What do you think?
Rate this book
Between the Lies
In the vein of Allison Brennan, Michelle Adams's Between the Lies is an addictive psychological thriller with twists that keep the reader guessing until the last page, in which a woman who's lost her memory is back home with a family she doesn't know—who are keeping secrets of their own. The truth is hiding between the lies.What would you do if you woke up and didn't know who you were?
Chloe Daniels regains consciousness in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
She doesn't recognise the strangers who call themselves family. She can't even remember her own name.
What if your past remained a mystery?
As she slowly recovers, her parents and sister begin to share details of her life.
The successful career. The seaside home. The near-fatal car crash.
But Chloe senses they're keeping dark secrets—and her determination to uncover the truth will have devastating consequences.
What if the people you should be able to trust are lying to you?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2019
79 people are currently reading
5075 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Adams
4 books321 followersI was born in 1981, the youngest of five and the only girl. For a short period of time after that I might have been my mum's long awaited princess, but it became obvious that I was the kind of child who was more into mud pies and catching insects than I was pretty dresses. I loved my purple Doc Marten's, hated my floral wallpaper, and was never allowed to paint my bedroom black. No, not even the ceiling.
I went to school in Warwick, UK, and throughout my school years I loved art, music, and English, yet somehow managed to end up studying clinical science at university. Despite my graduation and subsequent employment as a physiologist in cardiology, my creative tendencies were never far away. And the one aspiration I could never let go of was that of being a writer, so on a wet new year's eve sometime around the turn of the millennium, I announced to a friend that I was going to write a book. It took another five years of note taking and day dreaming, but eventually I sat down to complete my first manuscript. It didn't get picked up, but it drove me into writing the second, and third, and so on and so forth. By early 2015 I had finished writing MY SISTER, and I was offered representation by the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV, and Film Agency. MY SISTER became my debut, and it is hotly followed by BETWEEN THE LIES in July 2018.
Now I write almost every day, starting at nine, finishing at some point in the afternoon. Sometimes people ask me where I get my idea's from, and it's a hard question to answer. Lot's of things inspire me, but if I had to sum it up in one word the answer would probably be people; the things we do, say, and the different ways in which we behave towards one another. When I’m not writing I love to read. The first book that I didn't want to end was Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and the first book that broke my heart was Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Gerald's Game by Stephen King was the spark that made me want to write in the first place. I think I was probably about nine when I read that.
I like people who don't give up on their dreams, and those who show compassion for other people. I am crazy about my cat, and fortunate that the other people in my house tolerate him. I love travelling, and am lucky enough to live close to Greece which has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm currently training for the London marathon, so if you've got training tips, or ideas on how to avoid shin splints, I want to hear them. Finally, if you love Game of Thrones you can count me as a friend, but if you shared my theory regarding the Tower of Joy before you watched THAT episode, or have access to a pre-release copy of The Winds of Winter, you can count yourself part of the family.
I went to school in Warwick, UK, and throughout my school years I loved art, music, and English, yet somehow managed to end up studying clinical science at university. Despite my graduation and subsequent employment as a physiologist in cardiology, my creative tendencies were never far away. And the one aspiration I could never let go of was that of being a writer, so on a wet new year's eve sometime around the turn of the millennium, I announced to a friend that I was going to write a book. It took another five years of note taking and day dreaming, but eventually I sat down to complete my first manuscript. It didn't get picked up, but it drove me into writing the second, and third, and so on and so forth. By early 2015 I had finished writing MY SISTER, and I was offered representation by the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV, and Film Agency. MY SISTER became my debut, and it is hotly followed by BETWEEN THE LIES in July 2018.
Now I write almost every day, starting at nine, finishing at some point in the afternoon. Sometimes people ask me where I get my idea's from, and it's a hard question to answer. Lot's of things inspire me, but if I had to sum it up in one word the answer would probably be people; the things we do, say, and the different ways in which we behave towards one another. When I’m not writing I love to read. The first book that I didn't want to end was Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and the first book that broke my heart was Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Gerald's Game by Stephen King was the spark that made me want to write in the first place. I think I was probably about nine when I read that.
I like people who don't give up on their dreams, and those who show compassion for other people. I am crazy about my cat, and fortunate that the other people in my house tolerate him. I love travelling, and am lucky enough to live close to Greece which has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm currently training for the London marathon, so if you've got training tips, or ideas on how to avoid shin splints, I want to hear them. Finally, if you love Game of Thrones you can count me as a friend, but if you shared my theory regarding the Tower of Joy before you watched THAT episode, or have access to a pre-release copy of The Winds of Winter, you can count yourself part of the family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews
November 3, 2022
When Chloe Daniels awakens in a hospital, she can't remember who she is, or even how she got there.
Surrounded by people claiming to be her family, Chloe is scared and unsure who she can trust.
She has no memories at all.
Soon they are whisking her home and setting her up in a room they say is hers, but still nothing seems familiar.
The man who says he is her Father, also happens to be a psychiatrist, and begins holding sessions with Chloe to help regain her memories.
As the story unfolds, Chloe does begin to get flashbacks, both of the night of her accident and before.
Through recollections, and speaking with those around her, the story of her life begins to be pieced together.
I found Between the Lies to be a fast-paced and compelling read. It is intense right from the very beginning.
You know there has to be a 'baddie' in this story and I suspected everyone, including Chloe herself!
When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it and to me, that is a sign of a good one. I did eventually guess the baddie prior to the reveal, but it was still a hella fun time getting to the end.
Additionally, there was a twist I wasn't expecting and the final page left me with a sinister smile on my face. A result I always enjoy!!
Overall, I felt this to be a solid, absorbing Psychological Thriller.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. As always, I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to reading more by Michelle Adams in the future.
Surrounded by people claiming to be her family, Chloe is scared and unsure who she can trust.
She has no memories at all.
Soon they are whisking her home and setting her up in a room they say is hers, but still nothing seems familiar.
The man who says he is her Father, also happens to be a psychiatrist, and begins holding sessions with Chloe to help regain her memories.
As the story unfolds, Chloe does begin to get flashbacks, both of the night of her accident and before.
Through recollections, and speaking with those around her, the story of her life begins to be pieced together.
I found Between the Lies to be a fast-paced and compelling read. It is intense right from the very beginning.
You know there has to be a 'baddie' in this story and I suspected everyone, including Chloe herself!
When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it and to me, that is a sign of a good one. I did eventually guess the baddie prior to the reveal, but it was still a hella fun time getting to the end.
Additionally, there was a twist I wasn't expecting and the final page left me with a sinister smile on my face. A result I always enjoy!!
Overall, I felt this to be a solid, absorbing Psychological Thriller.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. As always, I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to reading more by Michelle Adams in the future.
February 2, 2019
Chloe Daniels wakes up from a coma and has no memory of how she got there. There are people visiting her who say they are her family, she has no memory of them, she doesn't recognize her name, if she had a career, where she lived, etc.
As Chloe slowly starts to recover, her family begins to give her little spinets of information about her life, where she lived and that she was involved in a car crash. But even with no memory, Chloe knows that something isn't right. Something doesn't feel right. Can she trust what they are telling her? Could they be lying to her? She is having dreams and wonders if what she is dreaming could be real. As she continues to make improvements, she becomes determined to know the truth- no matter what.
So, I think we have read a few books with characters who wake up in a hospital with no memory. Here is another and yet, it is captivating. It became a real page turner for me as I wanted to learn the truth! Early on it becomes evident that things are not right. Heck, the word “lies” is the title. So, I knew someone had to being telling a tale or two…but who? Or maybe everyone is lying. Or maybe Chloe is lying? The fun was trying to determine what was true and what was a lie. Plus, if her family is lying, why? Who has something to hide? If they are hiding something, why? So many questions went through my mind. I had my theories. I am guessing that quite a few people will guess a twist or two. There is quite a bit going on in this book and I did guess some things but not everything. Even with the things I did guess, I still really enjoyed the book.
