A young adult horror novel for fans of Karen M. McManus, Holly Jackson, Stephen Graham Jones, and Adam Cesare.
It was a prank. Nobody was supposed to die.
Five university housemates go on a final blowout to The Cabin before they all go their separate ways. The trip is a cover for a vindictive prank. When the prank goes wrong and one of the housemates dies, the final four find themselves trapped in the middle of nowhere, tormented by an 80s-style horror villain, complete with machete and mask.
All he wants is the truth.
But some secrets are worth dying for. And others are worth killing for.
Sarah Jules is an indie horror author from Yorkshire. She is a self-professed accidental hipster (who refuses to apologise for this). She is also the owner of Sarah Jules Writing Services, a job that allows her to work in her pyjamas, which she is immensely grateful for.
She has written four novels - YOU INVITED IT IN, YOU NEED TO LEAVE, DON'T LIE & FOUND YOU - edited BLOODY HELL: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror, and has co-edited GOOD FOR HER (alongside Shauna Mc Eleney and TC Parker of Nefarious Bat Press).
If Sarah isn’t working (or writing), you can find her with her nose stuck in a book, travelling the UK with her partner, and her rescue pup, or sweating it out in the gym. She is a mental health advocate, coffee-addict, and loves all things spooky and/or creepy.
Sarah blogs (super-hipster, she knows) about all things books, writing and publishing on both her Instagram (@sarahjuleswriting) and on her website www.sarahjuleswriting.com.
I kept having to backtrack to check who was who because while the story is told in alternating first person POVs (my least favorite format) the characters all sounded the same except maybe Quinn and even in her case it might have been because she was the "outsider" in the group.
My first read by Sarah Jules but certainly not my last! I had no idea what to expect going into this but I was hooked from the start. I finished this in one sitting.. it was just that good! The story centres on five early-twenties kids, who head to The Cabin for an end of university blow-out. Not everybody's intentions are what they first appear though, and it begs the question of how well you ever really know those closest to you.
The story unfolds through the multiple perspectives of each of the kids and the mechanics of this method drive the story forward perfectly. The pacing never lets up and I was constantly eager to know what was coming next. My emotions were all over the place! I felt so bad for a couple of the kids, and others, well I was really hoping they'd get their comeuppance. Secrets, lies and so much petty jealousy! And if at some point you think you know what's going to happen next, chances are you're wrong. The twists kept twisting until even the reader doesn't know who to trust. Fast paced and full of thrills, Don't Lie is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommend!
Having a very limited time to enjoy a good book at the moment, I indulged in the audio version of this one. It was great. I felt the author & by extension, the narrator did a fantastic job. This is a good old 80's inspired slasher set in the UK, part horror, part thriller. It takes place over a single night where a group of university students play a series of pranks that, as anticipated, begin to backfire horrifically. Each chapter is told from a different characters first-person perspective & once I'd sussed out who was who, it was fun to see all the different perspectives until the puzzle all came together. Sarah Jules has two novels out so far with another right around the corner & it's safe to say it's already marked in my calendar. Highly recommended.
One could argue that this is more of a thriller than a horror novel, but I think it's one of those stories that effectively straddles the line between both and I'm not one to quibble about genres, especially when I discovered the author on BoH. There are certainly some fine horror elements to this fun, fast paced tale that kept me intrigued the whole way. It was kind of an Agatha Christie whodunnit (and whydunnit) crossed with 80s slasher flicks (seriously, this could easily be turned into a Freddy/Jason/Halloween movie) with a lot 20-somethings doing irresponsible, selfish things and paying a pretty high price.
I really liked the switching POVs (although I know that's not everyone's thing) - I found it added some interesting layers (yes I keep thinking of onions and layers...) in terms of revealing the unfolding plot even though the initial reason behind the main group's actions seemed excessive and questionable.
Be warned: NONE of the characters are likable and I ultimately didn't care about who died, but that didn't stop it from being a good story and I was invested enough to care about the 'why' right to the very end.
I rounded up to 4/5 because ultimately I was entertained despite its small flaws.
I don't five star very often but Don't Lie is a five star read. This is the same author that wrote the very cool story Found You. In Don't Lie Sarah Jules strong writing voice shines once again as her characters take you on some path that you think will be predictable only to have your ideas change with well paced and well written twists. The story pulls you in with the need to know what will happen next. Now the ending, well lets just say the ending was one that you don't see coming. I'm looking forward to more and as the author seems to be pushing more and more into her darker side her voice takes on a new strength for the horror fans.
This book was fantastic! I devoured it in a day. When I started it last night, I thought I'd read a chapter or two because I was tired, but I ended up reading 30% in one go!! I was hooked.
Not only is the writing style really engaging, the plot is gripping and I loved the different character POVs! This is not a spoiler because it's in the blurb, but it takes a while for the death to happen, so by this point, I was on edge with "Who's it going to be?" and "How is it going to happen?" I was invested into every character, although I didn't necessarily like any of them, I didn't want them to die.
I loved the not knowing too. Which part of this is the prank? Which part is a second or third prank? Which bit is actually happening and all the characters are genuinely confused? There were so many twists and turns and so many unexpected things happening! Genuinely didn't make any correct guesses and I really wasn't expecting that ending either.
Folks, this book is a 5 star read! Absolutely brilliant and I highly, highly recommend checking it out! You may bite all your nails off in the process and be staring at it wide eyed, not realising how much time has gone past, but it'll be completely worth it!
Katie, Quinn, Ellis, Jude and Xander are spending the weekend in a cabin in an isolated country location for the last blowout at the end of uni. What Quinn doesn’t realise, is the others have all planned a prank to scare her by pretending there’s a killer outside. But who is the other masked figure in the darkness.
Nothing says February like a lovely gory slasher and if these people were your friends you would not need enemies. They all hold grudges against each other and all of them have secrets. This builds the tension well and just when you think you know what is happening, the story takes a turn. Told from each person’s POV, each chapter alternates the voice and it works so well, keeping the story moving at a fast pace. Blood soaked fun!
Another fantastic thriller/horror book from this author! I was instantly absorbed into the story and it reminded me a lot of Five Survive by Holly Jackson and the books by Karen McManus so if you're a YA horror/thriller fan then this is for you!
While I did find the story a little repetitive in places, I did enjoy the multiple POV from each character. Although I'm afraid to say I didn't actually like any of them but I was stil invested in what was going to happen to them.
And the twists were plentiful towards the end. I just knew something bad was going to happen...it was just a matter of when and what!
If you’re looking for a story with as many twists and turns as a rollercoaster, this is for you. Without giving any spoilers away I can’t say much other than wow. I would’ve finished it so much sooner had my adult responsibilities stayed out of my way. The author makes most of the characters lovable, makes you get attached, almost makes you feel like your part of the group. I loved this book and will suggest it to others. Now excuse me while I try and find my feet after this ride!
I've never been so invested in a story full to the brim with people I couldn't stand! I found I had a strong dislike for each character for different reasons, but at the same time, all of them seemed absolutely believable as someone you may meet in real life. I found each of their personalities and perspectives interesting.
I loved the idea of the classic slasher vs. co-eds theme, but there were so many wonderful twists that the story never felt stale or predictable!
It was an easy read and a fun ride, and I very much look forward to reading more from Sarah Jules!
Whoa!!! This was a thrilling tale where you can’t even begin to guess all the twists and turns that get thrown at the reader.
It’s a story about a group of narcissistic young adults on one last adventure before they are done University. I kind of hated all their attitudes, but I did feel sorry for a few of them.
A prank is planned but goes horribly awry, you’ll never guess who will or won’t survive the weekend!! Truths will be spilled, blood will be shed, but just remember, Don’t Lie!!
4.5 stars! I finished this story in two sittings and really enjoyed it. All of the characters are HORRIBLE people but it didn't stop me from enjoying all of the ways they messed with one another! The ending wasn't totally unexpected to me, but the set up was great and there were some twists in there that I didn't see coming! A fun and easy YA thriller to read!
Damn. I hated every single character in this book. Fuck them all haha.
This was actually a really fun book! But I am a sucker for slashers.
It kept me guessing and confused (in a good way) the whole time. I think I said "what?" at least 20 times haha. It was jam packed with twists and I loved trying to figure out wtf was going on.
That was a ride! Loved the book so much. Im a sucker for a hood slasher. I finished it in 2 days. Absolutely hated the main character they were such dicks. I kept thinking to myself whats gonna happen next and the twist, i did not see that coming. I'm definitely gonna be checking out other books by this author amazing writing style.
A group of university friends go to the woods before getting jobs. One of them is going to be the butt of a cruel joke. After the joke goes wrong someone dies. Who is the masked man? He wants the truth. Spellbinding suspense filled read.
A group of Uni students decide to take one last trip together as a last hurrah. Whilst they had some plans to pull one last prank little did they know that someone else had plans for them.
Enjoyable read that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book - grabbed me right from the start with its fast paced catchy chapters, that continued throughout till you got to the point that you was doubting everyone. I feel a lot of people will overlook this purely because it's classed as a YA book, but don't let that put you off - it didn't really feel like a YA book to me. Great book - would recommend.
This book was like watching a good movie. I can usually predict the ending of a book, but every time I thought I had this one figured out, it added something new. Very well done!
Went into this blind and loved it more than expected! The switching POVs was a little confusing to begin with but paid off later on. The slasher elements were genuinely quite grim and took me by surprise.
I saw this recommended on facebook by another indie author so gave it a go because I’m a sucker for an 80s slasher. I really enjoyed it! The characters aren’t exactly likeable but isn’t that always the case in slasher films? It flowed easily and I enjoyed how each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character. Really glad I found this author and now I’m halfway through her first book (Found You) and I’m enjoying that one too!
perfect for halloween time, fast paced quick read, 80s slasher who done it vibes. told in multiple povs, which may be a bit confusing but i really enjoyed seeing the different characters thoughts. and they are all insufferable btw lol. but yeah did not see the twist at the end coming at all!!
Firstly thank you to the author for the chance to listen to this story!
This was my first introduction to the author and I try not to read reviews in advance to allow me to formulate my own opinion. This book is reminiscent of an old style spooky movie hitting the scary in a very gentle way mixed with a young adult feel. I think this would be a great introduction to scarier books for teenagers.
The pros? This is a decent story line. It flows well and there are a good few twists at the end. I personally enjoy different chapters from a different characters viewpoint which this is and allowed you to get to know the characters individually. I also appreciated the story was read and there were no fake voices put on that can detract from the story however, I know for some that will be challenging to remember who is talking at any one time. Although I couldn’t stand any of the characters this was more due to their representation than them being written badly.
For the development, personally it hit a little YA for me however I read far more in depth horror and splatterpunk so therefore I likely have a different tolerance to others. The epilogue I personally was disappointed by and think the story would have been better had that been cut as it didn’t need to be included. I also think the end had more potential to lean into the scary movie element a bit more and to leave it on a cliffhanger. To begin with, there was a difficulty getting to know each character which meant there was an element of pushing through initially but it did get easier to know who was who as the book went on.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. There were some things I felt could have been improved that would have made the book more enjoyable for me personally. However, this was a solid 3.5 read and there were twists you wouldn’t have seen coming but they did fit in the story.
A group of 5 friends/ roommates go on a last weekend gateway before graduating college and going their separate ways. However, some of them want to play a prank, but things do not go as planned.
Don't Lie is the second book published by indie author Sarah Jules. It's a thriller with an 80s slasher inspired villain. The multiple first-person POV might be confusing, but for me, the difference of "speech" from all the characters was different enough to know who was talking. Sadly, I did not like any of the characters. For some reason, mainly jealousy, most of them despise Quinn.
The fast pace of the story and the different twists and turns kept me on edge! I wanted to know what the next prank was coming, what was part of the prank, what was part of another prank, who was gonna die first, so I've read this book in one sitting 😅
The ending brings out several questions: Is rehabilitation really possible? Do we really know the people we are living with ?
I'd like to think that I have better "friends" than poor Quinn. And that people would stop acting without knowing the full story.
Five university housemates take their last hurrah together at a remote cabin before going their separate ways. An elaborate prank is in place, but is that all that’s going on?
I remember people like these characters from when I was younger. Publicly close friends, but all they do is spend their time resenting each other and throwing jabs. As soon as I started this one, I couldn’t stop and blazed through it in one sitting. I HAD to know what was going on. Sarah Jules expertly weaves the story along and keeps you on your toes until the very end. This is definitely a must-read for the year!!
My only warning is that I listened to the audiobook (thank you to the author for providing a copy!!!) and it sounds like the narrator is reading in an airplane hangar — there’s a slight echo the entire time. 🥲
Like putting a jar of angry bees in a pressure cooker and waiting for the whole thing to blow.
Sarah Jules does a fantastic job in delivering this love letter to slashers. The characters feel fleshed out and, for better or worse, like people you could have gone to school with. The tension builds and builds, but it doesn't feel like a slow burn at all with the pacing of the chapters. The multi first person POV serves the story well.
I tore through this one in about two days. It's a solid read. There was a bit of tense hopping that threw me off here and there, but it's not like it was enough to ruin the immersion.
I did feel that the end of the last chapter, before the epilogue left me confused. Solid 4/5
My second Sarah Jules book on Audible, excellent narration again, the whole thing is lots of fun.
Here's my spoiler free review.
For the second time Sarah Jules has suckered me in with teen angst and real life drama so much that I almost forget this is a horror book. The social drama aspects of her writing really stand out.
The choice of characters and settings feel like you're reading YA horror and I think this is by design as it lulls you into a false sense of security. Surely nobody here is going to get really hurt, right?
Its when to get comfortble in watching the arguments and gossip play out and find yourself like that Michael Jackson eating popcorn GIF that Sarah pulls the rug out from under you.
I don't want to spoil the story for anyone but this book is like a spinning plates act and the shifting POVs throughout make everything so much faster paced and more intense.
Can't wait to read her next book, which is already on my kindle!
Don't Lie by Sarah Jules is Halloween meets Scream, and I'm so here for it! A group of university housemates take a short holiday to The Cabin as a last hoorah before going their separate ways. However, the trip is a cover-up for a spiteful prank being played on one of the unsuspecting party of five. Things take a turn for the worse when someone ends up dead and the others are being stalked by a masked villain. Sarah Jules knows how to tell a page-turning story that puts you right into an 80s-style slasher movie. While this is a YA horror novel, adults of all ages who love horror flicks will devour this book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Okay, I admit it, I love YA/Horror. Sarah has caught the essence of it wonderfully and served it within the pages of this twisty novel. This is everything one of those books should be. It’s filled with horny teenagers, drinking games and sexual conquests… and lies. Lots of jealous lies!
Five university housemates look to have a final blowout together, but dark secrets whip around them and as the story unfolds, we’re left wondering whether these will pull them together, or blow them apart. The different POVs allow the reader to fully understand the depth of each character. The veil is pulled back slightly, but we are only teased with morsels. A mere nip-slip of what they might truly be.
Someone is watching them. They wait in the shadows dressed like Michael Myers. When the time is right, they will strike and only those who tell the truth can have the chance to survive.
I love the way we slowly strip away the exterior, and expose the motivations of the characters underneath. This will be lapped up by fans of Karen MacManus and Holly Jackson and is ripe for the TikTok market. I’d be surprised if this doesn’t get re-released by a publisher in the future. Watch this space: You discovered her here first!