4.5 ⭐️ | I love a good thriller that continues to reveal twist after twist throughout the story. Just when you think you have it figured out, the author throws a curveball that keeps you guessing. This is definitely one of those “just one more chapter” type of stories that hooked me from the very beginning.
Evelyn and Derek appear to have it all, financial stability a great son, and all the luxuries you could want in life. But when Derek’s mistress ends up dead, their lives are turned upside down as this murder investigation goes underway. The amount of secrets and distrust throughout this story will have you turn in the pages way past your bedtime.
If you love thrillers with unreliable characters, buried secrets, and endings that leave your head spinning, this is a must read. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good domestic thriller with dark twists.
This was twisty and kept me on my toes. I really didn’t figure it all out which I love when reading a thriller. I will definitely be checking out more from this author as this was my first book by her.
You’ll think you have this one figured out but it’s really not as obvious as you may think! I feel like when domestic thrillers are done sometimes it’s difficult to have them stand apart from others that have been written but this really held its own in the domestic thriller genre.
Derek and Evelyn are married for 8 years and have a 4 year old son. On the outside they seem like the perfect beautiful family but if you look closely you’ll see there are some cracks on the surface. Derek was having an affair and his mistress turns up dead making Derek a suspect and a lot of his and his wife’s secrets begin to come to light.
This was fast paced and kept me interested. It gave me good lifetime movie vibes! Available on kindle unlimited. Check it out!
I absolutely love books that plunge headfirst into a sea of mistrust, leaving me suspicious of every character introduced. It’s like a literary game of “who can I trust?”—and I’m here for it!
A woman, married for eight years with a seemingly perfect life in Connecticut, faces a shocking turn of events when the police arrive at her door after a girl is found dead in a university pool. Despite her husband's infidelity, she tries to move on, but the girl's death complicates things. As detectives investigate, she grapples with the terrifying possibility that her husband could be a murderer—and that she may hold the key to uncovering the truth.
In this gripping tale, we’re treated to multiple perspectives: Evelyn, Derek, and Josie. This kaleidoscope of viewpoints not only enriches the narrative but also keeps the story flowing smoothly, ensuring we’re always on our toes. Evelyn is a smart, confident woman, deeply in love with her husband—until doubt creeps in, fueled by the circumstances surrounding her. I mean, can you believe she stands by him after everything that unfolds? Talk about loyalty!
Derek, on the other hand, is a minor character who’s just a tad irritating, while Josie embodies that quintessential neighbor we all know (and maybe wish we didn’t). The author does a fantastic job of bringing these diverse characters to life, making it easy to keep track of their quirks and motivations.
This fast-paced read is brimming with dark secrets, deceit, and an ending that caught me completely off guard. I certainly didn’t see that twist coming! I was secretly hoping for a happy ending, but honestly, I couldn’t envision a conclusion that would have stirred up more drama. The ending we got was clean and suspenseful, and I was quite satisfied with it. Bravo!
I thoroughly enjoyed this rollercoaster ride of a book and felt privileged to be part of it. If you’re looking for a quick read to reignite your passion for literature, this one will do the trick in just an afternoon. Happy reading, and may the literary odds be ever in your favor!
Thank you, Joffe Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot centers around deception, and the unraveling of a seemingly charmed life, and while some of the twists felt a little far-fetched, they were absolutely entertaining.
Mahle does a great job creating suspense, and the pacing is tight enough to keep the story moving without dragging. The characters, especially the main protagonist, were well-developed, though a few side characters felt under explored and under used . The writing is sharp and engaging, and Mahle excels at building atmosphere. Overall, it’s an enjoyable and addictive read; maybe not perfect, but definitely one I’d recommend to fans of domestic thrillers. Four solid stars.
This started off well, but eventually became really repetitive and outlandish. Evelyn was just one big walking bad decision. Absolutely nothing she did made a bit of sense and it made it hard to root for her.
I enjoyed this book. It was a really interesting read. I loved the premise and how the story unfolded.