This book had layers. With each reveal, the reader learns more about Chloe, her past and the events leading up to her being unconscious in the hospital. I could feel Chloe's fear, frustration, and doubt. Imagine being both physically and mentally impaired. Imagine being at the mercy of people you do not remember. People who you being to doubt and the things they are telling you do not sit right with you.
Absorbing is a word I would use to describe this book. I was riveted to the pages and had my own doubts about some of the characters. Well done psychological thriller that did not disappoint.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thought and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
As Chloe slowly starts to recover, her family begins to give her little spinets of information about her life, where she lived and that she was involved in a car crash. But even with no memory, Chloe knows that something isn't right. Something doesn't feel right. Can she trust what they are telling her? Could they be lying to her? She is having dreams and wonders if what she is dreaming could be real. As she continues to make improvements, she becomes determined to know the truth- no matter what.
So, I think we have read a few books with characters who wake up in a hospital with no memory. Here is another and yet, it is captivating. It became a real page turner for me as I wanted to learn the truth! Early on it becomes evident that things are not right. Heck, the word “lies” is the title. So, I knew someone had to being telling a tale or two…but who? Or maybe everyone is lying. Or maybe Chloe is lying? The fun was trying to determine what was true and what was a lie. Plus, if her family is lying, why? Who has something to hide? If they are hiding something, why? So many questions went through my mind. I had my theories. I am guessing that quite a few people will guess a twist or two. There is quite a bit going on in this book and I did guess some things but not everything. Even with the things I did guess, I still really enjoyed the book.
This book had layers. With each reveal, the reader learns more about Chloe, her past and the events leading up to her being unconscious in the hospital. I could feel Chloe's fear, frustration, and doubt. Imagine being both physically and mentally impaired. Imagine being at the mercy of people you do not remember. People who you being to doubt and the things they are telling you do not sit right with you.
Absorbing is a word I would use to describe this book. I was riveted to the pages and had my own doubts about some of the characters. Well done psychological thriller that did not disappoint.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thought and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 20, 2019
3.5 stars, rounded up
What a deliciously creepy premise! Chloe is in a car accident, the after effect of which is amnesia. She has no memory of her prior life. Her parents take her back to their home, but don’t tell her much at all about her life and refuse to let her visit her own home or even leave their grounds. What are they trying to hide from her?
The book definitely grabbed me. My mind was coming up with all different reasons Chloe’s family seems determined to keep her from the truth. Which one, if any, was the correct one? Are they protecting her from herself or someone else?
There were times I questioned why Chloe didn’t take some elementary steps to learn the truth.
The book is told mostly from Chloe’s POV, other than some intermittent chapters from an unknown person. Once again, there are multiple possibilities of whom this unknown person could be.
Nice short chapters and told in a mostly linear fashion. (Is anyone besides me getting tired of books that have frequent changes in time?) Lots of twists and turns. Some but not all were easy to figure out.
The book starts much stronger than it finishes. The ending veers too much into the unbelievable category. As is always the case with amnesia plot lines, her memory comes back at a very convenient time.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
What a deliciously creepy premise! Chloe is in a car accident, the after effect of which is amnesia. She has no memory of her prior life. Her parents take her back to their home, but don’t tell her much at all about her life and refuse to let her visit her own home or even leave their grounds. What are they trying to hide from her?
The book definitely grabbed me. My mind was coming up with all different reasons Chloe’s family seems determined to keep her from the truth. Which one, if any, was the correct one? Are they protecting her from herself or someone else?
There were times I questioned why Chloe didn’t take some elementary steps to learn the truth.
The book is told mostly from Chloe’s POV, other than some intermittent chapters from an unknown person. Once again, there are multiple possibilities of whom this unknown person could be.
Nice short chapters and told in a mostly linear fashion. (Is anyone besides me getting tired of books that have frequent changes in time?) Lots of twists and turns. Some but not all were easy to figure out.
The book starts much stronger than it finishes. The ending veers too much into the unbelievable category. As is always the case with amnesia plot lines, her memory comes back at a very convenient time.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
February 12, 2019
3.5 Stars
Can you guess who the liar is?
Just the thought of waking up in a hospital and not knowing who you are or how you got there is such a terrifying scenario. Chloe is told that she was involved in a terrible car accident, but she has no memory of her past.
When Chloe leaves the hospital she goes to live with a family that she doesn't remember, she doesn't know them. Her father is a doctor and is treating her amnesia, but is he telling her everything? Why would he lie to her? I didn't trust him either. Plenty of unreliable characters pop up in this book!
Lots of guessing and some suspenseful moments made this one a twisted puzzle. I liked Chloe and wanted a happy ending for her. The pace of the first half of the book was the best, as I was able to figure a few things out over the second half and wanted a bit more from the reveal.
Overall, it was entertaining and I think many will be much more surprised at some of the twists than I was because I read so many thrillers.
Thanks to SMP for my copy to read/review.
Can you guess who the liar is?
Just the thought of waking up in a hospital and not knowing who you are or how you got there is such a terrifying scenario. Chloe is told that she was involved in a terrible car accident, but she has no memory of her past.
When Chloe leaves the hospital she goes to live with a family that she doesn't remember, she doesn't know them. Her father is a doctor and is treating her amnesia, but is he telling her everything? Why would he lie to her? I didn't trust him either. Plenty of unreliable characters pop up in this book!
Lots of guessing and some suspenseful moments made this one a twisted puzzle. I liked Chloe and wanted a happy ending for her. The pace of the first half of the book was the best, as I was able to figure a few things out over the second half and wanted a bit more from the reveal.
Overall, it was entertaining and I think many will be much more surprised at some of the twists than I was because I read so many thrillers.
Thanks to SMP for my copy to read/review.
August 12, 2019
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway way back in November and I finally pulled it off the shelf to take with me on vacation and it was a perfect vacation read.
Chloe wakes up from a coma only to discover she has amnesia. Her family tells her she was in a terrible car accident. She goes home with the family that she can't remember and immediately begins questioning what her family is or isn't telling her. Her father being a psychiatrist that specializes in memories has decided to conduct Chloe's treatment himself. After her treatments she is only left more confused until, through nightmares, parts of the puzzle begin to slot into place.
The story is told mostly from Chloe's point of view but interspersed throughout are entries made by an anonymous and unstable narrator that clearly has their sights set on Chloe but just who is this person and what role did they play in her accident?
This book was a page-turner without a doubt. Short chapters are something I love especially when sitting at the beach. I devoured this book over the span of two days but I will say that the book loses some momentum in the end and the final denouement was a bit lackluster. I think I was hoping she'd go darker than she did but I can't deny that this is an entertaining read if you aren't sick to death of amnesia plots. 3.5 stars!
Chloe wakes up from a coma only to discover she has amnesia. Her family tells her she was in a terrible car accident. She goes home with the family that she can't remember and immediately begins questioning what her family is or isn't telling her. Her father being a psychiatrist that specializes in memories has decided to conduct Chloe's treatment himself. After her treatments she is only left more confused until, through nightmares, parts of the puzzle begin to slot into place.
The story is told mostly from Chloe's point of view but interspersed throughout are entries made by an anonymous and unstable narrator that clearly has their sights set on Chloe but just who is this person and what role did they play in her accident?
This book was a page-turner without a doubt. Short chapters are something I love especially when sitting at the beach. I devoured this book over the span of two days but I will say that the book loses some momentum in the end and the final denouement was a bit lackluster. I think I was hoping she'd go darker than she did but I can't deny that this is an entertaining read if you aren't sick to death of amnesia plots. 3.5 stars!
March 12, 2019
EXCERPT: My father tells me that once we have finished the therapy sessions everything will be as it once was, nothing more than a faint, well-healed scar left behind to connect my past to my present. But no matter what he does, no matter how hard he tries, I'm not going to be able to slip back into my old life. The person I used to be is dead, taken away from us in the crash. And even though I'm confused about most things, there is one thing I do know: you can't bring the dead back to life. The old Chloe is gone, and I'm afraid I might never get her back.
