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Here We Lie
On holiday with family and her adoring fiance, Jed, Emily couldn't be happier. But overnight, the idyllic trip turns into a waking nightmare when one of the group is found dead in what appears to be a terrible accident.
The devastated party returns to London to cope with their loss while trying to resume their normal lives. But new revelations shed a shocking light on the holiday tragedy and set Emily on a perilous journey to discover the truth about what happened.
Soon a terrifying series of threats and lies bring her face to face with the dark truths at the heart of her family - and into life-threatening danger...
The devastated party returns to London to cope with their loss while trying to resume their normal lives. But new revelations shed a shocking light on the holiday tragedy and set Emily on a perilous journey to discover the truth about what happened.
Soon a terrifying series of threats and lies bring her face to face with the dark truths at the heart of her family - and into life-threatening danger...
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2015
30 people are currently reading
1165 people want to read
About the author
Sophie McKenzie
83 books1,485 followersHey there! Welcome to my Goodreads page where you can keep up with all my stories - both the ones that are already published and the works in progress!!
I write mostly teen thrillers - plus some teen romance, books for younger children and four adult psychological thrillers.
I'm really excited right now because of...
Boy, Missing, my £1 book for World Book Day and Truth or Dare, my new teen thriller. (UK)
For more info on these and my other books, check out my website: www.sophiemckenziebooks.com
I write mostly teen thrillers - plus some teen romance, books for younger children and four adult psychological thrillers.
I'm really excited right now because of...
Boy, Missing, my £1 book for World Book Day and Truth or Dare, my new teen thriller. (UK)
For more info on these and my other books, check out my website: www.sophiemckenziebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
September 23, 2015
4.5★s
Jed had finally left his wife Zoe, son Lish and daughter Dee Dee for Emily, the love of his life. Admittedly there was a considerable age difference between the two, but Emily didn’t care. She loved Jed; they were supremely happy – the announcement of their engagement came as no surprise to anyone except Zoe. Emily had had a tragic childhood – the loss of both her parents when she was only eleven to a car accident meant her older sister Rose had stepped into the void, deferring her own life – uni, education, romance – to care for Emily and their brother Martin.
Now adults, Emily was finally happy with her life; the inclusion of Jed meant her dreams of husband, children – a family life; all were about to happen. The holiday Emily was on with Jed, Dee Dee and Lish, as well as Rose, Martin and his partner Cameron, Jed’s brother Gary and his current girlfriend – a yacht plus flash apartment in France – Emily couldn’t have been happier. But tragedy struck when death knocked on their door; the French police were suspicious. Gradually, those who could, returned home to London until eventually they were together again – but things were decidedly different.
Emily was unsettled – her decision to investigate what had happened meant her life would be in danger. But what she was uncovering shocked and unnerved her; she knew there were people out there that she couldn’t trust. As the twisted and distorted facts came to light, the truth, lies and half-truths blew her away. But without evidence, her guesswork wasn’t good enough – she knew she was in danger, but she couldn’t stop. Terrible secrets were about to be uncovered; would Emily survive to discover the answers?
Here We Lie by Sophie McKenzie is a dark, unsettling psychological thriller. Filled with tense paranoia, power-plays and jealousy, the plot is a good one. A fast pace, with many gripping twists, there were a couple I hadn’t seen coming; one I had – but all in all, an excellent and enjoyable thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
Jed had finally left his wife Zoe, son Lish and daughter Dee Dee for Emily, the love of his life. Admittedly there was a considerable age difference between the two, but Emily didn’t care. She loved Jed; they were supremely happy – the announcement of their engagement came as no surprise to anyone except Zoe. Emily had had a tragic childhood – the loss of both her parents when she was only eleven to a car accident meant her older sister Rose had stepped into the void, deferring her own life – uni, education, romance – to care for Emily and their brother Martin.
Now adults, Emily was finally happy with her life; the inclusion of Jed meant her dreams of husband, children – a family life; all were about to happen. The holiday Emily was on with Jed, Dee Dee and Lish, as well as Rose, Martin and his partner Cameron, Jed’s brother Gary and his current girlfriend – a yacht plus flash apartment in France – Emily couldn’t have been happier. But tragedy struck when death knocked on their door; the French police were suspicious. Gradually, those who could, returned home to London until eventually they were together again – but things were decidedly different.
Emily was unsettled – her decision to investigate what had happened meant her life would be in danger. But what she was uncovering shocked and unnerved her; she knew there were people out there that she couldn’t trust. As the twisted and distorted facts came to light, the truth, lies and half-truths blew her away. But without evidence, her guesswork wasn’t good enough – she knew she was in danger, but she couldn’t stop. Terrible secrets were about to be uncovered; would Emily survive to discover the answers?
Here We Lie by Sophie McKenzie is a dark, unsettling psychological thriller. Filled with tense paranoia, power-plays and jealousy, the plot is a good one. A fast pace, with many gripping twists, there were a couple I hadn’t seen coming; one I had – but all in all, an excellent and enjoyable thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
May 17, 2020
Well that was pretty exhausting! The web of lies, the deception, the cheating, the pretention, almost every character wearing a mask and I guess that’s what makes it really good- how the book lived up to its promise and title for that matter- Here We Lie. This is my very first Sophie McKenzie novel and I’m glad I finally gave her a try. I’ve always been curious about her psycho-thrillers and the book did not disappoint.