The cover was really well designed. The smashed frame definitely has bags of symbolism.
The book is very well written. It flows nicely and the descriptiveness helps add to the eerie and tense feeling.
The small town setting was good. I love small town! The few places it was set in gave an almost claustrophobic feeling. Like we couldn't escape the horrors and secrets in the book.
I liked the characters. They were all interesting and fit in well. Derek and Evie are our main focal points. They were great together and interactions between them and other characters were excellent.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 A fast paced and addictive read with plenty of red herrings and surprises. I didn't expect it to end the way it did! A little lacking in character development I felt as I didn't know what one of them even wanted. They seemed to keep changing their mind. Great writing though and thoroughly sucked me in and held my attention.
HES LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING BY ROBIN MAHLE. Release date set for the 19th of June 2025. Oh this was a good one. It's so twisty and it kept me guessing until the very end. Really enjoyed it. What a ride this was. Looking forward ro reading another book by this author
Evelyn, her husband Dereck, and their son get a fresh start at new house and job after Derek is proven innocent of drowning a student he’d been having an affair with. At his new job another person is found murdered in his office. Evelyn begins to question his involvement with these deaths so she begins her own search for answers.
This story is told mainly in the POV of Evelyn and Derek with very few POVs of their new neighbor Josie. I really liked getting to read Evelyn and Derek’s POV and see how vastly different they told the story. I really liked how Evelyn’s view of her husband and her new friend drastically changes throughout the story. This made it difficult to accurately guess whose side to fully trust. I loved the way Evelyn was so determined to figure out the truth only for her to later find out that the situation was much more complex than she could have ever imagined. I hated the way Derek treated Evelyn. Dereks way of consistently trying to frame others, manipulate the situation and evidence made me think he was responsible for everything. The last 20% of the book took a huge turn that was unexpected with the full truth of the murders being far from what I had anticipated.
The character were difficult for me to like due to their actions and involvement in certain parts of the book but they made the story entertaining.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a ride! “He’s Lying About Everything” by Robin Mahle is twisty, tense, and totally gripping. Dead women, secret affairs, and a killer hiding in plain sight—this thriller kept me guessing until the very end. I couldn’t put it down!
If you enjoy psychological thrillers full of secrets, betrayals, and jaw-dropping twists, this one’s definitely worth a read.
Told through the alternating perspectives of Evelyn, Derek, and Josie, this gripping novel pulls readers into a suspenseful web of secrets, doubt, and deception. The shifting viewpoints add richness and momentum to the story, keeping the narrative dynamic and readers constantly engaged. Evelyn emerges as a smart, confident woman whose fierce loyalty is tested as unsettling truths come to light—her unwavering support for her husband, even in the face of mounting suspicion, is both admirable and and at times baffling.
Derek, though a more minor character, leaves a distinct impression—albeit a slightly frustrating one—while Josie perfectly captures the familiar, nosy neighbor archetype. The author skillfully brings each character to life with clear, consistent motivations and memorable quirks.
The novel is fast-paced and packed with tension, unveiling dark secrets at every turn. However, its ambition becomes a double-edged sword. As the plot unfolds, an influx of side characters and subplots begins to cloud the central mystery. While the complexity adds depth, it can at times feel overly tangled, making it difficult to track the many layers of deception at play.
Overall, this is a compelling, twist-filled read that delivers on suspense, even if its intricacy occasionally overwhelms. It is still a solid 4 read!
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
Y’ALL! Evelyn’s husband’s girlfriend is dead. The police are knocking at her door at 6 a.m. She’s got a four-year-old in footie pajamas, mascara still on from yesterday, and suddenly she’s starring in the worst episode of Dateline. 😳☕️
Robin Mahle serves up a fast-paced, twist-packed rollercoaster with He’s Lying About Everything. We’re talking eight years of marriage, a picture-perfect life in Connecticut, and then—boom—secrets start slithering out like snakes under the porch.
