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Last One to Lie
Moving to a new city was supposed to be a fresh start for her family. Now it’s a nightmare.
Her little girl was supposed to be at day care when Kelsey arrived to pick her up. But they have no record of her daughter ever being there. And to make matters worse, her husband is missing too—he won’t pick up his phone, and the school he supposedly works at says he never accepted their job offer.
Detective Paul Ryan knows something’s up with Kelsey’s story. Kelsey’s husband might be involved in their daughter’s disappearance, but the deeper the detective digs, the more inconsistencies he finds.
As Detective Ryan tries to uncover the truth, what he finds are more deeply buried secrets that someone clearly never wanted found.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2020
1076 people are currently reading
5813 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Winchester
2 books95 followersJ.M. Winchester is the dark alter ego of an author who usually writes Happily Ever Afters. Her fascination with the workings of an evil mind compelled her to start writing psychological thrillers and All The Lovely Pieces is her debut novel in this genre. Originally from the east coast of Canada, she now lives in Alberta with her husband and son. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and FAVA. More information can be found on her website at: www.authorjmwinchester.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
June 20, 2020
EXCERPT: I've always given my sister the benefit of the doubt. When everyone else thought she was insane, psychotic, dangerous, I chose to believe that she was a troubled, damaged kid trying to survive horrific circumstances, who just needed love and guidance to see that she could let her guard down and accept good things into her life. I believed she killed those foster parents to save us.
Now I believe what everyone else said about her.
They say twins share a soul. I think, in our case, I got the full one and my sister got none.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Moving to a new city was supposed to be a fresh start for her family. Now it’s a nightmare.
Her little girl was supposed to be at day care when Kelsey arrived to pick her up. But they have no record of her daughter ever being there. And to make matters worse, her husband is missing too—he won’t pick up his phone, and the school he supposedly works at says he never accepted their job offer.
Detective Paul Ryan knows something’s up with Kelsey’s story. Kelsey’s husband might be involved in their daughter’s disappearance, but the deeper the detective digs, the more inconsistencies he finds.
As Detective Ryan tries to uncover the truth, what he finds are more deeply buried secrets that someone clearly never wanted found.
MY THOUGHTS: Last One to Lie by J.M. Winchester is a total mindf**k. The concept is brilliant. I admit, I really wasn't impressed over the first half of the book. I liked it, but didn't think it was anything special, no different to dozens of other books of this genre I have read. You know, one of those 'move along folks, nothing to see here' reads. In fact at one point I even wondered if I was going to continue reading it. I was tired, I thought I knew where it was going, so why bother...but I am so glad I did, because now I feel like that kid in the Exorcist, you know the one whose head spins around?
The story is told from three points of view, Kelsey - whose husband and child are missing, Detective Paul Ryan who thinks this case is an absolute pain in the ass, and a third person whose identity isn't revealed until late in the book. This works well, my only gripe being that you have to work out for yourself just whose POV you are reading. Probably just me getting lazy in my old age.
There are a couple of glitches, too, with the timeline. But nothing too serious, just a little contradiction here and there that nonetheless irked me a little.
All in all, this is a good read, almost great, but not quite.
Will I read more from this author? Definitely!
****
#LastOneToLie #NetGalley
'I wish I could arrest people for being a waste of space.'
THE AUTHOR: J.M. Winchester is the dark alter ego of an author who usually writes Happily Ever Afters. Her fascination with the workings of an evil mind compelled her to start writing psychological thrillers and All The Lovely Pieces is her debut novel in this genre. Originally from the east coast of Canada, she now lives in Alberta with her husband and son. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and FAVA.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for providing a digital ARC of Last One To Lie by J.M. Winchester for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my profile page on Goodreads.com or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Now I believe what everyone else said about her.
They say twins share a soul. I think, in our case, I got the full one and my sister got none.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Moving to a new city was supposed to be a fresh start for her family. Now it’s a nightmare.
Her little girl was supposed to be at day care when Kelsey arrived to pick her up. But they have no record of her daughter ever being there. And to make matters worse, her husband is missing too—he won’t pick up his phone, and the school he supposedly works at says he never accepted their job offer.
Detective Paul Ryan knows something’s up with Kelsey’s story. Kelsey’s husband might be involved in their daughter’s disappearance, but the deeper the detective digs, the more inconsistencies he finds.
As Detective Ryan tries to uncover the truth, what he finds are more deeply buried secrets that someone clearly never wanted found.
MY THOUGHTS: Last One to Lie by J.M. Winchester is a total mindf**k. The concept is brilliant. I admit, I really wasn't impressed over the first half of the book. I liked it, but didn't think it was anything special, no different to dozens of other books of this genre I have read. You know, one of those 'move along folks, nothing to see here' reads. In fact at one point I even wondered if I was going to continue reading it. I was tired, I thought I knew where it was going, so why bother...but I am so glad I did, because now I feel like that kid in the Exorcist, you know the one whose head spins around?
The story is told from three points of view, Kelsey - whose husband and child are missing, Detective Paul Ryan who thinks this case is an absolute pain in the ass, and a third person whose identity isn't revealed until late in the book. This works well, my only gripe being that you have to work out for yourself just whose POV you are reading. Probably just me getting lazy in my old age.
There are a couple of glitches, too, with the timeline. But nothing too serious, just a little contradiction here and there that nonetheless irked me a little.
All in all, this is a good read, almost great, but not quite.
Will I read more from this author? Definitely!
****
#LastOneToLie #NetGalley
'I wish I could arrest people for being a waste of space.'