What I really appreciate about the novel besides the plot and mystery because both are already very commendable-a vacation turned sour when one of them mysteriously dies of an accident-is the narrative viewpoint (there are three actually-) which allowed me to really get to know the different characters in the story. The POVs made the entire narrative interesting and gripping. The diary entries of Dee-dee is probably the best POV and it’s really the focal point of the entire story.
I did have my suspicions and I did suspect the right people but the revelations still gave me quite a shock and the answer to the mystery is honestly very heartbreaking but somehow, the author managed to make that tragic event inevitable perhaps to teach these morally flawed characters a hard lesson about the dangers of lying.
What I really appreciate about the novel besides the plot and mystery because both are already very commendable-a vacation turned sour when one of them mysteriously dies of an accident-is the narrative viewpoint (there are three actually-) which allowed me to really get to know the different characters in the story. The POVs made the entire narrative interesting and gripping. The diary entries of Dee-dee is probably the best POV and it’s really the focal point of the entire story.
I did have my suspicions and I did suspect the right people but the revelations still gave me quite a shock and the answer to the mystery is honestly very heartbreaking but somehow, the author managed to make that tragic event inevitable perhaps to teach these morally flawed characters a hard lesson about the dangers of lying.
September 27, 2015
Here We Lie is a dark, psychological thriller about families and the secrets we hide and lies we tell each other.
The novel opens with a family holiday in Corsica. Emily, her fiance Jed and his children Lish and Dee-Dee meet up with Emily's brother Michael and partner Cameron on board their yacht for dinner. The next morning one of their party is found dead. Back in London, Emily tries to get on with her life but investigations into what happened in Corsica lead her to question who she can really trust.
This is a gripping mystery, full of suspense as the plot twists and turns and the tension ramps up to an unexpected revelation. Definitely recommended for those who like a compelling, engaging plot.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ebook to read and review
January 27, 2018
So one of my book resolutions for 2018 was to start working my way through a huge backlog of purchased books as well as my review copies, so I started here with a book I purchased back in 2015 (yes just imagine the actual pile of books by now) off the back of having loved “Close My Eyes”
I loved this too because it featured a completely dysfunctional family, all hiding secrets from themselves and each other, some cleverly plotted twists and turns and a fair few love to hate to love characters.
Emily is our main focus, she is all set to marry Jed (as soon as his divorce comes through) but during a holiday with her family and his tragedy strikes – bringing a whole house of cards tumbling to the ground.
What works so well here are the relationships – Emily to her sister and brother, theirs to each other, Jed’s to his ex wife and mix and match thereafter, giving us a beautifully eclectic cast for a highly addictive character drama. It is psychological thriller with a realistic edge, a dark side and a huge dose of intrigue, the resolution was unexpected and the journey to get there ended up being a proper page turner.
I both loved Emily and randomly wanted to slap her – I would DEFINITELY have slapped Jed given the opportunity – but their relationship was intelligently woven around both of their personalities and circumstances. The family dynamics were authentic, even during the more out there plot developments, nothing was unbelievable and there was a growing sense of unease that clarified once you started seeing just how many levels of betrayal were hidden below the surface of seeming calm.
Nicely done.
I loved this too because it featured a completely dysfunctional family, all hiding secrets from themselves and each other, some cleverly plotted twists and turns and a fair few love to hate to love characters.
Emily is our main focus, she is all set to marry Jed (as soon as his divorce comes through) but during a holiday with her family and his tragedy strikes – bringing a whole house of cards tumbling to the ground.
What works so well here are the relationships – Emily to her sister and brother, theirs to each other, Jed’s to his ex wife and mix and match thereafter, giving us a beautifully eclectic cast for a highly addictive character drama. It is psychological thriller with a realistic edge, a dark side and a huge dose of intrigue, the resolution was unexpected and the journey to get there ended up being a proper page turner.
I both loved Emily and randomly wanted to slap her – I would DEFINITELY have slapped Jed given the opportunity – but their relationship was intelligently woven around both of their personalities and circumstances. The family dynamics were authentic, even during the more out there plot developments, nothing was unbelievable and there was a growing sense of unease that clarified once you started seeing just how many levels of betrayal were hidden below the surface of seeming calm.
Nicely done.
April 7, 2016
The book suceedes in creating paranoia, and the feeling that you can not trust anyone. Emily's constant stream of thoughts on this matter is effective for this purpose. Dee-Dees voice throughout the book is also at times touching, revealing a young girl who is basically alone in the world, let down by all the grown ups in her life, as well as her friends.
However, there was some things about this book that nearly drove me mad, and I would not have completed it if I din't have a compultion to finish every book I start reading.
The constant references to the matching gold bracelets that Emily and Dee-Dee got on the engagement party, for instance. I wish I had counted the number of times this is brought up. It is not like there is any chance of forgetting it, and it is not even important to the story. The same goes for the anonymous text message Emily receives, that at one point is quoted on every other page (I am not kidding!).
The flashbacks to the past, when the 3 siblings lost their parents when they were young, are also completely pointless. I was constantly expecting some new information about the car accident or the past of Rose, Martin or Emily to appear, but there was nothing there that couldn't have been told from the present-day perspective.
And I found Emily, the main character, to be quite annoying, to be honest.
Not the best reading experience I've had!
However, there was some things about this book that nearly drove me mad, and I would not have completed it if I din't have a compultion to finish every book I start reading.
The constant references to the matching gold bracelets that Emily and Dee-Dee got on the engagement party, for instance. I wish I had counted the number of times this is brought up. It is not like there is any chance of forgetting it, and it is not even important to the story. The same goes for the anonymous text message Emily receives, that at one point is quoted on every other page (I am not kidding!).
The flashbacks to the past, when the 3 siblings lost their parents when they were young, are also completely pointless. I was constantly expecting some new information about the car accident or the past of Rose, Martin or Emily to appear, but there was nothing there that couldn't have been told from the present-day perspective.
And I found Emily, the main character, to be quite annoying, to be honest.
Not the best reading experience I've had!
September 26, 2015
Emily's happily in love with (the much older) Jed. They met while he was still married though he claims it was an unhappy union and was keen to get away from his difficult wife. His separation and divorce haven't been pretty however and Emily initially struggled with Jed's two children who blamed her for their family's disintegration.
Things finally seem to be improving however as both Dee Dee and Lish have joined Jed and Emily (and Emily's siblings) on a holiday in Corsica. Until 13yr old Dee Dee is found dead one morning.
When it's discovered that Dee Dee has been poisoned, possibly via Emily’s headache medication Emily become suspicious that she was the intended target.
Emily's soon befuddled by half-truths and lies and struggles to know who to trust.
I enjoyed this novel and McKenzie kept a great pace so I felt (ahem) 'compelled' to read it in a night. However... I was bothered by a few plot holes and scenarios which didn't ring true.
However, though I was sceptical about some elements I still enjoyed this book and found it unputdownable. I could, however, have loved it.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
Things finally seem to be improving however as both Dee Dee and Lish have joined Jed and Emily (and Emily's siblings) on a holiday in Corsica. Until 13yr old Dee Dee is found dead one morning.
When it's discovered that Dee Dee has been poisoned, possibly via Emily’s headache medication Emily become suspicious that she was the intended target.
Emily's soon befuddled by half-truths and lies and struggles to know who to trust.
I enjoyed this novel and McKenzie kept a great pace so I felt (ahem) 'compelled' to read it in a night. However... I was bothered by a few plot holes and scenarios which didn't ring true.
However, though I was sceptical about some elements I still enjoyed this book and found it unputdownable. I could, however, have loved it.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
January 20, 2016
This is the first book 'adult' book from Sophie McKenzie I've read since reading her young adult books years ago. Girl Missing was, and still is, one of my all time favourite books, so I was excited/anxious/intrigued by the prospect of Here We Lie. I didn't know what to expect but Here We Lie was gripping, agonising, exciting and an all round brilliant physiological thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
May 4, 2016
Some spoilers: Picked this up in a rush at the airport and read it through a transatlantic flight. Did the job to pass the time but no literary masterpiece. The plot did have a lot of promise when I think about it. I suppose now I can infer that what Rose witnessed her dad doing had a profound effect on her and contributed to a ripple effect in her adult life that lasted through the whole book. But that was the only genius aspect. The delivery fell short. The book was told through her sister Emily's point of view and Emily was the main character of a whole different plot. These two plots were eventually tied together but clumsily and far fetched. Emily was a bit over dramatic and at the wrong times. Like she flipped her shit when she found out that Jed's son was possibly a drug dealer, drug dealer italicized as if it's totally unheard of that a college kid with a rich dad would deal. Compared to that, she acted pretty calm and collected when she found out her sister was sleeping with her fiancé. A lot of fluffy scenes thrown in that sounded significant only to be left hanging in the end. Jed's brother conveniently showing up at the bar and Emily receiving a mysterious text after? What were the contents in that letter to Lish supposed to mean? And all those pages wasted on suspicions about Jed's brother only to be put at ease with a simple explanation: "he's wasting money on the case and I needed a loan". Ok. Oh, and risking your $10,000 engagement ring with a random person so you can break into their flat? I remember thinking that's a bit far fetched. Also trying too hard to be 2014 with a lesbian couple, a sperm donor, a gay couple, Snapchat, weChat and Facebook all in one book that I finished before landing 7½ hours later. Like I said, I think the plot had a lot going for it. The twists and suspense were there but some scenes just weren't believeable, dialog shallow, and suspense built in odd places.
January 11, 2017
Started out well enough but soon turned into a far fetched , eye rolling melodrama! If I had to read one more time how gorgeous the main character was ......... Here We Lie was far more annoying than thrilling
October 7, 2020
Just couldn't engage with this book at all. The characters, for me, were dull and uninspiring... meaning that I wasn't in the slightest bit interested in what happened to them.
January 4, 2016
I’ve been in a real reading rut. Along with the last few books I’ve read being very disappointing, I’ve been busy in real life with a new job and school holidays and Christmas etc etc etc, until I just felt like I’d lost my book mojo completely.
Anyway, I’ve passed the time writing some things, and catching up on some things I have been meaning to do for ages but, for the New Year, I decided to again take the plunge and get back in the saddle, so to speak.
Firing up the ereader, I clicked on Here We Lie, a book I’d received via Net-galley. In the back of my mind I wasn’t confident it would spark a resurgence in my recent blah attitude. But now I can happily report, it did!
Yay! I loved this book! Yay!
The book opens with Emily, a thirty-something year old school teacher, enjoying a relaxing holiday in Corsica. She’s joined by Jed, her quite-a-bit-older fiance, and his two children. Also joining them in France is Emily’s sister, Emily’s brother and his boyfriend, and Jed’s brother and his girlfriend.
Soon, their idyllic vacation comes to an abrupt halt when Jed’s daughter, Dee Dee, is found dead.
Back home, everyone is obviously having difficulty with coming to terms with the loss and blame is thrown around, including quite a bit from Jed’s bitter ex-wife.
Enter Dan, Emily’s ex-boyfriend. Dan is a journalist chasing a story on well-known lawyer, Jed. Along the way he comes to believe that Dee Dee’s death might not be what everyone thought, and that perhaps Dee Dee wasn’t even the intended victim.
From then on, the book jumps from cliffhanger to cliffhanger. There's quite a few likely suspects from those on the trip, as well as those back home, and it's not easy for the reader to completely guess who Emily should trust.
I found all the plot quite believable, and the use of modern technology clever instead of corny (as some books using it tend to be).
Interspersed between chapters of Emily’s first person point of view are chapters of the family tragedy Emily endured as a child and diary entries of Dee Dee’s.
Other than one particular surprising moment towards the end, I was able to guess most of the revelations of the book and its characters. I’m not whining about this, however, because it wasn’t due to the obviousness of the reveals, but the way McKenzie had actually taken the time to set them up using the three narratives. I love a good bait-and-switch as much as any reader, but I’m not fond of sudden silly endings that have no foundation. In this case, other than that one shock, I thought the lead up provided enough clues for me to easily believe the book’s ending.
I didn’t know anything about Sophie McKenzie before starting the book. After finishing it, however, I looked her up to discover she’s written quite a lot of YA titles, and I must say that that is obvious when reading the Dee Dee sections. They seem quite real and not as cutesy as some supposed teenage narration can be.
I’ll definitely be looking for more McKenzie titles, and I’d highly recommend this (what I’d call gentle) psychological thriller.
4.5/5
Anyway, I’ve passed the time writing some things, and catching up on some things I have been meaning to do for ages but, for the New Year, I decided to again take the plunge and get back in the saddle, so to speak.
Firing up the ereader, I clicked on Here We Lie, a book I’d received via Net-galley. In the back of my mind I wasn’t confident it would spark a resurgence in my recent blah attitude. But now I can happily report, it did!
Yay! I loved this book! Yay!
The book opens with Emily, a thirty-something year old school teacher, enjoying a relaxing holiday in Corsica. She’s joined by Jed, her quite-a-bit-older fiance, and his two children. Also joining them in France is Emily’s sister, Emily’s brother and his boyfriend, and Jed’s brother and his girlfriend.
Soon, their idyllic vacation comes to an abrupt halt when Jed’s daughter, Dee Dee, is found dead.
Back home, everyone is obviously having difficulty with coming to terms with the loss and blame is thrown around, including quite a bit from Jed’s bitter ex-wife.
Enter Dan, Emily’s ex-boyfriend. Dan is a journalist chasing a story on well-known lawyer, Jed. Along the way he comes to believe that Dee Dee’s death might not be what everyone thought, and that perhaps Dee Dee wasn’t even the intended victim.
From then on, the book jumps from cliffhanger to cliffhanger. There's quite a few likely suspects from those on the trip, as well as those back home, and it's not easy for the reader to completely guess who Emily should trust.
I found all the plot quite believable, and the use of modern technology clever instead of corny (as some books using it tend to be).
Interspersed between chapters of Emily’s first person point of view are chapters of the family tragedy Emily endured as a child and diary entries of Dee Dee’s.
Other than one particular surprising moment towards the end, I was able to guess most of the revelations of the book and its characters. I’m not whining about this, however, because it wasn’t due to the obviousness of the reveals, but the way McKenzie had actually taken the time to set them up using the three narratives. I love a good bait-and-switch as much as any reader, but I’m not fond of sudden silly endings that have no foundation. In this case, other than that one shock, I thought the lead up provided enough clues for me to easily believe the book’s ending.
I didn’t know anything about Sophie McKenzie before starting the book. After finishing it, however, I looked her up to discover she’s written quite a lot of YA titles, and I must say that that is obvious when reading the Dee Dee sections. They seem quite real and not as cutesy as some supposed teenage narration can be.
I’ll definitely be looking for more McKenzie titles, and I’d highly recommend this (what I’d call gentle) psychological thriller.
4.5/5
October 9, 2015
3 1/2 stars
My View:
If you are prepared to hang you suspension of disbelief on the coat rail in the hall way then proceed and enjoy. This is a narrative chock full of drama, paranoia and surprises and a good dose of heartbreak with an underlying useful social commentary on the power of social media and its role in bullying.
Of all the characters in this book I found the voice of Dee Dee the most intriguing and deserving of empathy; a child entering the teenage years, her body and hormones at odds with one another, her naivety and her sadness, a pawn in her parents efforts to hurt each other, Dee Dee is a character to make you think. Her story told through the watching of her privately made videos recorded on her phone are revealing and heartbreaking.
Sophie McKenzie is a writer who is the master of the surprise and unexpected reveal and she uses this skill masterfully here. I bet that you will not expect the ending – it is totally surprising.
My View:
If you are prepared to hang you suspension of disbelief on the coat rail in the hall way then proceed and enjoy. This is a narrative chock full of drama, paranoia and surprises and a good dose of heartbreak with an underlying useful social commentary on the power of social media and its role in bullying.
Of all the characters in this book I found the voice of Dee Dee the most intriguing and deserving of empathy; a child entering the teenage years, her body and hormones at odds with one another, her naivety and her sadness, a pawn in her parents efforts to hurt each other, Dee Dee is a character to make you think. Her story told through the watching of her privately made videos recorded on her phone are revealing and heartbreaking.
Sophie McKenzie is a writer who is the master of the surprise and unexpected reveal and she uses this skill masterfully here. I bet that you will not expect the ending – it is totally surprising.
December 5, 2018
3.75 sad stars. What a tragic tale of drugs, sexual affairs and poor little Dee Dee caught in the middle of too many self-absorbed adults. I raced through this book, wanting to know what, how and why it all happened. I was a little disappointed with the ending, and did get a bit sick of Dee Dee’s diary entries throughout. Nonetheless, another good mystery.
November 20, 2017
So, I Read This Book, But I Still Don’t Know If I Believe It. I’m Not Saying This Because I Think It Actually Happened, But More Because, Even Though Anything Can Happen In Fiction, Can It Really?! Far Fetched
August 11, 2015
Compelling, if somewhat melodramatic, story of a woman whose soon-to-be stepdaughter tragically dies on holiday. She starts to suspect that it wasn't an accident and fears for her own life. Encouraged by her journalist ex-boyfriend she looks further into the family members, only to uncover an international drug ring.
I found it engaging, but ultimately it prompted more eye rolls than anything else.
I found it engaging, but ultimately it prompted more eye rolls than anything else.
September 7, 2016
Enjoyed this book and didn't didn't guess the ending. Definitely read another of her books!!!
December 13, 2021
Ich beginne mit dem Cover. Dieses finde ich sehr gut gelungen. Die Kombination aus schwarzer Hintergrund und grüner Schrift sticht ins Auge und ist ein Hingucker im Regal.
Man wird sofort auf das Buch aufmerksam.
Der Schreibstil ist schön flüssig und deswegen sehr gut lesbar. Das Buch ist in fünf Teile untergliedert und diese Teile nochmals in Kapitel. Ich fand das manchmal etwas verwirrend, weil man immer zwischen Gegenwart und Vergangenheit umdenken muss.
Zudem weist das Buch sehr komplexe Figuren auf, die mich manchmal etwas durcheinander gebracht haben. Besonders die Familienverhältnisse waren für mich manchmal etwas schwer zu durchschauen.
Das Buch ist sehr spannend geschrieben. Es wird nicht einmal langweilig. zudem gibt es immer unerwartete Wendungen, die die Handlung immer wieder in ein anderes Licht rücken.
Einige Szenen fand ich sehr überraschend und haben mich tatsächlich auch zu Tränen gerührt, aber ich möchte ja nicht zu viel verraten.
Fazit
Dieses Buch bekommt 5 von 5 Sterne, da es sehr spannend ist und auch die Story sehr gut geschrieben ist. Da dies mein erstes Buch von dieser Autorin war, hat es mich sehr überzeugt. und ich freue mich schon auf weitere Romane von Sophie McKenzie.
Man wird sofort auf das Buch aufmerksam.
Der Schreibstil ist schön flüssig und deswegen sehr gut lesbar. Das Buch ist in fünf Teile untergliedert und diese Teile nochmals in Kapitel. Ich fand das manchmal etwas verwirrend, weil man immer zwischen Gegenwart und Vergangenheit umdenken muss.
Zudem weist das Buch sehr komplexe Figuren auf, die mich manchmal etwas durcheinander gebracht haben. Besonders die Familienverhältnisse waren für mich manchmal etwas schwer zu durchschauen.
Das Buch ist sehr spannend geschrieben. Es wird nicht einmal langweilig. zudem gibt es immer unerwartete Wendungen, die die Handlung immer wieder in ein anderes Licht rücken.
Einige Szenen fand ich sehr überraschend und haben mich tatsächlich auch zu Tränen gerührt, aber ich möchte ja nicht zu viel verraten.
Fazit
Dieses Buch bekommt 5 von 5 Sterne, da es sehr spannend ist und auch die Story sehr gut geschrieben ist. Da dies mein erstes Buch von dieser Autorin war, hat es mich sehr überzeugt. und ich freue mich schon auf weitere Romane von Sophie McKenzie.
October 19, 2024
A psychological thriller about Emily who is on holiday with her fiancee and family. The trip then turns into a tragedy when someone is found dead.
The story then leads you to believe it was a tragic accident until, Emily's ex contacts her saying he wants to make a story out of drug dealing, as he is a reporter.
This then leads to a rollercoaster of lies, and suspense making you want to read just one more chapter.
There was a mixture of "oh really??" For some of the things Emily did, And then feeling desperately sorry for Dee Dee the youngest member of the family.
Overall a twisty read with an unpredictable ending!
The story then leads you to believe it was a tragic accident until, Emily's ex contacts her saying he wants to make a story out of drug dealing, as he is a reporter.
This then leads to a rollercoaster of lies, and suspense making you want to read just one more chapter.
There was a mixture of "oh really??" For some of the things Emily did, And then feeling desperately sorry for Dee Dee the youngest member of the family.
Overall a twisty read with an unpredictable ending!
February 10, 2017
An easy read, enjoyable even though I found it to be quite far fetched at times.
Some good characters but some that just didn't ring true
Some good characters but some that just didn't ring true
July 4, 2016
€ 9,99 [D] € 10,30 [A] | CHF 13,90*
(* empf. VK-Preis)
Taschenbuch, Klappenbroschur
ISBN: 978-3-453-41960-5
NEU
Erschienen: 11.04.2016
Zum Buch: http://www.randomhouse.de/Taschenbuch...
Emily und Jed sind glücklich verlobt und verbringen ihren Urlaub mit Jeds Kindern Lish und Dee Dee auf Korsika. Als Dee Dee eines Abends über Kopfschmerzen klagt, gibt Emily ihr eine Schmerztablette. Am nächsten Morgen ist Dee Dee tot. Vergiftet. Kurz darauf erhält Emily eine SMS: Das Gift war für sie bestimmt. Ein mörderisches Spiel um Lüge und Verrat beginnt ...
Meine Meinung:
Ich habe vor einiger Zeit schon das Buch der Autorin Seit Du tot bist gelesen und fand es damals sehr gut. Als ich dann gesehen habe, dass es ein neues Buch der Autorin gibt, wollte ich es schnellstmöglich lesen.
Von der ersten Seite an konnte mich die Geschichte total fesseln und begeistern. Ich mochte gar nicht mehr aufhören zu lesen und ich habe es wirklich innerhalb von 24 Stunden durchgelesen.
Die Geschichte an sich war einfach total interessant, die Charaktere ebenfalls und das Ende fand ich sehr überraschend und sehr toll gemacht. Man wurde einfach total mitgerissen von der Geschichte rund um Emily. Es spielte in verschiedenen Zeitebenen, aber ich bin von Anfang an gut damit klar gekommen. Die Spannung konnte aus meiner Sicht auch von Anfang bis Ende gehalten werden.
Es gab auch ein paar überraschende Wendungen, es war für mich absolut nicht vorhersehbar. Dass gewisse Personen ihre Finger im Spiel haben, war direkt am Anfang klar, aber halt nicht genau in welcher Art und Weise und andere wiederum kamen erst zum Schluss dazu.
Alles in allem war dies ein toller Thriller mit Familiendrama, der ohne viel Blut auskommt und mich aber auf ganzer Linie überzeugen konnte und daher aus meiner Sicht 5 Sterne verdient und diese auch von mir bekommt.
(* empf. VK-Preis)
Taschenbuch, Klappenbroschur
ISBN: 978-3-453-41960-5
NEU
Erschienen: 11.04.2016
Zum Buch: http://www.randomhouse.de/Taschenbuch...
Emily und Jed sind glücklich verlobt und verbringen ihren Urlaub mit Jeds Kindern Lish und Dee Dee auf Korsika. Als Dee Dee eines Abends über Kopfschmerzen klagt, gibt Emily ihr eine Schmerztablette. Am nächsten Morgen ist Dee Dee tot. Vergiftet. Kurz darauf erhält Emily eine SMS: Das Gift war für sie bestimmt. Ein mörderisches Spiel um Lüge und Verrat beginnt ...
Meine Meinung:
Ich habe vor einiger Zeit schon das Buch der Autorin Seit Du tot bist gelesen und fand es damals sehr gut. Als ich dann gesehen habe, dass es ein neues Buch der Autorin gibt, wollte ich es schnellstmöglich lesen.
Von der ersten Seite an konnte mich die Geschichte total fesseln und begeistern. Ich mochte gar nicht mehr aufhören zu lesen und ich habe es wirklich innerhalb von 24 Stunden durchgelesen.
Die Geschichte an sich war einfach total interessant, die Charaktere ebenfalls und das Ende fand ich sehr überraschend und sehr toll gemacht. Man wurde einfach total mitgerissen von der Geschichte rund um Emily. Es spielte in verschiedenen Zeitebenen, aber ich bin von Anfang an gut damit klar gekommen. Die Spannung konnte aus meiner Sicht auch von Anfang bis Ende gehalten werden.
Es gab auch ein paar überraschende Wendungen, es war für mich absolut nicht vorhersehbar. Dass gewisse Personen ihre Finger im Spiel haben, war direkt am Anfang klar, aber halt nicht genau in welcher Art und Weise und andere wiederum kamen erst zum Schluss dazu.
Alles in allem war dies ein toller Thriller mit Familiendrama, der ohne viel Blut auskommt und mich aber auf ganzer Linie überzeugen konnte und daher aus meiner Sicht 5 Sterne verdient und diese auch von mir bekommt.
October 6, 2023
I hated this book but I also couldn't put it down so I don't really know what that says about me. It's an easy read and it's great if you want to get through something quick, but it's much less great if you're looking for sympathetic characters (I do admit this might have been the point, but I'm too annoyed by it to really care).
I was deeply irritated by almost every character, I think there was one guy who made it through the book having escaped my loathing, and he was present for a grand total of maybe 5 pages. I couldn't get over my annoyance at the main character and developed such a prejudice against her that by the end of the book I was almost incapable of human sympathy.
In spite of this potentially concerning effect, it was kind of fun to read once you accepted the ridiculousness of the story. I don't know whether I should commend this book for provoking such depth of feeling in me (irritation), or berate it for the damage done to my empathetic capacities. Either way, I can't deny that I was hooked until the end.
I was deeply irritated by almost every character, I think there was one guy who made it through the book having escaped my loathing, and he was present for a grand total of maybe 5 pages. I couldn't get over my annoyance at the main character and developed such a prejudice against her that by the end of the book I was almost incapable of human sympathy.
In spite of this potentially concerning effect, it was kind of fun to read once you accepted the ridiculousness of the story. I don't know whether I should commend this book for provoking such depth of feeling in me (irritation), or berate it for the damage done to my empathetic capacities. Either way, I can't deny that I was hooked until the end.
September 2, 2017
I have actually declined reading this book a couple of times before when I saw it in my local library but this time I thought it actually might be an okay read and I'm so glad I did because it was way more than an ok read, it was a fantastic read.
At a point I was unable to put it down,even when I was sitting in a really uncomfortable position and I was cold I just kept on reading and reading for hundreds of pages, I was so gripped on the story and intrigued as to what would happen next.
The tragedy is uncomprehending and so tragic and I was so gripped on who was responsible but also to what was the secret that Dee Dee, Emily's soon to be step daughter, had discovered.
I liked Emily and her brother Martin though there was just something about her sister Rose that I didn't like, I couldn't warm to her.
There are a whole host of people involved in some way or another which makes for a drama filled story from start to finish. I may have to look up some more books by this author now.
At a point I was unable to put it down,even when I was sitting in a really uncomfortable position and I was cold I just kept on reading and reading for hundreds of pages, I was so gripped on the story and intrigued as to what would happen next.
The tragedy is uncomprehending and so tragic and I was so gripped on who was responsible but also to what was the secret that Dee Dee, Emily's soon to be step daughter, had discovered.
I liked Emily and her brother Martin though there was just something about her sister Rose that I didn't like, I couldn't warm to her.
There are a whole host of people involved in some way or another which makes for a drama filled story from start to finish. I may have to look up some more books by this author now.
January 5, 2017
I read this book in a day, but that is by no means an endorsement to how good it is. I simply wanted to get to the end of the mystery and skim read a good portion in the middle.
The book started out quite well, very interesting and a great hook. But as it went on it got more and more melodramatic, to the point where I was just rolling my eyes at most of it.
I also hated the character of Dee Dee and her 'voice'. I know she's 13 so is kind of meant to be annoying but she just came across as so childish and irritating, maybe that's just me not being very patient with teenagers!
Overall not a great read, lots of twists but quite OTT.
The book started out quite well, very interesting and a great hook. But as it went on it got more and more melodramatic, to the point where I was just rolling my eyes at most of it.
I also hated the character of Dee Dee and her 'voice'. I know she's 13 so is kind of meant to be annoying but she just came across as so childish and irritating, maybe that's just me not being very patient with teenagers!
Overall not a great read, lots of twists but quite OTT.
February 26, 2015
A really good, suspenseful read. For Emily, life finally feels perfect but whilst on a wonderful holiday with family and close friends a tragedy strikes. Back home she tries to pick up the pieces of her life, but a serious of shocking revelations leave her reeling.
November 2, 2015
A solid 3.5 stars.
Skim read some of this book but overall I enjoyed it.
Guessed most of the twists but was surprised by one or two so it kept me on my toes. Some of the characters seemed a little too self-absorbed for my liking but I didn't hate too many of them.
Skim read some of this book but overall I enjoyed it.
Guessed most of the twists but was surprised by one or two so it kept me on my toes. Some of the characters seemed a little too self-absorbed for my liking but I didn't hate too many of them.
August 28, 2016
A really tense story that I found difficult to,put down,full of believable characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end.I would have rated it 5 stars but had more or less guessed the ending before it came.A thoroughly good read though.
July 6, 2020
Bonkers storyline but a cracking page turner. Suspend your disbelief and just enjoy it.
June 5, 2018
A really good read - especially in the earlier parts - & an engrossing & gripping one. However there were a couple of points that just stopped it from being a five star read for me & I'll try & explain without the use of spoilers...
The basis of the story, a tragedy occurring on a family holiday, worked well. Young Dee Dee dies (not a spoiler - the blurb does warn you of a death, just not whos!) after taking a headache powder. I found it hard to believe that none of the family - in particular Emily seeing she gave the sachet to Dee Dee - never seemed to come under suspicion either from the police or each other - surely a natural instinct would be to want to blame someone who was "at the scene" so to speak, yet the focus for blame remained squarely on a pharmaceutical company.
For most of the book the story was a fast paced page-turner but there were quite a few unconvincing elements that caused a bit of eye-rolling & some disappointing characterisations...did Zoe have to be such a bitch of an ex-wife? not very original & I don't think her hatred of Emily added anything at all to the story. Rose was another poor depiction & it was sooooo obvious where her tale was going. Dee Dee's voice was by far the most credible...not a bad achievement considering she was dead!...& her sad little tale came in the form of diary excerpts.
Overall this was easy to read & written in a style I enjoyed - with the exception of opening sequence of part five (September 2004 - bit of an insight into Rose & Martin's past). This had a whiff of cheesiness about it not in keeping with the rest of the book but that's only my opinion....
There are, as you'd expect, a few twists along the way & although the truth about Dee Dee's death will not come as any great surprise, it still made for an intriguing & entertaining read.
The basis of the story, a tragedy occurring on a family holiday, worked well. Young Dee Dee dies (not a spoiler - the blurb does warn you of a death, just not whos!) after taking a headache powder. I found it hard to believe that none of the family - in particular Emily seeing she gave the sachet to Dee Dee - never seemed to come under suspicion either from the police or each other - surely a natural instinct would be to want to blame someone who was "at the scene" so to speak, yet the focus for blame remained squarely on a pharmaceutical company.
For most of the book the story was a fast paced page-turner but there were quite a few unconvincing elements that caused a bit of eye-rolling & some disappointing characterisations...did Zoe have to be such a bitch of an ex-wife? not very original & I don't think her hatred of Emily added anything at all to the story. Rose was another poor depiction & it was sooooo obvious where her tale was going. Dee Dee's voice was by far the most credible...not a bad achievement considering she was dead!...& her sad little tale came in the form of diary excerpts.
Overall this was easy to read & written in a style I enjoyed - with the exception of opening sequence of part five (September 2004 - bit of an insight into Rose & Martin's past). This had a whiff of cheesiness about it not in keeping with the rest of the book but that's only my opinion....
There are, as you'd expect, a few twists along the way & although the truth about Dee Dee's death will not come as any great surprise, it still made for an intriguing & entertaining read.
February 15, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
On holiday with family and her adoring fiancé, Jed, Emily couldn't be happier. But overnight, the idyllic trip turns into a waking nightmare when one of the group is found dead in what appears to be a terrible accident.
The devastated party returns to London to cope with their loss while trying to resume their normal lives. But new revelations shed a shocking light on the holiday tragedy and set Emily on a perilous journey to discover the truth about what happened. Soon a terrifying series of threats and lies bring her face to face with the dark truths at the heart of her family - and into life-threatening danger...
*2.5 stars*
From holiday trip to international drug rings...this book certainly took me for a ride. Was it a totally convincing ride? Not really...
From the outset, we are plunged into melodrama and suspense. And the melodrama never leaves. It felt like the author wanted every page to be suspenseful but, instead, we got a lot of silly, inane red herrings and secrets and suspicious behaviour - that only served to make the story less interesting, not more.
The characters were, well, dull and flat. Emily was annoying. The rest were forgettable. Thriller novels like this rely on solid characters to carry the story when there isn't "something going on" - just didn't happen here. More drama was piled on top of other drama to keep the story moving...
Would I read more by this author? Sure - one novel shouldn't be the deciding factor (unless it is absolutely dreadful!)
Paul
ARH
On holiday with family and her adoring fiancé, Jed, Emily couldn't be happier. But overnight, the idyllic trip turns into a waking nightmare when one of the group is found dead in what appears to be a terrible accident.
The devastated party returns to London to cope with their loss while trying to resume their normal lives. But new revelations shed a shocking light on the holiday tragedy and set Emily on a perilous journey to discover the truth about what happened. Soon a terrifying series of threats and lies bring her face to face with the dark truths at the heart of her family - and into life-threatening danger...
*2.5 stars*
From holiday trip to international drug rings...this book certainly took me for a ride. Was it a totally convincing ride? Not really...
From the outset, we are plunged into melodrama and suspense. And the melodrama never leaves. It felt like the author wanted every page to be suspenseful but, instead, we got a lot of silly, inane red herrings and secrets and suspicious behaviour - that only served to make the story less interesting, not more.
The characters were, well, dull and flat. Emily was annoying. The rest were forgettable. Thriller novels like this rely on solid characters to carry the story when there isn't "something going on" - just didn't happen here. More drama was piled on top of other drama to keep the story moving...
Would I read more by this author? Sure - one novel shouldn't be the deciding factor (unless it is absolutely dreadful!)
Paul
ARH
April 17, 2024
is this the best thing i’ve ever read?
no.
was i expecting it to be?
no. but it was however better than expected
this book succeeds in making you feel the tension and distrust that our main character feels basically from beginning to end. i felt like i was being gaslit at times by myself and by jed especially.
i think i might’ve slogged through this whole book over the course of a week or so if the beginning didn’t do such a good job of hooking me. you spend time with relatively realistic characters on a family holiday that’s full of awkward moments because of weird family dynamics that manages to not be boring at the same time it isn’t exactly peak literature.
then the child character dies
i think if it were not for the fine, quick introduction this would not have been as startling or intriguing as the story ended up being. i was so convinced that the older sister would be the death that i thought i had misread when the book said she was the one that found the body.
the twists were convoluted and crazy and unrealistic and yet i did not stop reading. i couldn’t. great for what it is
for the record, the diary parts meant to be written directly by the child who dies do a fantastic job at really feeling like a confused child becoming a teenager wrote them. i felt equally parts devastated for her and relating to him.
no.
was i expecting it to be?
no. but it was however better than expected
this book succeeds in making you feel the tension and distrust that our main character feels basically from beginning to end. i felt like i was being gaslit at times by myself and by jed especially.
i think i might’ve slogged through this whole book over the course of a week or so if the beginning didn’t do such a good job of hooking me. you spend time with relatively realistic characters on a family holiday that’s full of awkward moments because of weird family dynamics that manages to not be boring at the same time it isn’t exactly peak literature.
then the child character dies
i think if it were not for the fine, quick introduction this would not have been as startling or intriguing as the story ended up being. i was so convinced that the older sister would be the death that i thought i had misread when the book said she was the one that found the body.
the twists were convoluted and crazy and unrealistic and yet i did not stop reading. i couldn’t. great for what it is
for the record, the diary parts meant to be written directly by the child who dies do a fantastic job at really feeling like a confused child becoming a teenager wrote them. i felt equally parts devastated for her and relating to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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