Her Last Lie

by Amanda Brittany

‘An exciting new voice – Brittany reels readers in with this twisty, clever thriller that will have you second-guessing everything…’ Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House‘Brilliant, pacey, and will leave you suspecting everyone is involved!’ Darren O’Sullivan, author of Our Little SecretShe thought she was free of the past. She was wrong.Six years ago Isla was the only victim to walk free from Carl Jeffery’s vicious murder spree. Now, Isla vows to live her life to the fullest and from the outside it appears perfect.Determined to finish her book Isla plans her final trip to Sweden, but after returning from Canada and meeting a man she never thought she would, her life begins to derail.Suddenly Isla is plagued by memories of the man who tried to murder her, and the threat that he could be back causes her to question everything, and everyone around her.This debut psychological thriller will have you closing down social media accounts, looking over your shoulder, and hooked until the very last line.Perfect for fans of Sweet Little Lies, Friend Request and Louise Jensen.Praise for Her Last Lie‘I was drawn in right from the rather original prologue and did not see that twist coming!’ Diane Jeffrey, author of Those Who Lie‘A triumph!’ James H on Amazon‘With all the right ingredients to keep you on the edge of your seat.’ Bookworm on Amazon‘Brittany got my attention from the get go’ Rosemary Smith on Netgalley‘Gripping and twisty, another book added to my best reads of this year list.’ Julia Beales on NetGalley‘If you like thrillers, read this and you will not be disappointed. If you’re not a thriller reader, try it anyway!’ A Reader on Amazon‘I loved this fast-paced, atmospheric, scary book.’ DeeLovesBooks on Amazon‘I can’t wait to read more from this talented new novelist.’ PSMode on Amazon

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2018

About the author

Amanda Brittany is the best selling author of psychological thrillers NOW YOU ARE MINE, HER LAST LIE, TELL THE TRUTH, TRACES OF HER, I LIE IN WAIT, I'M WATCHING YOU and THE ISLAND HOUSE

LET ME OUT is out on June 29th 2025 with Boldwood Books.

Her debut, HER LAST LIE has so far raised £9000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister from eBook royalties.

Amanda lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her crazy, cute dog. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, travelling, walking her dogs, reading & sunny days. She also has a soft spot for snow, which features in HER LAST LIE & I LIE IN WAIT.

Amanda has studied psychology and criminology, has a diploma in creative writing, and a BA(Hons) in English Literature.

She also writes psychological suspense novels with Karen Clarke. THE SECRET SISTER, THE PERFECT NANNY and THE NEW WIFE.


You can follow her on:
Twitter: @amandajbrittany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabrittany2
Instagram: @amanda_brittany_author

Reviews

[Nazanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Let’s first look at the cover a bit more! It’s really beautiful albeit it was better if the title was a bit smaller but nonetheless I really like this cover!

Well, about the story! I liked it and really enjoyed it. The writing was really good and it held my interest till the end. Of course, my guess was wrong like most of the time, well partially! But the thing is when it ended I wanted more for the ending! It was a bit rushed and I wanted to know about the scene when Jack and Sara confronted each other! The author didn’t say anything about them, the truth I mean! While reading the story, you don’t like Isla’s character and when the story came to an end, the damage was done and you couldn’t like her if you wanted to! Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel. Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me and I hope you like it as well!

Thanks to Amanda Brittany, Netgalley and HQ Digital for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Perfectly Eerie..Loved It!

Her last Lie is the Perfect creepy, Psychological Thriller that plays with your mind, keeping you guessing, then second guessing, makes the hair on your arms stand on end, makes you  're- evaluate just what you put out there on social media!
Oh and I forgot to mention... Once you open this book... You will not be able to close it!

This is so hard to write this review without giving anything anyway! So I'll be brief!

Isla escaped a serial killer!
She met Jack her rock!
The two are very happy.

That is until Isla gets a letter... not just any letter... The Serial Killer Carl Jeffery has put in a appeal to try and get out of jail.... Just when Isla was getting her life back on track she's dealt this blow!

Pinging her elastic band on her wrist she feels the train walls closing in....then a blast from her past steps into the train....Trevor! Isla's Ex. She hurt Trevor really bad.
For some reason Isla tells him about the letter. They swaps numbers.
Will that be the last she sees of Trevor?

What happens next is a roller coaster of twists, turns, and Very unnerving moments.

Isla is very tortured. She has been through a horrific ordeal. But having Jack by her side she seems to draw inner strength from him.
You see Isla go through so many emotions and ordeals throughout the story.
You see so many unexpected sides... as all is not what it seems!

Her Last Lie, plays with your mind and emotions. It's very cleverly written in such a way you are always being fed lil pieces of the puzzle then it's snatched away with another theory!

We are teased with the brief past history of Isla's story, but I would of loved more!
There was so much more Amanda could of given us which I think would of strengthed the story and in turn adding to the already  perfectly chilling atmospheric plot.

Amanda has done a fabulous job at keeping the reader guessing the whole way through.
I had an inkling but I was completely wrong! I love thrillers that make you evaluate every character then deals you out a massive shock. Expect the unexpected!

For me I think Her Last Lie is going to be a big hit.
So much so I bought the book as well as having an advanced copy.

If you are looking for a perfectly eerie Psychological Thriller that really will unnerve you and get your pulses racing.
Then you definitely don't want to miss out Her Last Lie!
A Page Turner.... Must Read!!

Thank you to HQ Digital for the advanced copy in which I also purchased in which i Honestly and voluntarily reviewed.

My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...

[Selene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isla is a twenty-nine year-old writer and photographer. She lives a fairly predictable life until she learns that the man who killed her best friend six years ago might be released from prison.

This story was low on thrill and high on drama with a dollop of psychological suspense. There was a lot of reminiscing, backtracking to the past, and reflecting on old relationships. There was also an interesting twist that was eventually revealed, but the story sort of dragged after the halfway mark when Isla’s thoughts became repetitive. The word Facebook was mentioned 68 times.

♢ I liked this story but didn’t love it.

NetGalley ARC generously provided by HQ Digital in exchange for an honest review.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars* (rounded down)
 
Several years ago, Isla survived the unthinkable.  Being attacked by serial killer Carl Jeffrey, who a close friend of hers ended up losing her life to.  Since then, Isla has had to overcome her anxiety and her fears in order to begin again.  Eventually she got her career back on track and has been working on a travel journal, which she is hoping to get published. Meeting Jack, her boyfriend has helped as he is calm cool and collected.  Unfortunately for Isla, it’s not enough.  She needs quiet time in order to find peace. Thus Isla takes off on a trip alone, to Canada, and what she finds there surprises her.  Upon her return, Isla starts to feel anxious, she feels like someone is following her. She begins having nightmares and she starts seeing Carl Jeffrey everywhere.  Isla becomes paralyzed with fear, yet she is unable to confide in anyone, afraid of being thought of as silly, weak or unstable. 

Is Isla imagination working overtime or does she have reason to be afraid? Only time will tell - unless hers runs out.

“Her Last Lie” is an extremely fast paced suspense novel that kept me entertained. I was all in when it came to the fright that Isla was living with each and every day and her angst became mine. For me, the ending didn’t quite add up and was tidied up too nicely all things considered. Overall however, I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital and Amanda Brittany for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 1.31.18.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Impression:
Quite possibly one of my favorite stop and admire the book cover contenders of the last few years.

The story:
Main female protagonist Isla has a successful career as a travel writer/photographer, recently returning from Canada to the U.K much to the happiness of her handsome boyfriend, Jack, her loving family and her friends. But Isla receives a devastating blow when she discovers the serial killer that she placed behind bars and murdered her friend six years ago is now up for appeal. And that is not all that Isla might be hiding.

My thoughts:
I must say that this book had its highs and lows. Psychological suspense is there and Amanda Brittany does splendidly well with creating a whole cast of suspiciously creepy characters from both Isla's past and present. The lows from my perspective was the backstory and the "which man will she choose?" aspect of the story had me feeling all restless and waned my interest. Also, I feel a bit cheated, but since I don't want to spoil it for future readers, I will just bite my tongue for now and should anyone on my Goodreads list read it , feel free to drop me a line and I will gladly vent. Haha!

Fact(s)
BTW, I think it is super cool that the author is donating the proceeds of her book sales( keep in mind, this is her debut novel) to cancer research in memory of her younger sister.

Check it out on January 9th, 2018.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six years ago Isla Johnson was the only victim to survive Carl Jeffery`s vicious murder spree.It was Isla`s testimony that helped secure a conviction and get Carl sent to prison.But Carl`s sister has always believed that her brother was innocent and through her campaigning has somehow managed to get him granted an appeal.

Suddenly Isla`s seemingly perfect life begins to derail,she is plagued by memories of the man who tried to murder her.The threat that he could be back causes her to question everything,and everyone around her.

The story flips back and forth between the past and the present,the flashbacks being used to built up the background of the characters and explain the events leading up to and during the night that Isla was attacked.The story is mainly narrated by Isla but in the second part there is also some chapters voiced by Isla`s best friend Roxanne.I liked how the author added dimension to the story by including posts from Isla`s blog.Isla was a complex character who understandably had some major issues because of what happened to her in the past.The problem was I didn't feel any sympathy for her character because right from the start,I just didn't like her very much,even after the truth was revealed,I still didn't like her.I didn't like the way she treated other people especially poor Jack.I didn't like the way she pulled the victim card when it suited her but would happily disappear off to Canada and Sweden on her own to take photographs for her book.I really liked Roxanne,I thought she was a wonderful,fun character and I felt a lot of sympathy for poor,sweet Jack.

There is certainly a prevailing air of menace throughout the story,one of a number of the characters could have been the person who was terrorizing Isla.The author does a brilliant job of misdirecting the reader,not everything is what it appears to be,one of the twists is very ingenious,well it definitely caught me out.One small point,it was a shame that the events that occurred during the final confrontation weren't explained in more detail,rather than the reader being left feeling that an important part of the story was missing.Oh,and the ending was a bit too happily ever after for this readers liking but all in all,I did enjoy this debut thriller and would happily read another book written by this author.

Many thanks to HQ Digital for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Described as a gripping psychological thriller, this is one novel which delivers everything it promises! As her debut novel, Amanda Brittany has raised the bar in this genre.

This is the story of Isla, who has successfully moved on from her traumatic past when she almost died at the hands of a serial murderer. When strange things begin to happen at the same time as the convicted man attempts to launch his appeal, Isla fears he is stalking her again. Despite having her life back on track and pursuing a career as a photographer / write and living with her boyfriend of two years, cracks begin to show in her life. Is it her mind playing tricks or is it worse than that?

Several times whilst reading, I was convinced I had it all worked out. WRONG! This is a very cleverly constructed novel. All the necessary information is there but time and again I made the wrong assumptions. I love that everything is all neatly finished off by the end of the book – I do so hate to be left with something niggling at me but no such worries with this one. This is a book which will get under your skin, no doubt about it.

My thanks to publishers HQ Digital for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great thriller! Isla narrowly escaped being the next victim of a serial killer six years ago and lives in a constant state of survivor's guilt, often plagued by visions of being stalked by the man who remains in prison. Determined to finish and publish her travel/photo journal, she flies to Canada and falls in love, only to question her relationship with her live-in boyfriend, Jack. Upon her return she is wary and confused as her emotions are derailed by an ex-boyfriend who suddenly reappears in her life as well. Nothing is easy; she plans a trip to Sweden but things go quickly awry and her life spirals out of control. Kept me up at night reading!

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rounded this book up to 4* from 3and a half *.

This book was great, Isla was a real likeable character and you just couldn't help but root for her.

I wanted her to do well. She loved photography and writing and made it her career.

Then while researching for her career -no spoilers!- something happens. Read to find out what... Lol

The rest the book goes from there is brilliant, I don't think everyone will be able to guess where it goes.

Pick this one up, you enjoy it. 😊

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now then if you’re after a book that lives up to its tagline then you really need to pick up Her Last Lie! This book drove me practically crazy with impatience as I couldn’t for the life of me work out what was going to happen! It had me chopping and changing my mind every few pages with its very generous sprinkling of red herrings and heinous characters that you will just love to hate! And it didn’t go in the direction that I was expecting it to either which made this psychological thriller even more addictive for me and I flew through it in one afternoon.

Isla is a survivor. The only victim to escape Australian serial killer Carl Jeffrey’s she lives in fear of him ever being released. When she hears his sister has managed to organise an appeal of his conviction, she is terrified he will come back to finish the job. And after an unexpected meeting on the way home one night, her outwardly perfect life starts to unravel and she begins to constantly look over her shoulder. But where does the true danger lie and is the answer already held by Isla herself?

This was such a fast paced and compulsive read that I literally galloped through it desperate to find out the answers to all the questions Isla had. But I also wanted to slow down my reading at times due to the wonderfully descriptive travelogue that it descended into at times. Amanda Brittany brought a real sense of place to the destinations visited by Isla especially once she was in Sweden-I almost wanted to put on my hat and padded jacket to combat the freezing conditions, even though I was reading it in whilst sunbathing in the garden during our mini heatwave (or summer as other countries know it!!).

I really was pleasantly surprised by this psychological thriller! I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Isla’s life as it started to fall apart. The slow build up of tension as she constantly questioned every little sign ad she was chased by the shadows of her past, meant her fear became a real constant throughout the narrative. My heart rate has increased even now just thinking about it! And it will make you look again at the way in which you use social media, in fact that was actually one of the scariest things about this book, the ease with which we give so much of our day to day life away to others without even giving it a second thought.

Her Last Lie is a great debut and a real find for just 99p! I’ve already popped Amanda Brittany’s unnamed book 2, which is out in December, on my wish list and I can’t wait to read it!

[jo ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it’s the fact that this is the first book I’ve finished since my reading slump or maybe it just is how I truly feel but this book was all over the freaking place! I kind of hate it.

I’m still trying to piece it together as one cohesive piece of literature. The red herrings, the timeline, Carl Jeffrey: it almost feels like a story and a half.

The Carl Jeffrey situation didn’t come full circle for me. I guess I wanted more or nothing at all about it. I think that if that entire subplot had been omitted from the story, it would’ve done just fine. I get that his purpose was to distract us from Sara but if he were to be replaced by any mystery man, it wouldn’t have made a difference. For 2 seconds I had the thought that his sister could possibly be behind all of it, but it didn’t stick enough.

The ending was very.....meh, and the epilogue was unnecessary. It didn’t help that I disliked Isla for a good portion of the book, thinking she was a selfish b. When things started happening to her I kept thinking, “yeah, that’s what she gets for being an a-hole to Jack!” Lol.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I’m giving it 2 stars because I was kinda hooked since I wanted to get to the ending in the hopes that it would tie it all up for me with a bang. It didn’t.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me gripped throughout and I really felt for Isla.
Isla is a photographer and loves travelling. Something horrific happened to her in Australia and she’s trying to move on but then she finds out that the man who killed her best friend six years ago might be released from prison.
This dominates her thoughts and affects her relationships with her boyfriend and best friend until she thinks she’s going mad. Things start happening to Isla and her life starts to unravel.
Part 2 had me on the edge of my seat as I just wanted to know what had happened...
I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it but I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a really good psychological thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read this great book.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six years ago, Isla was part of a crime spree that happened when she was traveling. She was the victim that got away whereas the girls including her best friend weren't as lucky. Isla is trying to move on with her life with her fiance and her travel book. Her latest stop was Canada, and she had the trip of a lifetime. However, Isla is starting to feel that she is being watched and after hearing how Carl Jeffrey's sister was trying to get an appeal, she thinks that it is related to the case as little clues and knick-knacks from her past are showing up. Has someone come to exact revenge on Isla and believe that she lied about what happened between her and Carl? This at first was a bit of an odd read, and it was a bit like reading a possible paranoia state, but as the book went along, it seemed like there was someone trying to mess with her. In parts, it felt disjointed and didn't make a lot of sense as it was almost like she was in a bipolar or DID state. As I read the last chapter though, the book made complete sense and answered a lot of my questions and made sense with me thinking of the different state of minds. Because it is a British mystery, it is a bit slower pace as well as they tend to walk through their mysteries rather than rush like the Americans. Also as readers know, I am a cover fan, and this cover was amazing.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also at: https://juliapalooza.com/2018/01/14/b...

Her Last Lie is an impressive debut from Amanda Brittany. It is well-written and clever, with a modern slant. It has an interesting structure and makes good use of social media. The story does jump around a bit but it totally works.

Isla has moved on from her previous trauma and now lives with new boyfriend, Jack. She seems to be happy and works as a freelance travel writer and photographer, regularly updating her social media with her latest activities.

“Sometimes she would grab her camera, jump into her car, and head to the nearby fields to snap photographs of the countryside: birds and butterflies, wild flowers, sheep, horses, whatever she could find – pictures she would often put on Facebook or Instagram.”

There are a couple of shocking points in the story where the plot takes off in surprising and unexpected directions and really drive the story forward. My jaw genuinely dropped both times! The different chapters and flashbacks give great insight into the story and help you start to piece together what is going on.

Isla finds her emotions spiralling out of control as a series of disturbing events occur – but who is really responsible? As her friends and family start to become concerned, Isla fears her sanity is unravelling.

“If she could only find a picture with both of them in it, Jack would have to believe her, and it would prove she wasn’t losing her mind.”

I did find that I needed to suspend my disbelief a little for the set up – which I was happy to do – as I found one or two of the characters’ lack of curiosity about some apparently key things difficult to believe, and I am very curious about how Isla was able to afford trips to Canada and Sweden to write a book she hadn’t even had commissioned yet!

The story is gripping throughout though and the second half of the book is even better than the first. The pace really ramps up to emotional rollercoaster proportions! The descriptions of snowy Sweden and the Northern Lights were breathtaking and the brutal landscape helped the book build to its stark and chilling climax.

“Her brain finally began to close down, and she was in a place between asleep and awake, when there was a tapping sound on her window. Her eyes shot open, her body drenched with sweat as her mind tumbled back to that terrible night.”

Throughout the book I wasn’t quite sure whether or not I liked Isla but she was certainly a great character: ballsy but shattered and vulnerable; struggling but determined. I really liked best friend Roxanne also, but all the characters were well put together.

I was quite chuffed with myself that I worked out part of the conclusion – but certainly not all of it and I was completely wrong about one key bit!

This is a brilliant, compelling and thrilling read, I highly recommend it and I can’t wait to see what Amanda Brittany does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the ARC of Her Last Lie.

[Inn Auni · Rating 3 out of 5]

BEWARE of SPOILER

Isla was the only survivor from Carl Jeffery's vicious murder spree. At the age of 23 at that time, all she wanted was to be a travel journalist. But, her experienced in Australia ruined it until she met Jack. Now at the age of 29, Isla got her groove back. She's still agitated when it came to strangers especially man but, was coping with it. The news that Carl Jeffery might be acquitted, made Isla jumpy again. So her answer was to travel to Canada, alone, and ignore everything back home.

A month passed before she's back. On her way home, she met Travis, her ex-boyfriend, who she dumped via a middle person back in college. Travis wanted to reconnect for old time sake but Isla, not so much. Not wanting to hurt Travis further, she relented. Meeting Travis was the beginning of her world collapsing around her. She was sure she got a stalker.

I'll stop there. Not wanting to spoil it. I finished it at midnight and decided against reviewing it immediately. This morning, why did Isla continue posting her activities on Fb if she suspected a stalker, kept crossing my mind.

This is a good book, even though many others have done it before, that social media was not all that hype. You're sharing something to people you barely recognize. Isla for example, had 800 or so on her friend's list but only a few she knew. Her reason for needing those people was to advertise her travel article (she did not outright mentioned it but that's the vibe I got).

I decided to Google 'murder spree survivor' and got 1.5 million results. Most of these survivors agreed on sharing their 'experience' on major news. And I asked myself, would I do the same. I probably change my name, went in hiding and deemed every human as evil. So, I guess people took something differently. And it's not bad really. It's the way one cope with a tragedy. But with Isla, it irked me. She's not really a likable character.

Someone reviewed that this was a pager turner. Well, for that reader maybe. The first part was boring. It dragged on, sometimes with useless stuff. Isla got her problem with her stalker and Millie, her sister, got her own set of problem which was mentioned by Isla here and there. I know that everyone got their own problem but, at time I just wanted to smack Isla so she'll act her age of almost 30 and focus on herself.

Part two was interesting enough to make me stick even though the urge to murder Isla myself was bubbling. She was annoying and going to be on my hit list. The moment I clue in on the plot twist, I was baffled. It's like watching Hana Yori Dango between Sakurako and Inoue. I was expecting something else. If a scene reminded you of another scene, then it's not original. That's okay. I did say, a recycle story if written well, can sell. But, I'm not buying this one (well technically I already bought this ebook) because the reason wasn't as strong as Hana Yori Dango.

It wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. Kudos to the person who made the cover because that's the selling point of this book. If it hit the bestseller, then it's the cover.

[Kath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 stars but I have rounded it down as, although the execution was really good, at the end of the day, it's the story that's important and, for me, it didn't quite hit the mark.
Six years ago, Isla survived a serial killer, her testimony at the trial being key to his conviction. Despite him being in jail, she is still, understandably, affected by his presence and what happened but is trying to get on with her life. Things are brought to another head however as the killer's sister is once again mounting an appeal and wants her to retell her part in things. Something that Isla, understandably, doesn't want any part of. So much so that she also fails to mention this to her boyfriend Jack. Instead, determined to finish her travel photography book, she ups and goes to Canada where she meets someone. Talk about getting herself in a pickle, all this just leads to some very strange behaviour on her return to the UK. Leaving things again unresolved, she pops off again, this time to Sweden for more photography and then things get really weird.
Ok so right from the off I didn't like Isla. Yes, I know I don't have to like a character, just need to have a connection with them but here, I dunno, it's almost like I really didn't care what happened to her. I didn't like her, I didn't like how she treated people, I didn't like the victim card she kept playing. I guess from the way the book eventually goes, there is a point that comes where you are supposed to lean more towards her. When things start to become clear but, to be honest, I was too far past caring to turn back by then. Sorry. There was also the thing about her not wanting to know something that I thought the outcome of which would be plastered all over the media anyway. Not really understanding how she could have avoided knowing to be honest.
The story was also a little daft in places. I did start off by nearly shouting at the characters when they failed with the blooming obvious. Yes, I know that the blooming obvious to me may not also be to them but still, after the fifth or sixth time I had somewhat lost patience with it all.
All that said though, the twist was clever, didn't see that coming at all. Well done for that, that was well executed indeed! Te rest of the reveal did however leave me a little flat. Yes, with hindsight, many of my criticisms of earlier in the book would not have been so justified but, and it's an important but, I got myself into that mindset and nothing was going to redress that for me. Again sorry, but I am not sure whether it is totally my failing though as the author led me to where I went. Maybe by being a bit over clever. Again, I don't know.
Anyway, there you are. My thoughts on my experience reading this book. As already mentioned at the beginning, the actual writing was excellent, just the story fell flat for me. I would be really interested in seeing what she serves up next time, this being her debut. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and I guessed wrong more times than I care to admit.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla has a tragic past that has marked her last 6 years; when she is starting to feel free again her worst nightmares start again. Is she imagining things or someone is following her?

This is the story of Isla, and how page by page we start understanding her fears and her worst nightmares, specially Carl Jeffery’s; he is trying to appeal, meaning that he could go free... We don’t know their past together just that she is scared to death...
Isla seems a very brave woman but with a dark past, let me say she is recovering quite well, but when she starts seeing shadows and receiving weird messages her fear to the world starts again... will she confront her fears or try an extreme solution? We know since the first page that something is weird with her ex-boyfriend, but her boyfriend acts weird too and the possibility that Carl is free again doesn't help... we just have to add discovering an old lie which will make us, the readers, completely lost on who is really the "shadow" till the end, making the readers to being in tension almost all of the book.
The story is interesting and well written but I don't recommend you to read it at night, you will have nightmares and fear to darkness for a long time... can you listen the taps on the window?
This book touches again if it's really safe to share all of our live on the social media and if we should accept every friend request... I normally don't share personal photos on my personal media and my profile is closed, so I try to be careful. But after reading "Her Last Lie" I will try to be even more careful, really there are a lot of crazy people in this world!
What do you share on your social media?

[Dusk · Rating 1 out of 5]

A review without spoiling the twist in the book (but it still has some details of the protagonist even though they don’t relate to the twist).

The protagonist is quite unlikable. I thought I’d like her since she is a survivor of a serial killer, but then her actions start to make no sense. Even someone like me know not to trust any stranger that make me go to “dark alley”, but she did, multiple times, then cried to her bf and said “I don’t understand”. Really? You don’t? 😒 It’s too illogical since the author depicts her as an independent girl, a “survivor”, “travel alone to different countries”.
You’d also find out she cheated on her boyfriend and repeatedly saying she’d do anything to be with her lover, but end up accepting her boyfriend’s proposal, posting it on Facebook then whining and crying why her lover stop talking to her, why she can’t be with her lover. 😐
Besides all that, the book is ok. 2/5 if I have to rate. I didn’t listen to it all the way, only the first half then jumping to the end because I just can’t stand her.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla was the victim of a serial killer six years ago and the only one to survive. She has been determined not to let Carl Jeffery’s violent actions sour the rest of her life and travelled to Canada and now is planning to go to Sweden alone to finish her book. She’s found it difficult to cope with what happened but had a sense of security that her nightmare was firmly in her past. Now, though, there’s a chance that her attacker will be freed. When strange things start to happen, Isla isn’t sure whether they are real, or if her past has found a way to come back and haunt her.

I stayed up until 1.30am to finish reading Her Last Lie. As the tension in the story built, I couldn’t stop reading. At one point I thought I knew where the book was going… I was wrong! I loved this fast-paced, atmospheric, scary book. I can’t wait to read Amanda Brittany’s next novel.

[Ailsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla is the escaped almost-victim of a serial killer who has left her paranoid and mistrustful of men. Six years later she is almost over it, living with her partner Jack and her cat when she decides to fulfil her dream of writing a travel book and goes to Canada for research.

What follows is a very enjoyable thriller full of misdirection that will shock you til the very last page. A brilliant twist on the unreliable narrator genre.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

[Christina McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creepy thriller that will have you double checking what you've put on social media!

The only victim to walk free from a serial killer, Isla has rebuilt her life and is now a successful writer and photographer. But then she learns the serial killer is getting out of jail and she starts to feel like someone is following her.

With tons of suspense and an overall feeling of menace throughout, as well as a number of surprising and intriguing twists that kept the pages turning and the suspense high. A fast-paced thriller that will keep you up at night.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy*

Let me start off by admitting that I have a problem: I'm addicted to those crime TV shows. Yes, that includes the Investigative Discovery channel...Yes, I need to stop. But, that also means that I am well-versed with how these things are structured. So when I say that Amanda Brittany's Her Last Lie , did not disappoint in emulating these crime TV shows and kept up with my expectations, I mean it as high praise.

First off, great prologue from the get-go. I love how it's a news article - fits with the theme - and it's a short blurb to give you the background on what is going on. Chapters continue to stay short and despite their length, Brittany still manages to fit in enough details to paint us a scene (remember your high school English teacher preaching 'show don't tell'?).

Not really a spoiler, but I'll continue to talk about the book's structure. Brittany includes these kind of blog excerpts in-between chapters. Fair warning: they can be confusing at first since they're pretty abrupt. It almost feels like the protagonist, Isla, is living a double life, which if she was cheating, is technically true? But, on the bright side, I think these blog excerpts fit perfectly with Isla, who is also a travel writer and photographer (a bit stereotypical but true).

Brittany does a fairly good job at including a psychological element to the plot - from Isla's three snaps on her rubber band to the admittedly Freudian analysis of Carl, Sara, and even Jack . What I did enjoy, was the suspense and delve into Isla's inner mind as we begin to see how the PTSD of having been a victim of a serial killer affects a person - how the paranoia and irrationality starts to kick in and play tricks on a person's mind. It's incredibly realistic how the simplest things like a butterfly, can trigger traumatic memories and how pervasive of an impact trauma has on one's life.

Now, here comes the big spoilers because you know, the whole point of crime mysteries is the big reveal at the end. The Who Dun It and Why? Plot twist was unexpected, which is exactly what a plot twist is supposed to do. I think that it's great that the ending wasn't the clichéd: the boyfriend/spouse did it. And the way that Brittany framed the ending made it feel like I was watching the end of the of a Scooby-Doo episode (don't get me wrong; I love Scooby-Doo) where the villain is gloating and revealing their reasons. Now that I think about it, that might be an overused plot device but somehow it didn't feel tiresome in this case...hmmm.

My only complaint is how the last few chapters were centered on Roxanne. Yes, I get that she's the best friend, but to be fair, we barely saw Roxanne at all in the first half of the book, so why bother now? It makes sense in terms of plot development, but there wasn't enough in the earlier chapters to truly transform Roxanne from a side-character to a real, relatable human being with a purpose. So, you kind of end up skimming Roxanne's chapters a bit (sorry not sorry) and just rush to the ending.

All in all, Her Last Lie definitely ranks up there. I didn't give it 5 stars because it wasn't quite perfect for me, but if I could I would absolutely give this a 4.5 stars out of 5 . I would recommend this to anyone who is a crime and mystery enthusiast. If you like watching Sherlock, this is for you. If you like watching Elementary, this is for you. If you like watching NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI, etc., this is for you. I encourage everyone to give this book a try. It's great. It'll keep you on the edge of your seat. It'll surprise you and definitely won't disappoint you.

On a side note: I still don't get how the title relates to the plot, but oh well - maybe that's just me.

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t the genre I expected but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it anyway. The writing is great, and the authors way of storytelling is very compelling. It isn’t like the crime novels I normally read, but a good read non the less.

[Sheryle Cleave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of twists and turns....

Brilliant read - couldn't put the book down. Excellent story line with so many possibilities I just kept on reading.

[jeannette allerston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This story takes you on a journey you won,nt forget in a hurry, and also makes you think about social media and who it is you are actually talking too, it's left me thinking what a dangerous place the internet can be, a gripping story that will make you think we'll done Amanda Brittany will be looking for more of your books, great audio with this book ☺ x

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, storyline.

Excellent read and I enjoyed thoroughly each character, their flaws and perspectives. Recommend this for a great beach read or weekend escape.

[Ashley Gillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, there's been a spate of books focused on the lone survivor of serial killers forced to face down their demons. I'm pleased to say, however, the motif doesn't seem to be losing steam yet.

I really enjoyed this one - it's subtle, intense and scary, all at once. It's very well executed.

Isla is the survivor of a serial killer who killed her friend and attacked her. Now, she lives a quiet life, finishing her book on photography and living with her boyfriend. When her would-be killer launches an appeal and a face from her past pops up, things start to spiral out of control. Is she going insane? Or is there really something to fear?

I liked the way the author shows Isla's slow descent into acute anxiety and gives the story plenty of possibilities for solutions. I kept turning pages to find out what was going to happen next because I really didn't know. But I wasn't overwhelmed, either.

The story really was creepy, the way things seemed to close in around Isla. I loved it. There were just enough twists to keep me on my toes and gasping out loud.

There were a couple of things I felt weren't totally wrapped up in the end, or were a little bit obvious (you'll see what I mean when you read it, there's some obvious clues to why things were happening a certain way), which is why I gave it 4 stars. But don't let that deter you from reading! It's worth it.

Highly recommended!

[Margaret Duke-Wyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla is hoping to publish a book. It is a journal of her travels supported with many photographs which she documents. Currently she is in Canada and she meets a man. Upon her return home, her boyfriend encourages her to finish her book and so she plans her final trip to Sweden. Off she goes and then - she disappears. But Isla has a history. Six years ago she escaped the serial killer, Carl Jeffery.

When her journal is read her family are worried and start to investigate.

I love the structure of this book. The way the text was supported by excerpts from Isla’s blog gave it an interesting twist, an added dimension. However, I was disappointed in the section devoted to Roxanne as I felt that this was a little contrived in order to develop the plot. What was very interesting was how survivor’s guilt and paranoia affected Isla so it was difficult to gauge what was a real threat and what wasn’t. However, I had to suspend belief when she walked off into the snow for hours without thinking about how far she was walking, the weather or the coming night. Really?

Whilst not a brilliant book in my opinion, it is certainly well worth a read. Well written and not easy to guess where it was going and what would happen.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

[Iva F. Eggett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Many surprises!

Twists and turns in this book kept me from putting it down! Interesting people in a variety of settings as the main character writes about her travels.