The Eight Year Lie

by J.M. Hewitt

She ran from the truth. She will do whatever it takes to hide it. Jessica returns home one day to find her husband, Patrick, dead. It's unclear what caused his death and though the shock is huge, she cannot pretend it's entirely unexpected. The police have questions, and Jessica knows that once they hear the answers her fate may well be sealed. Eight years ago, Jessica was living another life. She was a different person, and despite what people think, she has changed. Anyway, there was never any proof that she harmed anyone back then. Yet on the day she loses her husband, a ghost from the past reappears. Louise was her friend once, but that was then. Now, they are strangers. Except Louise seems very familiar--so familiar that it's like peering into a mirror. Why would she go out of her way to look just like Jessica? Unless more than one person has been keeping deadly secrets . . .

Runtime: 10. 19 hours. Unabridged, 8 library CDs.

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

315 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2022

About the author

Silver Prize in the author v author competition 2008 (supported by the National Literary Trust)

Shortlisted for the Inspire and Mentor Campaign – selected by Jojo Moyes 2012

Two books independently published in 2010 and 2013

Longlisted for the Retreat West First Chapter Competition 2015

Winner of the BritCrime Pitch Competition 2015

Winner in the Twisted 50 Short Story Competition 2016. Short story 'Fingers' to be published in the Twisted 50 Anthology.

Appearing at the Felixstowe Book Festival in 2015 and 2016 and the East Anglia Author Festival 2016.

Member of the CWA, ITW and East Anglian Authors.

Exclusion Zone and The Hunger Within published 2016 / 2017 by Endeavour Media.

The Night Caller published by Bookouture 2019.

www.jmhewitt.com Twitter: @jmhewitt FB: www.facebook.com/j.mhewittauthor

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The synopsis of the book is what attracted me to want to read this book . With a now and then timeline it starts off super slow. I felt the storyline kept chopping and changing and found it hard to follow. I struggled to connect with the characters. Sorry for the negativity , I am still going to read her other books perhaps this wasnt meant for me.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eight years ago, a girl I knew died. I try not to think too much about that time, about the person I used to be when that tragedy happened. It hurts too much. Besides, it's so far in the past. Now, I have a beautiful home and a committed husband. I should be looking to the future. But my husband is found dead in the home we built together. The police seem convinced I had something to do with it - it's always the wife, right? And it doesn't help that the police thought that I had something to do with that girls death, eight years ago.

Louise and Jessica become friends when Louise works for Jessica's father. Louise is a photographer who was helping Jessica's father with publicity for his hotel. Louise and Jessica quickly form a close bond. When an acquaintance is murdered, Jessica becomes a suspect.

The story is told from Louise and Jessica's perspectives in the then and now formats. They haven't had much contact over the last eight years. Things are not always what they seemed to be. We are slowly drip fed the truth surrounding the main characters.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #JMHewitt for my ARC of #TheEightYearLie in exchange for an honest review.

[Courtney (caffeinereadrepeat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snaptastic! 😳😯

Well holy moly cannoli! I gotta say this was a very intriguing book. Louise is a photographer and gets pulled into the world of the elite and rich, befriended by Jessica eight years ago. Alexis was killed one night back then and now eight years later, Jessica's husband is dead. Louise walks back into her life, but what's going on? Why has she changed so much? While I enjoyed this book quite more than I thought I would, I did guess the ending ahead of time. Even with that, I still was shocked and impressed with this novel. That ending was still pretty damn good I have to say!

Thank you to netgalley & the publisher Canelo for allowing me this ARC
Release date: January 12, 2022.

I give this 3.5 / 5 snowflakes! ❄️

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick, Jessica's husband is dead found in their cottage. The police believe Jessica is involved in his death because someone died eight years ago and they think she had something to do with that too. Louise turns up again in Jessica's life; the two women met in Cannes, France when Jessica was twenty-five and became friends. This was tense, unpredictable and twisty. I found the storyline fascinating and the characters were well-drawn. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Canelo via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Hazel · Rating 1 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the electronic copy.

This is an "intriguing" story but overall I found the characters to be very shallow and the dialogue and storyline really quite unbelievable in the main.

Jessica and Patrick King had been living in a Suffolk village for 8 years. One day she finds him dead, lying on the bed, with no obvious cause to his demise. But Jessica can't escape her past and the police investigation uncovers her involvement in a murder enquiry in France 8 years previously.

Then - Louise Wilshire is 19yrs-old, a photographer, she's struggling financially until she lands a job photographing the opening night of a new hotel/casino in Cannes - Jensen Coast. It's successful but almost inexplicably she finds herself part of the "inner circle": Marco Cooper who has a thriving drugs trade; Andrew Jensen, his partner, and friend Ben Albin. Then Jessica, aged 25, breezes in, and Louise is besotted with her. They become "friends" but always on Jessica's terms. Jessica only has eyes for Ben and Louise is so scared that Jessica will leave her. One night Louise is engaged to photograph a party at Alexis Dubois' home and Jessica accompanies her, only for Alexis to be found dead and Jessica injured. Patrick King becomes her lawyer and eventually they end up in England.

Eight years later, the lie that changed the course of Jessica's life is unearthed - and she wants revenge on Louise - with life-threatening consequences.

Yes, this story has some chilling and sinister moments, but really I felt the dialogue, especially, left a lot to be desired as well as the rather incongruous ease with which we're supposed to believe that Louise inserted herself with these strangers. No, sorry - way too far-fetched for me.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Jessica returns home one day she finds her husband Patrick dead. The police have questions and Jessica believes her fate is sealed as 8 years ago she was arrested for murder. Though evidence led her to be released. On the day of Patrick's death a familiar face appears from the past. Louise was once her friend, a young 19 year old staying in France as a photographer. Now she looks and dresses and acts like Jessica. Is she hiding something? Will this end in tragedy too?

This is written in alternating perspectives from now and then with Louise telling us about the past and Jessica telling us about now. These characters are very unlikeable and unreliable.

The whole story line is very far fetched and unbelievable and I struggled with reading this.

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry but I felt this book was almost boring. The story was stretched out more than it needed to be. I almost stopped reading it but I hate to not allow the author some leeway. I want to see if it gets better - it does but not a lot. I felt the twin person POV was confusing at times.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐ - It was good

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. It was a slow burn, but her writing is incredibly good! I both appreciated the story as well as wanting it to end at times. There’s lots of life lessons though! It flowed nicely despite switching timelines and characters. And, I wasn’t sure if I liked anybody in this book. But, there was truth in a lot of the developing plot and characterizations. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book. After a break, I’ll probably check out more of her works!

[Katrina Lounsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the minute I opened the book I had so many questions, but mainly what happened and why. As I continued reading, what happened was quickly answered but the answer to why lingered in the shadows, continually bringing up more why’s.
I most definitely expected a more innocent protagonist but I feel as though I have a lot of questions about her personality and who she actually is.
I was thrown for an absolute loop, even though reflecting back on the novel you can see find the bread crumbs that are left if you know what you’re looking for. I find books like these really entertaining to read!
The end even left you on a bit of a cliffhanger where there could potentially be another story, or could also just be left as it is. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

[rpascucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - a decent fast paced thriller! not overly predictable or cringe, just right for a quick read

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the point of view of two friends, in the past and present time , the 2 young women have been through a lot together , though have had minimal contact in the last 8 years. Both are now married , one living in the Uk and one in France where they met. Jessica is the daughter of a rich hotel owner, has a circle of friends round her and has been living a wild existence, drinking, taking drugs and getting into problems. Her father bails her out regularly.
Louise is a photographer starting on her career who has been involved with publicity for Jessica's father's hotel. She meets Jessica and they become friends. Louise is living in an awful apartment and is glad to take up with Jessica and her friends. A summer follows when Louise develops a close relationship with Jessica, to the point almost of obsession. Then an acquaintance is found murdered . Jessica is a suspect .
I found the plot interesting though the changing perspectives and time periods sometimes made it difficult to follow the proceedings at times. Descriptions of some characters are shallow in places and I did not find the relationship of Jessica and her husband believable, The crimes were OK, though stretched the realms of possibility in places for me. As the story went on, the truth about both the main characters is gradually revealed and the feelings about one of the characters become unnerving and you realize that things are not or have not been what they seem
Thank you to Net Galley for the read in exchange for an honest review .

[Sophie Sheppard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louise and Jessica meet and become friends when Louise starts working for Jessica’s father. Jessica is everything Louise wants to be rich, confident, a party animal and Louise wants nothing more than to be like Jessica.

As their friendship becomes deeper Louise and Jessica support each other through various issues. When Jessica’s boyfriend Ben moves away she desperately wants to go with him, he wants the same but neither seems to have the courage to tell one another. Then one night a murder takes place. Jessica and Louise were both placed at the crime scene with Jessica looking to be the guilty party.

Forced to flea the country with her lawyer Patrick Jessica settles down to a new life with Patrick who she soon finds herself married to and trapped in a marriage she’s not happy with. Louise on the other hand stayed in France and is settled down happily married with a child of her own.

8 years on Jessica’s husband Patrick is found dead the police say it’s to coincidental and all eyes are once again on Jessica but with the evidence leading down a different path to what everyone suspected where will this investigation lead and will Louise and Jessica reunite to get through another tragedy?

This book was told from Louise and Jessica’s point of view with alternating chapters from then and now. At times I found this book really hard to read, I lost the plot of the book at times and had no clue where I was or what was going on. There were also a few times where I considered putting the book down and giving up altogether but I’m glad I didn’t and I’m glad I kept going as I did enjoy the ending it was fast paced and exciting even if I did guess the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance readers copy in exchange for this review.

[Tania Rook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of two women, neither of whom has a firm grasp on reality or themselves as individuals. You have Louise, a struggling artist trying to make ends meet in France so she doesn't have to go back to the less alluring England to struggle in (let's face is, there's not much call for a photographer in the iPhone age). And you have Jessica, who doesn't have to be good at anything because her daddy is already rich. And then, extremely unaccountably, you have only two men worth being interested in and one other man. In all of England and France. It's super weird, especially since Jessica's dad Andrew made his money in a hotel. Who is populating the hotel? You'll never know.

That's part of what this story does well. Jessica and Louise live in such self-absorbed little bubbles they have no concept of the world outside their immediate sphere of interest. If Hercule Poirot stumbled onto the mystery that starts the eight year lie that gives the book its title, he'd sort it out in moments using deductive reasoning. But it seems the world of this book has abandoned that as a concept. Instead, everyone takes whatever surface reality appears to be true as the truth.

I think this reads quite interesting if you take it as an allegory for living vicariously via social media. Despite living in two different countries, the lives of both women are confined to a single small environment which is almost as unknown to them as the rest of the world, because they take no time to get to know it.

[Paterson Loarn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Eight Year Lie by J.M Hewitt is a colourful roller-coaster of a psychological thriller. The action begins in the glorious sunlight of Cannes, France, where Jessica is enjoying the privileged existence of a wealthy man’s daughter. Louise, a talented photographer who is trying to build her career, covets Jessica’s lifestyle and friends. The two women are drawn into an addictive, semi-erotic relationship which even Jessica’s lover Ben cannot disrupt. Their connection becomes even closer when they stumble together into the scene of a murder. During the next eight years both women form deep - and in Jessica’s case destructive - relationships with new men, but when the mysterious death of Jessica’s husband in their Suffolk cottage changes everything, the old connection between them regains its significance. I enjoyed the vibrancy of this novel, the range of characters and its short chapters, which are just right for a coffee break. At first I found the way the narrative leaps through time and space rather confusing, until I learned to relax and go with the flow. I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review. #NetGalley

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eight year lie by J. M. Hewitt.
Jessica returns home one day to find her husband, Patrick, dead. It’s unclear what caused his death and though the shock is huge, she cannot pretend it’s entirely unexpected. The police have questions, and Jessica knows that once they hear the answers her fate may well be sealed. Eight years ago, Jessica was living another life. She was a different person, and despite what people think, she has changed. Anyway, there was never any proof that she harmed anyone back then. Yet on the day she loses her husband, a ghost from the past reappears. Louise was her friend once, but that was then. Now, they are strangers. Except Louise seems very familiar – so familiar that it’s like peering into a mirror. Why would she go out of her way to look just like Jessica? Unless more than one person has been keeping deadly secrets…
A very very good read with some good characters. Twisty and tense. 4*.

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. I love reading about other countries and getting a bit of an insight into other cultures.

This book did a great job of that as you see how the 'other' side lives, all posh and such. You'd never expect someone who lives a life like that to be unhappy.

The author did a fantastic job of leading up to the events that led to the murder and everything in between. Everything was clear and never once was I confused.

Who wouldn't want to live it up like Jess and be her friend? From the outside point of view, you can completely understand Lou's obsession with her.

A lot of what happens could have been avoided if people would just be honest, even if costs them.

The ending was a complete surprise and it certainly packed a wallop!

I'll tell you one thing, after reading this book, you'll never look at honesty, friendship, or betrayal the same ever again.

I highly recommend!

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fabulous! It took me a while to read but only because life got in the way. I really didn't know whose side I was on when we got to hear Jessica's pov of living with Patrick,(he seriously gave me the heebie-jeebies, I couldn't believe the threats he made) how she was treated, lied to, "betrayed"- especially when Jessica had "visitors". Then there's Louise, who I couldn't tell what was gonna come of her relationship, to be honest, I thought she was gonna end up being a single mother, broke asl, with 0 connections to anything, I for sure thought her life was going to go to pieces. Then there was Ben, the last person I thought would have done anything snakey to anyone... I was wrong. J.M. Hewitt wrote this book incredibly well, the fact that I had to double-take on every character, are they good? are they bad? are they the ones behind everything? - I loved the suspense and uncertainty of it all! I'm not going to give away anymore because then ill spoil it, but for your sake, you MUST MUST MUST read this book!

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being suspected of murder can make it tough for you to move on and have a happy life. But that is exactly what Jessica has managed to do over the last eight years. What does it mean for her now when there is another death, this time, her husband. Adding to the mystery, is the sudden reappearance of her former best friend who for some reason suddenly looks a lot like her…

My first read for 2022 and what a smashing start! You can always count on Hewitt giving her reader a thrilling tale and she has once again delivered with The Eight Year Lie. I flew through this one and devoured each glorious page, where I was taken down a wicked path of desire, revenge, toxic relationships and so many secrets! Told from the perspectives of its two female leads, both in the past and present, this is a very well written and riveting tale that will have you flicking the pages long into the night.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eight Year Lie is a psychological thriller of two friends and the trials they go through as they are suspected of a murder. But not everyone is being honest, and everything is not as it appears. They both have their secrets about the past.

Eight years later Jessica's husband has died. The police believe one of the two friends are lying about the past while investigating the husband's death. Louise, after keeping her distance, has come to help her friend. Now the two are together again.

The story is told between the two friend's point of view, with the past and the present alternating. Feelings of obsession, jealousy, hatred come to the surface, as the truths are slowly revealed.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Jo Wellard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Jessica was discovered bleeding next to the dead body of a rival . Despite the fact that she was injured and there is photographic evidence of someone else at the scene of the murder, Jessica‘s father and lawyer feel it’s for the best for her to move away.

Jessica and her lawyer get married and move to England.
Eight years later he is found dead in his bed.

After hearing the news, Louise, a friend from Jessica’s past turns up to support her. Louise was there when the murder happened eight years previously.

As they begin to discuss the past, secrets and lies are unravelled with fatal consequences.

I found this book a bit of a slow burner and struggled to like any of the characters. However, It picked up pace towards the end. All in all a good easy read.

[Kaytee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is quality writing and the characterisation is effective, but ultimately this story is sadly rather dull and I lost interest half way through.
I wish the writer had just told the story in a single timeline and let the power play between the characters be the story. Instead we have NOW and THEN which is irritating as it interrupts the flow of the story and makes following each characters story confusing.
Writers should stop trying to be clever. Stop using present tense, and stop using different timelines. These two contrivances spoil so many potentially good stories now.
Also less exposition please. That would never have got past a good editor ten years ago.
DNF though others seem to have liked it.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 star rating - Jessica is a spoilt little rich girl and Louise is a parasite, poor but determined to be part of the in crowd in Cannes. Neither of them are particularly pleasant and it’s a bit of a stretch as to how or why Louise managed this when she so obviously didn’t belong in such a setting. The book was overly long for what happened and there was some repetition. A slow burner plus a few times when the flame rose higher. I preferred the last two or three chapters to the preceding “then and now’s” from the pair. Definitely shows the lengths people will go to get what they want! I liked the book enough to try another from this author. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Virginia Claire McCruden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like either of the main characters. They were both vile so therefore I didn’t connect with either of them and couldn’t find compassion for them and their story. The relationship that ‘supposedly’ bonded them, was weak and flimsy. I did not think their fleeting friendship at the start of the book created enough of a base to cement them together, which meant the whole story was unbalanced. I have experienced true love friendship in life and this was NOT imparted in this book. It was a good basis for an incredible story and there were moments of beautiful writing but they were fleeting and poorly structured. I finished the book but I didn’t enjoy it and wouldn’t pursue the writers work in the future.

[Gareth Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this book. I do think it would have benefitted from a tighter edit and been 50-100 pages shorter, as some parts did drag and it felt like the inner-monologues were just repeating themselves.

The narrative is told from the points of view of two characters, each chapter, begins with a note stating which character is narrating. The book also has two timelines - the past and the present. These are sewn together a bit awkwardly, so any time you begin a new chapter it could be any one of the four combinations. I'm not really sure what this narrative style added to the story in all honesty, and just seemed to make the book a bit clunky and disorienting to read at times. I don't think the story would have been less impactful told in a linear style, in third person for example. It was particularly annoying once an exciting part was reached after some slow chapters, only to be whisked away to the other character and the other timeline.

The other thing I didn't like was the huge number of characters introduced all at once at the start of the book. There was the two female narrators, two police officers, a casino and hotel owner and his business partner, a wildlife enthusiast, a lawyer, a drug dealer, and his daughter, and they were all introduced within the first 50 pages. I was a bit confused at first who was who and had to keep flicking back pages to remind myself. This wasn't helped by the timeline and narrator jumping all over the place.

Once I'd settled into the book I did enjoy it though. The plot is quite farfetched, a bit melodramatic at times, and it's full of cheesy dialogue, but I did enjoy the ride. I did find some of the swearing a bit grating. It seems to be in every other line of dialogue, and the amount of sex was a bit eye-rolling. There was one point about midway through where it felt like every scene began or ended with two characters sleeping together. It felt like the author was trying just a bit too hard to make this mature content.

There was plenty of twists and turns and things ramped up suitably for the ending. Overall I'd give it 3 out of 5. I may check this author out again in the future but for the reasons mentioned I won't be doing it in a hurry.

[E Dod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first novel by author J.M. Hewitt and it was a riveting read.

We meet two friends, Jessica and Louise. Jessica's husband is found killed and both women appear to be suspects.

The police work hard to try and unlock these women's' secrets and their obviously twisty path. The narrative is from both women's point of views and the writing style kept me hooked. Full of past and present secrets and some great thrills this is a novel for lovers of a good thriller.

I enjoyed reading about these characters who both have intense secrets and loved their point of views.

Thanks to JM Hewitt, NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[modernbooklore ⚡️ olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the twists in the book and how much we got to see into the psyche of each of the characters. However, this was also one of the reasons I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 - I saw too much of the psyche of the characters and decided I didn't like them all that much. I am guessing that was kind of the point but it's so hard at times to keep going through a book when you find all of the characters annoying and sometimes not as fleshed out as you liked them to be.
Overall, this was a great read that had me guessing up until the very end and I actually didn't see a lot of the twists coming which was refreshing.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This plot was interesting. The synopsis on the back cover had me anticipating a completely different outcome, which is unusual, not sure if it was an intended misdirect.
The story is about two friends who were at the scene of a crime and the fallout for each of their lives. Chapters are divided by character and timeframe, which is easy to follow. All throughout, the reader is trying to decipher which girl is guilty, if either, and the outcome isn’t entirely inspiring. It was somewhat predictable (once I realized my back-cover-synopsis-expectations were wrong), but a good, quick read nonetheless.

[Arvin Dhillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

After I read Hewitt's book 'The Life She Wants', I was dying to read her next book 'The Eight Year Lie'. Although, this book is quite intense with its storyline and characters, I felt that, I was reading a book written in eighties. There is no mention of social media and current times, and it looks like dates have been changed and few tweaks here and there and the book published. I feel kind of cheated, but although the characters were not relatable and young, I did not mind reading and finishing it.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure about this book when I first started reading it, it was a little slow and didn’t seem to be going anywhere but then… the twists and turns near the end had you gripped! Told in the past and the present by the two main characters , had you thinking that you knew where the storyline was going only to cast a massive curveball at the end !

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review