I'm more afraid that my family don't want me to.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: What would you do if you woke up and didn't know who you were?
Chloe Daniels regains consciousness in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. She doesn't recognise the strangers who call themselves family. She can't even remember her own name.
What if your past remained a mystery?
As she slowly recovers, her parents and sister begin to share details of her life.
The successful career. The seaside home. The near-fatal car crash.
But Chloe senses they're keeping dark secrets - and her determination to uncover the truth will have devastating consequences.
What if the people you should be able trust are lying to you?
MY THOUGHTS: I am at that age where I sometimes forget things. I swear I put something somewhere, and find it somewhere totally different. I leave the room to do something and, halfway to wherever I am going, forget what it was I was going to do. Frustrating and annoying as this may be, it palls in comparison to forgetting your whole life, at having to rely on what people, whom you don't remember, tell you is the truth. But then, why would they lie?
I felt that I was being swept along by an avalanche as I read Between the Lies by Michelle Adams. I started it when I went to bed last night, and finished it before bed tonight. It has all the ingredients of a great read: secrets, lies, memory loss, manipulative people, death and deceit.
Told mainly from Chloe's point of view, with occasional input from an unknown character, the pace is relentless, the plot full of surprises. Trying to unravel the identity of the unknown character had me accusing character after character of being 'the one'. Yes, I did get it right, eventually. . .
This is a really good read, not a perfect read, but a really good one. Good enough to have me chasing up other books by this author. It is not always entirely plausible, there are a couple of smallish holes in the technicalities, but overall I really enjoyed Between the Lies.
💕💖💕💖
THE AUTHOR: I was born in 1981, the youngest of five and the only girl. For a short period of time after that I might have been my mum's long awaited princess, but it became obvious that I was the kind of child who was more into mud pies and catching insects than I was pretty dresses. I loved my purple Doc Marten's, hated my floral wallpaper, and was never allowed to paint my bedroom black. No, not even the ceiling.
I went to school in Warwick, UK, and throughout my school years I loved art, music, and English, yet somehow managed to end up studying clinical science at university. Despite my graduation and subsequent employment as a physiologist in cardiology, my creative tendencies were never far away. And the one aspiration I could never let go of was that of being a writer, so on a wet new year's eve sometime around the turn of the millennium, I announced to a friend that I was going to write a book. It took another five years of note taking and day dreaming, but eventually I sat down to complete my first manuscript. It didn't get picked up, but it drove me into writing the second, and third, and so on and so forth. By early 2015 I had finished writing MY SISTER, and I was offered representation by the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV, and Film Agency. MY SISTER became my debut, and it is hotly followed by BETWEEN THE LIES in July 2018.
Now I write almost every day, starting at nine, finishing at some point in the afternoon. Sometimes people ask me where I get my idea's from, and it's a hard question to answer. Lot's of things inspire me, but if I had to sum it up in one word the answer would probably be people; the things we do, say, and the different ways in which we behave towards one another. When I’m not writing I love to read. The first book that I didn't want to end was Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and the first book that broke my heart was Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Gerald's Game by Stephen King was the spark that made me want to write in the first place. I think I was probably about nine when I read that.
I like people who don't give up on their dreams, and those who show compassion for other people. I am crazy about my cat, and fortunate that the other people in my house tolerate him. I love travelling, and am lucky enough to live close to Greece which has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm currently training for the London marathon, so if you've got training tips, or ideas on how to avoid shin splints, I want to hear them. Finally, if you love Game of Thrones you can count me as a friend, but if you shared my theory regarding the Tower of Joy before you watched THAT episode, or have access to a pre-release copy of The Winds of Winter, you can count yourself part of the family.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to St Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Between the Lies by Michelle Adams for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I'm more afraid that my family don't want me to.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: What would you do if you woke up and didn't know who you were?
Chloe Daniels regains consciousness in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. She doesn't recognise the strangers who call themselves family. She can't even remember her own name.
What if your past remained a mystery?
As she slowly recovers, her parents and sister begin to share details of her life.
The successful career. The seaside home. The near-fatal car crash.
But Chloe senses they're keeping dark secrets - and her determination to uncover the truth will have devastating consequences.
What if the people you should be able trust are lying to you?
MY THOUGHTS: I am at that age where I sometimes forget things. I swear I put something somewhere, and find it somewhere totally different. I leave the room to do something and, halfway to wherever I am going, forget what it was I was going to do. Frustrating and annoying as this may be, it palls in comparison to forgetting your whole life, at having to rely on what people, whom you don't remember, tell you is the truth. But then, why would they lie?
I felt that I was being swept along by an avalanche as I read Between the Lies by Michelle Adams. I started it when I went to bed last night, and finished it before bed tonight. It has all the ingredients of a great read: secrets, lies, memory loss, manipulative people, death and deceit.
Told mainly from Chloe's point of view, with occasional input from an unknown character, the pace is relentless, the plot full of surprises. Trying to unravel the identity of the unknown character had me accusing character after character of being 'the one'. Yes, I did get it right, eventually. . .
This is a really good read, not a perfect read, but a really good one. Good enough to have me chasing up other books by this author. It is not always entirely plausible, there are a couple of smallish holes in the technicalities, but overall I really enjoyed Between the Lies.
💕💖💕💖
THE AUTHOR: I was born in 1981, the youngest of five and the only girl. For a short period of time after that I might have been my mum's long awaited princess, but it became obvious that I was the kind of child who was more into mud pies and catching insects than I was pretty dresses. I loved my purple Doc Marten's, hated my floral wallpaper, and was never allowed to paint my bedroom black. No, not even the ceiling.
I went to school in Warwick, UK, and throughout my school years I loved art, music, and English, yet somehow managed to end up studying clinical science at university. Despite my graduation and subsequent employment as a physiologist in cardiology, my creative tendencies were never far away. And the one aspiration I could never let go of was that of being a writer, so on a wet new year's eve sometime around the turn of the millennium, I announced to a friend that I was going to write a book. It took another five years of note taking and day dreaming, but eventually I sat down to complete my first manuscript. It didn't get picked up, but it drove me into writing the second, and third, and so on and so forth. By early 2015 I had finished writing MY SISTER, and I was offered representation by the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV, and Film Agency. MY SISTER became my debut, and it is hotly followed by BETWEEN THE LIES in July 2018.
Now I write almost every day, starting at nine, finishing at some point in the afternoon. Sometimes people ask me where I get my idea's from, and it's a hard question to answer. Lot's of things inspire me, but if I had to sum it up in one word the answer would probably be people; the things we do, say, and the different ways in which we behave towards one another. When I’m not writing I love to read. The first book that I didn't want to end was Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and the first book that broke my heart was Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Gerald's Game by Stephen King was the spark that made me want to write in the first place. I think I was probably about nine when I read that.
I like people who don't give up on their dreams, and those who show compassion for other people. I am crazy about my cat, and fortunate that the other people in my house tolerate him. I love travelling, and am lucky enough to live close to Greece which has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm currently training for the London marathon, so if you've got training tips, or ideas on how to avoid shin splints, I want to hear them. Finally, if you love Game of Thrones you can count me as a friend, but if you shared my theory regarding the Tower of Joy before you watched THAT episode, or have access to a pre-release copy of The Winds of Winter, you can count yourself part of the family.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to St Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Between the Lies by Michelle Adams for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 2, 2019
What a start, we are flung straight into action with what appears to be a car crash and someone trapped in the car. Chloe wakes up in hospital surrounded by family not knowing who she is or what happened to her. She has been in a coma for over a month!!
Back at her parents Rectory with her sister Jess, she has a feeling that they do not want her to get her memory back. Can she trust these people who say they are family but whom she cannot remember.
