What do you think?
Rate this book
Tell Me Lies
From bestselling author Teresa Driscoll comes a chilling thriller of past secrets and present terror. Deep in a rural hideaway, it’s only the owls watching them…right?
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2023
1368 people are currently reading
6745 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Driscoll
14 books2,692 followersTeresa Driscoll is a former BBC TV news presenter whose psychological thrillers have sold over two million copies in more than 20 languages. Her first thriller I AM WATCHING YOU was kindle #1 in the UK, USA and Australia and has sold more than 1.5 million copies in English alone.
Teresa writes book club fiction as well as thrillers and her work has been optioned for film.
During her long career as a journalist, Teresa worked for newspapers, magazines and television, including 15 years presenting the BBC TV news programme Spotlight. Covering crime for so long, she was deeply moved by the haunting impact on the relatives, the friends and the witnesses and it is those ripples she explores now in her darker fiction.
Teresa lives in glorious Devon with her family and blogs regularly about her "writing life" at her website - www.teresadriscoll.com.
Teresa writes book club fiction as well as thrillers and her work has been optioned for film.
During her long career as a journalist, Teresa worked for newspapers, magazines and television, including 15 years presenting the BBC TV news programme Spotlight. Covering crime for so long, she was deeply moved by the haunting impact on the relatives, the friends and the witnesses and it is those ripples she explores now in her darker fiction.
Teresa lives in glorious Devon with her family and blogs regularly about her "writing life" at her website - www.teresadriscoll.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
March 29, 2023
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
Twitter - Amazon - Storygraph - The Book Review Crew
I have read two other books by this author and both I Will Make You Pay and The Promise were four star reads for me as well. Driscoll is not the type of writer that writes adrenaline-rush thrillers but she is the queen of domestic suspense, that feeling of excitement when you know something is going to happen but it's a slow burn to get there and you learn about family dynamics. The great way the author told this story with multiple points of view and now and then chapters made that feeling of tension and anticipation all the more palatable. I couldn't believe how anxious I felt while reading this.
My curiosity was piqued from the start and I kept changing my mind about the culprit. The highlight of this book for me was that I could not figure out what was going on and when I thought I had things figured out close to the ending, the author threw in a little curve ball to keep things interesting. The book is well written with a cast of characters and a storyline that is contemporary and believable. It is a very emotional book and one that I didn't want to put down. I can't wait to read more of this author's work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
I have read two other books by this author and both I Will Make You Pay and The Promise were four star reads for me as well. Driscoll is not the type of writer that writes adrenaline-rush thrillers but she is the queen of domestic suspense, that feeling of excitement when you know something is going to happen but it's a slow burn to get there and you learn about family dynamics. The great way the author told this story with multiple points of view and now and then chapters made that feeling of tension and anticipation all the more palatable. I couldn't believe how anxious I felt while reading this.
My curiosity was piqued from the start and I kept changing my mind about the culprit. The highlight of this book for me was that I could not figure out what was going on and when I thought I had things figured out close to the ending, the author threw in a little curve ball to keep things interesting. The book is well written with a cast of characters and a storyline that is contemporary and believable. It is a very emotional book and one that I didn't want to put down. I can't wait to read more of this author's work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
November 8, 2022
3.5 rounded up
Hannah and Sam‘s marriage is in big trouble and so they decide to take a holiday at Owl Cottage in Cornwall in an attempt to put a sticking plaster over a large fracture. It’s more in the hope of a fresh start than in expectation. However, whilst the cottage is all they hope for a disturbing sequence of events occur which plunges Hannah back into the maelstrom of her past. This unresolved issue collides with the present in a manner Hannah could never have predicted.
Whilst I think this domestic psychological thriller starts somewhat slowly I do enjoy the way it builds and the pace definitely picks up. The location in Cornwall is really good and it’s used very effectively with everything from an odd vibe in the village with an unease that builds to quite sinister proportions. A sense of foreboding develops heightened by tension between the couple along with other disturbing signs.
The characterisation of Hannah is good although Sam is less well fleshed out. She’s definitely an over thinker and I find her rather exhausting at times! However, this does fit with the intriguing mystery of what lurks in her past as it clearly continues to haunt her. Maybe we’d all be over analytical too and find it hard to trust in the same circumstances? The relationship between Sam and Hannah is done well and as an outsider you can see there are faults on both sides.
A bonus for me is the appearance of a repeat character from previous books, that of DI Melanie Sanders and a brief appearance by Matthew Hill. These are very likeable characters and so I thoroughly enjoy their entry into the ever deepening and increasingly murky plot.
For a long time the author keeps you in suspense, you don’t understand the direction she’s taking us in but it definitely becomes very dark which is unexpected yet the signs are there they just misread!!! It becomes very sinister and there are some shocks in store.
I really like Teresa Driscoll‘s books, I’ve read most of them and this is one that keeps you invested in discovering the truth.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Hannah and Sam‘s marriage is in big trouble and so they decide to take a holiday at Owl Cottage in Cornwall in an attempt to put a sticking plaster over a large fracture. It’s more in the hope of a fresh start than in expectation. However, whilst the cottage is all they hope for a disturbing sequence of events occur which plunges Hannah back into the maelstrom of her past. This unresolved issue collides with the present in a manner Hannah could never have predicted.
Whilst I think this domestic psychological thriller starts somewhat slowly I do enjoy the way it builds and the pace definitely picks up. The location in Cornwall is really good and it’s used very effectively with everything from an odd vibe in the village with an unease that builds to quite sinister proportions. A sense of foreboding develops heightened by tension between the couple along with other disturbing signs.
The characterisation of Hannah is good although Sam is less well fleshed out. She’s definitely an over thinker and I find her rather exhausting at times! However, this does fit with the intriguing mystery of what lurks in her past as it clearly continues to haunt her. Maybe we’d all be over analytical too and find it hard to trust in the same circumstances? The relationship between Sam and Hannah is done well and as an outsider you can see there are faults on both sides.
A bonus for me is the appearance of a repeat character from previous books, that of DI Melanie Sanders and a brief appearance by Matthew Hill. These are very likeable characters and so I thoroughly enjoy their entry into the ever deepening and increasingly murky plot.
For a long time the author keeps you in suspense, you don’t understand the direction she’s taking us in but it definitely becomes very dark which is unexpected yet the signs are there they just misread!!! It becomes very sinister and there are some shocks in store.
I really like Teresa Driscoll‘s books, I’ve read most of them and this is one that keeps you invested in discovering the truth.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 16, 2023
EXCERPT: I think again of Bellagio. Beautiful Bellagio, where we were so very happy.
And I feel scared, too, because I really don't know what to do for the best. I know that I don't want to be this angry person anymore. I don't want the bad dreams from my childhood. And the new ones from all of this.
But I also don't want to break my daughter's innocent little heart.
ABOUT 'TELL ME LIES': From bestselling author Teresa Driscoll comes a chilling thriller of past secrets and present terror. Deep in a rural hideaway, it’s only the owls watching them…right?
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
MY THOUGHTS: Teresa Driscoll certainly knows how to ramp up the tension! I, Queen of cool, actually felt quite anxious about Hannah's fragile mental state.
The story is quite a slow burn, but it's worth the wait. The tension increases infinitesimally, until the level reaches a nails digging into the palms level.
I couldn't figure out who was intimidating and manipulating Hannah, or why. But when I thought that I might know, I was way off base. Waaaay off. I just love it when an author keeps me guessing and this author certainly did that. I'm just sorry three owlets were sacrificed for the storyline.
I did have a little trouble with how daughter, Lily, was portrayed. She seems very 'babyish' for an eight year old, more like a five to six year old.
Otherwise, a good solid domestic suspense from an author I admire.
Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll is due for publication 18th April, 2023.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#TellMeLies #NetGalley
I: @tkdriscoll_author @amazonpublishing
T: @TeresaDriscoll @Amazon Pub.
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #mystery #psychologicaldrama
THE AUTHOR:
I decided to be a writer at the tender age of ten, starting epic novels in school exercise books. By the sixth form, I rather fancied life in a garret but a careers teacher- evidently fearing my starvation- steered me towards journalism. A good call.
I moved into television journalism, but writing has always remained the passion so I kept up freelancing for magazines alongside my TV work. When I left the BBC in my forties I built up the magazine work - short stories and features - and also enjoyed some fun years as a columnist for a range of newspapers and magazines.
