be. Easy then for Vivienne to manipulate and as time goes on, Jean starts to feel uncomfortable with the way things seem to be heading.
It is an interesting plot, it's told from the point of view of Jean, and we see her go from idolising Vivienne and her lifestyle to becoming ever more wary of her wild, unpredictable ways and the creeping mistrust she begins to feel.
The story does gather pace towards the end and becomes quite tense. There are some clever twists, and by the time I got to the end, I had quite enjoyed it. The setting in Greece was good, descriptions of the sultry heat, the winding backroads where the rally driving took place sounded hair raising and created tension in parts of the book.
All in all, a slow but interesting book and I would try more of this author's work.
Nevertheless, in spite of the story taking a long time to develop, it did keep me turning the pages. Jean lives on a farm with her father. She spends her days cooking and cleaning for her ungrateful dad and working in the stables looking after the horses stabled there. It's here that she first meets Vivienne and her husband Robert when Vivienne stables her horse there. Jean is struck by Vivienne's glamour, her cool attitude and her lifestyle so when Vivienne offers her a means of escape from the farm, inviting her to partner her as navigator in her rally driving races, Jean doesn't need to be asked twice and jumps at the chance. Even if it's only to escape her boring life of drudgery on the farm.
Jean is young and impressionable and as time goes on she becomes somewhat besotted with Vivienne, she's everything Jean isn't but would love to be. Easy then for Vivienne to manipulate and as time goes on, Jean starts to feel uncomfortable with the way things seem to be heading.
It is an interesting plot, it's told from the point of view of Jean, and we see her go from idolising Vivienne and her lifestyle to becoming ever more wary of her wild, unpredictable ways and the creeping mistrust she begins to feel.
The story does gather pace towards the end and becomes quite tense. There are some clever twists, and by the time I got to the end, I had quite enjoyed it. The setting in Greece was good, descriptions of the sultry heat, the winding backroads where the rally driving took place sounded hair raising and created tension in parts of the book.
All in all, a slow but interesting book and I would try more of this author's work.
August 3, 2025
‘Lie to Me’ is an engrossing historical psychological thriller set in the heyday of rally racing. With shades of ‘Rebecca’ it is a slow-burning book that captivates the reader.
It is clear that the author loves Greece as a character in its own right. The heat shimmers off the page, and the relaxed small-town life acts as a counterbalance against the excitement of the races themselves. The relationships, especially between the main players, are nuanced and claustrophobic to read. Jean is naive to start with, but as her interactions with Vivienne increase, she soon appreciates she might be in a precarious situation.
I was engrossed by this book and flew through it. It felt like an interwar novel to me though rather than the 1960s. Apart, from the references to bikinis I would have been unaware. But I think that is because the interwar period feels special to me, especially when it came
to women entering male-dominated spheres. It was a brilliant read!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
August 7, 2025
Thank you to Look Books Tours and Olivia Gavoyannis for an ARC copy of this book. *All thoughts and opinions are my own*
It's 1960, and 18 year old Jean is resigned to letting another summer pass her by working for her father. Until she meets Vivienne, a professional racing driver who is in need of a navigator. Jean jumps at the chance to join her and husband Robert, leaving the English countryside behind, but perhaps she was a little hasty...
This was an enjoyable read, with beautiful descriptions of the settings in Greece. The author clearly describes each area with so much detail you feel as though you are there. This book focuses on the rally driving through Europe, but has a slow-burn thriller element in the background. For me, this was a little slow and it took me a few days to get through the book. Nevertheless, this was a good summer read with a great couple of twists at the end.
It's 1960, and 18 year old Jean is resigned to letting another summer pass her by working for her father. Until she meets Vivienne, a professional racing driver who is in need of a navigator. Jean jumps at the chance to join her and husband Robert, leaving the English countryside behind, but perhaps she was a little hasty...
This was an enjoyable read, with beautiful descriptions of the settings in Greece. The author clearly describes each area with so much detail you feel as though you are there. This book focuses on the rally driving through Europe, but has a slow-burn thriller element in the background. For me, this was a little slow and it took me a few days to get through the book. Nevertheless, this was a good summer read with a great couple of twists at the end.
June 13, 2025
Jean has left her home where she lived with her father and worked in the stables to be the navigator for Vivienne, a glamorous racer. Vivienne's husband Robert is also a racer and they take on Jean, paying for everything and telling her she'll get her share at the end of the season.
The characters were well developed, but the story itself was too slow for me. We jump in to Jean working for Vivienne when I think starting with her life with her father could have probably made them "saving" her feel more monumental. The storytelling felt monotonous and I never felt suspenseful for Jean. I kept waiting for that moment to make the book worthwhile and never got it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Olivia Gavoyannis, and Embla Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The characters were well developed, but the story itself was too slow for me. We jump in to Jean working for Vivienne when I think starting with her life with her father could have probably made them "saving" her feel more monumental. The storytelling felt monotonous and I never felt suspenseful for Jean. I kept waiting for that moment to make the book worthwhile and never got it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Olivia Gavoyannis, and Embla Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 6, 2025
Lie To Me was a throughouly engrossing, colourful read oozing atmosphere, suspense and tension. This was definitely more of a slow burn than I'm used to but I found the slow pace worked as the author gave us great background to the story and the characters. To me it felt more like a mystery than a thriller, again I found this worked really well for the story.
This was a well written story with the author creating the perfect scene with backdrop of the sun soaked Greek Islands and well developed fleshed out characters whose lives I found myself immersed in.
Lie To Me was a very enjoyable read with plenty of mystery, thrills, glamour and interesting characters. The sun soaked setting also makes it the perfect summer read.
This was a well written story with the author creating the perfect scene with backdrop of the sun soaked Greek Islands and well developed fleshed out characters whose lives I found myself immersed in.
Lie To Me was a very enjoyable read with plenty of mystery, thrills, glamour and interesting characters. The sun soaked setting also makes it the perfect summer read.
August 27, 2025
📆 single, linear timeline
👀 single POV.
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
I got into this story immediately and felt transported to 1960s Greece. Which is a time and place I've never been, but I felt like I was there nonetheless. I loved the mystery element of this story. The feeling of almost, but not quite, knowing what was happening. It had me totally hooked. Although it's also confirmed that I do not want to drive up the side of a mountain. No siree!
I thought the story was well paced, with great, believable characters. Vivienne was just something else! I loved Jean's naivety, but also how smart she was. It's hard to say more because of spoilers!
Overall though, this was a fantastic read which I definitely recommend.
👀 single POV.
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
I got into this story immediately and felt transported to 1960s Greece. Which is a time and place I've never been, but I felt like I was there nonetheless. I loved the mystery element of this story. The feeling of almost, but not quite, knowing what was happening. It had me totally hooked. Although it's also confirmed that I do not want to drive up the side of a mountain. No siree!
I thought the story was well paced, with great, believable characters. Vivienne was just something else! I loved Jean's naivety, but also how smart she was. It's hard to say more because of spoilers!
Overall though, this was a fantastic read which I definitely recommend.
May 19, 2025
It is 1960 and Jean is a reticent 18 year old with a dark secret. An unexpected opportunity to work with the glamorous Robert and Vivienne Fenwick allows her to escape to a very different world on the racing circuit.
And Jean gradually realises that she also has the opportunity to reshape her identity and be someone different But as she discovers, this apparently golden life also has its darker side...
This book was a little too slow moving for me, although the premise had potential. Less attention to character development and more effort on pacing might yield a better balanced story.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
And Jean gradually realises that she also has the opportunity to reshape her identity and be someone different But as she discovers, this apparently golden life also has its darker side...
This book was a little too slow moving for me, although the premise had potential. Less attention to character development and more effort on pacing might yield a better balanced story.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 15, 2025
Jean is sure that this summer will be no different from any other summer; that is until she meets Vivienne Fenwick, a female rally car driver. Vivian quickly takes Jean under her care and whisks her away to Greece to be her navigator. Jean is young and naïve and thinks this is going to turn her life around. Jean begins to discover that if something looks too good to be true, it just might be
This was a great summer read. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters were very well written.
Thank you to NetGalley , the publishing house, and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review, based upon my honest opinion.
This was a great summer read. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters were very well written.
Thank you to NetGalley , the publishing house, and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review, based upon my honest opinion.
October 23, 2025
📚Lie To Me
✍️Olivia Gavoyannis
🎧Audiobook
1⭐️
Jean is asked to be assistant to Vivienne Fenwick, a rally car driver in the 1960s. She accompanies Vivienne and her husband Robert to an event in Greece. Being half Greek, I was waiting for the author to leverage her heritage and give us some glorious descriptions of Greece but unfortunately this wasn’t the case. The novel was instead, very character driven, and those characters weren’t particularly pleasant. There was also a huge focus on the cars, so this would definitely appeal to readers who like and who know about classic cars. Unfortunately I spent the entire novel waiting for something to happen, which it never really did.
✍️Olivia Gavoyannis
🎧Audiobook
1⭐️
Jean is asked to be assistant to Vivienne Fenwick, a rally car driver in the 1960s. She accompanies Vivienne and her husband Robert to an event in Greece. Being half Greek, I was waiting for the author to leverage her heritage and give us some glorious descriptions of Greece but unfortunately this wasn’t the case. The novel was instead, very character driven, and those characters weren’t particularly pleasant. There was also a huge focus on the cars, so this would definitely appeal to readers who like and who know about classic cars. Unfortunately I spent the entire novel waiting for something to happen, which it never really did.
May 27, 2025
Shy eighteen-year-old Jean gets swept away from her boring summer job at her dad’s stables when the glamorous, fast-living Vivienne and her husband Robert invite her to join them on a whirlwind trip through Greece as their assistant. Between the racing cars, luxury yachts, and secrets simmering beneath the surface, it had all the ingredients for a great summer read. But for me, the story moved a little too slowly. While the character development was detailed, I found myself wishing for a faster pace and more momentum to really bring the drama and excitement to life.
May 27, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for my review.
Young Jean leaves her boring summer job when she is asked to join Vivienne and her husband as an assistant during their trip to Greece. Lots of expensive toys and more secrets and gossip than you can believe are the ingredients for this one. But for me, the story was slow, and difficult to really get into.
3 stars. If the publishers description sounds good, give it a try, maybe this just wasn't the book for me.
Young Jean leaves her boring summer job when she is asked to join Vivienne and her husband as an assistant during their trip to Greece. Lots of expensive toys and more secrets and gossip than you can believe are the ingredients for this one. But for me, the story was slow, and difficult to really get into.
3 stars. If the publishers description sounds good, give it a try, maybe this just wasn't the book for me.
July 11, 2025
If one step forward three steps back were a book, this would be it. Jean is working for a woman named Vivienne, a racing driver, as her navigator. Throughout the story, Jean gets to know Vivienne and her husband Robert ona more intimate level as they spend every day together. As the days go by, Jean slowly becomes more aware of what is really going on around her.
This book was definitely worth the read and I enjoyed it. I thought the way it wrapped up was truly genius! The characters were all very interesting in their own ways and kept you enthralled in what was going on in their journey.
This book was definitely worth the read and I enjoyed it. I thought the way it wrapped up was truly genius! The characters were all very interesting in their own ways and kept you enthralled in what was going on in their journey.
August 4, 2025
‘Lie To Me’ is a thoughtful and evocative psychological thriller. It starts off slowly and unravels its secrets carefully and before you know it you are over halfway through. I liked the dynamic between Jean, Vivienne and Robert and how they interacted with the other people in their peer group. It’s a real slow burn of a thriller but it’s worth the slow build up. It’s beautifully written and paced just right as the three main characters make their power plays. It’s a real tug and pull mystery. I would recommend this book to fans of slow burn character driven psychological thrillers.
August 1, 2025
A great debut book, which had me hooked from the start, at a pace with flowed really well.
Set in the 60s I got a feel for the times as the story travelled through Greece, the descriptive writing transported me to the stunning landscapes and scenery.
The storyline was really interesting entering the world of racing, along with a great twisty psychological thriller.
Thank you for having me on this tour
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
Set in the 60s I got a feel for the times as the story travelled through Greece, the descriptive writing transported me to the stunning landscapes and scenery.
The storyline was really interesting entering the world of racing, along with a great twisty psychological thriller.
Thank you for having me on this tour
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
July 1, 2025
A psychological thriller which is more on the literary fiction side with developed characters and a slow burn plot.
Set in 1960’s Greece in the world of rally driving, it’s a perfect beach read.
Eighteen year old Jean is travelling around Europe with glamorous Vivienne and her husband, acting as Vivienne’s navigator. Vivienne draws her into something that Jean finds it hard to get out of and Jean finds herself wondering how she can get away.
Overall an entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla books for the advanced copy.
Set in 1960’s Greece in the world of rally driving, it’s a perfect beach read.
Eighteen year old Jean is travelling around Europe with glamorous Vivienne and her husband, acting as Vivienne’s navigator. Vivienne draws her into something that Jean finds it hard to get out of and Jean finds herself wondering how she can get away.
Overall an entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla books for the advanced copy.
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