This is a great book with lots of twists along the way, it was like a spider web of lies, each lie woven tightly only to reveal another layer of lies underneath!! I could not tell who was actually telling the truth which added to the mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself fully immersed in the story.
Will definitely be looking out for Michelle Adams other book “ My Sister”
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Back at her parents Rectory with her sister Jess, she has a feeling that they do not want her to get her memory back. Can she trust these people who say they are family but whom she cannot remember.
This is a great book with lots of twists along the way, it was like a spider web of lies, each lie woven tightly only to reveal another layer of lies underneath!! I could not tell who was actually telling the truth which added to the mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself fully immersed in the story.
Will definitely be looking out for Michelle Adams other book “ My Sister”
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
March 4, 2019
Between the Lies by Michelle Adams is a psychological thriller in which the main character has lost all of her memory keeping her guessing just as much as the readers do. After a severe brain injury Chloe awakens not only not knowing those around her but even her own name eludes her.
As she’s recovering Chloe’s parents have brought her home with them to take care of her. However Chloe only has more and more questions with each day going by when her parents refuse to give her much information on who she had been. As Chloe begins tod ig into herself she finds it seems no one is being truthful.
One thing I will say right away is Michelle Adams definitely is a good writer and I did find myself enjoying this one for the most part. For me though with a story like this i always feel things slow down in the middle of the story when we begin to get lie after lie. What is the old saying….fool me once… so as much as I wanted answers to what was going on I got a repetitive feel while waiting for the answers.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
As she’s recovering Chloe’s parents have brought her home with them to take care of her. However Chloe only has more and more questions with each day going by when her parents refuse to give her much information on who she had been. As Chloe begins tod ig into herself she finds it seems no one is being truthful.
One thing I will say right away is Michelle Adams definitely is a good writer and I did find myself enjoying this one for the most part. For me though with a story like this i always feel things slow down in the middle of the story when we begin to get lie after lie. What is the old saying….fool me once… so as much as I wanted answers to what was going on I got a repetitive feel while waiting for the answers.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 5, 2019
3.5 stars
I was already hooked by the end of the first chapter and that's saying a lot because amnesia storylines aren't typically my favorite thing to read. My motivation to keep reading really boils down to there just seemed to be so many possibilities and directions this story could take which was intriguing. While I preferred the first half of the book over the second, overall this was one of those fun, popcorn eating reads.
Chloe Daniels regains consciousness and finds herself in the hospital but has no memory of how she got there or anything about her life. Even though she doesn't recognize the people who are claiming to be her family, she goes home with them as she begins the long road to recovery. As she struggles to remember, it seems like nobody is willing to provide answers.
The real strength of this book is the author didn't paint herself into a corner. In my opinion, you really couldn't narrow down the list of suspects until the very tail end of the book which is what kept the story interesting. I can't say I absolutely liked everything about the second half of the story or the conclusion, but I also didn't hate it. I just personally thought the first half was more of a 5 star enjoyment level whereas the second was more at a 3 stars. Overall, a good read and I would love to check out the author's previous novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
I was already hooked by the end of the first chapter and that's saying a lot because amnesia storylines aren't typically my favorite thing to read. My motivation to keep reading really boils down to there just seemed to be so many possibilities and directions this story could take which was intriguing. While I preferred the first half of the book over the second, overall this was one of those fun, popcorn eating reads.
Chloe Daniels regains consciousness and finds herself in the hospital but has no memory of how she got there or anything about her life. Even though she doesn't recognize the people who are claiming to be her family, she goes home with them as she begins the long road to recovery. As she struggles to remember, it seems like nobody is willing to provide answers.
The real strength of this book is the author didn't paint herself into a corner. In my opinion, you really couldn't narrow down the list of suspects until the very tail end of the book which is what kept the story interesting. I can't say I absolutely liked everything about the second half of the story or the conclusion, but I also didn't hate it. I just personally thought the first half was more of a 5 star enjoyment level whereas the second was more at a 3 stars. Overall, a good read and I would love to check out the author's previous novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 5, 2018
4.5 Stars
Special thanks to Michelle Adams & St.Martin's Griffin for providing me with a free copy of this book.
Man! This book was good. Maybe I found this book so good because I've taken a break from reading Thrillers. Sometimes you need time away from a genre to rediscover your love for it.
Chloe Daniels wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. She doesn't remember any of her family members. She has no sense of who she is. Her family seems nice and they claim to want to help her but she doesn't trust them for some reason.
This was my first Michelle Adams novel and I must say I enjoyed way more than I thought. She had me on the edge of my seat and despite guessing some of the twist, I still needed to keep picking this book up. Some of the science seems a little suspect but that was the most important part of the story.
Between The Lies is a fun, fast paced, dark and twisty story. I didn't trust anybody in this book and you shouldn't either.
Special thanks to Michelle Adams & St.Martin's Griffin for providing me with a free copy of this book.
Man! This book was good. Maybe I found this book so good because I've taken a break from reading Thrillers. Sometimes you need time away from a genre to rediscover your love for it.
Chloe Daniels wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. She doesn't remember any of her family members. She has no sense of who she is. Her family seems nice and they claim to want to help her but she doesn't trust them for some reason.
This was my first Michelle Adams novel and I must say I enjoyed way more than I thought. She had me on the edge of my seat and despite guessing some of the twist, I still needed to keep picking this book up. Some of the science seems a little suspect but that was the most important part of the story.
Between The Lies is a fun, fast paced, dark and twisty story. I didn't trust anybody in this book and you shouldn't either.
February 4, 2019
Well... Between the Lies... hmm where do I start with this one?
Chloe has amnesia and can't remember anything from her accident. She is struggling to understand her life and where she comes from. She is living with her parents and her sister trying to gain her memory back and get better.
I started off with getting annoyed with her parents. Her father was super controlling right off the bat with "protecting" her from doing anything trying to gain her memory back. This to me was a sign right away to the author pointing clues to the reveal (which come on was annoying).
The story was very predictable to me and a bit of a slow burn... which made it difficult for me to keep my attention focused on the story.
Additionally, the ending did not live up to the hype to me and of course I figured out who was involved with her accident/trauma before the reveal.
Overall, this wasn't really a memorable thriller to me and was a tad disappointed.
3 solid stars for me on this one.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Published to Goodreads: 2/3/19
Publication date: 3/5/19
Chloe has amnesia and can't remember anything from her accident. She is struggling to understand her life and where she comes from. She is living with her parents and her sister trying to gain her memory back and get better.
I started off with getting annoyed with her parents. Her father was super controlling right off the bat with "protecting" her from doing anything trying to gain her memory back. This to me was a sign right away to the author pointing clues to the reveal (which come on was annoying).
The story was very predictable to me and a bit of a slow burn... which made it difficult for me to keep my attention focused on the story.
Additionally, the ending did not live up to the hype to me and of course I figured out who was involved with her accident/trauma before the reveal.
Overall, this wasn't really a memorable thriller to me and was a tad disappointed.
3 solid stars for me on this one.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Published to Goodreads: 2/3/19
Publication date: 3/5/19
March 12, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Between The Lies by Michelle Adams from NetGalley for my honest review.
Chloe wakes up in the hospital with no memory of who she is or how she got to the hospital. She is staying with her parents while she is recovering from her car accident. Her family seem to be lacking information and details that they are giving her. She feels like she is locked in at their property. She know that things aren't as they should be and that everyone is lying to her. Who can she trust or is everyone lying? She slowly unravels the truth about her accident and everything else.
The book is slow moving to start but picks up pace as you read along. Glad I stuck with it.
Chloe wakes up in the hospital with no memory of who she is or how she got to the hospital. She is staying with her parents while she is recovering from her car accident. Her family seem to be lacking information and details that they are giving her. She feels like she is locked in at their property. She know that things aren't as they should be and that everyone is lying to her. Who can she trust or is everyone lying? She slowly unravels the truth about her accident and everything else.
The book is slow moving to start but picks up pace as you read along. Glad I stuck with it.
July 6, 2018
This is my first book by Michelle Adams although she has written previous psychological thrillers including "My Sister" that was published in April 2017. Its target audience/readership is those who loved Liz Lawler's "Don't Wake Up" and Shari Lapena's "A Stranger in the House". I would say that this is a pretty accurate prediction.
Chloe Daniels has lost her memory after a horrific accident. After spendinf time in a coma she is released from hospital into the care of her family who she doesn't recognise at all. She doesn't even remember her own name. As she begins to recover she comes to believe that her family are hiding a secret from her and cannot be trusted. As some of her memories return she struggles to piece together what happened to her and realises that her family are lying to her about something. She vows to find out what secrets they are keeping and her determination to find out the truth could come at a cost and lead to devastating consequences.
I enjoyed this one a lot, it has a great premise and although I predicted some of the twists pretty early on this didn't affect my overall experience. This is one of those books where you question whether any of the characters are telling the truth as many of them appear to have something to hide.
All in all, this is a fast-paced, well written and gripping thriller from Adams. She is adept at writing a story that pulls you in whether you like it or not, making it very difficult to put down. I look forward to future books from this author. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Headline for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Chloe Daniels has lost her memory after a horrific accident. After spendinf time in a coma she is released from hospital into the care of her family who she doesn't recognise at all. She doesn't even remember her own name. As she begins to recover she comes to believe that her family are hiding a secret from her and cannot be trusted. As some of her memories return she struggles to piece together what happened to her and realises that her family are lying to her about something. She vows to find out what secrets they are keeping and her determination to find out the truth could come at a cost and lead to devastating consequences.
I enjoyed this one a lot, it has a great premise and although I predicted some of the twists pretty early on this didn't affect my overall experience. This is one of those books where you question whether any of the characters are telling the truth as many of them appear to have something to hide.
All in all, this is a fast-paced, well written and gripping thriller from Adams. She is adept at writing a story that pulls you in whether you like it or not, making it very difficult to put down. I look forward to future books from this author. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Headline for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
March 1, 2019
Between the Lies is an adequate woman-in-peril thriller--Chloe has been in a car accident and is at her parents' home, recovering from her injuries. She also has no idea who she is, has no memory of her life before, doesn't recognize her family, and her father insists on treating her in the family home, saying it's the best way to help her recover.
Oh, and the police want to question her about a hit and run she was involved in. One where someone she knew and loved died.
And Chloe soon figured out who died and wants to know how and why--and is she responsible?
I liked Chloe a lot, and I loved the very creepy beginnings of Between the Lies where it seems like no one--not even Chloe herself--is trustworthy. How do you solve a crime that you might have committed? And what do you do when everyone you "know" is clearly lying to you?
Those are great questions but Between the Lies settles into familiar territory--sure, your family might be lying, but even the Big Bad there is nothing compared to the ultimate Big Bad (who's pretty obvious once the story settles into its familiar groove) who is a delusional lying murderous...well, you know.
While I found Between the Lies to be a pretty well written and standard thriller (hence the three stars--it's fine, it's not great, but it rolls along well enough) it could have been so much more!
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
Ish
The book seemed to be headed in an extremely twisted direction for a while (I was thinking, "Is she going to go there? With her father? Whoa!" and also "Damn, a heroine who actually committed the crime she's afraid she did? Bring! It!") and I loved it! I felt like the author pulled back and made her father awful (but not as awful as he could have been) and made Chloe the victim of the crazed Big Bad--which was...okay, but those early signs that something very dark and (imo) daring was going on really sucked me in and having it turn into the traditional woman in peril thing was a letdown. Go big! Go dark!
Also, Chloe's sister just was suddenly...not important, and her mother became a victim too and I would have liked some more agency for them. Ditto for Ben, who also started out interesting and then fizzled away.
So overall, I wanted more from Between the Lies and I think it could have been an amazing read if it had pushed the genre boundaries more.
Oh, and the police want to question her about a hit and run she was involved in. One where someone she knew and loved died.
And Chloe soon figured out who died and wants to know how and why--and is she responsible?
I liked Chloe a lot, and I loved the very creepy beginnings of Between the Lies where it seems like no one--not even Chloe herself--is trustworthy. How do you solve a crime that you might have committed? And what do you do when everyone you "know" is clearly lying to you?
Those are great questions but Between the Lies settles into familiar territory--sure, your family might be lying, but even the Big Bad there is nothing compared to the ultimate Big Bad (who's pretty obvious once the story settles into its familiar groove) who is a delusional lying murderous...well, you know.
While I found Between the Lies to be a pretty well written and standard thriller (hence the three stars--it's fine, it's not great, but it rolls along well enough) it could have been so much more!
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
Ish
The book seemed to be headed in an extremely twisted direction for a while (I was thinking, "Is she going to go there? With her father? Whoa!" and also "Damn, a heroine who actually committed the crime she's afraid she did? Bring! It!") and I loved it! I felt like the author pulled back and made her father awful (but not as awful as he could have been) and made Chloe the victim of the crazed Big Bad--which was...okay, but those early signs that something very dark and (imo) daring was going on really sucked me in and having it turn into the traditional woman in peril thing was a letdown. Go big! Go dark!
Also, Chloe's sister just was suddenly...not important, and her mother became a victim too and I would have liked some more agency for them. Ditto for Ben, who also started out interesting and then fizzled away.
So overall, I wanted more from Between the Lies and I think it could have been an amazing read if it had pushed the genre boundaries more.
February 20, 2019
SUMMARY
What would you do if you woke up and didn’t know who you were? Chloe Daniels had been in an accident she doesn't remember. Her parents and sister are there for her but it just doesn’t feel right. Something is terrible wrong. Something is missing. As she begins to slowly recover her family shares small bits and pieces of her life before the accident. But Chloe has the feeling they are hiding things from her. She is determined to uncover the truth but is afraid of what she might find. What if the people you should be able to trust the most are lying to you?
REVIEW
The minute you start reading this book you know things are not quite right. There has been a horrible accident. The story is told from Chloe’s point of view and you feel as if you have just woken up from a coma along with her. Things are not what they seem. Her father is a psychiatrist and has a cutting-edge treatment plan for her amnesia, he is in total control of what Chloe should be told and what she is allow to do. It’s for her own good, of course.
The story was interesting, but I felt it lacked emotion and was somewhat unrealistic. Chloe’s mother and sister’s behavior is very distant and stilted. How could they really let themselves and the situation be controlled by someone else, after all Chloe had almost died. My favorite part was Chloe’s determination to find the truth. I loved the fact that she pushes back on her family in an attempt to get at the truth of what happened to her. Once this happens the book takes off. BETWEEN THE LIES is an entertaining and quick read. Thanks to Netgalley, author Michelle Adams and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher St. Martin’s Griffin
Published March 5, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
What would you do if you woke up and didn’t know who you were? Chloe Daniels had been in an accident she doesn't remember. Her parents and sister are there for her but it just doesn’t feel right. Something is terrible wrong. Something is missing. As she begins to slowly recover her family shares small bits and pieces of her life before the accident. But Chloe has the feeling they are hiding things from her. She is determined to uncover the truth but is afraid of what she might find. What if the people you should be able to trust the most are lying to you?
REVIEW
The minute you start reading this book you know things are not quite right. There has been a horrible accident. The story is told from Chloe’s point of view and you feel as if you have just woken up from a coma along with her. Things are not what they seem. Her father is a psychiatrist and has a cutting-edge treatment plan for her amnesia, he is in total control of what Chloe should be told and what she is allow to do. It’s for her own good, of course.
The story was interesting, but I felt it lacked emotion and was somewhat unrealistic. Chloe’s mother and sister’s behavior is very distant and stilted. How could they really let themselves and the situation be controlled by someone else, after all Chloe had almost died. My favorite part was Chloe’s determination to find the truth. I loved the fact that she pushes back on her family in an attempt to get at the truth of what happened to her. Once this happens the book takes off. BETWEEN THE LIES is an entertaining and quick read. Thanks to Netgalley, author Michelle Adams and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher St. Martin’s Griffin
Published March 5, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
March 12, 2019
3.5 stars
What would you do if you woke up one day and couldn’t remember a single detail from your past life? Not only that, the people taking care of you, who claim to be your family, you find out are actually keeping secrets from you about your past life and even outright lying to you, feeding you one lie after another after another? This is the exact situation that Chloe Daniels, the protagonist of Michelle Adams’s newest work Between the Lies , finds herself in after she wakes up following a horrific car accident. As she slowly recovers from the trauma, both physically and mentally, she starts to remember bits and pieces of her life, faded memories of events and people, as well as glimpses into the person she was before the accident. When getting closer and closer to the truth also means putting herself back in harm’s way, Chloe must decide whether it is a risk worth taking.
Given the above premise, this book definitely started off quite strong. With the story being told mostly from Chloe’s point of view, the author did a good job keeping the suspense element going by putting us, as the readers, into Chloe’s mind and unravelling the truth of her life alongside her, pretty much every step of the way. The story continued to be intriguing as Chloe unraveled one lie after another and at several points in the story, initially at least, it was actually hard not to feel sorry for what she was going through, for the sheer helplessness of her situation. Unfortunately, around the midway point or so, the story started to drag a little and there were certain points where I kind of questioned Chloe’s actions in terms of how realistic it was for her to be doing what she was doing given the circumstances. The suspense piece also fizzled out a bit for me at that point, though it probably didn’t help that I had already figured out the ending early on and had already guessed who the “unnamed narrator” was whose thoughts were interspersed sporadically in between Chloe’s narration of events. Not sure if the story was too predictable or perhaps I’m just getting better at figuring these things out now after reading so many thrillers / suspense novels the past few years – I wasn’t surprised at the way everything played out and when “the truth” was finally revealed, it felt anti-climactic because I already expected it.
With all the above said though, one of the things I appreciated most about this book was the writing. As the title implies, much of the book was about the protagonist trying to figure out the truth in between all the lies and the way the story was written, the lies actually blended in so naturally that, at times, it truly was hard to distinguish between the two. Also, the story was compelling enough to keep my attention throughout, despite some of the parts that dragged, which I feel is important in this case because I didn’t really like most of the characters all that much and couldn’t relate to any of them.
Overall, this was a good story that is definitely worth a read, though don’t expect an “edge-of-your-seat” thriller because this definitely is not that type of book. I would categorize this more as domestic suspense, as there was no roller coaster ride of twists and turns and not much in terms of a “big reveal” (though of course, opinions may differ on this, as it depends on whether you figured out the ending early like I did). I would recommend checking this one out for yourself to see if it’s worth your time, as the story is certainly compelling enough to make this a relatively quick read.
Received ARC from St. Martin’s Griffin via NetGalley
What would you do if you woke up one day and couldn’t remember a single detail from your past life? Not only that, the people taking care of you, who claim to be your family, you find out are actually keeping secrets from you about your past life and even outright lying to you, feeding you one lie after another after another? This is the exact situation that Chloe Daniels, the protagonist of Michelle Adams’s newest work Between the Lies , finds herself in after she wakes up following a horrific car accident. As she slowly recovers from the trauma, both physically and mentally, she starts to remember bits and pieces of her life, faded memories of events and people, as well as glimpses into the person she was before the accident. When getting closer and closer to the truth also means putting herself back in harm’s way, Chloe must decide whether it is a risk worth taking.
Given the above premise, this book definitely started off quite strong. With the story being told mostly from Chloe’s point of view, the author did a good job keeping the suspense element going by putting us, as the readers, into Chloe’s mind and unravelling the truth of her life alongside her, pretty much every step of the way. The story continued to be intriguing as Chloe unraveled one lie after another and at several points in the story, initially at least, it was actually hard not to feel sorry for what she was going through, for the sheer helplessness of her situation. Unfortunately, around the midway point or so, the story started to drag a little and there were certain points where I kind of questioned Chloe’s actions in terms of how realistic it was for her to be doing what she was doing given the circumstances. The suspense piece also fizzled out a bit for me at that point, though it probably didn’t help that I had already figured out the ending early on and had already guessed who the “unnamed narrator” was whose thoughts were interspersed sporadically in between Chloe’s narration of events. Not sure if the story was too predictable or perhaps I’m just getting better at figuring these things out now after reading so many thrillers / suspense novels the past few years – I wasn’t surprised at the way everything played out and when “the truth” was finally revealed, it felt anti-climactic because I already expected it.
With all the above said though, one of the things I appreciated most about this book was the writing. As the title implies, much of the book was about the protagonist trying to figure out the truth in between all the lies and the way the story was written, the lies actually blended in so naturally that, at times, it truly was hard to distinguish between the two. Also, the story was compelling enough to keep my attention throughout, despite some of the parts that dragged, which I feel is important in this case because I didn’t really like most of the characters all that much and couldn’t relate to any of them.
Overall, this was a good story that is definitely worth a read, though don’t expect an “edge-of-your-seat” thriller because this definitely is not that type of book. I would categorize this more as domestic suspense, as there was no roller coaster ride of twists and turns and not much in terms of a “big reveal” (though of course, opinions may differ on this, as it depends on whether you figured out the ending early like I did). I would recommend checking this one out for yourself to see if it’s worth your time, as the story is certainly compelling enough to make this a relatively quick read.
Received ARC from St. Martin’s Griffin via NetGalley
April 28, 2019
What a dramatic, incredible tale!! A definite step up from her debut novel, this one completely redeemed her as an author for me! This is one of those books you want to go into not knowing whole lot of because knowing just a little bit might ruin it for you, so all I will say is this is a tale of amnesia, loss, betrayal, and most of all lies!! Don't trust anyone, especially those closest to you because things are definitely not what they appear to be in this one!!
March 21, 2019
Imagine waking up in the hospital and you have no idea how you got there, in fact you have no memory at all. Chloe Daniels finds herself in just that position.
Michelle Adams has managed to keep the reader in as much of the dark as Chloe is. Unfolding the murky details makes for one suspenseful read.
As Chloe’s memory slowly returns, we begin to sort out the truth about what really happened the night of the accident. Before the truth surfaces there are a lot of people involved and who really has Chloe’s best interest? How reliable is her memory as she tries to piece the details together? This is an enjoyable, twisty, and hard to put down read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
Michelle Adams has managed to keep the reader in as much of the dark as Chloe is. Unfolding the murky details makes for one suspenseful read.
As Chloe’s memory slowly returns, we begin to sort out the truth about what really happened the night of the accident. Before the truth surfaces there are a lot of people involved and who really has Chloe’s best interest? How reliable is her memory as she tries to piece the details together? This is an enjoyable, twisty, and hard to put down read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
January 26, 2019
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe Daniels wakes up in the hospital after an accident, with a head wound and no memory of what happened. In fact, she has no memory of anything. Returning to the care of her parents, she tries to patch together pieces of her past life with the help of her father, a psychiatrist with a speciality in hypnosis and memory recovery. Her parents and younger sister, Jess, contribute to her memory recall by telling Chloe of the life she once had- the successful career as a lawyer and her beautiful seaside home, as well as details of the tragic car accident that took her memory. However, as Chloe’s memory start to return on their own, and they conflict with what she has been told by those closer to her, she begins to wonder if she should trust her own memories, or the people who supposedly matter the most to her?
Right from the beginning of “Between the Lies”, by Michelle Adams, the story pulls you in. Immediately, as a reader, I began to make assumptions, about who could be responsible and which parts of the stories Chloe was being told, were true. Although there were parts of the story that were predictable, right from the beginning, I had to continue reading, as “Lies” very quickly developed into a story I could not put down.
All of the characters in this story play an important role. There are no behind-the-scenes, appear-as-an-arbitrary-figure-in-the-background-and-then-it-is-revealed-he-was-the-main-suspect, kind of characters. This added to the story’s “whodunit” appeal, as each character could have been just as responsible as the next.
As Chloe’s memory returns slowly, Adams allows you to experience the confusion, and the emotions associated with it. Although this is not a unique storyline, Adams’ talent is evident as the novel still manages to be entertaining and suspenseful.
The ending is extremely satisfying, tying up loose ends and leaving no questions unanswered. For novels like this, I prefer this type of ending. The “guessing game” ending does not work in “whodunit” mystery novels, and I really appreciate Adams’ ability to tie up the plot in a neat bow.
Adams has only one other novel, My Sister, and I will definitely be checking it out. For a relatively new author, Adams writes as if she’s been on the scene for years, and I am thoroughly interested in checking out her other works.
Chloe Daniels wakes up in the hospital after an accident, with a head wound and no memory of what happened. In fact, she has no memory of anything. Returning to the care of her parents, she tries to patch together pieces of her past life with the help of her father, a psychiatrist with a speciality in hypnosis and memory recovery. Her parents and younger sister, Jess, contribute to her memory recall by telling Chloe of the life she once had- the successful career as a lawyer and her beautiful seaside home, as well as details of the tragic car accident that took her memory. However, as Chloe’s memory start to return on their own, and they conflict with what she has been told by those closer to her, she begins to wonder if she should trust her own memories, or the people who supposedly matter the most to her?
Right from the beginning of “Between the Lies”, by Michelle Adams, the story pulls you in. Immediately, as a reader, I began to make assumptions, about who could be responsible and which parts of the stories Chloe was being told, were true. Although there were parts of the story that were predictable, right from the beginning, I had to continue reading, as “Lies” very quickly developed into a story I could not put down.
All of the characters in this story play an important role. There are no behind-the-scenes, appear-as-an-arbitrary-figure-in-the-background-and-then-it-is-revealed-he-was-the-main-suspect, kind of characters. This added to the story’s “whodunit” appeal, as each character could have been just as responsible as the next.
As Chloe’s memory returns slowly, Adams allows you to experience the confusion, and the emotions associated with it. Although this is not a unique storyline, Adams’ talent is evident as the novel still manages to be entertaining and suspenseful.
The ending is extremely satisfying, tying up loose ends and leaving no questions unanswered. For novels like this, I prefer this type of ending. The “guessing game” ending does not work in “whodunit” mystery novels, and I really appreciate Adams’ ability to tie up the plot in a neat bow.
Adams has only one other novel, My Sister, and I will definitely be checking it out. For a relatively new author, Adams writes as if she’s been on the scene for years, and I am thoroughly interested in checking out her other works.
March 3, 2019
Chloe Daniels wakes up in a hospital bed, confused she looks around to discover she has no idea how she got here and who these people are. In fact she doesn't even know her name. Following a horrific car accident Chloe struggles with extensive injuries, including a head injury that is causing her severe memory problems.
This was absolutely terrifying right from the start as we watch Chloe struggle to place the people around her that are claiming to be family. She is forced to go home with them to a secluded gated home where she has no contact with anyone else other than them. Are they really who they say they are? Or is there more to this story?
This gave me chills as I had trouble trusting Chloe's family members and their rather unorthodox approach to helping Chloe heal. I found myself constantly wondering if they were telling her the truth or spinning a reality they wanted her to believe. Why would anyone lie and what would be their motive? My gut feeling was there was something off with the dynamics of this family and it left me with a creepy uneasy feeling.
I found myself getting more suspicious of everyone in Chloe's life. It was hard for me to decipher what was simply Chloe's altered mental status and what was reality. This led to a suspense filled ending that I did not see coming. This had me flipping the pages in search of Chloe's truth and what really happened the night of the accident.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, Michelle Adams and NetGalley for this ARC.
This was absolutely terrifying right from the start as we watch Chloe struggle to place the people around her that are claiming to be family. She is forced to go home with them to a secluded gated home where she has no contact with anyone else other than them. Are they really who they say they are? Or is there more to this story?
This gave me chills as I had trouble trusting Chloe's family members and their rather unorthodox approach to helping Chloe heal. I found myself constantly wondering if they were telling her the truth or spinning a reality they wanted her to believe. Why would anyone lie and what would be their motive? My gut feeling was there was something off with the dynamics of this family and it left me with a creepy uneasy feeling.
I found myself getting more suspicious of everyone in Chloe's life. It was hard for me to decipher what was simply Chloe's altered mental status and what was reality. This led to a suspense filled ending that I did not see coming. This had me flipping the pages in search of Chloe's truth and what really happened the night of the accident.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, Michelle Adams and NetGalley for this ARC.
February 20, 2019
Chloe awakens in the hospital after a terrible car accident. Not only does she not remember the accident, but she doesn’t remember who she is or anything about her life and family. Her parents and sister attempt to help her remember her life, but Chloe feels they are also keeping secrets.
It took me a little while to get into this story. Once I did, it was a thrilling ride. Complex and twisty story. Intriguing characters, with everyone seemingly hiding something. Chloe is a bit of an unreliable narrator. Her memory loss is clearly an issue, and her regaining of memories is, let’s say, suspicious. As Chloe starts to learn more about who she is, she questions everything about the accident and what really happened.
Good for fans of psychological thrillers, especially ones where the protagonist has memory loss. Dark, intense, and suspenseful.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a little while to get into this story. Once I did, it was a thrilling ride. Complex and twisty story. Intriguing characters, with everyone seemingly hiding something. Chloe is a bit of an unreliable narrator. Her memory loss is clearly an issue, and her regaining of memories is, let’s say, suspicious. As Chloe starts to learn more about who she is, she questions everything about the accident and what really happened.
Good for fans of psychological thrillers, especially ones where the protagonist has memory loss. Dark, intense, and suspenseful.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2019
Anytime a book or a TV show resorts to a character contracting amnesia, it is automatically going to be hard to pull off as credible or interesting to me. It has been done and overdone. So from the beginning of this, I needed to be impressed with the rest of the story or the characterizations. If you like the amnesia tactic, you'll likely enjoy this much more than I did.
The characters themselves were all a bit of a mystery, which can be intriguing. Here it is mainly because the main character and narrator Chloe has amnesia and cannot remember even who her mother, father, and sister are. So I had no idea who to trust or believe when she went to recuperate in their house. Chloe was in a very serious car accident (hit her head of course) but can remember nothing about it. It appears she has no friends or job as she cannot remember anyone else existing in her life. Gradually she begins to suspect that her family is covering up or making up facts about the past. I felt her frustration as the storyline progressed only as quickly as her memories returned. There is one main mystery that I needed to see the answer to, and it turned out a little disappointing. Then the last chapter made so sense, partly because there seems to be a major misprint in my galley copy (I am out on a limb here). Overall the star value of 3 is mostly for the lies, secrets, and suspicions. A point was deducted for the amnesia.
The characters themselves were all a bit of a mystery, which can be intriguing. Here it is mainly because the main character and narrator Chloe has amnesia and cannot remember even who her mother, father, and sister are. So I had no idea who to trust or believe when she went to recuperate in their house. Chloe was in a very serious car accident (hit her head of course) but can remember nothing about it. It appears she has no friends or job as she cannot remember anyone else existing in her life. Gradually she begins to suspect that her family is covering up or making up facts about the past. I felt her frustration as the storyline progressed only as quickly as her memories returned. There is one main mystery that I needed to see the answer to, and it turned out a little disappointing. Then the last chapter made so sense, partly because there seems to be a major misprint in my galley copy (I am out on a limb here). Overall the star value of 3 is mostly for the lies, secrets, and suspicions. A point was deducted for the amnesia.
