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Tell Me Your Lies
'A gripping page-turner with a flawed protagonist you can't help rooting for' LAURA MARSHALL
'Subtle, sly and suspenseful – a deliciously twisted psychological thriller' JP DELANEY
You think she wants to help.
You're wrong.
Lily will do anything to protect her picture perfect family. She’s made ruthless choices to make sure their secrets stay buried, and she’s not going to give up control now.
Rachel is her middle daughter. When her partying tips into addiction, Lily hires renowned therapist and healer, Amber, as a last resort. But how much are Rachel’s problems down to the very secrets Lily is determined to keep locked away?
Amber is the skilled and intuitive confidante that Rachel desperately needs. But as Rachel falls increasingly under her spell, pulling even further away from her family, Lily grows suspicious that there is a far more dangerous reason for Amber’s arrival in all their lives.
Loosely based on a true story, this is perfect for fans of Sabine Durrant, Teresa Driscoll and Kate Riordan - the perfect read to be devoured in one sitting, bursting with tension, layered characters and relationships which are never as simple as they first seem . . .
'Subtle, sly and suspenseful – a deliciously twisted psychological thriller' JP DELANEY
You think she wants to help.
You're wrong.
Lily will do anything to protect her picture perfect family. She’s made ruthless choices to make sure their secrets stay buried, and she’s not going to give up control now.
Rachel is her middle daughter. When her partying tips into addiction, Lily hires renowned therapist and healer, Amber, as a last resort. But how much are Rachel’s problems down to the very secrets Lily is determined to keep locked away?
Amber is the skilled and intuitive confidante that Rachel desperately needs. But as Rachel falls increasingly under her spell, pulling even further away from her family, Lily grows suspicious that there is a far more dangerous reason for Amber’s arrival in all their lives.
Loosely based on a true story, this is perfect for fans of Sabine Durrant, Teresa Driscoll and Kate Riordan - the perfect read to be devoured in one sitting, bursting with tension, layered characters and relationships which are never as simple as they first seem . . .
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
April 28, 2022
Lily Appleby is at rock bottom and it all links to her daughter Rachel. Backtrack one year earlier and Rachel is in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital recovering from an excessive drink and drugs binge and a close call with death. She seems to be in a self destructive cycle of behaviour - but why? In order to help her, Lily and her husband Nick pay for some therapy sessions from Amber Greville, something Lily will live to regret. Lily and Rachel both tell their stories which works really well and is very illuminating.
This is a good psychological thriller, it’s not a pretty tale and gives rise to numerous questions including which one of these three women is the truth fairy? There are some fascinating dynamics of a dysfunctional family, at times it’s positively toxic in the delusional, fractured world of Appleby household but there are other dysfunctional relationships in the spotlight too. The Appleby’s are an ‘interesting’ family, it’s no wonder Rachel is as messed up as she is and as for her brother Josh, well, there’s a punchable character if ever there was one. Thankfully his smug odiousness is counter balanced by Rachel’s younger sister Sophie who is the best of the bunch. The characterisation is good as is their emotional responses to each other and to Amber. With several of the characters you aren’t sure what their deal is, what their motives are, if their behaviour is justified or whether they are being controlled or manipulated. You frequently wonder what Amber is up to, what game she’s playing and she definitely needs to come with brightly flashing amber warning lights. There’s a bucket load of psycho babble that comes out of her mouth, much of it is positively woo-woo and makes you cringe as it’s meant to. There are secrets that have been hidden but which are now bubbling close to the surface, there’s anger, dashes of hatred and several characters living internally dark lives, perpetuating lies. As the conclusion approaches, scales fall from eyes and I really like how it all ends.
Overall, this is a good, enjoyable thriller and a very good portrait of fractured lives.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a good psychological thriller, it’s not a pretty tale and gives rise to numerous questions including which one of these three women is the truth fairy? There are some fascinating dynamics of a dysfunctional family, at times it’s positively toxic in the delusional, fractured world of Appleby household but there are other dysfunctional relationships in the spotlight too. The Appleby’s are an ‘interesting’ family, it’s no wonder Rachel is as messed up as she is and as for her brother Josh, well, there’s a punchable character if ever there was one. Thankfully his smug odiousness is counter balanced by Rachel’s younger sister Sophie who is the best of the bunch. The characterisation is good as is their emotional responses to each other and to Amber. With several of the characters you aren’t sure what their deal is, what their motives are, if their behaviour is justified or whether they are being controlled or manipulated. You frequently wonder what Amber is up to, what game she’s playing and she definitely needs to come with brightly flashing amber warning lights. There’s a bucket load of psycho babble that comes out of her mouth, much of it is positively woo-woo and makes you cringe as it’s meant to. There are secrets that have been hidden but which are now bubbling close to the surface, there’s anger, dashes of hatred and several characters living internally dark lives, perpetuating lies. As the conclusion approaches, scales fall from eyes and I really like how it all ends.
Overall, this is a good, enjoyable thriller and a very good portrait of fractured lives.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 12, 2022
Tell Me Your Lies opens with a prologue that's dripping with self-righteous bitterness and Lily's fury immediately ensured I was intrigued to find out just what had occurred between her, her daughter, Rachel and the person her ire is directed towards. The storyline then reveals what happened over the previous year to bring her to this point – and it's not a happy read.
Rachel's life is in freefall; when her wild partying results in her being hospitalised and having her stomach pumped, Lily hires Amber, a therapist who has come highly recommended. Rachel is reluctant at first but quickly forms a bond with Amber which initially gratifies her mother – until the relationships connecting the three women transform into something dark and ugly. The first-person narrative switches between Lily and Rachel which frequently allows us to see the same event through their separate perspectives. Both are the epitome of unreliable narrators which is fascinating, particularly as it becomes increasingly clear that the truth is being twisted and the vulnerable manipulated.
Rachel's addictions stem from an unresolved incident in her past and she believes that Amber will help her come to terms with her feelings about what happened back then. The lines between therapist and client become ever more blurred as Rachel's dependence on drink and drugs is transferred to Amber. The most compelling scenes in the book are perhaps at a retreat where Rachel meets other clients who are equally under Amber's spell. She is evidently not a conventional therapist but her methods do seem to reap results and the atmosphere at the retreat is unsettlingly fervid. Kate Ruby's experience in television pays dividends here and these scenes are powerfully dramatic. Meanwhile, Lily's obsessive need to present a picture-perfect façade extends beyond her own appearance and as she realises Rachel is slipping away from her, she cajoles and threatens others, and I raced through the pages to discover what it was she feared being exposed.
The character-driven plot is riveting, with the three women at the heart of Tell Me Your Lies vividly brought to life. They are complicated, flawed women and I can't say I especially liked any of them but I was compulsively curious to learn more. The nuanced storyline meant my sympathies shifted constantly and even at their worst, I was able to understand and appreciate what motivated them. Interestingly, I thought the men in the novel were weaker characters with their roles often consigned to the periphery; perhaps as a consequence I particularly disliked Rachel's father and brother.
I managed to guess some of the secrets before they came to light in the book but the clues are there to be followed and it's really the impact of these revelations that is most gripping. Tell Me Your Lies is compulsive domestic noir, exploring toxic relationships, obsessive love and cruel revenge. It's also an insightful and disturbing examination of the darker side of psychotherapy, having been partly inspired by a true story. Menacingly suspenseful from start to finish and with a deliciously satisfying conclusion, Tell Me Your Lies is an engrossing debut and I look forward to reading more from Kate Ruby in the future.
Rachel's life is in freefall; when her wild partying results in her being hospitalised and having her stomach pumped, Lily hires Amber, a therapist who has come highly recommended. Rachel is reluctant at first but quickly forms a bond with Amber which initially gratifies her mother – until the relationships connecting the three women transform into something dark and ugly. The first-person narrative switches between Lily and Rachel which frequently allows us to see the same event through their separate perspectives. Both are the epitome of unreliable narrators which is fascinating, particularly as it becomes increasingly clear that the truth is being twisted and the vulnerable manipulated.
Rachel's addictions stem from an unresolved incident in her past and she believes that Amber will help her come to terms with her feelings about what happened back then. The lines between therapist and client become ever more blurred as Rachel's dependence on drink and drugs is transferred to Amber. The most compelling scenes in the book are perhaps at a retreat where Rachel meets other clients who are equally under Amber's spell. She is evidently not a conventional therapist but her methods do seem to reap results and the atmosphere at the retreat is unsettlingly fervid. Kate Ruby's experience in television pays dividends here and these scenes are powerfully dramatic. Meanwhile, Lily's obsessive need to present a picture-perfect façade extends beyond her own appearance and as she realises Rachel is slipping away from her, she cajoles and threatens others, and I raced through the pages to discover what it was she feared being exposed.
The character-driven plot is riveting, with the three women at the heart of Tell Me Your Lies vividly brought to life. They are complicated, flawed women and I can't say I especially liked any of them but I was compulsively curious to learn more. The nuanced storyline meant my sympathies shifted constantly and even at their worst, I was able to understand and appreciate what motivated them. Interestingly, I thought the men in the novel were weaker characters with their roles often consigned to the periphery; perhaps as a consequence I particularly disliked Rachel's father and brother.
I managed to guess some of the secrets before they came to light in the book but the clues are there to be followed and it's really the impact of these revelations that is most gripping. Tell Me Your Lies is compulsive domestic noir, exploring toxic relationships, obsessive love and cruel revenge. It's also an insightful and disturbing examination of the darker side of psychotherapy, having been partly inspired by a true story. Menacingly suspenseful from start to finish and with a deliciously satisfying conclusion, Tell Me Your Lies is an engrossing debut and I look forward to reading more from Kate Ruby in the future.
November 17, 2021
This psychological thriller is the story of Lilly and her daughter Rachel. Rachel is addicted to drugs and alcohol and when she ends up in hospital, Lily arranges a therapist, Amber. She’s supposed to help Rachel, but does she actually?
Tell Me Your Lies is a dark story about manipulation in all kinds of forms including lots of secrets, complicated characters and difficult family relationships. I always like complex characters in a story, and even though Rachel tried to manipulate from the first page, I wanted to know what happened to her, why she acted like she acted. When she met Amber, a shiver ran down my spine. I immediately disliked Amber immensely. It felt like she hypnotized Rachel with that sweet-voiced voice. Rachel herself called it a natural high … And then Lily. Like Rachel said: full of love and anxiety. Sacrificing her piece of mind for her family. Always taking care of them. Almost suffocating them. How far are you willing to go for love?
I liked Kate Ruby’s writing. It felt rather light while the story could be really dark at times. I liked the concept of the story and the darkness and I felt all those different forms of manipulation. There was one thing though that I couldn’t let go. When I’m reading a psychological thriller I want to be on the edge of my seat, guessing and second guessing what happened. Sadly, I wasn’t that invested because I found the pacing rather slow. When I started guessing the twists I even got a bit bored. Overall, I believe Tell Me Your Lies is an okay thriller for readers who like darker stories and plot twists.
I received an ARC from Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tell Me Your Lies is a dark story about manipulation in all kinds of forms including lots of secrets, complicated characters and difficult family relationships. I always like complex characters in a story, and even though Rachel tried to manipulate from the first page, I wanted to know what happened to her, why she acted like she acted. When she met Amber, a shiver ran down my spine. I immediately disliked Amber immensely. It felt like she hypnotized Rachel with that sweet-voiced voice. Rachel herself called it a natural high … And then Lily. Like Rachel said: full of love and anxiety. Sacrificing her piece of mind for her family. Always taking care of them. Almost suffocating them. How far are you willing to go for love?
I liked Kate Ruby’s writing. It felt rather light while the story could be really dark at times. I liked the concept of the story and the darkness and I felt all those different forms of manipulation. There was one thing though that I couldn’t let go. When I’m reading a psychological thriller I want to be on the edge of my seat, guessing and second guessing what happened. Sadly, I wasn’t that invested because I found the pacing rather slow. When I started guessing the twists I even got a bit bored. Overall, I believe Tell Me Your Lies is an okay thriller for readers who like darker stories and plot twists.
I received an ARC from Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2022
Terrible, pointless and annoying to read.
August 14, 2022
Didn’t really get it. Ending was unbelievable and far fetched. Disappointing
February 27, 2022
This is a clever psychological thriller.
I wasn’t sure who to trust out of the three narrators, but it was clear Lily was hiding something.
Rachel is her daughter and after having her stomach pumped, admits she has a problem.
Lily finds Amber, a therapist, and at first is happy with the progress being made. However, when Amber encourages Rachel to admit her mother is the cause of her problems, Lily is far from happy.
This book definitely had me hooked as I really wanted to know how things turned out for Rachel.
A different type of psychological thriller, but one I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I wasn’t sure who to trust out of the three narrators, but it was clear Lily was hiding something.
Rachel is her daughter and after having her stomach pumped, admits she has a problem.
Lily finds Amber, a therapist, and at first is happy with the progress being made. However, when Amber encourages Rachel to admit her mother is the cause of her problems, Lily is far from happy.
This book definitely had me hooked as I really wanted to know how things turned out for Rachel.
A different type of psychological thriller, but one I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
May 29, 2022
This was a frustrating character read, as I understood what the mom wanted but she made every decision that could possibly make it worse. Like she made the worst decision everytime and could've made Rachel more likely to stick around if she stopped the brother making negative comments etc. But maybe that was the point of the book and on purpose, to show how messed up the mums character was. But each time I was like "How do you expect it to get better when you make such horrible and hurtful decisions!?!"
August 24, 2022
This book was just a little dead to me. Thought it dragged so much! Also I didn’t understand the ending. I feel like it’s hinting at something that wasn’t made clear in the book. Tried googling it and came up empty.
September 9, 2024
What a waste of time. The story plods on and on. I was bored to tears
December 28, 2024
4.5*
Loved this book!!!
Loved this book!!!
March 7, 2023
I wanted to finish this book as I don’t like giving up on a book easily but upon finishing this one, I felt nothing. Some books leave you feeling as if you just stopped an emotional rollercoaster ride, some leave you with a sense of grief or sadness, some leave you on a high…this just left me wondering what I could read next unfortunately.
It was interesting in that there were a good few twists and turns and some dark, toxic relationships going on that many of us could probably relate to. I was intrigued by the behaviour of some characters and what was to happen next, but after a while I started guessing the twists and the outcomes and it became a little slow and predictable for me then.
In my opinion, calling it a “psychological thriller” is pretty far fetched
It was interesting in that there were a good few twists and turns and some dark, toxic relationships going on that many of us could probably relate to. I was intrigued by the behaviour of some characters and what was to happen next, but after a while I started guessing the twists and the outcomes and it became a little slow and predictable for me then.
In my opinion, calling it a “psychological thriller” is pretty far fetched
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December 29, 2024Tell Me Your Lies by Kate Ruby is an intriguing psychological thriller that keeps readers hooked with its suspenseful narrative and complex characters. The story centres around Lily Appleby, who will do anything to protect her loved ones. Her daughter Rachel, a party enthusiast, spirals out of control, prompting Lily to hire Amber, a renowned therapist and healer. However, as Rachel falls under Amber’s spell and turns against her parents, Lily begins to suspect something darker is at play.
Kate Ruby excels at character development, making each person in the story deeply layered and compelling, including the less savoury characters. The alternating chapters narrated by Rachel and Lily add a unique dimension to the storytelling, gradually revealing Amber’s backstory and the underlying secrets. This narrative style enhances the suspense and keeps readers eagerly anticipating each new chapter.
The plot is brilliantly constructed, filled with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying. The intricate relationships and psychological depth make Tell Me Your Lies a captivating read. It’s perfect for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy layered characters and complex narratives.
A great read that has compelling characters, engaging plot, and innovative storytelling.
Kate Ruby excels at character development, making each person in the story deeply layered and compelling, including the less savoury characters. The alternating chapters narrated by Rachel and Lily add a unique dimension to the storytelling, gradually revealing Amber’s backstory and the underlying secrets. This narrative style enhances the suspense and keeps readers eagerly anticipating each new chapter.
The plot is brilliantly constructed, filled with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying. The intricate relationships and psychological depth make Tell Me Your Lies a captivating read. It’s perfect for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy layered characters and complex narratives.
A great read that has compelling characters, engaging plot, and innovative storytelling.
February 23, 2022
When I first started reading this book I wasn’t sure at all as to where it was going but all I knew was I needed desperately to find out. It’s a psychological thriller with a slow burn of a beginning that completely gripped me as the tension built and the secrets and lies began to build up. The characters are varied and I was never quite sure of who to trust which made me fly through the book trying to find out what was going to happen. I love it when I start to read a new book and it turns out to be be both different and absorbing and this one was just that.
Told from different points of view and extremely well crafted I thoroughly enjoyed the read and can highly recommend it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Told from different points of view and extremely well crafted I thoroughly enjoyed the read and can highly recommend it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 30, 2024
A dark story full of dysfunctional families, their secrets, manipulation, and utterly despicable characters! Told in multiple POV (love this!) we follow Rachel as she navigates her addiction with the help of addiction specialist Amber… Amber, what a character (there were plenty of eye rolls…) speaking of despicable characters… Lily … OOFT!!!
This was a slower burn than I’m used to reading, and I managed to guess the twists but it was still a good book. Filled with unreliable narrators, I found Ruby’s writing quite light, given the darkness of the story. I love a dark thriller with despicable characters, and even though I felt this one needed that little bit more for me to fully invest in, it was still an enjoyable read!
This was a slower burn than I’m used to reading, and I managed to guess the twists but it was still a good book. Filled with unreliable narrators, I found Ruby’s writing quite light, given the darkness of the story. I love a dark thriller with despicable characters, and even though I felt this one needed that little bit more for me to fully invest in, it was still an enjoyable read!
September 1, 2024
I felt the story dragged on and became pointless and overly dramatic at crucial points in the story. The twist of the story became super predictable because of the dragging on. I felt the characters became so whiny that it became insufferable to read. Most of the time I can deal with these factors because the ending is decent but nope even the ending was uneventful.
April 15, 2023
Just ... wow! One of my favorite books of 2023 for sure. Kate Ruby is a master genius, she knows how to create suspense and let readers feel what they have to feel, be it anger, shock, disgust or indignation. She's a gifted author. I'll keep an eye on her in the future.
April 16, 2023
Meh…..I read to my cousin who’s in a nursing home and I honestly would never have started this if I’d known how dull it was! Save yourself the bother….it doesn’t make me want to rush out to buy any others if the same author, which IS a shame, but no, not for me….
May 25, 2022
Do yourself a favour and go read this book!!! The second I picked it up I couldn’t let it down 🙌🏻
August 12, 2022
Started slow for me. But then took of at a pace. I couldn't put it down. Although I did guess the ending. I still wanted to read on.
April 25, 2023
An unsuspectingly great and clever book. All the characters are extremely interesting and weird in their own ways. One of those books where you’re unsure throughout who is the villain and who’s the hero.
September 6, 2024
This was OK, a good domestic thriller with a culty element. I did feel like I was waiting for something to happen though throughout most of the book and it was getting a bit repetitive. You do get a good twist at the end though.
May 18, 2022
Tell Me Your Lies is an engrossing read about a mother and daughter with a very fractured relationship. Rachel is a young woman who feels as though she's the black sheep of her affluent and ambitious, but messed-up family. She bears the burden of a secret which nobody in her family believes and uses drugs and alcohol to numb her pain. Lily is desperate to help her daughter and is at a loss until a friend recommends a therapist, Amber, who claims has helped those like Rachel turn their lives around. At first it seems like Amber is just what Rachel needs- helping her to stay sober and get her life in order. However, soon the professional boundaries are blurred and Lily is concerned that Amber is having a negative influence over Rachel and doesn't have her best interests at heart.
This was a really gripping and fascinating read about dysfunctional family dynamics and quacks posing as therapists, especially in a generation where more and more people are buying into new-age beliefs, retreats and therapies. It just emphasizes how destructive these new-age treatments and therapies are and that it's all mumbo-jumbo. I found the characters complex and despicable, especially Lily. Lily believes that she has done everything to be a good mother to Rachel but denies the very issue that is the root behind Rachel's problems. . I felt for Rachel who is at the same time smart and naïve; the only insightful and honest person in the family to see the truth, but vulnerable and malleable at the hands of Amber.
I enjoyed this book though some parts felt a big long and repetitive. I also felt that there wasn't as much suspense as there could have been- I felt that the family secret was introduced too early on and didn't leave much room for intrigue. However, there was a good twist at the end!
3.5 stars
Grade: B
This was a really gripping and fascinating read about dysfunctional family dynamics and quacks posing as therapists, especially in a generation where more and more people are buying into new-age beliefs, retreats and therapies. It just emphasizes how destructive these new-age treatments and therapies are and that it's all mumbo-jumbo. I found the characters complex and despicable, especially Lily. Lily believes that she has done everything to be a good mother to Rachel but denies the very issue that is the root behind Rachel's problems. . I felt for Rachel who is at the same time smart and naïve; the only insightful and honest person in the family to see the truth, but vulnerable and malleable at the hands of Amber.
I enjoyed this book though some parts felt a big long and repetitive. I also felt that there wasn't as much suspense as there could have been- I felt that the family secret was introduced too early on and didn't leave much room for intrigue. However, there was a good twist at the end!
3.5 stars
Grade: B
May 19, 2022
This one definitely had me hooked!
When her daughter Rachel’s drinking lands her in hospital, Lily decides it’s time to get her some help and hires Amber, a therapist recommended by friends. Pretty soon though, Rachel becomes enamoured with Amber, and she starts to pull away from her family as she remembers all the things they’ve put her through with Amber’s help. But is she being manipulated? And what does Amber stand to gain from it all?
This story has so much to unwrap, but I especially loved the focus on toxic mother/daughter relationships (familiar much?!), as well as the beautiful bond between Rachel and her sister.
Whilst I must admit that I guessed Amber’s motives fairly early on, that didn’t hinder my enjoyment or need to blitz through the pages at all - the most compelling part of this story is watching everything unravel and seeing Rachel and Lily’s differing viewpoints as it does. Lily is a pretty messed up character despite projecting the total opposite, but Rachel is the one I could really root for - she’s troubled and at times way too gullible, but her ending was really satisfying!
A great psychological thriller with family at its heart!
When her daughter Rachel’s drinking lands her in hospital, Lily decides it’s time to get her some help and hires Amber, a therapist recommended by friends. Pretty soon though, Rachel becomes enamoured with Amber, and she starts to pull away from her family as she remembers all the things they’ve put her through with Amber’s help. But is she being manipulated? And what does Amber stand to gain from it all?
This story has so much to unwrap, but I especially loved the focus on toxic mother/daughter relationships (familiar much?!), as well as the beautiful bond between Rachel and her sister.
Whilst I must admit that I guessed Amber’s motives fairly early on, that didn’t hinder my enjoyment or need to blitz through the pages at all - the most compelling part of this story is watching everything unravel and seeing Rachel and Lily’s differing viewpoints as it does. Lily is a pretty messed up character despite projecting the total opposite, but Rachel is the one I could really root for - she’s troubled and at times way too gullible, but her ending was really satisfying!
A great psychological thriller with family at its heart!
October 4, 2022
Predictable and not much plot at all.
Could see the ‘twist’ from the start. Very slow paced, not much actually happens overall. Main characters not likeable at all.
Could see the ‘twist’ from the start. Very slow paced, not much actually happens overall. Main characters not likeable at all.
March 1, 2022
When Kate Ruby introduces her readers to Lily Appleby, one of three women who dominate the events in this psychological thriller, we meet someone who has really been through the mill emotionally. With chapters alternating between mother Lily and daughter Rachel, the two women tell the story of a family brought to its knees, rewinding to a particular incident that marks the beginning of their twelve months of purgatory. Black sheep of the family, Rachel, is at the centre of the storm, hell bent on self destruction as yet another drink and drug fuelled episode lands her in hospital. With money no object, Lily, who is desperate to pull her daughter back from the brink turns to Amber Grenville, so called addiction angel as a last resort, in a bid to paper over the cracks and present a vision of the perfect family to all onlookers. Naturally this seems like the ideal solution. Or is it???
Certain words spring to mind when trying to articulate my thoughts relating to the characters within the plot and the plot itself. Poisonous, twisted, manipulative and weird are the most obvious ones. The Applebys are one highly dysfunctional family, broken, divided and in dire straits. Materially wealthy this family may be but in terms of family harmony they might as well be on the poverty line. Nick, Rachel’s father appears aloof and disinterested in his daughter’s problems and an unloving husband to Lily whilst Josh, the perfect son, is condescending and pompous. The only character with apparently no ulterior motive other than to keep the peace is Sophie, caught in the middle between her sister and her mother. But why is it that Rachel was fallen off the rails as opposed to her siblings? That’s just one of the questions causing the reader much consternation as the storyline develops. The author has deliberately created characters you’re guaranteed to loathe; I don’t think I’ve ever come across so many abhorrent characters all in one place. The only danger with this tactic is when you’re faced with characters you utterly detest it can be all too easy to become disengaged from the storyline and ambivalent towards the outcomes. Thankfully that didn’t happen in this instance but I’ll admit to coming close to abandoning the book on several occasions. However the author’s insight into a family ripped apart by lies (whose lies??) is excellent as too is her insight into the world of the therapist so I felt compelled to stick with it. Amber is one of those intriguing characters you’re equally fascinated and repelled by. Together with her unorthodox practices you’re left wondering whether she’s a saviour or a saboteur.
This is most definitely a storyline where you should trust no one and question absolutely everything. Pretty much everyone’s lives are built upon a foundation of lies; you sink into a quagmire of them very quickly, unclear of anybody’s motivations. The only thing you can be sure of is that they’re all acting in their own best interests. There is so much underlying tension it gives you the shivers and as the plot thickens the more uneasy you feel, unsure where the hidden dangers lie but equally certain they’re there waiting to catch you unawares. Some scenes with Amber whose practices could be considered highly alternative (or utter garbage depending on your outlook) are intended to be eye rolling and had me snorting with derision. Generally the air is choked with resentment, hatred, unhappiness and pretence and it’s hard to envisage how Rachel’s problems outside of and within the family are ever likely to be resolved satisfactorily. Overall for much of the time I felt as if I was fumbling around in the dark for the light switch, having only a vague idea in which direction the plot was heading, so blindsided by some of these individuals actions that I forgot I had a spot of detective work to do! When I did finally reach that lightbulb moment and all becomes crystal clear I was glad of my decision to see this book through to its conclusion. The ending in my opinion is worth it!
Tell Me Your Lies is a good, well paced and well executed psychological thriller which I think many fans of the genre will enjoy.
My thanks as always to the publisher Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Certain words spring to mind when trying to articulate my thoughts relating to the characters within the plot and the plot itself. Poisonous, twisted, manipulative and weird are the most obvious ones. The Applebys are one highly dysfunctional family, broken, divided and in dire straits. Materially wealthy this family may be but in terms of family harmony they might as well be on the poverty line. Nick, Rachel’s father appears aloof and disinterested in his daughter’s problems and an unloving husband to Lily whilst Josh, the perfect son, is condescending and pompous. The only character with apparently no ulterior motive other than to keep the peace is Sophie, caught in the middle between her sister and her mother. But why is it that Rachel was fallen off the rails as opposed to her siblings? That’s just one of the questions causing the reader much consternation as the storyline develops. The author has deliberately created characters you’re guaranteed to loathe; I don’t think I’ve ever come across so many abhorrent characters all in one place. The only danger with this tactic is when you’re faced with characters you utterly detest it can be all too easy to become disengaged from the storyline and ambivalent towards the outcomes. Thankfully that didn’t happen in this instance but I’ll admit to coming close to abandoning the book on several occasions. However the author’s insight into a family ripped apart by lies (whose lies??) is excellent as too is her insight into the world of the therapist so I felt compelled to stick with it. Amber is one of those intriguing characters you’re equally fascinated and repelled by. Together with her unorthodox practices you’re left wondering whether she’s a saviour or a saboteur.
This is most definitely a storyline where you should trust no one and question absolutely everything. Pretty much everyone’s lives are built upon a foundation of lies; you sink into a quagmire of them very quickly, unclear of anybody’s motivations. The only thing you can be sure of is that they’re all acting in their own best interests. There is so much underlying tension it gives you the shivers and as the plot thickens the more uneasy you feel, unsure where the hidden dangers lie but equally certain they’re there waiting to catch you unawares. Some scenes with Amber whose practices could be considered highly alternative (or utter garbage depending on your outlook) are intended to be eye rolling and had me snorting with derision. Generally the air is choked with resentment, hatred, unhappiness and pretence and it’s hard to envisage how Rachel’s problems outside of and within the family are ever likely to be resolved satisfactorily. Overall for much of the time I felt as if I was fumbling around in the dark for the light switch, having only a vague idea in which direction the plot was heading, so blindsided by some of these individuals actions that I forgot I had a spot of detective work to do! When I did finally reach that lightbulb moment and all becomes crystal clear I was glad of my decision to see this book through to its conclusion. The ending in my opinion is worth it!
Tell Me Your Lies is a good, well paced and well executed psychological thriller which I think many fans of the genre will enjoy.
My thanks as always to the publisher Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2022
This book is a vortex of manipulative women who drag you in, like Charybdis, a monstrous creation of their own making which often leads to death of others who get caught.
From the very start you get a specific perspective from Lily-her name denotes a purity and association with being 'whiter than white', so her authoritarian stance confers her a certain sense of trustworthiness-where she casually drops the hint that what has happened to the Appleby family made newspaper front pages.
With her daughter, Rachel, seemingly undermined in the minds of the reader, we move to her perpsective of a daughter who is always made to feel 'not good enough', someone who takes refuge in drink and drugs to an excess.
After the latest hospitalisation, Lily brings Rachel home and enlists the help of therapist, Amber, to once and for all heal Rachel.
But what if, in the process, terrible secrets are revealed at the heart of this picture perfect family?
Lily clearly has an image to protect, and is so highly caught up within the maintenance of it, that she is prepared to overlook the 'failures' of her daughter to represent the life she feels she has been handed on a silver platter.
Rachel's rebellion is cantered in a world of very real trauma, and a sense of being a less than grateful daughter, especially when compared to her high achieving brother.
And then there is Amber, the third side of this toxic triangle-she has a part to play in all of this, beneath her quotable notions and ease of reaching Rachel, there is a woman who you cannot quite weigh up. What is her perspective? Does she genuinely want to make Rachel better and in so doing create a situation which leads to a permanent fracture between mother and daughter?
It's such an interesting read, and a highly underrated (in my humble opinion) approach in how Kate makes these characters slightly opaque and off, you are looking for a symmetry in them which just does not exist and as the story unravels to it's shattering conclusion, all the pieces fall into place and it makes you want to read the book all over again!
I wasn't personally invested in solving the mystery, I was interested in the portrayal of 3 very distinct phases of womanhood and what constitutes a lie-does it matter if it is in the interests of the wider good?
I very much enjoyed the way the author plays with commonly held myths about being a mother, and the weight of the responsibility we have towards our daughters, to bring the truth into the light and damn the consequences. Superb and so engaging, I thoroughly recommend it to those who enjoyed Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl'
From the very start you get a specific perspective from Lily-her name denotes a purity and association with being 'whiter than white', so her authoritarian stance confers her a certain sense of trustworthiness-where she casually drops the hint that what has happened to the Appleby family made newspaper front pages.
With her daughter, Rachel, seemingly undermined in the minds of the reader, we move to her perpsective of a daughter who is always made to feel 'not good enough', someone who takes refuge in drink and drugs to an excess.
After the latest hospitalisation, Lily brings Rachel home and enlists the help of therapist, Amber, to once and for all heal Rachel.
But what if, in the process, terrible secrets are revealed at the heart of this picture perfect family?
Lily clearly has an image to protect, and is so highly caught up within the maintenance of it, that she is prepared to overlook the 'failures' of her daughter to represent the life she feels she has been handed on a silver platter.
Rachel's rebellion is cantered in a world of very real trauma, and a sense of being a less than grateful daughter, especially when compared to her high achieving brother.
And then there is Amber, the third side of this toxic triangle-she has a part to play in all of this, beneath her quotable notions and ease of reaching Rachel, there is a woman who you cannot quite weigh up. What is her perspective? Does she genuinely want to make Rachel better and in so doing create a situation which leads to a permanent fracture between mother and daughter?
It's such an interesting read, and a highly underrated (in my humble opinion) approach in how Kate makes these characters slightly opaque and off, you are looking for a symmetry in them which just does not exist and as the story unravels to it's shattering conclusion, all the pieces fall into place and it makes you want to read the book all over again!
I wasn't personally invested in solving the mystery, I was interested in the portrayal of 3 very distinct phases of womanhood and what constitutes a lie-does it matter if it is in the interests of the wider good?
I very much enjoyed the way the author plays with commonly held myths about being a mother, and the weight of the responsibility we have towards our daughters, to bring the truth into the light and damn the consequences. Superb and so engaging, I thoroughly recommend it to those who enjoyed Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl'
May 17, 2022
Rachel needs help.
I’m not sure I’d call Tell Me Your Lies a psychological thriller, as I didn’t find it a fast-paced read that left my heart thumping. In essence the plot is about a young woman, Rachel, with an addictive personality whose family, and her mother Lily in particular, pay Amber to assist. It is also, however, much, much more than that and a magnificent psychological insight that is truly compelling. I thought it was a cracking read.
There’s a malevolent undertone from the very first page of Tell Me Your Lies that makes the reader wonder just what kind of narrative they are going to get. Kate Ruby drips hints like poison so that the reader becomes intoxicated with wanting to find out what happens. The first person voices of Lily and Rachel and the final chapter have the effect of making the reader feel they are part of the process. They are involved in the conversations and the plot every bit as much as the characters. Even the chapter endings are like mini barbs, hooking in the reader still further. What worked so brilliantly for me was that I simply didn’t predict the final outcomes and I have a feeling that I’ve been manipulated by the author every bit as effectively as the characters manipulate each other. This is such skilled writing.
I loathed all three main women but my goodness I found them fascinating; from the self-destructive Rachel through the controlling, domineering Lily to the too-good-to-be-true Amber, there’s a veracity, a universality, that feels absolutely right. The fact that Tell Me Your Lies is loosely based on a real life Amber makes the toxic dynamics all the more interesting. Indeed, Amber is the perfect name for her character as, just as insects become trapped in natural amber, this Amber traps others in her thrall, increasing their vulnerability and suggestibility. That said, the pronouns of the title could relate to any of the three women. At no point is it entirely clear just who is telling whom the lies. Every single one – Rachel, Lily, Amber – is so wonderfully flawed and mesmerising.
Dripping with vitriol, deception and truth, Tell Me Your Lies is a cracking read. It’s about control, coercion, nature and nurture and the lies we tell ourselves. Kate Ruby creates truly toxic family dynamics that leave the reader reeling. It’s uncomfortable to read and yet it doesn’t let the reader put it down. I thought it was fabulous.
I’m not sure I’d call Tell Me Your Lies a psychological thriller, as I didn’t find it a fast-paced read that left my heart thumping. In essence the plot is about a young woman, Rachel, with an addictive personality whose family, and her mother Lily in particular, pay Amber to assist. It is also, however, much, much more than that and a magnificent psychological insight that is truly compelling. I thought it was a cracking read.
There’s a malevolent undertone from the very first page of Tell Me Your Lies that makes the reader wonder just what kind of narrative they are going to get. Kate Ruby drips hints like poison so that the reader becomes intoxicated with wanting to find out what happens. The first person voices of Lily and Rachel and the final chapter have the effect of making the reader feel they are part of the process. They are involved in the conversations and the plot every bit as much as the characters. Even the chapter endings are like mini barbs, hooking in the reader still further. What worked so brilliantly for me was that I simply didn’t predict the final outcomes and I have a feeling that I’ve been manipulated by the author every bit as effectively as the characters manipulate each other. This is such skilled writing.
I loathed all three main women but my goodness I found them fascinating; from the self-destructive Rachel through the controlling, domineering Lily to the too-good-to-be-true Amber, there’s a veracity, a universality, that feels absolutely right. The fact that Tell Me Your Lies is loosely based on a real life Amber makes the toxic dynamics all the more interesting. Indeed, Amber is the perfect name for her character as, just as insects become trapped in natural amber, this Amber traps others in her thrall, increasing their vulnerability and suggestibility. That said, the pronouns of the title could relate to any of the three women. At no point is it entirely clear just who is telling whom the lies. Every single one – Rachel, Lily, Amber – is so wonderfully flawed and mesmerising.
Dripping with vitriol, deception and truth, Tell Me Your Lies is a cracking read. It’s about control, coercion, nature and nurture and the lies we tell ourselves. Kate Ruby creates truly toxic family dynamics that leave the reader reeling. It’s uncomfortable to read and yet it doesn’t let the reader put it down. I thought it was fabulous.
May 9, 2022
‘Tell Me Your Lies’ has been at the top of my wish list for a while now. I happened to listen to Kate Ruby talk about her book at the crime writing festival in Whitley Bay and it sounded like just my kind of read. So as soon as I was able to get my hands on a copy, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my copy of the book and settled down for an interesting couple of days reading. ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ was one hell of a read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that it took me a little while to get into ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ which has a fair bit to do with the fact that I found it hard to warm to any of the characters. It could just be the fact that I have read far too much crime fiction and that I suspect everybody and believe nobody. When I got used to the characters then that was it and I was away as the saying goes. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered in the opposite direction. The more of the book that I read, the more that I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. This wasn’t one of those books that I was able to finish over the course of a day but I did manage to read it over the course of a couple of days. I found ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ to be an interesting and gripping read, which kept me guessing.
‘Tell Me Your Lies’ is well written. The author certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a compelling story. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, this was more of a slow burn type of story and not a particularly fast paced one. The story is written with each chapter being written from the point of view of Rachel or of her mother Lily and illustrates just how complex their relationship became. The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. I love the way in which Kate makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short and overall I did enjoy reading ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ and I would recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers. I hope to read much more from Kate Ruby in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I have to say that it took me a little while to get into ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ which has a fair bit to do with the fact that I found it hard to warm to any of the characters. It could just be the fact that I have read far too much crime fiction and that I suspect everybody and believe nobody. When I got used to the characters then that was it and I was away as the saying goes. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered in the opposite direction. The more of the book that I read, the more that I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. This wasn’t one of those books that I was able to finish over the course of a day but I did manage to read it over the course of a couple of days. I found ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ to be an interesting and gripping read, which kept me guessing.
‘Tell Me Your Lies’ is well written. The author certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a compelling story. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, this was more of a slow burn type of story and not a particularly fast paced one. The story is written with each chapter being written from the point of view of Rachel or of her mother Lily and illustrates just how complex their relationship became. The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. I love the way in which Kate makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short and overall I did enjoy reading ‘Tell Me Your Lies’ and I would recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers. I hope to read much more from Kate Ruby in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
April 27, 2022
Tell Me Your Lies is a gripping debut by Kate Ruby, exploring the fractured relationship between Lily and her daughter, Rachel. You can see right from the first few pages that this is a family on the brink, and the tension is there right from the beginning. Rachel is an alcoholic, and her mother is desperate to save her daughter from falling further into a deep hole. Lily employs the services of Amber, a psychotherapist, but as Amber reaches out to Rachel and tries to help her understand the root cause of her problems, Rachel’s relationship with her mother worsens.
I really liked how Kate Ruby delved into Rachel and Lily’s relationship. You can see just how determined Lily is to protect Rachel, but you can also see that she is at the end of a tether and that she can’t take much more. The step of employing Amber’s services seems to be the last throw of the dice for them. Kate Ruby has really built on the backstory of their relationship, but whose side can we trust? You can see just how Amber begins to manipulate Rachel and this really drove the tension, especially as Lily tries to win her daughter back. Lily has a very strong personality. I could see that she is a person who will not give up easily when she has a goal in mind, especially when it comes to her family.
Amber is a really fascinating character and I wanted to get to the bottom of what her goal was here, especially as she takes more than a professional interest in Rachel’s wellbeing. I felt that there was something more going on here and I wanted to know what that was. This was the point when I began to fear that something terrible might happen to Rachel, and I could understand why her mother was desperate to bring her back into their family.
As we get to know Rachel and Lily further, I wanted to know the reasons why Rachel was in the position she was now in. Was there something traumatic that happened in her past? I wanted to know if Amber would be able to get to the causes of Rachel’s problems and what impact that would have if she got to the truth.
Tell Me Your Lies is a clever and an utterly gripping debut by Kate Ruby. There were some really surprising twists as Kate delved deeper into her character’s lives that I did not see coming. I will definitely be looking out to see what she writes next.
I really liked how Kate Ruby delved into Rachel and Lily’s relationship. You can see just how determined Lily is to protect Rachel, but you can also see that she is at the end of a tether and that she can’t take much more. The step of employing Amber’s services seems to be the last throw of the dice for them. Kate Ruby has really built on the backstory of their relationship, but whose side can we trust? You can see just how Amber begins to manipulate Rachel and this really drove the tension, especially as Lily tries to win her daughter back. Lily has a very strong personality. I could see that she is a person who will not give up easily when she has a goal in mind, especially when it comes to her family.
Amber is a really fascinating character and I wanted to get to the bottom of what her goal was here, especially as she takes more than a professional interest in Rachel’s wellbeing. I felt that there was something more going on here and I wanted to know what that was. This was the point when I began to fear that something terrible might happen to Rachel, and I could understand why her mother was desperate to bring her back into their family.
As we get to know Rachel and Lily further, I wanted to know the reasons why Rachel was in the position she was now in. Was there something traumatic that happened in her past? I wanted to know if Amber would be able to get to the causes of Rachel’s problems and what impact that would have if she got to the truth.
Tell Me Your Lies is a clever and an utterly gripping debut by Kate Ruby. There were some really surprising twists as Kate delved deeper into her character’s lives that I did not see coming. I will definitely be looking out to see what she writes next.
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