The dead girl? A student at the university where her husband works. The affair? Confirmed. The lies? Stacked higher than the laundry she’s been too stressed to fold. But murder? That’s a whole different level. And when more secrets surface, the question isn’t just “Is he lying?” It’s “Who else is?”
The writing is sharp, emotional, and loaded with suspense. The pacing? No brakes. I couldn’t stop flipping pages. And the character development? Chef’s kiss. 👏 Our leading lady is equal parts heartbroken and fierce, unraveling and relentless—and you’re going to root for her with everything you’ve got.
If you love thrillers with true crime vibes, emotional gut-punches, and enough tension to make you yell “GIRL, RUN” out loud—this one’s for you.
Thanks to Joffe Books for providing this review copy via NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review. #HesLyingAboutEverything #NetGalley
emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced Plot- or character-driven? A mix Loveable characters? It's complicated 4.0
The ONLY this I didn’t like about this book was the ending. The twists and turns were great, the start of the book had me, the middle of the book felt a bit slow and repetitive and the end just…ended.
I was surprised how quickly I read this book, it was all consuming. The end was just not enough, I was expecting some huge climax but it didn’t happen.
The twists had me on the edge of my seat, my frustration at nearly all of the characters had me silently fuming and the revelation had me feeling very smug because I knew I hated this guy.
I’m an epilogue girl, can’t get enough of them but this one just wasn’t long enough- I wanted more!
Joffe just never seem to miss with the thrillers they publish, and this one really did live up to that expectation! Sometimes domestic thrillers feel a bit predictable, but this one had some brilliant twists that I wasn’t expecting. It was fast paced, and really leaves you second guessing yourself. Each of the characters bring their own quirks that make this story so fun and hard to put down. Although, I do wish the characters developed a bit more throughout (but I guess that’s hard with the pace). I’m SO excited to now read book 2 👀
I’ve read this author’s books and before and always enjoyed them! This one is no exception. There’s a lot of suspicious characters and even some who may be probably should be suspicious! The pace was fast, and this author adds her trademark twists! I love the ending!
The title itself was enough to make me pick up this book and I am so very glad I did! I became borderline line obsessed with finding out what happened so I raced through it in a few days. I thought I had guessed what was going to happen but there were a few twists and turns which meant I hadn’t. I enjoyed The Compound by this author too and will certainly be picking up more in the future!
When trust is savagely broken, can you even learn to trust yourself.
This is such an exciting read. This has all the amazing twists of a psychological thriller, while also managing to make the paranoia and misjudgement feel absolutely suffocating!
This just does not stop. Straight from the start this hits hard. A loving wife drowning in confusion, a very morally grey college professor for a husband and a son she would do anything to protect. A really thrilling plot driven book, absolutely devoured this in one sitting!!
Evelyn and Derek leave their hometown for a new start following the death of Nicole, one of Derek's students. When it becomes clear that the past will continue to haunt them, Evelyn tries relentlessly to find out just how guilty Derek is. This book is fast paced and kept me reading into the night. I rooted for Nicole all the way through it, while my dislike of Derek grew with every chapter. With drama and intrigue in abundance, this was yet another fantastic read from Robin. The ending was all tied up neatly and this one gets a solid 4⭐ from me. My thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC.
Evelyn and Derick have been married for 8 years and have a son Ben, she loves her husband, after all she forgives him for cheating on her and stands by him. The trouble is can she trust him? I loved the suspense throughout, who and what to believe, I suspected everyone of holding back information or lying 😂 A twisty story building to a dramatic ending with some surprises along the way. A highly enjoyable psychological thriller
Thank you @zooloosbooktours for having me on this tour.
This is my fifth read by this author and I can absolutely say that as soon as I spot the name, I'm there!
I've loved every read so far and this one was no exception!
In this book we see poor Evie fighting to keep her family together after her husband's girlfriend is found dead.
I felt so sorry for Evie. Her husband's actions certainly didn't instill my trust right from the start - the cheating had me!
But Evie was nothing if not totally loyal and determined that as bad as Derek is, he wasn't a murderer ....
I actually wanted to shake Derek at times as he really wasn't showing much remorse or empathy - I know his situation was tough, but he did nothing to convince me he was innocent - except for the odd little glimmer of something that made me wonder.
This certainly kept me guessing and although I had strong suspicions that I knew what had happened - the final few pages just hit and threw everything in the air.
I couldn't read this fast enough, but then was sad that it had ended!!
Another brilliant read and I just know that there'll be plenty more to come.
A woman turns up dead and your husband is the main suspect. A multiple POV book but not every character gets equal page time. Evelyn is the main character with a voice and we follow her as she tries to convince herself her husband is not a murderer. Her trail leads her to doubts and she wonders who she really married. I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. It is suspenseful without being drawn out. I’ll admit I didn’t know where the book was going but was still shocked by the twists. It is a fun, quick read.
Review: He’s Lying About Everything by Robin Mahle. What a ride! Twisty, tense, and totally gripping. Dead women, secret affairs, and a killer hiding in plain sight—this thriller kept me guessing until the very end. I couldn’t put it down!
If you enjoy psychological thrillers full of secrets, betrayals, and jaw-dropping twists, this one’s definitely worth a read.
I read a lot of books, a lot. Almost all psychological thrillers. I generally avoid American ones, because we write so differently, and as an English person, it just isn't my preference.
But somehow… somehow… I ended up reading this absolute masterpiece of rubbish. I have a rule that once I start a book, I have to finish it. I may be revising that rule now.
I could genuinely teach a night class on how spectacularly wrong this book gets things. Here are just a few highlights from the disaster:
🔻 1. The husband beats up Alex… and the detective just casually breaks it up
That’s it. No arrest. No paperwork. Utterly laughable.
🔻 2. She suspects the neighbour of something sinister…
…so naturally, she leaves her child with her.
Yes. Because when you think someone might be dangerous, the obvious next step is to hand them your baby like a complimentary dinner roll. Ofsted should’ve abseiled through the windows.
🔻 3. The drug-your-husband-and-tie-him-up-in-the-basement plan
This was the moment I truly lost the will to live. Don't worry, I'll have a bat!
She thinks he’s capable of terrible things. So she brews him tea to “build trust,” drugs him, and ties him up in the basement like she’s starring in the Poundland remake of Misery. It’s not tense. It’s not clever. It’s just deeply stupid.
And then Riley/Summer says: “I’m coming… but I’m not alone. You’ll see when I get there.” FFS. My eyeballs nearly rolled out of their sockets. The quota was exceeded.
🔻 4. The dinner party interrogation — peak deranged energy
She invites the neighbours over for dinner. Lovely. Civilised. Normal.
Then proceeds to grill them about murder. And how one might get away with murder. Over dinner. In front of everyone.
And yes — they DO find it strange. You can practically feel them mentally planning their exit routes, calling Ubers under the table, and wondering if they’ll survive dessert. It’s the world’s most awkward dinner party, and somehow she still doesn’t realise how unhinged she sounds.
and the detective giving out the phone number of the mother of the first victim - LOL
And the fact that her husband shagging everyone in sight is okay, but getting them pregnant or murdering them is where she draws the line. Why is ANY OF IT okay??
When her neighbour says she can no longer babysit Ben, she starts asking her to re-arrange her stuff. CRINGE.
There are FAR more examples, but without re-reading it (why would I do that), the above are the ones I remember.
I judge anyone who left this book a favourable review.
Save your time, your patience, and your brain cells.
Robin Mahle's psychological thriller He's Lying about Everything delivers a compelling premise wrapped in marital deception and small-town secrets, though it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions.
The story follows Derek, a tenured professor with a notorious reputation for infidelity, whose life unravels when one of his affairs ends in murder. Though cleared as a suspect, the scandal forces Derek, his wife Evie, and their four-year-old son Ben to relocate and start fresh in a new town. Derek secures a position at a local university, and for a moment, it seems the family might finally escape their past.
However, their newfound peace shatters when Evie begins receiving threatening notes about Derek's history. The messages suggest that someone knows exactly who they are and what they're running from. Suspicion falls on various newcomers in their lives—suspicious neighbors and even Ben's teacher—creating an atmosphere of paranoia that permeates every interaction.
When another female professor is discovered murdered in Derek's office, Evie can no longer ignore the mounting evidence that her husband's pattern of lies and betrayal may be more dangerous than she ever imagined. Faced with the possibility that she's been willfully blind to Derek's true nature, Evie must decide whether to continue enabling his behavior or finally break free, with or without him.
Evie's internal struggle feels authentic as she grapples with years of turning a blind eye to her husband's indiscretions. The author effectively captures the claustrophobic feeling of being watched and the paranoia that comes with running from scandal.
However, the novel's strength becomes its weakness as the plot progresses. The introduction of numerous side characters and subplots creates a tangled web that occasionally obscures rather than enhances the central mystery. The story becomes somewhat muddied, making it challenging to track the various deceptions and motivations at play. While the complexity adds layers to the narrative, it sometimes feels unnecessarily convoluted.
Despite these issues, He's Lying about Everything succeeds as an engaging thriller that will keep readers guessing.
For thriller enthusiasts who enjoy psychological complexity and don't mind unraveling intricate plot threads, this novel offers enough suspense and character development to warrant a read, even if it doesn't quite achieve its full potential.
Here is my review for He’s Lying About Everything by Robin Mahle
I absolutely loved this gripping psychological thriller that drew me in right from the very start of the book. Evelyn and Derek had been married for eight years plus they had a four year old son called Ben. Early one morning, the police turned up wanting to speak to Derek about Nicole, his girlfriend as she had been found dead in the swimming pool. He denied killing her but the rumour mill started and they had to leave Medford for a new life elsewhere. In a new university and try to rekindle their marriage with Evelyn knowing about his lies but giving him a second chance. Is he a killer? This story was superbly written and well thought out. I was hooked right from the start of the story and I just couldn’t put the book down as I had to know what happened next! The story was full of tension and suspicion. Also, it was full of twists and turns. I really liked Evelyn’s character as she was treated poorly by Derek with him having affairs but then she took matters into her own hands and started investigating for herself. It’s a brilliant plot that the author has thought out for this story. I like the author’s writing style and I found it very easy to read. Some of the other characters were intriguing too and played their parts well. This author writes really gripping books which I love reading so I look forward to her next book.
Blurb :
My husband’s girlfriend is dead. He says he didn’t kill her. But he’s been lying about everything else.
Eight years of marriage. A beautiful home in Connecticut. A sweet, affectionate four-year-old son.
Now, it’s 6 a.m., and the police are knocking at our door.
They found a dead girl floating in the university pool. My husband was having an affair with her. He was the last person to see her.
He’s a liar. But is he a killer?
I’d do a lot to keep our family together. But how much more can I take?
WoW. . . . He's Lying About Everything by Robin Mahle was an excellent psychological thriller, that will have you hooked from the very beginning and till the very end. I couldn't turn the pages over quick enough to find out what happens next. There are 3 main characters who are Evelyn, Derek, and Josie who is their new neighbour, I loved the way they told their story. It was a gripping novel that pulls you into a suspenseful web of so many secrets etc. They you may sit there and doubt, what you have read by one of the characters especially as it was full of brilliant twists and turns throughout which made it a roller coaster read.
Dereck is Evelyn husband and, her he loves her all the time . . . He sounds so lovely but there is more to him and he is hiding so many secrets. They have been married for 8 years now and have a son between them. They are all moving into a new house, Dereck has a new job, and this is a fresh new start for them all, which they all need so badly. But, there is a reason why they are moving, Derek was proven innocent of drowning a student who he had been having an affair with. Everything is going well, until someone is found murdered in his office at Dereck's new place of work! Now, Evelyn begins to question his involvement with these both of these deaths so she begins her own search for answers.
"Quick next page!!"
Now did Dereck murder his student?
Did he murder his work colleague at his new place of work?
If he did. . . . . . . Why?
He had everything - he is married and has a young son! he was working and had a roof over his head. . . . . . .
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The novel follows a married couple living an ideal suburban life: a lovely home, a young son and a peaceful life. Their life turns topsy turvy when a student’s body is found in a pool and the husband is the main suspect as he was having an affair with the student. As cracks appear in her seemingly perfect marriage, the wife grapples with a horrifying possibility: her husband might be capable of murder.
The couple move to a new place and just as they are trying to settle down in their new place, a woman is found murdered and the husband ends up being the prime suspect again. The story continues at a fast pace from here, with new, gray characters entering the scene making the woman suspect everyone around her of deception, including her own husband.
Mahle employs a tight, suspenseful narrative that thrives on tension in relationships and characters behaving unexpectedly, atypical of the character. The story is told in short, punchy chapters in first person POV of different characters, switching from protagonist to the supporting characters. I am not sure POV switching works for this novel, especially since it taxes the reader to switch the perspective and motives of the narrating character and doesn’t add any benefit.
I found it hard to relate the most of the characters, but especially the protagonist. The wife remains loyal and faithful to her husband, despite knowing her husband has been unfaithful on multiple accounts and it is hard to digest. The husband’s character is underdeveloped and I couldn’t understand his motive behind some of his actions. Despite these shortcomings, the book is a quick read which is perfect as a filler between two heavy reads.
Readers who enjoy fast-paced, twist-driven thrillers will enjoy reading this new thriller from Mahle.
📚He's Lying About Everything ✍🏻Robin Mahle Blurb: A BRAND-NEW totally addictive psychological thriller full of twists.
My husband’s girlfriend is dead. He says he didn’t kill her. But he’s been lying about everything else. Eight years of marriage. A beautiful home in Connecticut. A sweet, affectionate four-year-old son. Now, it’s 6 a.m., and the police are knocking at our door. They found a dead girl floating in the university pool. My husband was having an affair with her. He was the last person to see her. He’s a liar. But is he a killer? I’d do a lot to keep our family together. But how much more can I take? AN EXHILARATING BLEND OF BREATHTAKING SUSPENSE AND NAIL-BITING TENSION WITH A SHOCKING FINAL TWIST. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Noelle W. Ihli, Jeneva Rose, Alice Feeney, Shari Lapena, and T.M. Logan.
My Thoughts: If you want to read a thriller that keeps you guessing and turning the pages, Racing to the mind-blowing conclusion, then this book is for you!! This is my first read by Robin and definitely will not be my last. Clear your schedule because you are not going to want to put this book down.I will be looking for more books by Robin Mahle.. I recommend to those who love a good psychological thriller full of suspense and crime. Thanks NetGalley, Joffe Books and Auther Robin Mahle for the complimentary ARC. In appreciation I am leaving a review. #NetGalley #JoffeBooks #RobinMahle #He'sLyingAboutEverything ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buckle up for this one psychological thriller fans!! He's Lying About Everything will have you zigging when you should be zagging and zagging when you should be zigging! This was one amazing. twisty ride.
Evelyn, her narcissistic husband Derek, and their young son are forced to move to a new location after the death of a student at the university where Derek is a professor. Because they have proof of his inappropriate relationship with her, they let him go. Calling in a favor he finds work at a smaller university. Evelyn has forgiven his affair with the student and they seem to be moving forward with their new life. That is until another body, also close to Derek turns up. Though he was cleared of the first death, two deaths that close to home has Evelyn wondering if her husband is a cheater AND a murderer.
Filled with so many lies and so much deception, it was hard to figure out where this would end up. The tension and gasp out loud moments were never ending, right up to the explosive, didn't see that coming ending. The story is told through multiple perspectives and is very fast paced. You won't want to put this down until the end. This was my first read by Robin Mahle, but I am definitely going to be reading more by her. Read this book!! You won't be sorry!
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the advanced copy