February 27, 2019
I thought this book was really good. It took a while to get into it and I was getting a bit bored but then it started getting really interesting and enjoyable. I loved the mystery behind that night and really wanted to know what happened. I disliked most of the characters except for Chloe and Andrew. I felt terrible for them for the death of their son. It was heartbreaking. I couldn’t figure out who the person was Chloe was having an affair with but when it came to light it all made sense and made the story even better. Overall it was a really good read and I definitely recommend it.
Want to read
November 19, 2018I'm a winner! Thanks for my Monday morning surprise, Goodreads! :)
January 28, 2019
This was at times a little fantastical and you really did have to suspend disbelief for large chunks of it but, you know what? This was great fun and I was happy to go along for the ride.
Chloe Daniels wakes up in hospital surrounded by strangers. But they aren’t strangers. They are her mother, her father and her sister. She has no memory of them. She has no memory or her name. She has no memory at all!
After a near fatal car accident and serious brain bleed, Chloe is taken by her family to their home to recuperate. Her father a renowned physiatrist will try and help her regain her memory.
She feels a stranger in her own home. Her family are very vague with details when she asks about the accident and her past life and she finds it hard to warm to them or even trust them.
Her father feeds her medication as he continues his sessions with her and refuses to let her outside the house, saying she is not well enough and needs more time to recover.
As she starts to slowly get some faint memories back she realizes that her family are not being truthful about the accident and her past. What are they trying to hide and why are they lying to her?
This is told from Chloe’s perspective and this works really well as a tool for telling the mostly enjoyable story. Everything about her family home, from the house itself to her family is a little bit creepy. We struggle to figure out with her if things are really a little bit sinister or is her paranoia creating a false past.
This zipped along nicely and was one of those ones where I had to read “one more chapter”. The ending I found a little weak but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
While not really in any way original it was still a very enjoyable read overall.
Many thanks to Netgalley, St Martins Press and Michelle Adams for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe Daniels wakes up in hospital surrounded by strangers. But they aren’t strangers. They are her mother, her father and her sister. She has no memory of them. She has no memory or her name. She has no memory at all!
After a near fatal car accident and serious brain bleed, Chloe is taken by her family to their home to recuperate. Her father a renowned physiatrist will try and help her regain her memory.
She feels a stranger in her own home. Her family are very vague with details when she asks about the accident and her past life and she finds it hard to warm to them or even trust them.
Her father feeds her medication as he continues his sessions with her and refuses to let her outside the house, saying she is not well enough and needs more time to recover.
As she starts to slowly get some faint memories back she realizes that her family are not being truthful about the accident and her past. What are they trying to hide and why are they lying to her?
This is told from Chloe’s perspective and this works really well as a tool for telling the mostly enjoyable story. Everything about her family home, from the house itself to her family is a little bit creepy. We struggle to figure out with her if things are really a little bit sinister or is her paranoia creating a false past.
This zipped along nicely and was one of those ones where I had to read “one more chapter”. The ending I found a little weak but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
While not really in any way original it was still a very enjoyable read overall.
Many thanks to Netgalley, St Martins Press and Michelle Adams for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2019
SO MANY LIES.......
Chloe is a lost soul after she awakens from a head injury with complete memory loss. With only her unfamiliar troubled parents and younger sister to help piece together what happened one fateful rainy night, she doesn't know which way to turn or who to believe....BETWEEN THE LIES.
Michelle Adams gives us a roller coaster of a read while Chloe slowly discovers tidbits of information about herself and the tragic accident (no spoiler here) that changed her life.
BETWEEN THE LIES is a compelling read with shocking truths....and lies interspersed throughout the storyline.
***Arc provided by Meghan Harrington, St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for review***
June 8, 2018
Intriguing psychological thriller about a woman who has lost her memory after a horrific accident and comes to believe her family are lying to her and not who they seem. Full and proper review for the blog tour.
March 22, 2019
A very riveting and suspenseful read!
Chloe Daniels is involved in a car accident and wakes up in the hospital with no memory. Several weeks later she goes home with her parents and sister not remembering anything about her life. Dependent on her family to help her recall who she really is leads to many twists, turns and falsehoods.
And let's not forget lies, lies and more lies.
Riddled with unsettling moments this thrilling tale had me turning the pages to get to the truth.
Author Michelle Adams did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing throughout the whole story.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Chloe Daniels is involved in a car accident and wakes up in the hospital with no memory. Several weeks later she goes home with her parents and sister not remembering anything about her life. Dependent on her family to help her recall who she really is leads to many twists, turns and falsehoods.
And let's not forget lies, lies and more lies.
Riddled with unsettling moments this thrilling tale had me turning the pages to get to the truth.
Author Michelle Adams did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing throughout the whole story.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
November 12, 2020
For my complete review of this novel visit my blog: https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/2...
"Between the lies" is a perfect title for this novel in that the entire time reading it the reader attempts to find the truth between the lies. The whole narrative is one lie heaped upon another.
This is a story of two dysfunctional families. About how dysfunction breeds dysfunction. A story of a weak woman who paid the ultimate price for her weakness.
The writing was compelling. The setting well described - though if the author is to be relied upon it rains ALL the time in Sussex. I was beginning to feel mildewed.
There were a few plot twists, but nothing shocking. I anticipated them before they were divulged. The resolution of the novel seemed a long time coming, yet when it did come everything was made clear. The clarity came bit by bit, like peeling an onion, layer after layer.
All in all, an absorbing thriller, though not as original as I hoped for. The whole amnesia trope is one that has been done time and again. Perhaps I am a tad jaded because I read so many thrillers.
I think that most lovers of the suspense/thriller genre will enjoy the read.
Though I rated this at 3.5 stars, I will be rounding UP for Goodreads, NetGalley and Amazon.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
"Between the lies" is a perfect title for this novel in that the entire time reading it the reader attempts to find the truth between the lies. The whole narrative is one lie heaped upon another.
This is a story of two dysfunctional families. About how dysfunction breeds dysfunction. A story of a weak woman who paid the ultimate price for her weakness.
The writing was compelling. The setting well described - though if the author is to be relied upon it rains ALL the time in Sussex. I was beginning to feel mildewed.
There were a few plot twists, but nothing shocking. I anticipated them before they were divulged. The resolution of the novel seemed a long time coming, yet when it did come everything was made clear. The clarity came bit by bit, like peeling an onion, layer after layer.
All in all, an absorbing thriller, though not as original as I hoped for. The whole amnesia trope is one that has been done time and again. Perhaps I am a tad jaded because I read so many thrillers.
I think that most lovers of the suspense/thriller genre will enjoy the read.
Though I rated this at 3.5 stars, I will be rounding UP for Goodreads, NetGalley and Amazon.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 7, 2019
If this were set into the 18th or 19th century- the heroine and several around her would be swooning and need the sweet smelling oils to retrieve from "the vapors" nearly constantly in this book.
Oh I'm far, far outlier on this one. The characters, within all that hysteria and lying, are also at the same time flat. You don't know them. Most of them, including Chloe, sound like robots.
The first half was so miserable and slow that I sped read the second half. This particular genre is truly hitting the lows, IMHO. And with all that copy length it was still quite up in the air to a sincere look at motives. Not just one or two characters, but the motives all around.
This one has the worst plot in this genre that I have hit this year. And it's only April. Not for me this level of writing skill either. The entire psychological thriller category for me is centered on personality and character depth. Cliches and nothing more of that here.
Oh I'm far, far outlier on this one. The characters, within all that hysteria and lying, are also at the same time flat. You don't know them. Most of them, including Chloe, sound like robots.
The first half was so miserable and slow that I sped read the second half. This particular genre is truly hitting the lows, IMHO. And with all that copy length it was still quite up in the air to a sincere look at motives. Not just one or two characters, but the motives all around.
This one has the worst plot in this genre that I have hit this year. And it's only April. Not for me this level of writing skill either. The entire psychological thriller category for me is centered on personality and character depth. Cliches and nothing more of that here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews