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Jo Boden #3
Lie Deny Repeat
If everyone is lying, who do you trust?
A marriage gone bad…
When Cheryl met Xan nine years ago, she was a struggling single parent with a five-year-old son. Xan was her knight in shining armour. Now they have two children, and he’s hell-bent on turning her research work into a business that could make billions. But does he still love her? It doesn’t feel like that to Cheryl, as she tries to turn a blind eye to her husband’s infidelities and rescue her marriage.
A dangerous affair…
Xan is obsessed with making money. A business deal brings Hannah into his life. She’s a young woman driven by ambition, who knows how to use her looks to get what she wants. He can’t resist her. But the lies they tell each other, and Cheryl, soon spiral out of control. And a toxic mix of lust, ambition, and greed drags all three of them down into dark waters.
A deadly outcome…
The police recover a body from a fast flowing river swollen with winter rain. Detective Jo Boden, from the Major Investigations Team, must ask the question: is it an accident or could it be murder?
A twisty, page-turning psychological thriller with a shocking ending for fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell and C L Taylor.
A marriage gone bad…
When Cheryl met Xan nine years ago, she was a struggling single parent with a five-year-old son. Xan was her knight in shining armour. Now they have two children, and he’s hell-bent on turning her research work into a business that could make billions. But does he still love her? It doesn’t feel like that to Cheryl, as she tries to turn a blind eye to her husband’s infidelities and rescue her marriage.
A dangerous affair…
Xan is obsessed with making money. A business deal brings Hannah into his life. She’s a young woman driven by ambition, who knows how to use her looks to get what she wants. He can’t resist her. But the lies they tell each other, and Cheryl, soon spiral out of control. And a toxic mix of lust, ambition, and greed drags all three of them down into dark waters.
A deadly outcome…
The police recover a body from a fast flowing river swollen with winter rain. Detective Jo Boden, from the Major Investigations Team, must ask the question: is it an accident or could it be murder?
A twisty, page-turning psychological thriller with a shocking ending for fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell and C L Taylor.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2022
137 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wilkins
16 books137 followersI’m Susan Wilkins, a television writer turned novelist, and I write crime thrillers that dig deep into human psychology.
How do ordinary people end up on the wrong side of the law? That’s what I’m always asking. The characters are central to all my stories. The protagonists tend to be female, but not always, and I specialise in female detectives.
I grew up in Essex, studied Law, but spent twenty-five years writing television drama. I have over 130 broadcast credits to my name, including Casualty and Holby City, Heartbeat, Coronation Street and Eastenders, Footballers’ Wives, Dangerfield and Down to Earth, and I created the pioneering BBC detective drama South of the Border. This was the best education anyone could have in how to craft a gripping, page turning story.
I’ve moved around a lot in my life, within the UK and abroad. But now I’m settled in Devon. I walk by the sea every day and drink too much coffee.
If you’d like to find out more about my writing and keep in touch with my latest news, exclusive content and giveaways, visit susanwilkins.co.uk
How do ordinary people end up on the wrong side of the law? That’s what I’m always asking. The characters are central to all my stories. The protagonists tend to be female, but not always, and I specialise in female detectives.
I grew up in Essex, studied Law, but spent twenty-five years writing television drama. I have over 130 broadcast credits to my name, including Casualty and Holby City, Heartbeat, Coronation Street and Eastenders, Footballers’ Wives, Dangerfield and Down to Earth, and I created the pioneering BBC detective drama South of the Border. This was the best education anyone could have in how to craft a gripping, page turning story.
I’ve moved around a lot in my life, within the UK and abroad. But now I’m settled in Devon. I walk by the sea every day and drink too much coffee.
If you’d like to find out more about my writing and keep in touch with my latest news, exclusive content and giveaways, visit susanwilkins.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 11, 2022
4.5★s
Lie Deny Repeat is the fourth novel by British author, Susan Wilkins to feature DS Jo Boden. While Cambridge biotech researcher, Dr Cheryl Woodward is reluctantly attending a fancy do organised by her husband, Xan, she believes her fourteen-year-old son, Jordan is safely at home with his younger sister. He’s not.
DS Jo Boden is called to the scene of a teen prank gone horribly wrong: Ben Whiston was riding a shopping trolley down a carpark ramp while Jordan filmed the stunt for social media, but the ensuing crash took the boy’s life.
Meanwhile, his step-father’s fortieth birthday gift to Jordan’s mother is the big reveal of their new biotech start-up company logo, and an introduction to Hannah Blakeney, the attractive young representative for venture capital form HDZ Venture Partners. It all feels premature for Cheryl: she’s not ready.
Later, as Cheryl, exhausted from long hours at the lab, waits at home for the husband she suspects is cosying up with Hannah, she answers the door to the police, bringing home her distraught son. Jo tells Cheryl that what occurred will likely be ruled an unfortunate accident, but apparently, the dead boy’s father has other ideas.
The next day, worried about Jordan’s situation, Cheryl meets with her sister, a family lawyer, and they end up intervening when a young homeless man is being bullied. Cheryl is shocked to recognise him as Arran Patel, a former PhD student dismissed from her lab for falsifying results.
When Hannah learns that the young man’s work may affect the patents on Cheryl’s work, she mentions her concern to Xan. The next morning, a body is pulled from the canal…
Cheryl’s behaviour may frustrate readers: she recognises what Xan is doing, yet keeps making excuses for him. Will she grow a spine and call him on his behaviour?
Both Xan and Hannah are easy to loathe: Xan is your classic narcissist who is expert at gaslighting, undermining his wife’s self-confidence and sense of self-worth at every turn; Hannah is self-centred in the extreme; both seem motivated by greed; neither has any qualms about lying. When these two cross swords, casualties are inevitable. Will Xan meet his match in Jo Boden?
Once again, Wilkins gives the reader a plot that twists and turns and offers jaw-dropping surprises as the body count rises. While Jo Boden is one of three narrators and her role is significant, this is a dark thriller rather than a police procedural. A gripping page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by the author.
Lie Deny Repeat is the fourth novel by British author, Susan Wilkins to feature DS Jo Boden. While Cambridge biotech researcher, Dr Cheryl Woodward is reluctantly attending a fancy do organised by her husband, Xan, she believes her fourteen-year-old son, Jordan is safely at home with his younger sister. He’s not.
DS Jo Boden is called to the scene of a teen prank gone horribly wrong: Ben Whiston was riding a shopping trolley down a carpark ramp while Jordan filmed the stunt for social media, but the ensuing crash took the boy’s life.
Meanwhile, his step-father’s fortieth birthday gift to Jordan’s mother is the big reveal of their new biotech start-up company logo, and an introduction to Hannah Blakeney, the attractive young representative for venture capital form HDZ Venture Partners. It all feels premature for Cheryl: she’s not ready.
Later, as Cheryl, exhausted from long hours at the lab, waits at home for the husband she suspects is cosying up with Hannah, she answers the door to the police, bringing home her distraught son. Jo tells Cheryl that what occurred will likely be ruled an unfortunate accident, but apparently, the dead boy’s father has other ideas.
The next day, worried about Jordan’s situation, Cheryl meets with her sister, a family lawyer, and they end up intervening when a young homeless man is being bullied. Cheryl is shocked to recognise him as Arran Patel, a former PhD student dismissed from her lab for falsifying results.
When Hannah learns that the young man’s work may affect the patents on Cheryl’s work, she mentions her concern to Xan. The next morning, a body is pulled from the canal…
Cheryl’s behaviour may frustrate readers: she recognises what Xan is doing, yet keeps making excuses for him. Will she grow a spine and call him on his behaviour?
Both Xan and Hannah are easy to loathe: Xan is your classic narcissist who is expert at gaslighting, undermining his wife’s self-confidence and sense of self-worth at every turn; Hannah is self-centred in the extreme; both seem motivated by greed; neither has any qualms about lying. When these two cross swords, casualties are inevitable. Will Xan meet his match in Jo Boden?
Once again, Wilkins gives the reader a plot that twists and turns and offers jaw-dropping surprises as the body count rises. While Jo Boden is one of three narrators and her role is significant, this is a dark thriller rather than a police procedural. A gripping page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by the author.
March 14, 2023
This is the 3rd book I’ve read with DS Bowden as she continues on her journey to find justice. She has a knack for sniffing out the truth! This book is not your typical thriller although it does have a few twists. It reads almost like a drama with some murders sprinkled throughout. This author develops her characters well, and keeps your interest. You root for the protagonist and hate the villain. This is about a husband who is pushing hard for his wife’s scientific discoveries to be backed by capitalist firms with the anticipation of earning millions, if not more. The wife is weak, only wanting to do her research and continue her teaching in a university setting. The husband is ruthless and will do anything to reach his goal. There are many more characters who make this story compelling.
September 6, 2022
I love this Author s books never disappoint very twisty and addictive , Dr Cheryl Woodward is married to Xan . they have two children a boy and a girl its her 40th birthday and she just wants to go home but Xan has put a party on but only to get backers for her company and the study they are doing ,now Xan give up everything for her in America for them to come back to England for her to do her work .meet Hannah Blakeney who works for Venture Partners and she will do anything to get what she wants ,meet Arran Patel the homeless man is he connected you will have to read it its so good I so recommend lies deceit who can you trust ,
September 29, 2022
Fantastic read, fantastic characters. I enjoyed this book from start to finish as an advanced reader. A whole book of thinking you know where this is going and almost always going wrong. A bit ruthless in parts too
October 7, 2022
I am definitely enjoying the Jo Boden series. The British slang thrown into the dialogue is fun! Aside from the “Cheryl” character being a detestable character, I am excited for the next book in the series.
March 16, 2024
I'm really enjoying this series. I love Jo Boden and honestly wish there was more of her in the books. I do find certain aspects of these stories quite hard to fathom, but they are so entertaining that I overlook the completely unreasonable :) I've already downloaded the next one! :)
March 11, 2023
Great plot...great dialogue...can't go wrong with a Susan Wilkins novel.
June 2, 2023
Fabulous read
Fabulous read with twists and turns throughout the book. Suspenseful and as real as it gets. This author knows how to write a memorable book.
Fabulous read with twists and turns throughout the book. Suspenseful and as real as it gets. This author knows how to write a memorable book.
May 9, 2025
love this story and this Author, and brilliantly written,I will be reading 📚 more of Susan Wilkins books 📚
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September 28, 2022This is the third psychological thriller in my Detective Jo Boden series. Do try it!
Happy Reading
Susan Wilkins
Happy Reading
Susan Wilkins
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews