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The Liar's Room
ONE ROOM. TWO LIARS. NO WAY OUT...
Susanna Fenton has a secret. Fourteen years ago she left her identity behind, reinventing herself as a counsellor and starting a new life. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe.
But everything changes when Adam Geraghty walks into her office. She's never met this young man before - so why does she feel like she knows him?
Then Adam starts to tell her about a girl. A girl he wants to hurt.
And Susanna realises she was wrong.
She doesn't know him.
BUT HE KNOWS HER.
AND THE GIRL HE PLANS TO HURT IS HER DAUGHTER...
The addictive new thriller with an ending you'll never guess, The Liar's Room is perfect for readers of Shari Lapena's The Couple Next Door and A J Finn's The Woman in the Window.
SIMON LELIC - THRILLERS TO KEEP YOU UP ALL NIGHT:
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2018
122 people are currently reading
5191 people want to read
About the author
Simon Lelic
17 books337 followersSimon Lelic was born in 1976 and has worked as a journalist in the UK and currently runs his own business in Brighton, England, where he lives with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 535 reviews
November 21, 2018
4 Stars.
One Heck of a Nail-Biter!
Susanna is an overprotective mother to 14 year old Emily. More than anything Emily just wants a little freedom. Yet, all they have is each other. Susanna however, has her reasons for keeping tabs on her daughter - Emily just doesn’t know what they are.
When Emily meets Adam - an older guy who pays attention to her, she is immediately interested. Who can blame her? Little does she know, Adam’s interest is not in her. It’s in her mother.
When Susanna’s patient arrives at her therapy office, he says that he is in desperate need of help. He states that he has a problem - one that must be kept confidential and that he is in danger of hurting someone else and claims that it’s her! Then he proceeds to show her a photo of her daughter.
Is your heart in your throat? Pulse racing? I’ll tell you that my chest immediately got tight and that was for good reason. My heart is beating faster now just thinking about it! What a wicked mystery / suspense!
“The Liar’s Room” kept me up extremely late.. the first 130 or so pages had me guessing left and right, me texting Kaceey (my book buddy) asking question after question (since she was ahead of me.. I’ll have you know that she wouldn't answer any of my questions!! (I was completely exasperated, lol!)).
Simon Lelic hit it out of the park with “The Liar’s Room.” My detective skills failed when it came to this book - try as hard as I might, I couldn’t figure out anyone’s motives.. well, except maybe for Emily’s, lol! This was suspenseful, emotional and highly intense! This will in fact keep you guessing till the very last page - if you are looking for a great read, this is it!
This was a fantastic buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Simon Lelic for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram on 11.17.18.
Will be published on Amazon on 1.15.19
One Heck of a Nail-Biter!
Susanna is an overprotective mother to 14 year old Emily. More than anything Emily just wants a little freedom. Yet, all they have is each other. Susanna however, has her reasons for keeping tabs on her daughter - Emily just doesn’t know what they are.
When Emily meets Adam - an older guy who pays attention to her, she is immediately interested. Who can blame her? Little does she know, Adam’s interest is not in her. It’s in her mother.
When Susanna’s patient arrives at her therapy office, he says that he is in desperate need of help. He states that he has a problem - one that must be kept confidential and that he is in danger of hurting someone else and claims that it’s her! Then he proceeds to show her a photo of her daughter.
Is your heart in your throat? Pulse racing? I’ll tell you that my chest immediately got tight and that was for good reason. My heart is beating faster now just thinking about it! What a wicked mystery / suspense!
“The Liar’s Room” kept me up extremely late.. the first 130 or so pages had me guessing left and right, me texting Kaceey (my book buddy) asking question after question (since she was ahead of me.. I’ll have you know that she wouldn't answer any of my questions!! (I was completely exasperated, lol!)).
Simon Lelic hit it out of the park with “The Liar’s Room.” My detective skills failed when it came to this book - try as hard as I might, I couldn’t figure out anyone’s motives.. well, except maybe for Emily’s, lol! This was suspenseful, emotional and highly intense! This will in fact keep you guessing till the very last page - if you are looking for a great read, this is it!
This was a fantastic buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Simon Lelic for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram on 11.17.18.
Will be published on Amazon on 1.15.19
January 20, 2019
This was a highly addictive intense read that made my heart race and my mind spin!
Wow! This was one thrilling verbal ping-pong match! An intense game full of thrills, chills, secrets, and lies! I felt as though I was on high alert this entire book, there is a definite sense of impending doom throughout this entire story... two liars, one room, and one fantastically disturbing tale!
Susanna is a counselor, and the book starts out with Adam a new patient entering her office for the first time... there is something familiar about Adam, but Suzanna cannot put her finger on it... as the therapy session progresses things start getting a little strange, and then a little disturbing, and then downright creepy.... when Adam shows Susanna a picture of her teenage daughter Emily, Susanna knows there is much more to this therapy session then... well therapy.... yikes, I get chills just thinking about it! Who is Adam? And what does he want with Susanna? And what has he done with her daughter? These were the questions spinning through my head throughout most of this book.... and try as hard as I might, I could not figure out the connection... oh I had theories and speculations, all of them wrong!
Boy oh boy this is one crazy ride that will keep you on pins and needle’s from first page to last.... I had no idea what I was in for when I pick this book up, but it definitely exceeded all my expectations! A story that will leave you a little unsettled, a little off balance, and a lot bewildered! Filled with unreliable, untrustworthy, and unlikable characters that will have you questioning everything....
This is the perfect thriller for the thriller lover it is dark, creepy, and disturbing... this book will screw with your mind and leave you reeling! absolutely recommend!
*** huge thank you to Berkley for my copy of this book ***
PS: before I wrote this review I was going to give this book four stars, but after this review I’m going to have to give it the full five, this is a story that really had it all!💫
Wow! This was one thrilling verbal ping-pong match! An intense game full of thrills, chills, secrets, and lies! I felt as though I was on high alert this entire book, there is a definite sense of impending doom throughout this entire story... two liars, one room, and one fantastically disturbing tale!
Susanna is a counselor, and the book starts out with Adam a new patient entering her office for the first time... there is something familiar about Adam, but Suzanna cannot put her finger on it... as the therapy session progresses things start getting a little strange, and then a little disturbing, and then downright creepy.... when Adam shows Susanna a picture of her teenage daughter Emily, Susanna knows there is much more to this therapy session then... well therapy.... yikes, I get chills just thinking about it! Who is Adam? And what does he want with Susanna? And what has he done with her daughter? These were the questions spinning through my head throughout most of this book.... and try as hard as I might, I could not figure out the connection... oh I had theories and speculations, all of them wrong!
Boy oh boy this is one crazy ride that will keep you on pins and needle’s from first page to last.... I had no idea what I was in for when I pick this book up, but it definitely exceeded all my expectations! A story that will leave you a little unsettled, a little off balance, and a lot bewildered! Filled with unreliable, untrustworthy, and unlikable characters that will have you questioning everything....
This is the perfect thriller for the thriller lover it is dark, creepy, and disturbing... this book will screw with your mind and leave you reeling! absolutely recommend!
*** huge thank you to Berkley for my copy of this book ***
PS: before I wrote this review I was going to give this book four stars, but after this review I’m going to have to give it the full five, this is a story that really had it all!💫
November 17, 2018
4.5*
Wow! Suspense on steroids!
Susanna has managed to rebuild her life. She’s a counselor now, raising her 14 year old daughter Emily, on her own. She has finally left her past...far, far behind. At least that’s sure what she believed.
That’s precisely the moment a new client showed up at her office. Adam.
He demands the truth from Susanna or promises to hurt the one person Susanna loves the most...Emily. So who is this maniacal new client? And why is he bent on destroying Susanna?
This is the second book I’ve read from Simon Lelic. I had trouble connecting with his previous release, The New Neighbors. For that reason, I was nervous going into this read. Well, excuse me! This couldn’t have turned out more differently! This book has everything you could hope for in a thriller! Tension, suspense and that feeling of shock.
Simon Lelic delivered the perfect thriller! Absolutely devoured it!
Clear your weekend because once you start this book you will not be able to put it down!
A fabulous exciting buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! Suspense on steroids!
Susanna has managed to rebuild her life. She’s a counselor now, raising her 14 year old daughter Emily, on her own. She has finally left her past...far, far behind. At least that’s sure what she believed.
That’s precisely the moment a new client showed up at her office. Adam.
He demands the truth from Susanna or promises to hurt the one person Susanna loves the most...Emily. So who is this maniacal new client? And why is he bent on destroying Susanna?
This is the second book I’ve read from Simon Lelic. I had trouble connecting with his previous release, The New Neighbors. For that reason, I was nervous going into this read. Well, excuse me! This couldn’t have turned out more differently! This book has everything you could hope for in a thriller! Tension, suspense and that feeling of shock.
Simon Lelic delivered the perfect thriller! Absolutely devoured it!
Clear your weekend because once you start this book you will not be able to put it down!
A fabulous exciting buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2019
3.5 stars
Mystery keep me hooked. It was nail biter, agitating, disturbing, anticipated page turner book. Final revelations and story telling was excellent. But unfortunately all the characters irritated me, I hate their guts. I hate each of them equally. Even the kidnapped daughter. So sorry for my lack of my empathy. I cut all my points from creating of character processing.
Mystery keep me hooked. It was nail biter, agitating, disturbing, anticipated page turner book. Final revelations and story telling was excellent. But unfortunately all the characters irritated me, I hate their guts. I hate each of them equally. Even the kidnapped daughter. So sorry for my lack of my empathy. I cut all my points from creating of character processing.
January 16, 2019
Gripping, suspenseful & an extremely relishing read!
THE LIAR’S ROOM by SIMON LELIC is an engaging, intense, mysterious and haunting psychological thriller novel that was quite the immersive and thrilling book to read. Right from the very beginning this book had me stumped and wondering who’s the liar here and what secrets are going to be uncovered, making this quite the compulsive page-turner.
SIMON LELIC delivers an excellent, thought-provoking, entertaining and well-written read here with an intriguing murky storyline, a claustrophobic setting and compelling unreliable characters. (I absolutely love the voices of unreliable characters!) The intensity of the claustrophobic feeling definitely fills the reader with a sense of unease as the story progresses.
There is definitely some highly emotional & heartbreaking scenes that definitely made this reader sit back to empathize, reflect and ponder along with these characters as well as made me think of what I would do in a similar situation.
I wouldn’t necessarily say this was a spine-tingling thriller as the blurb suggests but there was definitely this sense of impending doom that permeates the narrative to unsettle and rattle the reader.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Intriguing, unsettling, claustrophobic, suspenseful, foreboding, eye-catching and an extremely fitting representation to storyline. The cover and title of this book definitely piqued my interest and I was totally intrigued and fascinated in reading what happens in the room.
Title: I absolutely love the title and think it’s a fantastic representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, entertaining, engaging, fluid, believable and compelling dialogue.
Plot: Engrossing, suspenseful, palpable, interesting, complex, fast-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: This is where the book lost a star from me. I would have liked a different ending for this one as the climax definitely left me feeling a little unsettled with the direction it took although I was totally satisfied with how the novel wrapped up though. I’m not sure if another ending would have worked out as well though. Maybe that uneasy and anxious feeling was the intended reaction! Hmmmm
Overall: An excellent and riveting read that had me totally absorbed within this tale right from the very start, thoroughly enjoying the escape! Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing and Simon Lelic for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
THE LIAR’S ROOM by SIMON LELIC is an engaging, intense, mysterious and haunting psychological thriller novel that was quite the immersive and thrilling book to read. Right from the very beginning this book had me stumped and wondering who’s the liar here and what secrets are going to be uncovered, making this quite the compulsive page-turner.
SIMON LELIC delivers an excellent, thought-provoking, entertaining and well-written read here with an intriguing murky storyline, a claustrophobic setting and compelling unreliable characters. (I absolutely love the voices of unreliable characters!) The intensity of the claustrophobic feeling definitely fills the reader with a sense of unease as the story progresses.
There is definitely some highly emotional & heartbreaking scenes that definitely made this reader sit back to empathize, reflect and ponder along with these characters as well as made me think of what I would do in a similar situation.
I wouldn’t necessarily say this was a spine-tingling thriller as the blurb suggests but there was definitely this sense of impending doom that permeates the narrative to unsettle and rattle the reader.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Intriguing, unsettling, claustrophobic, suspenseful, foreboding, eye-catching and an extremely fitting representation to storyline. The cover and title of this book definitely piqued my interest and I was totally intrigued and fascinated in reading what happens in the room.
Title: I absolutely love the title and think it’s a fantastic representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, entertaining, engaging, fluid, believable and compelling dialogue.
Plot: Engrossing, suspenseful, palpable, interesting, complex, fast-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: This is where the book lost a star from me. I would have liked a different ending for this one as the climax definitely left me feeling a little unsettled with the direction it took although I was totally satisfied with how the novel wrapped up though. I’m not sure if another ending would have worked out as well though. Maybe that uneasy and anxious feeling was the intended reaction! Hmmmm
Overall: An excellent and riveting read that had me totally absorbed within this tale right from the very start, thoroughly enjoying the escape! Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing and Simon Lelic for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
July 2, 2019
"No matter how hard you try to escape it, the past has a way of catching up".
A compelling thriller that sees Susanna, a therapist, take on a new teenage client. It soon becomes apparent, however, that Adam knows her, knows all her dark secrets, things she's been running from for years. But how? He is a complete stranger to her. Yet he has a photo of her daughter...And a knife...
As Susanna tries to figure out what it is that Adam wants from her, he becomes increasingly erratic and angry. Clearly he has an agenda, but Susanna is struggling to give him the answer he desires. As the situation escalates, Susanna has to work out who the boy is and what is it he knows, and how?
This book had me rivetted from the word go, though some answers become apparent early on, I had to race through it to find out what happened. Simon Lelic has crafted a wonderful tale that builds suspense and fills the reader with unease. Absorbing and chilling, the ending leaves the reader unquiet. Recommended for all lovers of suspense and psychological thrillers..
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A compelling thriller that sees Susanna, a therapist, take on a new teenage client. It soon becomes apparent, however, that Adam knows her, knows all her dark secrets, things she's been running from for years. But how? He is a complete stranger to her. Yet he has a photo of her daughter...And a knife...
As Susanna tries to figure out what it is that Adam wants from her, he becomes increasingly erratic and angry. Clearly he has an agenda, but Susanna is struggling to give him the answer he desires. As the situation escalates, Susanna has to work out who the boy is and what is it he knows, and how?
This book had me rivetted from the word go, though some answers become apparent early on, I had to race through it to find out what happened. Simon Lelic has crafted a wonderful tale that builds suspense and fills the reader with unease. Absorbing and chilling, the ending leaves the reader unquiet. Recommended for all lovers of suspense and psychological thrillers..
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2019
4 dark and chilling stars to The Liar’s Room! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Several years ago, Susanna was in danger, and she had to leave her old life behind to keep her daughter, Emily, safe. She becomes a therapist and starts over.
A new client, Adam, comes to his first session with Susanna and begins asking questions that instantly make her uneasy. He says he is a danger to others, and he needs her help. Then, he begins to act aggressive and irrational, and I could feel Susanna’s heartrate rise. She is trapped in a room with this guy.
Adam may know her secret? But who is Adam? And is he a danger to Susanna and her daughter? You see, Adam has already met Emily…And he almost immediately appears unstable when he shows Susanna a picture of Emily…
One of the most intriguing things about this book is that it takes place during one therapy session. Susanna is a pretender with secrets to hide, and it appears that Adam is, too. Woo, my, what a story there is to tell. I was on the edge of my seat with this one.
It took me the whole book to figure out the truth, and I LOVE that. This is a perfectly drawn thriller. It has the page-turning suspense, emotional tension, and head shaking shock value (read: very dark) we all crave! I LOVED IT.
Thanks to Berkley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Several years ago, Susanna was in danger, and she had to leave her old life behind to keep her daughter, Emily, safe. She becomes a therapist and starts over.
A new client, Adam, comes to his first session with Susanna and begins asking questions that instantly make her uneasy. He says he is a danger to others, and he needs her help. Then, he begins to act aggressive and irrational, and I could feel Susanna’s heartrate rise. She is trapped in a room with this guy.
Adam may know her secret? But who is Adam? And is he a danger to Susanna and her daughter? You see, Adam has already met Emily…And he almost immediately appears unstable when he shows Susanna a picture of Emily…
One of the most intriguing things about this book is that it takes place during one therapy session. Susanna is a pretender with secrets to hide, and it appears that Adam is, too. Woo, my, what a story there is to tell. I was on the edge of my seat with this one.
It took me the whole book to figure out the truth, and I LOVE that. This is a perfectly drawn thriller. It has the page-turning suspense, emotional tension, and head shaking shock value (read: very dark) we all crave! I LOVED IT.
Thanks to Berkley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
August 10, 2018
I loved, loved, LOVED IT.
I was as trapped in the story as Susanna was in her Consultantancy room with Adam. I didn’t even want to get out unlike her!
I read The House by this author and loved it.
I’ve now read this and am going to follow him on social media so I won’t miss out each time he produces a book.
Talk about “edge of your seat”. I was on the edge I almost fell off.
This is a verbal cat and mouse that will have you turning your head to Susanna, to Adam, back to Susanna, just like watching a tennis match.
Who is lying.
Whose hiding something?
How does Susanna think she may know Adam?
What happened to her son?
Why did Susanna leave her hometown with her daughter and start a new life?
Who in the hell is Adam whose in her room and taken over not only the session but her entire life?
Where is Emily her daughter?
Are you intrigued?
I hope so.
I just adored this read.
I’ve given it 5 stars because
A,
I couldn’t put the book down
B,
I got no sleep until I finished it
C,
I’ve driven my husband mad with ‘oh guess what’s happening now” while he’s trying to watch the TV
D,
It’s gone into my top 2018 reads.
I won’t forget this book.
No sireeeee
I was as trapped in the story as Susanna was in her Consultantancy room with Adam. I didn’t even want to get out unlike her!
I read The House by this author and loved it.
I’ve now read this and am going to follow him on social media so I won’t miss out each time he produces a book.
Talk about “edge of your seat”. I was on the edge I almost fell off.
This is a verbal cat and mouse that will have you turning your head to Susanna, to Adam, back to Susanna, just like watching a tennis match.
Who is lying.
Whose hiding something?
How does Susanna think she may know Adam?
What happened to her son?
Why did Susanna leave her hometown with her daughter and start a new life?
Who in the hell is Adam whose in her room and taken over not only the session but her entire life?
Where is Emily her daughter?
Are you intrigued?
I hope so.
I just adored this read.
I’ve given it 5 stars because
A,
I couldn’t put the book down
B,
I got no sleep until I finished it
C,
I’ve driven my husband mad with ‘oh guess what’s happening now” while he’s trying to watch the TV
D,
It’s gone into my top 2018 reads.
I won’t forget this book.
No sireeeee
January 15, 2019
3.5 STARS
A counselor's new client seems to know everything about her, but who is he?
Susanna must be thinking at this point that this appointment is turning into an utter nightmare and fast. Adam is a new patient and he has lied and turned the tables on her fast. Can Susanna depend on her training to get her out of this?
A perfect, edge-of-your seat beginning with a intriguing story line that promises some bits and pieces from their past. Adam knows things about her that he shouldn't, but how? I wanted to learn how they were connected and began guessing (I was totally wrong), maybe you can figure it out!
We are stuck in Susanna's office for most of the book (with Adam) and it becomes very claustrophobic with a few intense, sizzling moments. Some dark secrets come to light as we ride it out with Susanna until the end.
I was glued to parts of the story, while some seemed to be a bit over the top. It was quite claustrophobic being in that doctors office for most of the book (I wanted out too), Overall.......an enticing read.
Fans of this genre and author should enjoy this dark story that was full of secrets.
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. Out Today 1/15/19
A counselor's new client seems to know everything about her, but who is he?
Susanna must be thinking at this point that this appointment is turning into an utter nightmare and fast. Adam is a new patient and he has lied and turned the tables on her fast. Can Susanna depend on her training to get her out of this?
A perfect, edge-of-your seat beginning with a intriguing story line that promises some bits and pieces from their past. Adam knows things about her that he shouldn't, but how? I wanted to learn how they were connected and began guessing (I was totally wrong), maybe you can figure it out!
We are stuck in Susanna's office for most of the book (with Adam) and it becomes very claustrophobic with a few intense, sizzling moments. Some dark secrets come to light as we ride it out with Susanna until the end.
I was glued to parts of the story, while some seemed to be a bit over the top. It was quite claustrophobic being in that doctors office for most of the book (I wanted out too), Overall.......an enticing read.
Fans of this genre and author should enjoy this dark story that was full of secrets.
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. Out Today 1/15/19
January 15, 2019
As dark and twisted as it is suspenseful, The Liar’s Room by Simon Lelic is filled with long buried secrets and worst case scenarios.
I wondered how it would feel to be in this position! Though nearly the entire book takes place in either flashbacks or a single room, the plot moved lightening fast as Susanna’s entire life and past unraveled before our eyes. With two incredible books by him that were top reads for me, Simon Lelic is officially a favorite author for me. I’m looking forward to more from him!
Reflection
What a trip this book is! For a book with almost no action (when I say nearly the whole book takes place in a single room, I mean it), this book is a wild ride with a surprisingly fast pace. The beginning of the book was positively chilling! It feels like there is something off with Adam from the first moment he enters the office, but it’s hard to say exactly what is off.
Susanna has the quiet confidence of a long-time therapist, so initially she takes his odd behavior in stride. But after awhile it becomes clear that there is something not right. And when he pulls out the photograph of Emily, even though I knew it was coming from the synopsis, I was horrified!! Can you imagine what that would feel like as a mother??
I have to say, there are some dark themes as secrets are revealed. The book delves into the past through retelling for the most part. Susanna telling Adam about the events that preceded her fleeing her life. I don’t want to spoil any of the secrets, but I’ll say there are some disturbing things that happened in Susanna’s old life! Things I could barely imagine how she must have felt. Her running away—well let’s just say I completely understood that reaction.
There are some really fascinating characters. I wish I could say more about them, but I’m not sure how to bring them up without spoiling. How about I just say, there are some first person letters and journals that will keep you on the edge of your seat when they enter the story! I won’t say whose they are or what they say, but I am still creeped out even imagining them!
As a credit to Simon Lelic, he really went there with his story telling. Hearing the voices of other characters was so pivotal to the story. Susanna and Adam were compelling, but the additional narratives are in my opinions what brought this novel from good-to-great. I finished a few days back and I’m still thinking about them!
I read this twisted story with the book besties and it was an interesting discussion, that’s for sure!!! Lots to unpack here and there are a few ways to interpret the truth of the events that unfold, which led to some great speculating and discussion.
I wondered how it would feel to be in this position! Though nearly the entire book takes place in either flashbacks or a single room, the plot moved lightening fast as Susanna’s entire life and past unraveled before our eyes. With two incredible books by him that were top reads for me, Simon Lelic is officially a favorite author for me. I’m looking forward to more from him!
Reflection
What a trip this book is! For a book with almost no action (when I say nearly the whole book takes place in a single room, I mean it), this book is a wild ride with a surprisingly fast pace. The beginning of the book was positively chilling! It feels like there is something off with Adam from the first moment he enters the office, but it’s hard to say exactly what is off.
Susanna has the quiet confidence of a long-time therapist, so initially she takes his odd behavior in stride. But after awhile it becomes clear that there is something not right. And when he pulls out the photograph of Emily, even though I knew it was coming from the synopsis, I was horrified!! Can you imagine what that would feel like as a mother??
I have to say, there are some dark themes as secrets are revealed. The book delves into the past through retelling for the most part. Susanna telling Adam about the events that preceded her fleeing her life. I don’t want to spoil any of the secrets, but I’ll say there are some disturbing things that happened in Susanna’s old life! Things I could barely imagine how she must have felt. Her running away—well let’s just say I completely understood that reaction.
There are some really fascinating characters. I wish I could say more about them, but I’m not sure how to bring them up without spoiling. How about I just say, there are some first person letters and journals that will keep you on the edge of your seat when they enter the story! I won’t say whose they are or what they say, but I am still creeped out even imagining them!
As a credit to Simon Lelic, he really went there with his story telling. Hearing the voices of other characters was so pivotal to the story. Susanna and Adam were compelling, but the additional narratives are in my opinions what brought this novel from good-to-great. I finished a few days back and I’m still thinking about them!
I read this twisted story with the book besties and it was an interesting discussion, that’s for sure!!! Lots to unpack here and there are a few ways to interpret the truth of the events that unfold, which led to some great speculating and discussion.
January 22, 2019
4.5 Stars
That’s the way it is for everyone. Where we come from, our secret pasts—we can’t escape them. They define us. Control us. Trap us even, sometimes.
Susanna is a counselor and Adam is her new client. It’s his first session with her. He’s a bit strange. He said he needs help but he frightened her from the beginning.
There’s something I want to do.
Something… bad.
He gave her a picture and she saw her daughter looking back at her in the photograph…
Who is Adam, really? What does he want? What are their secrets? What does he intend to do to Susanna? And what has he done to her daughter?
My first read by this author and such a page-turner, suspenseful thriller this was! So good! I couldn’t stop reading it, I couldn’t even guess what’s going on, who was Adam, what he wanted! And when everything came out I was shocked!! Told in multiple POV, both 1st and 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel, well-written with a good plot (albeit a bit creepy), fast-paced with flashbacks and a satisfying ending! Overall, really enjoyed it and hope you like it as well!
That’s the way it is for everyone. Where we come from, our secret pasts—we can’t escape them. They define us. Control us. Trap us even, sometimes.
Susanna is a counselor and Adam is her new client. It’s his first session with her. He’s a bit strange. He said he needs help but he frightened her from the beginning.
There’s something I want to do.
Something… bad.
He gave her a picture and she saw her daughter looking back at her in the photograph…
Who is Adam, really? What does he want? What are their secrets? What does he intend to do to Susanna? And what has he done to her daughter?
My first read by this author and such a page-turner, suspenseful thriller this was! So good! I couldn’t stop reading it, I couldn’t even guess what’s going on, who was Adam, what he wanted! And when everything came out I was shocked!! Told in multiple POV, both 1st and 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel, well-written with a good plot (albeit a bit creepy), fast-paced with flashbacks and a satisfying ending! Overall, really enjoyed it and hope you like it as well!
February 19, 2019
THE LIAR'S ROOM is a dark and unsettling thriller about a woman's secret past that returns to haunt her.
Susanna is a therapist and mother to 14-year old Emily. Years ago she ran away from her old life after a devastating incident, hoping no one would find out. For 14 years her old identity stayed hidden, until a session with a new client named Adam threatens to destroy everything.
This was a fast-paced, enjoyable (yet disturbing) book that put me on edge. Who is Adam really? What is Susanna is hiding? I may have jumped ahead to get a quick peek because the suspense was killing me! Both main characters are downright flawed, so often times I wasn't sure who I should sympathize with. To me the ending was sad yet satisfying, probably the best case scenario considering. I couldn't put this one down!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
𝓓𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪 | Instagram | Pinterest | ✿
Susanna is a therapist and mother to 14-year old Emily. Years ago she ran away from her old life after a devastating incident, hoping no one would find out. For 14 years her old identity stayed hidden, until a session with a new client named Adam threatens to destroy everything.
This was a fast-paced, enjoyable (yet disturbing) book that put me on edge. Who is Adam really? What is Susanna is hiding? I may have jumped ahead to get a quick peek because the suspense was killing me! Both main characters are downright flawed, so often times I wasn't sure who I should sympathize with. To me the ending was sad yet satisfying, probably the best case scenario considering. I couldn't put this one down!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
𝓓𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪 | Instagram | Pinterest | ✿
January 16, 2019
One room, Two Liars, No escape till someone starts telling the truth. Are you intrigued yet?
What happens when you put two liars in a room together especially when they might be lying to themselves. Well, that made for an intense fast-past story here with our liars. I love the dialogue here that seemed like they were sparring with each other. I thought this lead to some very interesting dynamics between the characters. I was entertained yet pleasingly disturbed as the lies and secrets are revealed. What really made it interesting was the way they were exposed with the sparring going on between them. I highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing and Simon Lelic for providing me with an ARC to red and review
What happens when you put two liars in a room together especially when they might be lying to themselves. Well, that made for an intense fast-past story here with our liars. I love the dialogue here that seemed like they were sparring with each other. I thought this lead to some very interesting dynamics between the characters. I was entertained yet pleasingly disturbed as the lies and secrets are revealed. What really made it interesting was the way they were exposed with the sparring going on between them. I highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing and Simon Lelic for providing me with an ARC to red and review
May 27, 2018
This is the 2nd book I have read by author Simon Lelic having already enjoyed the very good 'The House'.
This is a page turning thriller that is predominantly set in one room, the consulting room. Consultant Susanna and Adam are trapped together in the room trying to outsmart each other. Susanna is worried because her teenage daughter Emily is not where she said she would be and isn't answering her mobile. Susanna has always gone to extreme lengths to protect Emily including fourteen years ago, ditching her own identity ,reinventing herself and starting a new life. Why did Susanna run away from her previous life and what was she protecting Emily from?. And what exactly does Adam want.
This is a thriller different from many of the current crop on the market and is certainly well worth a read. An intriguing plot that grips the reader.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin books UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is a page turning thriller that is predominantly set in one room, the consulting room. Consultant Susanna and Adam are trapped together in the room trying to outsmart each other. Susanna is worried because her teenage daughter Emily is not where she said she would be and isn't answering her mobile. Susanna has always gone to extreme lengths to protect Emily including fourteen years ago, ditching her own identity ,reinventing herself and starting a new life. Why did Susanna run away from her previous life and what was she protecting Emily from?. And what exactly does Adam want.
This is a thriller different from many of the current crop on the market and is certainly well worth a read. An intriguing plot that grips the reader.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin books UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2018
I started reading The Liar’s Room on 11/4/2018 and finished it on 11/21/2018. This book is an interesting read. I like the different ways the story is told. I enjoy reading Emily’s diary. From Susanna’s perspective, I like the reminders about the consequences to teens when they grow up without the attention and care of their parents. I also like the reminder of how vulnerable those teens can be to friends’ influences. I don’t think Adam’s approach to punishing irresponsible parents is great, threatening with the knife is not really spine tingling in my opinion.
This book is told in the third person point of view following Susanna Fenton, a counselor. She’s seeing her first new client of the day, Adam Geraghty. She shares the building with Ruth, a dentist and they share a receptionist Alina. Susanna thought that Adam looks familiar but she couldn’t place how she knows him. She has an ex husband Neil, son Jake and daughter Emily, but currently living with only Emily. Adam is reluctant to confide his problem and what he wants to do but when he produces a picture and gives it to Susanna, her heart stops when she sees the picture. Adam also knows that Susanna wants to keep Jake a secret. The second point of view is Emily, told in a diary format. The third point of view is Ruth. Ruth knows of Susanna’s past. The fourth point of view is Adam. The fifth point of view is Jake, told in letter format. This book is organized by a timeline.
The Liar’s Room is well written. It’s a bit on the slow side for me. When the truth is revealed, I didn’t feel it shocking. I do like how the secrets slowly reveals itself. The parenting bit is ongoing as well as bad boys doing bad things. I’m not sure how I feel about the story in the end. Lies is what drew me in and lies definitely ruin not only Emily but also Adam. I don’t get why Susanna and Neil have more important things to do than spend time with their first born. I would understand if they have 5 kids and one got away. The setting is okay. In the end, I like how counseling can help Adam understand another side of things because of how narrow his view is. I do recommend everyone to read this book, mostly for the parenting reminders.
Pro: mystery, suspense, secrets past, counseling, parenting,
Con: not spine tingling as advertised
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book is told in the third person point of view following Susanna Fenton, a counselor. She’s seeing her first new client of the day, Adam Geraghty. She shares the building with Ruth, a dentist and they share a receptionist Alina. Susanna thought that Adam looks familiar but she couldn’t place how she knows him. She has an ex husband Neil, son Jake and daughter Emily, but currently living with only Emily. Adam is reluctant to confide his problem and what he wants to do but when he produces a picture and gives it to Susanna, her heart stops when she sees the picture. Adam also knows that Susanna wants to keep Jake a secret. The second point of view is Emily, told in a diary format. The third point of view is Ruth. Ruth knows of Susanna’s past. The fourth point of view is Adam. The fifth point of view is Jake, told in letter format. This book is organized by a timeline.
The Liar’s Room is well written. It’s a bit on the slow side for me. When the truth is revealed, I didn’t feel it shocking. I do like how the secrets slowly reveals itself. The parenting bit is ongoing as well as bad boys doing bad things. I’m not sure how I feel about the story in the end. Lies is what drew me in and lies definitely ruin not only Emily but also Adam. I don’t get why Susanna and Neil have more important things to do than spend time with their first born. I would understand if they have 5 kids and one got away. The setting is okay. In the end, I like how counseling can help Adam understand another side of things because of how narrow his view is. I do recommend everyone to read this book, mostly for the parenting reminders.
Pro: mystery, suspense, secrets past, counseling, parenting,
Con: not spine tingling as advertised
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
March 16, 2018
I really REALLY enjoyed “The House” by Simon Lelic last year so was a right eager beaver when I got hold of a copy of “The Liars Room” and if I really enjoyed “The House” it has to be said that I LOVED this.
The Liars Room is a considered, intelligent and claustrophobic thriller set for the most part in a single room where two people face off in a psychological battle of wills heading inexorably towards their own hidden truths…
When Susanna welcomes new client Adam into her office it isn’t long before she has a distinct feeling of disquiet, for good reason as Adam has a very specific purpose for this visit and it doesn’t bode well for Susanna’s daughter…
I’m not going to give any more specifics of the plot away than that – why Adam is there, his connection to Susanna, what happened in her past,, to her family, all of this comes out over the course of the story, it is extraordinarily addictive, more and more emotive as things become clearer and is utterly gripping. Some brilliantly thought provoking themes explored here, from rather different angles than the standard and I was enthralled from first page to last.
I loved that this ultimately was not a novel in which you could “take sides” in the way you might usually, all the players in this drama have their own realities, it is an authentically engaging character study, a story of perspective and personality.
Really really clever. Often unexpected. It will make you think about current issues in a slightly different way, plus it has one of those endings that will linger and play on your mind. I have actually changed my own mind about how I felt about everyone in it several times since I finished it. The Liars Room is that sort of book.
Highly Recommended.
The Liars Room is a considered, intelligent and claustrophobic thriller set for the most part in a single room where two people face off in a psychological battle of wills heading inexorably towards their own hidden truths…
When Susanna welcomes new client Adam into her office it isn’t long before she has a distinct feeling of disquiet, for good reason as Adam has a very specific purpose for this visit and it doesn’t bode well for Susanna’s daughter…
I’m not going to give any more specifics of the plot away than that – why Adam is there, his connection to Susanna, what happened in her past,, to her family, all of this comes out over the course of the story, it is extraordinarily addictive, more and more emotive as things become clearer and is utterly gripping. Some brilliantly thought provoking themes explored here, from rather different angles than the standard and I was enthralled from first page to last.
I loved that this ultimately was not a novel in which you could “take sides” in the way you might usually, all the players in this drama have their own realities, it is an authentically engaging character study, a story of perspective and personality.
Really really clever. Often unexpected. It will make you think about current issues in a slightly different way, plus it has one of those endings that will linger and play on your mind. I have actually changed my own mind about how I felt about everyone in it several times since I finished it. The Liars Room is that sort of book.
Highly Recommended.
January 14, 2019
The Liar's Room is an intense game of cat and mouse!
Susanna is raising her 14 year old daughter Emily on her own. She is a counselor and has left her past behind her.... or she wants to believe.
Susanna has a new client Adam that shows up for therapy. Adam starts disclosing things to Susanna that are about her own life. How does he know all this and how does he know about her daughter Emily? Talk about creeeeepyyyy!!
Adam starts become a bit manic and demands the truth from Susanna and threatens that he will hurt her daughter. What is going on here?
This is a highly addicting game of cat and mouse here that Simon sets up for his readers. Tension, shock, and twists!
I enjoyed it a lot more than his first book! :)
3.5 stars for me on this one :)
Huge thank you to Berkley for the advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Published to Goodreads: 1/14/19
Publication date: 1/15/19
Susanna is raising her 14 year old daughter Emily on her own. She is a counselor and has left her past behind her.... or she wants to believe.
Susanna has a new client Adam that shows up for therapy. Adam starts disclosing things to Susanna that are about her own life. How does he know all this and how does he know about her daughter Emily? Talk about creeeeepyyyy!!
Adam starts become a bit manic and demands the truth from Susanna and threatens that he will hurt her daughter. What is going on here?
This is a highly addicting game of cat and mouse here that Simon sets up for his readers. Tension, shock, and twists!
I enjoyed it a lot more than his first book! :)
3.5 stars for me on this one :)
Huge thank you to Berkley for the advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Published to Goodreads: 1/14/19
Publication date: 1/15/19
February 3, 2019
Susanna Fenton has secrets that she keeps hidden from her co-workers and her fourteen-year-old daughter. After a tragic event, she re-started her life in a new town and tried to move forward. She currently works as a therapist seeing private clients while raising her teen daughter.
She meets a new teenage patient named Adam who comes to her seeking help. It becomes apparent that the appointment is a ruse and he is there to uncover Susanna’s past. She struggles to keep her composure as he bombards her with questions and threats. Their session quickly takes a turn for the worst when Adam reveals that he knows Susanna’s daughter and her life depends on her answers.
The Liar’s Room is a novel that takes place over a few hours in a therapist’s office. Simon Lilac’s book is a fast-paced thriller about two individuals together in a room who are not honest about their identities. This book will have you biting your nails while you race to the end.
She meets a new teenage patient named Adam who comes to her seeking help. It becomes apparent that the appointment is a ruse and he is there to uncover Susanna’s past. She struggles to keep her composure as he bombards her with questions and threats. Their session quickly takes a turn for the worst when Adam reveals that he knows Susanna’s daughter and her life depends on her answers.
The Liar’s Room is a novel that takes place over a few hours in a therapist’s office. Simon Lilac’s book is a fast-paced thriller about two individuals together in a room who are not honest about their identities. This book will have you biting your nails while you race to the end.
December 13, 2018
Susanna's new patient, Adam, starts to ask her questions during his therapy session. Questions that indicate he knows the secrets in her past and what she has been running from for years. As the questions continue, Susanna's world starts to unravel.
This story unfolds during the course of a day. When Adam arrives to Susanna's office, she begins the session as she normally would with a new patient, but things soon change. It is clear Adam has another reason for being in Susanna's office, and his twisted game involves Susanna and her teen daughter Emily. Susanna is a little overprotective of Emily, but they have a close relationship. However, Susanna has been keeping secrets about her past from her daughter. Those secrets have now put Emily in danger.
Susanna's past is slowly revealed in flashbacks during her time with Adam. He questions, provokes, and threatens her into revealing the truth that led her to run from her old life. I enjoyed that the bulk of the story takes place in one setting and in one day. That provided another layer of suspense and intensity, since everything is happening over the course of hours rather than days or weeks. There are some other things going on too, but the focus is on Susanna and Adam.
I enjoyed this book, but the ending fell flat for me. It didn't have the impact that I was hoping for in such an intense story. Maybe I'm being overly picky though. Overall, it's a gripping read. Great for readers who enjoy dark psychological thrillers with slow reveals.
I received a free digital copy of this book via First to Read in exchange for an honest review. .
This story unfolds during the course of a day. When Adam arrives to Susanna's office, she begins the session as she normally would with a new patient, but things soon change. It is clear Adam has another reason for being in Susanna's office, and his twisted game involves Susanna and her teen daughter Emily. Susanna is a little overprotective of Emily, but they have a close relationship. However, Susanna has been keeping secrets about her past from her daughter. Those secrets have now put Emily in danger.
Susanna's past is slowly revealed in flashbacks during her time with Adam. He questions, provokes, and threatens her into revealing the truth that led her to run from her old life. I enjoyed that the bulk of the story takes place in one setting and in one day. That provided another layer of suspense and intensity, since everything is happening over the course of hours rather than days or weeks. There are some other things going on too, but the focus is on Susanna and Adam.
I enjoyed this book, but the ending fell flat for me. It didn't have the impact that I was hoping for in such an intense story. Maybe I'm being overly picky though. Overall, it's a gripping read. Great for readers who enjoy dark psychological thrillers with slow reveals.
I received a free digital copy of this book via First to Read in exchange for an honest review. .
November 6, 2018
3.5 stars
I like Simon Lelic's creativity in how he chooses to tell his stories. They're a bit different, tension-filled, and definitely page-turners. I might have had a few problems with the story but overall it was a good read.
Susanna Fenton wanted to move on from her past and keep her daughter safe so she got a new identity and found work as a therapist. She has an appointment with a new patient, a young man named Adam Geraghty, but this isn't going to be your typical therapy session. While it's usually the patient doing most of the talking while the therapist listens, Adam sure does have a lot of unsettling questions for Susanna. But will she be able to give him the answers he wants, and still protect her daughter?
I liked how the tables were turned in this book with Susanna, the therapist, being forced to confront her past. I liked the slow reveal of why she had a new identity as well learning what happened to her daughter. I think the author had noble intentions in telling the story but one aspect fell flat in my opinion in regards to some of the reactions to Susanna. I'm trying not to spoil anything, but there was one brief scene in which I really questioned would someone really do that?
Overall, this definitely held my interest throughout even though I was kinda iffy on some parts towards the end. If you enjoyed the author's last book, The New Neighbors, I say for sure give this one a try!
Thank you to Berkley for sending me an advance copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
I like Simon Lelic's creativity in how he chooses to tell his stories. They're a bit different, tension-filled, and definitely page-turners. I might have had a few problems with the story but overall it was a good read.
Susanna Fenton wanted to move on from her past and keep her daughter safe so she got a new identity and found work as a therapist. She has an appointment with a new patient, a young man named Adam Geraghty, but this isn't going to be your typical therapy session. While it's usually the patient doing most of the talking while the therapist listens, Adam sure does have a lot of unsettling questions for Susanna. But will she be able to give him the answers he wants, and still protect her daughter?
I liked how the tables were turned in this book with Susanna, the therapist, being forced to confront her past. I liked the slow reveal of why she had a new identity as well learning what happened to her daughter. I think the author had noble intentions in telling the story but one aspect fell flat in my opinion in regards to some of the reactions to Susanna. I'm trying not to spoil anything, but there was one brief scene in which I really questioned would someone really do that?
Overall, this definitely held my interest throughout even though I was kinda iffy on some parts towards the end. If you enjoyed the author's last book, The New Neighbors, I say for sure give this one a try!
Thank you to Berkley for sending me an advance copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
January 16, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
The Liar's Room by Simon Lelic takes place in really just the course of a few hours, but this book still managed to blow me away!
What it's about: Susanna Fenton is a counselor, but that's not what she always was, and she is running from a past she wishes she could forget. Enter Adam, who makes an appointment with her to help himself, but really only wants to talk about Susanna's past. What exactly does Adam want from her? I guess we are about to find out....
The Liar's Room ended up being an incredibly fast read that I was able to tackle in just under 4.5 hours. I also ended up reading it in 2 sittings because I just had to know what was going to happen next. My only real complaint with this one was that it did start to drag a bit, but I was still turning pages quickly and it did hold my attention the entire time.
This is my first time reading a Simon Lelic novel, but it will definitely not be my last. I love when a book can pull you in like this one did, and even though there weren't any *super* shocking surprises, I still really liked it. One thing that I feel is important to note, is that there is animal abuse in this book. I always struggle when author's use this in their books, but for this novel it helped to show the state of mind of the people committing the abuse so it wasn't completely all for nothing (which is what I hate the absolute most). Also, rape is another trigger so this novel is not going to be for the faint of heart.
Final Thought: If you are looking for a fast-paced novel that you can knock out in just a few hours, I highly recommend checking out The Liar's Room. I think the setting is very unique, and I like the style in which this book is written with flashbacks to Susanna's past and the reason she left her home and changed her identity. I don't know if I would call this book spine-tingling per say, but it is a very solid read that I recommend!
The Liar's Room by Simon Lelic takes place in really just the course of a few hours, but this book still managed to blow me away!
What it's about: Susanna Fenton is a counselor, but that's not what she always was, and she is running from a past she wishes she could forget. Enter Adam, who makes an appointment with her to help himself, but really only wants to talk about Susanna's past. What exactly does Adam want from her? I guess we are about to find out....
The Liar's Room ended up being an incredibly fast read that I was able to tackle in just under 4.5 hours. I also ended up reading it in 2 sittings because I just had to know what was going to happen next. My only real complaint with this one was that it did start to drag a bit, but I was still turning pages quickly and it did hold my attention the entire time.
This is my first time reading a Simon Lelic novel, but it will definitely not be my last. I love when a book can pull you in like this one did, and even though there weren't any *super* shocking surprises, I still really liked it. One thing that I feel is important to note, is that there is animal abuse in this book. I always struggle when author's use this in their books, but for this novel it helped to show the state of mind of the people committing the abuse so it wasn't completely all for nothing (which is what I hate the absolute most). Also, rape is another trigger so this novel is not going to be for the faint of heart.
Final Thought: If you are looking for a fast-paced novel that you can knock out in just a few hours, I highly recommend checking out The Liar's Room. I think the setting is very unique, and I like the style in which this book is written with flashbacks to Susanna's past and the reason she left her home and changed her identity. I don't know if I would call this book spine-tingling per say, but it is a very solid read that I recommend!
February 10, 2019
We start this amazing book with someone held captive, she can remember a man hurting her but she does not know where she is.
Susannah a counsellor has a new client, he is called Adam and is a teenager. Susannah thinks he looks vaguely familiar. Adam talks about wanting to hurt a girl and shows Susannah a photo of the girl, but the photo is of Emily her 14 year old daughter. How does he know her and why would he want to hurt her?
This book is brilliant. What happens next is a cat and mouse game between Adam and Susannah. Adam seems to know everything about her life, including the secrets she has worked hard to conceal. Neither of them are who they say they are!!
Susannah has ran away from her past and started a new life with her daughter. She had a son Jake who did something terrible, which caused Susannah to flee.
Adam wants her to tell him everything that happened with Jake . But how is Adam connected to her family?
This book had me on the edge of my seat, totally gripped with no concept of where this story was going. Although for most of the book we are in Suzanna’s office, it somehow makes the story more menacing and chilling.
A must read book that kept me awake until late at night, as I was so desperate to find out the ending!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Susannah a counsellor has a new client, he is called Adam and is a teenager. Susannah thinks he looks vaguely familiar. Adam talks about wanting to hurt a girl and shows Susannah a photo of the girl, but the photo is of Emily her 14 year old daughter. How does he know her and why would he want to hurt her?
This book is brilliant. What happens next is a cat and mouse game between Adam and Susannah. Adam seems to know everything about her life, including the secrets she has worked hard to conceal. Neither of them are who they say they are!!
Susannah has ran away from her past and started a new life with her daughter. She had a son Jake who did something terrible, which caused Susannah to flee.
Adam wants her to tell him everything that happened with Jake . But how is Adam connected to her family?
This book had me on the edge of my seat, totally gripped with no concept of where this story was going. Although for most of the book we are in Suzanna’s office, it somehow makes the story more menacing and chilling.
A must read book that kept me awake until late at night, as I was so desperate to find out the ending!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
November 14, 2018
Simon Lelic has somehow managed to top last years brilliant ‘The House’ with an even better psychological thriller, I couldn’t put this powerfully tense thriller down.
The main story takes place over the course of five hours with just two people mainly in one room.
Susanna has started a new life for herself as a counsellor, she glad to leave the past behind until the day that Adam walks into her office.
Adam knows her secret.
I loved how enclosed and tense this story was, aside from a few flashbacks between each hour this really could have been read in real time.
The way that Adam slowly reveals the information that he knows kept me on tender hooks!
I could easily see this being adapted as a play or radio drama.
This is the second five star review that I’ve given Lelic, he is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
The main story takes place over the course of five hours with just two people mainly in one room.
Susanna has started a new life for herself as a counsellor, she glad to leave the past behind until the day that Adam walks into her office.
Adam knows her secret.
I loved how enclosed and tense this story was, aside from a few flashbacks between each hour this really could have been read in real time.
The way that Adam slowly reveals the information that he knows kept me on tender hooks!
I could easily see this being adapted as a play or radio drama.
This is the second five star review that I’ve given Lelic, he is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
July 30, 2018
"The Liar's Room" is the follow-up to Simon Lelic's fantastic debut entitled "The House". Again, Lelic has taken a unique concept and setting and created a truly chilling read. How fortunate as that happens to be my favourite type of thriller - disturbing and claustrophobic in nature. Kudos, Mr Lelic!
This book is literally chock-full of lies, manipulation and misdirection which added to the tension and kept the suspense building steadily throughout the story. Well written, accessible and easy to get into, this was an exhilarating read that will feature in my end-of-year lists I am certain. Sensitive topics are present here but the author deals with them excellently and with tact. Undoubtedly one of the best psychological thrillers i've encountered in recent months and I read a lot in this genre.
The premise features Susanna Fenton, a therapist, who takes on a new client named Adam. It soon becomes clear that Adam is no stranger to Susanna, he happens to know her darkest secrets and the life she had run away from. But how exactly does he know all of this? From that point on it's a race against time in order to discover who the boy is and what he wants from her before someone gets hurt. Can Susanna keep her daughter safe from Adam Geraghty or will she be too late to stop the inevitable?
Fast-paced, absorbing and leaves the reader uneasy and on the edge of their seat - a seriously enjoyable book. I intend to go back and reread "The House" and I will be eagerly anticipating Lelic's next thrill ride!
Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is literally chock-full of lies, manipulation and misdirection which added to the tension and kept the suspense building steadily throughout the story. Well written, accessible and easy to get into, this was an exhilarating read that will feature in my end-of-year lists I am certain. Sensitive topics are present here but the author deals with them excellently and with tact. Undoubtedly one of the best psychological thrillers i've encountered in recent months and I read a lot in this genre.
The premise features Susanna Fenton, a therapist, who takes on a new client named Adam. It soon becomes clear that Adam is no stranger to Susanna, he happens to know her darkest secrets and the life she had run away from. But how exactly does he know all of this? From that point on it's a race against time in order to discover who the boy is and what he wants from her before someone gets hurt. Can Susanna keep her daughter safe from Adam Geraghty or will she be too late to stop the inevitable?
Fast-paced, absorbing and leaves the reader uneasy and on the edge of their seat - a seriously enjoyable book. I intend to go back and reread "The House" and I will be eagerly anticipating Lelic's next thrill ride!
Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
December 29, 2018
Susanna Fenton has a new client, but in her first therapy session with Adam Geraghty it appears that he may have hidden reasons for seeking out her help. They find themselves alone in a room digging through layers of shared secrets. This book was just ok psychological suspense, and it certainly wasn’t “spine-tingling”. Maybe it would have had more impact as a straightforward family drama, without the melodramatic, contrived therapy session. Facts are dribbled out very slowly, in a convoluted manner and the ending just sort of fizzled out. Trigger warning I liked this book more than I liked “The New Neighbors” by this author, and I might try him again. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
December 1, 2018
3.5 stars
Well this was quite an intense book! It follows this woman named Susanna who is a psychologist and she’s taking on a new patient named Adam and the entire story mostly takes place in one day.
There were two good plot twists that I didn’t see coming, some of the ending got to be a bit predictable though but overall I thought this was a very well-written thriller. This is my first time reading this author but I’ve seen his books around and I’m definitely interested in reading more from him in the future! 😃
Huge thanks to Berkeley for sending me an ARC!
Well this was quite an intense book! It follows this woman named Susanna who is a psychologist and she’s taking on a new patient named Adam and the entire story mostly takes place in one day.
There were two good plot twists that I didn’t see coming, some of the ending got to be a bit predictable though but overall I thought this was a very well-written thriller. This is my first time reading this author but I’ve seen his books around and I’m definitely interested in reading more from him in the future! 😃
Huge thanks to Berkeley for sending me an ARC!
July 27, 2018
ONE ROOM.
TWO LIARS.
NO WAY OUT
Misconceptions - This is a twisty,gripping story about misconceptions,secrets,lies,redemption and forgiveness.There is a hell of a lot more to this book than the synopsis leads you to believe.Yes,the main story is Susanna and Adam`s intense battle of wits as they try to outsmart each other during the hours that they are trapped together in Susanna`s tiny,claustrophobic consulting room.Who is Adam? why does Susanna feel like she knows him even though she has never set eyes on him before that day and what does he want?. Susanna is also very worried because her teenage daughter Emily is not where she said she would be and isn't answering her mobile. Susanna has always gone to extreme lengths to protect Emily including fourteen years ago, ditching her own identity,reinventing herself and starting a new life. Why did Susanna run away from her previous life and what was she protecting Emily from?.
Throughout the story Susanna`s thoughts slip back into the past and she gradually reveals the tragic events and misconceptions that tore her life apart and made her run away with baby Emily.My feelings about Susanna changed many times as both stories unfolded but I can honestly say I liked the present day Susanna more than the version of her in the past. I most definitely didn't like Adam,he was a spine chillingly,creepy character who could flip from boyish innocence to sneering psychopath faster than the blink of an eye.As the tension builds and the drama unfolds in the tiny room there is no way of knowing how it's all going to play out,who is going to win the battle of wits and what has happened to Emily.
This is a riveting,thought provoking psychological thriller that would result in some very interesting discussions if it was read by a book group due to some of the issues that are raised throughout the story.I enjoyed The Liar`s Room just as much as I did The House which was one of my favourite books of last year.The Liar`s Room is a very,very good book,highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Penguin Books Uk for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
TWO LIARS.
NO WAY OUT
Misconceptions - This is a twisty,gripping story about misconceptions,secrets,lies,redemption and forgiveness.There is a hell of a lot more to this book than the synopsis leads you to believe.Yes,the main story is Susanna and Adam`s intense battle of wits as they try to outsmart each other during the hours that they are trapped together in Susanna`s tiny,claustrophobic consulting room.Who is Adam? why does Susanna feel like she knows him even though she has never set eyes on him before that day and what does he want?. Susanna is also very worried because her teenage daughter Emily is not where she said she would be and isn't answering her mobile. Susanna has always gone to extreme lengths to protect Emily including fourteen years ago, ditching her own identity,reinventing herself and starting a new life. Why did Susanna run away from her previous life and what was she protecting Emily from?.
Throughout the story Susanna`s thoughts slip back into the past and she gradually reveals the tragic events and misconceptions that tore her life apart and made her run away with baby Emily.My feelings about Susanna changed many times as both stories unfolded but I can honestly say I liked the present day Susanna more than the version of her in the past. I most definitely didn't like Adam,he was a spine chillingly,creepy character who could flip from boyish innocence to sneering psychopath faster than the blink of an eye.As the tension builds and the drama unfolds in the tiny room there is no way of knowing how it's all going to play out,who is going to win the battle of wits and what has happened to Emily.
This is a riveting,thought provoking psychological thriller that would result in some very interesting discussions if it was read by a book group due to some of the issues that are raised throughout the story.I enjoyed The Liar`s Room just as much as I did The House which was one of my favourite books of last year.The Liar`s Room is a very,very good book,highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Penguin Books Uk for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
May 28, 2018
Most other reviewers loved The Liar's Room, but I'm afraid I really didn't. Although Simon Lelic can write very well, I found this unconvincing and a little formulaic, in spite of its rather original structure.
A new client arrives in a counsellor's office and quite quickly it emerges that he is there to torment the counsellor with her past and with other threats. Both have been untruthful in many ways – hence the title – and the ensuing dialogue is a battle of wits between them as some ghastly truths emerge, with the obligatory present-time peril, of course, and some jumping between voices and timescales.
Perhaps it's just me, but I just couldn’t get involved. The set-up seemed implausible, the voice of a teenage girl's diary didn't ring true at all and the inevitable and frequent "She remembered…" episodes just seemed tediously formulaic. I'm sorry to be critical, because I thought that Lelic's first novel, Rupture, was powerful and original. However, that came from a place of real rage about his subject (bullying) while to me this is just another manufactured psychological thriller. As such, it's decently done but it didn't offer me much in the way of new insight and didn’t really grip me in the way it seems to have done with other reviewers.
If you're a fan of psychological thrillers you may well enjoy this far more than I did, but it wasn't for me.
(My thanks to Penguin Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
A new client arrives in a counsellor's office and quite quickly it emerges that he is there to torment the counsellor with her past and with other threats. Both have been untruthful in many ways – hence the title – and the ensuing dialogue is a battle of wits between them as some ghastly truths emerge, with the obligatory present-time peril, of course, and some jumping between voices and timescales.
Perhaps it's just me, but I just couldn’t get involved. The set-up seemed implausible, the voice of a teenage girl's diary didn't ring true at all and the inevitable and frequent "She remembered…" episodes just seemed tediously formulaic. I'm sorry to be critical, because I thought that Lelic's first novel, Rupture, was powerful and original. However, that came from a place of real rage about his subject (bullying) while to me this is just another manufactured psychological thriller. As such, it's decently done but it didn't offer me much in the way of new insight and didn’t really grip me in the way it seems to have done with other reviewers.
If you're a fan of psychological thrillers you may well enjoy this far more than I did, but it wasn't for me.
(My thanks to Penguin Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
January 14, 2019
A story that crosses the span of only a few hours. Susanna, a counselor, has no idea that new patient Adam has quite the issues to bring up with her. Very quickly this escalates into a what the actual hell is going on here type of read.
Flashing back and forth to Susanna's past, Adam and Susanna's lives intertwine together in a way that surprises us all. There's a tension that is built from the first page throughout the read that is palpitating. It's truly hard to discuss much of anything without spoiling the book so I'm going to keep this vague and short.
Secrets never remain secrets. You never know what is going on in someone else's head and why they take the actions that they do. Word matter. Actions matter. I absolutely loved how this story increasingly gets a little bit crazier and crazier. I was a teeny bit underwhelmed with the ending after such a big build up. At the same time, it also seems suiting, so I'm torn with how I felt about it.
Lelic really accentuates the tension between Adam and Susanna and that is what will keep you turning these pages. A one sit read for me.
Flashing back and forth to Susanna's past, Adam and Susanna's lives intertwine together in a way that surprises us all. There's a tension that is built from the first page throughout the read that is palpitating. It's truly hard to discuss much of anything without spoiling the book so I'm going to keep this vague and short.
Secrets never remain secrets. You never know what is going on in someone else's head and why they take the actions that they do. Word matter. Actions matter. I absolutely loved how this story increasingly gets a little bit crazier and crazier. I was a teeny bit underwhelmed with the ending after such a big build up. At the same time, it also seems suiting, so I'm torn with how I felt about it.
Lelic really accentuates the tension between Adam and Susanna and that is what will keep you turning these pages. A one sit read for me.
February 10, 2019
We start this amazing book with someone held captive, she can remember a man hurting her but she does not know where she is.
Susannah a counsellor has a new client, he is called Adam and is a teenager. Susannah thinks he looks vaguely familiar. Adam talks about wanting to hurt a girl and shows Susannah a photo of the girl, but the photo is of Emily her 14 year old daughter. How does he know her and why would he want to hurt her?
This book is brilliant. What happens next is a cat and mouse game between Adam and Susannah. Adam seems to know everything about her life, including the secrets she has worked hard to conceal. Neither of them are who they say they are!!
Susannah has ran away from her past and started a new life with her daughter. She had a son Jake who did something terrible, which caused Susannah to flee.
Adam wants her to tell him everything that happened with Jake . But how is Adam connected to her family?
This book had me on the edge of my seat, totally gripped with no concept of where this story was going. Although for most of the book we are in Suzanna’s office, it somehow makes the story more menacing and chilling.
A must read book that kept me awake until late at night, as I was so desperate to find out the ending!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Susannah a counsellor has a new client, he is called Adam and is a teenager. Susannah thinks he looks vaguely familiar. Adam talks about wanting to hurt a girl and shows Susannah a photo of the girl, but the photo is of Emily her 14 year old daughter. How does he know her and why would he want to hurt her?
This book is brilliant. What happens next is a cat and mouse game between Adam and Susannah. Adam seems to know everything about her life, including the secrets she has worked hard to conceal. Neither of them are who they say they are!!
Susannah has ran away from her past and started a new life with her daughter. She had a son Jake who did something terrible, which caused Susannah to flee.
Adam wants her to tell him everything that happened with Jake . But how is Adam connected to her family?
This book had me on the edge of my seat, totally gripped with no concept of where this story was going. Although for most of the book we are in Suzanna’s office, it somehow makes the story more menacing and chilling.
A must read book that kept me awake until late at night, as I was so desperate to find out the ending!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
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