What do you think?
Rate this book
Her Dark Lies
“Elegant, propulsive, and utterly unputdownable… The work of one of our most talented thriller writers at the very top of her game.” —Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Confessions on the 7:45
Fast-paced and brilliantly unpredictable, J.T. Ellison’s breathtaking novel invites you to a wedding none will forget—and some won’t survive.
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…
Don't miss J.T. Ellison's next thriller, IT'S ONE OF US, coming February 2023!
Fast-paced and brilliantly unpredictable, J.T. Ellison’s breathtaking novel invites you to a wedding none will forget—and some won’t survive.
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…
Don't miss J.T. Ellison's next thriller, IT'S ONE OF US, coming February 2023!
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 9, 2021
863 people are currently reading
26984 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Ellison
81 books6,859 followersJ.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.
With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards They have also been optioned for television, and published in 28 countries.
J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, one of whom is a ghost, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards They have also been optioned for television, and published in 28 countries.
J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, one of whom is a ghost, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,073 reviews
October 15, 2022
An exclusive, luxurious high society marriage ceremony set on a majestic-cliff top villa at Italian coast! Yes, from the blurb I got some Lucy Foley’s Guest List vibes : a killer on the run at the most anticipated marriage ceremony of the year: everybody has different agendas. Both groom and bride keep terrible, dirty secrets. Did you get intrigued? You certainly should!
Claire Hunter seems like an ultra talented painter who is still modest about her artistic skills. The tattooed,once upon a time junkie girl who has a tragic past and full of secrets still can believe in her luck to be accepted by ultra rich Comptons! She’s so close to be part of a servant-laden, helicopter-flying, island-owning, yacht sailing, computer-mogul-gazillionaire privacy-at-all costs family life!
She’s smitten with Jack Compton! She cannot wait to be his bride!
But as soon as lovely couple sets foot on the island, terrible things start to occur! Her wedding dress is ruined, somebody wrote whore with blood on it. Comptons’ family company servers are hacked and just before their wedding party, a masked intruder attacked both groom and bride. Thankfully badass Claire handled the situation by killing the culprit! Of course it’s self defense! Our lovely bride is not a psycho-killer, is she?
And now somebody has videotapes of the crime scene. Even though Malcolm-the bodyguard of Jack took the blame, somebody knows what happened to the intruder and he/ she already started to blackmail to the family to come clean about their big secret. What secret are they talking about? The family has tons of them!
But poor Claire starts seeing the haunted gray woman walking around the cliffs, feeling like somebody is watching her! As we take a close look of Claire’s past we may understand her fragility and her estranged family dynamics! Somebody targets the Compton family by using her as a prey! Will she accept to be a victim again? Oh, hell no! Of course she won’t!
I honestly loved the detailed, layered character analysis and fast, action packed, riveting pacing! Only thing just bothered me to lower some points is lack of surprise element. We all know the perpetrator from the beginning and we still keep watching how he/ she conducts her grandiose vicious revenge plan!
There was one twist at the end was well played and I wish it would be less predictable because its settling, the mysterious one haunting location premise and claustrophobic atmosphere with multi layered crowded characters were so convenient for this book to be written as a delicious whodunnit storyline! Everyone has motives and big juicy secrets. Nobody is reliable! Even the perpetrator’s malicious assistants are obvious!
But I still loved the story and I couldn’t stop reading till the end! ( yes, I loved the WTH ending as well)
So I’m still rounding up 3.5 to 4 islander, mad women cat fight, intriguing, secretive, spy games, artistic stars !
I still had great reading time! It’s another great, heart pounding, whirlwind pop corn& wine reading I truly enjoyed!
Follow me :
instagram
facebook
twitter
Claire Hunter seems like an ultra talented painter who is still modest about her artistic skills. The tattooed,once upon a time junkie girl who has a tragic past and full of secrets still can believe in her luck to be accepted by ultra rich Comptons! She’s so close to be part of a servant-laden, helicopter-flying, island-owning, yacht sailing, computer-mogul-gazillionaire privacy-at-all costs family life!
She’s smitten with Jack Compton! She cannot wait to be his bride!
But as soon as lovely couple sets foot on the island, terrible things start to occur! Her wedding dress is ruined, somebody wrote whore with blood on it. Comptons’ family company servers are hacked and just before their wedding party, a masked intruder attacked both groom and bride. Thankfully badass Claire handled the situation by killing the culprit! Of course it’s self defense! Our lovely bride is not a psycho-killer, is she?
And now somebody has videotapes of the crime scene. Even though Malcolm-the bodyguard of Jack took the blame, somebody knows what happened to the intruder and he/ she already started to blackmail to the family to come clean about their big secret. What secret are they talking about? The family has tons of them!
But poor Claire starts seeing the haunted gray woman walking around the cliffs, feeling like somebody is watching her! As we take a close look of Claire’s past we may understand her fragility and her estranged family dynamics! Somebody targets the Compton family by using her as a prey! Will she accept to be a victim again? Oh, hell no! Of course she won’t!
I honestly loved the detailed, layered character analysis and fast, action packed, riveting pacing! Only thing just bothered me to lower some points is lack of surprise element. We all know the perpetrator from the beginning and we still keep watching how he/ she conducts her grandiose vicious revenge plan!
There was one twist at the end was well played and I wish it would be less predictable because its settling, the mysterious one haunting location premise and claustrophobic atmosphere with multi layered crowded characters were so convenient for this book to be written as a delicious whodunnit storyline! Everyone has motives and big juicy secrets. Nobody is reliable! Even the perpetrator’s malicious assistants are obvious!
But I still loved the story and I couldn’t stop reading till the end! ( yes, I loved the WTH ending as well)
So I’m still rounding up 3.5 to 4 islander, mad women cat fight, intriguing, secretive, spy games, artistic stars !
I still had great reading time! It’s another great, heart pounding, whirlwind pop corn& wine reading I truly enjoyed!
Follow me :
June 9, 2021
Yiiiiiikes this was not a good one for me. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting but this is one of the corniest and silliest thrillers I’ve read in a while.
Where to even begin? I don’t want to be mean because writing a book is difficult and I’m sure several people worked hard on this. But I don’t write reviews for authors and publishers, I write them for other readers and of course, for ✨ME✨. Also, I’m a little annoyed I read all 400+ pages of this and still got such a dumb ending.
So here we go....the main characters all suck. Not in an ‘intentionally unlikable character’ kind of way, but in a ‘there’s no way these are supposed to be actual human people’ way. Claire and Jack are getting married. Claire is artsy and *not like other girls*, while Jack is a mysterious former playboy that’s, of course, totally loaded. They decide to get married on this remote Italian island where a lot of questionable deaths have occurred because, yeah, sure why not. And then throughout the book a slew of other questionable deaths take place and in response the two of them repeatedly balk at the idea of cancelling or even delaying this wedding.
The number of murders that happen, guys, is just insane. Like every 12 hours someone dies. Most of them are ‘the help’ so Claire, Jack and the rest of the 1% just shrug their shoulders like ‘wow yeah that’s a total bummer.....who’s gonna do my hair now???😩’ I have never rooted against a couple so intensely. They’re the least sympathetic characters I can remember reading about. And possibly also the dumbest.
They aren’t assisted at all by the plot, which is just laden with the worst tropes of the genre. Think of any famous thriller, go on, any. Do you have it? Yes, that book’s ‘plot twist’ is in this one too. I’m aware that a lot of mysteries/suspense/thrillers borrow from and overlap with one another, but these aren’t even well-executed. They’re just tacked together and tossed into an ~exotic location~ with the hope some of what’s thrown at the wall will eventually stick.
It’s is like a Lifetime movie with a YouTube video budget. I can actually see the terrible green screen shots in my head right now. And I haven’t even talked about the antagonist of the book yet. This villain is omnipotent, gorgeous, brilliant, pure evil and the greatest hacker on earth. So beyond plausible that I honestly thought they were going to be some sort of joke or fake out.....but nope. We’re really expected to be cowed in terror by this bitch. The author even attempts to do a weak Gone Girl-style twist at the end and I cannot emphasize enough how d u m b it is.
I don’t have any redeeming qualities to share on behalf of this book, I’m sorry. I am only dragging it because I don’t want anyone else to waste their time. I know some people who loved it, so take a look at the positive reviews too, but I am sorry to say I can’t recommend this one.
*Thanks to my friends & the publisher for sending me a review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
Where to even begin? I don’t want to be mean because writing a book is difficult and I’m sure several people worked hard on this. But I don’t write reviews for authors and publishers, I write them for other readers and of course, for ✨ME✨. Also, I’m a little annoyed I read all 400+ pages of this and still got such a dumb ending.
So here we go....the main characters all suck. Not in an ‘intentionally unlikable character’ kind of way, but in a ‘there’s no way these are supposed to be actual human people’ way. Claire and Jack are getting married. Claire is artsy and *not like other girls*, while Jack is a mysterious former playboy that’s, of course, totally loaded. They decide to get married on this remote Italian island where a lot of questionable deaths have occurred because, yeah, sure why not. And then throughout the book a slew of other questionable deaths take place and in response the two of them repeatedly balk at the idea of cancelling or even delaying this wedding.
The number of murders that happen, guys, is just insane. Like every 12 hours someone dies. Most of them are ‘the help’ so Claire, Jack and the rest of the 1% just shrug their shoulders like ‘wow yeah that’s a total bummer.....who’s gonna do my hair now???😩’ I have never rooted against a couple so intensely. They’re the least sympathetic characters I can remember reading about. And possibly also the dumbest.
They aren’t assisted at all by the plot, which is just laden with the worst tropes of the genre. Think of any famous thriller, go on, any. Do you have it? Yes, that book’s ‘plot twist’ is in this one too. I’m aware that a lot of mysteries/suspense/thrillers borrow from and overlap with one another, but these aren’t even well-executed. They’re just tacked together and tossed into an ~exotic location~ with the hope some of what’s thrown at the wall will eventually stick.
It’s is like a Lifetime movie with a YouTube video budget. I can actually see the terrible green screen shots in my head right now. And I haven’t even talked about the antagonist of the book yet. This villain is omnipotent, gorgeous, brilliant, pure evil and the greatest hacker on earth. So beyond plausible that I honestly thought they were going to be some sort of joke or fake out.....but nope. We’re really expected to be cowed in terror by this bitch. The author even attempts to do a weak Gone Girl-style twist at the end and I cannot emphasize enough how d u m b it is.
I don’t have any redeeming qualities to share on behalf of this book, I’m sorry. I am only dragging it because I don’t want anyone else to waste their time. I know some people who loved it, so take a look at the positive reviews too, but I am sorry to say I can’t recommend this one.
*Thanks to my friends & the publisher for sending me a review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
December 11, 2024
**3.5-stars**
From the start, Claire Hunter, knows marrying Jack Compton will alter her life dramatically.
The Compton family is rich and powerful; we're talking top 1%. Claire is an up-and-coming artist, with a studio in Nashville, and not much else. She's new to their high-class world and the predators that often come with it.
The couple are set to wed at the Compton family's luxury villa on Isle Isolde on the coast of Italy. It is planned to be an intimate occasion, with just family and a few close friends.
The night prior to departing for Italy, the couple surprises an intruder in their home. It doesn't end well and Claire is deeply rattled by the incident. It's not setting a good tone for her wedding weekend.
Even after arriving in Italy, her nerves are wrecked. The property is intimidating and Claire feels unsettled from the very start.
As she begins to meet Jack's family and their vast domestic staff, she slowly starts to let her guard down. It's clear they all love Jack very much and want him to be happy. That's how it appears anyway.
It doesn't take long before odd things begin happening; scary things. To Claire it seems someone may be trying to sabotage her and their nuptials, but who?
Terrible weather sweeps in, adding more fuel to the fire. Everything has to be rearranged; the villa is in chaos. Then the bodies start dropping.
Her Dark Lies is an over-the-top, locked room Mystery, with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. You better grab your Dramamine before you go on this ride!
The author made some interesting choices in deciding what perspectives to follow; you actually get the perspective of the antagonist. I wasn't crazy about this, as to me, it felt like it took all of the suspense out of it.
I liked the setting, but could have done with even more of the lore and history of Isle Isolde. We did get a few glimpses into the past of the Villa and there were a lot of skeletons in those closets.
While this is a good story, I was hoping for just a little more atmosphere and suspense. Technically, it has everything that makes up a good Thriller, but somehow it still felt a little anticlimactic for me.
With all of this being said, I know a ton of Readers are going to love the fast-paced drama of this novel. Just because it wasn't the perfect book for me, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I did and most likely, you will too!
Thank you so much to the publisher, MIRA, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion.
From the start, Claire Hunter, knows marrying Jack Compton will alter her life dramatically.
The Compton family is rich and powerful; we're talking top 1%. Claire is an up-and-coming artist, with a studio in Nashville, and not much else. She's new to their high-class world and the predators that often come with it.
The couple are set to wed at the Compton family's luxury villa on Isle Isolde on the coast of Italy. It is planned to be an intimate occasion, with just family and a few close friends.
The night prior to departing for Italy, the couple surprises an intruder in their home. It doesn't end well and Claire is deeply rattled by the incident. It's not setting a good tone for her wedding weekend.
Even after arriving in Italy, her nerves are wrecked. The property is intimidating and Claire feels unsettled from the very start.
As she begins to meet Jack's family and their vast domestic staff, she slowly starts to let her guard down. It's clear they all love Jack very much and want him to be happy. That's how it appears anyway.
It doesn't take long before odd things begin happening; scary things. To Claire it seems someone may be trying to sabotage her and their nuptials, but who?
Terrible weather sweeps in, adding more fuel to the fire. Everything has to be rearranged; the villa is in chaos. Then the bodies start dropping.
Her Dark Lies is an over-the-top, locked room Mystery, with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. You better grab your Dramamine before you go on this ride!
The author made some interesting choices in deciding what perspectives to follow; you actually get the perspective of the antagonist. I wasn't crazy about this, as to me, it felt like it took all of the suspense out of it.
I liked the setting, but could have done with even more of the lore and history of Isle Isolde. We did get a few glimpses into the past of the Villa and there were a lot of skeletons in those closets.
While this is a good story, I was hoping for just a little more atmosphere and suspense. Technically, it has everything that makes up a good Thriller, but somehow it still felt a little anticlimactic for me.
With all of this being said, I know a ton of Readers are going to love the fast-paced drama of this novel. Just because it wasn't the perfect book for me, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I did and most likely, you will too!
Thank you so much to the publisher, MIRA, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion.
December 3, 2020
A scenic setting on an island off of the Italian coast? A group of guests gathering for a special occasion at a beautiful villa? A violent storm that keeps the guests stuck on the island? Power going out? A killer hidden in the shadows? I am here for it!
Claire and her soon-to-be husband, Jack, leave a shocking incident behind at Claire’s home in Nashville, and travel to the Isle Isola island. Here, Jack and his wealthy family own a villa. It’s the perfect setting for their nuptials, among 30 of their closest friends and family. Things start off badly, and as soon as Claire and Jack step onto land, skeletal remains are found on the property.
If that isn’t disturbing enough, other odd disruptions start to occur. It soon becomes clear that there are things Jack doesn’t know about Claire and her troubled past. More importantly, there are many things that Claire doesn’t know about Jack, his family, and their wealth. On top of that, Claire doesn’t know the mysterious story around the death of Jack’s first wife. As a thunderous storm approaches the island, bringing in violent winds and pouring rain, what does become clear is the danger the family and their guests are in...as a killer with an agenda lurks nearby.
I am a huge J.T. Ellison fan, going all the way back to her Taylor Jackson series. I was a bit underwhelmed with her last standalone, GOOD GIRLS LIE, maybe because I don’t enjoy boarding school settings in my books. This one was much more my style. It’s an extremely atmospheric mystery that has many moving pieces. I always appreciate when I don’t know how to feel about certain characters (Who’s a good egg? Who’s an evil bastard?), and there are quite a few like that here, which kept things off-kilter.
Heads up: This book starts out slow, with very detailed descriptions of the island, the villa, and many other surroundings. It picks up as it progresses, and then keeps a nice and steady pace. While there are some surprises along the way, this book doesn’t break the mold...and that is fine. It is told in such a compelling manner that hooked me as I pushed myself to the dangerous and satisfying conclusion. A suspenseful win by J.T.
Thank you to Mira/HarperCollins for sending me a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Claire and her soon-to-be husband, Jack, leave a shocking incident behind at Claire’s home in Nashville, and travel to the Isle Isola island. Here, Jack and his wealthy family own a villa. It’s the perfect setting for their nuptials, among 30 of their closest friends and family. Things start off badly, and as soon as Claire and Jack step onto land, skeletal remains are found on the property.
If that isn’t disturbing enough, other odd disruptions start to occur. It soon becomes clear that there are things Jack doesn’t know about Claire and her troubled past. More importantly, there are many things that Claire doesn’t know about Jack, his family, and their wealth. On top of that, Claire doesn’t know the mysterious story around the death of Jack’s first wife. As a thunderous storm approaches the island, bringing in violent winds and pouring rain, what does become clear is the danger the family and their guests are in...as a killer with an agenda lurks nearby.
I am a huge J.T. Ellison fan, going all the way back to her Taylor Jackson series. I was a bit underwhelmed with her last standalone, GOOD GIRLS LIE, maybe because I don’t enjoy boarding school settings in my books. This one was much more my style. It’s an extremely atmospheric mystery that has many moving pieces. I always appreciate when I don’t know how to feel about certain characters (Who’s a good egg? Who’s an evil bastard?), and there are quite a few like that here, which kept things off-kilter.
Heads up: This book starts out slow, with very detailed descriptions of the island, the villa, and many other surroundings. It picks up as it progresses, and then keeps a nice and steady pace. While there are some surprises along the way, this book doesn’t break the mold...and that is fine. It is told in such a compelling manner that hooked me as I pushed myself to the dangerous and satisfying conclusion. A suspenseful win by J.T.
Thank you to Mira/HarperCollins for sending me a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
May 10, 2022
I wanted to love this book for a couple of reasons.
First, the murder at a wedding this is such a guilty pleasure of mine. I can’t get enough of those books!
Second, my parents bought me this book last year for my birthday and I wanted to LOVE it because I think the most heartfelt way they try to connect with me is by my love of books and I think it’s the cutest and sweetest thing when they buy me a book they think I’ll like.
Third, I’ve been itching for a solid 5 star read and went in with high hopes for this one. I thought this book had immense potential and even liked the main storyline, but execution wasn’t what I’d hoped for.
It could have been a great book but I felt so bored with it after a while. 400 pages is some time dedication and although I believe it must be difficult to write a book with such length to it, it also needs to deliver the beef. If I pick up a book over 400 pages, there’s somewhat of an expectation that it’s going to keep tugging me in despite its length. This book failed to accomplish that for me.
There were a handful of typos/grammatical errors. I’ll be kind about a few but there were some that surprised me that no one noticed before it was published.
I’m one of the few who don’t mind despicable characters. In fact, I think a book needs them in order to drive a plot. BUT, don’t make the despicable characters people we are supposed to root for! 😂
There were many times a problem was brought to light and never got resolved. For instance, an obscure character is poisoned. We never find out why and it isn’t ever confirmed who did the poisoning.
I think there was supposed to be a twist at the end?? I feel like a total fool that I don’t even know the answer to that. I tried reading spoilers and couldn’t tell if it was just me who didn’t completely get the ending. I left with many questions unanswered.
I’m feeling generous today. 2.5 ⭐️ rounding to 3.
Feel free to check out other reviews for this book! I have some GR friends who just loved it. 😊
First, the murder at a wedding this is such a guilty pleasure of mine. I can’t get enough of those books!
Second, my parents bought me this book last year for my birthday and I wanted to LOVE it because I think the most heartfelt way they try to connect with me is by my love of books and I think it’s the cutest and sweetest thing when they buy me a book they think I’ll like.
Third, I’ve been itching for a solid 5 star read and went in with high hopes for this one. I thought this book had immense potential and even liked the main storyline, but execution wasn’t what I’d hoped for.
It could have been a great book but I felt so bored with it after a while. 400 pages is some time dedication and although I believe it must be difficult to write a book with such length to it, it also needs to deliver the beef. If I pick up a book over 400 pages, there’s somewhat of an expectation that it’s going to keep tugging me in despite its length. This book failed to accomplish that for me.
There were a handful of typos/grammatical errors. I’ll be kind about a few but there were some that surprised me that no one noticed before it was published.
I’m one of the few who don’t mind despicable characters. In fact, I think a book needs them in order to drive a plot. BUT, don’t make the despicable characters people we are supposed to root for! 😂
There were many times a problem was brought to light and never got resolved. For instance, an obscure character is poisoned. We never find out why and it isn’t ever confirmed who did the poisoning.
I think there was supposed to be a twist at the end?? I feel like a total fool that I don’t even know the answer to that. I tried reading spoilers and couldn’t tell if it was just me who didn’t completely get the ending. I left with many questions unanswered.
I’m feeling generous today. 2.5 ⭐️ rounding to 3.
Feel free to check out other reviews for this book! I have some GR friends who just loved it. 😊
March 18, 2021
Fast-paced and brilliantly unpredictable, J.T. Ellison’s breathtaking new novel invites you to a wedding none will forget—and some won’t survive. ~ book summary
In need of an escape? Grab a glass of wine and armchair travel to this luxurious island off Italy’s coast for a paradise wedding with these characters and see who will survive!!! The body count on this one is one I will not forget!!
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets. ~ book summary
What I love most about J.T. Ellison’s books is her ability to bring the settings alive to create some dynamics with the characters as she creates tension with the mystery the setting holds.
While here it doesn’t seem like anything new with the wealthy ambitious family with secrets to protect at all cost, the handsome groom Jack and younger bride Claire, J.T. Ellison developed some unlikeable characters with some unexpected heart to them and I found it hard to dislike them. This created some suspense as who to trust and who not to. Claire is not what you might think, she is not your naive bride looking to be swipe away by her charming husband. She is modest, creative, strong with survival instincts and has secrets of her own she rather keep to herself.
“Claire didn’t want to give up her secrets, and I had to force them out of her. Once she admitted her sins to me, the whole story fell into place. I understand why she didn’t tell me, and when she tells the story of her past in the book, that’s exactly when she let me know, too. Wow, she made it hard on me!”~ J.T. Ellison
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife. ~ book summary
The story did take a bit for me to get into as time is spent on the characters(there is a few) and setting up the suspense to the story. I enjoyed the engaging mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife with a few twists and turns along the way for Claire to discover. We know early on “the who” and I enjoyed the storm the character created as we find out “the why” Claire makes a great match for “the who” and it was fun and entertaining to watch the dynamics there.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins… book summary
I love a good raging storm to add some dynamics to the story and the tension increases here with a killer on the loose as the drama increases along with the body count!!
Thank you to the publisher for the invite to the blog tour and my copy!
In need of an escape? Grab a glass of wine and armchair travel to this luxurious island off Italy’s coast for a paradise wedding with these characters and see who will survive!!! The body count on this one is one I will not forget!!
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets. ~ book summary
What I love most about J.T. Ellison’s books is her ability to bring the settings alive to create some dynamics with the characters as she creates tension with the mystery the setting holds.
While here it doesn’t seem like anything new with the wealthy ambitious family with secrets to protect at all cost, the handsome groom Jack and younger bride Claire, J.T. Ellison developed some unlikeable characters with some unexpected heart to them and I found it hard to dislike them. This created some suspense as who to trust and who not to. Claire is not what you might think, she is not your naive bride looking to be swipe away by her charming husband. She is modest, creative, strong with survival instincts and has secrets of her own she rather keep to herself.
“Claire didn’t want to give up her secrets, and I had to force them out of her. Once she admitted her sins to me, the whole story fell into place. I understand why she didn’t tell me, and when she tells the story of her past in the book, that’s exactly when she let me know, too. Wow, she made it hard on me!”~ J.T. Ellison
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife. ~ book summary
The story did take a bit for me to get into as time is spent on the characters(there is a few) and setting up the suspense to the story. I enjoyed the engaging mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife with a few twists and turns along the way for Claire to discover. We know early on “the who” and I enjoyed the storm the character created as we find out “the why” Claire makes a great match for “the who” and it was fun and entertaining to watch the dynamics there.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins… book summary
I love a good raging storm to add some dynamics to the story and the tension increases here with a killer on the loose as the drama increases along with the body count!!
Thank you to the publisher for the invite to the blog tour and my copy!
June 4, 2024
Disappointing as this had promise to be a great thriller with scandalous deception. Both Jack and Claire had secrets, and the implication was certainly that they were deep secrets. Yet, none of the secrets were that interesting or even relevant in the framework of where this story actually went. So many things were hinted at or even initially begun, and they could have led to a truly fantastic story but none of led them anywhere. You’re left perplexed as to the motivations of every single character and also annoyed that you wasted your time waiting for a resolution that never comes.
Additional notes on the audio cd edition: Each disc ends abruptly and randomly, not at the end of a scene or chapter as most books on cd do. Not a problem if you continue on immediately to the next disc, but irritating when there is a time gap between discs.
Additional notes on the audio cd edition: Each disc ends abruptly and randomly, not at the end of a scene or chapter as most books on cd do. Not a problem if you continue on immediately to the next disc, but irritating when there is a time gap between discs.
April 8, 2021
By far, this has been my favorite JT Ellison novel. I loved everything about how this plot was put together. We have various POVs, including the villain behind everything. The whole thing felt seamless, at least until the last two chapters when the details fully unfolded. Had it not been for some holes and confusion there, it would've been a five-star read. Wow! A rollercoaster that wouldn't let up on me, and the characters were fresh and imaginative.
The Comptons have everything, including secrets about their secrets. Claire falls for eldest son, Jack. His first wife, Morgan, died mysteriously, and Claire has some concerns about marrying into this family, but she lets them go. Is Morgan still alive? When an intruder breaks into Jack's house, Claire does what is necessary to protect herself. But when she finds out the intruder's identity, it's too close to home. Why does Jack insist his bodyguard take the blame? Did he recognize the victim? Claire later encounters two more murder attempts, and in the end, both the attackers are killed. Is she hiding something? As readers, we think it's Morgan because she keeps talking (in the mysterious narrator sections) about how she died and was Jack's first love. Is this the same person?
I won't say anymore, as I don't want to give away the plot. Everyone looks suspicious. The whole family has a weird sense of covering up seemingly normal things. The imagery and writing was top notch. The character strokes were detailed but open-ended. The various POV changes helped readers narrow down the true culprit's identity. At some point, it becomes obvious, but it's okay as that's when we realize someone has been helping the villain along the way. Which other person is it? Mother-in-law? Father-in-law? Granpa? Brothers? Sisters? Best Friends, Housekeeper? Bodyguards? Colleague? Mother? Jack or Claire? Ellison kept me on the edge of my seat wondering whether this was a double identity, twin, or multiple personality case. But in the end, it is very clear who was behind it all in terms of the primary villain. The secondary... not so much!
Unfortunately, at least 6 or 7 people die, and we don't get full details on how or why. We assume who did it, but depending on the alliance at the time, it could be more than one person. I could be okay with the vague answer, except it happened on three occasions, and then, once the deaths happen and the police are on the scene, Claire reveals more than she knew that we as readers knew... and it makes the explanation murkier. So... I found myself squinting and rolling my eyes too much in those last two chapters. I like tidy. This was not tidy. I couldn't give it all the stars, but right up until that point, wow... it is an awesome tale!
The Comptons have everything, including secrets about their secrets. Claire falls for eldest son, Jack. His first wife, Morgan, died mysteriously, and Claire has some concerns about marrying into this family, but she lets them go. Is Morgan still alive? When an intruder breaks into Jack's house, Claire does what is necessary to protect herself. But when she finds out the intruder's identity, it's too close to home. Why does Jack insist his bodyguard take the blame? Did he recognize the victim? Claire later encounters two more murder attempts, and in the end, both the attackers are killed. Is she hiding something? As readers, we think it's Morgan because she keeps talking (in the mysterious narrator sections) about how she died and was Jack's first love. Is this the same person?
I won't say anymore, as I don't want to give away the plot. Everyone looks suspicious. The whole family has a weird sense of covering up seemingly normal things. The imagery and writing was top notch. The character strokes were detailed but open-ended. The various POV changes helped readers narrow down the true culprit's identity. At some point, it becomes obvious, but it's okay as that's when we realize someone has been helping the villain along the way. Which other person is it? Mother-in-law? Father-in-law? Granpa? Brothers? Sisters? Best Friends, Housekeeper? Bodyguards? Colleague? Mother? Jack or Claire? Ellison kept me on the edge of my seat wondering whether this was a double identity, twin, or multiple personality case. But in the end, it is very clear who was behind it all in terms of the primary villain. The secondary... not so much!
Unfortunately, at least 6 or 7 people die, and we don't get full details on how or why. We assume who did it, but depending on the alliance at the time, it could be more than one person. I could be okay with the vague answer, except it happened on three occasions, and then, once the deaths happen and the police are on the scene, Claire reveals more than she knew that we as readers knew... and it makes the explanation murkier. So... I found myself squinting and rolling my eyes too much in those last two chapters. I like tidy. This was not tidy. I couldn't give it all the stars, but right up until that point, wow... it is an awesome tale!
February 6, 2022
Wow, what a thriller!! 😱 My first Ellison read, but not my last. 😉
February 17, 2021
Claire Hunter is about to marry the man of her dreams at a private villa on an island off of the Italian coast. When a raging storm ensues, the power goes out and a killer is on the loose! What could go wrong?
This book opens very slowly with long descriptions of the Italian picturesque landscape and historical villa. The pace does pick up quite a bit once Jack and Claire arrive at the villa, and from there I was hooked on figuring out the mystery. The story has really good momentum, but ultimately suffers from its overwhelming silliness and predictability. I saw so many ways that this plot could have come together that would have made a more twisty thriller. Overall, the ending was disappointing and had me scratching my head and wondering why the author spent time using any sort of misdirection. I was really rooting for this one, but the premise just didn’t come together in a satisfying way for me.
But oh what a beautiful cover!
3/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Mira/HarperCollins for the ARC of Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison in exchange for an honest review.
This book opens very slowly with long descriptions of the Italian picturesque landscape and historical villa. The pace does pick up quite a bit once Jack and Claire arrive at the villa, and from there I was hooked on figuring out the mystery. The story has really good momentum, but ultimately suffers from its overwhelming silliness and predictability. I saw so many ways that this plot could have come together that would have made a more twisty thriller. Overall, the ending was disappointing and had me scratching my head and wondering why the author spent time using any sort of misdirection. I was really rooting for this one, but the premise just didn’t come together in a satisfying way for me.
But oh what a beautiful cover!
3/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Mira/HarperCollins for the ARC of Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2021
As soon as I heard about Her Dark Lies I was desperate to get my hands on it - thank you so much harlequin Australia for sending me an advance copy to read. JT Ellison is one of my favourite writers, I loved her Taylor Jackson series and it kept on going from there. She has a way of making the settings and characters so real that you can see the story happening as you read it. No character is perfect, they all have their flaws and secrets and I love it.
In Her Dark Lies we travel to a beautiful private island off the coast of Italy for the wedding of the year. Claire, a struggling artist, has met her Mr Right in Jack. They arrive on the island ahead of a massive storm to find the place crawling with police... human bones have been discovered. Great start to the dream wedding right! And it only gets worse from there. Somebody is trying to stop this wedding, and will not give up until somebody is dead. The villa where Jack's family has arranged the nuptials is dark and gothic and very creepy - especially when the storm takes out the power. Will Claire and Jack get the fairytale - or will they be the next to be buried in the family crypt?
I couldn't get enough of the story. A family with so much money they don't know what to do with and an struggling artist. A dead ex wife, a past that is coming back to haunt the bride and a killer on the prowl - in a storm on an island that they can't get off of. What more do you want?
Have I convinced you yet??
In Her Dark Lies we travel to a beautiful private island off the coast of Italy for the wedding of the year. Claire, a struggling artist, has met her Mr Right in Jack. They arrive on the island ahead of a massive storm to find the place crawling with police... human bones have been discovered. Great start to the dream wedding right! And it only gets worse from there. Somebody is trying to stop this wedding, and will not give up until somebody is dead. The villa where Jack's family has arranged the nuptials is dark and gothic and very creepy - especially when the storm takes out the power. Will Claire and Jack get the fairytale - or will they be the next to be buried in the family crypt?
I couldn't get enough of the story. A family with so much money they don't know what to do with and an struggling artist. A dead ex wife, a past that is coming back to haunt the bride and a killer on the prowl - in a storm on an island that they can't get off of. What more do you want?
Have I convinced you yet??
October 19, 2020
In Her Dark Lies, artist Claire is about to marry extremely wealthy Jack Compton on his family's private island in Italy. Then the bad things start happening. Do you like excessive descriptions of landscape and locations? Would you like to read page after page of details about the island and house? Do you like it when the protagonists gloss over the major events of the book so they can continue to describe their environment? Then Her Dark Lies is the book for you! I stuck it out to the end, but this book majorly drags. There's a lot of good ideas here, and many of the twists have potential. Unfortunately they never quite clicked. Things that should have been dealt with in detail by the characters (like the ruined wedding dress mentioned in the synopsis) are all just waved away. Perhaps this is supposed to reinforce the idea of a secretive, powerful family, but it felt like something was missing. There were a few twists you could see coming from a mile away, and not because I'm some great detective, but because they've been famously done before. I think there is an audience for this book - I might possibly recommend it for someone who liked The Guest List as a "the power goes out at a location wedding" readalike, but Her Dark Lies wasn't for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
February 7, 2023
One year ago, up-and-coming artist, Claire Hunter, met her fiancé, William Jackson ‘Jack’ Compton, a computer magnate’s son (think Bill Gates or Steve Jobs) when he purchased one of her paintings. Following a whirlwind romance, she finds herself about to enter the kind of American royalty most can only dream of joining. Little does Claire know, however, that despite outside appearances, all families hold secrets. Some darker than others. Especially the wealthy.
Just days before the ceremony, Claire and Jack travel to the Compton family’s palatial yet idyllic villa on the the Italian island of Isle Isola where the wedding will be held. But from the moment Claire sets eyes on the island, something feels off. From the skeletal remains that have been discovered to the impending storm barreling down on them, nothing has been quite what Claire imagined. Especially when it comes to her long-dreamed-of wedding dress that is found purposefully ruined or the threatening texts and notes. And that’s before Jack’s mysterious, dead, first wife enters the equation. Because Jack has barely talked about his whirlwind first marriage. What secrets is he keeping from his blushing bride? How dark is his past? And will those secrets finally catch up with the Compton family, newest member and all?
Well, I finally found an Ellison novel with just a few flaws. Nothing huge, but enough to show me she is human after all. But perhaps just a stone’s throw from a Greek God or a virtuous saint (with a twisted, twisted mind). So not too human.
Her Dark Lies begins with the J.T. Ellison’s characteristic “killer” first line (which kick-starts a gripping prologue/first chapter). And that’s just the baseline. Because the mind-boggling twists begin early. One after the other, the gradually building suspense is filled with dread right up until the shocking albeit somewhat soap opera-esque, over-the-top climax (one of the few flaws). The only other issue I had was the slightly artificial dialogue at the beginning. Despite this, I found the book utterly unputdownable. And, with the plot told in multiple points-of-view, it allowed me to have a fly-on-the-wall experience, which I always love.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel (which is twofold) is the individual at the center of any wedding…the bride. Drawn as an innocent near virtuous character to begin with, I immediately felt connected to Claire. So, when her form begins to morph, I should have balked, but instead remained attached and hoped she’d not only survive this family and wedding weekend, but that she would come out on top of the drama (don’t worry, not going to ruin that for you).
On top of Claire, the storyline is full of characters you’ll love to hate as well as a few you’ll feel ambivalent about and at least one that you’ll love, because there are a ton of them. Not confusingly so, but satisfyingly stuffed with family, friends, and just enough staff to make their wealth obvious. Even if they do fall slightly flat and without significant backstories (although this is mostly due to all the secrets they keep). In the end, I didn’t care because the overarching story was intense, well-written, and a thoroughly creepy, gothic tale.
The second striking feature is the vivid descriptions at the heart of the plot. Set in the luxurious backdrop of a billionaire’s island villa/fortress off the coast of Italy, the scenery is evocative and breathtaking, conjuring images reminiscent of an older, Italian village (at least in my mind). Ellison was even able to maintain this through the tense dénouement, which certainly must have been a feat.
A blindingly good mix of family drama and psychological thriller, Her Dark Lies left nothing to be desired. From the very first sentence to the last, I found myself riveted to the book and had to force myself to put it down (certainly not a bad problem to have). With secrets seemingly hidden behind every door, there was one surprise after another. So what if the ending was a little much? It did, after all, keep me spellbound through each of the 400+ pages. So, despite the climax (which comes fast and furious towards the end of the book), I highly recommend this near perfect popcorn thriller. Ellison is a truly gifted author and I’m already trying to decide which of her books I’m going to read next! Rating of 4 stars.
Trigger warning: home invasion, fatal car accident, death of a parent, dementia, voyeurism, alcoholism, drug use
Just days before the ceremony, Claire and Jack travel to the Compton family’s palatial yet idyllic villa on the the Italian island of Isle Isola where the wedding will be held. But from the moment Claire sets eyes on the island, something feels off. From the skeletal remains that have been discovered to the impending storm barreling down on them, nothing has been quite what Claire imagined. Especially when it comes to her long-dreamed-of wedding dress that is found purposefully ruined or the threatening texts and notes. And that’s before Jack’s mysterious, dead, first wife enters the equation. Because Jack has barely talked about his whirlwind first marriage. What secrets is he keeping from his blushing bride? How dark is his past? And will those secrets finally catch up with the Compton family, newest member and all?
Well, I finally found an Ellison novel with just a few flaws. Nothing huge, but enough to show me she is human after all. But perhaps just a stone’s throw from a Greek God or a virtuous saint (with a twisted, twisted mind). So not too human.
Her Dark Lies begins with the J.T. Ellison’s characteristic “killer” first line (which kick-starts a gripping prologue/first chapter). And that’s just the baseline. Because the mind-boggling twists begin early. One after the other, the gradually building suspense is filled with dread right up until the shocking albeit somewhat soap opera-esque, over-the-top climax (one of the few flaws). The only other issue I had was the slightly artificial dialogue at the beginning. Despite this, I found the book utterly unputdownable. And, with the plot told in multiple points-of-view, it allowed me to have a fly-on-the-wall experience, which I always love.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel (which is twofold) is the individual at the center of any wedding…the bride. Drawn as an innocent near virtuous character to begin with, I immediately felt connected to Claire. So, when her form begins to morph, I should have balked, but instead remained attached and hoped she’d not only survive this family and wedding weekend, but that she would come out on top of the drama (don’t worry, not going to ruin that for you).
On top of Claire, the storyline is full of characters you’ll love to hate as well as a few you’ll feel ambivalent about and at least one that you’ll love, because there are a ton of them. Not confusingly so, but satisfyingly stuffed with family, friends, and just enough staff to make their wealth obvious. Even if they do fall slightly flat and without significant backstories (although this is mostly due to all the secrets they keep). In the end, I didn’t care because the overarching story was intense, well-written, and a thoroughly creepy, gothic tale.
The second striking feature is the vivid descriptions at the heart of the plot. Set in the luxurious backdrop of a billionaire’s island villa/fortress off the coast of Italy, the scenery is evocative and breathtaking, conjuring images reminiscent of an older, Italian village (at least in my mind). Ellison was even able to maintain this through the tense dénouement, which certainly must have been a feat.
A blindingly good mix of family drama and psychological thriller, Her Dark Lies left nothing to be desired. From the very first sentence to the last, I found myself riveted to the book and had to force myself to put it down (certainly not a bad problem to have). With secrets seemingly hidden behind every door, there was one surprise after another. So what if the ending was a little much? It did, after all, keep me spellbound through each of the 400+ pages. So, despite the climax (which comes fast and furious towards the end of the book), I highly recommend this near perfect popcorn thriller. Ellison is a truly gifted author and I’m already trying to decide which of her books I’m going to read next! Rating of 4 stars.
Trigger warning: home invasion, fatal car accident, death of a parent, dementia, voyeurism, alcoholism, drug use
March 15, 2021
This was so disappointing. Usually Ellison writes better than this. It was so predictable, absolutely no surprises, the characters were cliches......I just can’t. It was absolutely ridiculous. I was 30% into the book and almost dnf’d it, I wish I had.
March 1, 2021
This book took me way too long to get into (too much description of the setting), but once I did it was fairly fast-paced and a decent thriller.
Overall, there weren't any huge surprises for me. I saw where this was going right away and there weren't any big twists. Compared to Ellison's previous books, this one was a bit predictable. Yet for a straightforward thriller, I was entertained. The setting is incredibly atmospheric and there are lots of secrets that come to light as the novel progresses that propel the plot forward.
There are some very awkward POV changes throughout, going from first person to third person and occasionally I had to re-read sections to figure out whose head I was in at the time. There are also way too many characters, some of them are completely unnecessary and get lost in the shuffle, never to be heard from again (Elliot's wife?). And don't get me started on the similar character names, why oh why do writers do this? (Ami, Ana, Amelia, Morgan, Malcom, Meggie). Is it truly that difficult to name characters with names that don't all start with the same letter?
Overall, if you enjoy books by this author this one will likely appeal. It has some awkwardness and isn't completely surprising, but it is very gothic-feeling and the bodies do pile up, so thriller readers should be pleased.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Overall, there weren't any huge surprises for me. I saw where this was going right away and there weren't any big twists. Compared to Ellison's previous books, this one was a bit predictable. Yet for a straightforward thriller, I was entertained. The setting is incredibly atmospheric and there are lots of secrets that come to light as the novel progresses that propel the plot forward.
There are some very awkward POV changes throughout, going from first person to third person and occasionally I had to re-read sections to figure out whose head I was in at the time. There are also way too many characters, some of them are completely unnecessary and get lost in the shuffle, never to be heard from again (Elliot's wife?). And don't get me started on the similar character names, why oh why do writers do this? (Ami, Ana, Amelia, Morgan, Malcom, Meggie). Is it truly that difficult to name characters with names that don't all start with the same letter?
Overall, if you enjoy books by this author this one will likely appeal. It has some awkwardness and isn't completely surprising, but it is very gothic-feeling and the bodies do pile up, so thriller readers should be pleased.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 10, 2021
Perhaps my expectations were too high. This had the setup I love: A group gathered for an event at a sequestered location with secrets and before you know it, the bodies begin stacking up. Alas, this turned out to just be an okay kind of read.
There's a mention in the book that the island and its storied property have been featured in Condé Nast and then a passage is entered detailing the stucco work, statuary and flora of the place along with its other appointments and accoutrements. It was a fine description but about a third of this book is continued similar description and it not only slowed the narrative tension it was deadly boring. It sounded like a beautiful place but that's not why I picked up the bloody book. As to the mystery itself, it wasn't terribly difficult to work out as it was literally the only thing the main character was not asking. Much time is spent in waiting for her to get to the post and long before she did, I'd mainly stopped caring. As glittering as the island is described the characters were not. I can love an unlikeable character that is interesting to watch, I cannot abide one that bores me. Sadly, this book had several of the latter.
I give points for the cover. It is completely lovely and drew me in. I'd read another by the author but I can't recommend this one. The setup will continue to be one of my favourites and happily I have many more from which to choose and hopefully enjoy.
There's a mention in the book that the island and its storied property have been featured in Condé Nast and then a passage is entered detailing the stucco work, statuary and flora of the place along with its other appointments and accoutrements. It was a fine description but about a third of this book is continued similar description and it not only slowed the narrative tension it was deadly boring. It sounded like a beautiful place but that's not why I picked up the bloody book. As to the mystery itself, it wasn't terribly difficult to work out as it was literally the only thing the main character was not asking. Much time is spent in waiting for her to get to the post and long before she did, I'd mainly stopped caring. As glittering as the island is described the characters were not. I can love an unlikeable character that is interesting to watch, I cannot abide one that bores me. Sadly, this book had several of the latter.
I give points for the cover. It is completely lovely and drew me in. I'd read another by the author but I can't recommend this one. The setup will continue to be one of my favourites and happily I have many more from which to choose and hopefully enjoy.
March 1, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up
I really enjoyed this book! Very atmospheric... a bit implausible at times (but isn't that why we read sometimes, to escape?)
I thought it had great characters and a good story. There was a lot of different POV's which I usually don't mind, but instead of titled chapters, it would have been helpful to have which character's POV it was instead. I had to be sure to finish a chapter before putting the book down or else I had to flip back to figure out who was talking.
Looking forward to reading more of her books in the future!
I really enjoyed this book! Very atmospheric... a bit implausible at times (but isn't that why we read sometimes, to escape?)
I thought it had great characters and a good story. There was a lot of different POV's which I usually don't mind, but instead of titled chapters, it would have been helpful to have which character's POV it was instead. I had to be sure to finish a chapter before putting the book down or else I had to flip back to figure out who was talking.
Looking forward to reading more of her books in the future!
January 31, 2024
Halfway through and I am puzzled. It doesn’t seem to fit into the categories of books that I normally read. I get it is a thriller, but it also has reminisciencies of chicklit and whatever the books featuring influencers are called. And the lifestyle depicted seems to be on a level with Bill Gates, Bezos and other gazillionaires, not something that I often read about, except in short notices in The Guardian and other media.
But what really bothers me is the shifts in POV. Whenever a new chapter starts, you have absolutely no clue from whose perspective the story is being told. You have to read quite a bit to find out if the main character Claire is the I who is speaking or the she who is being mentioned, and that is annoying. I wonder why no editor has brought this up with the author? It is not that it is an ARC I’m reading, it is a borrowed copy.
But okay, I am sufficiently intrigued to go on reading:-) will put some stars on when I am finished.
——————
Am finished now, me no like.
Thought it was going to be 3 stars, but with that ending, no way.
But what really bothers me is the shifts in POV. Whenever a new chapter starts, you have absolutely no clue from whose perspective the story is being told. You have to read quite a bit to find out if the main character Claire is the I who is speaking or the she who is being mentioned, and that is annoying. I wonder why no editor has brought this up with the author? It is not that it is an ARC I’m reading, it is a borrowed copy.
But okay, I am sufficiently intrigued to go on reading:-) will put some stars on when I am finished.
——————
Am finished now, me no like.
Thought it was going to be 3 stars, but with that ending, no way.
February 28, 2021
For Claire Hunter her dream wedding on a 5-star island off the coast of Italy is turning into a nightmare. The storm coming in has pushed up the wedding timeline. She is unsettled by a home invasion that occurred in Nashville the night before they left for the wedding. Then they arrive at the island just as a dead body is being recovered. Although Ellison does not mention Daphne Du Maurier's iconic 'Rebecca' in her author notes, I saw many themes that reminded me of that beloved title. In addition to the recovery of a dead body, there is a former wife who is larger than life, an unfortunate wardrobe choice, and an enigmatic housekeeper. Would love to see this on the movie screen.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2022
What the holy hell did I just read?
This story about the wedding of an up-and-coming artist to the scion of a fabulously wealthy family, was nuts - not in a good way. I feel like this was written by a committee of hyperactive film students and I got some entertainment value from trying to identify the much better works that they borrowed from: Oh – that’s Jane Eyre! That’s Rebecca! And Then There Were None! Inglorious Basterds! The Godfather!
I listened to the audiobook, and not a full minute went by where someone wasn’t confessing some horrible secret, or turning out to be a double-agent, or murdering someone, or stumbling over a dead body that someone else had murdered. It was exhausting.
Really the more I think about it, nothing made any sense. Here are some random, cranky thoughts in no particular order.
I could go on and on. I’m just glad I’m finally done with this. I realize now that this is the third book by JT Elison that I’ve read, and it will be my last. I think she is talented but I don’t enjoy her writing style.
This story about the wedding of an up-and-coming artist to the scion of a fabulously wealthy family, was nuts - not in a good way. I feel like this was written by a committee of hyperactive film students and I got some entertainment value from trying to identify the much better works that they borrowed from: Oh – that’s Jane Eyre! That’s Rebecca! And Then There Were None! Inglorious Basterds! The Godfather!
I listened to the audiobook, and not a full minute went by where someone wasn’t confessing some horrible secret, or turning out to be a double-agent, or murdering someone, or stumbling over a dead body that someone else had murdered. It was exhausting.
Really the more I think about it, nothing made any sense. Here are some random, cranky thoughts in no particular order.
I could go on and on. I’m just glad I’m finally done with this. I realize now that this is the third book by JT Elison that I’ve read, and it will be my last. I think she is talented but I don’t enjoy her writing style.
May 13, 2021
J.T. Ellison takes us to a breathtakingly beautiful island in Italy, where a wedding is to take place. But amongst the elite guests, a killer lies in wait. This is the premise for “Her Dark Lies”.
Aspiring artist Claire is living a literal fairy tale come true. Her fiancé, Jack, is heir to a massive fortune, and when he suggests the two of them get married on his estate on a small island in Italy, Claire is ecstatic. But as soon as she gets to Isle Isola, everything starts going wrong. First, bones are discovered washed up on the beach. Then, Claire’s wedding dress is ruined when someone sprawls a nasty word across the train. But that’s not the worst of it- soon, people close to Claire and Jack are being killed off, one by one. Claire has to start questioning everyone she thought she knew- or she may be next.
“Her Dark Lies” is very scenic. I loved the solitary island, the dream-like castle, even the Mythological history of the family and their property. The novel is, very literally, a fairy tale gone horribly wrong.
Claire is likable, and very enviable, and although Jack is the cause of much suspicion, I still found myself falling prey to his charms. He definitely had the charisma and magnetism that only comes from someone who grew up with unlimited money and elaborate things, but still manages somehow to not come off as arrogant or elitist.
The story is narrated mostly from Claire’s viewpoint, although we do get a periodic glimpse of Jack in there, as well as our “mystery suspect” once or twice. Right from page one, it was evident who the “mystery suspect” was, but I was still intrigued as to how that person managed to pull off what they did. They were a few unexpected twists still, and they kept me riveted.
“Her Dark Lies” is definitely the perfect kind of escapist fiction, as the descriptive setting is enough to make anyone dream of foreign shores and crashing waves. For those of us in the modern doldrums of everyday life, to imagine this elaborate and extensive amount of wealth existing (and living AMONG it) is nearly impossible, which is why it was easier for me to imagine this as a twisted rags-to-riches fairy tale of sorts. I rooted for Claire, even though she had some very dark skeletons herself, and the final ending of the novel brought about a satisfying conclusion.
Aspiring artist Claire is living a literal fairy tale come true. Her fiancé, Jack, is heir to a massive fortune, and when he suggests the two of them get married on his estate on a small island in Italy, Claire is ecstatic. But as soon as she gets to Isle Isola, everything starts going wrong. First, bones are discovered washed up on the beach. Then, Claire’s wedding dress is ruined when someone sprawls a nasty word across the train. But that’s not the worst of it- soon, people close to Claire and Jack are being killed off, one by one. Claire has to start questioning everyone she thought she knew- or she may be next.
“Her Dark Lies” is very scenic. I loved the solitary island, the dream-like castle, even the Mythological history of the family and their property. The novel is, very literally, a fairy tale gone horribly wrong.
Claire is likable, and very enviable, and although Jack is the cause of much suspicion, I still found myself falling prey to his charms. He definitely had the charisma and magnetism that only comes from someone who grew up with unlimited money and elaborate things, but still manages somehow to not come off as arrogant or elitist.
The story is narrated mostly from Claire’s viewpoint, although we do get a periodic glimpse of Jack in there, as well as our “mystery suspect” once or twice. Right from page one, it was evident who the “mystery suspect” was, but I was still intrigued as to how that person managed to pull off what they did. They were a few unexpected twists still, and they kept me riveted.
“Her Dark Lies” is definitely the perfect kind of escapist fiction, as the descriptive setting is enough to make anyone dream of foreign shores and crashing waves. For those of us in the modern doldrums of everyday life, to imagine this elaborate and extensive amount of wealth existing (and living AMONG it) is nearly impossible, which is why it was easier for me to imagine this as a twisted rags-to-riches fairy tale of sorts. I rooted for Claire, even though she had some very dark skeletons herself, and the final ending of the novel brought about a satisfying conclusion.
February 23, 2021
Damn! The body count is hella high in this one! Engrossing. 4.5 Stars!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was written in a different style than what we’re typically used to reading. For one it’s written in first person, which I like. It really allows you to get inside the characters mind.
Second, it seems to start in the middle of the story. We don’t go through the long courting process of this couple. The story drops us in right before they’re getting ready to get married.
The character development is edgy and I really enjoyed that these are not perfect people. Every character has a dark side that we are introduced to as the story develops. The plot is completely out of the ordinary, but reminiscent of old gothic murder mysteries. Ellison brings highly detailed descriptions of the locations which ties into the rising tension.
Another thing that’s unique about the story is the author is certainly not shy about the high body count. LOL! It certainly was growing by the end of the story and that was a little disconcerting. Realistically I kept wondering how they were going to get out from under that, but that is creative license too!
One thing that that would’ve been great was a little bit more detail in the epilogue. The ending seemed a bit rushed and cryptic which did leave me wanting more. Plus, it also brought out the dark side of our characters and their hidden dark edges buried deep in their psyche of which we get a few more glimpses of as the story wraps up.
Unique, addicting, and so captivating along with some twists you don’t expect. Her Dark Lies is one story you’re not sure who is good and who is evil, if there are even sides to choose. Definitely will read this author again. Well done!
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/her-dark-lie...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was written in a different style than what we’re typically used to reading. For one it’s written in first person, which I like. It really allows you to get inside the characters mind.
Second, it seems to start in the middle of the story. We don’t go through the long courting process of this couple. The story drops us in right before they’re getting ready to get married.
The character development is edgy and I really enjoyed that these are not perfect people. Every character has a dark side that we are introduced to as the story develops. The plot is completely out of the ordinary, but reminiscent of old gothic murder mysteries. Ellison brings highly detailed descriptions of the locations which ties into the rising tension.
Another thing that’s unique about the story is the author is certainly not shy about the high body count. LOL! It certainly was growing by the end of the story and that was a little disconcerting. Realistically I kept wondering how they were going to get out from under that, but that is creative license too!
One thing that that would’ve been great was a little bit more detail in the epilogue. The ending seemed a bit rushed and cryptic which did leave me wanting more. Plus, it also brought out the dark side of our characters and their hidden dark edges buried deep in their psyche of which we get a few more glimpses of as the story wraps up.
Unique, addicting, and so captivating along with some twists you don’t expect. Her Dark Lies is one story you’re not sure who is good and who is evil, if there are even sides to choose. Definitely will read this author again. Well done!
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/her-dark-lie...
March 8, 2021
Her Dark Lies....
Let me start with that stunning cover. Ok... I wish I was there and could take a trip to that beautiful sight!!
I've always been a pretty big fan of J. T Ellison's work...always has the talent of leaving her readers on edge and flipping those pages.
The book has an amazing atmosphere/setting that is very strong throughout the entire novel.
Once again, those bodies add up in this one and Ellison has some nice reveals and surprises at the end. I loved the entire "wedding on a cursed island vibe."
It of course was quite the ride as we should expect from Ellison and I am of course looking forward to what she comes out with next.
4/5 stars
Thank you so much to HTP books and J.T Ellison for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 3/9/21
Published to GR: 3/7/21.
Let me start with that stunning cover. Ok... I wish I was there and could take a trip to that beautiful sight!!
I've always been a pretty big fan of J. T Ellison's work...always has the talent of leaving her readers on edge and flipping those pages.
The book has an amazing atmosphere/setting that is very strong throughout the entire novel.
Once again, those bodies add up in this one and Ellison has some nice reveals and surprises at the end. I loved the entire "wedding on a cursed island vibe."
It of course was quite the ride as we should expect from Ellison and I am of course looking forward to what she comes out with next.
4/5 stars
Thank you so much to HTP books and J.T Ellison for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 3/9/21
Published to GR: 3/7/21.
May 17, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
3,5 ⭐️
May is turning out to be “wedding month” in my reading schedule. Her dark lies is the third book I’ve read this month with a destination wedding gone wrong as a central element of the plot, what just comes to prove that it’s better to live in sin!
Last year I enjoyed Good girls lie so I was really anxious to read this one, I had seen some mixed reviews but I gotta say I enjoyed it quite a lot, being a solid 4 stars for the most part.
An atmospheric setting, a storm, secrets galore and some shady characters, it had everything to make a hell of a story so, why wasn’t?
My main criticism is that there was not shock factor at all at the end. I was kinda hoping to have been misdirected for the most part of the book, but sadly no, what you seen is what you get at the end. Why would you reveal a twist so relevant to the story so early in the plot and in such an anticlimactic way?
Anyway, despite this, I had a tremendous amount of fun while reading it. I love when you never know who to trust and here you can’t trust anyone!
Although it started a bit slow, the pace picked up once they arrived to the island and the strange happenings began to unfurl. I’m all up for crazy endings, I don’t mind them being bonkers, but here the ending felt a little too unrealistic and you really need to suspend your disbelief to go with it.
3,5 ⭐️
May is turning out to be “wedding month” in my reading schedule. Her dark lies is the third book I’ve read this month with a destination wedding gone wrong as a central element of the plot, what just comes to prove that it’s better to live in sin!
Last year I enjoyed Good girls lie so I was really anxious to read this one, I had seen some mixed reviews but I gotta say I enjoyed it quite a lot, being a solid 4 stars for the most part.
An atmospheric setting, a storm, secrets galore and some shady characters, it had everything to make a hell of a story so, why wasn’t?
My main criticism is that there was not shock factor at all at the end. I was kinda hoping to have been misdirected for the most part of the book, but sadly no, what you seen is what you get at the end. Why would you reveal a twist so relevant to the story so early in the plot and in such an anticlimactic way?
Anyway, despite this, I had a tremendous amount of fun while reading it. I love when you never know who to trust and here you can’t trust anyone!
Although it started a bit slow, the pace picked up once they arrived to the island and the strange happenings began to unfurl. I’m all up for crazy endings, I don’t mind them being bonkers, but here the ending felt a little too unrealistic and you really need to suspend your disbelief to go with it.
March 11, 2021
Who has more secrets - Jack or Claire?
We meet the wealthy, powerful Jack Compton and the artist with a past Claire Hunter a few days before their wedding festivities that are to take place in a beautiful island off the coast of Italy.
The day before had put a damper on their plans…well it did for Claire...because someone broke into her apartment, and the intruder was shot.
Jack was not even bothered by it. He remained his cool, calm self.
When Jack and Claire get to the island, the police are waiting for them. What can be happening now?
What is happening is that they found the body of Jack's first wife who was believed to have drowned.
This news as well as the family’s huge guard dogs and a person she saw but no one else saw spooked Claire.
Just what is going on at this island and with this family?
Should Claire have listened to her friend when she told her a few things she found out about the Comptons?
And....just who is Claire?
HER DARK LIES is filled with so many really good twists and turns, secrets, and characters we need to figure out, you won’t be able to put the book down.
Ms. Ellison skillfully made the tension and interest non-stop in this dark thriller.
Don’t miss this one. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We meet the wealthy, powerful Jack Compton and the artist with a past Claire Hunter a few days before their wedding festivities that are to take place in a beautiful island off the coast of Italy.
The day before had put a damper on their plans…well it did for Claire...because someone broke into her apartment, and the intruder was shot.
Jack was not even bothered by it. He remained his cool, calm self.
When Jack and Claire get to the island, the police are waiting for them. What can be happening now?
What is happening is that they found the body of Jack's first wife who was believed to have drowned.
This news as well as the family’s huge guard dogs and a person she saw but no one else saw spooked Claire.
Just what is going on at this island and with this family?
Should Claire have listened to her friend when she told her a few things she found out about the Comptons?
And....just who is Claire?
HER DARK LIES is filled with so many really good twists and turns, secrets, and characters we need to figure out, you won’t be able to put the book down.
Ms. Ellison skillfully made the tension and interest non-stop in this dark thriller.
Don’t miss this one. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2021
In
Her Dark Lies
, J.T. Ellison's latest mystery/thriller, a destination wedding turns into a serious disaster.
Claire is more than ready to marry her fiancé, Jack, and really begin their life together. But since Jack’s family is incredibly powerful, well-known, and wealthy, this won’t just be any wedding. They’ll be getting married at the family’s cliffside villa (more like a castle) on the remote Isle Isola off the Italian coast. Sounds like a fairytale, right?
Already on edge from an event that occurred before they left for Italy, when the couple arrives on the island, things immediately start to go awry. Skeletal remains are found. A massive storm threatens the island and the festivities. Jack’s family is getting threatening tweets. Claire’s wedding dress is ruined. And that’s just the beginning.
Claire isn’t sure what’s going on. Is someone trying to destroy Jack’s family or stop their marriage? Have Claire’s own secrets caught up with her, too? And what’s the real story behind Jack’s first wife? As the body count starts climbing, she doesn’t know what or whom to trust, or if at the end of it all she’ll actually get married—or survive.
Much like Lucy Foley’s The Guest List , Her Dark Lies offers a great setting for a locked-room mystery of sorts. There are lots of twists thrown at you and you don’t know ultimately whom to root for or whom to fear.
I wasn’t wild about this one, honestly. There was just so much going on, so many multiple narrators, and yet virtually no surprises. My prediction at the very start was absolutely what happened and it just seemed a bit preposterous to me. I know others loved it, though, so maybe it’s just me.
I’m starting to think thrillers and I need a time-out. It's not them, it's me.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Claire is more than ready to marry her fiancé, Jack, and really begin their life together. But since Jack’s family is incredibly powerful, well-known, and wealthy, this won’t just be any wedding. They’ll be getting married at the family’s cliffside villa (more like a castle) on the remote Isle Isola off the Italian coast. Sounds like a fairytale, right?
Already on edge from an event that occurred before they left for Italy, when the couple arrives on the island, things immediately start to go awry. Skeletal remains are found. A massive storm threatens the island and the festivities. Jack’s family is getting threatening tweets. Claire’s wedding dress is ruined. And that’s just the beginning.
Claire isn’t sure what’s going on. Is someone trying to destroy Jack’s family or stop their marriage? Have Claire’s own secrets caught up with her, too? And what’s the real story behind Jack’s first wife? As the body count starts climbing, she doesn’t know what or whom to trust, or if at the end of it all she’ll actually get married—or survive.
Much like Lucy Foley’s The Guest List , Her Dark Lies offers a great setting for a locked-room mystery of sorts. There are lots of twists thrown at you and you don’t know ultimately whom to root for or whom to fear.
I wasn’t wild about this one, honestly. There was just so much going on, so many multiple narrators, and yet virtually no surprises. My prediction at the very start was absolutely what happened and it just seemed a bit preposterous to me. I know others loved it, though, so maybe it’s just me.
I’m starting to think thrillers and I need a time-out. It's not them, it's me.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
March 16, 2021
Weak 3 stars. If I had read this a few years ago I would have probably given this 1 star. I dunno, it's kind of a mess, and stupid and all the characters are unbelievable. But I found a way to mostly enjoy the last half of the book. The first half was unremarkable. Dunno, read at your own risk lol.
April 14, 2021
This is a tough one to rate. The plot hooked me and I couldn't put it down because I needed to know what happened next. But when I finished, I just felt empty inside. I even double checked to make sure I had read all the way to the ending. Don't get me wrong, there is an ending. Just an underwhelming one for me.
It's like a thriller that promises riveting twists only to be pretty straightforward with no actual twists.
I still had fun with this despite my disappointment. I think many others will love it. I fall in the "it was ok but I wanted more" category.
My favorite part was the creativity behind all the names for the chapters (70+). I had a little fun reading them and trying to anticipate what was coming next. It was like a riddle for what the chapter was going to be about. I loved it.
I also think I'm done with the wedding on a secluded island in the middle of a storm troupe for the next year 🙃
Cheers!
It's like a thriller that promises riveting twists only to be pretty straightforward with no actual twists.
I still had fun with this despite my disappointment. I think many others will love it. I fall in the "it was ok but I wanted more" category.
My favorite part was the creativity behind all the names for the chapters (70+). I had a little fun reading them and trying to anticipate what was coming next. It was like a riddle for what the chapter was going to be about. I loved it.
I also think I'm done with the wedding on a secluded island in the middle of a storm troupe for the next year 🙃
Cheers!
April 9, 2021
The wedding of the year, a dreamy island off the Italian coast, a looming storm, a bride and groom each with dark secrets — what could possibly go wrong? J.T. Ellison weaves the old and the new, art and history, mystery and love story into one stunning tapestry of a novel. This book swept me away on the very first page, and kept me breathlessly diving deeper and deeper into a story so rich in character, atmosphere, and exquisite suspense. Elegant, propulsive, and utterly unputdownable HER DARK LIES is the work of one of our most talented thriller writers at the very top of her game.
November 2, 2020
First of all, thank you so much to J.T. Ellison, Bookclubbish, and HTP Books for my free copy of this book. I loved Good Girls Lie, so I was so excited to get my hands on Her Dark Lies! It was so well written and immediately captured my attention. Someone asked me if it was similar to The Guest List, and maybe a bit by plot, but nothing like it in writing. This book is captivating and dynamic, and I loved it!
Thoughts: I really enjoyed all the dynamics at play in this book. All of the characters were so unique and interesting and I loved how I wasn’t sure who to trust. Reading about a ridiculously rich family is always fun, and this was no exception. The setting of a creepy private island was wonderful and the creep factor was building with each small thing that happened. I never really had a guess on what was going on, but the ending wasn’t what I expected at all. I enjoyed the main character, Claire, and also really liked the character of Anna as well. Also, shout out to my friend Morgan because she was written into the book! So cool!
I enjoyed how the scene was set and I could really imagine myself on the island. I did find myself annoyed at the characters because of their bad decisions and SPOILER: there were so many characters killed off. I kept thinking who will even be left to be the bad guy? Just by process of elimination alone there weren’t many choices. Regardless, I loved the build of this story and the writing in this book. 4-stars for me!
Thoughts: I really enjoyed all the dynamics at play in this book. All of the characters were so unique and interesting and I loved how I wasn’t sure who to trust. Reading about a ridiculously rich family is always fun, and this was no exception. The setting of a creepy private island was wonderful and the creep factor was building with each small thing that happened. I never really had a guess on what was going on, but the ending wasn’t what I expected at all. I enjoyed the main character, Claire, and also really liked the character of Anna as well. Also, shout out to my friend Morgan because she was written into the book! So cool!
I enjoyed how the scene was set and I could really imagine myself on the island. I did find myself annoyed at the characters because of their bad decisions and SPOILER: there were so many characters killed off. I kept thinking who will even be left to be the bad guy? Just by process of elimination alone there weren’t many choices. Regardless, I loved the build of this story and the writing in this book. 4-stars for me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,073 reviews