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Maybe You Lied

Blindsided by the sudden death of his mother, 21-year-old Will Lockhart can no longer afford the rent or bear the haunting memories of their shared Massachusetts apartment. While packing up his mother's belongings, he discovers his long-dead father's deed to a house in upstate New York. With nowhere else to go, he settles there, intent on making a fresh start.

But odd things happen as soon as Will moves in. He's unnerved by evidence of fire damage in the cottage, and alarmed by the seizure his elderly next-door neighbor suffers upon meeting him. Most shocking of all are the rumors of a long-ago murder in his house.

Now, trapped in a town full of strangers, unsure of whether local murmurings are true or simply small-town gossip, he's determined to discover what really happened all those years ago, and how he's connected to the chaos.

The truth will set him free. Or get him killed.

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2026

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About the author

Jennifer Sadera

3 books140 followers
This author also writes as Jennifer McGill-Sadera

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
609 reviews28 followers
Review of advance copy
September 10, 2026
4.5

*Thank you to Partners in Crime Tours for including me in this tour!

Cottage, rumors, chaos…

21yo Will is still grieving and dealing with survivor’s guilt concerning his mother’s death. He finds a deed to an Upstate NY house packed away in his mother’s belongings.

He decides to move to this unknown town and house because he is now behind in rent and other expenses without his Mother’s guidance.

He will discover hidden family histories - family secrets that were kept secret to protect the family name. Also some family history that included “relational betrayals with unacknowledgement “ of certain individuals.

I liked the MMC Will. It was easy to empathize with both Will and Nel (aka Penelope). They were both vulnerable due to their upbringings. I also liked the therapist Tabitha - very wise! Attorney Alan was very secretive!

This was a twisty plot that held my attention. Tidbits were revealed gradually, which added to the suspense. I guessed one big twist (but certainly not the others). It was fun to continue reading to see if I was right. A psychic thriller/ psych suspense selection.

*** Available Sept 22, 2026 ***

Sadera also wrote I Know She Was There, published in Nov 2024. I recommend it also!
Profile Image for Merissa (Archaeolibrarian).
4,375 reviews126 followers
September 22, 2026
MAYBE YOU LIED is a standalone contemporary story, told from Will's perspective, as he deals with trauma, grief, and a whole load of questions.

I'm really glad that Will had questions, as it meant I got the answers at the same time as he did. Some things in the story were clear to me, and others not so much. Most of them were answered, but I was left with some that weren't.

It's a slow and steady story that builds easily to the climax. One thing that I loved was Will's letters to his mum. They were so clear, explaining easily his state of mind at the time he wrote them. Emotions aren't clear-cut, and I loved that he ran the gauntlet with them all, even if it wasn't easy for him.

This was a twisted tale that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.

** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I read this book voluntarily; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Sep 21, 2026
Profile Image for Maria Vickers - MysteryLFL.
329 reviews6 followers
September 11, 2026
This was a good read. It was character driven, but with a good atmospheric set up to help the plot along. I loved the short chapters, and the thriller aspect was well paced. The romance pacing felt rushed, however, and parts of the book felt overwritten and unnatural, almost academic. It was nice to see a male MC in a thriller for a change! Overall, a solid book.
Profile Image for Karen Siddall.
Author 1 book138 followers
September 21, 2026
Mounting tension and long-held secrets kept me riveted to my seat!

Maybe You Lied, a new psychological thriller by Jennifer Sadera, blends an engaging, vulnerable main character with a mysterious setting and suspenseful plot to deliver a tale that kept me glued to the page and reading long into the night. After the death of his mother, young Will Lockhart falls on hard times, earning a dreaded and inevitable eviction notice. But as he gathers important documents in preparation for the coming changes, he discovers a deed, in his deceased father's name, for a house he knew nothing about.

At the urging of his family's attorney, he drives two hours away to see if it's a viable option for his new home. Vacant and little more than a cabin, Will is just about to explore further when an angry older man approaches him, demanding to know his business. But when he gets a good look at Will's face, this stranger seems to recognize him and turns fearful, his agitation precipitating a sudden medical emergency for which Will summons an ambulance, perhaps saving the man's life.

Feeling guilty for triggering the man's condition, Will doesn't correct the man's housekeeper, who soon arrives on the scene. Instead, he takes her to the hospital behind the ambulance and waits with her for the update from the doctors. Neither does he come clean when he meets the man's only daughter, Penelope, who believes the story that he just came across him, unconscious, in the wooded area around the vacant cabin. Will settles into his new home, and he and Penelope get closer. Her father's condition remains critical, and he continues to be unable to offer an alternative scenario. Will is living on borrowed time as he tries to uncover the story behind the house and the man's extreme reaction to his arrival.

The author drew me in from the very start with the shocking hints of what the very young Will may have seen of his older sister, Ange, and kept me rooted in place with her depiction of him at 21, suffering through survivor's guilt over the death of his mother in a car accident which occurred while he was driving. With his older sister's loss followed by his father's departure from the family when Will was only five, it had always been just him and his mother. The tension gradually builds as he is evicted from the apartment they shared after his long recovery from the injuries he himself sustained in the accident. Each twist in the plot heightens the suspense and shifts the story's trajectory, keeping me guessing and riveted for what's to come. I really felt for this character and was immediately invested in what he was experiencing, needing to know the answers to all the secrets he encountered as much as he did. I was absolutely not disappointed.

Sadera's writing style is clean, easy to read, and immersive, painting a vivid picture of what's unfolding around this vulnerable, sympathetic main character. Once I picked up the story, I was in for the duration and glued to the book well past any reasonable bedtime.

I recommend MAYBE YOU LIED to readers of psychological and domestic thrillers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

Profile Image for Ashley Kanazawich .
200 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 19, 2026
This book was riveting. I felt completely absorbed from the moment I opened it. I love when a book lets you sink in and forget the outside world while you're reading it.

The title implies, before you even get into it, that there are lies, secrets, half-truths, things we don't know, and that was certainly the experience. There is so much potential for unreliable narration in this story. As the reader, I genuinely couldn't tell when I was getting someone's skewed perspective, a clouded memory, or the truth itself. So many of the characters had lost somebody significant to them, and with those deaths went the true stories behind what had actually happened.

Much of the book had me trying to anticipate where the mystery was headed and what the twists might be. I had a couple of theories, one I was especially hoping wouldn't come true, and thankfully it didn't. I also managed to accurately predict a few things, and there were still a couple of moments that caught me completely off guard.

Will is such a sweet, sensitive soul, and watching him find his own strength and build a found family from nothing was genuinely heartwarming. Penelope stole my heart too, vibrant and outspoken, though her impulsive energy kept me second guessing her right up until the end.

Underneath everything, this story is about death, secrets, and family lies coming to the surface, but underneath that, it's about figuring out who you are and finding enough confidence in yourself that your family's story doesn't define you.

It was just such a good book. I wish I could go back and read it again knowing everything I know now. It's not a flat-out murder mystery, it's more of a family mystery, what don't you know about your own family, and what do you do when the people who could answer your questions are gone?

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Joan.
4,557 reviews138 followers
October 3, 2026
What if you found out what you knew about yourself and your family was mostly lies? Sadera is good at developing a character as he discovers who he is and what his background truly reveals. Will is an emotional person, susceptible to panic attacks and deep emotional reactions. We follow him as he learns surprising facts about his family, especially his father. The pace of the plot in the beginning is perhaps a little slow as the current life of Will takes shape. He has suffered much and is working his way to a psychologically healthier life. About half way through the book a revelation makes the pace pick up and it was an engaging read through to the great twist and burst of suspense near the end.

This novel is not the kind that kept me on the edge of my seat. Rather, it is a slow build that reaches a climax, making me glad I read the book. There are some intriguing thoughts about murderers and what they can be like, especially sociopaths. There is also an exploration of getting over past hurts and mistakes to look forward to the possibility of romance.

This is a good book for the thoughtful reader who likes a deep dive into a character and what makes him who he is.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review.
Profile Image for Jane Ruff.
85 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 29, 2026
I was given this ARC by the author. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness...where do I start? This book is FANTASTIC!! This #new novel by @jensaderaauthor is a perfect psychological thriller. I read this in one sitting, completely invested in the story.

We meet Will Lockhart at age 21, after the sudden death of his mother. While he is packing up his apartment, he finds a deed for a house he knew nothing about, owned by his father. With nowhere else to go, he arrives at the rundown cabin in the hopes of putting his life back together.

Strange things start to happen - there is past fire damage in the basement, his next-door neighbor has a stroke the minute he sees Will, and there are rumors in town about a past murder in his cabin.