Meanwhile the longing to write a book never went away. I finished my first a decade back and was thrilled to be offered representation by four literary agents. I chose the most enthusiastic - and held my breath as the MS went on submission. Within three weeks we had a major publisher on the phone. I thought - this is too good to be true. Sadly it was!
Three months later there was a change of heart. The publisher decided it wasn't my "launch book" after all - while declaring that "Teresa will definitely make it as an author".
Thankfully that prediction proved to be correct....though it took rather longer than I expected.
During the long wait for a book deal, I have been lucky enough to earn my living as a writer always with particular success in the short story market - writing regularly for leading national titles. At times I had to take a break from writing books in order to fulfill other writing contracts. But I never gave up the dream.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
And I feel scared, too, because I really don't know what to do for the best. I know that I don't want to be this angry person anymore. I don't want the bad dreams from my childhood. And the new ones from all of this.
But I also don't want to break my daughter's innocent little heart.
ABOUT 'TELL ME LIES': From bestselling author Teresa Driscoll comes a chilling thriller of past secrets and present terror. Deep in a rural hideaway, it’s only the owls watching them…right?
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
MY THOUGHTS: Teresa Driscoll certainly knows how to ramp up the tension! I, Queen of cool, actually felt quite anxious about Hannah's fragile mental state.
The story is quite a slow burn, but it's worth the wait. The tension increases infinitesimally, until the level reaches a nails digging into the palms level.
I couldn't figure out who was intimidating and manipulating Hannah, or why. But when I thought that I might know, I was way off base. Waaaay off. I just love it when an author keeps me guessing and this author certainly did that. I'm just sorry three owlets were sacrificed for the storyline.
I did have a little trouble with how daughter, Lily, was portrayed. She seems very 'babyish' for an eight year old, more like a five to six year old.
Otherwise, a good solid domestic suspense from an author I admire.
Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll is due for publication 18th April, 2023.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#TellMeLies #NetGalley
I: @tkdriscoll_author @amazonpublishing
T: @TeresaDriscoll @Amazon Pub.
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #mystery #psychologicaldrama
THE AUTHOR:
I decided to be a writer at the tender age of ten, starting epic novels in school exercise books. By the sixth form, I rather fancied life in a garret but a careers teacher- evidently fearing my starvation- steered me towards journalism. A good call.
I moved into television journalism, but writing has always remained the passion so I kept up freelancing for magazines alongside my TV work. When I left the BBC in my forties I built up the magazine work - short stories and features - and also enjoyed some fun years as a columnist for a range of newspapers and magazines.
Meanwhile the longing to write a book never went away. I finished my first a decade back and was thrilled to be offered representation by four literary agents. I chose the most enthusiastic - and held my breath as the MS went on submission. Within three weeks we had a major publisher on the phone. I thought - this is too good to be true. Sadly it was!
Three months later there was a change of heart. The publisher decided it wasn't my "launch book" after all - while declaring that "Teresa will definitely make it as an author".
Thankfully that prediction proved to be correct....though it took rather longer than I expected.
During the long wait for a book deal, I have been lucky enough to earn my living as a writer always with particular success in the short story market - writing regularly for leading national titles. At times I had to take a break from writing books in order to fulfill other writing contracts. But I never gave up the dream.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
June 16, 2023
Dark and Disturbing!
🦉🦉🦉.5
“Tell Me Lies” is a twisted psychological thriller by Teresa Driscoll and it’s not my first read by the author. Several of her books have caught my attention with their flashy cover and compelling blurb.
I grabbed this one from Kindle Unlimited because the cover was exceptionally stunning! All of her books I’ve read have been solid and entertaining, but haven’t blown me away. She gets fantastic reviews from readers so something between the two of us doesn’t quite click. Don’t let my average review (I rated this 3.5 stars) sway you from trying her work. She’s definitely a very good writer!
#TellMeLies #TeresaDriscoll #kindleunlimited #ThomasMercer #psychologicalthriller #thriller #suspense #justfinished #honestreview #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #thrilleraddict #lovebooks #igreels
🦉🦉🦉.5
“Tell Me Lies” is a twisted psychological thriller by Teresa Driscoll and it’s not my first read by the author. Several of her books have caught my attention with their flashy cover and compelling blurb.
I grabbed this one from Kindle Unlimited because the cover was exceptionally stunning! All of her books I’ve read have been solid and entertaining, but haven’t blown me away. She gets fantastic reviews from readers so something between the two of us doesn’t quite click. Don’t let my average review (I rated this 3.5 stars) sway you from trying her work. She’s definitely a very good writer!
#TellMeLies #TeresaDriscoll #kindleunlimited #ThomasMercer #psychologicalthriller #thriller #suspense #justfinished #honestreview #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #thrilleraddict #lovebooks #igreels
April 20, 2023
Bestselling storyteller, Teresa Driscoll delivers a SPINE-CHILLING thriller, TELL ME LIES —where the past secrets and terror connect in this atmospheric mysterious Cornwall setting with creepy owls.
A lovely beautiful place can suddenly become threatening and scary.
It was all Hannah's idea— The Owl Cottage. She fell in love with it online, showing her daughter Lily. Of course, Lily says they look scary (I agree). But Hannah thinks they are wise, beautiful, and incredible. (that was before the week started).
She should never have brought her family here.
After a betrayal by Sam, Hannah thinks a getaway to rural Cornwall is what they need to jump-start their marriage and get it back on track with their eight-year-old daughter, Lily.
Starting from Day one at the Owl Cottage for a week, what lies ahead?
There are owls everywhere in the decor motif, and then dead owls, which stirs dark memories from Hannah's past. The little girl in her dreams. She does not want to remember.
From past to present, before and now —the counseling sessions. Sam's betrayal and what happened to Hannah as a child.
There are knocks on the door. Is someone messing with her, or is she losing her mind? Can she trust Sam?
In the past, Hannah the girl in the woods when she was only eight. A picnic with her father. Then stuck in the woods all night. The lovely writer. The man who wrote stories. He died in the forest with an undiagnosed heart condition.
Was there something she is missing? Will staying in the Owl Cottage trigger her memories that were wiped out from the past?
Who is after Hannah's trust fund?
From the dead owls, disturbing and mysterious noises—it leaks out to the locals, who get riled up about the outsiders on holiday. The police are called.
Lily has an imaginary friend, Katie. Hannah takes a fall. A power cut. There are so many emotions going on in Hannah's head—Love. Hate. Doubt. Belief. Stay. Go. Then there are the neighbors and the visitors.
CREEPY! Love this cover. The storyline flows between the narrative of Hannah, Sam, and Hannah's mother, Maud, who all give an insight into Hannah's life and why she is as she is today.
Those who have read the author's past books will enjoy cameo appearances from previous books.
The setting is the best part; even though claustrophobic and with a strong sense of foreboding, you keep turning the pages to find out what is happening.
Psychologically rich, packed with suspense, lies, secrets, tension, intrigue, horror, manipulation, evil, and betrayal to healing, love, and forgiveness—an intriguing story for those who enjoy emotionally dark mysteries. Not allowing the darkness to WIN.
It was well worth the slow burn to find out what really happened, the owners of the cottage, and what happened previously, wrapped up nicely in the epilogue.
I enjoyed reading the author's note about the cottage and the inspiration for the book. I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden for a chilling performance.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 18, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
April 2023 Must-Read Books
A lovely beautiful place can suddenly become threatening and scary.
It was all Hannah's idea— The Owl Cottage. She fell in love with it online, showing her daughter Lily. Of course, Lily says they look scary (I agree). But Hannah thinks they are wise, beautiful, and incredible. (that was before the week started).
She should never have brought her family here.
After a betrayal by Sam, Hannah thinks a getaway to rural Cornwall is what they need to jump-start their marriage and get it back on track with their eight-year-old daughter, Lily.
Starting from Day one at the Owl Cottage for a week, what lies ahead?
There are owls everywhere in the decor motif, and then dead owls, which stirs dark memories from Hannah's past. The little girl in her dreams. She does not want to remember.
From past to present, before and now —the counseling sessions. Sam's betrayal and what happened to Hannah as a child.
There are knocks on the door. Is someone messing with her, or is she losing her mind? Can she trust Sam?
In the past, Hannah the girl in the woods when she was only eight. A picnic with her father. Then stuck in the woods all night. The lovely writer. The man who wrote stories. He died in the forest with an undiagnosed heart condition.
Was there something she is missing? Will staying in the Owl Cottage trigger her memories that were wiped out from the past?
Who is after Hannah's trust fund?
From the dead owls, disturbing and mysterious noises—it leaks out to the locals, who get riled up about the outsiders on holiday. The police are called.
Lily has an imaginary friend, Katie. Hannah takes a fall. A power cut. There are so many emotions going on in Hannah's head—Love. Hate. Doubt. Belief. Stay. Go. Then there are the neighbors and the visitors.
CREEPY! Love this cover. The storyline flows between the narrative of Hannah, Sam, and Hannah's mother, Maud, who all give an insight into Hannah's life and why she is as she is today.
Those who have read the author's past books will enjoy cameo appearances from previous books.
The setting is the best part; even though claustrophobic and with a strong sense of foreboding, you keep turning the pages to find out what is happening.
Psychologically rich, packed with suspense, lies, secrets, tension, intrigue, horror, manipulation, evil, and betrayal to healing, love, and forgiveness—an intriguing story for those who enjoy emotionally dark mysteries. Not allowing the darkness to WIN.
It was well worth the slow burn to find out what really happened, the owners of the cottage, and what happened previously, wrapped up nicely in the epilogue.
I enjoyed reading the author's note about the cottage and the inspiration for the book. I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden for a chilling performance.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 18, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
April 2023 Must-Read Books
January 17, 2025
Hannah and Sam's marriage is in peril after he had an affair. They have tried counselling, so now they have decided on a holiday at Owl Cottage in Cornwall, in an attempt to try and fix their broken relationship. They have an eight year old daughter Lily.
When strange things start occurring at the tranquil cottage, Hannah is plunged into dark memories and she can not help but think someone is playing with her.
A great dark and disturbing thrilling read that will keep you hooked from the start.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
When strange things start occurring at the tranquil cottage, Hannah is plunged into dark memories and she can not help but think someone is playing with her.
A great dark and disturbing thrilling read that will keep you hooked from the start.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2023
* 4.5 stars *
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into free-fall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
Ohh, I just loved this! The whole book had a strong sense of foreboding right from the start to the climatic ending. An isolated setting, dead owls and a claustrophobic atmosphere - add in lies, secrets and manipulation and you have a winner!
Many thanks to @netgalley and Amazon publishing UK for an advanced reading copy.
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into free-fall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
Ohh, I just loved this! The whole book had a strong sense of foreboding right from the start to the climatic ending. An isolated setting, dead owls and a claustrophobic atmosphere - add in lies, secrets and manipulation and you have a winner!
Many thanks to @netgalley and Amazon publishing UK for an advanced reading copy.
November 10, 2022
Hannah and her husband Sam decide to go away on a holiday to Owl Cottage in Cornwall. Hannah has recently discovered that Sam has cheated on her with a coworker named Sophie, and she is hoping that time away for him with their 8 year old daughter Lily will ultimately help them reconnect. The problem is when they arrive, Hannah starts to hear strange noises and she falls down the stairs when the power is cut and a few dead owlets appear on their doorstep. Is Hannah losing her mind? Is her husband doing all of this or could it be someone else?
TELL ME LIES was another fantastic book by Teresa Driscoll. I have read all of her books and this one may be my new favorite. I loved the creepy isolated cabin and the past and present timelines. I don't want to say much more, but to enjoy TELL ME LIES and all the surprises that are in store for you. I really enjoyed the ending and how everything came together.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
TELL ME LIES was another fantastic book by Teresa Driscoll. I have read all of her books and this one may be my new favorite. I loved the creepy isolated cabin and the past and present timelines. I don't want to say much more, but to enjoy TELL ME LIES and all the surprises that are in store for you. I really enjoyed the ending and how everything came together.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
July 31, 2023
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily―and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her―or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
Another slow burner that hits you with twist after twist after twist. Driscoll is the queen of suspense and after reading this story you will find it hard to disagree.
Driscoll turns the mundane, sinister, leaving you with a constant feeling of paranoia and unease as you follow Hannah’s storyline and her nerve wracking endeavours to discover who has it out for it and what they want! A great, tense mystery that definitely delivered.
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her―or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
Another slow burner that hits you with twist after twist after twist. Driscoll is the queen of suspense and after reading this story you will find it hard to disagree.
Driscoll turns the mundane, sinister, leaving you with a constant feeling of paranoia and unease as you follow Hannah’s storyline and her nerve wracking endeavours to discover who has it out for it and what they want! A great, tense mystery that definitely delivered.
April 21, 2023
3,5 ⭐️
After an infidelity Hannah and Sam’s marriage is going through a rough patch, so they decide to go on vacation to a picturesque cottage in Cornwall, Owl Cottage, to make a decision about their marriage. But some disturbing events added to some deeper issues relating to her father’s death when she was a child will put a strain on Hannah’s mind. Is she losing her mind or can she really trust her husband?
Tell Me Lies is Teresa Driscoll’s sixth psychological thriller, with special emphasis on the psychological, as it reads like a deep study into Hannah’s character more than as a fast paced thriller.
The story begins a bit slowly but builds up nicely, picking up the pace once the police is involved, and creating a creepy foreboding atmosphere with plenty of uneasy vibes that go along perfectly with Hannah’s descent into insanity. Is she imagining things? Can she really trust her mind? Is her husband gaslighting her? She is really well characterized and her fragile mental state is depicted in a very realistic way, managing to great the author some real doubts around her character.
Hannah’s past will play an important role in the plot. Even though she can’t exactly remember that night, what happened in the woods when she was a kid has defined her whole life. Are her memories real or a product of her mind? The mystery surrounding her father’s death is alluded several times but, after such a strong build up, I was hoping for something a bit more shocking.
There were not a lot of characters in the story, so it was interesting to try to form a theory around them with the small nuggets of information we get along the way. The ending turned out to be simple (and I don’t mean that in a bad way) but unexpectedly dark, and I loved it. Some things I would not have predicted in a million years!
When I had lost hope DI Melanie Sanders and PI Matthew Hill would make an appearance, they were thrown straight into it. They had a role in the story too, though much smaller than I would have like. I’ve always liked their chemistry and I love reading about them.
Tell Me Lies was an interesting domestic suspense with a compelling psychological side. I’ve now read all Teresa Driscoll’s books, except her first one, and can say she really knows how to build the tension.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and @fmcmassociates for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
After an infidelity Hannah and Sam’s marriage is going through a rough patch, so they decide to go on vacation to a picturesque cottage in Cornwall, Owl Cottage, to make a decision about their marriage. But some disturbing events added to some deeper issues relating to her father’s death when she was a child will put a strain on Hannah’s mind. Is she losing her mind or can she really trust her husband?
Tell Me Lies is Teresa Driscoll’s sixth psychological thriller, with special emphasis on the psychological, as it reads like a deep study into Hannah’s character more than as a fast paced thriller.
The story begins a bit slowly but builds up nicely, picking up the pace once the police is involved, and creating a creepy foreboding atmosphere with plenty of uneasy vibes that go along perfectly with Hannah’s descent into insanity. Is she imagining things? Can she really trust her mind? Is her husband gaslighting her? She is really well characterized and her fragile mental state is depicted in a very realistic way, managing to great the author some real doubts around her character.
Hannah’s past will play an important role in the plot. Even though she can’t exactly remember that night, what happened in the woods when she was a kid has defined her whole life. Are her memories real or a product of her mind? The mystery surrounding her father’s death is alluded several times but, after such a strong build up, I was hoping for something a bit more shocking.
There were not a lot of characters in the story, so it was interesting to try to form a theory around them with the small nuggets of information we get along the way. The ending turned out to be simple (and I don’t mean that in a bad way) but unexpectedly dark, and I loved it. Some things I would not have predicted in a million years!
When I had lost hope DI Melanie Sanders and PI Matthew Hill would make an appearance, they were thrown straight into it. They had a role in the story too, though much smaller than I would have like. I’ve always liked their chemistry and I love reading about them.
Tell Me Lies was an interesting domestic suspense with a compelling psychological side. I’ve now read all Teresa Driscoll’s books, except her first one, and can say she really knows how to build the tension.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and @fmcmassociates for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2023
I read this book so that you don’t have to.
The pacing was painfully slow and so many plot lines and POVs were going on that nothing was really progressing until the very end. A lot of it felt like pointless filler.
There wasn’t a single likeable character in the story except the FMC’s mum, but the FMC was grating on my every nerve and was a completely unreliable narrator throughout the story, the daughter was 8 but acted more like a 6 year old, then other times like an 11 year old.
Although the adult characters are only 7 years older than I am, it feels like the target audience for the book is women in their 40s - 50s.
I didn’t like the multiple references to covid lockdowns either.
FULL SPOILERS AHEAD, you’ve been warned!
FMC - Hannah
Her husband - Sam
Their daughter - Lily
Their best couple friends - Amy and Adam
Sam cheated on Hannah with his colleague Sophie.
Which lead Hannah to kiss Adam, who is also cheating on Amy with his hairdresser Emily.
Hannah was traumatised as a child by the death of her father while they were alone in the woods, causing her mum to treat her with kid gloves for her entire life.
While Hannah, Sam and Lily were on vacay at a cabin they have a bunch of seemingly strange things happening, which we eventually find out was all Amy and Adam who secretly own the cabin that they’re staying at.
Amy, Adam and their son then crash the vacay and it’s a tense uncomfortable reunion.
The conclusion:
Adam raped Hannah and she felt such intense shame that she didn’t tell anyone, but when on vacay he tried to do it again so she killed him in self defence.
Sam finds out and admits that he had an affair with Amy not Sophie, who has been blackmailing him for Hannah’s trust fund and has been trying to force her to divorce Sam. So Sam tries to take the fall for Adam’s death, he wasn’t charged.
The couple separates for a few months, Hannah finally goes to therapy after her dads death and everything that happened that past year. She finally tells her mum the truth about her dads death (he had a heart attack but died slowly and had to comfort her while he died because she was too scared to go find help, the mum says it’s not her fault she was just a little girl)
Then Hannah decides she wants to build a new life together with Sam.
The pacing was painfully slow and so many plot lines and POVs were going on that nothing was really progressing until the very end. A lot of it felt like pointless filler.
There wasn’t a single likeable character in the story except the FMC’s mum, but the FMC was grating on my every nerve and was a completely unreliable narrator throughout the story, the daughter was 8 but acted more like a 6 year old, then other times like an 11 year old.
Although the adult characters are only 7 years older than I am, it feels like the target audience for the book is women in their 40s - 50s.
I didn’t like the multiple references to covid lockdowns either.
FULL SPOILERS AHEAD, you’ve been warned!
FMC - Hannah
Her husband - Sam
Their daughter - Lily
Their best couple friends - Amy and Adam
Sam cheated on Hannah with his colleague Sophie.
Which lead Hannah to kiss Adam, who is also cheating on Amy with his hairdresser Emily.
Hannah was traumatised as a child by the death of her father while they were alone in the woods, causing her mum to treat her with kid gloves for her entire life.
While Hannah, Sam and Lily were on vacay at a cabin they have a bunch of seemingly strange things happening, which we eventually find out was all Amy and Adam who secretly own the cabin that they’re staying at.
Amy, Adam and their son then crash the vacay and it’s a tense uncomfortable reunion.
The conclusion:
Adam raped Hannah and she felt such intense shame that she didn’t tell anyone, but when on vacay he tried to do it again so she killed him in self defence.
Sam finds out and admits that he had an affair with Amy not Sophie, who has been blackmailing him for Hannah’s trust fund and has been trying to force her to divorce Sam. So Sam tries to take the fall for Adam’s death, he wasn’t charged.
The couple separates for a few months, Hannah finally goes to therapy after her dads death and everything that happened that past year. She finally tells her mum the truth about her dads death (he had a heart attack but died slowly and had to comfort her while he died because she was too scared to go find help, the mum says it’s not her fault she was just a little girl)
Then Hannah decides she wants to build a new life together with Sam.
March 16, 2023
I've become quite a fan of Teresa Driscoll's books and was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Tell Me Lies. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced domestic thriller.
Hannah's past has kept her from forming a full and satisfying relationship with her husband but they were happy - until she learned he had an office fling. After months of counseling, they - along with their daughter - decide to rent a cottage in Cornwall where things go progressively from strained to bad to worse. With so many strange actors in Hannah's life it's difficult to decide who is good or bad or crazy or even if, perhaps, it's Hannah herself who needs help. When it everything comes to a bloody, crashing conclusion, what will remains will shock you.
Coming out in April '23, you won't want to miss Tell Me Lies.
Hannah's past has kept her from forming a full and satisfying relationship with her husband but they were happy - until she learned he had an office fling. After months of counseling, they - along with their daughter - decide to rent a cottage in Cornwall where things go progressively from strained to bad to worse. With so many strange actors in Hannah's life it's difficult to decide who is good or bad or crazy or even if, perhaps, it's Hannah herself who needs help. When it everything comes to a bloody, crashing conclusion, what will remains will shock you.
Coming out in April '23, you won't want to miss Tell Me Lies.
April 6, 2025
Loved it!! RTC!!
June 2, 2023
Is it ok to tell white lies?
My husband believes Louis Vuitton is a target brand . He is completely clueless when it comes to my shopping habits. Burberry? Um hellloooo it’s cheaper than Old Navy, don’t judge me .
And you ask how he doesn’t see the charges? I use PayPal which I pay our household bills from. This is pure evil isn’t it? So are the lies and deceit you will experience while reading this book .
There is nothing juicier than a synopsis that teases lies, deceit, secrets and domestic suspense .
This is one heck of a book and I promise you don’t want to miss it! Don’t believe me? See for yourself
Teaser :
From bestselling author Teresa Driscoll comes a chilling thriller of past secrets and present terror. Deep in a rural hideaway, it’s only the owls watching them…right?
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
My husband believes Louis Vuitton is a target brand . He is completely clueless when it comes to my shopping habits. Burberry? Um hellloooo it’s cheaper than Old Navy, don’t judge me .
And you ask how he doesn’t see the charges? I use PayPal which I pay our household bills from. This is pure evil isn’t it? So are the lies and deceit you will experience while reading this book .
There is nothing juicier than a synopsis that teases lies, deceit, secrets and domestic suspense .
This is one heck of a book and I promise you don’t want to miss it! Don’t believe me? See for yourself
Teaser :
From bestselling author Teresa Driscoll comes a chilling thriller of past secrets and present terror. Deep in a rural hideaway, it’s only the owls watching them…right?
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
April 11, 2023
"Tell Me Lies" by Teresa Driscoll is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
One of the aspects that I particularly enjoyed about "Tell Me Lies" is the way in which Driscoll developed her characters. Hannah is a complex and relatable protagonist, whose motivations and actions kept me engaged throughout the story. Similarly, the supporting characters are well-drawn and add depth to the overall narrative.
The twist in the story was unpredictable for me and completely caught me off guard. Driscoll's ability to build tension and suspense throughout the novel is so good and the final reveal was both surprising and satisfying.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed "Tell Me Lies" and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller. I am eager to read more books by Teresa Driscoll in the future, and can see why she is a highly sought out author in the genre.
4.5 stars
One of the aspects that I particularly enjoyed about "Tell Me Lies" is the way in which Driscoll developed her characters. Hannah is a complex and relatable protagonist, whose motivations and actions kept me engaged throughout the story. Similarly, the supporting characters are well-drawn and add depth to the overall narrative.
The twist in the story was unpredictable for me and completely caught me off guard. Driscoll's ability to build tension and suspense throughout the novel is so good and the final reveal was both surprising and satisfying.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed "Tell Me Lies" and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller. I am eager to read more books by Teresa Driscoll in the future, and can see why she is a highly sought out author in the genre.
4.5 stars
October 31, 2025
Tell me Lies mutet, wie auch die Autorin selbst in ihren Anmerkungen schreibt, den einzelnen Charakteren psychisch einiges zu. Insbesondere die Hauptfigur, Hannah muss einiges erleiden während ihres Aufenhalts in einem beschaulichen Cottage. Ihrer Familie passieren viele merkwürdige Dinge und der Leser fragt sich lange, was da wohl dahintersteckt. Ein Geist, der die Familie verfolgt? Nachbarn die gegen Vermieterfirmen etwas haben? Die insulinbedürftige Nachbarin?
Was am Anfang echt spannend ist, zieht sich allerdings im Mittelteil sehr in die Länge. Es passieren immer mehr merkwürde Dinge, neue Personen werden ins Spiel gebracht und irgendwann denkt sich der Leser: Was soll denn noch alles passieren? Der Spannungsbogen wird immer stärker aufgebaut und leider ist der Plottwist des Buches dann für den Aufbau sehr schwach. Er ist sogar so schwach, dass die sehr blass wirkende ermittelnde Polizistin, die es zudem rückblickend auch nicht gebraucht hätte, den Plottwist in einer Nachbesprechung noch einmal erklären muss. Hier wäre wesentlich mehr drin gewesen. Viele Punkte, die Afantasie, die Erlebnisse in der Kindheit, die Sache mit der imaginären Freundin spielen für die Auflösung keine Rolle. Schwierig finde ich zudem die Beurteilung des Ehemanns auch nach der Auflösung. Meiner Meinung nach wird zu wenig dargestellt, dass er ebenfalls Opfer der Täter geworden ist.
Ich hatte lange keinen Thriller mehr, bei dem ich so lange gebraucht habe zum Lesen. An vielen Stellen hat es sich leider sehr gezogen. Vielleicht hat mich deshalb das Ende so enttäuscht. Insgesamt ein solider aber nicht überdurchschnittlich zu bewertender Thriller.
Was am Anfang echt spannend ist, zieht sich allerdings im Mittelteil sehr in die Länge. Es passieren immer mehr merkwürde Dinge, neue Personen werden ins Spiel gebracht und irgendwann denkt sich der Leser: Was soll denn noch alles passieren? Der Spannungsbogen wird immer stärker aufgebaut und leider ist der Plottwist des Buches dann für den Aufbau sehr schwach. Er ist sogar so schwach, dass die sehr blass wirkende ermittelnde Polizistin, die es zudem rückblickend auch nicht gebraucht hätte, den Plottwist in einer Nachbesprechung noch einmal erklären muss. Hier wäre wesentlich mehr drin gewesen. Viele Punkte, die Afantasie, die Erlebnisse in der Kindheit, die Sache mit der imaginären Freundin spielen für die Auflösung keine Rolle. Schwierig finde ich zudem die Beurteilung des Ehemanns auch nach der Auflösung. Meiner Meinung nach wird zu wenig dargestellt, dass er ebenfalls Opfer der Täter geworden ist.
Ich hatte lange keinen Thriller mehr, bei dem ich so lange gebraucht habe zum Lesen. An vielen Stellen hat es sich leider sehr gezogen. Vielleicht hat mich deshalb das Ende so enttäuscht. Insgesamt ein solider aber nicht überdurchschnittlich zu bewertender Thriller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2023
Tell Me Lies ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After a major betrayal Hannah and Sam’s marriage is on the rocks, so they decide to get away from it all to the idyllic Owl Cottage in Cornwall along with their daughter Lily.
However their fragile relationship is not helped by some strange occurrences at the house, along with memories of Hannah’s traumatic past coming back to haunt her.
This was a brilliant page turner of a thriller and I flew through the short chapters in no time. The writing is sharp and although it is mostly told through the eyes of our unreliable narrator Hannah I enjoyed the other POV too, especially the introduction of Melanie Sanders who I think may feature in some of her other books
I’ve read and enjoyed her other books too but would say this is the one that has secured her place on my auto read list! This would be the perfect book to take along on a weekend staycation as you could easily fly through it in a couple of days.
After a major betrayal Hannah and Sam’s marriage is on the rocks, so they decide to get away from it all to the idyllic Owl Cottage in Cornwall along with their daughter Lily.
However their fragile relationship is not helped by some strange occurrences at the house, along with memories of Hannah’s traumatic past coming back to haunt her.
This was a brilliant page turner of a thriller and I flew through the short chapters in no time. The writing is sharp and although it is mostly told through the eyes of our unreliable narrator Hannah I enjoyed the other POV too, especially the introduction of Melanie Sanders who I think may feature in some of her other books
I’ve read and enjoyed her other books too but would say this is the one that has secured her place on my auto read list! This would be the perfect book to take along on a weekend staycation as you could easily fly through it in a couple of days.
July 9, 2023
Book Review: Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll
Published by Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer, April 18, 2023
★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)
I've heard a lot about British mystery writer Teresa Driscoll but had never previously read her books.
When I first opened "Tell Me Lies", I thought , no, I'm not the audience for this suspense thriller.
Presented in the first person, Author Teresa Driscoll portrays a wife's fawning reportage to her husband, almost as though in a confessional. And, alternatively, in third person omniscient, the story from the perspective of the husband.
Then, as "that" horrible twist unfolds, I understand, feel utterly enlightened how the author's writing style for this novel perfectly fits the gripping finale.
And quite cleverly so!
- - - - -
// "Tell Me Lies" by Teresa Driscoll (2023) //
"Owl Cottage"
Cornwall, West Country, England
Hannah's a trust fund baby. Resolutely romantic so as to forego a prenup with the man she loves.
Against everyone's advice.
Sam's a lawyer. Who turns out to be an unfaithful spouse, caught cheating.
If they divorce, he gets a windfall. Half of the couple's conjugal property.
They have a sweet little girl named Lily.
So Hannah and Sam try to reconcile.
The marriage counselor suggests a family vacation trip.
And they find an idyllic place. In Cornwall.
The first vacation lie comes promptly. On Day One. Dead owlets on their doorstep.
Then she hears him whispering on the phone in the next room, unbeknownst to himself.
"...I don't have access to the trust fund..."
The stage is set.
Seven days in historical, quiet, scenic West Country. Of secrets and deceit.
Utter terror. And death.
And no. It's not what you think....!
---------
Thoroughly enjoyable, well-written psychological "English cottage" mystery thriller of the first order.
Review based on an advance reading copy courtesy of Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.
Published by Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer, April 18, 2023
★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)
I've heard a lot about British mystery writer Teresa Driscoll but had never previously read her books.
When I first opened "Tell Me Lies", I thought , no, I'm not the audience for this suspense thriller.
Presented in the first person, Author Teresa Driscoll portrays a wife's fawning reportage to her husband, almost as though in a confessional. And, alternatively, in third person omniscient, the story from the perspective of the husband.
Then, as "that" horrible twist unfolds, I understand, feel utterly enlightened how the author's writing style for this novel perfectly fits the gripping finale.
And quite cleverly so!
- - - - -
// "Tell Me Lies" by Teresa Driscoll (2023) //
"Owl Cottage"
Cornwall, West Country, England
Hannah's a trust fund baby. Resolutely romantic so as to forego a prenup with the man she loves.
Against everyone's advice.
Sam's a lawyer. Who turns out to be an unfaithful spouse, caught cheating.
If they divorce, he gets a windfall. Half of the couple's conjugal property.
They have a sweet little girl named Lily.
So Hannah and Sam try to reconcile.
The marriage counselor suggests a family vacation trip.
And they find an idyllic place. In Cornwall.
The first vacation lie comes promptly. On Day One. Dead owlets on their doorstep.
Then she hears him whispering on the phone in the next room, unbeknownst to himself.
"...I don't have access to the trust fund..."
The stage is set.
Seven days in historical, quiet, scenic West Country. Of secrets and deceit.
Utter terror. And death.
And no. It's not what you think....!
---------
Thoroughly enjoyable, well-written psychological "English cottage" mystery thriller of the first order.
Review based on an advance reading copy courtesy of Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.
April 2, 2023
This is a great read but a bit of a slow burner.
It took me a while to get into this book but it’s worth sticking with it for the gripping conclusion.
Hannah and Sam are trying to save their marriage so take their daughter away to a beautiful cottage in Cornwall.
Strange things start to happen and Hannah soon becomes anxious and memories from her past start to haunt her.
With the death of a neighbour the Police are called and Hannah is keen to speak to them about the strange goings on in their cottage.
I won’t say anymore as it will spoil it, but I really enjoyed this book once I got into it.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
It took me a while to get into this book but it’s worth sticking with it for the gripping conclusion.
Hannah and Sam are trying to save their marriage so take their daughter away to a beautiful cottage in Cornwall.
Strange things start to happen and Hannah soon becomes anxious and memories from her past start to haunt her.
With the death of a neighbour the Police are called and Hannah is keen to speak to them about the strange goings on in their cottage.
I won’t say anymore as it will spoil it, but I really enjoyed this book once I got into it.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
October 30, 2022
How have I never read any of this author’s previous books?! I will definitely be going back to check them all out after thoroughly enjoying this intriguing psychological thriller. It was perfectly paced, and kept me thinking and guessing the entire time, I could not put it down. Highly recommend! 9.25/10.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read
April 19, 2023Prologue opens 7 days after Hannah, Sam and Lily enter Owl Cottage, a picture perfect holiday home in Cornwall. Where they have gone to have a fresh start. But what happened in that week for them to end up where they are?
Hannah and Sam are going through a rough patch. So they decide to go to Owl Cottage for a fresh start. Lily is their daughter.
Maud, Hannahs mum is always worrying about Hannah, because of her childhood. Hannah was known as the Girl in The Woods. She was found holding on to her dead father. But what exactly happened in those woods?
Lots of strange things start to happen in Owl Cottage. With Hannah being an unreliable character, she is taking medication for certain ailments. It gives us the reader that sense of what to believe, which I really enjoy in a book. I'm always questioning and double checking.
Now when Amy and Sam turn up on the holiday. This is when the flood gates of secrets opens up. Teresa Driscoll uses the great technique of short sharp chapters which is perfect for a "just one more chapter" read. With a past and present narrative we find ourselves piecing together information.
I really enjoyed Tell Me Lies, it had all the elements that I enjoy in a thriller.
Hannah and Sam are going through a rough patch. So they decide to go to Owl Cottage for a fresh start. Lily is their daughter.
Maud, Hannahs mum is always worrying about Hannah, because of her childhood. Hannah was known as the Girl in The Woods. She was found holding on to her dead father. But what exactly happened in those woods?
Lots of strange things start to happen in Owl Cottage. With Hannah being an unreliable character, she is taking medication for certain ailments. It gives us the reader that sense of what to believe, which I really enjoy in a book. I'm always questioning and double checking.
Now when Amy and Sam turn up on the holiday. This is when the flood gates of secrets opens up. Teresa Driscoll uses the great technique of short sharp chapters which is perfect for a "just one more chapter" read. With a past and present narrative we find ourselves piecing together information.
I really enjoyed Tell Me Lies, it had all the elements that I enjoy in a thriller.
September 4, 2023
It was fine…the writing was fine. The characters were fine. I skipped almost 90 pages because I was bored and missed nothing. The who-done-it aspect was fine but predictable. There were a few chapters set in the past and I don’t feel like they added anything to the story.
June 4, 2023
This was a lot better when you get 3/4 in it. If you hang on, it will be a good read.
April 18, 2023
This book is predominantly told from Hannah’s point of view. She is married to Sam and together they have a daughter, Lily, who is eight.
Hannah is finding things difficult at the moment, as her husband cheated on her. When she found out, he suggested counselling and she agreed, but she had her reservations about it. Now, the couple and their daughter are heading out on a much needed break to Cornwall to stay at the Owl Cottage. Hannah has always loved owls and she thinks it will be a perfect place for their holiday, secluded from others, focusing on their family.
However, soon things aren’t what they seem. Hannah hears someone knocking at the door and when she goes to open it, there is no one there. Then, someone starts to leave dead owlets and Lily’s rag doll is torn to pieces. Moreover, Lily seems to have an imaginary friend. Sam dismisses Hannah’s concerns saying it is normal to have imaginary friends, that it was the cat hunting the owlets and the knocking is just children playing pranks. But is there something more sinister going on?
Then, things take a worse turn, as Hannah has an accident and falls down the stairs… What is happening?
Ooh, I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. I would describe it as a slow burner but with a rocket exploding at the end. I liked how the information about Hannah and her past was almost drip fed, drop by drop, until we discovered the truth. I was suspecting everyone of being behind the knocking, dead owlets, and the toys. At one point I was even questioning whether Lily’s imaginary friend was a ghost!
I am a big fan of Teresa’s writing and this book didn’t disappoint.
Hannah is finding things difficult at the moment, as her husband cheated on her. When she found out, he suggested counselling and she agreed, but she had her reservations about it. Now, the couple and their daughter are heading out on a much needed break to Cornwall to stay at the Owl Cottage. Hannah has always loved owls and she thinks it will be a perfect place for their holiday, secluded from others, focusing on their family.
However, soon things aren’t what they seem. Hannah hears someone knocking at the door and when she goes to open it, there is no one there. Then, someone starts to leave dead owlets and Lily’s rag doll is torn to pieces. Moreover, Lily seems to have an imaginary friend. Sam dismisses Hannah’s concerns saying it is normal to have imaginary friends, that it was the cat hunting the owlets and the knocking is just children playing pranks. But is there something more sinister going on?
Then, things take a worse turn, as Hannah has an accident and falls down the stairs… What is happening?
Ooh, I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. I would describe it as a slow burner but with a rocket exploding at the end. I liked how the information about Hannah and her past was almost drip fed, drop by drop, until we discovered the truth. I was suspecting everyone of being behind the knocking, dead owlets, and the toys. At one point I was even questioning whether Lily’s imaginary friend was a ghost!
I am a big fan of Teresa’s writing and this book didn’t disappoint.
April 18, 2023
I have been a fan on Teresa’s since reading her first psychological thriller, I Am Watching You.
In this book we meet Sam and Hannah who are having marital problems since his affair. To try to move forward they have booked a holiday at the remote Owl Cottage in Cornwall with their young daughter.
But this holiday is not what they had in mind. Strange things start happening. Dead owlets appear on the inside door mat overnight. Their daughter starts talking to an invisible friend. A treasured toy turns up which Hannah is certain she left at home.
Is Hannah losing her grip on reality? Is she having withdrawal symptoms from the antidepressants she suddenly stopped taking?
Hannah’s best friend Amy and her husband turn up at the cottage uninvited as Amy is worried about Hannah. But who can Hannah trust?
We are taken back to her childhood where Hannah’s father died in the middle of a forest, having taken Hannah for a picnic, leaving her hugging his body until they were found. This has understandably left her emotionally scarred, and needing to rely heavily on her mother for support. A mother who constantly worries about her daughter’s state of mind. They have a strong bond which was lovely to read.
Will Hannah and Sam find their way back to each other?
An addictive thriller which kept me turning the pages as the tension builds to reveal a shocking ending I did not see coming at all!
In this book we meet Sam and Hannah who are having marital problems since his affair. To try to move forward they have booked a holiday at the remote Owl Cottage in Cornwall with their young daughter.
But this holiday is not what they had in mind. Strange things start happening. Dead owlets appear on the inside door mat overnight. Their daughter starts talking to an invisible friend. A treasured toy turns up which Hannah is certain she left at home.
Is Hannah losing her grip on reality? Is she having withdrawal symptoms from the antidepressants she suddenly stopped taking?
Hannah’s best friend Amy and her husband turn up at the cottage uninvited as Amy is worried about Hannah. But who can Hannah trust?
We are taken back to her childhood where Hannah’s father died in the middle of a forest, having taken Hannah for a picnic, leaving her hugging his body until they were found. This has understandably left her emotionally scarred, and needing to rely heavily on her mother for support. A mother who constantly worries about her daughter’s state of mind. They have a strong bond which was lovely to read.
Will Hannah and Sam find their way back to each other?
An addictive thriller which kept me turning the pages as the tension builds to reveal a shocking ending I did not see coming at all!
May 10, 2023
pretty dang good. I got this with the Goodreads giveaway, and it was well written. Few grammatical errors and spelling errors, but the story line was top tier. Highly recommend.
November 1, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read Teresa's most well known novel 'I am watching you' last month and while I was not blown away with it I enjoyed the writing style and multiple storylines. So when I opportunity to read 'Tell me lies' came up I jumped at it.
I read this book V quickly, it definitely fall into the page turner category, addictive and thrilling. The perfect book to get someone out of a reading slump, I always pick up a thriller when I am not feeling excited about anything I am reading.
SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD
So let's get into it. This story centers around married-on-the-rocks couple Hannah and Sam (they also have a daughter Lily) So Sam has recently cheated and after counselling they decide on a trip to owl cottage to make some new memories. Initially I was confused, was I reading the haunting of owl cottage or tell me lies :') there are some spooky goings on which lead the reader in a different direction, honestly was this going poltergeist. Lights going out on their own accord, dead owls appearing in the house and childhood dolls turning up and being destroyed. This all became sort of background noise as the story became more sinister and dark and of course all was revealed at the end, I was pretty impressed with how this was all brought together actually.
I want to talk a little bit more about the characters. .So Maude is Hannah's mum and I personally felt like her story line and the past of Hannah's mysterious fathers death felt like coals tossed into the fire to confuse the reader. It felt a little unnecessary to me and I don't think we would have lost anything without Maude's character input at all. Sam as a character is purposefully blank, we get very little backstory on him or his personality so we can draw any sinister conclusions we wish when he starts asking for money from Hannah's trust fund. All we know about Sam is he is a cheater, this is done with intent though and I thought it was well thought out.
I had a few minor annoyances. I'm sorry but who calls their daughter 'lovely'? when she is 8 years old :') There was about 15 references to the PanyD which also felt like Teresa was trying to be relevant, we know it happened, it wasn't a part of a story line so I don't think it had to be mentioned quite so much. And one thing that I didn't like, In Hannah's chapters she is writing like she is writing to Sam, so she would say something like 'I had an apple and so did you' 'you never find me interesting' etc. this was a little confusing at times and I'm not sure why the writer chose to do that.
Overall I enjoyed it very much and I would recommend for those interested in Thrillers such as girl on the train, the silent patient etc.
I read Teresa's most well known novel 'I am watching you' last month and while I was not blown away with it I enjoyed the writing style and multiple storylines. So when I opportunity to read 'Tell me lies' came up I jumped at it.
I read this book V quickly, it definitely fall into the page turner category, addictive and thrilling. The perfect book to get someone out of a reading slump, I always pick up a thriller when I am not feeling excited about anything I am reading.
SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD
So let's get into it. This story centers around married-on-the-rocks couple Hannah and Sam (they also have a daughter Lily) So Sam has recently cheated and after counselling they decide on a trip to owl cottage to make some new memories. Initially I was confused, was I reading the haunting of owl cottage or tell me lies :') there are some spooky goings on which lead the reader in a different direction, honestly was this going poltergeist. Lights going out on their own accord, dead owls appearing in the house and childhood dolls turning up and being destroyed. This all became sort of background noise as the story became more sinister and dark and of course all was revealed at the end, I was pretty impressed with how this was all brought together actually.
I want to talk a little bit more about the characters. .So Maude is Hannah's mum and I personally felt like her story line and the past of Hannah's mysterious fathers death felt like coals tossed into the fire to confuse the reader. It felt a little unnecessary to me and I don't think we would have lost anything without Maude's character input at all. Sam as a character is purposefully blank, we get very little backstory on him or his personality so we can draw any sinister conclusions we wish when he starts asking for money from Hannah's trust fund. All we know about Sam is he is a cheater, this is done with intent though and I thought it was well thought out.
I had a few minor annoyances. I'm sorry but who calls their daughter 'lovely'? when she is 8 years old :') There was about 15 references to the PanyD which also felt like Teresa was trying to be relevant, we know it happened, it wasn't a part of a story line so I don't think it had to be mentioned quite so much. And one thing that I didn't like, In Hannah's chapters she is writing like she is writing to Sam, so she would say something like 'I had an apple and so did you' 'you never find me interesting' etc. this was a little confusing at times and I'm not sure why the writer chose to do that.
Overall I enjoyed it very much and I would recommend for those interested in Thrillers such as girl on the train, the silent patient etc.
May 1, 2023
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Two couples. Four good friends. What could possibly go wrong?
Now THIS is what I call a psychological thriller. Something that messes with your mind. Makes you believe in things that may or may not be there. Has you imagining all sorts. Dreams; nightmares...are they memories? Or is someone playing with your mind? TELL ME LIES is the fifth thriller by Teresa Driscoll I have read and it has reminded me why I enjoy them so much. Not only does she play at gaslighting us (just a little, maybe) but she brings back two of her characters that have featured in at least three other books of hers I've read - "I Am Watching You" , "The Promise" and "I Will Make You Pay" . I certainly hope they continue to pop up in future thrillers.
Hannah's past has kept her from maintaining fulfilling relationships until she met her husband Sam and he swept her off her feet with a heartwarming trip to Bellagio in which he wanted to give her new memories to help overcome the old. She never thought she would ever find happiness, never thought herself deserving. To everyone else, she had always been "the girl from the woods" and ever since she was a little girl she has tried to put that traumatic part of her life behind her. Unfortunately, her past seems intent on catching up with her, haunting her at every turn in nightmarish dreams almost every night. At least with Sam she knew she was safe and they were happy...until he betrayed her.
Now months later, after intense counselling and the promise of a fresh start, Hannah and Sam decide to take a holiday to picturesque Owl Cottage in Cornwall with their 8 year old daughter Lily. It is their greatest hope that this time away will help them to reconnect and find their way back to each other.
As soon as they arrive, Hannah is overcome with the beauty of the place and the owls dotted all over the cottage. She tries sharing her excitement with Lily but her daughter finds the birds' eyes scary. Hannah, though, has always found solace in them. The cottage is as remote as it gets with only one neighbour and a secluded beach that is just a stone's throw away. Almost at once, Hannah begins to feel at ease here and relaxes into the hope that this is just the fresh start that she and Sam need.
But then strange things start happening from their first night with Hannah waking to a dead owlet (baby owl) on the mat and a knocking on the door only to reveal no one is there. Lily, already spooked by the owls surrounding them, is frightened and begs for a night light to remain on. And then when the lights go out one night as she begins to descend the stairs, Hannah falls resulting in a bad sprain and her foot having to be strapped in a boot for the duration...thus making holiday trekking impossible.
And just when things couldn't get any more tense, friends Amy and Adam turn up unannounced for a surprise visit. Hannah has felt increasingly uncomfortable with Amy after the arguement they had before she and Sam left for their holiday. And she certainly didn't want to go over old ground...not when she and Sam were working on putting the past behind them and moving forward. But Amy has more news to impart regarding Sam's betrayal that she feels Hannah has a right to know. And once the thought takes hold...
Maybe Sam is behind the disturbing events trying to frighten Hannah...but then why would he? Still, there is no one else around for miles but them so it could really only be Sam. Maybe his affair is ongoing and he wants rid of her to be with his mistress, gain access to her trust fund and be set up for life. But is she just seeing problems that aren't really there? But someone is doing this. She can't be imagining it, surely? Is she? Is Hannah losing her mind or is someone doing it for her?
I thoroughly enjoyed TELL ME LIES. It was the perfect reminder why I love Teresa Driscoll's thrillers so much and leaves me questioning why I have taken so long in picking up another? I was delighted with the reappearance of DI Melanie Sanders and Matthew Hill, who I first met in "I Am Watching You" closely followed by "The Promise" and then "I Will Make You Pay" . It's refreshing to have recurring characters in stories that aren't actually part of a series. I certainly hope they continue to pop up in the future.
TELL ME LIES is a psychological thriller with atmospheric proportions. Cornwall is the perfect setting for a such a thriller and is one of my favourite settings for such tales. There is a sense of foreboding throughout the entire book that something sinister is afoot. The story becomes quite dark with a few unexpected twists along the way. This book serves as the perfect reminder that I must dig out Driscoll's other thrillers I have yet to read and add them to my TBR pile that is bound to overtake me one day.
Overall, addictive and compelling reading that will have you turning the pages until you figure out just who or what is behind the sinister happenings at Owl Cottage...or if it really is all in Hannah's mind?
I would like to thank #TeresaDriscoll, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TellMeLies in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Two couples. Four good friends. What could possibly go wrong?
Now THIS is what I call a psychological thriller. Something that messes with your mind. Makes you believe in things that may or may not be there. Has you imagining all sorts. Dreams; nightmares...are they memories? Or is someone playing with your mind? TELL ME LIES is the fifth thriller by Teresa Driscoll I have read and it has reminded me why I enjoy them so much. Not only does she play at gaslighting us (just a little, maybe) but she brings back two of her characters that have featured in at least three other books of hers I've read - "I Am Watching You" , "The Promise" and "I Will Make You Pay" . I certainly hope they continue to pop up in future thrillers.
Hannah's past has kept her from maintaining fulfilling relationships until she met her husband Sam and he swept her off her feet with a heartwarming trip to Bellagio in which he wanted to give her new memories to help overcome the old. She never thought she would ever find happiness, never thought herself deserving. To everyone else, she had always been "the girl from the woods" and ever since she was a little girl she has tried to put that traumatic part of her life behind her. Unfortunately, her past seems intent on catching up with her, haunting her at every turn in nightmarish dreams almost every night. At least with Sam she knew she was safe and they were happy...until he betrayed her.
Now months later, after intense counselling and the promise of a fresh start, Hannah and Sam decide to take a holiday to picturesque Owl Cottage in Cornwall with their 8 year old daughter Lily. It is their greatest hope that this time away will help them to reconnect and find their way back to each other.
As soon as they arrive, Hannah is overcome with the beauty of the place and the owls dotted all over the cottage. She tries sharing her excitement with Lily but her daughter finds the birds' eyes scary. Hannah, though, has always found solace in them. The cottage is as remote as it gets with only one neighbour and a secluded beach that is just a stone's throw away. Almost at once, Hannah begins to feel at ease here and relaxes into the hope that this is just the fresh start that she and Sam need.
But then strange things start happening from their first night with Hannah waking to a dead owlet (baby owl) on the mat and a knocking on the door only to reveal no one is there. Lily, already spooked by the owls surrounding them, is frightened and begs for a night light to remain on. And then when the lights go out one night as she begins to descend the stairs, Hannah falls resulting in a bad sprain and her foot having to be strapped in a boot for the duration...thus making holiday trekking impossible.
And just when things couldn't get any more tense, friends Amy and Adam turn up unannounced for a surprise visit. Hannah has felt increasingly uncomfortable with Amy after the arguement they had before she and Sam left for their holiday. And she certainly didn't want to go over old ground...not when she and Sam were working on putting the past behind them and moving forward. But Amy has more news to impart regarding Sam's betrayal that she feels Hannah has a right to know. And once the thought takes hold...
Maybe Sam is behind the disturbing events trying to frighten Hannah...but then why would he? Still, there is no one else around for miles but them so it could really only be Sam. Maybe his affair is ongoing and he wants rid of her to be with his mistress, gain access to her trust fund and be set up for life. But is she just seeing problems that aren't really there? But someone is doing this. She can't be imagining it, surely? Is she? Is Hannah losing her mind or is someone doing it for her?
I thoroughly enjoyed TELL ME LIES. It was the perfect reminder why I love Teresa Driscoll's thrillers so much and leaves me questioning why I have taken so long in picking up another? I was delighted with the reappearance of DI Melanie Sanders and Matthew Hill, who I first met in "I Am Watching You" closely followed by "The Promise" and then "I Will Make You Pay" . It's refreshing to have recurring characters in stories that aren't actually part of a series. I certainly hope they continue to pop up in the future.
TELL ME LIES is a psychological thriller with atmospheric proportions. Cornwall is the perfect setting for a such a thriller and is one of my favourite settings for such tales. There is a sense of foreboding throughout the entire book that something sinister is afoot. The story becomes quite dark with a few unexpected twists along the way. This book serves as the perfect reminder that I must dig out Driscoll's other thrillers I have yet to read and add them to my TBR pile that is bound to overtake me one day.
Overall, addictive and compelling reading that will have you turning the pages until you figure out just who or what is behind the sinister happenings at Owl Cottage...or if it really is all in Hannah's mind?
I would like to thank #TeresaDriscoll, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TellMeLies in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 21, 2023
For me, the litmus test of a great mystery/thriller is when a five-day buddy read turns into a 100-meter sprint, with everyone abandoning the schedule and haring through the book like Usain Bolt pursuing gold. Such was the effect of Teresa Driscoll’s latest nail biter on our little group. And like the Olympic champ, we left scorched earth in our wake.
Tell Me Lies is the story of Hannah and Sam, who set off to Owl Cottage in Cornwall with their young daughter Lily in a last-ditch attempt to save their marriage after a horrible betrayal. It quickly transpires, though, that it is not the idyll they hoped it to be, as all manner of mysterious goings on — including a suspicious death — threaten to tip an already rattled Hannah over the edge.
It’s hard to describe what a compulsive read this is, propelled along by short, punchy chapters, each ending on a tempting cliffhanger that makes you want to read just one more. I’m a sucker, too, for an unreliable narrator, and Helen — still struggling with childhood trauma — is increasingly so. I couldn’t decide whether she was losing her mind, or if someone (Sam?) was pulling her strings.
Driscoll does a masterful job of building tension and pace. The atmosphere has a deliciously dark feel to it; spooky even, with a teasing hint of the paranormal. There’s a string of events with no rational explanation: knocks on the door by an invisible hand; dead owlets left inside a locked house; Lily’s doll ripped apart.
Right up until the closing chapters, I had no idea what was going on, or how things could possibly be resolved. But I should know by now not to doubt Driscoll’s fiendishly clever mind. Of course, she ingeniously slots all the pieces into place, and what’s more, without the merest hint of implausibility.
A relentlessly gripping, sharply plotted, page-turner of a read. Running shoes recommended.
Tell Me Lies is the story of Hannah and Sam, who set off to Owl Cottage in Cornwall with their young daughter Lily in a last-ditch attempt to save their marriage after a horrible betrayal. It quickly transpires, though, that it is not the idyll they hoped it to be, as all manner of mysterious goings on — including a suspicious death — threaten to tip an already rattled Hannah over the edge.
It’s hard to describe what a compulsive read this is, propelled along by short, punchy chapters, each ending on a tempting cliffhanger that makes you want to read just one more. I’m a sucker, too, for an unreliable narrator, and Helen — still struggling with childhood trauma — is increasingly so. I couldn’t decide whether she was losing her mind, or if someone (Sam?) was pulling her strings.
Driscoll does a masterful job of building tension and pace. The atmosphere has a deliciously dark feel to it; spooky even, with a teasing hint of the paranormal. There’s a string of events with no rational explanation: knocks on the door by an invisible hand; dead owlets left inside a locked house; Lily’s doll ripped apart.
Right up until the closing chapters, I had no idea what was going on, or how things could possibly be resolved. But I should know by now not to doubt Driscoll’s fiendishly clever mind. Of course, she ingeniously slots all the pieces into place, and what’s more, without the merest hint of implausibility.
A relentlessly gripping, sharply plotted, page-turner of a read. Running shoes recommended.
September 6, 2025
I tore through Tell Me Lies in almost one sitting..it pulled me in so fast it was hard to catch my breath. It’s exactly the kind of psychological thriller I love, where the main character knows something’s terribly off…but we’re left in the dark while she slowly tells us or in this case figures it out.I was convinced it was Amy from early on, but holy crap finding out that Amy and Adam owned that cottage and had done this multiple times, like it was their damn job? That twist hit like a freight train.
Here’s how the story plays out: Hannah, her husband Sam (who’s cheated on her), and their daughter Lily head to Owl Cottage in Cornwall in a last-ditch attempt to mend their marriage. Almost immediately, things get creepy with dead owlets on the mat, strange knocks at the door, power outages that affect only Hannah, little notes that unsettle her entire sense of reality.
The narration jumps between Hannah’s fractured first-person voice, chapters from Sam’s perspective, and even some from Maud, Hannah’s mum, which upped the suspense. I felt like I was fumbling through Hannah’s mind, not always sure what was real and what wasn’t.
Now, the big reveal: as Hannah’s childhood trauma and present horrors collide, Amy (her ostensibly concerned friend) and Adam are revealed as owning the cottage and orchestrating the entire nightmare scenario. It turns out they’d done this to other people before. My jaw hit the floor. That’s a twist I didn’t quite see coming, and I love that Driscoll held that layer until the very end.
In short: I absolutely inhaled Tell Me Lies. It’s compelling, creepily atmospheric, and the way Amy and Adam’s true roles unspool is fiendishly clever. If you’re into domestic thrillers with slow-burning dread and shocking reveals, this one will grip you tight.
Here’s how the story plays out: Hannah, her husband Sam (who’s cheated on her), and their daughter Lily head to Owl Cottage in Cornwall in a last-ditch attempt to mend their marriage. Almost immediately, things get creepy with dead owlets on the mat, strange knocks at the door, power outages that affect only Hannah, little notes that unsettle her entire sense of reality.
The narration jumps between Hannah’s fractured first-person voice, chapters from Sam’s perspective, and even some from Maud, Hannah’s mum, which upped the suspense. I felt like I was fumbling through Hannah’s mind, not always sure what was real and what wasn’t.
Now, the big reveal: as Hannah’s childhood trauma and present horrors collide, Amy (her ostensibly concerned friend) and Adam are revealed as owning the cottage and orchestrating the entire nightmare scenario. It turns out they’d done this to other people before. My jaw hit the floor. That’s a twist I didn’t quite see coming, and I love that Driscoll held that layer until the very end.
In short: I absolutely inhaled Tell Me Lies. It’s compelling, creepily atmospheric, and the way Amy and Adam’s true roles unspool is fiendishly clever. If you’re into domestic thrillers with slow-burning dread and shocking reveals, this one will grip you tight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews