What do you think?
Rate this book
Lies She Told
From the author of the USA Today–bestselling novel The Widower’s Wife, comes an electrifying story of love and deceit, where the truth can be darker than fiction.
Liza Cole, a once-successful novelist whose career has seen better days, has one month to write the thriller that could land her back on the bestseller list. Meanwhile, she’s struggling to start a family, but her husband is distracted by the disappearance of his best friend, Nick. As stresses weigh her down in her professional and personal lives, Liza escapes into writing the chilling exploits of her latest heroine, Beth.
Beth, a new mother, suspects her husband is cheating on her while she’s home caring for their newborn. Angry and betrayed, she aims to catch him in the act and make him pay for shattering the illusion of their perfect life. But before she realizes what she’s doing, she’s tossing the body of her husband’s mistress into the East River.
Then, the lines between Liza’s fiction and her reality eerily blur. Nick’s body is dragged from the East River, and Liza’s husband is arrested for his murder. Before her deadline is up, Liza will have to face up to the truths about the people around her, including her own. If she doesn’t, the end of her heroine’s story could be the end of her own.
Liza Cole, a once-successful novelist whose career has seen better days, has one month to write the thriller that could land her back on the bestseller list. Meanwhile, she’s struggling to start a family, but her husband is distracted by the disappearance of his best friend, Nick. As stresses weigh her down in her professional and personal lives, Liza escapes into writing the chilling exploits of her latest heroine, Beth.
Beth, a new mother, suspects her husband is cheating on her while she’s home caring for their newborn. Angry and betrayed, she aims to catch him in the act and make him pay for shattering the illusion of their perfect life. But before she realizes what she’s doing, she’s tossing the body of her husband’s mistress into the East River.
Then, the lines between Liza’s fiction and her reality eerily blur. Nick’s body is dragged from the East River, and Liza’s husband is arrested for his murder. Before her deadline is up, Liza will have to face up to the truths about the people around her, including her own. If she doesn’t, the end of her heroine’s story could be the end of her own.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2017
663 people are currently reading
12791 people want to read
About the author
Cate Holahan
16 books890 followersCate Holahan is a screenwriter and USA Today Bestselling author of psychological suspense books. Her sixth novel, The Darkness of Others, was published in 2022. She has had books named to Kirkus' Best Books of the Year and Book of the Month Club's official selections. Notable works include: One Little Secret, Lies She Told, The Widower's Wife.
Her film, Deadly Estate, was on Fox's Tubi in March, and her upcoming film, Dancers on the Darkside, will be coming out this year.
An award-winning journalist and former television producer, she has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, and The Record newspaper. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dogs.
She has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch and graduated from Princeton University in 2002.
She is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary.
Her film, Deadly Estate, was on Fox's Tubi in March, and her upcoming film, Dancers on the Darkside, will be coming out this year.
An award-winning journalist and former television producer, she has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, and The Record newspaper. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dogs.
She has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch and graduated from Princeton University in 2002.
She is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,647 reviews
January 22, 2019
This book was incredible until the last 75 pages.
September 6, 2017
Wowza!! Guys, this is a September Book of the Month Club selection! And it's so good. An old fashioned great mystery. I love it!
LIES SHE TOLD receives a 5 star rating on the old Twister Richter Scale. A book within a book that is completely believable, twisty and mind-bending.
Our main character, Liza Cole, is a romance/suspense writer. She has been in a writing slump for several months due to fertility issues and her husband's distraction about his missing business partner. Liza's protaganist in the novel she is writing, Beth, could be described as Liza's alter ego. She is a fictional character, but, real in the sense that she is in Liza's book. Got all that? The lines start getting a little blurry, then they get a lot blurry.
Don't worry, Cate Holahan (the REAL author of this book) has expertly written a parallel story universe that exists between Liza and Beth. You have to stay on your tippy toes to keep up with this mystery, don't miss any details, everything is a clue!
Unreliable narrator? Check. We have not one, but two very untrustworthy narrators! Hooray! And those narrators have unreliable characters in their own lives. AAAAAH, who to believe? What's real, what's not? This book had me questioning my own sanity until the end when all the clues come together in a plausible way.
I have never read Cate Holahan before. She is a young author and based on this newest novel of hers, she is going to have a long successful career. She is brilliant and I want to be in her head again soon!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
LIES SHE TOLD receives a 5 star rating on the old Twister Richter Scale. A book within a book that is completely believable, twisty and mind-bending.
Our main character, Liza Cole, is a romance/suspense writer. She has been in a writing slump for several months due to fertility issues and her husband's distraction about his missing business partner. Liza's protaganist in the novel she is writing, Beth, could be described as Liza's alter ego. She is a fictional character, but, real in the sense that she is in Liza's book. Got all that? The lines start getting a little blurry, then they get a lot blurry.
Don't worry, Cate Holahan (the REAL author of this book) has expertly written a parallel story universe that exists between Liza and Beth. You have to stay on your tippy toes to keep up with this mystery, don't miss any details, everything is a clue!
Unreliable narrator? Check. We have not one, but two very untrustworthy narrators! Hooray! And those narrators have unreliable characters in their own lives. AAAAAH, who to believe? What's real, what's not? This book had me questioning my own sanity until the end when all the clues come together in a plausible way.
I have never read Cate Holahan before. She is a young author and based on this newest novel of hers, she is going to have a long successful career. She is brilliant and I want to be in her head again soon!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
June 18, 2017
The first couple of chapters were confusing though, switching between Liza and the character in the book she is writing Beth. Once I got my head around the continual swapping, the book made more sense, and hooked me in. The pace of the story is slow and methodical at first, but it quickly picks up in the second half of the book. I often found myself having to stop and think for a minute about which storyline I was actually reading. As the book goes on, the line between true life and fiction begins to blur.
There are many twists and turns throughout that come with deeper character development, and these help to push to a shocking and satisfying conclusion. This piece of work was beautifully written with all the suspense, murder, mystery, and surprise anyone needs in a thriller.
We have Liza whose husband is worried about his best friend who is missing. When the body is found, her husband is charged. Meanwhile Liza, writes about a woman named Beth, whose husband is cheating on her, and she feels only way to keep marriage is to kill the mistress. So story goes back and forth, you have pay attention. So you do not miss out on anything, and you do get absorbed in both women's lives.
This is a new author to me. Cate Holahan brings this story to a fantastic, exciting close. I could not put the second half of the book down. I loved it! The ending was so fabulous. Her characters are vivid and real despite their character flaws, and the atmosphere and setting is intricate and detailed (especially for a book that is essentially a book within a book). I can't wait to get my hands on Holahan's other books!
I highly recommend this book for those that like a thriller.
I want to thank Crooked Lane Publishers for mailing me this book to me for an honest review.
January 6, 2018
4.25 unreliable stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25
Are you a fan of the unreliable narrator? Well in this book you get not only one but two very unreliable narrators!
This is a book where you really need to Pay attention! Liza is an author of romance/suspense books.... Beth is the MC in the book that she is writing.... The brilliant (yet confusing) part of this is that you get both Liza’s real life story and Beth’s fictional story alternating throughout this book.... Liza and Beth have quite a few things in common including cheating spouses.... as the book goes on the lines between fact and fiction, between Liza and Beth, get blurrier and blurrier.....
Have to confess I started this book and I wasn’t paying close enough attention and I got really confused and then I got really frustrated...... SO I decided to start the book over and I’m so glad I did that... because once I figured out that this was a book I truly needed to focus on I started to really Become completely engrossed in the story....
Neither Liza or Beth were terribly likable, however I found them very sympathetic and real.... The twists and turns in this book were wild and took you on quite the crazy ride! Somethings I saw coming while others I definitely did not.... The ending was so well done and very plausible(Always a bonus)....
Definitely would recommend this to fans of the psychological thriller.... was it the best I’ve ever read? no, but it was pretty darn good!
*** i’d like to thank my wallet for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***
🎧🎧🎧 you can find my review on the audio narration as well as all the other reviews from my partner in crime and me on our new blog...
https://audiokilledthebookmark.com/
Are you a fan of the unreliable narrator? Well in this book you get not only one but two very unreliable narrators!
This is a book where you really need to Pay attention! Liza is an author of romance/suspense books.... Beth is the MC in the book that she is writing.... The brilliant (yet confusing) part of this is that you get both Liza’s real life story and Beth’s fictional story alternating throughout this book.... Liza and Beth have quite a few things in common including cheating spouses.... as the book goes on the lines between fact and fiction, between Liza and Beth, get blurrier and blurrier.....