As Will tries to piece together what truly happened in his past, he uncovers lies and deceit and secrets so explosive he suffers panic attacks. He has fractured memories of his childhood, and Will is so broken and vulnerable. I was pulling for him throughout the book.

There is perfect pacing as the truth is revealed. There are shocking twists, pulse-pounding tensions, and jaw-dropping revelations I did not see coming.

Brilliant storytelling - this is a must-read for thriller fans!
3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
June 4, 2026
I received this ARC from the publisher.

Maybe You Lied by Jennifer Sadera is a compelling, emotionally layered read that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Sadera does an excellent job building suspense while exploring the complexities of relationships, trust, and the stories we tell ourselves—and each other. The characters felt authentic, and I found myself invested in uncovering the truth alongside them.

What I appreciated most was the way the author gradually revealed information, allowing the tension to build naturally without feeling forced. The emotional depth added richness to the mystery and made the stakes feel very real.

My one minor criticism is that there were quite a few analogies throughout the book. While many were creative and insightful, some felt a bit disjointed and occasionally pulled my thoughts away from the story as my mind followed the analogy rather than the narrative itself. It wasn’t enough to diminish my enjoyment, but it did interrupt the flow for me at times.

Overall, this was an absorbing and memorable read that delivered both intrigue and heart. If you enjoy character-driven suspense with emotional complexity, Maybe You Lied is well worth picking up.
Profile Image for Chris.
1,654 reviews13 followers
September 30, 2026
What if everything you believed about your life and family turned out to be a lie? In this twisty thriller this is exactly the problem facing Will. After his mother’s death he struggles to function and once he begins to uncover the secrets she kept from him it becomes more dangerous with every thing he discovers and becomes a struggle for him to survive. The story held my attention as the secrets added twist after twist.

The characters were an interesting mix of likeable characters and several that oozed danger. Will and Nel (Penelope) both struggled with their family relationships and with the question of whether they deserved to be happy. I liked how Will evolved over time as the secrets were revealed and how therapy played a role in it. The letters he wrote to his mother were an integral part in seeing his evolution. The fathers both oozed danger and every time they were part of the story I was anticipating the worse. Learning more about them explained so much about Will and Nel’s childhoods and their behaviors. Alan was an unexpected character that added to the story and to Will’s growth.

If you like thrillers full of family secrets and danger I recommend this book.

Thanks to Partners in Crime VBT for the free, gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Wall-to-wall books - wendy.
1,099 reviews21 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
September 9, 2026
Another win from Jennifer Sadera! This was very much a character driven story. I typically don’t love books with a male main character. But this one totally worked for me! I really liked Will. He was a very likable character and it was very easy to get caught up in all of his stuff!

Penelope a.k.a. Nel, I really liked her but… so much uncertainty surrounded her. What was her story? Can she be trusted? Should I be getting too attached to her? Because I did, get attached to her. And then there was the lawyer. He seemed like he was a good guy trying to be helpful. But was he really? What was in all this for him? So many questions surrounding these characters.

There were way more questions than answers… And I needed the answers! By the time I was 60% into the book I was so invested, so caught up in their story.

This author works her magic as she gets you hooked right from the beginning. And the more you read… the more you need to read!

And another great book from Jennifer Sadera.
Profile Image for G.P. Gottlieb.
Author 6 books87 followers
Review of advance copy
September 15, 2026
Will Lockhart thinks his mother’s recent death was his fault. He’s 21 and is emptying their rental house when he finds a deed to a place in upstate New York, owned by his long-dead father, about whom he knows next to nothing. He also lost his older sister when he was little, and he’s alone, with no money to pay the rent. He drives several hours to the house, which looks like it survived a fire, and is shocked when his elderly next-door neighbor suffers a seizure just after they meet. The neighbor’s daughter is grateful to Will for calling emergency services, and she becomes his first friend in his new home. Then he starts falling for her. He connects with his mother’s lawyer to understand why his dad had a house up there, and a therapist who helps him unravel his feelings. But there are rumors of a murder happening at his place, and someone is leaving threatening messages. Will is determined to find out the truth no matter how risky it is in this slow-burning, suspenseful mystery about difficult family history and a mother’s love. #thriller #PartnersinCrime
Profile Image for Mandy.
30 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
September 19, 2026
Book review
Title: Maybe You Lied
Author: Jennifer Sadera

Thank you to Partners in Crime and Creative James Media for an advanced copy of this book.