THE AUTHOR: J.M. Winchester is the dark alter ego of an author who usually writes Happily Ever Afters. Her fascination with the workings of an evil mind compelled her to start writing psychological thrillers and All The Lovely Pieces is her debut novel in this genre. Originally from the east coast of Canada, she now lives in Alberta with her husband and son. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and FAVA.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for providing a digital ARC of Last One To Lie by J.M. Winchester for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my profile page on Goodreads.com or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1626057011i%2F10717098._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 7, 2020
Last One to Lie is a psychological thriller by J.M. Winchester. I classify myself as a romance reader. Reading a book like this is so outside my comfort zone. I have to tell you upfront that this book was one crazy, twisty, turny, wild ride. If this is a genre you enjoy, or in my case, even if it isn’t, you NEED to read this book. I could not put it down.
Where do I even start? This is one of those books where I can hardly tell you anything! I really had no idea what I was walking in to which made it so much better for me.
Kelsey Jennings and her husband and daughter have recently moved from Florida to Ellicott City, where her husband, Malcolm’s parents live. This book starts right out with a bang when Kelsey goes to pick up her toddler, Mikayla, from daycare, only to discover she’s not there. They have no record that she was even there that day. And when Kelsey tries to call her husband, he doesn’t answer and the school where she thought he was teaching school at, says he doesn’t work there.
Detective Paul Ryan is on the case of the missing husband and child. One look into the eyes of the beautiful mother of the little girl and he’s lost. He’ll do whatever is in his power to find this little girl. But the more he investigates, the more questions he has. He knows Kelsey is keeping something from him, he can feel it. At the same time, the case is bringing back painful memories of his own past. Memories he can never let go.
This book is wickedly crazy. I think my mouth hung open most of the way through. There are so many lies told, you don’t know what to believe, who to believe. One thing is certain, though, and that is that Paul Ryan has gotten himself right into the middle of it all.
Where as J.M. Winchester’s other book scared me, this one didn’t. What it did do, though is keep me on the edge of my seat, all the way to the very end. You simply cannot walk away from this book. You have to keep reading to see what is going to happen next. Rest assured that you will not be bored. So, buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, and prepare yourself. And have fun!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Where do I even start? This is one of those books where I can hardly tell you anything! I really had no idea what I was walking in to which made it so much better for me.
Kelsey Jennings and her husband and daughter have recently moved from Florida to Ellicott City, where her husband, Malcolm’s parents live. This book starts right out with a bang when Kelsey goes to pick up her toddler, Mikayla, from daycare, only to discover she’s not there. They have no record that she was even there that day. And when Kelsey tries to call her husband, he doesn’t answer and the school where she thought he was teaching school at, says he doesn’t work there.
Detective Paul Ryan is on the case of the missing husband and child. One look into the eyes of the beautiful mother of the little girl and he’s lost. He’ll do whatever is in his power to find this little girl. But the more he investigates, the more questions he has. He knows Kelsey is keeping something from him, he can feel it. At the same time, the case is bringing back painful memories of his own past. Memories he can never let go.
This book is wickedly crazy. I think my mouth hung open most of the way through. There are so many lies told, you don’t know what to believe, who to believe. One thing is certain, though, and that is that Paul Ryan has gotten himself right into the middle of it all.
Where as J.M. Winchester’s other book scared me, this one didn’t. What it did do, though is keep me on the edge of my seat, all the way to the very end. You simply cannot walk away from this book. You have to keep reading to see what is going to happen next. Rest assured that you will not be bored. So, buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, and prepare yourself. And have fun!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
May 19, 2022
This started off well, but it wasn't what I expected based on the blurb. Also, it became too far fetched and unbelievable for my taste and none of the characters are likable.
June 11, 2020
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 5 Exhilarating Rollercoaster Ride Stars
Story - 5 Exhilarating Rollercoaster Ride Stars
June 5, 2020
This book will make your head spin!
Kelsey Jennings has recently moved to the area and and dropped her young daughter off at a new daycare for the first time. A few hours later her child is not at the school and she doesn't seem to be registered either and no one remembers seeing Kelsy or her child that morning or any other morning. Kelsey becomes hysterical and she can't reach her husband by phone either so she calls the police and Detective Paul Ryan shows up and tries to make sense of this missing child case but as he digs deeper so does the mystery of this distraught young mother who he seems to be attracted to and he knows he cannot afford to let any personal feelings hamper this crazy investigation. So what does this dedicated detective discover as he digs deeper into this case and tries to fight the allure of this young mother who is definitely keeping secrets and he will do everything in his power to bring this missing child safely home if she is still alive.
This book was crazy good and very well-written. The story opens the same as any standard missing child case but hold on to your seat because the crazies will soon begin and you reach a point and say I know where this is going and No you don't because the twists and turns keep coming and the way the author wrote this book will have you rechecking last page to see if you missed something important. I loved this book because it took some liberties with the writing to help confuse you and I just could not put this book down. I can't wait to read another suspense story by J.M. Winchester and I highly recommend this book to any reader that wants to experience a mental whirl-a-twirl ride!I
I want to thank the publisher Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this terrific book a rating of 4 head-spinning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Kelsey Jennings has recently moved to the area and and dropped her young daughter off at a new daycare for the first time. A few hours later her child is not at the school and she doesn't seem to be registered either and no one remembers seeing Kelsy or her child that morning or any other morning. Kelsey becomes hysterical and she can't reach her husband by phone either so she calls the police and Detective Paul Ryan shows up and tries to make sense of this missing child case but as he digs deeper so does the mystery of this distraught young mother who he seems to be attracted to and he knows he cannot afford to let any personal feelings hamper this crazy investigation. So what does this dedicated detective discover as he digs deeper into this case and tries to fight the allure of this young mother who is definitely keeping secrets and he will do everything in his power to bring this missing child safely home if she is still alive.
This book was crazy good and very well-written. The story opens the same as any standard missing child case but hold on to your seat because the crazies will soon begin and you reach a point and say I know where this is going and No you don't because the twists and turns keep coming and the way the author wrote this book will have you rechecking last page to see if you missed something important. I loved this book because it took some liberties with the writing to help confuse you and I just could not put this book down. I can't wait to read another suspense story by J.M. Winchester and I highly recommend this book to any reader that wants to experience a mental whirl-a-twirl ride!I
I want to thank the publisher Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this terrific book a rating of 4 head-spinning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
August 4, 2020
Last One to Lie is the 2nd book I have read by J.M. Winchester and I liked this one much better than her first book. This is a twisty thriller which deals with a pair of twins, switched identities, a missing child & husband and a 15 year old cold case about more than a dozen missing teenage girls.
The book chapters are written in an alternative POV of Kelsey Jennings whose 2 year old daughter and husband have gone missing and detective Paul Ryan who is assigned to solve this missing case. The chapters do not mention directly whose POV we are reading but it becomes very clear early on so there isn't much confusion... that is until a third voice enters the scene; it was around this point that I really had to start paying more attention.
Overall, it is a fast paced thriller with a good amount of twist and turns. Like detective Paul Ryan, we initially think this will be a straight forward case of abduction until it isn't!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Thomas and Mercer and the author J.M. Winchester for an e-Arc of the book.
The book chapters are written in an alternative POV of Kelsey Jennings whose 2 year old daughter and husband have gone missing and detective Paul Ryan who is assigned to solve this missing case. The chapters do not mention directly whose POV we are reading but it becomes very clear early on so there isn't much confusion... that is until a third voice enters the scene; it was around this point that I really had to start paying more attention.
Overall, it is a fast paced thriller with a good amount of twist and turns. Like detective Paul Ryan, we initially think this will be a straight forward case of abduction until it isn't!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Thomas and Mercer and the author J.M. Winchester for an e-Arc of the book.
June 20, 2020
(3.5) Fast paced & twisted, definitely a page turner! A little far fetched at times, & sad at others.. but overall pretty good! Maybe not something you’ll remember, but the perfect quick summer beach read!
October 13, 2020
Q: … suspicious minds never take a vacation. (c) And they shouldn't...
Q:
“Kids don’t just vanish into thin air,” Rookie Cop says.
If he stays on the job long enough, he’ll start to believe otherwise. (c)
Q:
Sometimes fact and fiction intertwine in my brain, and I get the two mixed up. (c)
The evil knife-wielding ballerina/archaeologist twins go on a wild ride. They can't leave each other in peace, they do all they can to be poster child psychos and a lot of people get lost or dead in their immediate surroundings. A wild stalk through some sicko mind(s).
Well, I think it was quite a bit overdone (-1 star).
The twists felt forced (-1 star).
Q:
In truth, I slept like a baby, and I just hated people. (c)
Q:
Everyone has a “go bag”—whether physical or metaphorical. Or at least they should. No one should ever feel so safe in their reality to think that someday the rug can’t get pulled out from under them, that their walls will never crumble . . . everyone should prepare for the worst. (c)
Q:
Faith can’t cheat. She is incapable of anything dishonest. (c)
Q:
Are you seeing anyone? That guy in the restaurant? The one in your recent Facebook pictures? Is it serious? Do you know he has ten unpaid parking tickets and a shit credit rating? I rein in my crazy. (c)
Q:
… relationships are not an option for me. I see evil everywhere. I know not to let my guard down. I know everyone has a dark side. Everyone is capable of snapping if pushed to their breaking point. (c)
Q:
He was nice and kind and pleasant enough to talk to. But none of that was what attracted me to him. It was his parents who appealed. (c) Oh gosh. This is getting sleazy.
Q:
“Kids don’t just vanish into thin air,” Rookie Cop says.
If he stays on the job long enough, he’ll start to believe otherwise. (c)
Q:
Sometimes fact and fiction intertwine in my brain, and I get the two mixed up. (c)
The evil knife-wielding ballerina/archaeologist twins go on a wild ride. They can't leave each other in peace, they do all they can to be poster child psychos and a lot of people get lost or dead in their immediate surroundings. A wild stalk through some sicko mind(s).
Well, I think it was quite a bit overdone (-1 star).
The twists felt forced (-1 star).
Q:
In truth, I slept like a baby, and I just hated people. (c)
Q:
Everyone has a “go bag”—whether physical or metaphorical. Or at least they should. No one should ever feel so safe in their reality to think that someday the rug can’t get pulled out from under them, that their walls will never crumble . . . everyone should prepare for the worst. (c)
Q:
Faith can’t cheat. She is incapable of anything dishonest. (c)
Q:
Are you seeing anyone? That guy in the restaurant? The one in your recent Facebook pictures? Is it serious? Do you know he has ten unpaid parking tickets and a shit credit rating? I rein in my crazy. (c)
Q:
… relationships are not an option for me. I see evil everywhere. I know not to let my guard down. I know everyone has a dark side. Everyone is capable of snapping if pushed to their breaking point. (c)
Q:
He was nice and kind and pleasant enough to talk to. But none of that was what attracted me to him. It was his parents who appealed. (c) Oh gosh. This is getting sleazy.
January 18, 2020
Oh my goodness, this is such a ridiculous book. I literally laughed out loud a few times at the "plot twists" and tropes the author threw in. At one point I actually stopped reading, looked at the ceiling, and thought, "Really? You're going to play THAT card?" and laughed. Wow. It's almost like one of those movies that's designed to be campy, only it's not.
So why three stars? It was still well written in the sense that the author (who says she is well known under another name as a romance writer) knows how to write dialog and keep the book flowing. I was curious what on earth was going on. She knows how to write a scene, in the sense that someone who is trained in a craft can do it well.
The author thanks two law enforcement officers in her acknowledgements. I have a feeling they're going to be mortified thinking that people will think that they do this level of police work. You're going to need an incredible amount of suspension of disbelief to go along with how this missing child case (or even simple background check) is supposedly worked by the police. And then there are instances of the main police officer not being able to figure something out (ever) that has a ridiculously easy way to tell the answer. I'm honestly shocked nobody in editing picked up on this glaring mistake, but okay.
Oh yeah, and there's lots of sex and the main character is absolutely beautiful with a perfect body, because of course she is. All of it is just ridiculous. Read this book the way you'd watch The Bachelor, not because you care about any of the characters but because you want some mindless, inane fun. :)
I read a digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
So why three stars? It was still well written in the sense that the author (who says she is well known under another name as a romance writer) knows how to write dialog and keep the book flowing. I was curious what on earth was going on. She knows how to write a scene, in the sense that someone who is trained in a craft can do it well.
The author thanks two law enforcement officers in her acknowledgements. I have a feeling they're going to be mortified thinking that people will think that they do this level of police work. You're going to need an incredible amount of suspension of disbelief to go along with how this missing child case (or even simple background check) is supposedly worked by the police. And then there are instances of the main police officer not being able to figure something out (ever) that has a ridiculously easy way to tell the answer. I'm honestly shocked nobody in editing picked up on this glaring mistake, but okay.
Oh yeah, and there's lots of sex and the main character is absolutely beautiful with a perfect body, because of course she is. All of it is just ridiculous. Read this book the way you'd watch The Bachelor, not because you care about any of the characters but because you want some mindless, inane fun. :)
I read a digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
June 5, 2020
This book will make your head spin!
Kelsey Jennings has recently moved to the area and and dropped her young daughter off at a new daycare for the first time. A few hours later her child is not at the school and she doesn't seem to be registered either and no one remembers seeing Kelsy or her child that morning or any other morning. Kelsey becomes hysterical and she can't reach her husband by phone either so she calls the police and Detective Paul Ryan shows up and tries to make sense of this missing child case but as he digs deeper so does the mystery of this distraught young mother who he seems to be attracted to and he knows he cannot afford to let any personal feelings hamper this crazy investigation. So what does this dedicated detective discover as he digs deeper into this case and tries to fight the allure of this young mother who is definitely keeping secrets and he will do everything in his power to bring this missing child safely home if she is still alive.
This book was crazy good and very well-written. The story opens the same as any standard missing child case but hold on to your seat because the crazies will soon begin and you reach a point and say I know where this is going and No you don't because the twists and turns keep coming and the way the author wrote this book will have you rechecking last page to see if you missed something important. I loved this book because it took some liberties with the writing to help confuse you and I just could not put this book down. I can't wait to read another suspense story by J.M. Winchester and I highly recommend this book to any reader that wants to experience a mental whirl-a-twirl ride!
I want to thank the publisher Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this terrific book a rating of 4 head-spinning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Kelsey Jennings has recently moved to the area and and dropped her young daughter off at a new daycare for the first time. A few hours later her child is not at the school and she doesn't seem to be registered either and no one remembers seeing Kelsy or her child that morning or any other morning. Kelsey becomes hysterical and she can't reach her husband by phone either so she calls the police and Detective Paul Ryan shows up and tries to make sense of this missing child case but as he digs deeper so does the mystery of this distraught young mother who he seems to be attracted to and he knows he cannot afford to let any personal feelings hamper this crazy investigation. So what does this dedicated detective discover as he digs deeper into this case and tries to fight the allure of this young mother who is definitely keeping secrets and he will do everything in his power to bring this missing child safely home if she is still alive.
This book was crazy good and very well-written. The story opens the same as any standard missing child case but hold on to your seat because the crazies will soon begin and you reach a point and say I know where this is going and No you don't because the twists and turns keep coming and the way the author wrote this book will have you rechecking last page to see if you missed something important. I loved this book because it took some liberties with the writing to help confuse you and I just could not put this book down. I can't wait to read another suspense story by J.M. Winchester and I highly recommend this book to any reader that wants to experience a mental whirl-a-twirl ride!
I want to thank the publisher Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this terrific book a rating of 4 head-spinning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
January 18, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 big stars!
This was such a great read. The cover drew me to this book instantly and I can’t say no to a book that has “lie” in the title ;)
The book starts off with mum, Kelsey Jennings, who has just moved to a new town with her husband and daughter. Kelsey heads to her daughter’s kindergarten to pick her up after a yoga session, only to be told by employees that her daughter has never attended this kindergarten. Frantic, she calls her husband at his new job as a school teacher to find out what’s going on. Only to find that the school says they have never heard of a Malcolm Jennings..
This story is full of twists and turns that you don’t see coming. And when you think you can guess what’s going to happen, it takes a completely different turn, which I love about a story!
The beginning of this book really drew me in and for the most part it was an extremely gripping and addictive plot. When I reached about half way through I found some parts a little messy with unnecessary throw ins and relationships. But the book wrapped up well and I enjoyed the ending! Definitely a must read 🙌🏼
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4 big stars!
This was such a great read. The cover drew me to this book instantly and I can’t say no to a book that has “lie” in the title ;)
The book starts off with mum, Kelsey Jennings, who has just moved to a new town with her husband and daughter. Kelsey heads to her daughter’s kindergarten to pick her up after a yoga session, only to be told by employees that her daughter has never attended this kindergarten. Frantic, she calls her husband at his new job as a school teacher to find out what’s going on. Only to find that the school says they have never heard of a Malcolm Jennings..
This story is full of twists and turns that you don’t see coming. And when you think you can guess what’s going to happen, it takes a completely different turn, which I love about a story!
The beginning of this book really drew me in and for the most part it was an extremely gripping and addictive plot. When I reached about half way through I found some parts a little messy with unnecessary throw ins and relationships. But the book wrapped up well and I enjoyed the ending! Definitely a must read 🙌🏼
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2020
Kelsey Jennings goes to pick up her 2-year-old daughter at the day care. But they have no record of Kelsey or her daughter. She frantically calls her husband at work .. only to be told Malcolm Jennings has never worked there.
Detective Paul Ryan is not sure if he's working a missing persons case ... or an abduction by the child's father. But the more he talks to Kelsey, the more his gut tells him there's something more going on. What is she hiding?
What he finds are deeply buried secrets that someone clearly never wanted found.
What a roller coaster ride! I feel like I've been turned upside down and inside out. The twists and turns just keep a-coming! Each chapter unfolds by a different point of view. There is also a subplot about Ryan's sister who went missing and was never found. I read this one in two sittings ... was so hard to put down for any length of time.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Psychological Thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 18, 2020
#NetGalley #J.M.Winchester
Short but simple review:
I really enjoyed this book, my first by this author. I cannot describe it any better than the book synopses, or I would give away too much. Just let me say that i will definitely be looking for more titles by J.M. Winchester! I would definitely recommend this book and the characters develop nicely!
Thanks so much to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Short but simple review:
I really enjoyed this book, my first by this author. I cannot describe it any better than the book synopses, or I would give away too much. Just let me say that i will definitely be looking for more titles by J.M. Winchester! I would definitely recommend this book and the characters develop nicely!
Thanks so much to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 5, 2020
2.75 (confused) stars, rounded up.
Oh boy....this thriller contained tropes galore. I was incredulous by the end, very much looking like the Ariana Grande math meme, you know the one. Had the author thrown 75% less of the wild but whack “twists” into this book, it would’ve been great! I would have loved it.
The premise of a woman going to pick her child up from daycare and realizing 1) she isn’t there and 2) there is no record of the child at the daycare at all, thus opening an investigation into whether the child exists at all is a unique one. But things quickly took a turn for the bizarre. I felt the pacing was way off, the main character switched so quickly from anxious mother to conniving sociopath that it made my head spin. It didn’t seem realistic.
The other main character, a cop who was a misogynistic toad (no surprise there) was so incompetent and smug and led around by his testicles that at times I wanted to throw my tablet against the wall. He eventually does get shot (spoiler, I guess) but doesn’t die and that’s the true tragedy of this book.
Not to mention all the other wild sh*t thrown into this relatively short read. My god.
Despite all the mess, I did tear through this just to see how the heck it was all supposed to come together. The ending was fine, sort of predictable, and what do you expect from 50 billion storylines? I just couldn’t bring myself to give this 3 stars, but worth a read if you enjoy hate-reading stuff and don’t take it seriously at all.
Oh boy....this thriller contained tropes galore. I was incredulous by the end, very much looking like the Ariana Grande math meme, you know the one. Had the author thrown 75% less of the wild but whack “twists” into this book, it would’ve been great! I would have loved it.
The premise of a woman going to pick her child up from daycare and realizing 1) she isn’t there and 2) there is no record of the child at the daycare at all, thus opening an investigation into whether the child exists at all is a unique one. But things quickly took a turn for the bizarre. I felt the pacing was way off, the main character switched so quickly from anxious mother to conniving sociopath that it made my head spin. It didn’t seem realistic.
The other main character, a cop who was a misogynistic toad (no surprise there) was so incompetent and smug and led around by his testicles that at times I wanted to throw my tablet against the wall. He eventually does get shot (spoiler, I guess) but doesn’t die and that’s the true tragedy of this book.
Not to mention all the other wild sh*t thrown into this relatively short read. My god.
Despite all the mess, I did tear through this just to see how the heck it was all supposed to come together. The ending was fine, sort of predictable, and what do you expect from 50 billion storylines? I just couldn’t bring myself to give this 3 stars, but worth a read if you enjoy hate-reading stuff and don’t take it seriously at all.
June 21, 2020
This is a solid thriller with many, many twists. So many that I can only really tell you the beginning part of the plot. Kelsey discovers that her husband and daughter are missing. More alarming than that, the daycare where she left her child has no record of her and her husband’s job says he never started work their either. Enter a detective with his own demons trying to work it all out and find out if Kelsey is crazy or if her family is really gone.
This book was incredibly creative and inventive and entertaining. My only complaint is that it has multiple narrators, but none of the chapters have titles to let you know who is narrating. In this story, for spoilery reasons I can’t divulge, it’s especially important to be able to tell the characters apart. Without chapter titles, I did not find each first-person narrator’s voice distinctive enough to know who was speaking immediately - sometimes it took me several pages to figure out who it was. I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if I had a better sense immediately of who was talking. Hopefully this can be fixed in the published release because the plot is very fun and the many twists are enjoyable, and the book ends in a much different way than you would ever expect.
This was a solid 3.5 thriller, rounded up because it would probably be a 4 in the finished edition when you know immediately who is speaking. I’ll definitely pick up another book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and J. M. Winchester for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book was incredibly creative and inventive and entertaining. My only complaint is that it has multiple narrators, but none of the chapters have titles to let you know who is narrating. In this story, for spoilery reasons I can’t divulge, it’s especially important to be able to tell the characters apart. Without chapter titles, I did not find each first-person narrator’s voice distinctive enough to know who was speaking immediately - sometimes it took me several pages to figure out who it was. I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if I had a better sense immediately of who was talking. Hopefully this can be fixed in the published release because the plot is very fun and the many twists are enjoyable, and the book ends in a much different way than you would ever expect.
This was a solid 3.5 thriller, rounded up because it would probably be a 4 in the finished edition when you know immediately who is speaking. I’ll definitely pick up another book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and J. M. Winchester for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
October 6, 2020
A quick read. Thriller...
Kelsey reports her daughter missing. Where's her daughter and her husband?
Get to find out more about Kelsey and her past her childhood.
Doing the present time a cop is hoping to find Kelsey daughter and hubby. But what is Kelsey hiding?
Got a bit confusing at times. I think I got the just of the turnaround of the story or maybe not lol.
Just interesting and ok.
Kelsey reports her daughter missing. Where's her daughter and her husband?
Get to find out more about Kelsey and her past her childhood.
Doing the present time a cop is hoping to find Kelsey daughter and hubby. But what is Kelsey hiding?
Got a bit confusing at times. I think I got the just of the turnaround of the story or maybe not lol.
Just interesting and ok.
July 9, 2020
"There are just bad people and good people. And not everyone gets the life they deserve."
This was a twisty little story, it was a fast read and one that kept me flipping the pages. But I'm a little done with stories about cops that are doing whatever they want (love that rules or pesky things called LAWS just don't apply to them). I also guessed many of the twists before they arrived but I did enjoy the dialogue and I really loved the chapter set up - each one is listed with a date so the story unfolds very quickly over just a few days (with a few chapters being from the past). It was a good, quick, well-written read.
An e-ARC was provided to me by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This was a twisty little story, it was a fast read and one that kept me flipping the pages. But I'm a little done with stories about cops that are doing whatever they want (love that rules or pesky things called LAWS just don't apply to them). I also guessed many of the twists before they arrived but I did enjoy the dialogue and I really loved the chapter set up - each one is listed with a date so the story unfolds very quickly over just a few days (with a few chapters being from the past). It was a good, quick, well-written read.
An e-ARC was provided to me by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 17, 2020
5 stars audio and story
June 6, 2020
What the heck?! This was one twisty, bendy mind boggling read!
This starts with quite a bang but I’m thinking I know exactly what’s happening and how this is all going to play out. And yet, even though I know what’s going to happen, the writing is so fresh and the characters are pulling me in. Then, with the turn of a page I realize that I don’t have a clue what’s going on. Everything I thought I knew was total bs and suddenly Ms. Winchester has just pushed me down one heck of a rabbit’s hole!
This is the type of book you want to go in as blind as possible. Of course, if you were going to do that, you wouldn’t be reading this. But have no fear, I’m not going to spoiler it for you. I will say that the characters were real, diverse, unique and sometimes...scary as heck.
The one thing I struggled with was being able to keep up with which characters point of view I was reading throughout the story as it changes frequently. Usually, after a few lines I’d figure it out but it did remove me from the story more than once and often at the most inopportune moments. Otherwise, this book was pure perfection with characters that kept me guessing as well as its wicked intensity.
I highly recommend this for psychological thrill lovers!
Dual POV
Safe - not a romance
Triggers
This starts with quite a bang but I’m thinking I know exactly what’s happening and how this is all going to play out. And yet, even though I know what’s going to happen, the writing is so fresh and the characters are pulling me in. Then, with the turn of a page I realize that I don’t have a clue what’s going on. Everything I thought I knew was total bs and suddenly Ms. Winchester has just pushed me down one heck of a rabbit’s hole!
This is the type of book you want to go in as blind as possible. Of course, if you were going to do that, you wouldn’t be reading this. But have no fear, I’m not going to spoiler it for you. I will say that the characters were real, diverse, unique and sometimes...scary as heck.
The one thing I struggled with was being able to keep up with which characters point of view I was reading throughout the story as it changes frequently. Usually, after a few lines I’d figure it out but it did remove me from the story more than once and often at the most inopportune moments. Otherwise, this book was pure perfection with characters that kept me guessing as well as its wicked intensity.
I highly recommend this for psychological thrill lovers!
Dual POV
Safe - not a romance
Triggers
May 2, 2020
This is one the twisted psychological thriller!
Kelsey is picking up her toddler from daycare only to find they have no record of her daughter ever being there. Panicked, she calls her husband but he's not picking up. Detective Paul Ryan is tasked with solving the mystery only to be pulled into a web he doesn't realize he's caught in. Did the father take their little girl and disappear without a trace? Is Kelsey who she says she is?
You know with this genre that things aren't always as they appear to be but this one had my head spinning with the original plot lines and unforseen sharp turns. Well written with a suspensefully fast pace, I found myself eager to solve the mystery while enjoying the bumpy ride.
While this is the first book I've read from this author, I look forward to reading her other book in this genre, All The Lovely Pieces. I highly recommend this one to all the lovers of twists and turns and unconventional plot lines.
Kelsey is picking up her toddler from daycare only to find they have no record of her daughter ever being there. Panicked, she calls her husband but he's not picking up. Detective Paul Ryan is tasked with solving the mystery only to be pulled into a web he doesn't realize he's caught in. Did the father take their little girl and disappear without a trace? Is Kelsey who she says she is?
You know with this genre that things aren't always as they appear to be but this one had my head spinning with the original plot lines and unforseen sharp turns. Well written with a suspensefully fast pace, I found myself eager to solve the mystery while enjoying the bumpy ride.
While this is the first book I've read from this author, I look forward to reading her other book in this genre, All The Lovely Pieces. I highly recommend this one to all the lovers of twists and turns and unconventional plot lines.
July 21, 2020
I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I had hoped I would, but it is definitely a dysfunctional and twisty read. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 3, 2020
What. Just. Happened?! I’m reeling from this book! This is my first book by the author but definitely won’t be my last. There were so many plot twists. I was so confused and then you finally get to the end, and you’re still working out how. I could not put this one down. Everything you learned was so disturbing and absolutely crazy.
Kelsey Jennings has recently moved to a new town with her husband and daughter. After a yoga class, she goes to pick up her daughter from daycare. But, the school says she never attended. Her calls to her husband, Malcolm, keep going to voicemail and the new school he had a job at says he never started the job. The story alternates between Kelsey, and the detective, Paul Ryan, assigned to the case. There were so many twists and turns, secrets and lies. This will mess with your head and you cannot possibly guess the ending! You absolutely need to read this!
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Kelsey Jennings has recently moved to a new town with her husband and daughter. After a yoga class, she goes to pick up her daughter from daycare. But, the school says she never attended. Her calls to her husband, Malcolm, keep going to voicemail and the new school he had a job at says he never started the job. The story alternates between Kelsey, and the detective, Paul Ryan, assigned to the case. There were so many twists and turns, secrets and lies. This will mess with your head and you cannot possibly guess the ending! You absolutely need to read this!
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
April 9, 2020
Review for 'Last One To Lie' by J. M. Winchester
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Thomas & Mercer publishing .
Available to preorder ready for release on June 9th
This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is a standalone book. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to look for any more of her books but I would read one if I came across one.
This book is written from the perspectives of 3 different characters including the detective Paul. I like when books are written from different character perspectives as you don't tend to miss any of the main storyline.
THE book was well written and flowed well. I read it quite quickly and did quite enjoy it. However, I don't think the author did much if any research into police work and most of the procedure was unbelievable which made it lose a star (all books start with a 5/5 with me)
THE storyline itself was quite interesting and had quite a few twists and turns which were good and I'm happy with te way it ended. I can't say it didn't leave any questions as a case of a certain person (won't say who so not to spoil it) seemed to be added in and forgotten about. This led to another star being removed.
THE characters were believable and quite strong and the descriptions were good.
THE chapters have the time of the events so you can know what's happening at what time which I found very useful.
If I was to recommend this book it would be to fans of crime and mystery.
Rated 3/5 (It was OK) on Goodreads and Amazon (UK and. Com) and over 30 Facebook
pages
£3.98 to purchase on kindle. I think this is an OK price for this book
288 pages
Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews
#LastOneToLie #NetGalley #JMWinchester #BookReview #Thomas&Mercer
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Thomas & Mercer publishing .
Available to preorder ready for release on June 9th
This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is a standalone book. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to look for any more of her books but I would read one if I came across one.
This book is written from the perspectives of 3 different characters including the detective Paul. I like when books are written from different character perspectives as you don't tend to miss any of the main storyline.
THE book was well written and flowed well. I read it quite quickly and did quite enjoy it. However, I don't think the author did much if any research into police work and most of the procedure was unbelievable which made it lose a star (all books start with a 5/5 with me)
THE storyline itself was quite interesting and had quite a few twists and turns which were good and I'm happy with te way it ended. I can't say it didn't leave any questions as a case of a certain person (won't say who so not to spoil it) seemed to be added in and forgotten about. This led to another star being removed.
THE characters were believable and quite strong and the descriptions were good.
THE chapters have the time of the events so you can know what's happening at what time which I found very useful.
If I was to recommend this book it would be to fans of crime and mystery.
Rated 3/5 (It was OK) on Goodreads and Amazon (UK and. Com) and over 30 Facebook
pages
£3.98 to purchase on kindle. I think this is an OK price for this book
288 pages
Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews
#LastOneToLie #NetGalley #JMWinchester #BookReview #Thomas&Mercer
April 8, 2020
I read until the lines blurred together in the wee hours of the morning, then the characters haunted my dreams. I awoke with a chest tightened with anxiety only to realize it was just a story and in my world everyone is safe... I only wish I could say the same for Kelsey Jennings.
The Last One to Lie is a fast paced thrilling novel. Kelsey Jennings arrives at her daughter’s daycare to pick her up only to find her daughter isn’t there – nor has she ever been there. Distraught she quickly calls her husband, who doesn’t answer. When Detective Ryan is assigned to the case of missing father and daughter he quickly finds himself pulled into an endlessly unraveling story even he can’t unravel.
This is my 13th book of the year, and is by far one of my favorite 2020 reads. J.M. Winchester writes this psychological thriller with such fluidity you find yourself 100 pages in before you've noticed a moments passed by. She'll keep you connecting the dots and guessing until the very end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing a free copy of The Last One to Lie in exchange for my honest review.
The Last One to Lie is a fast paced thrilling novel. Kelsey Jennings arrives at her daughter’s daycare to pick her up only to find her daughter isn’t there – nor has she ever been there. Distraught she quickly calls her husband, who doesn’t answer. When Detective Ryan is assigned to the case of missing father and daughter he quickly finds himself pulled into an endlessly unraveling story even he can’t unravel.
This is my 13th book of the year, and is by far one of my favorite 2020 reads. J.M. Winchester writes this psychological thriller with such fluidity you find yourself 100 pages in before you've noticed a moments passed by. She'll keep you connecting the dots and guessing until the very end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing a free copy of The Last One to Lie in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2020
Kelsey has just moved to a new town and hasn't quite gotten everything.figured out yet. She drops her daughter off at her new day care so she can take a bit of time to herself in hopes of feeling more at ease about this new venture. When Kelsey goes back to the day care to pick up her daughter she is not there. Not only isn't she there they have no record of the young child ever being there. Things go from bad to worse when she can reach her husband, he isn't answering his phone and his new job says he never showed up to take the job. The police are called in and they aren't sure what is going on, is this woman crazy or is what she saying true. If what she is saying is the truth that means they could be dealing with a parental abduction. Detective Paul Ryan is on the case but if he is truthful he doesn't know what to think of Kelsey and her tale. Follow along as Detective Ryan tries to uncover the truth and separates fact from fiction. Is Kelsey being honest? If so will he be able to help her find her child before it's to late.
December 31, 2020
Whoa! This was definitely a good psychological thriller! I was so unsure what was going on for most of the book. I was off base on one main logical explanation I had, but that one was wrong. LOL
Kelsey is a woman whose daughter goes missing, and when she checks with her husband he never answers his phone. She ends up calling the police and when Detective Ryan comes to investigate he begins to realize that maybe Kelsey isn't being completely honest with him; however, he has lustful thoughts about her and that taints his ability to focus on the case. He's also been investigating his missing sister who'd been missing for many years.
I really don't want to spoil this one but there are so many things about this one that make it so good: mystery, suspense, violence, murder, romance (or at least sex), abuse, deceit, and psychological and mental factors.
I highly recommend this one! It has a different twist, but pay close attention as you read.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Kelsey is a woman whose daughter goes missing, and when she checks with her husband he never answers his phone. She ends up calling the police and when Detective Ryan comes to investigate he begins to realize that maybe Kelsey isn't being completely honest with him; however, he has lustful thoughts about her and that taints his ability to focus on the case. He's also been investigating his missing sister who'd been missing for many years.
I really don't want to spoil this one but there are so many things about this one that make it so good: mystery, suspense, violence, murder, romance (or at least sex), abuse, deceit, and psychological and mental factors.
I highly recommend this one! It has a different twist, but pay close attention as you read.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 22, 2020
This book starts and ends with a bang. I don’t want to give away too many details. I went into it blind and I think that added to the story. Seriously, there are some insane twists that I didn’t see coming. Some you may have to suspend belief for but it works in a crazy cakes from Hell kind of way. This is the kind of book that you tell your friends to read so you can talk about it with someone. It is ridiculous in the best way, suspenseful, and will keep you guessing throughout.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and J.M. Winchester for the arc.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and J.M. Winchester for the arc.
June 14, 2021
Audiobook
The convoluted story, filled with unlikable, horrible people was elevated by the female narrators but made even worse by the male narrator. The male narrator was the worst I’ve ever heard.
The convoluted story, filled with unlikable, horrible people was elevated by the female narrators but made even worse by the male narrator. The male narrator was the worst I’ve ever heard.
June 17, 2020
Provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review
I like a good psychological thriller, so I was excited to try this one out. The premise sounds really promising. The absence of names on the beginning of the chapter was really clever. It keeps your attention to the story, because you have to figure out yourself what is going on and who's talking. However was a bit over the top. I feel like Winchester wanted to put way too many things in this book, which made it feel a bit oversaturated for me. Overall I enjoyed the experience of reading this and I will definitely keep an eye out for her other works.
I like a good psychological thriller, so I was excited to try this one out. The premise sounds really promising. The absence of names on the beginning of the chapter was really clever. It keeps your attention to the story, because you have to figure out yourself what is going on and who's talking. However was a bit over the top. I feel like Winchester wanted to put way too many things in this book, which made it feel a bit oversaturated for me. Overall I enjoyed the experience of reading this and I will definitely keep an eye out for her other works.
March 31, 2021
Pretty fitting title with this one and a very good summary as well.
I don't think there's a lot to criticize in this book. It's very clear, despite what I thought about the author's ability to throw together a coherent plot. Arguably not a lot going on in retrospect, but a very clear story overall.
The rest of my review from this point on is personal preference, primarily inspired by a moody disposition. There were three characters and two felt like different sides of the same coin. And I didn't happen to like any of them. Plot-wise it was quite good, everything fell sequentially. I think the biggest strength of the book falls with the way it gives you an insight into what the characters are thinking. Everything is very well-drawn out.
But the manipulation of others by some of the characters in this book was a little laughable. Arguably some parts of the two characters merged in a way that I didn't like because they seemed very similar. However, if the two characters didn't somehow merge it would take away from some of the plot.
Anyhow, I'm rambling. Overall, this book is pretty good. Winchester does a pretty good job of taking inside the minds and emotions of these characters and takes you along at the speed she wants. I just really did not like the characters.
I don't think there's a lot to criticize in this book. It's very clear, despite what I thought about the author's ability to throw together a coherent plot. Arguably not a lot going on in retrospect, but a very clear story overall.
The rest of my review from this point on is personal preference, primarily inspired by a moody disposition. There were three characters and two felt like different sides of the same coin. And I didn't happen to like any of them. Plot-wise it was quite good, everything fell sequentially. I think the biggest strength of the book falls with the way it gives you an insight into what the characters are thinking. Everything is very well-drawn out.
But the manipulation of others by some of the characters in this book was a little laughable. Arguably some parts of the two characters merged in a way that I didn't like because they seemed very similar. However, if the two characters didn't somehow merge it would take away from some of the plot.
Anyhow, I'm rambling. Overall, this book is pretty good. Winchester does a pretty good job of taking inside the minds and emotions of these characters and takes you along at the speed she wants. I just really did not like the characters.
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