She Told Me to Lie

by Paige Brooks

She told me to lie. God help me, I almost said yes.
For twenty years, Tiffany Walker has repeated the same Brittany was unhappy, restless, and desperate to escape Carver Falls.
Then a construction crew uncovers Brittany's remains beneath a wooded overlook.
Detective Solis reopens the old statements, forcing Tiffany to confront the night she has spent half her life trying to forget. A witness who never changed her story. A fragment of sapphire silk. A photograph that proves someone lied.
But the closer Tiffany looks, the less she trusts her own memories. Each answer fractures the carefully ordered life she has built. Each question threatens the family she would do anything to protect.
Someone has spent twenty years deciding which version of the past Tiffany was allowed to remember.
Now the truth is surfacing.
But someone still needs Tiffany to believe the lie. And they will do anything to make sure she does.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2026

About the author

Paige Brooks writes dark psychological thrillers filled with secrets, twists, and the kind of tension that keeps you turning pages long after midnight.

Her stories explore memory, fear, and the hidden truths people will do anything to bury. From quiet, unsettling households to isolated coastal towns, her books pull readers into worlds where nothing is quite what it seems and trusting the wrong person can be deadly.

If you enjoy twisty, emotionally layered thrillers with eerie atmosphere and unexpected turns, you’re in the right place.

Paige lives on the East Coast with the people (and dogs) she loves most. When she’s not writing, she’s usually thinking of the next secret to uncover.

Reviews

[Susan Belman]

*She Told Me to Lie* was a fast read that kept me guessing from beginning to end. There were plenty of twists, secrets, and questionable motives, and I found myself constantly changing my mind about who I could trust and what people were really hiding. I especially liked the way the story slowly chipped away at Tiffany’s version of the past. The more questions that came up, the more I started questioning not only the people around her, but her own memories and what she thought she knew.
There were several moments where I thought I had things figured out...and then nope. 😂 I love when a thriller can make me suspicious of basically everyone without becoming so complicated that I lose track of the story. Fast-paced, twisty, full of secrets, and with exactly the kind of *wait...but WHY would they do that?!* moments I look for in a psychological thriller.

**5 stars this one kept me guessing, and I loved every minute of it!**

[Kellyanne]

Paige has written another fantastic book that only gets better as you dive deeper into it. She Told Me to Lie was a fast-paced read that kept me guessing from start to finish. Packed with twists, secrets, and questionable motives, it constantly had me changing my mind about who was trustworthy and what everyone was hiding. I particularly loved how the story gradually chipped away at Tiffany’s version of events. As more questions surfaced, I found myself doubting not just the characters around her, but also her own memories and perceptions.

Tiffany’s whole life is turned completely upside down when the body of her childhood best friend is discovered years later, causing the truth to start coming out. As the lies unravel, the story delivers everything psychological thrillers should be: gripping, thrilling, and filled with edge-of-your-seat moments. The characters feel so authentic and creative that they could be people you pass on the street any day—you never really know the reality behind the front they present.

Just when I thought I had everything worked out, a new twist would completely shift the direction of the plot. The storytelling is exceptional. I love a thriller that keeps me suspicious of virtually everyone without getting so convoluted that it’s hard to follow. It features plenty of those exact "wait... but WHY would they do that?!" moments that make the genre so addicting.

I truly didn't want to put it down, and any interruptions were completely unwelcome! This easily earns 5 stars, only because that's the maximum rating possible. If you enjoy high-drama, thrill-filled stories, I highly recommend picking this one up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gretta Kontas]

She Told Me to Lie
For twenty years, Tiffany Waker has believed what her husband, Robert, and her friend, lawyer Heather, have told her about the disappearance of her best friend, Brittany. The story involves a large group of seniors drinking at a lake party. Years later, Brittany’s remains are discovered; Tiff learns that Brittany didn’t run away. Tiff discovers that she chose the wrong story and called it loyalty. Author Paige Brooks skillfully moves from relived memories to present facts as Tiff works with Detective Solis to determine exactly what happened. The author explores the lengths people will go to protect the truths they want to believe. The reader is treated to multidimensionally flawed characters as well as unexpected twists and turns. When she refuses to lie, she realizes that not knowing is better than turning the first explanation into truth. Great read! I received a copy of the book from the author, but this is my honest review.

[Dave Wheeler]

This is an incredibly good read, Paige has written another fantastic read that just gets better the deeper you go.

I thought I'd got it worked out but that's not how it goes the twists will switch the direct the story telling is awesome. Creative characters that's you might mix with any day of the week you never know the truth behind the story they portray but..... Tiffany whole life is thrown upside down when the body of her school days best friend is discovered years later and the truth begins to come out. Lies unravel this is Physiological Thrillers as they should be gripping, thrilling o and some edge of your seat times. I didn't want to put it down interruptions we're not welcome. But life....

This can only be given 5 stars as that's the limit to how high you can go, I really highly recommend this if you like thrilling high drama this is for you.

[Tina Lincoln]

Leading the truth ~
That is what many people do for many instances. Like to say something that could be the truth of a situation going by the evidence, or what led up to that point. When you have several people doing the same thing... that creates quite a picture. Is it true, is any of it true... maybe...
In this story, it was led by several, there were many factors, and it took years before the whole truth came out, pointing out each led-lie.
Brittany went missing, and she was not found until years later, well, her bones were.
This is a wonderful story that brings in the truth of what a person says, what they really know, or don't, and what gets led.
Thank you , Paige Brooks, for a good story.
I received a complimentary arc copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Roger]

She Told Me to Lie (Twisted Secrets: A Psychological Thriller Collection), my fifth read from author Paige Brooks. A 499-page domestic thriller with the requisite twists and turns and an ending you just can't see coming. I was given a complimentary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. I'm going back to the first books I got from her & look forward to reading more from this author, with Only One Gets Out already high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley, January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Virginia]

How reliable is our memory?  Brittany disappeared twenty years ago, thought to have runaway. Now her body has been discovered and Tiffany Walker, Brittany's best friend, wants to know the truth about what really happened at the senior high party the night Brittany was last seen especially since her now husband was allegedly seen going into the woods with Brittany, something she's never believed. Who's lying? What really happened?  This gripping story will keep you up all night.

[karin whitehead]

I read this novel as an ARC and this is my review. Twenty years ago, Brittany disappeared, some thought she had runaway. Now they have found her body under cement. The senior party was the last time anyone saw her, and there are many questions. A well-written story line, many characters to figure out the truth. A twisted tale to study, I was totally wrong on who did it! A great read!

[Barbara Kaake]

This was an awesome story about Tiffany and who was responsible for killling her best friend 20 years ago and finally finding out who did it. Thank you for this great story which kept me on the edge of my seat until I finished it with lots of suspense and drama.

[Bren]

This is one of those twisty story that have plenty of suspects to pick from when the bones of a young woman is found that went missing years ago. I couldn't pull myself away from this book it was captivating and full of suspense that kept you guessing who was responsible for her death.

[Sammye]

This book is part of the Twisted Secrets collection. The suspense kept my turning pages non-stop. I was totally invested in this psychological thriller. The plot was excellently executed and kept me guessing. Highly recommended read.