Summary: 21 year old Will Lockhart suddenly finds himself alone in this world and unable to pay rent. He discovers a deed hidden by his deceased mother for a house in NY and decides to move there. Only this move reveals his family’s dark past… one day at a time. And Will is left to sort through all of it and figure out what is true… and what was a lie.

Review: I really enjoyed this book. It had just the right amount of suspense and mystery throughout the entire book that kept me wanting to keep reading to find out what was next. I was not expecting the ending which is always a win in my opinion. I would absolutely recommend this book to others.

If you enjoy books about dark secrets, family trauma, domestic suspense and a little bit of blossoming romance… then you’ll enjoy Jennifer Saderas book!
Profile Image for Country Mama.
1,776 reviews87 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 14, 2026
Maybe You Lied by Jennifer Sadera by the author is a book featuring Will Lockheart who is our MC. Will leaves a shared apartment with his mother and then goes to the inherited house from his father in upstate NY. This book is releasing at the end of September 2026. This book is about family secrets and as soon as Will moves into the house from his father. He starts noticing weird things that have happened with the house and surrounding area, including the townies who whisper about the house. Supposedly there was a murder that happened at the house. And Will isn't sure what happened but aims to find out. There are so many lies and secrets that become real at the end of this book, it is such a great psychological thriller. I can not wait to read more about the author soon. She is becoming one of my favorite new thriller authors.
Profile Image for Jacqueline McMahon.
5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
May 24, 2026
Author Jennifer Sadera really knows how to deliver the goods in this psychological thriller. The premise promised a story filled with secrets and a complicated past, and I loved the unexpected twists. Sadera's protagonist, Will, was a character I immediately felt empathy for and I wanted him to get the answers he so desperately needed. The whole cast of characters were well fleshed out and provided great support to the main character. I enjoyed the romance subplot and the final surprising development in Will's life. For those who love thrillers and domestic suspense, this is a must read.
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,905 reviews58 followers
September 13, 2026
Will has lost the closest person to him; his mother. He is about to be evicted from his house when he finds the deed for a house he didn’t know the family owned. He moves into the falling apart house to start a new life.

Will is an interesting character. He’s not your typical handsome confident MMC. He is shy around Penelope but he cares for her. As he learns dark things about his family’s past he questions his path in life.

This atmospheric story kept me wondering what was around the next corner. This is one you want to add to your spooky season TBR!
Profile Image for Marilena EchoHawk.
133 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 30, 2026
I received this book as an ARC, and it completely exceeded my expectations. From the very first chapter, the story was fast-paced, gripping, and impossible to put down. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the author hit me with another shocking twist that kept me hooked until the very end. The suspense was perfectly done, and every chapter left me wanting more. If you love twisty, story that keep you guessing, this one is definitely worth reading.
Profile Image for Trina 🖤.
341 reviews56 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 26, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy from the author. I loved her other book I Know She Was There so much and her newest book Maybe You Lied did not disappoint!

Jennifer’s ability to create character depth, storylines you can’t look away from and creeping suspense is what makes her books so unputdownable!

Right away I was hooked and found myself flipping through the pages with anticipation! Definitely one you don’t want to sleep on!
Profile Image for Don Ruff.
82 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 12, 2026
☆I was provided this ARC by the author, all opinions are my own.☆


What a great read! Jennifer you did it again! Right from the beginning it made you want to know what was a lie and what was not! Trying to figure how it all played out is impossible. You really felt for Will in this book. The ending is amazing! If you think you can figure it out, good luck! This is one you will want to read!
Profile Image for Danielle Rodgers.
146 reviews4 followers
September 24, 2026

This book had me on my toes from start to finish. I had so many questions and this was one of the times, I honestly had no idea (or real guess) as to the answers until the second they were revealed! And boy did Sadera take her sweet time revealing things, but I honestly wasn’t mad about it! The end reveal was absolutely *chef’s kiss*
Profile Image for Bonnie Traymore.
Author 15 books364 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 3, 2026

“Maybe You Lied" is a twisty, emotionally charged domestic suspense that ramps up to a jaw-dropping, visceral finale. Great character development, intriguing storyline, and a protagonist you want to root for. Another winner from Jennifer Sadera.
4 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2026
A great read, lots of plot twists, that I didn’t guess at all, I had some ideas but nope, not what I thought!
84 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 28, 2026
Wow! What a read - I really enjoyed this!
A great storyline, well paced and intriguing. Plenty of unexpected twists, surprises and hidden secrets. Interesting likeable characters. Great Thriller!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews