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The Darkest Lies
A mother desperate for the truth. A daughter hiding a terrible secret.
Melanie Oak appeared to have the perfect life. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Jacob, the couple live with their beautiful, loving, teenage daughter, Beth, in a pretty village.
Nothing can shake her happiness - until the day that Beth goes missing and is discovered beaten almost to the point of death, her broken body lying in a freezing creek on the marshes near their home.
Consumed with grief, Melanie is determined to find her daughter’s attacker. Someone in the village must have seen something. Why won’t they talk?
As Melanie tries to piece together what happened to Beth, she discovers that her innocent teenager has been harbouring some dark secrets of her own. The truth may lie closer to home and put Melanie’s life in terrible danger…
A completely gripping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming.
Melanie Oak appeared to have the perfect life. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Jacob, the couple live with their beautiful, loving, teenage daughter, Beth, in a pretty village.
Nothing can shake her happiness - until the day that Beth goes missing and is discovered beaten almost to the point of death, her broken body lying in a freezing creek on the marshes near their home.
Consumed with grief, Melanie is determined to find her daughter’s attacker. Someone in the village must have seen something. Why won’t they talk?
As Melanie tries to piece together what happened to Beth, she discovers that her innocent teenager has been harbouring some dark secrets of her own. The truth may lie closer to home and put Melanie’s life in terrible danger…
A completely gripping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming.
402 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2017
1170 people are currently reading
1695 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Copperthwaite
11 books291 followersWhat people say about Barbara's books:
"Will have you looking over your shoulder and under your bed... Original, gripping, with a deep psychological impact," Sunday Mirror
"Enthralling, tense and moving," Real People magazine
"Totally gripping, and scarily believable," Bella magazine
Barbara is the Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, HER LAST SECRET, and THE PERFECT FRIEND. Her new book, THE GIRL IN THE MISSING POSTER, is out on 23 February but available to pre-order now!
More importantly, she loves cakes, wildlife photography and, last but definitely not least, her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy (who force her to throw tennis balls for them for hours).
Having spent over twenty years as a national newspaper and magazine journalist, Barbara has interviewed the real victims of crime - and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers' eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.
When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs.
To find out more about Barbara's novels, go to www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCoppert... or follow @BCopperthwait on Twitter. To find out more about Barbara go to www.barbaracopperthwaite.com
"Will have you looking over your shoulder and under your bed... Original, gripping, with a deep psychological impact," Sunday Mirror
"Enthralling, tense and moving," Real People magazine
"Totally gripping, and scarily believable," Bella magazine
Barbara is the Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, HER LAST SECRET, and THE PERFECT FRIEND. Her new book, THE GIRL IN THE MISSING POSTER, is out on 23 February but available to pre-order now!
More importantly, she loves cakes, wildlife photography and, last but definitely not least, her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy (who force her to throw tennis balls for them for hours).
Having spent over twenty years as a national newspaper and magazine journalist, Barbara has interviewed the real victims of crime - and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers' eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.
When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs.
To find out more about Barbara's novels, go to www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCoppert... or follow @BCopperthwait on Twitter. To find out more about Barbara go to www.barbaracopperthwaite.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
June 17, 2017
Beth tells her mom that she's going to sleepover at her friend's house but as soon as her mother drops her off she sneaks away. The next day Beth's mother, Melanie calls her friend Chloe's house to ask Beth is she would like to be picked up and finds out that Beth never even showed up to their house. Soon the police are called and Melanie's body is discovered in the creek. Melanie is anguished with guilt and frustrated when some time passes and she feels that the police haven't done enough and starts to take things into her own hand. Melanie refuses to rest until she finds out who hurt her daughter but little does she know that a murder is hiding right under her nose.
I didn't like the writing at all, it was on par with a child's writing and lacked any depth. The author couldn't bother to show us anything through details and spent the whole time spelling each detail out. Melanie herself was insufferable and I understand the author wanted to show the change that came over her but you still have to make us sympathize with her. Any this one just didn't work for me especially because the writing felt so bad and all the characters were insufferable or flat. All the plot twists felt so pointless also and totally only perpetuated by Melanie being a crazy paranoid drunk.
I didn't like the writing at all, it was on par with a child's writing and lacked any depth. The author couldn't bother to show us anything through details and spent the whole time spelling each detail out. Melanie herself was insufferable and I understand the author wanted to show the change that came over her but you still have to make us sympathize with her. Any this one just didn't work for me especially because the writing felt so bad and all the characters were insufferable or flat. All the plot twists felt so pointless also and totally only perpetuated by Melanie being a crazy paranoid drunk.
April 12, 2017
OMG,what a totally unexpected ending,absolutely jaw dropping,I didn't see that coming.
Melanie Oak`s perfect life with her husband Jacob and loving teenage daughter Beth is shattered into a million tiny pieces on the day that Beth disappears and is discovered hours later beaten almost to the point of death,her broken body lying in a creek on the marshes near their home.
Consumed with grief Melanie is determined to find out what happened to Beth and who attacked her.She soon discovers that Beth had been keeping some dark secrets of her own.The more secrets and lies Melanie uncovers the more endangered her own life becomes...
This twist packed thriller opens with a nerve shredding prologue that draws you in and perfectly describes the beauty but also isolation of the marshes that are the backdrop of this gripping story.
The characters are realistic and believable from the know all but say nothing tight knit villagers to the creepy manipulative psycho who really made my skin crawl.Most of the chapters are voiced by Melanie who I didn't like very much at the beginning of the story but her guts and determination did cause me to like her a little bit by the end.Beth voices the story of the events that lead up to her being attacked.There are also some chapters that are voiced by a young girl called Tiffany and a number of chapters that are voiced by a mysterious stranger.
The authors descriptions of the life giving machines and atmosphere in the paediatric intensive care unit where scarily realistic.My daughter spent a lot of time in intensive care when she was younger so I could fully understand Melanie and Jacobs feelings of helplessness as they sat with their daughter not being able to do anything but wait and hope that she was going to get better.
The book does have quite a lot of chapters but they are short and snappy,there was a number of unexpected twists and plenty of mystery and intregue to keep the reader hooked and entertained.I really enjoyed this riveting thriller and would happily give it more than five stars if I could.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Melanie Oak`s perfect life with her husband Jacob and loving teenage daughter Beth is shattered into a million tiny pieces on the day that Beth disappears and is discovered hours later beaten almost to the point of death,her broken body lying in a creek on the marshes near their home.
Consumed with grief Melanie is determined to find out what happened to Beth and who attacked her.She soon discovers that Beth had been keeping some dark secrets of her own.The more secrets and lies Melanie uncovers the more endangered her own life becomes...
This twist packed thriller opens with a nerve shredding prologue that draws you in and perfectly describes the beauty but also isolation of the marshes that are the backdrop of this gripping story.
The characters are realistic and believable from the know all but say nothing tight knit villagers to the creepy manipulative psycho who really made my skin crawl.Most of the chapters are voiced by Melanie who I didn't like very much at the beginning of the story but her guts and determination did cause me to like her a little bit by the end.Beth voices the story of the events that lead up to her being attacked.There are also some chapters that are voiced by a young girl called Tiffany and a number of chapters that are voiced by a mysterious stranger.
The authors descriptions of the life giving machines and atmosphere in the paediatric intensive care unit where scarily realistic.My daughter spent a lot of time in intensive care when she was younger so I could fully understand Melanie and Jacobs feelings of helplessness as they sat with their daughter not being able to do anything but wait and hope that she was going to get better.
The book does have quite a lot of chapters but they are short and snappy,there was a number of unexpected twists and plenty of mystery and intregue to keep the reader hooked and entertained.I really enjoyed this riveting thriller and would happily give it more than five stars if I could.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
May 12, 2017
First I have to address something that I knew threw some readers off: we are privy to the main characters every thought, but they're worded like she's speaking to her daughter the entire time. For some, this will make it easier to connect with her. For me, it was just a little awkward. It didn't ruin the book at all, but I may have a higher opinion of it without that.
Some parts were a little predictable, but there were many that I wasn't expecting. Often when I don't expect a twist, I don't buy it. This book made me buy it though. I also really appreciated the ending, and think the author made some bold choices in the last few chapters of the book. That certainly helped make up for the awkward phrasing for me.
Only thirteen, Beth has big plans for the night. Her loving parents think she's off to a sleepover with her BFF, but that's not where she's headed. Melanie and Jacob panic when they realize their bright and beautiful daughter is no where to be found. Even though it seems like forever to them, it's not long before Beth is discovered. She's been badly beaten and barely alive, in a coma and unable to give any clues about what happened to her.
Melanie becomes a woman obsessed. She's convinced the police aren't doing enough to find the culprit. If she can't make her little girl wake up, she'll damn sure find out who hurt her. She follows every lead and alienates friends and even her own husband. In the small village, everyone is a suspect... even people she's known for years. Beth is a smart girl, she wouldn't go off with just anyone... would she?
Chapters come mostly from the mother's perspective, but we slowly get details about the night Beth disappeared and brief but disturbing glimpses into the mind of an unknown killer.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Some parts were a little predictable, but there were many that I wasn't expecting. Often when I don't expect a twist, I don't buy it. This book made me buy it though. I also really appreciated the ending, and think the author made some bold choices in the last few chapters of the book. That certainly helped make up for the awkward phrasing for me.
Only thirteen, Beth has big plans for the night. Her loving parents think she's off to a sleepover with her BFF, but that's not where she's headed. Melanie and Jacob panic when they realize their bright and beautiful daughter is no where to be found. Even though it seems like forever to them, it's not long before Beth is discovered. She's been badly beaten and barely alive, in a coma and unable to give any clues about what happened to her.
Melanie becomes a woman obsessed. She's convinced the police aren't doing enough to find the culprit. If she can't make her little girl wake up, she'll damn sure find out who hurt her. She follows every lead and alienates friends and even her own husband. In the small village, everyone is a suspect... even people she's known for years. Beth is a smart girl, she wouldn't go off with just anyone... would she?
Chapters come mostly from the mother's perspective, but we slowly get details about the night Beth disappeared and brief but disturbing glimpses into the mind of an unknown killer.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
October 8, 2017
4.5 stars
The Darkest Lies grabbed my attention from the very first page. The author has clearly mastered her skill with words, bewitching the reader with beautifully descriptive language... ' a moon hangs so fat it oozes an aura into the sky that almost blots out the stars surrounding it." Love it!
This addictive story will take you on quite the tense, dark and emotional journey, that was the cause of quite a few lump in your throat moments for me.
It deals with secrets, lies and deception, having me look at everyone in the small town through the lens of suspicion.
However the Oak family were instantly likeable, especially when the author made it clear that Beth had a ( seemingly) close relationship with her parents. Perhaps having what I hope is a close relationship with my teenage daughter, meant that I could easily relate. I love the way mom and daughter would say " I love you to bits and whole again."
The book is written from three points of view - mom, daughter and attacker.
Majority of the input was from the mother, Melanie. The description by mother to daughter as to the happenings, and of her emotional turmoil after she discovers her daughter is missing, was cleverly done by the author in my opinion. I felt I was experiencing it first hand myself, drawing me in, having me emotionally invested.
The description of the attacker's thought process was disturbing yet I couldn't help but be sucked in even further.
This was an engrossing page turner as I lapped up the red herrings everywhere, although it did get long winded at times.
And that twist....bravo to the author on such clever trickery!
I was rewarded with an immensely satisfying sense of justification at the end that not all authors give their readers the pleasure of experiencing.
This is my first book by Barbara Copperthwaite yet it won't be my last. Congratulations on a wonderfully captivating read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and of course the author for allowing me the pleasure of providing an unbiased review.
The Darkest Lies grabbed my attention from the very first page. The author has clearly mastered her skill with words, bewitching the reader with beautifully descriptive language... ' a moon hangs so fat it oozes an aura into the sky that almost blots out the stars surrounding it." Love it!
This addictive story will take you on quite the tense, dark and emotional journey, that was the cause of quite a few lump in your throat moments for me.
It deals with secrets, lies and deception, having me look at everyone in the small town through the lens of suspicion.
However the Oak family were instantly likeable, especially when the author made it clear that Beth had a ( seemingly) close relationship with her parents. Perhaps having what I hope is a close relationship with my teenage daughter, meant that I could easily relate. I love the way mom and daughter would say " I love you to bits and whole again."
The book is written from three points of view - mom, daughter and attacker.
Majority of the input was from the mother, Melanie. The description by mother to daughter as to the happenings, and of her emotional turmoil after she discovers her daughter is missing, was cleverly done by the author in my opinion. I felt I was experiencing it first hand myself, drawing me in, having me emotionally invested.
The description of the attacker's thought process was disturbing yet I couldn't help but be sucked in even further.
This was an engrossing page turner as I lapped up the red herrings everywhere, although it did get long winded at times.
And that twist....bravo to the author on such clever trickery!
I was rewarded with an immensely satisfying sense of justification at the end that not all authors give their readers the pleasure of experiencing.
This is my first book by Barbara Copperthwaite yet it won't be my last. Congratulations on a wonderfully captivating read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and of course the author for allowing me the pleasure of providing an unbiased review.
July 11, 2017
I have to be honest, I didn't get on with this book. I didn't engage with the characters or the story which meant I didn't connect with the book at all. That being said, I have more of this authors books and I'll definitely be reading them!
February 22, 2018
It is a parent's worse nightmare. You think you know your child, you think you can protect them, then the unimaginable happens...
Beth Oak is almost fourteen. She lives in a Lincolnshire village with her mother, Melanie, and her father, Jacob. Oh, and their russet spaniel, Wiggins. They are the happiest of families. Until...
Beth tells her Mum that she is staying overnight at her friend Chloe's house. Melanie walks with Beth to the end of her friend's road, then turns back toward home. The next morning Melanie discovers that Beth never went to Chloe's at all. She is missing! Panic stricken, the frantic parents call the police, who after a search find Beth, floating in the fens, injured, hypothermic, and near death.
Beth is rushed to hospital where she is put into an induced coma. Then Melanie's real trial begins. Unable to watch her much-loved only daughter in such a state, with wires and tubes snaking from her young body, and dissatisfied with the progress the police are making, Melanie decides to discover who has harmed her daughter. She enlists the 'help' of an old school chum, Glenn Baker. She can talk to Glenn. He is a good listener, he seems to understand. She doesn't want to talk to her husband Jacob because she feels he already has enough on his plate. He has his own distress over Beth's condition, and he has to work every day as well as spend his nights at the hospital.
As days turn into weeks, with no improvement in Beth's condition, Melanie turns to Glenn more and more. Also, she turns to the comfort and oblivion of alcohol. So much so that her family feels compelled to intervene.
In the evenings, Melanie and Jacob sit by Beth's bedside trying to will Beth back. They attempt sensory stimulation, trying to rouse Beth with music, smells, and other stimuli.
"We had tempted fate with our happiness."
Days find Melanie increasingly out of control. She is desperate to find the person who hurt Beth, and she accuses many of her fellow villagers. They on the other hand, are harbouring their own secrets.
The cold and windy Lincolnshire fens were almost a character unto themselves. I was chilled just reading about it. This county is a setting close to my heart, as my own mother (a war-bride) was born in Boston, Lincolnshire.
The story was told via three different points of view. Melanie's (told in the second person), Beth's (during the time preceding her attack), and that of an unidentified manipulative psychopath. This third POV was of a person who is harbouring a compulsive blood-lust.
To be perfectly honest, I was not a fan of the way the book was written in the second person. I found it off-putting that Melanie was 'speaking' to Beth throughout the narrative. Kudos to the author though, as I imagine it must have been very difficult to maintain the second person throughout. Also, I had a real hard time liking Melanie most of the time. It bugged me that I didn't like her more. Poor thing had suffered an immense trauma, who am I to judge her coping skills?
This is a story of secrets, lies, manipulation and human weakness. It illuminates the inherent selfishness of most people.
Despite my reservations about Melanie's character, I did really enjoy this thriller. The atmospheric setting, the overall storyline, were engaging and compelling. The novel was written in short chapters, which I find really moves the plot along at a good pace. Although I guessed the identity of the person who represented the third point of view, this did not at all spoil the book for me. There was an astounding plot twist that I didn't see coming, and the ending? It was brilliant!
Beth Oak is almost fourteen. She lives in a Lincolnshire village with her mother, Melanie, and her father, Jacob. Oh, and their russet spaniel, Wiggins. They are the happiest of families. Until...
Beth tells her Mum that she is staying overnight at her friend Chloe's house. Melanie walks with Beth to the end of her friend's road, then turns back toward home. The next morning Melanie discovers that Beth never went to Chloe's at all. She is missing! Panic stricken, the frantic parents call the police, who after a search find Beth, floating in the fens, injured, hypothermic, and near death.
Beth is rushed to hospital where she is put into an induced coma. Then Melanie's real trial begins. Unable to watch her much-loved only daughter in such a state, with wires and tubes snaking from her young body, and dissatisfied with the progress the police are making, Melanie decides to discover who has harmed her daughter. She enlists the 'help' of an old school chum, Glenn Baker. She can talk to Glenn. He is a good listener, he seems to understand. She doesn't want to talk to her husband Jacob because she feels he already has enough on his plate. He has his own distress over Beth's condition, and he has to work every day as well as spend his nights at the hospital.
As days turn into weeks, with no improvement in Beth's condition, Melanie turns to Glenn more and more. Also, she turns to the comfort and oblivion of alcohol. So much so that her family feels compelled to intervene.
In the evenings, Melanie and Jacob sit by Beth's bedside trying to will Beth back. They attempt sensory stimulation, trying to rouse Beth with music, smells, and other stimuli.
"We had tempted fate with our happiness."
Days find Melanie increasingly out of control. She is desperate to find the person who hurt Beth, and she accuses many of her fellow villagers. They on the other hand, are harbouring their own secrets.
The cold and windy Lincolnshire fens were almost a character unto themselves. I was chilled just reading about it. This county is a setting close to my heart, as my own mother (a war-bride) was born in Boston, Lincolnshire.
The story was told via three different points of view. Melanie's (told in the second person), Beth's (during the time preceding her attack), and that of an unidentified manipulative psychopath. This third POV was of a person who is harbouring a compulsive blood-lust.
To be perfectly honest, I was not a fan of the way the book was written in the second person. I found it off-putting that Melanie was 'speaking' to Beth throughout the narrative. Kudos to the author though, as I imagine it must have been very difficult to maintain the second person throughout. Also, I had a real hard time liking Melanie most of the time. It bugged me that I didn't like her more. Poor thing had suffered an immense trauma, who am I to judge her coping skills?
This is a story of secrets, lies, manipulation and human weakness. It illuminates the inherent selfishness of most people.
Despite my reservations about Melanie's character, I did really enjoy this thriller. The atmospheric setting, the overall storyline, were engaging and compelling. The novel was written in short chapters, which I find really moves the plot along at a good pace. Although I guessed the identity of the person who represented the third point of view, this did not at all spoil the book for me. There was an astounding plot twist that I didn't see coming, and the ending? It was brilliant!
April 26, 2017
I really, really liked this book. However, I did have a few issues with it. Melanie, the mother, drove me crazy when she would go to the police on every little hint of something that happened with her daughter. Or, when she would go to the townspeople specifically to accuse them. I understood her frustration. It was a small town. Things don't happen there that someone doesn't know anything about. Also, my stomach kind of turned when I suspected Melanie's new friend had something to do with Beth's disappearance. The thought that she is riding around with him?
All of that put aside, the book is so good that you can overlook this crazy woman who berates most of the town insinuating they know something about her missing daughter.
And the ending, definitely classic and I even did a major fist pump after reading it.
A great read that I just could not put down as there were so many suspects and so many clues, I was so perplexed, I just had to know!
Huge thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for approving and allowing me to read and review this thriller.
All of that put aside, the book is so good that you can overlook this crazy woman who berates most of the town insinuating they know something about her missing daughter.
And the ending, definitely classic and I even did a major fist pump after reading it.
A great read that I just could not put down as there were so many suspects and so many clues, I was so perplexed, I just had to know!
Huge thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for approving and allowing me to read and review this thriller.
May 8, 2017
Finished reading: May 6th 2017
"One week ago you had home home as usual, chatting about homework, rushing around, laughing. Until you'd lies to us, and gone out for the night. Then everything had changed."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
October 20, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
This is my first book by this author and I am afraid it will be my last. There are just too many better ones out there.
I almost stopped after the opening prologue.
"A moon hangs so fat it oozes an aura into the sky that almost blots out the stars surrounding it. It looks down on land as flat as an open palm, and as unforgiving as a clenched fist,and gives no answer to the screams of fear and rage that float up to it"
WHAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat, ugh pretentious nonsense. This book was overly descriptive and far too wordy without building any tension.
There are no likeable characters, NONE.
Melanie the mother is judgemental, snide and just downright bitchy. She makes nasty comments about people's weight, social standing and their lack of intelligence. She thinks she is a better mother with the best daughter and the happiest relationship. She lacks faith in the police and is generally dismissive of them, including the assigned Family Liaison officer who she christens Flo. She is rude and aggressive. She also makes really stupid decisions.
Jacob the father is weak and quite honestly such a secondary character that he barely registers.
The writing style flummoxed me. Every chapter regarding Melanie starts in first person and then switches to her addressing her daughter. Why? What on earth was the purpose of this? So frustrating.
I raced through this book because I couldn't wait to get to the end. This book is badly in need of some good editing. Repetitive and too many unnecessary boring details that had little or no relevance to the plot. Do we really need a list of marsh ferns?
I know there are a lot of good reviews on here so maybe this writing style is just not for me. As in the following sentence,
"my alibi would hold,it was tighter than clingfilm over a mouth struggling for breath"
What utter ridiculous nonsense, clingfilm over a mouth, WTF!!!!!!!!!
This is my first book by this author and I am afraid it will be my last. There are just too many better ones out there.
I almost stopped after the opening prologue.
"A moon hangs so fat it oozes an aura into the sky that almost blots out the stars surrounding it. It looks down on land as flat as an open palm, and as unforgiving as a clenched fist,and gives no answer to the screams of fear and rage that float up to it"
WHAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat, ugh pretentious nonsense. This book was overly descriptive and far too wordy without building any tension.
There are no likeable characters, NONE.
Melanie the mother is judgemental, snide and just downright bitchy. She makes nasty comments about people's weight, social standing and their lack of intelligence. She thinks she is a better mother with the best daughter and the happiest relationship. She lacks faith in the police and is generally dismissive of them, including the assigned Family Liaison officer who she christens Flo. She is rude and aggressive. She also makes really stupid decisions.
Jacob the father is weak and quite honestly such a secondary character that he barely registers.
The writing style flummoxed me. Every chapter regarding Melanie starts in first person and then switches to her addressing her daughter. Why? What on earth was the purpose of this? So frustrating.
I raced through this book because I couldn't wait to get to the end. This book is badly in need of some good editing. Repetitive and too many unnecessary boring details that had little or no relevance to the plot. Do we really need a list of marsh ferns?
I know there are a lot of good reviews on here so maybe this writing style is just not for me. As in the following sentence,
"my alibi would hold,it was tighter than clingfilm over a mouth struggling for breath"
What utter ridiculous nonsense, clingfilm over a mouth, WTF!!!!!!!!!
April 12, 2017
I'll probably get flack for rating this 4, but I don't have the 3.5 option, which is probably more true for me. That said, it's not a 3. I did receive this in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture. This mystery/thriller had a good plot, and an ending that surprised me in one sense, and not in the other. There was a dark, interesting twist. It did keep me reading, and I only give a 3 or under if I can't continue reading it. I wouldn't have stopped...but, I didn't really care about the characters...none of them, including the injured daughter or the mother. Being a mother, I was highly irritated with Melanie. I came close to liking her husband, but then there was an incident that just didn't ring true and it turned me from him. So, the plot = great, characters = not as much. That said, this is still worth the read.
May 22, 2017
: The Darkest Lies deals with every parents nightmare – a missing teenager daughter who is found barely alive having obviously been attacked but by whom? Told from the viewpoints of the mother Melanie and the daughter Beth, this story uncovers secrets, lies, betrayal and suspicion.
Whilst reading Melanie’s chapters and realising she is narrating her story to her daughter who lies in a coma is heartbreaking but watching her slowly fall apart through blame and guilt is really painful to read as a parent.
Set in a small village the reader feels the ripple effect throughout the tight-knit community and quickly realises that everyone has a guilty secret. Full of twists and turns and red-herrings everywhere I thought I had worked out who the attacker was but was shocked to find out I got it completely wrong! This is a tense page-turner which fans of psychological thrillers will love.
All my reviews can be found on www.compulsivereaders.com
Whilst reading Melanie’s chapters and realising she is narrating her story to her daughter who lies in a coma is heartbreaking but watching her slowly fall apart through blame and guilt is really painful to read as a parent.
Set in a small village the reader feels the ripple effect throughout the tight-knit community and quickly realises that everyone has a guilty secret. Full of twists and turns and red-herrings everywhere I thought I had worked out who the attacker was but was shocked to find out I got it completely wrong! This is a tense page-turner which fans of psychological thrillers will love.
All my reviews can be found on www.compulsivereaders.com
July 19, 2017
The Oaks were a happy family. Teenage Beth still seemed to enjoy their company and all seemed well until the night she went to stay overnight with her best friend Chloe. Mel saw her heading for Chloe's door little realising that it would be the last time their family would be the way they had been. Beth is found floating in the mere, practically dead. Mel is determined to find out what happened. This is a small village- somebody must know what happened!
In attempts to bring Beth's attacker to justice Mel alienates nearly everyone apart from Glenn- an old school friend. The story is told through Mel's imagined conversations with Beth and Bet herself.
There are lots of surprises in this book. All through I was sure I knew what was going on- I did almost but I had no idea of the twist. Throughout I became more and more irritated with Mel, which is why I didn't give this five stars. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me chance to read & review it.
In attempts to bring Beth's attacker to justice Mel alienates nearly everyone apart from Glenn- an old school friend. The story is told through Mel's imagined conversations with Beth and Bet herself.
There are lots of surprises in this book. All through I was sure I knew what was going on- I did almost but I had no idea of the twist. Throughout I became more and more irritated with Mel, which is why I didn't give this five stars. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me chance to read & review it.
January 2, 2018
Intricate and twisty. So far a good start to 2018.
May 12, 2017
The storyline is without a doubt one that is a parents worst nightmare. Realising your child has gone missing but then even when found, the nightmare only really starts to begin.
My heart literally poured out with grief for Melanie and her husband Jacob. Their only daughter clinging onto existence with very little hope of pulling through. Having to go to the hospital day after day and not see any signs of improvement, my heart literally broke for them. One particular part of the story had me in floods of tears and I had to have a bit of a breather whilst I composed myself. It really did make for some very emotional reading in parts.
I have to admit I am not a lover of stories told in the first person but I think the fact that Melanie was speaking in her head more to her daughter than the reader, which I think was her way of keeping Beth alive and being there with her, was something as a human being I could relate to.
The story does flick about quite a bit between Melanie, her daughter Beth and a character that we don't get to find out until later on in the story. I have to admit to guessing correctly quite early on who the character behind those chapters was. As the book description suggests though, there was a twist that I certainly did not see which totally rocked me so it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book whatsoever.
As the title of the story suggests, this is one novel that is riddled with lies and deceit. It is one that will have you turning page after page whilst discovering untruth after untruth. It had me feeling so many emotions of shock, anger, frustration, love, it really took me on an emotional roller coaster of a ride. A ride that will leave lasting memories, which for me is a sign of a good book indeed.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
My heart literally poured out with grief for Melanie and her husband Jacob. Their only daughter clinging onto existence with very little hope of pulling through. Having to go to the hospital day after day and not see any signs of improvement, my heart literally broke for them. One particular part of the story had me in floods of tears and I had to have a bit of a breather whilst I composed myself. It really did make for some very emotional reading in parts.
I have to admit I am not a lover of stories told in the first person but I think the fact that Melanie was speaking in her head more to her daughter than the reader, which I think was her way of keeping Beth alive and being there with her, was something as a human being I could relate to.
The story does flick about quite a bit between Melanie, her daughter Beth and a character that we don't get to find out until later on in the story. I have to admit to guessing correctly quite early on who the character behind those chapters was. As the book description suggests though, there was a twist that I certainly did not see which totally rocked me so it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book whatsoever.
As the title of the story suggests, this is one novel that is riddled with lies and deceit. It is one that will have you turning page after page whilst discovering untruth after untruth. It had me feeling so many emotions of shock, anger, frustration, love, it really took me on an emotional roller coaster of a ride. A ride that will leave lasting memories, which for me is a sign of a good book indeed.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 28, 2017
This is the third book by the fantastic Barbara Copperthwaite and as always her writing just takes you there. "There" could be any number of places but for me in this book it was the marshes. She writes so beautifully, never overly descriptive but enough to let your minds eye paint the picture for you.
The book is written from a few different perspectives, it jumps from the heartbroken loving words of a mother to the disgusting rants of a murderer and never a false step in the crossover of the narrative.
Melanie and her husband Jacob are reeling after their teenage daughter goes missing. When her body is found near lifeless on the marshes the close knit village rallies round to comfort them.
When Mel decides to investigate how Beth, her daughter came to be somewhere she should not have been and find out for herself who harmed her precious child she starts to suspect everyone around her. Those that she had called friends all of her life are suddenly prime suspects.
I loved all the characters in this book. I loved the dynamics between Mel and Jacob as a couple and as parents too, I loved Wiggins and I even loved to hate the bad guys.
I was sitting reading this book and at 75% completion on my Kindle it had all been tied up. .....and then a whole other drama starts to unfold.
All in all I felt like I needed a stiff drink or maybe a paramedic several times while reading this book. It does not disappoint!
The book is written from a few different perspectives, it jumps from the heartbroken loving words of a mother to the disgusting rants of a murderer and never a false step in the crossover of the narrative.
Melanie and her husband Jacob are reeling after their teenage daughter goes missing. When her body is found near lifeless on the marshes the close knit village rallies round to comfort them.
When Mel decides to investigate how Beth, her daughter came to be somewhere she should not have been and find out for herself who harmed her precious child she starts to suspect everyone around her. Those that she had called friends all of her life are suddenly prime suspects.
I loved all the characters in this book. I loved the dynamics between Mel and Jacob as a couple and as parents too, I loved Wiggins and I even loved to hate the bad guys.
I was sitting reading this book and at 75% completion on my Kindle it had all been tied up. .....and then a whole other drama starts to unfold.
All in all I felt like I needed a stiff drink or maybe a paramedic several times while reading this book. It does not disappoint!
April 29, 2017
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
This book starts off with Beth, a thirteen year old girl sneaking off and then going missing. The story then switches to Melanie, the mom’s POV. It irritated me that Melanie speaks directly to the missing Beth in a sort of stream of consciousness. The writer gets the worry and the tension right, I just didn't care for all thoughts and internal comments directed to Beth. Which is kind of funny, because God knows I often find myself internally talking to people.
The story vacillates between flashbacks to Beth and present day Melanie. Beth’s storyline is told from a third person point of view, even though insights are given into what Beth is thinking.
After the initial chapters and once everyone is waiting for Beth to wake up from her coma, the story begins to drag. And the further into the story, the more Melanie grated on my nerves. She's like the stupid girl in the horror movie who goes against common sense. I struggled to keep going through the middle of this one. And the rest of the characters aren't fully developed, so my inability to bond with Melanie was a big issue in my not particularly caring for the book. The pace picks up towards the end. And I admit to having guessed wrong as to who was to blame for Beth.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
This book starts off with Beth, a thirteen year old girl sneaking off and then going missing. The story then switches to Melanie, the mom’s POV. It irritated me that Melanie speaks directly to the missing Beth in a sort of stream of consciousness. The writer gets the worry and the tension right, I just didn't care for all thoughts and internal comments directed to Beth. Which is kind of funny, because God knows I often find myself internally talking to people.
The story vacillates between flashbacks to Beth and present day Melanie. Beth’s storyline is told from a third person point of view, even though insights are given into what Beth is thinking.
After the initial chapters and once everyone is waiting for Beth to wake up from her coma, the story begins to drag. And the further into the story, the more Melanie grated on my nerves. She's like the stupid girl in the horror movie who goes against common sense. I struggled to keep going through the middle of this one. And the rest of the characters aren't fully developed, so my inability to bond with Melanie was a big issue in my not particularly caring for the book. The pace picks up towards the end. And I admit to having guessed wrong as to who was to blame for Beth.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
April 20, 2017
Wow! I was blown away by this book! What an amazing, thrilling, tense, brilliantly plotted story! This is my first book by Barbara Copperthwaite and I am SO glad I discovered this amazing author! Loved this from start to finish. Could absolutely empathize with Melanie and what she was going through. The writing is brilliant - tight and beautiful and flawless. Although I could not put this book down and was desperate to know how it ended, I was loath to finish it as I loved it so much. Still thinking about the characters. I cannot wait for more from this author!
May 20, 2017
When Melanie doesn’t see her daughter Beth right to her friend Chloe’s door, she can have no idea of the events that will unfold.
Oh. Come. On. I expect a thriller to have twists and turns, a fast pace and loads of red herrings and Barbara Copperthwaite includes all those ingredients in The Darkest Lies. However, what I certainly don’t expect is to find myself sobbing with shared grief with the characters as I was with Melanie and Jacob. Mostly when I read crime thrillers I’m entertained (and I was – hugely in reading The Darkest Lies) but I’m slightly removed from the action and that seemed to be the pattern here until wham! Barbara Copperthwaite dealt me a body blow of profound emotion. Brilliant writing!
There’s a cracking plot with fast paced short chapters as Melanie desperately tries to discover who has so injured Beth that she lies on life support in hospital. The end of the narrative is heart thumping and exciting, and without spoiling the read, introduces aspects that make the reader think and contemplate their own possible responses to hypothetically similar situations.
The themes are what makes The Darkest Lies so compelling. Barbara Copperthwaite forces the reader to contemplate how far they would go to protect their own loved ones and she tugs at the very foundations of loyalty and lawlessness so that the edges of what is right and what is wrong become blurred.
I liked the gradual uncovering of the truth from Beth’s perspective alongside the first person story from Melanie, and the way in which she directs her voice towards Beth is touching and realistic. I did feel that a few of Melanie’s actions were unlikely and she should have dealt with the police and her suspicions differently, but at the same time, hers is such a desperate and emotional portrayal of grief that who can say how she might have behaved.
However, aside from a really good thriller, what I truly loved about The Darkest Lies was the creation of a claustrophobic Lincolnshire village, as I live in one myself, and the exquisite beauty of some of the prose which reads like the finest poetry in the natural descriptions. This was such evocative writing.
I thought The Darkest Lies was a thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking thriller and really recommend it.
Oh. Come. On. I expect a thriller to have twists and turns, a fast pace and loads of red herrings and Barbara Copperthwaite includes all those ingredients in The Darkest Lies. However, what I certainly don’t expect is to find myself sobbing with shared grief with the characters as I was with Melanie and Jacob. Mostly when I read crime thrillers I’m entertained (and I was – hugely in reading The Darkest Lies) but I’m slightly removed from the action and that seemed to be the pattern here until wham! Barbara Copperthwaite dealt me a body blow of profound emotion. Brilliant writing!
There’s a cracking plot with fast paced short chapters as Melanie desperately tries to discover who has so injured Beth that she lies on life support in hospital. The end of the narrative is heart thumping and exciting, and without spoiling the read, introduces aspects that make the reader think and contemplate their own possible responses to hypothetically similar situations.
The themes are what makes The Darkest Lies so compelling. Barbara Copperthwaite forces the reader to contemplate how far they would go to protect their own loved ones and she tugs at the very foundations of loyalty and lawlessness so that the edges of what is right and what is wrong become blurred.
I liked the gradual uncovering of the truth from Beth’s perspective alongside the first person story from Melanie, and the way in which she directs her voice towards Beth is touching and realistic. I did feel that a few of Melanie’s actions were unlikely and she should have dealt with the police and her suspicions differently, but at the same time, hers is such a desperate and emotional portrayal of grief that who can say how she might have behaved.
However, aside from a really good thriller, what I truly loved about The Darkest Lies was the creation of a claustrophobic Lincolnshire village, as I live in one myself, and the exquisite beauty of some of the prose which reads like the finest poetry in the natural descriptions. This was such evocative writing.
I thought The Darkest Lies was a thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking thriller and really recommend it.
April 29, 2017
The Darkest Lies is a captivating and brilliant read from Barbara Copperthwiate. This novel takes the ideal and seemingly perfect family unit and turns it on its head. Secrets are kept in this tiny rural village, located by desolate marshland and, as a reader, I got to spy on all of its occupants. This is a somewhat disturbing, chilling read that had me racing through the pages, savouring every word. I found it hugely enjoyable.
The novel is fast paced throughout, it really doesn't let up from the moment you read the somewhat chilling prologue. It left me frantically gripping onto the cliffhanger, wondering what on earth had just happened. It's such a clever start to the novel and sets the scene beautifully for just how desolate the marshes are in this quiet and sleepy little rural village. In fact, the way in which the village and its inhabitants are evoked is so descriptive, I actually felt like I lived there.
The Darkest Lies illuminated family life and that every perfect family has its own share of secrets. When thirteen-year-old Beth is found left for dead in a cold creek on the boundaries of the village, Melanie begins her own investigation in the village to find out what happened to her daughter and who attacked her. What she discovers is that her daughter had her own share of secrets and Melanie begins to question who she can trust. Melanie was an interesting character and I understood her completely. Partly because she is a mother like me, and that as a mother you would do everything in your power to protect your child. I understood her need to find out the truth and I was with her one hundred percent on this. I also believed in her because of the skilful witting, I saw what she did, I was with her every step of the way during her journey, during every twist and turn.
This is a dark novel, and I'll admit that it unsettled me. The fact that a family could have their entre world turned on its axis was shocking. I could have been reading about my family, or a family down the road. Parents who loved each other, and their daughter, began to question each other and had to face the harsh reality that they didn't know everything about their not so little girl. This is what really unsettled me, that our children are not children forever and that they need to forge their own path. It's just that sometimes we have no idea of what is really going on in their lives.
This is really a novel of two stories. We have Melanie's story, as she strives to find her daughter's attacker and uncover her hidden secrets, as well as the story from the attacker's point of view, an unknown voice that I found completely compelling. The two timelines work wonderfully well together and create a gripping narrative, right until the final, surprising twist. I honestly did not see it coming.
The Darkest Lies is a dark, compelling and unforgettable read that had me hooked from the very beginning. The final paragraph haunted me, long after I had finished reading.
The Darkest Lies is published by Bookouture on 12 May 2017.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.
The novel is fast paced throughout, it really doesn't let up from the moment you read the somewhat chilling prologue. It left me frantically gripping onto the cliffhanger, wondering what on earth had just happened. It's such a clever start to the novel and sets the scene beautifully for just how desolate the marshes are in this quiet and sleepy little rural village. In fact, the way in which the village and its inhabitants are evoked is so descriptive, I actually felt like I lived there.
The Darkest Lies illuminated family life and that every perfect family has its own share of secrets. When thirteen-year-old Beth is found left for dead in a cold creek on the boundaries of the village, Melanie begins her own investigation in the village to find out what happened to her daughter and who attacked her. What she discovers is that her daughter had her own share of secrets and Melanie begins to question who she can trust. Melanie was an interesting character and I understood her completely. Partly because she is a mother like me, and that as a mother you would do everything in your power to protect your child. I understood her need to find out the truth and I was with her one hundred percent on this. I also believed in her because of the skilful witting, I saw what she did, I was with her every step of the way during her journey, during every twist and turn.
This is a dark novel, and I'll admit that it unsettled me. The fact that a family could have their entre world turned on its axis was shocking. I could have been reading about my family, or a family down the road. Parents who loved each other, and their daughter, began to question each other and had to face the harsh reality that they didn't know everything about their not so little girl. This is what really unsettled me, that our children are not children forever and that they need to forge their own path. It's just that sometimes we have no idea of what is really going on in their lives.
This is really a novel of two stories. We have Melanie's story, as she strives to find her daughter's attacker and uncover her hidden secrets, as well as the story from the attacker's point of view, an unknown voice that I found completely compelling. The two timelines work wonderfully well together and create a gripping narrative, right until the final, surprising twist. I honestly did not see it coming.
The Darkest Lies is a dark, compelling and unforgettable read that had me hooked from the very beginning. The final paragraph haunted me, long after I had finished reading.
The Darkest Lies is published by Bookouture on 12 May 2017.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.
September 4, 2017
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I really enjoyed it.
I got hooked in pretty quickly as Beth went missing. A parent’s worst nightmare come true.
I liked the way it was told from Melanie and Beth’s point of view, and also from an unknown narrator.
It is a suspenseful read. How Melanie slowly unravelled was hard to read.
It got under my skin as I tried to work out how people could be involved. The twist sure got me, and I never guessed along the way.
Thoroughly recommended by me.
I loved the cover, very appealing.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
https://steflozbookblog.wordpress.com...
I got hooked in pretty quickly as Beth went missing. A parent’s worst nightmare come true.
I liked the way it was told from Melanie and Beth’s point of view, and also from an unknown narrator.
It is a suspenseful read. How Melanie slowly unravelled was hard to read.
It got under my skin as I tried to work out how people could be involved. The twist sure got me, and I never guessed along the way.
Thoroughly recommended by me.
I loved the cover, very appealing.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
https://steflozbookblog.wordpress.com...
May 20, 2017
A well written fast paced thriller dealing with the aftermath of a young girl Beth being left for dead on marshland after misleading her parents as to where she was spending the night.
The narrative unfolds through three narrators - Beth's mother, Melanie, a mysterious narrator who is obviously a murderer and through Beth herself in flashback.
The twists are good and not seen coming though I did work out who the mystery narrator was quite early on.
The thing that did not sit well with me was the narrative of the mother. This was in the format of conversations with her very ill daughter and yet she hardly seemed to spend anytime with her. I couldn't take to Melanie at all - I am sure most mothers would spend every minute with a daughter who was probably going to die.
Otherwise I would recommend and would indeed be interested to see what others think.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this review copy.
The narrative unfolds through three narrators - Beth's mother, Melanie, a mysterious narrator who is obviously a murderer and through Beth herself in flashback.
The twists are good and not seen coming though I did work out who the mystery narrator was quite early on.
The thing that did not sit well with me was the narrative of the mother. This was in the format of conversations with her very ill daughter and yet she hardly seemed to spend anytime with her. I couldn't take to Melanie at all - I am sure most mothers would spend every minute with a daughter who was probably going to die.
Otherwise I would recommend and would indeed be interested to see what others think.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this review copy.
May 18, 2017
One of the first things that attracted me to this story was the setting. The wild and sometimes quite desolate Lincolnshire Fens. I live in Lincolnshire and I like nothing better to be able to really see a setting when I read a book. Barbara Copperthwaite has based the village of Fenmere on Friskney, and her great knowledge of the place adds so much to the telling of the story. That damp, silent, mysterious fenland takes centre stage in this book, beautifully and authentically described.
The Darkest Lies is a story of family and community. When teenager Beth Oak is found terribly injured on the marshes, shockwaves reverberate throughout Fenmore. This is a tiny village, inhabited by people who have spent most of their lives there. Their families are there, their friends and their workmates. Nothing ever happens in Fenmore, until now.
Beth's mother Melanie is determined that she will find out who did this to her beloved daughter. As Beth lies unconscious in a Leeds hospital, Melanie's world breaks into tiny pieces. She gives up her job, she tries to numb the pain with alcohol. She suspects anyone and everyone and she confronts anyone who she thinks may know something.
As Melanie's quest continues, her relationship with her husband Jacob starts to crumble. She sees a side to him that confuses her and disappoints her and begins to spend more time with an old friend from childhood who has recently returned to the village.
Told in three voices, The Darkest Lies is certainly a page turner. Young Beth's narrative was particularly engaging, as she has some very dark secrets she keeps from everyone who is close to her. Nestled between Beth's voice and that of Melanie are snippets from an unknown voice, but one that is quite terrifying. I did sometimes struggle with Melanie's narrative. She speaks to Beth as she relates her part of the story, and it felt a little forced and disjointed, sometimes she'd refer to her husband as Jacob, and other times he became 'your Dad'. I found this a little bit disorientating and each time it happened, it took me away from the story. Annoying as a reader, and maybe something for the author and her editor to consider?
Despite this, I did enjoy The Darkest Lies. Barbara Copperthwaite can certainly create a gripping story, and she deals with some very relevant and up to date issues; touching on the difficulties that Eastern European immigrants can encounter in Lincolnshire, and also delving into some darker and quite serious subjects.
I certainly didn't guess how this was going to end! The finale was very well written, with shocks and gasps a plenty. The Darkest Lies is a riveting read, the characters are very well crafted, although I have to say that I really didn't like many of them. However, the setting and sense of place is brilliantly portrayed, and adds real depth to the story.
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The Darkest Lies is a story of family and community. When teenager Beth Oak is found terribly injured on the marshes, shockwaves reverberate throughout Fenmore. This is a tiny village, inhabited by people who have spent most of their lives there. Their families are there, their friends and their workmates. Nothing ever happens in Fenmore, until now.
Beth's mother Melanie is determined that she will find out who did this to her beloved daughter. As Beth lies unconscious in a Leeds hospital, Melanie's world breaks into tiny pieces. She gives up her job, she tries to numb the pain with alcohol. She suspects anyone and everyone and she confronts anyone who she thinks may know something.
As Melanie's quest continues, her relationship with her husband Jacob starts to crumble. She sees a side to him that confuses her and disappoints her and begins to spend more time with an old friend from childhood who has recently returned to the village.
Told in three voices, The Darkest Lies is certainly a page turner. Young Beth's narrative was particularly engaging, as she has some very dark secrets she keeps from everyone who is close to her. Nestled between Beth's voice and that of Melanie are snippets from an unknown voice, but one that is quite terrifying. I did sometimes struggle with Melanie's narrative. She speaks to Beth as she relates her part of the story, and it felt a little forced and disjointed, sometimes she'd refer to her husband as Jacob, and other times he became 'your Dad'. I found this a little bit disorientating and each time it happened, it took me away from the story. Annoying as a reader, and maybe something for the author and her editor to consider?
Despite this, I did enjoy The Darkest Lies. Barbara Copperthwaite can certainly create a gripping story, and she deals with some very relevant and up to date issues; touching on the difficulties that Eastern European immigrants can encounter in Lincolnshire, and also delving into some darker and quite serious subjects.
I certainly didn't guess how this was going to end! The finale was very well written, with shocks and gasps a plenty. The Darkest Lies is a riveting read, the characters are very well crafted, although I have to say that I really didn't like many of them. However, the setting and sense of place is brilliantly portrayed, and adds real depth to the story.
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May 14, 2017
I’m a huge fan of Barbara Copperthwaites previous books, especially Flowers For The Dead, so I was delighted when she signed with the publisher Bookouture and I have been waiting patiently for her first book with them. Thankfully, I have been rewarded for my patience with The Darkest Lies- a darkly addictive and creepy page turner that had me on the edge of my seat. And it came with one of the most perfect covers I have seen this year so far!
I have always loved thrillers that centre around family dilemmas but The Darkest Lies took my emotions and wrung them dry very quickly indeed! I connected straight away with the character of Melanie when her daughter Beth goes missing. So from the very start I became immersed in her search for first her daughter and then her daughter’s attacker. I think it was the way that she spoke to Beth as if she was right there beside her, trying to keep their relationship and memories alive whilst realising that the daughter she though she knew had been keeping secrets from her. By using that style of narrative, Barbara absolutely nailed it with her portrayal of a grief stricken mother trying to reconcile the daughter she knew with the teenage girl who has started to lead her own life away from her family’s influences. It can be a difficult time for parents when their little girls are so desperate to grow up that the acceptance of their peers becomes more important to them than their parents. But they need to test their wings before they fly and sometimes this involves secrets, lies and putting themselves into situations without thinking about the dangers they could face. Whilst reading this, the fears I went through as a parent to 3 teenage girls all came flooding back, remembering the nights lying awake and unable to sleep until they were all safely tucked up in my nest once more.
This was so beautifully written, realistically full of emotion but with an unexpected darkness and a fascinating twist to the tale! The last few chapters were breathtakingly shocking with developments I hadn’t been expecting and the final pages were absolutely brilliant, leaving me with goosebumps!
I can highly recommend The Darkest Lies for an engrossing, tension filled thriller that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you emotionally drained. I loved every minute of it.
I have always loved thrillers that centre around family dilemmas but The Darkest Lies took my emotions and wrung them dry very quickly indeed! I connected straight away with the character of Melanie when her daughter Beth goes missing. So from the very start I became immersed in her search for first her daughter and then her daughter’s attacker. I think it was the way that she spoke to Beth as if she was right there beside her, trying to keep their relationship and memories alive whilst realising that the daughter she though she knew had been keeping secrets from her. By using that style of narrative, Barbara absolutely nailed it with her portrayal of a grief stricken mother trying to reconcile the daughter she knew with the teenage girl who has started to lead her own life away from her family’s influences. It can be a difficult time for parents when their little girls are so desperate to grow up that the acceptance of their peers becomes more important to them than their parents. But they need to test their wings before they fly and sometimes this involves secrets, lies and putting themselves into situations without thinking about the dangers they could face. Whilst reading this, the fears I went through as a parent to 3 teenage girls all came flooding back, remembering the nights lying awake and unable to sleep until they were all safely tucked up in my nest once more.
This was so beautifully written, realistically full of emotion but with an unexpected darkness and a fascinating twist to the tale! The last few chapters were breathtakingly shocking with developments I hadn’t been expecting and the final pages were absolutely brilliant, leaving me with goosebumps!
I can highly recommend The Darkest Lies for an engrossing, tension filled thriller that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you emotionally drained. I loved every minute of it.
December 11, 2017
Living in a close knit small community where everyone knows everyone it's not surprising that almost everyone there is under suspicion when a young girl goes missing. How can no one know what happened to this innocent, nature loving happy 13 year old? This story takes us through the whole range of emotions and the obsession of a mother trying to get to the truth.
For me this is more of a domestic suspense than a psychological thriller and whilst I was at times frustrated by Melanie's thought process and behaviour to the point where I wanted to physically shake her, I could relate to the utter grief and need to know that propelled these actions. It's a definite page turner, compelling story of twists, deceit and misdirection - kept me guessing until the very end.
For me this is more of a domestic suspense than a psychological thriller and whilst I was at times frustrated by Melanie's thought process and behaviour to the point where I wanted to physically shake her, I could relate to the utter grief and need to know that propelled these actions. It's a definite page turner, compelling story of twists, deceit and misdirection - kept me guessing until the very end.
May 17, 2017
Review to come
June 7, 2017
Flowers for the Dead left such a lasting impression on me that I was maybe a little harsh in my ‘bar-setting’ for The Darkest Lies. It had to be good, and I mean really, really, unequivocally, stupendously good to merit a five star rating from me (sorry Barbara Copperthwaite, us readers have pretty high, almost unachievable standards sometimes. It’s not just me, is it…?). This book took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The lies, the deceit, the secrets and the fear. It was all beautifully done. But what I loved the most, and what hasn’t happened to me while reading for a LONG time is that I bawled my eyes out. It was one of those big, ugly cries that is uncontrollable and very snotty. Now I only tend to read crime and psychological thriller novels so I’m pretty used to bad things happening to good people. And I’ve read some pretty difficult and heartbreaking stuff over the years, but this book…..this book!!! This book was the one to convey the characters pain and turn this badass tough-nut reader into a smushy pile of tears. Amazing stuff!
Thirteen year old Beth Oak plans to spend the night at her friend’s house. Mani/pedi’s are on the agenda, lots of giggly girlie talk about boys and a sickening sweet midnight feast. Well, that’s what Beth is telling her mum anyway. Beth has other, much more mature things planned for her evening. But first she needs to escape her mother and make it to the cricket pavilion in time for her date.
Melanie Oak, Beth’s mum is completely oblivious to her daughter’s hidden agenda. She leaves her outside her friend’s house and heads home to husband, Jacob and her warm bed. Only in the morning, when she starts to question what time Beth will be home does she realise something is terribly wrong. Beth is missing. Beth’s BFF doesn’t know where she is and no one from the village has seen her (despite someone, somewhere always seeing something). Melanie begins to fall apart, drinking herself into oblivion and pushing friends and life-long neighbours away. A chance encounter one evening in the local pub gives her the idea to start her own investigation. After all the police, headed by DS Devonport, aren’t doing anything constructive so what harm could it do? Will Melanie be able to discover what dark secrets her daughter was keeping and exactly what happened to Beth that fateful evening?
One of the first things which struck me about this book was the use of the second person narrative. I’ve been pondering on this for a while now, trying to remember the last book I read which took this approach and I can’t think of a single one. It’s unusual and made the book feel immediately different to other missing child stories.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. There I was watching this once happy and content woman unravel before my eyes. The anguish, the fear, the fading hope all eating away at what was once a strong family-centred woman. Oh, and the suspicion. I loved how suspicious Melanie became of everyone around her. The turning away of neighbours when they saw her coming down the street. The strange flickering looks on their faces when they couldn’t escape Melanie’s interrogation. The guarded sympathy, all wonderfully written to cast suspicion and doubt on most of the villagers.
Despite trying hard to work out what had happened to Beth, I didn’t succeed. I was surprised (in the best way possible) by the reveal as I certainly didn’t see that one coming. That however, is not the end of the story. I had certain suspicions about one aspect of the book so when those suspicions were confirmed it made up for my sleuth powers letting me down in the first instance.
Would I recommend this book? I loved The Darkest Lies and will heartily recommend it to anyone who will listen. I adored the closing chapters which made me give a little cheer despite something quite horrific happening. Although good doesn’t come out of this book completely unscathed, it does eventually win in the end…..just with a little rust and mud taking the shine off of its halo.
Five out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of The Darkest Lies. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Thirteen year old Beth Oak plans to spend the night at her friend’s house. Mani/pedi’s are on the agenda, lots of giggly girlie talk about boys and a sickening sweet midnight feast. Well, that’s what Beth is telling her mum anyway. Beth has other, much more mature things planned for her evening. But first she needs to escape her mother and make it to the cricket pavilion in time for her date.
Melanie Oak, Beth’s mum is completely oblivious to her daughter’s hidden agenda. She leaves her outside her friend’s house and heads home to husband, Jacob and her warm bed. Only in the morning, when she starts to question what time Beth will be home does she realise something is terribly wrong. Beth is missing. Beth’s BFF doesn’t know where she is and no one from the village has seen her (despite someone, somewhere always seeing something). Melanie begins to fall apart, drinking herself into oblivion and pushing friends and life-long neighbours away. A chance encounter one evening in the local pub gives her the idea to start her own investigation. After all the police, headed by DS Devonport, aren’t doing anything constructive so what harm could it do? Will Melanie be able to discover what dark secrets her daughter was keeping and exactly what happened to Beth that fateful evening?
One of the first things which struck me about this book was the use of the second person narrative. I’ve been pondering on this for a while now, trying to remember the last book I read which took this approach and I can’t think of a single one. It’s unusual and made the book feel immediately different to other missing child stories.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. There I was watching this once happy and content woman unravel before my eyes. The anguish, the fear, the fading hope all eating away at what was once a strong family-centred woman. Oh, and the suspicion. I loved how suspicious Melanie became of everyone around her. The turning away of neighbours when they saw her coming down the street. The strange flickering looks on their faces when they couldn’t escape Melanie’s interrogation. The guarded sympathy, all wonderfully written to cast suspicion and doubt on most of the villagers.
Despite trying hard to work out what had happened to Beth, I didn’t succeed. I was surprised (in the best way possible) by the reveal as I certainly didn’t see that one coming. That however, is not the end of the story. I had certain suspicions about one aspect of the book so when those suspicions were confirmed it made up for my sleuth powers letting me down in the first instance.
Would I recommend this book? I loved The Darkest Lies and will heartily recommend it to anyone who will listen. I adored the closing chapters which made me give a little cheer despite something quite horrific happening. Although good doesn’t come out of this book completely unscathed, it does eventually win in the end…..just with a little rust and mud taking the shine off of its halo.
Five out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of The Darkest Lies. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 2, 2017
This is an atmospheric and gripping read. Barbara takes you into village life, and how everyone knows everyone else's business, apart from what happened to Beth...or do they?
The story is written from two points of view, Beth and her mother, Mel. This way of writing got me more intrigued about what had happened to Beth, than if it had been written from just Mel's point of view.
There are some really great descriptive passages throughout the book. They're not pacy or action packed, but used well to put you inside the story. They help you create a picture of where the various events took place.
I enjoyed this book. It's a tense and keeps you turning the pages.
The story is written from two points of view, Beth and her mother, Mel. This way of writing got me more intrigued about what had happened to Beth, than if it had been written from just Mel's point of view.
There are some really great descriptive passages throughout the book. They're not pacy or action packed, but used well to put you inside the story. They help you create a picture of where the various events took place.
I enjoyed this book. It's a tense and keeps you turning the pages.
September 6, 2023
You know that age in every teenager’s life where they start to become a little bit rebellious? Telling little white lies, sneaking out, hanging out with crowds they know the family wouldn’t approve of? It can be a scary time for parents, who knows who’s out there? The Darkest Lies is every parent’s worst nightmare and follows a mother who finds her world shattered when her daughter goes missing.
I’m going to come right out and say that this book was frustrating for me. The synopsis really caught my eye and the idea for the plot is intriguing. Unfortunately, issues with the protagonist as well as a shaky and highly predictable plot made for a mediocre experience.
The narration in this book was a little bit weird and I had a hard time getting used to it. It is primarily told using the first person point of view though switches regularly to the second person as Melanie speaks directly to Beth in her inner monologue. It was just uncomfortable to read.
What’s so bad about the first person’s point of view? See the issue for me with first-person narration is that it’s easy to end up alienating readers if it’s difficult to relate to the narrator, and boy did I dislike Melanie. To be blunt, she was really annoying. She was self-centered, mean-spirited, often blinded by her own hubris, and near the end has a bit of a messiah complex going which I found completely ridiculous. She was constantly complaining about the police’s incompetence, throwing herself in the way of the investigation despite being asked multiple times to back off before she could destroy their leads.
I get it, she’s consumed with guilt and grief over what happened to her daughter, over not being able to protect her. Desperate people tend to lash out and do stupid things, but I just couldn’t believe anyone would be so foolish. Melanie’s antics do lead up to something important in the plot, but honestly, she didn’t need any help making a fool of herself. Before all the crazy came out she was constantly breaking down every female character she encountered, often focusing in on their looks and finding ways to insult them. Neighbors, police officers working on the case, teenagers, it didn’t matter. There are numerous examples of Melanie exhibiting this jealous personality throughout the course of the book.
She spends more time going on drunken rampages pointing fingers at everyone in town, harassing the police, treating her husband like garbage while emotionally cheating with a friend, and avoiding actually seeing and being there for her daughter. While her awful actions over the course of the book are an important aspect of the plot, I just couldn’t justify it because she never learns and remains stubborn even after being told off multiple times. Add on top of how stereotypically reckless she acts at the end instead of seeking help from the police because of course she doesn’t need them and I just couldn’t dig the story.
I liked the central idea around the dangers of teens sneaking out and trusting strangers, but the story meandered so much it kind of gets lost in Melanie’s mental collapse and crazed search for the culprit. The plot attempts to use some misdirection to keep the reader guessing but the construction was just sloppy, and the actual culprit isn’t even the character that Melanie cares about the most. Every “bad” character is so blatantly obvious that the advertised twist is really easy to see. I kept on reading because I wanted to know the how and the why. I think there was potential here, and if the author wanted to stick to the narrative that Mel is actually really nice and is just being manipulated than why is she so petty and controlling? She is still unable to see past her own emotions or learn from her mistakes. I wished that this could’ve ended with more character growth for the main character.
Disclaimer: Received a copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley
I’m going to come right out and say that this book was frustrating for me. The synopsis really caught my eye and the idea for the plot is intriguing. Unfortunately, issues with the protagonist as well as a shaky and highly predictable plot made for a mediocre experience.
The narration in this book was a little bit weird and I had a hard time getting used to it. It is primarily told using the first person point of view though switches regularly to the second person as Melanie speaks directly to Beth in her inner monologue. It was just uncomfortable to read.
What’s so bad about the first person’s point of view? See the issue for me with first-person narration is that it’s easy to end up alienating readers if it’s difficult to relate to the narrator, and boy did I dislike Melanie. To be blunt, she was really annoying. She was self-centered, mean-spirited, often blinded by her own hubris, and near the end has a bit of a messiah complex going which I found completely ridiculous. She was constantly complaining about the police’s incompetence, throwing herself in the way of the investigation despite being asked multiple times to back off before she could destroy their leads.
I get it, she’s consumed with guilt and grief over what happened to her daughter, over not being able to protect her. Desperate people tend to lash out and do stupid things, but I just couldn’t believe anyone would be so foolish. Melanie’s antics do lead up to something important in the plot, but honestly, she didn’t need any help making a fool of herself. Before all the crazy came out she was constantly breaking down every female character she encountered, often focusing in on their looks and finding ways to insult them. Neighbors, police officers working on the case, teenagers, it didn’t matter. There are numerous examples of Melanie exhibiting this jealous personality throughout the course of the book.
She spends more time going on drunken rampages pointing fingers at everyone in town, harassing the police, treating her husband like garbage while emotionally cheating with a friend, and avoiding actually seeing and being there for her daughter. While her awful actions over the course of the book are an important aspect of the plot, I just couldn’t justify it because she never learns and remains stubborn even after being told off multiple times. Add on top of how stereotypically reckless she acts at the end instead of seeking help from the police because of course she doesn’t need them and I just couldn’t dig the story.
I liked the central idea around the dangers of teens sneaking out and trusting strangers, but the story meandered so much it kind of gets lost in Melanie’s mental collapse and crazed search for the culprit. The plot attempts to use some misdirection to keep the reader guessing but the construction was just sloppy, and the actual culprit isn’t even the character that Melanie cares about the most. Every “bad” character is so blatantly obvious that the advertised twist is really easy to see. I kept on reading because I wanted to know the how and the why. I think there was potential here, and if the author wanted to stick to the narrative that Mel is actually really nice and is just being manipulated than why is she so petty and controlling? She is still unable to see past her own emotions or learn from her mistakes. I wished that this could’ve ended with more character growth for the main character.
Disclaimer: Received a copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley
November 3, 2019
Loved this book, gripping , twists and very moving
January 29, 2018
Every parent’s greatest fear is that something terrible with happen to their child, and in The Darkest Lies, this becomes reality for Jacob and Melanie Oak when their daughter, Beth, goes missing. Their nightmare is only just beginning, however, because when Beth is found, she has been beaten nearly to death. Melanie is determined to find out who hurt her daughter, not realizing her search is putting her own life in jeopardy.
What an intense read this was! It kept me guessing from start to finish, and I think I suspected pretty much everyone that was mentioned in the story, except Melanie. Copperthwaite did an excellent job of making everyone seem guilty at one point or another in this fast-paced thriller. I’m happy to report that I didn’t have a clue about the attacker’s identity until it was revealed. And what a reveal it was! I never saw it coming… totally blew me away!
This is the first novel I’ve read by Copperthwaite, but it definitely won’t be the last! Definitely recommending this one… such a great read!
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.
What an intense read this was! It kept me guessing from start to finish, and I think I suspected pretty much everyone that was mentioned in the story, except Melanie. Copperthwaite did an excellent job of making everyone seem guilty at one point or another in this fast-paced thriller. I’m happy to report that I didn’t have a clue about the attacker’s identity until it was revealed. And what a reveal it was! I never saw it coming… totally blew me away!
This is the first novel I’ve read by Copperthwaite, but it definitely won’t be the last! Definitely recommending this one… such a great read!
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.
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