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An Honest Lie
‘I’m going to kill her. You’d better come if you want to save her.’Lorraine — ‘Rainy’ — lives at the top of Tiger Mountain. Remote, moody, cloistered in pine trees and fog, it’s a sanctuary, a new life. She can hide from the disturbing past she wants to forget.If she’s allowed to.When Rainy reluctantly agrees to a girls’ weekend in Vegas, she’s prepared for an exhausting parade of shots and slot machines. But after a wild night, her friend Braithe doesn’t come back to the hotel room.And then Rainy gets the text message, sent from Braithe’s someone has her. But Rainy is who they really want, and Rainy knows why.What follows is a twisted, shocking journey on the knife-edge of life and death. If she wants to save Braithe — and herself — the only way is to step back into the past.This gut-punch of a thriller can only have sprung from the fiendish brain of Tarryn Fisher, one of the most cunning writers of our time.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2022
1534 people are currently reading
65107 people want to read
About the author
Tarryn Fisher
45 books26k followersI would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling could do that. Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,387 reviews
May 7, 2022
welp, this book is a total snoozefest.
and after three chances, i think its safe to assume that TFs stories just dont do it for me. with this one being the worst offender.
its just sooooo drawn out. the events of the synopsis dont even occur until the 75% mark! thats 3/4 of the book being spent talking about a catty girls clique, planning a lame las vegas trip, and a really lacklustre backstory via flashback chapters. and there is also such a disconnect between the past and present POVs that the “high stakes” are massively underwhelming.
i dunno. if you are interested in stories that follow cult members, then you might enjoy this. but everything pretty much missed the mark for me personally.
↠ 2 stars
and after three chances, i think its safe to assume that TFs stories just dont do it for me. with this one being the worst offender.
its just sooooo drawn out. the events of the synopsis dont even occur until the 75% mark! thats 3/4 of the book being spent talking about a catty girls clique, planning a lame las vegas trip, and a really lacklustre backstory via flashback chapters. and there is also such a disconnect between the past and present POVs that the “high stakes” are massively underwhelming.
i dunno. if you are interested in stories that follow cult members, then you might enjoy this. but everything pretty much missed the mark for me personally.
↠ 2 stars
March 27, 2022
Another Cult Book
An Honest Lie is a psychological thriller about an artist whose dark and twisted past comes to light during a girls' trip to Vegas.
Now: Rainy, an artist, moved from NYC to Washington state to start a new life with her significant other, Grant. To please Grant, Rainy begrudgingly joins a group of female friends, known as The Tiger Mountain Group. When the cutthroat friends suggest a weekend in Vegas, Rainy cringes but gives in even though she knows that there is a chance that her secretive past could be exposed.
Then: Summer, a 13-year-old girl, is mourning the loss of her father when her mother makes the decision to move to a cult run by her childhood friend, Taured. Their life in the cult is one filled with terrors and abuse.
When now and then finally converge, Rainy must fight her demons to save an innocent life.
The chapters in the present are narrated by Rainy, and the chapters in the past are narrated by Summer. Both are likable.
I am so sick of cult-themed books and the now and then narrative trope. I have read several cult-themed books during 2022, and I will say that this was my favorite. However, this book has flaws in other ways.
The pacing is slow, as I was just waiting for something to happen. I was more intrigued with Summer’s narrative than Rainy’s chapters. Summer's fear is palpable, and her chapters are filled with tension and suspense. Whereas Rainy’s chapters are dull, and not much is going on outside of her having to deal with a bunch of bitchy so-called friends.
It isn’t until deep into the Vegas trip that something finally happens as a result of a stupid decision made by Rainy. The plot turns chaotic and messy at this point, but it also becomes very entertaining. The believability factor falters towards the end, and there are many convenient memories interjected from Rainy’s past to help wrap up the mess nice and neatly.
Even though I took a lot of issues with the plot, I still found this to be an entertaining and intriguing read. I think I just need a break from plots that revolve around cults for a while!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
An Honest Lie is a psychological thriller about an artist whose dark and twisted past comes to light during a girls' trip to Vegas.
Now: Rainy, an artist, moved from NYC to Washington state to start a new life with her significant other, Grant. To please Grant, Rainy begrudgingly joins a group of female friends, known as The Tiger Mountain Group. When the cutthroat friends suggest a weekend in Vegas, Rainy cringes but gives in even though she knows that there is a chance that her secretive past could be exposed.
Then: Summer, a 13-year-old girl, is mourning the loss of her father when her mother makes the decision to move to a cult run by her childhood friend, Taured. Their life in the cult is one filled with terrors and abuse.
When now and then finally converge, Rainy must fight her demons to save an innocent life.
The chapters in the present are narrated by Rainy, and the chapters in the past are narrated by Summer. Both are likable.
I am so sick of cult-themed books and the now and then narrative trope. I have read several cult-themed books during 2022, and I will say that this was my favorite. However, this book has flaws in other ways.
The pacing is slow, as I was just waiting for something to happen. I was more intrigued with Summer’s narrative than Rainy’s chapters. Summer's fear is palpable, and her chapters are filled with tension and suspense. Whereas Rainy’s chapters are dull, and not much is going on outside of her having to deal with a bunch of bitchy so-called friends.
It isn’t until deep into the Vegas trip that something finally happens as a result of a stupid decision made by Rainy. The plot turns chaotic and messy at this point, but it also becomes very entertaining. The believability factor falters towards the end, and there are many convenient memories interjected from Rainy’s past to help wrap up the mess nice and neatly.
Even though I took a lot of issues with the plot, I still found this to be an entertaining and intriguing read. I think I just need a break from plots that revolve around cults for a while!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2022
Tarryn Fisher created this unique mystery thriller that captures strong women characters, abusive relations and a group of mean ladies with more on their mind than gaining her friendship. When Rainy moved in with her boyfriend Grant to Tiger Mountain, she received more than she bargained for. His group of friends for the past twenty years and his introduction of numerous girlfriends to them leaves Rainy feeling skeptical, unable to meet their specifications and feeling left out. They appear to have cruel intentions with their invitations and she senses something is off. This unique women's club plans a girls' weekend in Vegas. She declines, but is informed by her husband he has prepaid for her trip.
Although Rainy's hesitation to go to Vegas, has a different meaning than just hanging out with these conniving Tigerettes. Rainy's disturbing past took place in a Cult in Vegas and what she is running from is still out there waiting for her to resurface. She changed her name and location to get away, but these ladies are trying to peel her layers to get a real look at who "Summer" is.
The setting of Summer's past is more interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat more than the present. With the compound in a rundown prison, haunting in itself knowing who the occupants were before. Most of the scenes played out are disturbing and reveal a deep mind game from their leader. The abuse and hard work the people suffer appear demeaning and fruitless..... but escaping could be deadly...
What a thrilling escapade! You are unsure who to trust and this had me second guessing intentions of even those closest to Rainy/Summer. The nightmare of her teen years will leave you reeling and seething at these people. Expect the unexpected from Tarryn Fisher! This is my first for a cult read leaving my eyes wide open!
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title in exchange for my honest review.
Although Rainy's hesitation to go to Vegas, has a different meaning than just hanging out with these conniving Tigerettes. Rainy's disturbing past took place in a Cult in Vegas and what she is running from is still out there waiting for her to resurface. She changed her name and location to get away, but these ladies are trying to peel her layers to get a real look at who "Summer" is.
The setting of Summer's past is more interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat more than the present. With the compound in a rundown prison, haunting in itself knowing who the occupants were before. Most of the scenes played out are disturbing and reveal a deep mind game from their leader. The abuse and hard work the people suffer appear demeaning and fruitless..... but escaping could be deadly...
What a thrilling escapade! You are unsure who to trust and this had me second guessing intentions of even those closest to Rainy/Summer. The nightmare of her teen years will leave you reeling and seething at these people. Expect the unexpected from Tarryn Fisher! This is my first for a cult read leaving my eyes wide open!
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2022
Q: What do you get when you combine a fun girls’ trip to Vegas with a religious cult?
A: An incredibly absurd plot.
Tarryn Fisher’s The Wives was a standout thriller for me a few years ago, but The Wrong Family was underwhelming. Still willing to give her writing another shot, I requested Fisher’s latest thriller.
An Honest Lie failed to grab my interest from beginning to end. It was almost a DNF for me more times than I wish to admit. The characters were flat and unremarkable other than their names. Braithe? Taured? Rainy? Viola? Outrageous names DO NOT make up for the lack of characterization.
I never became invested in this plot and found myself skimming my way through to the end. There was such a complete lack of believability and disconnect for me. While I do enjoy a good book about cults, this one just grazed the surface of this type of restrictive, religious, and abusive lifestyle and was missing an element of authenticity. I didn’t feel scared or anxious reading this at all!
Finally, don’t blink or you will miss the predictable minor twists!
Trigger warning: cults, kidnapping
Expected publication date: 4/26/22
1/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of An Honest Lie in exchange for an honest review.
A: An incredibly absurd plot.
Tarryn Fisher’s The Wives was a standout thriller for me a few years ago, but The Wrong Family was underwhelming. Still willing to give her writing another shot, I requested Fisher’s latest thriller.
An Honest Lie failed to grab my interest from beginning to end. It was almost a DNF for me more times than I wish to admit. The characters were flat and unremarkable other than their names. Braithe? Taured? Rainy? Viola? Outrageous names DO NOT make up for the lack of characterization.
I never became invested in this plot and found myself skimming my way through to the end. There was such a complete lack of believability and disconnect for me. While I do enjoy a good book about cults, this one just grazed the surface of this type of restrictive, religious, and abusive lifestyle and was missing an element of authenticity. I didn’t feel scared or anxious reading this at all!
Finally, don’t blink or you will miss the predictable minor twists!
Trigger warning: cults, kidnapping
Expected publication date: 4/26/22
1/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of An Honest Lie in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2022
An Honest Lie is a tense and addictive psychological thriller.
A year ago, Rainy moved to Tiger Mountain with her boyfriend Grant. She spends her time working on her art and getting to know Grant’s childhood friends. After countless happy hours, dinners, and the like, the close circle of friends invites Rainy on their girls’ weekend trip to Las Vegas.
She reluctantly agrees to go, even though Nevada is where all her troubles began. In Vegas, Rainy senses strange vibes from her friends and things only get worse from there. Her friend, Braithe, goes missing, and Rainy receives a text threatening Braithe’s life if Rainy doesn’t follow the kidnapper’s instructions. And just like that, Rainy’s past and present collide in ways she’s spent years trying to avoid.
This wild thriller alternates between two timelines.
Suspension of disbelief is a requirement because the plot is pretty over the top in many places. Even though it is OTT, I still enjoyed reading it.
This is the second cult-themed thriller I’ve read this year, and I much preferred this one. This one had the appropriate tension and character development that makes it a compelling and high-stakes thriller. I liked that Rainy was a strong female character. Sure, she made some unwise moves, but I still rooted for her. She isn’t the type to watch and despair as things fall apart; she makes active choices and forges her way.
I recommend this thriller if you don’t mind plots that get a touch outlandish.
Thank you to Graydon House for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
A year ago, Rainy moved to Tiger Mountain with her boyfriend Grant. She spends her time working on her art and getting to know Grant’s childhood friends. After countless happy hours, dinners, and the like, the close circle of friends invites Rainy on their girls’ weekend trip to Las Vegas.
She reluctantly agrees to go, even though Nevada is where all her troubles began. In Vegas, Rainy senses strange vibes from her friends and things only get worse from there. Her friend, Braithe, goes missing, and Rainy receives a text threatening Braithe’s life if Rainy doesn’t follow the kidnapper’s instructions. And just like that, Rainy’s past and present collide in ways she’s spent years trying to avoid.
This wild thriller alternates between two timelines.
Suspension of disbelief is a requirement because the plot is pretty over the top in many places. Even though it is OTT, I still enjoyed reading it.
This is the second cult-themed thriller I’ve read this year, and I much preferred this one. This one had the appropriate tension and character development that makes it a compelling and high-stakes thriller. I liked that Rainy was a strong female character. Sure, she made some unwise moves, but I still rooted for her. She isn’t the type to watch and despair as things fall apart; she makes active choices and forges her way.
I recommend this thriller if you don’t mind plots that get a touch outlandish.
Thank you to Graydon House for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
February 23, 2023
I liked this book, it was a decent, quick read.
If you read the synopsis, it makes this sound like a completely different book than it actually is. The events of the synopsis don't even happen until about 75% into the book and they are not even really what this book is about.
What it is about: a girl who grew up in a cult and finally escaped is many years later forced to confront her past. The book moves back and forth between past and present and helps you to understand Summer/Rainy and why she is the way she is.
In the meantime, I thought there was altogether too much dwelling on things that did not even matter in the slightest in the scheme of the plot. I really thought that someone in the group of women friends would have a tie to the cult and that would bring everything together but no, it is just a pathetic woman who can't get over her high school boyfriend.
This wasn't a bad read, it was interesting because unlike some cult themed books, this one at least seemed very authentic to the horrors of what actually goes on and how difficult it is to leave.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
If you read the synopsis, it makes this sound like a completely different book than it actually is. The events of the synopsis don't even happen until about 75% into the book and they are not even really what this book is about.
What it is about: a girl who grew up in a cult and finally escaped is many years later forced to confront her past. The book moves back and forth between past and present and helps you to understand Summer/Rainy and why she is the way she is.
In the meantime, I thought there was altogether too much dwelling on things that did not even matter in the slightest in the scheme of the plot. I really thought that someone in the group of women friends would have a tie to the cult and that would bring everything together but no, it is just a pathetic woman who can't get over her high school boyfriend.
This wasn't a bad read, it was interesting because unlike some cult themed books, this one at least seemed very authentic to the horrors of what actually goes on and how difficult it is to leave.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 13, 2022
‘The sins of the father will be visited upon the children’ holds absolutely true here. In the present day artist Rainy lives in Tiger Mountain in Washington with Grant who encourages her to join the ‘Tiger Wives’. This small group of women give of confusing mixed messages, Rainy finds it hard to trust at the best of times and she’s very surprised when she’s invited on a girls trip to Vegas. The area holds bad memories for her and much fear but she is persuaded to go by Grant.
In the past narrative Summer and her mother Lorraine are heading to Nevada to join a group led by Taured her mothers childhood friend. Here Summer learns to tell An Honest Lie when she needs to in order to survive. This is to be an important life lesson.
I dare say some of you will be thinking oh no, not another cult book but I actually find those parts of the book to have been so well written that you almost feel like you’re there with Summer in her suffering and pain. These are some of the best parts of the book though it’s not easy reading. What Summer learns here she utilises later as Rainy, she gains strength to fight back and free herself from the painful past that has haunted her and I like this strong message. Your past does not have to define your future and you can shake off the shackles and be free.
Right from the start the author drops in little bombs that explode your perceptions, the unsettling and uncomfortable vibes both from the past and in the present are excellent. The dynamics then and now are also very strong as do you feel Rainy’s confusion especially with the Tiger Wives group but not exclusively as it’s elsewhere too. The characterisation is very good, Rainy is very complex, she is clever and has ingenuity and a strong moral code and I enjoy seeing her growing strength. Taured’s portrayal is a chillingly good and you feel the horror and tension he manifests. He isn’t the only liar, conniver or manipulator as there are several of those in the fast-paced plot .
This is a very easy to read novel and I enjoy the way it’s written as it keeps my attention throughout.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
In the past narrative Summer and her mother Lorraine are heading to Nevada to join a group led by Taured her mothers childhood friend. Here Summer learns to tell An Honest Lie when she needs to in order to survive. This is to be an important life lesson.
I dare say some of you will be thinking oh no, not another cult book but I actually find those parts of the book to have been so well written that you almost feel like you’re there with Summer in her suffering and pain. These are some of the best parts of the book though it’s not easy reading. What Summer learns here she utilises later as Rainy, she gains strength to fight back and free herself from the painful past that has haunted her and I like this strong message. Your past does not have to define your future and you can shake off the shackles and be free.
Right from the start the author drops in little bombs that explode your perceptions, the unsettling and uncomfortable vibes both from the past and in the present are excellent. The dynamics then and now are also very strong as do you feel Rainy’s confusion especially with the Tiger Wives group but not exclusively as it’s elsewhere too. The characterisation is very good, Rainy is very complex, she is clever and has ingenuity and a strong moral code and I enjoy seeing her growing strength. Taured’s portrayal is a chillingly good and you feel the horror and tension he manifests. He isn’t the only liar, conniver or manipulator as there are several of those in the fast-paced plot .
This is a very easy to read novel and I enjoy the way it’s written as it keeps my attention throughout.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 5, 2022
This baby synched to my kindle this morning, so, I fed the cats, made a giant cup of decaf and read this until the last page without moving from the chair. And let me tell you, my bestie wrote a slam-dunk, see ya later, I'm the queen Beech type of book.
I know there are those who think this isn't the best thing since Snickers ice cream and to them I say...
March 28, 2022
📚 AN HONEST LIE 📚 Is a full length psychological thriller by Tarryn Fisher
There were more twists and turns in this book than a roller coaster as we delved into our heroines past where she was aged thirteen living in a cult situation with her mother after her father had overdosed on drugs, with nowhere to go her mother turns back to her childhood friend not realising the danger she was placing them both in.
To present time, where Rainy is a well established artist who'd just recently uprooted herself from New York to Washington to live with her partner Grant. It's here where she's welcomed into an electric group of friends who call themselves 'The Tiger Mountain Group' it's whilst in this group setting that a girls trip to Vegas is brought up begrudgingly Rainy does agree to join them.
It’s not long before the past and present both overlap and collide.
This was inhaled in no time at all, pulled in like the knack which this author seems to effortlessly excel at. One thing you can rely can with this author is every book is unpredictable and unique, and this book was no different, I never knew which way this book was going to go. This had so much depth, the storyline just wowed me. The only reason why I didn't give this 5 stars is sometimes it was a wee bit choppy and the ending kind of ended rushed.
April 30, 2022
Currently the worst book of 2022. Going to take a lot of effort to dethrone this one.
May 5, 2022
Rainy is living the good life. She has an amazing boyfriend, her art is selling for top dollar and she has new friends. Her life wasn't always this peachy. Once upon a time Rainy escaped a compound where a cult lived. She hoped to never have to relive any of her time there. But when her new friends decide to take a girls trip to Vegas, she must face her past once and for all. This was a fast paced thriller with a few likeable characters. The story was just ok in my opinion. I loved Tarryn Fisher's other books so much, but felt like this one fell a bit flat in comparison to the other's. It still was entertaining, just not what I expected.
May 4, 2022
An Honest Lie was definitely one of my most anticipated reads this Spring and when my NetGalley request sat as “pending” for eternity (thank you, NetGalley, for finally allowing users to delete unresponsive requests!) I made sure I was first on the library waiting list for pub day. The story here takes place in the past and the present. In the present our leading lady Rainy is a pretty well-known sculpture artist who lives with her boyfriend Grant on Tiger Mountain and begrudgingly associates with all of his pals at various happy hours, dinners, etc. In the past “Summer” and her mother live outside of Las Vegas . . . . in a cult . . . .
Obviously the past narrative is where it’s at. The present was lackluster from the jumpstart with undeveloped characters and a “girls trip” to Las Vegas which was obviously only a ploy to get Rainy/Summer back to her roots. Rainy is once again Tarryn Fisher herself – her physical appearance is pretty much identical and she lives in the same place Fisher has recently moved to. That being said, the story flowed alright for the first 200 pages although it wasn’t nearly as dark as I would expect from a cult book – especially one with ACTUAL SPOILER subplot. The last 100 pages, though? What a slog. There just wasn’t really anything there. The bad guy was obviously the bad guy. Rainy did the typical bimbo move of running straight to danger with not much of a plan on how she was going to get out of things alive. The stuff with the “friend” was paper thin. I’ve really enjoyed Tarryn Fisher in the past and I will definitely read what she comes up with next, but this one was a swing and a miss.
Oh, and a nickel’s worth of free advice: Having your best friend write your cover blurb is kind of like telling everyone you know how smart and pretty you are because your mom says so. It’s tacky – like 5 Starring your own book. Lovers of Verity should definitely seek out Fisher’s stuff. Lovers of the New Adult instalove stylings CoHo is most well-known for will probably not be fans.
February 22, 2022
QUICK TAKE: In a year with a LOT of cult books hitting bookshelves, this is...not the one to prioritize. There was such a disconnect between the Las Vegas girls trip and the cult storyline that I never really felt came together in a cohesive way, and the last 50 pages are just a slog. Ultimately, not for me.
July 20, 2022
I don’t really have much to say about this book… It started off really good, and then about halfway through it just took a complete nosedive. And then we’re left with the unrealistic ending, so there’s that.
The book started off with Summer (Rainy) and her mother joining a cult. Now, that part of the book was super interesting and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. In fact the book flips back and forth between Then and Now chapters, and the Then chapters were very good. The Now chapters, not so much… Oh, and the chapters in this book are super looooong!
Rainy (in the Now chapters), goes on a trip to Vegas with a group of women who are very superficial and not close to Rainy. Then a weird chain of events take place, and that’s where the book sort of lost me.
I really loved The Wives by Tarryn Fisher, but I don’t feel that this book measured up to that one (I think she set the bar way too high with that book). Anyways, this book was alright, not my favorite.
The book started off with Summer (Rainy) and her mother joining a cult. Now, that part of the book was super interesting and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. In fact the book flips back and forth between Then and Now chapters, and the Then chapters were very good. The Now chapters, not so much… Oh, and the chapters in this book are super looooong!
Rainy (in the Now chapters), goes on a trip to Vegas with a group of women who are very superficial and not close to Rainy. Then a weird chain of events take place, and that’s where the book sort of lost me.
I really loved The Wives by Tarryn Fisher, but I don’t feel that this book measured up to that one (I think she set the bar way too high with that book). Anyways, this book was alright, not my favorite.
April 30, 2022
One thing that I am learning about myself: I freaking LOVE cult fiction! (If that’s nOt A rEaL gEnRe, kindly shut up I like it) 🤣🤣
It’s been a while since a book sucked me in this much. I was getting ready for the gym with book in hand and my husband said, “Damn. That’s dedication.”
Rainy’s stories of her time in a cult were dark and scary, but somehow the author was able to present a theme of mother-daughter friendship. Was the big “twist” a bit outlandish? Absolutely, but that’s fiction, baby! I would honestly love to see this told from Taured’s point of view. I think it would be entertaining to learn more of the cult leader’s intentions, how his idea formed, etc.
Tarryn, since you clearly like unique names (Taured, Ama, Braithe, Chord, and Rhodi), where’s my chance to be in one of your books?
I recommend this for fans of Yes, Daddy and The Hunting Wives.
It’s been a while since a book sucked me in this much. I was getting ready for the gym with book in hand and my husband said, “Damn. That’s dedication.”
Rainy’s stories of her time in a cult were dark and scary, but somehow the author was able to present a theme of mother-daughter friendship. Was the big “twist” a bit outlandish? Absolutely, but that’s fiction, baby! I would honestly love to see this told from Taured’s point of view. I think it would be entertaining to learn more of the cult leader’s intentions, how his idea formed, etc.
Tarryn, since you clearly like unique names (Taured, Ama, Braithe, Chord, and Rhodi), where’s my chance to be in one of your books?
I recommend this for fans of Yes, Daddy and The Hunting Wives.
August 8, 2022
Making things up in her head. She got like this with relationships sometimes, trying to find things wrong that weren't there. How many therapists had confirmed she had trust issues? (PG. 129)
I thought this would be a cool cult thriller to read but it did not feel cultish or thrilling. This was my first Tarryn Fisher and maybe my last if she keeps boring me out of my skull like this. Even my skull's skull was bored. Mostly skimmed it. Typical unhappy housewives that turn on one another with an accidental trip twist. The characters were people I'd stay away from in real life. Didn't like or care for them. I hate fakeness and show-offs.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying read. Maybe if you get stuck at the airport and this is the last book in the book stand and you like to throw away $20 because you are desperate all of a sudden....then yes, I recommend this title pass the time.
I thought this would be a cool cult thriller to read but it did not feel cultish or thrilling. This was my first Tarryn Fisher and maybe my last if she keeps boring me out of my skull like this. Even my skull's skull was bored. Mostly skimmed it. Typical unhappy housewives that turn on one another with an accidental trip twist. The characters were people I'd stay away from in real life. Didn't like or care for them. I hate fakeness and show-offs.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying read. Maybe if you get stuck at the airport and this is the last book in the book stand and you like to throw away $20 because you are desperate all of a sudden....then yes, I recommend this title pass the time.
July 25, 2022
Tell an honest lie when you need to.
You can take a girl out of a cult, but how do you get the cult out of the girl? Rainy is now an acclaimed sculptor, but she once was a girl named Summer who spent many of her formative years in a desert compound under the leadership of a charismatic man named Taured. When Rainy goes on a girl's trip to Vegas, her past comes calling. Will she be ready? Told in Then and Now timelines, this new thriller will have you rooting for Rainy to kick her past in the booty. I really liked the audio version. My experiences with Tarryn Fisher's books have been pretty good. The Wives got four stars while The Wrong Family was brilliant and earned five. Invested enough to see what Fisher comes up with next.
You can take a girl out of a cult, but how do you get the cult out of the girl? Rainy is now an acclaimed sculptor, but she once was a girl named Summer who spent many of her formative years in a desert compound under the leadership of a charismatic man named Taured. When Rainy goes on a girl's trip to Vegas, her past comes calling. Will she be ready? Told in Then and Now timelines, this new thriller will have you rooting for Rainy to kick her past in the booty. I really liked the audio version. My experiences with Tarryn Fisher's books have been pretty good. The Wives got four stars while The Wrong Family was brilliant and earned five. Invested enough to see what Fisher comes up with next.
March 26, 2022
this was quick and started strong, but left me wanting a lot more. the flashback POV was very strong and interesting (cult vibes), but the present day plot didn’t have me hooked. and the two didn’t blend well enough together for me at the end.
April 26, 2022
This book… it kept me up nights because of the anxiety I felt while reading. What a crazy ride. I was sucked in immediately. especially with a lot of the book being set in Vegas. I don't know what it is about Vegas, but I am drawn to it like catnip.
Rainy is new to the "girls group" and she really doesn't feel like she fits in. She's more of a loner and she's absolultely someone I can relate to. She fits in more with the guys but she will do anything to make her boyfriend happy, so she agrees to go on a girls trip to Vegas after much convincing. There's a reason she's stayed far away from Vegas and she doesn't want her past to catch up with her now.
The chapters go back and forth from then and now and weave a tale of control and a woman's fight to regain her power. I don't want to spoil anything, but if Rainy wants to keep her past from beating her, she needs to face it now. After her friend is kidnapped, she is on a race against time to save her and overcome the past she already escaped once.
Tarryn writes STRONG female leads, and Rainy was one of the strongest so far. My heart was in my throat for most of this book and my mind was racing. If you are looking for something to capture you from page one, grab this one.
Rainy is new to the "girls group" and she really doesn't feel like she fits in. She's more of a loner and she's absolultely someone I can relate to. She fits in more with the guys but she will do anything to make her boyfriend happy, so she agrees to go on a girls trip to Vegas after much convincing. There's a reason she's stayed far away from Vegas and she doesn't want her past to catch up with her now.
The chapters go back and forth from then and now and weave a tale of control and a woman's fight to regain her power. I don't want to spoil anything, but if Rainy wants to keep her past from beating her, she needs to face it now. After her friend is kidnapped, she is on a race against time to save her and overcome the past she already escaped once.
Tarryn writes STRONG female leads, and Rainy was one of the strongest so far. My heart was in my throat for most of this book and my mind was racing. If you are looking for something to capture you from page one, grab this one.
August 11, 2022
ugh the ending was super predictable. The flashbacks were the only thing that kept me intrigued. I felt like the present storyline just wasn’t needed & the friend drama was so weird and confusing .. like it wasn’t needed at all. Overall it was a decent book but I definitely won’t be rereading
July 16, 2023
"Rainy felt her tits lift and slap back against her rib cage as her old truck cleared a pot hole, she'd forgotten to put on a bra. Trashy, she thought. "
From page one, it was rough.
This is an unsuccessful dual timeline.
While the earlier timeline is fairly interesting, the characters are weak and make stupid decisions throughout, the latter timeline is ridiculous and you have to wonder how this author views women as while they are a little bit cleverer, they are shallow and literally only care about playing truth or dare (these women are in their 30's).
I don't see the point of this book. You've got to read it to understand how ridiculous it is.
This is my first book by this author, and maybe one day I'd read another just to see if she's still hating on us.
One star.
From page one, it was rough.
This is an unsuccessful dual timeline.
While the earlier timeline is fairly interesting, the characters are weak and make stupid decisions throughout, the latter timeline is ridiculous and you have to wonder how this author views women as while they are a little bit cleverer, they are shallow and literally only care about playing truth or dare (these women are in their 30's).
I don't see the point of this book. You've got to read it to understand how ridiculous it is.
This is my first book by this author, and maybe one day I'd read another just to see if she's still hating on us.
One star.
May 28, 2024
2 stars! ⭐️⭐️
I listened to the audio for this one over the course of a couple of weeks. Weeks.
Full disclosure: I fell asleep on several occasions while listening to this. I guess you could call it a snooze fest! I lost interest - obviously - and had no idea what was going on. It started off ok though. However, I’m not sure if cult stories are my thing.
I listened to the audio for this one over the course of a couple of weeks. Weeks.
Full disclosure: I fell asleep on several occasions while listening to this. I guess you could call it a snooze fest! I lost interest - obviously - and had no idea what was going on. It started off ok though. However, I’m not sure if cult stories are my thing.
April 5, 2023
Rainy is an artist and is happily living at the top of Tiger Mountain with her partner Grant, she is content but keeps her disturbing past to herself, they belong to a group of friends who have happy hour and the woman seem to get on well, but when she is convinced to attend a girls weekend in Vegas Rainy is apprehensive to go back to her past.
The tension is high on this weekend and Rainy is sure that something is going on with Tara and Braithe and after a big night out and a visit to a physic that Rainy was not happy about Braithe does not return to the hotel and a when Rainy texts her asking for answers Rainy realizes that someone else has her phone.
A message lets her know that Braithe is being held by someone, someone who knows Rainy and all about her past and Rainy must rescue her friend, but before she follows the rules set, Rainy puts a few things in place and before long she is meeting with her past, danger abounds not only physical but mentally as well.
This was a slow moving book at first then things started to move faster and Rainy is forced to go back to her past and relive so much pain, I did enjoy it very much some twists and lots of things were explained, I was pulled in to this physiological thriller, the end was a fitting one in my opinion and very good, Rainy was a fabulous strong character and I liked her a lot and it is a book that I would recommend.
My thanks to Harlequin AU for my copy to read and review.
The tension is high on this weekend and Rainy is sure that something is going on with Tara and Braithe and after a big night out and a visit to a physic that Rainy was not happy about Braithe does not return to the hotel and a when Rainy texts her asking for answers Rainy realizes that someone else has her phone.
A message lets her know that Braithe is being held by someone, someone who knows Rainy and all about her past and Rainy must rescue her friend, but before she follows the rules set, Rainy puts a few things in place and before long she is meeting with her past, danger abounds not only physical but mentally as well.
This was a slow moving book at first then things started to move faster and Rainy is forced to go back to her past and relive so much pain, I did enjoy it very much some twists and lots of things were explained, I was pulled in to this physiological thriller, the end was a fitting one in my opinion and very good, Rainy was a fabulous strong character and I liked her a lot and it is a book that I would recommend.
My thanks to Harlequin AU for my copy to read and review.
January 15, 2022
I’m not sure how well this story came together. It was a mix of current and past timelines that didn’t merge all that well, and often verged on unbelievable. The story centers on Rainy, who reluctantly attends a girls weekend in Vegas with a group of girls who are really friends of her boyfriend more than herself. Things aren’t as they seem with the friend group but the real drama in the story is related to Rainy’s past, which catches up with her there.
I honestly didn’t see the point of the current storyline when the story is really about Rainy’s past. It didn’t add anything to the story and just provided distracting drama beyond the actual storyline. I thought the flashbacks were far more interesting than the current story, even though I’m not super into the cult theme. The last 3rd of the story is much more of a thriller and more action packed than the rest of the book; I liked that part best, though it did often cause me to suspend my disbelief. Still, the plans that Rainy came up with to try to outsmart her assailant were clever and I found it interesting. There were no real surprises in the book- I thought it was pretty easy to figure out who was who.
Overall I found this to be kind of a bizarre story, but it did hold my interest. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly didn’t see the point of the current storyline when the story is really about Rainy’s past. It didn’t add anything to the story and just provided distracting drama beyond the actual storyline. I thought the flashbacks were far more interesting than the current story, even though I’m not super into the cult theme. The last 3rd of the story is much more of a thriller and more action packed than the rest of the book; I liked that part best, though it did often cause me to suspend my disbelief. Still, the plans that Rainy came up with to try to outsmart her assailant were clever and I found it interesting. There were no real surprises in the book- I thought it was pretty easy to figure out who was who.
Overall I found this to be kind of a bizarre story, but it did hold my interest. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2022
Taryn Fisher books are always wild and crazy and An Honest Lie was no different. I flew through this one, needing to know what was happening next. Cult fiction is becoming quite the thing these days, and I am a fan for the most part. It is fascinating to see what people will do and to stop and think about what you would do in the same situation. I would hope that I would be smarter that Rainy and not get myself messed up in this insane ending.
Rainy doesn’t talk about her past. It is behind her and she is happy now. An artist, she has moved away from New York to be with her boyfriend Grant. But when she is invited to a girls weekend with Grant’s mates wives, she really doesn’t want to go. Vegas does not hold good memories for her, and she never wants to go back. But she doesn’t want to tell anybody why so she goes. She doesn’t like these women either. She slips away, unable to stay away from the place where her mother was murdered when she was a kid..in a cult that ruined her life.
If you like cult stories, you will like this one. It is also a story of Rainy and her mother, what brought them to Nevada in the first place? And inside Rainey’s head, her thoughts and memories.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my copy of this book to read. An Honest
Ike is out now.
Rainy doesn’t talk about her past. It is behind her and she is happy now. An artist, she has moved away from New York to be with her boyfriend Grant. But when she is invited to a girls weekend with Grant’s mates wives, she really doesn’t want to go. Vegas does not hold good memories for her, and she never wants to go back. But she doesn’t want to tell anybody why so she goes. She doesn’t like these women either. She slips away, unable to stay away from the place where her mother was murdered when she was a kid..in a cult that ruined her life.
If you like cult stories, you will like this one. It is also a story of Rainy and her mother, what brought them to Nevada in the first place? And inside Rainey’s head, her thoughts and memories.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my copy of this book to read. An Honest
Ike is out now.
February 17, 2022
I've been a huge Tarryn fan for ages but this one missed the mark for me. The story has dual timelines, you have Rainy as an adult reluctantly agreeing to go on a girls trip to Vegas to appease her boyfriend and Rainy as a child growing up in a cult. The cult timeline was the more interesting to me, the current was just boring. It felt like I was reading two completely different books. The converging of the timelines did not work at all and led to a disjointed and unbelievable climax and conclusion in my opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
December 21, 2022
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘No one knows where I am, she thought as she drifted to sleep … an honest lie.’
New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher has released her third psychological thriller novel titled An Honest Lie. A story where the past and the present collide in spectacular circumstances, An Honest Lie is a dark, gut churning and twisted. I really enjoyed getting acquainted with Tarryn Fisher’s work.
An Honest Lie introduces Lorraine, who is also known as Rainy. When we meet Rainy she is living in an isolated locale in the Tiger Mountain forest region. As Rainy tries to forge a new life for herself in this remote location, she knows that one day her past will catch up with her. With great trepidation Rainy decides to accept an invitation to a girls only weekend away in Las Vegas. Things soon take a wild turn when one of the attendees of this party does not make it back home after a crazy night out. Rainy is beside herself, she had the gut feeling that this weekend away would bring nothing but trouble. When Rainy receives an ominous message on her phone, she knows that her troubled past has finally come back to haunt her. An Honest Lie is a chaotic, breathless and revealing story that considers the real cost of concealing the truth.
An Honest Lie represents the first book I have read by Tarryn Fisher, an author who has gained recognition for her previous two psychological thrillers. I have both of these books on my enormous TBR pile shelves and I do hope to read them soon based on my enjoyment of An Honest Lie. This one kept me thoroughly entertained for the weekend. I’m glad I selected Tarryn Fisher’s latest to read.
The synopsis of An Honest Lie provides us with a snippet of what we will encounter when we open up our lives to lead character Rainy. Volatile, twisty, surprising and sharp, I enjoyed this one from the open through to the close. The past to present day switches are handled well, taking the reader on a trek back into events of times past, along with the current day happenings. I found I was interested in both timeframes equally. The pacing of An Honest Lie was perfectly set, keeping me on my toes for the duration of this tale. With murky characters, an illuminating setting and plenty of intrigue, I whirled my way through this one in a fairly short period of time. With a set of themes weaved around cults, the past, truth, lies, loyalty, betrayal, self-preservation and fear, An Honest Lie sure gets the heart pumping.
Tarryn Fisher definitely captured my full attention with An Honest Lie. If you are looking for a consuming weekend read, this one will meet your needs!
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
‘No one knows where I am, she thought as she drifted to sleep … an honest lie.’
New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher has released her third psychological thriller novel titled An Honest Lie. A story where the past and the present collide in spectacular circumstances, An Honest Lie is a dark, gut churning and twisted. I really enjoyed getting acquainted with Tarryn Fisher’s work.
An Honest Lie introduces Lorraine, who is also known as Rainy. When we meet Rainy she is living in an isolated locale in the Tiger Mountain forest region. As Rainy tries to forge a new life for herself in this remote location, she knows that one day her past will catch up with her. With great trepidation Rainy decides to accept an invitation to a girls only weekend away in Las Vegas. Things soon take a wild turn when one of the attendees of this party does not make it back home after a crazy night out. Rainy is beside herself, she had the gut feeling that this weekend away would bring nothing but trouble. When Rainy receives an ominous message on her phone, she knows that her troubled past has finally come back to haunt her. An Honest Lie is a chaotic, breathless and revealing story that considers the real cost of concealing the truth.
An Honest Lie represents the first book I have read by Tarryn Fisher, an author who has gained recognition for her previous two psychological thrillers. I have both of these books on my enormous TBR pile shelves and I do hope to read them soon based on my enjoyment of An Honest Lie. This one kept me thoroughly entertained for the weekend. I’m glad I selected Tarryn Fisher’s latest to read.
The synopsis of An Honest Lie provides us with a snippet of what we will encounter when we open up our lives to lead character Rainy. Volatile, twisty, surprising and sharp, I enjoyed this one from the open through to the close. The past to present day switches are handled well, taking the reader on a trek back into events of times past, along with the current day happenings. I found I was interested in both timeframes equally. The pacing of An Honest Lie was perfectly set, keeping me on my toes for the duration of this tale. With murky characters, an illuminating setting and plenty of intrigue, I whirled my way through this one in a fairly short period of time. With a set of themes weaved around cults, the past, truth, lies, loyalty, betrayal, self-preservation and fear, An Honest Lie sure gets the heart pumping.
Tarryn Fisher definitely captured my full attention with An Honest Lie. If you are looking for a consuming weekend read, this one will meet your needs!
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
May 23, 2022
This was my Audible pick for May, and unfortunately, it gets a big thumbs down for me. Ridiculous plot, absurd characters, pointless epilogue, etc., etc., etc. Although I really shouldn't be surprised, as looking back, I have never given any of Fisher's books more than 3 stars.
The premise sounded so promising too - a girl's trip with a deadly cult twist told from a dual timeline - Then and Now. In the "Then" chapters, young Summer and her mother move to a forgotten outskirt of Las Vegas for her mother to join a cult. In the "Now", Summer has changed her name to Rainy and now lives with her boyfriend, Grant, in Washington. Grant has a whole group of lifelong friends and he pushes Rainy to be friends with their partners, who are comprised mainly of "mean girls" who don't really take to Rainy - especially Tara. When a girls' trip gets pushed on Rainy by Grant and the friends, she relents even though it's to Las Vegas (what a coincidence 🙄), where Rainy/Summer’s past comes back to haunt her.
It's still a head-scratcher to me as to what one timeline had to do with the other? Because from what I could see, absolutely nothing really. It was like two separate stories with terribly slow pacing that never "met in the middle"- it almost felt like started out as one story and ended with a completely different one. I also thought Summer/Rainy was a god awful character. None of her actions made sense with her background and past trauma i.e. she is so scarred about what happened to her at the cult, but yet she makes a pit stop all alone to the cult town where she knows word will get back to the leader?? Okay .... Not to mention, the conclusion was ridiculously far-fetched (but yet still predictable at the same time). It's not believable that the only possible solution to the issue was the way Rainy went about it. And the epilogue just gives fodder to my fire that epilogues are generally a gigantic waste of space.
I don't know, maybe this one was just not a good audiobook (although the narrator was not bad). It was very difficult to follow on audio and didn’t keep my attention; but somehow I don't think that's it, I think it's just not a great book. 2 stars.
The premise sounded so promising too - a girl's trip with a deadly cult twist told from a dual timeline - Then and Now. In the "Then" chapters, young Summer and her mother move to a forgotten outskirt of Las Vegas for her mother to join a cult. In the "Now", Summer has changed her name to Rainy and now lives with her boyfriend, Grant, in Washington. Grant has a whole group of lifelong friends and he pushes Rainy to be friends with their partners, who are comprised mainly of "mean girls" who don't really take to Rainy - especially Tara. When a girls' trip gets pushed on Rainy by Grant and the friends, she relents even though it's to Las Vegas (what a coincidence 🙄), where Rainy/Summer’s past comes back to haunt her.
It's still a head-scratcher to me as to what one timeline had to do with the other? Because from what I could see, absolutely nothing really. It was like two separate stories with terribly slow pacing that never "met in the middle"- it almost felt like started out as one story and ended with a completely different one. I also thought Summer/Rainy was a god awful character. None of her actions made sense with her background and past trauma i.e. she is so scarred about what happened to her at the cult, but yet she makes a pit stop all alone to the cult town where she knows word will get back to the leader?? Okay .... Not to mention, the conclusion was ridiculously far-fetched (but yet still predictable at the same time). It's not believable that the only possible solution to the issue was the way Rainy went about it. And the epilogue just gives fodder to my fire that epilogues are generally a gigantic waste of space.
I don't know, maybe this one was just not a good audiobook (although the narrator was not bad). It was very difficult to follow on audio and didn’t keep my attention; but somehow I don't think that's it, I think it's just not a great book. 2 stars.
January 26, 2023
This on was way better than The Wives. Easy to follow and interesting. You kinda knew who the ‘bad guy’ was but not when they would make their appearance. Great ending. This book make a a fun and easy thrilling weekend read!
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