Have to confess I started this book and I wasn’t paying close enough attention and I got really confused and then I got really frustrated...... SO I decided to start the book over and I’m so glad I did that... because once I figured out that this was a book I truly needed to focus on I started to really Become completely engrossed in the story....
Neither Liza or Beth were terribly likable, however I found them very sympathetic and real.... The twists and turns in this book were wild and took you on quite the crazy ride! Somethings I saw coming while others I definitely did not.... The ending was so well done and very plausible(Always a bonus)....
Definitely would recommend this to fans of the psychological thriller.... was it the best I’ve ever read? no, but it was pretty darn good!
*** i’d like to thank my wallet for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***
🎧🎧🎧 you can find my review on the audio narration as well as all the other reviews from my partner in crime and me on our new blog...
https://audiokilledthebookmark.com/
October 3, 2017
What a brilliant premise for a book.
When reality and fantasy cross paths.
Liza is a best-selling author struggling and under pressure to put out a follow-up novel. She seems to find her greatest success taking inspiration from real life. Including several unsuspecting friends and family around her. Now that same inspiration may be falling way too close to home.
As Liza’s life is spinning out of control (balancing a marriage and trying to start a family), her editor is pushing her hard to recreate the magic of her debut book. And Liza thinks she may have found the key with her new character...Beth. Dual storylines. One fact, one fiction. But the lines become warped as the two begin to crossover and intertwine.
“Blurring fact and fantasy is my trade. I am a con artist. A prevaricator. I make up stories.”
I was completely drawn into this fantastic tale of two women. You will indeed find yourself questioning what part is real and what part is fiction! Oh so deviously twisty!
Cate Holahan delivered a very well thought out, clever thriller that will certainly have your head spinning! Highly recommend for all psychological thriller fans!
When reality and fantasy cross paths.
Liza is a best-selling author struggling and under pressure to put out a follow-up novel. She seems to find her greatest success taking inspiration from real life. Including several unsuspecting friends and family around her. Now that same inspiration may be falling way too close to home.
As Liza’s life is spinning out of control (balancing a marriage and trying to start a family), her editor is pushing her hard to recreate the magic of her debut book. And Liza thinks she may have found the key with her new character...Beth. Dual storylines. One fact, one fiction. But the lines become warped as the two begin to crossover and intertwine.
“Blurring fact and fantasy is my trade. I am a con artist. A prevaricator. I make up stories.”
I was completely drawn into this fantastic tale of two women. You will indeed find yourself questioning what part is real and what part is fiction! Oh so deviously twisty!
Cate Holahan delivered a very well thought out, clever thriller that will certainly have your head spinning! Highly recommend for all psychological thriller fans!
June 27, 2017
3.5 stars
“Blurring fact and fantasy is my trade. I am a con artist. A prevaricator. I make up stories.”
Psychological thriller that blurs the line between fiction and reality, author and character.
Liza, a romantic suspense writer, is hoping that her next book is a hit. She had one bestseller and has seen her success slowly decline. She is working on a new novel about a woman named Beth who catches her husband cheating. As Liza’s life starts to slowly ravel out of control, she begins to share more and more in common with Beth--to the point that she hears Beth’s voice giving her advice. The boundaries between author and character dissolve, and one begins to wonder just who exactly is the writer and who is the character in this story?
Lies She Told is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.I really liked the premise of reality starting to mirror a work of fiction and vice versa. However, I was hoping that it would take things to the next level and play around with the blurred lines between fact and fantasy even more.
I received a copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
“Blurring fact and fantasy is my trade. I am a con artist. A prevaricator. I make up stories.”
Psychological thriller that blurs the line between fiction and reality, author and character.
Liza, a romantic suspense writer, is hoping that her next book is a hit. She had one bestseller and has seen her success slowly decline. She is working on a new novel about a woman named Beth who catches her husband cheating. As Liza’s life starts to slowly ravel out of control, she begins to share more and more in common with Beth--to the point that she hears Beth’s voice giving her advice. The boundaries between author and character dissolve, and one begins to wonder just who exactly is the writer and who is the character in this story?
Lies She Told is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.I really liked the premise of reality starting to mirror a work of fiction and vice versa. However, I was hoping that it would take things to the next level and play around with the blurred lines between fact and fantasy even more.
I received a copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2017
3.75 Stars.
What is the Truth and what is Fiction? When you are a Mystery/Suspense novelist, sometimes, the two blend together.
“Lies She Told” by Cate Holahan is a mystery/suspense novel about Liza Jones. She is a novelist. A one hit wonder, if you will, though she is, of course, hoping to write another best seller. Liza is married. To David - an attorney who is never home. His life is in shambles. His law partner, Nick disappeared a month ago. No one knows what happened and at first the Police have no leads. David is a wreck – he can’t eat and he can’t sleep. Nick was his best friend. Liza can’t get through to him. He basically ignores her. They are supposed to be trying to have a baby (she has been injected with an implant that is supposed to help her get pregnant after all) but he isn’t even remotely interested. All he can think about is Nick and their law practice. Finally, after what seems like forever, Nick’s body turns up. In the East River. David is their prime suspect.
With the mounting pressure of Nick’s disappearance, and her agent, Trevor on her back to turn out another best seller, Liza immerses herself in her book.
For Liza, she realizes that the events surrounding Nick’s death sound oddly familiar. Yet she is having trouble remembering things – the implant as it turns out affects memory and she no longer knows what is real and what is not real. With her best friend Chris by her side, it comes out that certain events in her novels were not made up, which makes Liza realize that perhaps the things that happened in her current novel, may not be fiction after all.
As for Nick, what happened to him after all? How did he die? Is David responsible?
I’m afraid I can’t tell. If you want to know, you’ll just have to read this crazy novel to find out.
Cate Holahan did a fairly good job of creating two separate storylines in “Lies She Told”; that of the real life of Liza Jones; and that of the fictional life of Beth. There were a few times however, that it was a little difficult to discern whose story I was reading and I would have to flip back in the chapter to figure it out, since the stories of both Liza and Beth were similar at times. That said, I was glued to the story and found “Lies She Told” to be a quick, easy read and would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid mystery/suspense.
A special thank you to Sarah at Crooked Lane for an ARC of this novel. Keep them coming!
Published on Goodreads on 8.3.17.
Will be published on Amazon on 9.12.17.
What is the Truth and what is Fiction? When you are a Mystery/Suspense novelist, sometimes, the two blend together.
“Lies She Told” by Cate Holahan is a mystery/suspense novel about Liza Jones. She is a novelist. A one hit wonder, if you will, though she is, of course, hoping to write another best seller. Liza is married. To David - an attorney who is never home. His life is in shambles. His law partner, Nick disappeared a month ago. No one knows what happened and at first the Police have no leads. David is a wreck – he can’t eat and he can’t sleep. Nick was his best friend. Liza can’t get through to him. He basically ignores her. They are supposed to be trying to have a baby (she has been injected with an implant that is supposed to help her get pregnant after all) but he isn’t even remotely interested. All he can think about is Nick and their law practice. Finally, after what seems like forever, Nick’s body turns up. In the East River. David is their prime suspect.
With the mounting pressure of Nick’s disappearance, and her agent, Trevor on her back to turn out another best seller, Liza immerses herself in her book.
Beth is the main character. She is a married, stay at home mom, to newborn, Vicky. Her husband, Jake, a lawyer, hasn’t been around much. Not for Beth, or for little Vicky. Jake, concerned for his wife’s mental health, suggests that she see a therapist, and books her an appointment with Tyler. She turns to him for help, but not the professional kind. Little does Jake know that Beth suspects that he is having an affair with Colleen, a police officer who helps him investigate cases. Before confronting him with her suspicions, Beth decides that she needs proof and she ends up stalking Colleen. In the end, Beth’s jealousy gets the best of her and in a fit of rage, she does the unimaginable: she kills Colleen and she dumps her body in the East River (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?). From there, things go from bad to worse.
For Liza, she realizes that the events surrounding Nick’s death sound oddly familiar. Yet she is having trouble remembering things – the implant as it turns out affects memory and she no longer knows what is real and what is not real. With her best friend Chris by her side, it comes out that certain events in her novels were not made up, which makes Liza realize that perhaps the things that happened in her current novel, may not be fiction after all.
As for Nick, what happened to him after all? How did he die? Is David responsible?
And as for Beth, does she end up paying the price for a terrible mistake? Does Jake find out?
I’m afraid I can’t tell. If you want to know, you’ll just have to read this crazy novel to find out.
Cate Holahan did a fairly good job of creating two separate storylines in “Lies She Told”; that of the real life of Liza Jones; and that of the fictional life of Beth. There were a few times however, that it was a little difficult to discern whose story I was reading and I would have to flip back in the chapter to figure it out, since the stories of both Liza and Beth were similar at times. That said, I was glued to the story and found “Lies She Told” to be a quick, easy read and would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid mystery/suspense.
A special thank you to Sarah at Crooked Lane for an ARC of this novel. Keep them coming!
Published on Goodreads on 8.3.17.
Will be published on Amazon on 9.12.17.
November 17, 2017
What an amazing thriller!
In fact, reading this book is what kept me sane during Hurricane Irma. I spent days shuttered up in my home without power, the heat was unbearable and the darkness constant.
I still have no power and the heat is still awful but, alas, reading brings a wonderful escape in these difficult moments.
The book is about writer Liza Jones who desperately needs to finish up her next thriller. The thriller she is writing is about a fictional character named Beth, a new mother who suspects her husband is cheating on her. At the same time, the main character Liza Jones is also facing difficulties when her husband's professional partner disappears.
The book is told from the alternating points of view of Liza Jones and Beth. So it alternates between present reality and the story she is writing.
There is a story within a story and it reminded me of the book Magpie Murders. The novel is interesting, engaging and so good.
Overall, I loved it and highly recommend it to all readers of suspense, mystery and thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley, Cate Holahan, and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.
In fact, reading this book is what kept me sane during Hurricane Irma. I spent days shuttered up in my home without power, the heat was unbearable and the darkness constant.
I still have no power and the heat is still awful but, alas, reading brings a wonderful escape in these difficult moments.
The book is about writer Liza Jones who desperately needs to finish up her next thriller. The thriller she is writing is about a fictional character named Beth, a new mother who suspects her husband is cheating on her. At the same time, the main character Liza Jones is also facing difficulties when her husband's professional partner disappears.
The book is told from the alternating points of view of Liza Jones and Beth. So it alternates between present reality and the story she is writing.
There is a story within a story and it reminded me of the book Magpie Murders. The novel is interesting, engaging and so good.
Overall, I loved it and highly recommend it to all readers of suspense, mystery and thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley, Cate Holahan, and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2017
Parallel universes.
Existing within the light of truth while simultaneously traveling the roads of deception inked in covert shadows.
Somehow the lustre of New York notoriety has worn thin for mystery writer, Liza Cole. Liza stares blankly at her computer screen lost in agonizing thoughts of turning out a well overdue blockbuster thriller. Notches in her book belt would be one thing, but Liza has a mortgage payment on the upscale condo and highly expensive fertility treatments in the process. Her husband, David, has a new law partnership that needs his undivided attention which leaves Liza living on the peripheral.
Stress seems to have wallpapered every room in this now depleted love nest. Then a sonic boom hits the airwaves when Nick, David's law partner, goes missing. David is distraught upon hearing the news. He and Nick are best friends. Days turn into weeks with no sign of Nick. Tension sits like a cold meatball sandwich congealing between them. Nothing Liza says or does consoles David.
So Liza steps deftly into the fictional world of her writing. A daily glimpse into her character Beth's wired atmosphere provides Liza with the diversion that she needs. Beth has recently given birth to a beautiful baby girl. She is experiencing the heavy demands of breastfeeding and the 24/7 care of a newborn. Although sleep deprived and physically exhausted, Beth's internal antennae picks up the vibrations of a wayward husband. With stroller in hand, Beth hides across the street and spots Jake lockin' eyes and holding hands with an attractive woman in a darkened restaurant. Oh, it's gonna get good now........
Cate Holahan presents a dual storyline that crosses back and forth into the real and the not so real. Just like adjusting the thermostat in an overheated room, the reader will experience the flash of hot and cold from Liza's situations to those of Beth's. Holahan knows how to keep her readers locked in to the staccato beat of her storyline as she did in her previous book, The Widower's Wife. I especially liked her story layering into Liza's episodes and encounters in the publishing world.
Attention to detail is a must here. There's plenty of dark streets involved along the East River with a deep chill in the air. My thanks to Crooked Lane Publishers and to Cate Holahan for a copy of this book. That deep chill has certainly stayed with me.......
Existing within the light of truth while simultaneously traveling the roads of deception inked in covert shadows.
Somehow the lustre of New York notoriety has worn thin for mystery writer, Liza Cole. Liza stares blankly at her computer screen lost in agonizing thoughts of turning out a well overdue blockbuster thriller. Notches in her book belt would be one thing, but Liza has a mortgage payment on the upscale condo and highly expensive fertility treatments in the process. Her husband, David, has a new law partnership that needs his undivided attention which leaves Liza living on the peripheral.
Stress seems to have wallpapered every room in this now depleted love nest. Then a sonic boom hits the airwaves when Nick, David's law partner, goes missing. David is distraught upon hearing the news. He and Nick are best friends. Days turn into weeks with no sign of Nick. Tension sits like a cold meatball sandwich congealing between them. Nothing Liza says or does consoles David.
So Liza steps deftly into the fictional world of her writing. A daily glimpse into her character Beth's wired atmosphere provides Liza with the diversion that she needs. Beth has recently given birth to a beautiful baby girl. She is experiencing the heavy demands of breastfeeding and the 24/7 care of a newborn. Although sleep deprived and physically exhausted, Beth's internal antennae picks up the vibrations of a wayward husband. With stroller in hand, Beth hides across the street and spots Jake lockin' eyes and holding hands with an attractive woman in a darkened restaurant. Oh, it's gonna get good now........
Cate Holahan presents a dual storyline that crosses back and forth into the real and the not so real. Just like adjusting the thermostat in an overheated room, the reader will experience the flash of hot and cold from Liza's situations to those of Beth's. Holahan knows how to keep her readers locked in to the staccato beat of her storyline as she did in her previous book, The Widower's Wife. I especially liked her story layering into Liza's episodes and encounters in the publishing world.
Attention to detail is a must here. There's plenty of dark streets involved along the East River with a deep chill in the air. My thanks to Crooked Lane Publishers and to Cate Holahan for a copy of this book. That deep chill has certainly stayed with me.......
July 6, 2017
Uniquely Plotted and Engrossing....BUT....What is fact and What is fiction?
Lisa Jones writes romantic suspense crime novels and the 30 day deadline is quickly approaching for her next offering....as is her personal deadline to start a family, but husband David is only interested in one thing at the present time....and it's not romantic getaways or Lisa's reproductive cycle....it's the mysterious disappearance of his law partner...and best buddy, Nick.
LIES SHE TOLD alternates between Lisa's real life struggles at home and the volatile story developing in her current work of fiction...AND...just to make matters even more complex, Cate Holahan weaves in a few surprises and some long buried childhood memories to reek further havoc on Lisa's already erratic state of mind making for one crazy good read!
Flat out enjoyed it!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books of New York for sending a beautiful complimentary copy of Cate Holahan's upcoming new novel in exchange for an honest review.
Expected date of publication: September 12, 2017
October 7, 2017
3+ out of 5 stars to Lies She Told, a thriller set to be released on September 12th by Cate Holahan. I enjoyed reading the book and look forward to sharing this review with you.
Why This Book
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, the publisher, for sending me this copy to read and review in advance as an ARC. They found me on Goodreads based on my reading tastes, reviews and ratings, suggesting this as a potential book I might find engaging. And they were right. I had it sitting on the shelf for a few weeks as I got through other books, but as all my NetGalley reads aren't due until September, I had some time to squeeze this one in.
Plot, Characters & Setting
Welcome to the concept of a book within a book... The primary story revolves around Liza Cole, an author living in the NYC metro area who's had some good books and some not so good books. She's been given a deadline to get the next one written since she won't first draft an outline, which prompts her to dive head first into her own thrilling plot. While she's writing the book, readers learn Liza's trying to conceive a baby with her husband, David, but they've been unsuccessful due to a few issues she's had in the past with uterine damage. David's best friend, Nick, is presumed missing, which is setting off a few alarm bells. David starts worrying when they can't find Nick and he's being suspected of causing the disappearance. Eventually, his body is found in the East River, dying in a very similar way to the character in Liza's book. Liza's supported by her mother, agent Trevor and best friend, Chris.
In Liza's story, her primary character, Beth, is a new stay-at-home mom who suspects her husband, Jake, is cheating on her. When she secretly monitors his behavior, Beth learns he has been spending a lot of time with a cop named Colleen. When she accuses her husband, he forces her to go to therapy, where Beth meets Tyler, a therapist who attempts to get her to realize she needs to end the marriage. Unfortunately, Beth isn't ready and soon finds herself stalking Colleen. Next thing she knows, she's killing Colleen and dumping her body in the East River, then sleeping with Tyler.
As the two stories begin weaving in and out, readers learn there are common things occurring in both, leaving us to question which one is real and which one is a story. Or perhaps... it's all the same story happening from different perspectives. You don't really know until the last few chapters when the random clues begin fitting together, revealing what has actually been happening along the path.
Approach & Style
I read the paperback version sent to me by the publisher. It's just under 300 pages, broken into three sections and alternating back and forth between the two story lines. There are 19 chapters, each dividing into two sub-chapters: (1) Liza and (2) Beth. As a result, chapters are relatively short, usually under 8 pages each. Both stories are told with first-person narration from the main female character's point of view, and both are told in the present tense. I read the book over 3 days, about 100 pages each day.
Strengths
The concept of the book is great. I love trying to solve not only the mystery within the novel, but also determining how the two stories would eventually link together and which was fake. I enjoy seeing parallels between the two lead characters and their families. The emotional aspects of the characters are strong and offer readers an easy connection. You can understand the pain and feel the impact of the actions happening around them. It's full of suspense, some very descriptive scenes and lots of potential suspects and angles.
Concerns
It was a hard read, and I'm normally good at keeping story lines separated. A few things that could have worked differently, which would have helped readers retain which characters belong in which section, as well as distinct from one another. Character names were too similar: Beth and Liza. I know this is supposed to help with the parallels, but it left you a tad confused at times. Jake and David. Sound a bit similar. Go with two very different options to help us keep it straighter. Something long, something short. I had to stop and start a lot. I don't like to re-read the same thing over and over again. But I was OK here as it was a complex story, plotted out in a good way.
The ending came a bit from out of left field. You can guess the connection between reality and the made-up story, but why it happened was very unexpected. There were a few clues, but we needed more to not be fully surprised. I would have liked to be reading it and go "oh, now I understand how it ties all together." Instead I went "Hmm... there were no clues of this before..." It wasn't too much of a distraction, but it was enough to make me think the book needed another round of editing before its release. Add in a few more connected pieces of history. Make me impressed with the things I missed along the way.
Author & Other Similar Books
The author has two other books prior to this one. I might give them a chance, depending on the plot and setting. I've read another book in the last few years like this one, but I can't recall the title. It's not a common story where there is 1 real story and 1 fake story an author is writing, which makes it a different type of read. You're sure to be excited and thrilled at parts, but you will also be confused at some parts.
Questions & Final Thoughts
The author can certainly write. She has a good eye for characters, setting and details. I'm glad the publisher sent this one to me, as I definitely found myself wanting to read it each night. But it was also one where I stopped a lot to check if the story had an error or if it was being written in a vague way on purpose. Overall, good book... lots of complexity in the details... good supporting characters and a treasure of relationship drama that you find quite engaging. Put it through another round of beta readers or editing and it would have been an easy 4 from me.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Why This Book
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, the publisher, for sending me this copy to read and review in advance as an ARC. They found me on Goodreads based on my reading tastes, reviews and ratings, suggesting this as a potential book I might find engaging. And they were right. I had it sitting on the shelf for a few weeks as I got through other books, but as all my NetGalley reads aren't due until September, I had some time to squeeze this one in.
Plot, Characters & Setting
Welcome to the concept of a book within a book... The primary story revolves around Liza Cole, an author living in the NYC metro area who's had some good books and some not so good books. She's been given a deadline to get the next one written since she won't first draft an outline, which prompts her to dive head first into her own thrilling plot. While she's writing the book, readers learn Liza's trying to conceive a baby with her husband, David, but they've been unsuccessful due to a few issues she's had in the past with uterine damage. David's best friend, Nick, is presumed missing, which is setting off a few alarm bells. David starts worrying when they can't find Nick and he's being suspected of causing the disappearance. Eventually, his body is found in the East River, dying in a very similar way to the character in Liza's book. Liza's supported by her mother, agent Trevor and best friend, Chris.
In Liza's story, her primary character, Beth, is a new stay-at-home mom who suspects her husband, Jake, is cheating on her. When she secretly monitors his behavior, Beth learns he has been spending a lot of time with a cop named Colleen. When she accuses her husband, he forces her to go to therapy, where Beth meets Tyler, a therapist who attempts to get her to realize she needs to end the marriage. Unfortunately, Beth isn't ready and soon finds herself stalking Colleen. Next thing she knows, she's killing Colleen and dumping her body in the East River, then sleeping with Tyler.
As the two stories begin weaving in and out, readers learn there are common things occurring in both, leaving us to question which one is real and which one is a story. Or perhaps... it's all the same story happening from different perspectives. You don't really know until the last few chapters when the random clues begin fitting together, revealing what has actually been happening along the path.
Approach & Style
I read the paperback version sent to me by the publisher. It's just under 300 pages, broken into three sections and alternating back and forth between the two story lines. There are 19 chapters, each dividing into two sub-chapters: (1) Liza and (2) Beth. As a result, chapters are relatively short, usually under 8 pages each. Both stories are told with first-person narration from the main female character's point of view, and both are told in the present tense. I read the book over 3 days, about 100 pages each day.
Strengths
The concept of the book is great. I love trying to solve not only the mystery within the novel, but also determining how the two stories would eventually link together and which was fake. I enjoy seeing parallels between the two lead characters and their families. The emotional aspects of the characters are strong and offer readers an easy connection. You can understand the pain and feel the impact of the actions happening around them. It's full of suspense, some very descriptive scenes and lots of potential suspects and angles.
Concerns
It was a hard read, and I'm normally good at keeping story lines separated. A few things that could have worked differently, which would have helped readers retain which characters belong in which section, as well as distinct from one another. Character names were too similar: Beth and Liza. I know this is supposed to help with the parallels, but it left you a tad confused at times. Jake and David. Sound a bit similar. Go with two very different options to help us keep it straighter. Something long, something short. I had to stop and start a lot. I don't like to re-read the same thing over and over again. But I was OK here as it was a complex story, plotted out in a good way.
The ending came a bit from out of left field. You can guess the connection between reality and the made-up story, but why it happened was very unexpected. There were a few clues, but we needed more to not be fully surprised. I would have liked to be reading it and go "oh, now I understand how it ties all together." Instead I went "Hmm... there were no clues of this before..." It wasn't too much of a distraction, but it was enough to make me think the book needed another round of editing before its release. Add in a few more connected pieces of history. Make me impressed with the things I missed along the way.
Author & Other Similar Books
The author has two other books prior to this one. I might give them a chance, depending on the plot and setting. I've read another book in the last few years like this one, but I can't recall the title. It's not a common story where there is 1 real story and 1 fake story an author is writing, which makes it a different type of read. You're sure to be excited and thrilled at parts, but you will also be confused at some parts.
Questions & Final Thoughts
The author can certainly write. She has a good eye for characters, setting and details. I'm glad the publisher sent this one to me, as I definitely found myself wanting to read it each night. But it was also one where I stopped a lot to check if the story had an error or if it was being written in a vague way on purpose. Overall, good book... lots of complexity in the details... good supporting characters and a treasure of relationship drama that you find quite engaging. Put it through another round of beta readers or editing and it would have been an easy 4 from me.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
June 21, 2017
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
I love the idea of characters in a book taking on lives of their own. Do they really exist, or are they merely the product of an author's fertile imagination? This one will make you ponder. The parallels are striking. Might it be a variation on the theme of the truth, or is it all just out-and-out fiction?
A great many of us have complained loud and long about what seemed to be a lifetime of books with "Girl" in the title. Now we seem to have segued into the era of the great personal pronoun, most particularly titles containing "He" or "She". Although that doesn't automatically discount a book, it does give one cause to sigh.
Wanted: Books With Original Titles!
I love the idea of characters in a book taking on lives of their own. Do they really exist, or are they merely the product of an author's fertile imagination? This one will make you ponder. The parallels are striking. Might it be a variation on the theme of the truth, or is it all just out-and-out fiction?
A great many of us have complained loud and long about what seemed to be a lifetime of books with "Girl" in the title. Now we seem to have segued into the era of the great personal pronoun, most particularly titles containing "He" or "She". Although that doesn't automatically discount a book, it does give one cause to sigh.
Wanted: Books With Original Titles!
September 12, 2017
!! NOW AVAILABLE !!
“Blurring fact and fantasy is my trade. I am a con artist. A prevaricator. I make up stories.”
Told from two viewpoints in alternating chapters, one is the story of the life of an author, Liza Jones (these chapters have LIZA as the chapter headings), and Beth, a character in the thriller novel she is writing (these chapters are number sequentially). Not difficult to follow unless you overlook these chapter headings, and then there are places where may blur.
The premise for this sounded more enticing to me than the reality of reading this – for me. It was less that the mystery / suspense / thriller aspect of this didn’t work, it was that I found this lacking in terms of anything that would set it apart, make it special, memorable.
The writing felt stilted to me, in a way that came across as void of emotion, unsubtle, inauthentic. It made it difficult to take it too seriously; in a way it reminded me of certain 1930 gangster movies, a bit cheesy.
Liza is married to David, an attorney. They’ve been trying to conceive, and Liza has had hormone implants in their effort to try for a child. David’s law partner and best friend, Nick, disappeared a month previously, which has impaired David’s ability to do his part in creating this wanted child, his physical presence at home a rare occasion.
The story within a story character Beth has a newborn daughter, Victoria. Beth’s husband Jake is an attorney, and Beth suspects him of having an affair, catching him eating dinner in a restaurant with a female police officer, and it’s clearly not business.
One of the things Cate Holahan did very well was to almost mirror the two storylines, blurring the lines so it was hard to differentiate where the two differed, as the fictional story she was writing about Beth, began to look more like her life.
And as the story advances, boundaries blend, the lines between fiction and reality intertwine and blur. This was the most interesting and enjoyable part of the psychological thriller / suspense / mystery for me.
As the saying goes, don’t just take my word for it. I’m sure many more will rate this book higher, like this more, have many more positive things to say about this.
Pub Date: 12 Sep 2017
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crooked Lane Books
“Blurring fact and fantasy is my trade. I am a con artist. A prevaricator. I make up stories.”
Told from two viewpoints in alternating chapters, one is the story of the life of an author, Liza Jones (these chapters have LIZA as the chapter headings), and Beth, a character in the thriller novel she is writing (these chapters are number sequentially). Not difficult to follow unless you overlook these chapter headings, and then there are places where may blur.
The premise for this sounded more enticing to me than the reality of reading this – for me. It was less that the mystery / suspense / thriller aspect of this didn’t work, it was that I found this lacking in terms of anything that would set it apart, make it special, memorable.
The writing felt stilted to me, in a way that came across as void of emotion, unsubtle, inauthentic. It made it difficult to take it too seriously; in a way it reminded me of certain 1930 gangster movies, a bit cheesy.
Liza is married to David, an attorney. They’ve been trying to conceive, and Liza has had hormone implants in their effort to try for a child. David’s law partner and best friend, Nick, disappeared a month previously, which has impaired David’s ability to do his part in creating this wanted child, his physical presence at home a rare occasion.
The story within a story character Beth has a newborn daughter, Victoria. Beth’s husband Jake is an attorney, and Beth suspects him of having an affair, catching him eating dinner in a restaurant with a female police officer, and it’s clearly not business.
One of the things Cate Holahan did very well was to almost mirror the two storylines, blurring the lines so it was hard to differentiate where the two differed, as the fictional story she was writing about Beth, began to look more like her life.
And as the story advances, boundaries blend, the lines between fiction and reality intertwine and blur. This was the most interesting and enjoyable part of the psychological thriller / suspense / mystery for me.
As the saying goes, don’t just take my word for it. I’m sure many more will rate this book higher, like this more, have many more positive things to say about this.
Pub Date: 12 Sep 2017
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crooked Lane Books
September 16, 2017
It's difficult to find an original storyline in thrillers these days, and this one is definitely unique.
The chapters alternate between author Liza's reality and the chapters she is writing in her latest book. It was a very interesting premise, however the execution didn't quite work for me. I found it to be quite confusing and had a difficult time keeping track of what was happening in each storyline. I do well with dual timeline stories so I thought this would be an easy read, but the character was pulling ideas from her own life to write her story and I think this was where the confusion lies for me. Admittedly, I did put it down about 30% way through and picked it back up at a later date so this could be a contributing factor to my opinion.
This is a fast paced read with several twists and turns. There are very high marks for this one from fellow reviewers, so please check those out as well!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The chapters alternate between author Liza's reality and the chapters she is writing in her latest book. It was a very interesting premise, however the execution didn't quite work for me. I found it to be quite confusing and had a difficult time keeping track of what was happening in each storyline. I do well with dual timeline stories so I thought this would be an easy read, but the character was pulling ideas from her own life to write her story and I think this was where the confusion lies for me. Admittedly, I did put it down about 30% way through and picked it back up at a later date so this could be a contributing factor to my opinion.
This is a fast paced read with several twists and turns. There are very high marks for this one from fellow reviewers, so please check those out as well!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2017
Liza is a romantic suspense author who has thirty days to produce a rough draft for her publisher. Lies She Told alternates between her personal story and the one she is writing.
Maybe because I'm not a fan of the romance kind of suspense novels, I struggled with the story within the story. I mean, I'll give Holahan credit, it read like a romance style novel. Beth is a new mother who has caught her husband having an affair. She's unwilling to confront him about it but of course, feels totally betrayed. Reading about that was akin to a visit to the dentist for me.
Liza’s life isn't any joy either. She's attempting a new fertility treatment trial. She's neglected to tell the doctor about her depression as that would have barred her from the trial. Oh, and she's no longer seeing her psychiatrist. And her husband is no longer really behind her attempts to get pregnant.
The constant back and forth between Liza and Beth took a while to get used to. It didn't help that formal names often don't appear in the first few paragraphs of a section and you have to make sure you know who you're reading about. Once you figure out it's always a back and forth, it gets easier.
I also struggled with this book because I really didn't care for either of the two “main characters”. Now let me explain that I don't have a maternal bone in my body. So, one character doing everything possible to get pregnant and another willing to stay in an unhappy marriage for the sake of a child were not characters I could relate to. The average score I've assigned the book is somewhat of a “it's not you, it's me” situation, given that I am definitely in the minority of not being entranced by this book.
As the storylines blur and merge, the action picks up. The last third of the book moves more into being a true psychological thriller and definitely moves quickly and keeps your interest. So, I would rate the first part of the book a 2.5 and the last part a 3.5.
My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this book.
Maybe because I'm not a fan of the romance kind of suspense novels, I struggled with the story within the story. I mean, I'll give Holahan credit, it read like a romance style novel. Beth is a new mother who has caught her husband having an affair. She's unwilling to confront him about it but of course, feels totally betrayed. Reading about that was akin to a visit to the dentist for me.
Liza’s life isn't any joy either. She's attempting a new fertility treatment trial. She's neglected to tell the doctor about her depression as that would have barred her from the trial. Oh, and she's no longer seeing her psychiatrist. And her husband is no longer really behind her attempts to get pregnant.
The constant back and forth between Liza and Beth took a while to get used to. It didn't help that formal names often don't appear in the first few paragraphs of a section and you have to make sure you know who you're reading about. Once you figure out it's always a back and forth, it gets easier.
I also struggled with this book because I really didn't care for either of the two “main characters”. Now let me explain that I don't have a maternal bone in my body. So, one character doing everything possible to get pregnant and another willing to stay in an unhappy marriage for the sake of a child were not characters I could relate to. The average score I've assigned the book is somewhat of a “it's not you, it's me” situation, given that I am definitely in the minority of not being entranced by this book.
As the storylines blur and merge, the action picks up. The last third of the book moves more into being a true psychological thriller and definitely moves quickly and keeps your interest. So, I would rate the first part of the book a 2.5 and the last part a 3.5.
My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this book.
August 25, 2017
Sometimes the truth is darker than fiction.
Lies She Told is a dark and twisted psychological thriller that reads like a book within a book. The first few chapters are slow to start but it quickly picks up soon after - that's when I couldn't put it down!
Liza has thirty days to write a romantic thriller that could put her back on the bestseller list once again. With all the stress of writing her new novel, she is also struggling to start a family with her husband, who is extremely distraught with the disappearance of his best friend and law partner, Nick. Liza's new novel is about a new mother, Beth, a character whose husband is having an affair with a female police officer. As Liza gets further into Beth's story it all starts to unfold. That's when the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. Whose story is really being told?
Cate Holahan did a great job writing this one - two great stories combined into one! A fantastic read that was suspenseful and full of twists. Looking forward to reading more of her books very soon. Recommended!
*I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
Lies She Told is a dark and twisted psychological thriller that reads like a book within a book. The first few chapters are slow to start but it quickly picks up soon after - that's when I couldn't put it down!
Liza has thirty days to write a romantic thriller that could put her back on the bestseller list once again. With all the stress of writing her new novel, she is also struggling to start a family with her husband, who is extremely distraught with the disappearance of his best friend and law partner, Nick. Liza's new novel is about a new mother, Beth, a character whose husband is having an affair with a female police officer. As Liza gets further into Beth's story it all starts to unfold. That's when the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. Whose story is really being told?
Cate Holahan did a great job writing this one - two great stories combined into one! A fantastic read that was suspenseful and full of twists. Looking forward to reading more of her books very soon. Recommended!
*I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
November 2, 2017
3.5-3.75 Stars
Nick and Liza’s husband worked with each other at a law firm but now Nick is missing for a month and her husband is so busy with work. Liza can’t be pregnant so she’s being treated with synthetic hormones and like other treatments it has own side effects. She is under stress for this pregnancy and her new book (she’s a writer) and her husband doesn’t support her. But the thing is all the answers are in her story!!! How is that possible!? How she can write things that nobody knows about them even she, herself!?!
Well, this one was predictable or maybe I’ve become good at this guessing part! Between Liza and Beth’s story, I liked Beth story more! It was more exciting and enjoyable! After I finished Liza's story, I had some questions that I didn’t have their answers! But I like the writing, it was good!
Told in dual POV, Liza & Beth (her story’s character), 1st person. It’s a stand-alone novel. I enjoyed it, hope you like it as well!
Nick and Liza’s husband worked with each other at a law firm but now Nick is missing for a month and her husband is so busy with work. Liza can’t be pregnant so she’s being treated with synthetic hormones and like other treatments it has own side effects. She is under stress for this pregnancy and her new book (she’s a writer) and her husband doesn’t support her. But the thing is all the answers are in her story!!! How is that possible!? How she can write things that nobody knows about them even she, herself!?!
Well, this one was predictable or maybe I’ve become good at this guessing part! Between Liza and Beth’s story, I liked Beth story more! It was more exciting and enjoyable! After I finished Liza's story, I had some questions that I didn’t have their answers! But I like the writing, it was good!
Told in dual POV, Liza & Beth (her story’s character), 1st person. It’s a stand-alone novel. I enjoyed it, hope you like it as well!
August 15, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Overdue book review? I’d say so since I read this thing last freaking year. The most disgusting part? I was offered another reader copy by Crooked Lane for review and was actually ballsy enough to ask for this one instead. Proves once again no one should ever do anything nice for me.
Perhaps the most shocking thing of all is that I actually REMEMBERED this story – which is practically a miracle. Especially when it comes to mysteries/thrillers since I read so many of them and they tend to blend together. Lies She Told was obviously just different enough that even my broken brain couldn’t forget the plot . . . . despite forgetting to ever post a review.
The story here is of Liz. Liz used to be a successful author of romantic suspense, but her last book really went in the dumper. Now she’s under a 30-day time crunch in order to get her new story finished and get back on top of her game. Follow along with not only Liz’s life, but also Beth’s – Liz’s new female protagonist who discovers her husband is having an affair. Make sure to pay attention, though, because the dual narrators along with a potential case of life imitating art are sure to create some #blurredlines . . . . .
3.5 Stars because this was a book that took a while to find its rhythm. Rounded up because now that summer is approaching this would make for a great beachy read.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane for providing a copy of this to me in exchange for an honest review. Sorry I suck!
Overdue book review? I’d say so since I read this thing last freaking year. The most disgusting part? I was offered another reader copy by Crooked Lane for review and was actually ballsy enough to ask for this one instead. Proves once again no one should ever do anything nice for me.
Perhaps the most shocking thing of all is that I actually REMEMBERED this story – which is practically a miracle. Especially when it comes to mysteries/thrillers since I read so many of them and they tend to blend together. Lies She Told was obviously just different enough that even my broken brain couldn’t forget the plot . . . . despite forgetting to ever post a review.
The story here is of Liz. Liz used to be a successful author of romantic suspense, but her last book really went in the dumper. Now she’s under a 30-day time crunch in order to get her new story finished and get back on top of her game. Follow along with not only Liz’s life, but also Beth’s – Liz’s new female protagonist who discovers her husband is having an affair. Make sure to pay attention, though, because the dual narrators along with a potential case of life imitating art are sure to create some #blurredlines . . . . .
3.5 Stars because this was a book that took a while to find its rhythm. Rounded up because now that summer is approaching this would make for a great beachy read.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane for providing a copy of this to me in exchange for an honest review. Sorry I suck!
July 29, 2017
Thanks to NETGALLEY for an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
This book was an AMAZING thrill ride that kept me securely fastened in my seat. I know that I was bellyaching in a few reviews months ago that the publishing world was going a little bit overboard with the unreliable female narrator. But Cate Holahan made me a believer by sucking me into the life of author Lisa and her book character, Beth, and their parallel stories. So many twists and turns, I swear my head was going faster than a bobble head on a dashboard coming in first at the Indy 500. A whole lot of cray-cray in this story!
Highly recommended!
This book was an AMAZING thrill ride that kept me securely fastened in my seat. I know that I was bellyaching in a few reviews months ago that the publishing world was going a little bit overboard with the unreliable female narrator. But Cate Holahan made me a believer by sucking me into the life of author Lisa and her book character, Beth, and their parallel stories. So many twists and turns, I swear my head was going faster than a bobble head on a dashboard coming in first at the Indy 500. A whole lot of cray-cray in this story!
Highly recommended!
September 30, 2017
I loved this cleverly written, twisty, book within a book. A murder occurs in both and fact blurs with fiction when the author's novel in progress is eerily similar to events happening in her real life.
It's a short, quick read and well worth the time invested. I'm not a fan of romantic suspense so the blurb that categorized the fictional author's books in that genre made me a bit skeptical. But I would consider both story lines as domestic thrillers, not romantic suspense, and I thoroughly enjoyed both stories.
It's an addictive multi-layered story within a story that kept me on my toes. It was a fun beach read for me these last couple days!
It's a short, quick read and well worth the time invested. I'm not a fan of romantic suspense so the blurb that categorized the fictional author's books in that genre made me a bit skeptical. But I would consider both story lines as domestic thrillers, not romantic suspense, and I thoroughly enjoyed both stories.
It's an addictive multi-layered story within a story that kept me on my toes. It was a fun beach read for me these last couple days!
June 6, 2017
Liza Cole is under pressure from her publisher to get her next book written within the next thirty days. All the while Liza is undergoing an experimental fertility trial which has her hormones going off the charts and not to add to the pressure but her husband has pulled away after his business partner had gone missing the month before.
Using her writing as an escape from all of life's stresses at the moment Liza throws herself into her book and her new character, Beth. Beth is a new mom who has been home alone caring for her newborn while her husband claims to be working all kinds of hours at his job. Out on a walk one day Beth decides to drop in on her husband at work and instead sees him at a nearby restaurant with another woman.
Lies She Told is a thriller that is much like reading two books simultaneously since the story is switching back and forth between Liza and her life and the current chapter of her thriller that she is writing. It was easy to get engaged in both Liza's story and also the one she is creating in the chapters she writes about Beth and her family.
The one thing I will say about this book that is slightly negative is that along the way there were a few times that I would get confused between Liza and Beth. The book synopsis did promise that the lines between fiction and reality will begin to blur and it wasn't a big deal but as you go on reading you will see that the stories are similar in some ways but that was somewhat expected since Liza is creating Beth but you really have to be alert with the switching stories.
I received an advance copy from the publisher.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Using her writing as an escape from all of life's stresses at the moment Liza throws herself into her book and her new character, Beth. Beth is a new mom who has been home alone caring for her newborn while her husband claims to be working all kinds of hours at his job. Out on a walk one day Beth decides to drop in on her husband at work and instead sees him at a nearby restaurant with another woman.
Lies She Told is a thriller that is much like reading two books simultaneously since the story is switching back and forth between Liza and her life and the current chapter of her thriller that she is writing. It was easy to get engaged in both Liza's story and also the one she is creating in the chapters she writes about Beth and her family.
The one thing I will say about this book that is slightly negative is that along the way there were a few times that I would get confused between Liza and Beth. The book synopsis did promise that the lines between fiction and reality will begin to blur and it wasn't a big deal but as you go on reading you will see that the stories are similar in some ways but that was somewhat expected since Liza is creating Beth but you really have to be alert with the switching stories.
I received an advance copy from the publisher.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
September 3, 2017
The cover on this one is fairly good. A decent representation of the story. Good composition and title work as well.
I really rather enjoyed this one. I started it before bed with the intention of reading for a couples hours and calling it a night. What actually happened was I quickly became so engrossed in the story that I stayed up way past my bedtime and read it straight through.
I found it to be well written and well paced. The plot was interesting and well developed. There were twists and turns. The characters were compelling. There were a lot of breadcrumbs dropped along the way, and by 40% I had an excellent idea where this was heading. That said it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story as I still found myself intrigued on how this author was weaving the two stories together.
What stopped this from being a complete 5-Star read was I did find the back and forth between fact and fiction confusing at times. And I admit I am still a bit confused by the ending. But all in all, this was a fantastic read and gets two thumbs up from yours truly.
September 9, 2018
LIES SHE TOLD is a dark and twisted mystery/psychological thriller by USA bestselling author, Cate Holahan, author of The Widower's Wife. This is a story of love and deceit.
This is one book that you must pay close attention to, to follow both the storyline and clues, as there exists a parallel story between Liza, the protagonist, a novelist and her fictional character, Beth in her novel.
Liza Cole, a once-successful novelist whose career has seen better days, has one month to write the thriller that could land her back on the bestseller list. Meanwhile, she’s struggling to start a family, but her husband is distracted by the disappearance of his best friend, Nick. As stresses weigh her down in her professional and personal lives, Liza escapes into writing the chilling exploits of her latest heroine, Beth.
Beth, a new mother, suspects her husband is cheating on her while she’s home caring for their newborn. Angry and betrayed, she aims to catch him in the act and make him pay for shattering the illusion of their perfect life. But before she realises what she’s doing, she’s tossing the body of her husband’s mistress into the East River.
But then everything gets blurry, between what is fiction and reality.
Nick’s body is dragged from the East River, and Liza’s husband is arrested for his murder.
This book will have your head spinning out of control. Pay close attention to the detail, or you will miss out.
I highly recommend this book for those that like a thriller. I loved it! A total pleasure to read.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for my digital copy.
This is one book that you must pay close attention to, to follow both the storyline and clues, as there exists a parallel story between Liza, the protagonist, a novelist and her fictional character, Beth in her novel.
Liza Cole, a once-successful novelist whose career has seen better days, has one month to write the thriller that could land her back on the bestseller list. Meanwhile, she’s struggling to start a family, but her husband is distracted by the disappearance of his best friend, Nick. As stresses weigh her down in her professional and personal lives, Liza escapes into writing the chilling exploits of her latest heroine, Beth.
Beth, a new mother, suspects her husband is cheating on her while she’s home caring for their newborn. Angry and betrayed, she aims to catch him in the act and make him pay for shattering the illusion of their perfect life. But before she realises what she’s doing, she’s tossing the body of her husband’s mistress into the East River.
But then everything gets blurry, between what is fiction and reality.
Nick’s body is dragged from the East River, and Liza’s husband is arrested for his murder.
This book will have your head spinning out of control. Pay close attention to the detail, or you will miss out.
I highly recommend this book for those that like a thriller. I loved it! A total pleasure to read.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for my digital copy.
September 13, 2017
Liza is a romantic suspense writer. Due to fertility issues and the fact that her husband's partner is missing, she has hit a bit of a slump in her success as a writer.
Beth is the protagonist in Liza's novel, and it is in this book within a book that the lines of reality and fiction start getting fuzzy when Liza's life starts to unravel, and the story of Beth and Liza begin to have more and more in common.
I was grateful to be advised from previous reviews to keep track between Liza and Beth, as it can sometimes seem confusing as to whom you are reading about. Once you get past this though, it's only a matter of time before you become fixated. You will need to be sharp-witted and pay attention to every detail as the boundaries between author and character disappear and reality begins to parallel fiction.
Although slower paced in the beginning, this one picks up speed nicely, with several twists to look forward to, and that conclusion...fantastic!
I am so glad to have read my first book by Cate Holahan. I would certainly recommend this one if you are looking for a captivating, dark and twisty psychological thriller.
I am grateful to Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Beth is the protagonist in Liza's novel, and it is in this book within a book that the lines of reality and fiction start getting fuzzy when Liza's life starts to unravel, and the story of Beth and Liza begin to have more and more in common.
I was grateful to be advised from previous reviews to keep track between Liza and Beth, as it can sometimes seem confusing as to whom you are reading about. Once you get past this though, it's only a matter of time before you become fixated. You will need to be sharp-witted and pay attention to every detail as the boundaries between author and character disappear and reality begins to parallel fiction.
Although slower paced in the beginning, this one picks up speed nicely, with several twists to look forward to, and that conclusion...fantastic!
I am so glad to have read my first book by Cate Holahan. I would certainly recommend this one if you are looking for a captivating, dark and twisty psychological thriller.
I am grateful to Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2017
This novel is full of suspence and I really enjoyed it. The story is told by changing characters and to me this just adds to its development and enjoyment. The story builds up slowly, drawing you in and contains plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged throughout. You do need to concentrate however or you may become confused in parts so do pay attention. Well written and I will look out for more from this author.
June 6, 2017
Liza Cole is a writer of Romantic Suspense and she's looking for the one that will make her name. It's also her safe space as her husband has been sorely stressed over the disappearance of his best friend and law partner, Nick. Liza thinks he's also having an affair with a female law officer.
Her husband doesn't think she knows, did not see her watching them at a restaurant.. or entering his lover's apartment. He's always 'working late'. It's all made worse by the fact that they've been trying to have a baby without much success.
To deal with her real life issues, she's working twice as hard as her book. Beth is her main character and she could be forgiven that part of her new book mimics Liza's real life. Of course, there are some differences. "Beth" has a baby girl .. but a husband that also cheats.
And when the mistress' body is found floating in the East River, fact and fiction meet ......
The first half of the book rotates chapters. One is Liza .... the things she is going through. The next chapter would be the story she is writing about 'Beth'. It's like trying to read two books at the same time. The first half is a little slow ... no mystery, no suspense. But then it changes.....
The last half of the book is extremely good. Who killed the mistress? Was it Liza ... or her husband? And when her husband's best friend makes an appearance ... what does that mean to them both?
Very well-written psychological thriller. Characters are finely drawn. None of them are perfect .. they are all damaged in one way or another. Lots of twists and turns and surprises until the explosive ending.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this compelling story. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Her husband doesn't think she knows, did not see her watching them at a restaurant.. or entering his lover's apartment. He's always 'working late'. It's all made worse by the fact that they've been trying to have a baby without much success.
To deal with her real life issues, she's working twice as hard as her book. Beth is her main character and she could be forgiven that part of her new book mimics Liza's real life. Of course, there are some differences. "Beth" has a baby girl .. but a husband that also cheats.
And when the mistress' body is found floating in the East River, fact and fiction meet ......
The first half of the book rotates chapters. One is Liza .... the things she is going through. The next chapter would be the story she is writing about 'Beth'. It's like trying to read two books at the same time. The first half is a little slow ... no mystery, no suspense. But then it changes.....
The last half of the book is extremely good. Who killed the mistress? Was it Liza ... or her husband? And when her husband's best friend makes an appearance ... what does that mean to them both?
Very well-written psychological thriller. Characters are finely drawn. None of them are perfect .. they are all damaged in one way or another. Lots of twists and turns and surprises until the explosive ending.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this compelling story. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 12, 2017
"It's a story." I plead. "It's only a story."
Liza's last book tanked, and there is no doubt that she needs a hit. Will her latest effort about a scorned woman driven to extremes be the best-seller she needs?
This is a pretty good thriller, with chapters alternating between Liza's trials, and her character Beth's tribulations. Even though I had an inkling what was going on about half way through, the author kept me guessing, and I had no idea how she was going to tie things up.
Is Liza's art imitating life, or is it the other way around?
3.5 stars
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Publishers for a review copy of this book.
Liza's last book tanked, and there is no doubt that she needs a hit. Will her latest effort about a scorned woman driven to extremes be the best-seller she needs?
This is a pretty good thriller, with chapters alternating between Liza's trials, and her character Beth's tribulations. Even though I had an inkling what was going on about half way through, the author kept me guessing, and I had no idea how she was going to tie things up.
Is Liza's art imitating life, or is it the other way around?
3.5 stars
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Publishers for a review copy of this book.
June 5, 2020
This review may contain spoilers.
“I don't invent my characters. I steal them from my surroundings. To be a writer is to be a life thief. Every day, I rob myself blind.”
•Not one but two unreliable narrators? ✓
•A story within a story? ✓
•Parallel universes? ✓
Liza Jones is struggling with the demise of her prolific career as an author. She is trying to come up with the next blockbuster thriller novel. Meanwhile, she is going through fertility procedures to get pregnant. She also has communication problems with her husband, David, whose undivided attention is monopolized by Nick, his best friend and partner in crime who has gone missing. Since Liza cannot get through to her distraught husband, she sublimates the mounting pressure she is suppressing into her new story, projecting herself into an alter ego version of herself named Beth. Beth is suffering from postpartum depression and suspects her husband of cheating on her. When she decides to confront him, jealousy gets the best of her and in a fit of rage she murders her husband's adulterous partner and disposes of the body in the river. Suddenly, Nick's body is found and David is considered the prime suspect. The lines between reality and fiction intertwine. The author and the character become indistinguishable.
I have to admit that getting into the story was difficult at first and demanded mental effort. Given the tremendous similarities between the two story lines, I had trouble telling them apart. Hence my frustration. The more the story unfolded, the more engrossed in it I became.
I felt for Liza, the epitome of an untrustworthy narrator due to her memory loss. There were inconceivable plot twists, although I guessed the major one from the very first. The ending was plausible yet it lacked in retaliation and retribution.
All in all, it was a mind-bending novel, brimming with suspense, I would probably recommend.
September 21, 2017
Liza is a struggling writer given an ultimatum by her editor: write a thriller for me in a month. It's been ages since Liza was on the bestseller list (truly, only her first novel was a real success). Meanwhile, she's a mess of fertility drugs and hormones, as she and her lawyer husband, David, are trying to start a family--and getting nowhere. Even worse, David's best friend and business partner, Nick, has been missing for over a month. David is increasingly frantic and distracted, and the police have no leads. So Liza pours her heart and soul into the story of Beth, a new mom who suspects her own lawyer husband of cheating on her. Beth catches him the act and makes a split-second decision that will change their lives forever. As Liza continues to write, the lines between fact and fiction become increasingly blurred.
I was excited to finally pick this one up, as so many of my friends had enjoyed it, but alas, I'm going to be the killjoy here who stands against the popular wave of public opinion. Please note that most people really loved this book and who knows, maybe I'm just getting cranky in my old age. ;) Or maybe I got too caught up in all the hype.
Either way, this one was a let down for me. The clues left along in the story for the reader stand out as huge glaring red flags, basically just screaming the plot twists out. Nothing came as a surprise, I had the entire thing worked out in about the first 15 minutes. Now, I won't lie, this is still an incredibly readable book - it's a fast read for sure. You immediately realize that Liza is an unreliable narrator and a ticking time bomb. I never really warmed to her, but she's somewhat fascinating in trying to figure out what she's up to and what's truly happening.
I've seen some complaints about it being hard to figure out what chapters were Liza's and which were Beth's--I didn't have that problem. They alternate and in my version, Liza's were marked. I occasionally had to remind myself who had which backstory, but I believe that was part of the idea--of Liza blurring the reality around her. And, truly, it was a great idea in concept.
Unfortunately, I found both women to be somewhat frustrating and didn't really buy all of their actions or relationships. Liza's quick attachment to Trevor, for instance, or some of Beth's bizarre decisions. That made it harder to root for them. And, again, absolutely nothing that occurred was a surprise. That was my biggest issue. I want my thriller to surprise me, but none of the twists were shocking whatsoever, right up to the end. Sigh.
Still, as I said, it's an oddly compelling read with the blurred parallels between Liza and Beth and you "wondering" what happened to Nick. At the end, I pondered for a moment whether it was brilliant or awful, but I just couldn't enjoy something I found so predictable, even if it was a page-turner at times. But, I'm certainly in the minority here, so take my review with a grain of salt!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It's available everywhere as of 09/12/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram
I was excited to finally pick this one up, as so many of my friends had enjoyed it, but alas, I'm going to be the killjoy here who stands against the popular wave of public opinion. Please note that most people really loved this book and who knows, maybe I'm just getting cranky in my old age. ;) Or maybe I got too caught up in all the hype.
Either way, this one was a let down for me. The clues left along in the story for the reader stand out as huge glaring red flags, basically just screaming the plot twists out. Nothing came as a surprise, I had the entire thing worked out in about the first 15 minutes. Now, I won't lie, this is still an incredibly readable book - it's a fast read for sure. You immediately realize that Liza is an unreliable narrator and a ticking time bomb. I never really warmed to her, but she's somewhat fascinating in trying to figure out what she's up to and what's truly happening.
I've seen some complaints about it being hard to figure out what chapters were Liza's and which were Beth's--I didn't have that problem. They alternate and in my version, Liza's were marked. I occasionally had to remind myself who had which backstory, but I believe that was part of the idea--of Liza blurring the reality around her. And, truly, it was a great idea in concept.
Unfortunately, I found both women to be somewhat frustrating and didn't really buy all of their actions or relationships. Liza's quick attachment to Trevor, for instance, or some of Beth's bizarre decisions. That made it harder to root for them. And, again, absolutely nothing that occurred was a surprise. That was my biggest issue. I want my thriller to surprise me, but none of the twists were shocking whatsoever, right up to the end. Sigh.
Still, as I said, it's an oddly compelling read with the blurred parallels between Liza and Beth and you "wondering" what happened to Nick. At the end, I pondered for a moment whether it was brilliant or awful, but I just couldn't enjoy something I found so predictable, even if it was a page-turner at times. But, I'm certainly in the minority here, so take my review with a grain of salt!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It's available everywhere as of 09/12/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram
March 26, 2022
Closer to a 4.5
Damn, what a story! I loved it. This book follows an author named Liza, who is losing her audience as a mystery writer. Her last book didn't do so well and she's feeling a lot of pressure to write the next great thriller. On top of that, she's struggling with trying to get pregnant and not being able to. This is a story within-a-story and we get to see the new book she's writing in alternating chapters. Her story follows a new Mother named Beth who finds out her husband Jake is cheating on her. The lines between fiction and reality begin to blur and the chapters from her book start to blend into her reality. Eventually, Liza struggles to figure out what is real and what is fiction, and the reader is left wondering as well.
This was such a well-crafted, amazing suspenseful story! I love unreliable main characters, and Liza definitely qualifies as one. While she's on her hormones (from trying to get pregnant) she suffers from some memory loss, which makes her the perfect unreliable narrator. I love the way Beth's thoughts (her character) would sometimes sneak into Liza's subconscious. I also really love books that follow writers/authors, because I find them so interesting and relatable and I love reading their thoughts on what it's like to be a writer.
I did guess one of the plot twists that happened towards the end, but I still really loved seeing all the secrets unravel. This is definitely one of my new favorite thrillers! Thank you so much to Book of the Month for sending me a copy as one of their September selections!
Damn, what a story! I loved it. This book follows an author named Liza, who is losing her audience as a mystery writer. Her last book didn't do so well and she's feeling a lot of pressure to write the next great thriller. On top of that, she's struggling with trying to get pregnant and not being able to. This is a story within-a-story and we get to see the new book she's writing in alternating chapters. Her story follows a new Mother named Beth who finds out her husband Jake is cheating on her. The lines between fiction and reality begin to blur and the chapters from her book start to blend into her reality. Eventually, Liza struggles to figure out what is real and what is fiction, and the reader is left wondering as well.
This was such a well-crafted, amazing suspenseful story! I love unreliable main characters, and Liza definitely qualifies as one. While she's on her hormones (from trying to get pregnant) she suffers from some memory loss, which makes her the perfect unreliable narrator. I love the way Beth's thoughts (her character) would sometimes sneak into Liza's subconscious. I also really love books that follow writers/authors, because I find them so interesting and relatable and I love reading their thoughts on what it's like to be a writer.
I did guess one of the plot twists that happened towards the end, but I still really loved seeing all the secrets unravel. This is definitely one of my new favorite thrillers! Thank you so much to Book of the Month for sending me a copy as one of their September selections!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,647 reviews