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Lies
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS BASED ON LIES?
When Joe Lynch stumbles across his wife driving into a hotel car park while she's supposed to be at work, he's intrigued enough to follow her in.
And when he witnesses her in an angry altercation with family friend Ben, he knows he ought to intervene.
But just as the confrontation between the two men turns violent, and Ben is knocked unconscious, Joe's young son has an asthma attack - and Joe must flee in order to help him.
When he returns, desperate to make sure Ben is OK, Joe is horrified to find that Ben has disappeared.
And that's when Joe receives the first message . . .
When Joe Lynch stumbles across his wife driving into a hotel car park while she's supposed to be at work, he's intrigued enough to follow her in.
And when he witnesses her in an angry altercation with family friend Ben, he knows he ought to intervene.
But just as the confrontation between the two men turns violent, and Ben is knocked unconscious, Joe's young son has an asthma attack - and Joe must flee in order to help him.
When he returns, desperate to make sure Ben is OK, Joe is horrified to find that Ben has disappeared.
And that's when Joe receives the first message . . .
498 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2017
About the author
T.M. Logan
19 books2,501 followersTim’s thrillers have sold more than two million copies in the UK and are published in translation in 22 other countries including Italy, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, South Korea, Romania and the Netherlands.
His brand new novel, THE MOTHER, is a twisty, fast-paced thriller about a woman betrayed and her search for redemption against all the odds. Because if she can't discover who framed her for murder, she will never see her sons again...
THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten. It has since won a Nielsen Bestseller Award and been made into a four-part TV drama starring Jill Halfpenny (currently available on Netflix UK).
THE CATCH, about a father convinced his daughter is about to marry a man with terrible secrets, has also been made into a TV drama for Channel 5 starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert, Aneurin Barnard and Cathy Belton (screened Jan-Feb 2023, available on My5).
His other books are THE CURFEW, TRUST ME, LIES and 29 SECONDS.
Tim was born in Berkshire and studied in London and Cardiff before becoming a national newspaper journalist. He lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children, and writes in a cabin at the bottom of his garden.
For exclusive writing and new releases from TM Logan, sign up to the Readers’ Club: www.bit.ly/TMLogan.
His brand new novel, THE MOTHER, is a twisty, fast-paced thriller about a woman betrayed and her search for redemption against all the odds. Because if she can't discover who framed her for murder, she will never see her sons again...
THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten. It has since won a Nielsen Bestseller Award and been made into a four-part TV drama starring Jill Halfpenny (currently available on Netflix UK).
THE CATCH, about a father convinced his daughter is about to marry a man with terrible secrets, has also been made into a TV drama for Channel 5 starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert, Aneurin Barnard and Cathy Belton (screened Jan-Feb 2023, available on My5).
His other books are THE CURFEW, TRUST ME, LIES and 29 SECONDS.
Tim was born in Berkshire and studied in London and Cardiff before becoming a national newspaper journalist. He lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children, and writes in a cabin at the bottom of his garden.
For exclusive writing and new releases from TM Logan, sign up to the Readers’ Club: www.bit.ly/TMLogan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,173 reviews
May 2, 2018
* Thank you to Netgalley & Bonnier Zaffre UK for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
(4.5 Big Fat Stars)
Joe Lynch is happy with his life - he adores his wife Mel and their son William. He's an English teacher who gets to spend quality time with his son since he started working part-time. However, Joe's naivety is going to bring his whole way of life to the very brink.
On the fateful day that Joe sees his wife's car entering an underground car park, and decides to follow her, his life will never ever be the same again. He witnesses her arguing with family friend Ben, and life as he knew it will begin to unravel in a most spectacular fashion.
Omg! What a page turner this was. I actually found Joe to be very naive and there were times when I wanted to shout " Open your eyes Joe, see what's really going on around you" However, I still loved this book, it was so scary, the manner in which Joe's life disintegrated, a man who was completely innocent of any wrongdoing.
This book is a great example of why psychological thrillers are so popular right now. If you get the chance to read this one, grab it with both hands and relish every moment.
(4.5 Big Fat Stars)
Joe Lynch is happy with his life - he adores his wife Mel and their son William. He's an English teacher who gets to spend quality time with his son since he started working part-time. However, Joe's naivety is going to bring his whole way of life to the very brink.
On the fateful day that Joe sees his wife's car entering an underground car park, and decides to follow her, his life will never ever be the same again. He witnesses her arguing with family friend Ben, and life as he knew it will begin to unravel in a most spectacular fashion.
Omg! What a page turner this was. I actually found Joe to be very naive and there were times when I wanted to shout " Open your eyes Joe, see what's really going on around you" However, I still loved this book, it was so scary, the manner in which Joe's life disintegrated, a man who was completely innocent of any wrongdoing.
This book is a great example of why psychological thrillers are so popular right now. If you get the chance to read this one, grab it with both hands and relish every moment.
September 2, 2018
YAWN
Psychological thriller about a man who makes a spur of the moment decision that destroys his seemingly happy life in an instant.
While driving home with his young son, Joe Lynch spies his wife’s Melisa’s car turn into a hotel parking lot. He makes the decision to follow her--a decision he will come to regret. What happens next results in Joe being framed for a terrible crime. As Joe fights to prove his innocence, he comes to realize his happily ever after has been built on lies. A boring game of cat and mouse ensues.
I figured out rather early on what was really going on, which turned this into a boring reading experience. I kept on reading in the hopes that I was wrong but sadly discovered that I was right. I don't have much to say about this book--it was a bit of a frustrating reading experience. There are some elements of cheesiness that I just couldn’t get past. While I felt for Joe, I was also super-frustrated by his inability to see what was happening right before his eyes.
All in all Lies has an interesting premise, but I could never fully buy into the characters or the events of the novel.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
Psychological thriller about a man who makes a spur of the moment decision that destroys his seemingly happy life in an instant.
While driving home with his young son, Joe Lynch spies his wife’s Melisa’s car turn into a hotel parking lot. He makes the decision to follow her--a decision he will come to regret. What happens next results in Joe being framed for a terrible crime. As Joe fights to prove his innocence, he comes to realize his happily ever after has been built on lies. A boring game of cat and mouse ensues.
I figured out rather early on what was really going on, which turned this into a boring reading experience. I kept on reading in the hopes that I was wrong but sadly discovered that I was right. I don't have much to say about this book--it was a bit of a frustrating reading experience. There are some elements of cheesiness that I just couldn’t get past. While I felt for Joe, I was also super-frustrated by his inability to see what was happening right before his eyes.
All in all Lies has an interesting premise, but I could never fully buy into the characters or the events of the novel.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2017
I’m giving it up for TM Logan and his Lies. They held me captive from cover to cover.
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS BASED ON LIES?
First of all, I liked Joe Lynch. Sure he was a little too trusting and naïve but pray tell, who among us has not been that, at some point or another. And yes I wanted to smack him a couple times myself, you know, Pay Attention Buddy, type smacks.
Have you ever dropped in unexpectedly on your spouse, when and where they least expected to see you?
Joe Lynch did when his young son, Will, spotted his wife’s car in traffic, he followed, intrigued as she turned into a hotel car park. Just one impulsive decision and BAM, Joe’s life will never be the same. Not for him, his family or their friends either.
The fabric of our lives can seem so thin when it is suddenly pulled out from under us, never more so than when it has been woven with lies, one overlapping another.
And now Joe’s very freedom is at risk and so much more.
It would seem that the trend in writing these days is the unexpected twist, which in effect you know, completely negates the whole unanticipated thing. Enough said about that. :)
If you like psychological thrillers that are both relatable and compelling, I can assure you that this one will keep you turning those pages. This is my first experience with TM Logan but I will most definitely be going back to the well.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre, Twenty7 Books, TM Logan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS BASED ON LIES?
First of all, I liked Joe Lynch. Sure he was a little too trusting and naïve but pray tell, who among us has not been that, at some point or another. And yes I wanted to smack him a couple times myself, you know, Pay Attention Buddy, type smacks.
Have you ever dropped in unexpectedly on your spouse, when and where they least expected to see you?
Joe Lynch did when his young son, Will, spotted his wife’s car in traffic, he followed, intrigued as she turned into a hotel car park. Just one impulsive decision and BAM, Joe’s life will never be the same. Not for him, his family or their friends either.
The fabric of our lives can seem so thin when it is suddenly pulled out from under us, never more so than when it has been woven with lies, one overlapping another.
And now Joe’s very freedom is at risk and so much more.
It would seem that the trend in writing these days is the unexpected twist, which in effect you know, completely negates the whole unanticipated thing. Enough said about that. :)
If you like psychological thrillers that are both relatable and compelling, I can assure you that this one will keep you turning those pages. This is my first experience with TM Logan but I will most definitely be going back to the well.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre, Twenty7 Books, TM Logan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.
July 15, 2019
Twisted, dark, heart-pounding, deceptive, distorted fun—do not start this book if you don’t have time to stay up late into the night reading it! It is that hard to put down! When we began this read, I thought it would be a good old-fashioned domestic noir novel. But it blew my expectations out of the water. My mind thought of dozens of scenarios, but not a single one I thought of was THAT twist! I loved it!
About the Book
Joe Lynch is driving his son William home when they spot a car that looks just like mum’s. It is the same make, the same color, and has the same sponge-bob window shade as mum’s car. It has the same license plate as mum’s car… Just as Joe and William realize it is Joe’s wife Mel driving, it pulls off the road into a parking garage.
Joe and William follow Mel into the garage. And then things become stranger. The garage is attached to a hotel, and Mel is nowhere in sight. Following her path inside, Joe and William finally spot her talking to their friend Ben. But something about the conversation seems off… Why are they in a hotel? And why do both Ben and Mel look so upset? Joe knows that he has brought his son into a moment he shouldn’t have.
Back in the garage, Mel rushes out upset and Joe decides to confront Ben. And then things go from bad to worse. In the midst of a confrontation, Ben hits Joe and Joe pushes him back. Ben falls to the ground and doesn’t get back up. William begins to have an asthma attack, and Joe makes a split second decision that will change his life—he leaves Ben where he is and rushes his son home.
He tries to go back to look for Ben, but Ben and his car are nowhere in sight. And then the nightmare begins… Someone is watching Joe and taunting him with the truth. But how can Joe believe the truth, when he learns everything he knew was based on lies?
Reflection
The concept of lies and lying is an interesting one to ponder. How do we know if someone is lying to us? I find that most of us think we would know if someone close to us is lying. We can read them, read their tics, know their tells. The problem is, we often don’t recognize when we are being lied to by our closest confidants, because we don’t want to believe they are lying. Once you know someone’s lies, will you ever see them the same again?
Joe is an incredible character. He has so much love to give and such a pure heart. Even when faced with a mountain of lies, Joe wants to believe the best in Mel. Joe is almost too good for the outside world. He always tries to do what is right. When he lies, it is because he truly thinks he is protecting someone he loves. And this pureness of heart is exactly why Joe can be lied to so easily.
I absolutely loved Joe as a father. For everything that frustrated me about him as a husband (seriously, Joe, she is in a hotel with another man in the middle of the work day!), Joe redeemed himself as a friend and as a father. Joe is truly one of the good ones. Believing others can change, and believing that if you act with goodness, the truth will prevail.
Of course, I wouldn’t have called this book dark, twisted, and disturbing if it didn’t have some absolutely mind-blowing twists! But here we are! This book managed to shock, delight, and amaze this thriller-lover with every single turn in the plot. I am beyond excited to have discovered this author, and now I’m even more excited to learn that he has another book out! I hope you all love this one as much as I did!
This was a read I did with the Book Besties and we LOVED this book! Be sure to check out their reviews on their blogs (linked in my blog post) and mine as well at PhDiva.Blog!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing advanced copies of this book to review.
About the Book
Joe Lynch is driving his son William home when they spot a car that looks just like mum’s. It is the same make, the same color, and has the same sponge-bob window shade as mum’s car. It has the same license plate as mum’s car… Just as Joe and William realize it is Joe’s wife Mel driving, it pulls off the road into a parking garage.
Joe and William follow Mel into the garage. And then things become stranger. The garage is attached to a hotel, and Mel is nowhere in sight. Following her path inside, Joe and William finally spot her talking to their friend Ben. But something about the conversation seems off… Why are they in a hotel? And why do both Ben and Mel look so upset? Joe knows that he has brought his son into a moment he shouldn’t have.
Back in the garage, Mel rushes out upset and Joe decides to confront Ben. And then things go from bad to worse. In the midst of a confrontation, Ben hits Joe and Joe pushes him back. Ben falls to the ground and doesn’t get back up. William begins to have an asthma attack, and Joe makes a split second decision that will change his life—he leaves Ben where he is and rushes his son home.
He tries to go back to look for Ben, but Ben and his car are nowhere in sight. And then the nightmare begins… Someone is watching Joe and taunting him with the truth. But how can Joe believe the truth, when he learns everything he knew was based on lies?
Reflection
The concept of lies and lying is an interesting one to ponder. How do we know if someone is lying to us? I find that most of us think we would know if someone close to us is lying. We can read them, read their tics, know their tells. The problem is, we often don’t recognize when we are being lied to by our closest confidants, because we don’t want to believe they are lying. Once you know someone’s lies, will you ever see them the same again?
Joe is an incredible character. He has so much love to give and such a pure heart. Even when faced with a mountain of lies, Joe wants to believe the best in Mel. Joe is almost too good for the outside world. He always tries to do what is right. When he lies, it is because he truly thinks he is protecting someone he loves. And this pureness of heart is exactly why Joe can be lied to so easily.
I absolutely loved Joe as a father. For everything that frustrated me about him as a husband (seriously, Joe, she is in a hotel with another man in the middle of the work day!), Joe redeemed himself as a friend and as a father. Joe is truly one of the good ones. Believing others can change, and believing that if you act with goodness, the truth will prevail.
Of course, I wouldn’t have called this book dark, twisted, and disturbing if it didn’t have some absolutely mind-blowing twists! But here we are! This book managed to shock, delight, and amaze this thriller-lover with every single turn in the plot. I am beyond excited to have discovered this author, and now I’m even more excited to learn that he has another book out! I hope you all love this one as much as I did!
This was a read I did with the Book Besties and we LOVED this book! Be sure to check out their reviews on their blogs (linked in my blog post) and mine as well at PhDiva.Blog!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing advanced copies of this book to review.
September 30, 2018
3.5 ⭐️s for T.M. Logan's Lies!
This psychological thriller had an intense start and definitely pulled me in right away. Joseph Lynch is innocently driving home when his son spots his wife's car on the road. He decides to follow her at his son's request to "surprise mommy". Little did he know that based on that one spontaneous decision he was unwittingly in for a life altering surprise.
While the premise of the book was interesting, it is also one that has been done many times over so I was looking for it to stand out in some way. Unfortunately, I had most of the "lies" figured out early on. There was one twist that I hadn't anticipated until the end and that definitely redeemed things a bit for me. Hence the 3.5 versus 3 stars rating. I do enjoy having the wool pulled over my eyes in any way possible! When you read thrillers as often as I do, this becomes increasing harder to experience so any little unforeseen twist is very welcome.
All in all, this was a quick and enjoyable page-turner. It's not one I'll remember for long to come but it was definitely fun while I read it.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, T.M. Logan & NetGalley for the copy to review.
This psychological thriller had an intense start and definitely pulled me in right away. Joseph Lynch is innocently driving home when his son spots his wife's car on the road. He decides to follow her at his son's request to "surprise mommy". Little did he know that based on that one spontaneous decision he was unwittingly in for a life altering surprise.
While the premise of the book was interesting, it is also one that has been done many times over so I was looking for it to stand out in some way. Unfortunately, I had most of the "lies" figured out early on. There was one twist that I hadn't anticipated until the end and that definitely redeemed things a bit for me. Hence the 3.5 versus 3 stars rating. I do enjoy having the wool pulled over my eyes in any way possible! When you read thrillers as often as I do, this becomes increasing harder to experience so any little unforeseen twist is very welcome.
All in all, this was a quick and enjoyable page-turner. It's not one I'll remember for long to come but it was definitely fun while I read it.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, T.M. Logan & NetGalley for the copy to review.
September 11, 2018
A surprise visit to Joe's wife will turn his world upside down. Has Joe just caught his wife in an affair with Ben, one of the wealthiest, successful business men he knows?
In the business world, Ben can be ruthless. He also carries that take-no-prisoners approach into his love life. Rules? What rules? Nothing will stand in his way!
Joe is beginning to feel as though his whole life is nothing more than a huge lie. The lies are piling up faster than Joe can manage. He has no idea who’s trustworthy at this point, as his own reputation and life are now at stake.
This was a fun thriller, maybe a little on the light side. The ending was a shocker to me, though I know others felt it was somewhat predictable. Maybe my detective’s cap took a summer break? 🕵🏻♀️
T. M. Logan does a great job dropping in enough red herrings to keep you on your toes and of course pointing your fingers in all directions! If you’re looking for a fun, fast read to end your summer with, this might be the right one for you!
A buddy read with Susanne!🌸
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T. M. Logan for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
In the business world, Ben can be ruthless. He also carries that take-no-prisoners approach into his love life. Rules? What rules? Nothing will stand in his way!
Joe is beginning to feel as though his whole life is nothing more than a huge lie. The lies are piling up faster than Joe can manage. He has no idea who’s trustworthy at this point, as his own reputation and life are now at stake.
This was a fun thriller, maybe a little on the light side. The ending was a shocker to me, though I know others felt it was somewhat predictable. Maybe my detective’s cap took a summer break? 🕵🏻♀️
T. M. Logan does a great job dropping in enough red herrings to keep you on your toes and of course pointing your fingers in all directions! If you’re looking for a fun, fast read to end your summer with, this might be the right one for you!
A buddy read with Susanne!🌸
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T. M. Logan for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2018
Lies seem to stick to one another like tree sap enticing insects. Once you get near enough, there's no way out.
Four year old William spots his mother's familiar car entering into a below ground parking lot of a hotel in North London while riding in the back seat of his father's car. He begs his father, Joe Lynch, to follow her course and surprise her. Joe turns around and the two pursue Melissa into the hotel. From a distance Joe can spot his wife in a heated argument with Ben Delaney, a family friend. Something doesn't seem quite right. Joe swoops up William and they rush back to the parking lot.
Suddenly, Ben is behind Joe and an argument ensues. Joe backs off, but Ben punches him and in the midst of the encounter Ben falls backwards and hits his head. Just then William appears gasping for breath and in the middle of an asthma attack. There's no "puff puff" in the glove compartment so Joe rushes home leaving Ben on the ground. When they return to the parking lot later, there is no sign of Ben. He doesn't answer his cell phone. What exactly happened here?
T.M. Logan will take readers on quite the tension-filled ride through our present day dependency on the internet and the lock-in of technology. We never actually realize the intrusive nature of that lovely convenience held constantly in the palm of our hand. Joe Lynch will be brought to his senses as he finds himself on the receiving end of technology that outsmarts him at every step. And, of course, there's an app and software for every need, now isn't there? But it's the human element and its very input that lights the match.
I actually rated this one more at 3.5* but kicked it up to 4*. The beginning stages of the book were highly addictive. The second half seemed to drift off into building a contrived set with all the remaining Legos. Some pieces fit. Others did not. Still an entertaining read. Let's see what T.M. Logan has up his sleeve for the next one.
I received a copy of Lies through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre Books and to T.M. Logan for the opportunity.
Four year old William spots his mother's familiar car entering into a below ground parking lot of a hotel in North London while riding in the back seat of his father's car. He begs his father, Joe Lynch, to follow her course and surprise her. Joe turns around and the two pursue Melissa into the hotel. From a distance Joe can spot his wife in a heated argument with Ben Delaney, a family friend. Something doesn't seem quite right. Joe swoops up William and they rush back to the parking lot.
Suddenly, Ben is behind Joe and an argument ensues. Joe backs off, but Ben punches him and in the midst of the encounter Ben falls backwards and hits his head. Just then William appears gasping for breath and in the middle of an asthma attack. There's no "puff puff" in the glove compartment so Joe rushes home leaving Ben on the ground. When they return to the parking lot later, there is no sign of Ben. He doesn't answer his cell phone. What exactly happened here?
T.M. Logan will take readers on quite the tension-filled ride through our present day dependency on the internet and the lock-in of technology. We never actually realize the intrusive nature of that lovely convenience held constantly in the palm of our hand. Joe Lynch will be brought to his senses as he finds himself on the receiving end of technology that outsmarts him at every step. And, of course, there's an app and software for every need, now isn't there? But it's the human element and its very input that lights the match.
I actually rated this one more at 3.5* but kicked it up to 4*. The beginning stages of the book were highly addictive. The second half seemed to drift off into building a contrived set with all the remaining Legos. Some pieces fit. Others did not. Still an entertaining read. Let's see what T.M. Logan has up his sleeve for the next one.
I received a copy of Lies through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre Books and to T.M. Logan for the opportunity.
September 11, 2018
Happy pub day to Lies!!
What would you do if your entire life was covered by lies?
Oh.. Joseph Lynch... how naive you truly were. But, then again... I feel like we've all been there at one point or another in our lives. THAT moment when you see or know something that you would kill not too and your heart and gut just drop.... you act like it's nothing and yet it continues to haunt you day by day.
Joe Lynch was driving in his car with his son Will and they spotted his wife's blue in traffic. Will kept asking for Joe to follow mommy... and as we all would be intrigued why wouldn't you? But, ONE decision turns Joe's world upside down.
Our lives are so fragile... especially when one lie after another continues to blow you in the face.
I wouldn't say I had the entire story figured out but I picked up on very quickly who was the character that was most guilty and frequently lying. It was pretty obvious to me... and felt the story dragged on a bit in the middle. There were some minor twists/surprises at the end which I wasn't expecting. But, my detective skills didn't steer me wrong! :)
This was a mediocre thriller for me. I was entertained and would be interested to see what T.M Logan has up his sleeve next. I think this is going to be a hot contender for many to talk about! :)
3.5 stars rounded up!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Publication date: 9/11/18
Published to GR: 7/23/18
What would you do if your entire life was covered by lies?
Oh.. Joseph Lynch... how naive you truly were. But, then again... I feel like we've all been there at one point or another in our lives. THAT moment when you see or know something that you would kill not too and your heart and gut just drop.... you act like it's nothing and yet it continues to haunt you day by day.
Joe Lynch was driving in his car with his son Will and they spotted his wife's blue in traffic. Will kept asking for Joe to follow mommy... and as we all would be intrigued why wouldn't you? But, ONE decision turns Joe's world upside down.
Our lives are so fragile... especially when one lie after another continues to blow you in the face.
I wouldn't say I had the entire story figured out but I picked up on very quickly who was the character that was most guilty and frequently lying. It was pretty obvious to me... and felt the story dragged on a bit in the middle. There were some minor twists/surprises at the end which I wasn't expecting. But, my detective skills didn't steer me wrong! :)
This was a mediocre thriller for me. I was entertained and would be interested to see what T.M Logan has up his sleeve next. I think this is going to be a hot contender for many to talk about! :)
3.5 stars rounded up!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Publication date: 9/11/18
Published to GR: 7/23/18
September 11, 2018
Lies and deceit everywhere!
This is a highly addictive page-turner that had me saying “what is going on?!” over and over!
When Joe happens upon his wife’s car at a local
hotel one day, a series of events begin to unfold that will change his life forever. I feel like I can’t say more to avoid spoilers, but trust me - you will want to find out what happens!
I was sucked into this storyline right away and it never let go. I absolutely loved the short chapters and the cliffhangers - it really kept me turning the pages and was created a super speedy pace. At no point in time did it feel like it was over 400 pages!
I definitely recommend this one to readers who are looking for a snappy, wild ride!
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my advance copy. This book is available today!
This was a @6bookbesties group read - be sure to check out my blog post for links to their reviews!
This is a highly addictive page-turner that had me saying “what is going on?!” over and over!
When Joe happens upon his wife’s car at a local
hotel one day, a series of events begin to unfold that will change his life forever. I feel like I can’t say more to avoid spoilers, but trust me - you will want to find out what happens!
I was sucked into this storyline right away and it never let go. I absolutely loved the short chapters and the cliffhangers - it really kept me turning the pages and was created a super speedy pace. At no point in time did it feel like it was over 400 pages!
I definitely recommend this one to readers who are looking for a snappy, wild ride!
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my advance copy. This book is available today!
This was a @6bookbesties group read - be sure to check out my blog post for links to their reviews!
October 19, 2018
I'm afraid this wasn't the book for me. The premise was a good one and I was totally invested in seeing how this would play out. Unfortunately the main character's stupidity and naivety is what drives the plot forward. From the beginning I wanted to reach through the pages, smack him, and tell him to wake up.
2 stars because I did finish it but the ending didn't save the book. In fact, it was so preposterous it made it worse.
*many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
2 stars because I did finish it but the ending didn't save the book. In fact, it was so preposterous it made it worse.
*many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
September 16, 2018
Engrossing! Engaging! Frightening!
🎵Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)
Lies lies lies yeah (they won't forget you)
Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)
Lies lies lies yeah
Oh you know I know🎵
Thompson Twins 1982
This song went through my head every time I picked up this book, so I thought I’d share with you all! And you’re welcome if this song runs through your head the rest of the day... 😝
This book pulled me in right from the start and did not let go until that unpredictable ending! One small inconsequential decision can alter the course of a life irreparably... if you go to Red Lobster instead of Red Robin perhaps you Will meet the man of your dreams... if you had made a left instead of a right perhaps you would not have got in that car accident... or in the case of this book perhaps if Joe hadn’t followed his wife’s car when he saw it, he wouldn’t have ended up in the middle of a murder investigation....
Joe has the perfect life a loving wife, and an adorable little boy, but as in all good psychological thrillers things aren’t always as they seem.... One day on the way home from picking up his son William from school they see his wife’s car turning left ahead of them... prompted by his son who is eager to share his recently acquired award with his mom, Joe chooses to follow his wife.... and his life will never be the same again!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and had me quickly turning those pages, I just had to know what in the world was going on! And the ending? Did not see that coming... all my speculating never took me in the direction that this book ultimately went in... but the scariest thing in this book was the part that technology and social media played.... how hard it is to dispute something that has been posted on social media... or your location when a cell tower pinged when a message.... was sent from your phone.... in this book technology and social media both helped and hurt Joe, and I’m not sure if it was worth the pay off... but it did truly make you think about social media and how much that has altered today society and our perceptions....
Absolutely recommend two fans of good suspenseful edge of your seat psychological thrillers!
*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
🎵Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)
Lies lies lies yeah (they won't forget you)
Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)
Lies lies lies yeah
Oh you know I know🎵
Thompson Twins 1982
This song went through my head every time I picked up this book, so I thought I’d share with you all! And you’re welcome if this song runs through your head the rest of the day... 😝
This book pulled me in right from the start and did not let go until that unpredictable ending! One small inconsequential decision can alter the course of a life irreparably... if you go to Red Lobster instead of Red Robin perhaps you Will meet the man of your dreams... if you had made a left instead of a right perhaps you would not have got in that car accident... or in the case of this book perhaps if Joe hadn’t followed his wife’s car when he saw it, he wouldn’t have ended up in the middle of a murder investigation....
Joe has the perfect life a loving wife, and an adorable little boy, but as in all good psychological thrillers things aren’t always as they seem.... One day on the way home from picking up his son William from school they see his wife’s car turning left ahead of them... prompted by his son who is eager to share his recently acquired award with his mom, Joe chooses to follow his wife.... and his life will never be the same again!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and had me quickly turning those pages, I just had to know what in the world was going on! And the ending? Did not see that coming... all my speculating never took me in the direction that this book ultimately went in... but the scariest thing in this book was the part that technology and social media played.... how hard it is to dispute something that has been posted on social media... or your location when a cell tower pinged when a message.... was sent from your phone.... in this book technology and social media both helped and hurt Joe, and I’m not sure if it was worth the pay off... but it did truly make you think about social media and how much that has altered today society and our perceptions....
Absolutely recommend two fans of good suspenseful edge of your seat psychological thrillers!
*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
August 31, 2018
Wow. This one grabbed me. It’s a straightforward psychological thriller, no clever devices, but that doesn’t mean it’s dull or boring by any stretch. Joe sees his wife pulling into a hotel car park and follows her in. The story builds and there appear to be a whole series of lies.
I really felt for Joe. I’ve had a family member deceive me (luckily not my husband) and I know all too well that gut wrenching feeling of having the world fall out from under your feet. Logan gets that part of the story exactly right.
Joe does not always strike me as the brightest bulb in the pack. I questioned some of his actions as being particularly dim. Still, I was rooting for him to get out of this mess.
This is a fast paced novel, able to keep your interest. Logan’s use of social media, texts and hacking make it all very current. And scary. I had part of the equation of how this would play out figured out but I missed several big points.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
September 11, 2018
Wow, Lies is captivating from the start! Joe happens upon his wife when she is supposed to be at work. He follows her into a hotel where he sees her in an argument with a friend of theirs, Ben.
That argument turns violent when Joe becomes involved, and Ben is knocked out cold. At the same time, Joe and Mel’s son, William, has an asthma attack and needs his father’s help.
Joe returns to the scene to check on Ben, but he has vanished. Who do you think will be blamed?
Joe is a character to love. He is a wonderful father and loving husband, and in a flash, his life falls apart when he is accused of wrongdoing. Lie after lie is batted around, and the author exposes the intrusive nature of technology these days and how the lack of privacy can tear lives apart.
I found Lies an entertaining, addictive, and fresh thriller. The ending was one I never saw coming, and the entire read kept me on the edge of my seat, especially with its current and relevant topics of hacking and overuse of social media. I wished I could read it all in one sitting, especially with the quick chapters and precise writing. Well-played, T.M. Logan! What’s next?
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the physical ARC. All opinions are my own.
I read Lies with four of my book buddies, Melisa, Holly, Berit, and Mack, and it was just the type of delicious thriller I love to read and discuss with friends.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
That argument turns violent when Joe becomes involved, and Ben is knocked out cold. At the same time, Joe and Mel’s son, William, has an asthma attack and needs his father’s help.
Joe returns to the scene to check on Ben, but he has vanished. Who do you think will be blamed?
Joe is a character to love. He is a wonderful father and loving husband, and in a flash, his life falls apart when he is accused of wrongdoing. Lie after lie is batted around, and the author exposes the intrusive nature of technology these days and how the lack of privacy can tear lives apart.
I found Lies an entertaining, addictive, and fresh thriller. The ending was one I never saw coming, and the entire read kept me on the edge of my seat, especially with its current and relevant topics of hacking and overuse of social media. I wished I could read it all in one sitting, especially with the quick chapters and precise writing. Well-played, T.M. Logan! What’s next?
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the physical ARC. All opinions are my own.
I read Lies with four of my book buddies, Melisa, Holly, Berit, and Mack, and it was just the type of delicious thriller I love to read and discuss with friends.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
September 2, 2018
4.25 Stars* (rounded down)
Joe loves his son, his life and his wife and thinks his job as a school teacher is the bees knees. Unfortunately for him, his happy, peaceful existence comes crashing down with one simple act. Taking a little detour at the request of his son, who sees Mommy’s car on the road and wants to follow it, which of course, Joe does. Somehow, following his spouse seemed so innocuous at the time. Poor Joe, amateur mistake! What was he thinking?!
Thereafter, Joe can’t undo everything that has spiraled out of control since and boy is he in for a doozy, and so was I.
“Lies” is a mystery / suspense that will keep your head spinning faster than Linda Blair’s in the Exorcist. Be prepared to doubt everything and to enjoy the ride.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M. Logan for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Twitter on 9.2.18.
Joe loves his son, his life and his wife and thinks his job as a school teacher is the bees knees. Unfortunately for him, his happy, peaceful existence comes crashing down with one simple act. Taking a little detour at the request of his son, who sees Mommy’s car on the road and wants to follow it, which of course, Joe does. Somehow, following his spouse seemed so innocuous at the time. Poor Joe, amateur mistake! What was he thinking?!
Thereafter, Joe can’t undo everything that has spiraled out of control since and boy is he in for a doozy, and so was I.
“Lies” is a mystery / suspense that will keep your head spinning faster than Linda Blair’s in the Exorcist. Be prepared to doubt everything and to enjoy the ride.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M. Logan for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Twitter on 9.2.18.
May 2, 2019
3.5 stars
I was debating what rating to give this book and ended up choosing 3.5 stars. The book gets off to a good start but the main character got on my nerves more and more as the book progressed which made me lose interest for awhile. The ending was not entirely what I expected which is always a good thing when reading these type of stories. By the time I finished the book I felt there were more positive things about the story than negative.
It's amazing how just one moment can change your life. In this case Joe Lynch is driving home from work with his son when he spots his wife. He proceeds to follow her and soon sees her meeting up with another man. And this is when everything starts to unravel for Joe. So many lies. Who can he trust?
Joe is the type of character who you want to root for as his life is currently a big mess but you also get annoyed with him and some of the decisions he makes. I'd say I was pretty invested in the story until about the halfway mark and for quite awhile after that I just didn't really care as much what happened to Joe. I also was kinda sick of the author's habit of ending chapters on these soap opera like cliffhangers. It's not that I didn't like the twists and turns more just the constant use of them to close each chapter started to come across as cheesy rather than fun and jaw dropping. I do think the ending redeemed the story as I thought I had an idea where the story was going but my theory was not 100% accurate. It's much more fun to be wrong when reading books in this genre.
Overall, this was fairly solid thriller but be prepared that you might get frustrated with the main character. Even though this wasn't a perfect read, I look forward to checking out future books by the author.
I was debating what rating to give this book and ended up choosing 3.5 stars. The book gets off to a good start but the main character got on my nerves more and more as the book progressed which made me lose interest for awhile. The ending was not entirely what I expected which is always a good thing when reading these type of stories. By the time I finished the book I felt there were more positive things about the story than negative.
It's amazing how just one moment can change your life. In this case Joe Lynch is driving home from work with his son when he spots his wife. He proceeds to follow her and soon sees her meeting up with another man. And this is when everything starts to unravel for Joe. So many lies. Who can he trust?
Joe is the type of character who you want to root for as his life is currently a big mess but you also get annoyed with him and some of the decisions he makes. I'd say I was pretty invested in the story until about the halfway mark and for quite awhile after that I just didn't really care as much what happened to Joe. I also was kinda sick of the author's habit of ending chapters on these soap opera like cliffhangers. It's not that I didn't like the twists and turns more just the constant use of them to close each chapter started to come across as cheesy rather than fun and jaw dropping. I do think the ending redeemed the story as I thought I had an idea where the story was going but my theory was not 100% accurate. It's much more fun to be wrong when reading books in this genre.
Overall, this was fairly solid thriller but be prepared that you might get frustrated with the main character. Even though this wasn't a perfect read, I look forward to checking out future books by the author.
May 24, 2018
SUPER INTENSE START leads to LIES on top of LIES and major betrayals....for eight terrible days.
"I often wonder what would have happened if I hadn't seen her car that day."
So.........Meet Joseph Lynch. He's super tall, has a beautiful wife, an inquisitive young son he adores, a comfortable profession as a part time schoolteacher, AND is happy and content with life. He's also rather meek, mild-mannered, considerate of others and unbelievably too forgiving, but a likable guy nonetheless who always, always plays by the rules....until he doesn't....as you will see.
The world of technology and social media can be a dangerous place and is a great setting for the biggest LIES of all in T. M. Logan's work of mysterious domestic unrest. Really thought I had it all figured out early on, but NOPE....there's more here than meets the eye!
Good mystery-thriller debut, and oh....love this quote..........
"Cats don't need anyone. They live in the moment and trust their eyes and ears, what they can see in front of them---I think we can all learn something from that."
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the complimentary ebook via NetGalley in exchange for review.
March 18, 2019
A brilliant and thrilling debut! Complete with a tangle of lies with a shocking conclusion!
Joe Lynch thought he had a nice, comfortable life. He's happily married to his beautiful wife and soul mate, Mel. Their young son, William, is a happy and healthy little boy. His family is the most important thing in the world to him. He thinks he has the perfect life.
He was wrong.
Joe soon discovers that the barb of his wife's betrayal is just the beginning of what he's about to face in the following days to come.
Like Humpty Dumpty, Joe's shattered life can never be put together again.
******
Lies by T.M. Logan starts out with a shocking event right out of the gate, expertly grabbing my attention and holding it all the way to the end! The characters are well thought out and engaging and the storyline is fast paced, thrilling, and fraught with twists and turns that caught me unawares all the way through. And the conclusion?? Surely you don't really think I'm going to give it away, did you? All I'll say is that this is a brilliant novel and I have no reservations in highly recommending it! This is the first novel I've read by T.M. Logan and it won't be the last! I've already got my sites on another of his novels, 29 Seconds!
**With thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and T.M. Logan for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Joe Lynch thought he had a nice, comfortable life. He's happily married to his beautiful wife and soul mate, Mel. Their young son, William, is a happy and healthy little boy. His family is the most important thing in the world to him. He thinks he has the perfect life.
He was wrong.
Joe soon discovers that the barb of his wife's betrayal is just the beginning of what he's about to face in the following days to come.
Like Humpty Dumpty, Joe's shattered life can never be put together again.
******
Lies by T.M. Logan starts out with a shocking event right out of the gate, expertly grabbing my attention and holding it all the way to the end! The characters are well thought out and engaging and the storyline is fast paced, thrilling, and fraught with twists and turns that caught me unawares all the way through. And the conclusion?? Surely you don't really think I'm going to give it away, did you? All I'll say is that this is a brilliant novel and I have no reservations in highly recommending it! This is the first novel I've read by T.M. Logan and it won't be the last! I've already got my sites on another of his novels, 29 Seconds!
**With thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and T.M. Logan for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 8, 2018
When picking up a book simply titled “Lies” it was pretty safe to go into this one expecting not to trust anything or anyone. The story got off to a decent start that got my curiosity up right away. Joe Lynch was traveling along with his son when they spot a mommy car but it’s not just any car that looks like it belongs to Joe’s wife but really her in her car. With his young son excited over the prospect of seeing mommy Joe follows his wife to a nearby hotel thinking she was going to a business meeting.
After losing sight of his wife briefly Joe manages to find her inside the building talking with a family friend, only the conversation looks to be quite intense. Thinking he shouldn’t interrupt Joe retreats to the parking garage to catch her on the way out but when he misses her leaving he confronts Ben instead. Ben is obviously still aggravated and one thing leads to another with Joe pushing Ben but just as he should see if Ben is alright his son has an asthma attack so Joe leaves.
So what the reader is left with from that initial opening is having to wade through all the lies upon lies that pile up for the rest of the book. I read this one as a buddy read with Amanda over @ Devouring Books and we were both engaged as it got going but somewhere in the middle this one started to fizzle out a bit. So while I hate to say it yet again I think this is another title that just went on a bit too long in the middle focusing on one big lie and had it moved forward a bit faster it would have maintained my attention a lot better.
Now while the story slowed in the middle I started in on my predictions and while I was not spot on at the end I was rather close so by the time the story picked back up to give those last little twists and reveal I wasn’t overly shocked at the outcome. There was a nice little extra twist at the end though that I did enjoy so in the end I still thought the book was good but could have been a bit better to me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
After losing sight of his wife briefly Joe manages to find her inside the building talking with a family friend, only the conversation looks to be quite intense. Thinking he shouldn’t interrupt Joe retreats to the parking garage to catch her on the way out but when he misses her leaving he confronts Ben instead. Ben is obviously still aggravated and one thing leads to another with Joe pushing Ben but just as he should see if Ben is alright his son has an asthma attack so Joe leaves.
So what the reader is left with from that initial opening is having to wade through all the lies upon lies that pile up for the rest of the book. I read this one as a buddy read with Amanda over @ Devouring Books and we were both engaged as it got going but somewhere in the middle this one started to fizzle out a bit. So while I hate to say it yet again I think this is another title that just went on a bit too long in the middle focusing on one big lie and had it moved forward a bit faster it would have maintained my attention a lot better.
Now while the story slowed in the middle I started in on my predictions and while I was not spot on at the end I was rather close so by the time the story picked back up to give those last little twists and reveal I wasn’t overly shocked at the outcome. There was a nice little extra twist at the end though that I did enjoy so in the end I still thought the book was good but could have been a bit better to me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 11, 2018
Following your wife can lead to more questions than
answers....???
Joe Lynch and his little boy, William, just want to surprise mom. They spot her car on the freeway and decide it would be fun to follow her (detour time). Well, I guess the surprise is on Joe! You won't believe where she ends up and with who! No, sorry I can't tell and spoil it, but I will say it turns into quite a game of cat and rat.
I was lured into Joe's world from the first few chapters and the twists kept me absorbed until the end. I love a story that is just propelled forward with many little pieces of a larger puzzle. This puzzle includes social media, hotels, secret meetings, texting, hacking and a missing person. The ending knocked me off my chair!
A quick paced, entertaining read that had me craving to know the truth.
Recommend to those who like some "fun and games" interspersed to keep you on your toes.
Joe Lynch and his little boy, William, just want to surprise mom. They spot her car on the freeway and decide it would be fun to follow her (detour time). Well, I guess the surprise is on Joe! You won't believe where she ends up and with who! No, sorry I can't tell and spoil it, but I will say it turns into quite a game of cat and rat.
I was lured into Joe's world from the first few chapters and the twists kept me absorbed until the end. I love a story that is just propelled forward with many little pieces of a larger puzzle. This puzzle includes social media, hotels, secret meetings, texting, hacking and a missing person. The ending knocked me off my chair!
A quick paced, entertaining read that had me craving to know the truth.
Recommend to those who like some "fun and games" interspersed to keep you on your toes.
May 26, 2018
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
Joe and Mel, happily married for 12 years. They don't lie to each other. Period. Oh, wait. . . . yes, they do. Lots o' lies, untruths by the score. Social media and tech savviness play a big part in this tale of misdirection.
This was a real page-swiper for me. Good tight writing, nicely paced.
Joe and Mel, happily married for 12 years. They don't lie to each other. Period. Oh, wait. . . . yes, they do. Lots o' lies, untruths by the score. Social media and tech savviness play a big part in this tale of misdirection.
This was a real page-swiper for me. Good tight writing, nicely paced.
October 20, 2018
Library Overdrive Audiobook...narrated by Leighton Pugh
I had a *Cheri* moment: ( songs often come to her when she reads)....
Well, I enjoyed this psychological thriller-‘light’. By ‘light’, I
mean - I was never ‘chilled-to-the-bone’ riveted or
soooooo enthralled by a deeply plotted complex nail-biter....
but....
...I enjoyed the flow of the narrative -
...I enjoyed Leighton Pugh as the reader...
...I enjoyed laughing-but not maliciously to myself at ‘Poor Peter’...
( Mr. Nice Guy Gullible *sucker*)...
...I enjoyed the adorable child in this book who had a ‘part’ in LIFE WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN for his family when one night the child spotted “mummy’s car”....
...I enjoyed the ‘easy-listening’ which easily created visuals of a movie setting in my head. And ‘our Joe’ talks to himself that just makes my laugh... ‘if only, if only, if only’....
Towards the end was engaging, silly not extremely believable...but I didn’t see the ending coming either.
As I say...light-weight fun....
But beware: social media is out to get ya!!! 👀
My *Cheri* moment ...
The song I was singing in when thinking about this book was: 🎤🎶....
sing along:
🎤”she’s come undone
she didn’t know what she was headed for
And when I found what she was headed for it was too late
🎤🎤🎶🎤
she’s come undone
she found a mountain that was much too high
And when she found out she couldn’t fly
it was too late
🎶🎤
It’s too late
she’s gone too far
she’s lost the sun
she’s come undone 🎶
.... lyrics by The Guess Who
Lies have a life of their own in this novel...
Mel lies to Peter ....once, twice, three times....
A momentum of lies - lies - and more *lies*.
The title fits!!!
I had a *Cheri* moment: ( songs often come to her when she reads)....
Well, I enjoyed this psychological thriller-‘light’. By ‘light’, I
mean - I was never ‘chilled-to-the-bone’ riveted or
soooooo enthralled by a deeply plotted complex nail-biter....
but....
...I enjoyed the flow of the narrative -
...I enjoyed Leighton Pugh as the reader...
...I enjoyed laughing-but not maliciously to myself at ‘Poor Peter’...
( Mr. Nice Guy Gullible *sucker*)...
...I enjoyed the adorable child in this book who had a ‘part’ in LIFE WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN for his family when one night the child spotted “mummy’s car”....
...I enjoyed the ‘easy-listening’ which easily created visuals of a movie setting in my head. And ‘our Joe’ talks to himself that just makes my laugh... ‘if only, if only, if only’....
Towards the end was engaging, silly not extremely believable...but I didn’t see the ending coming either.
As I say...light-weight fun....
But beware: social media is out to get ya!!! 👀
My *Cheri* moment ...
The song I was singing in when thinking about this book was: 🎤🎶....
sing along:
🎤”she’s come undone
she didn’t know what she was headed for
And when I found what she was headed for it was too late
🎤🎤🎶🎤
she’s come undone
she found a mountain that was much too high
And when she found out she couldn’t fly
it was too late
🎶🎤
It’s too late
she’s gone too far
she’s lost the sun
she’s come undone 🎶
.... lyrics by The Guess Who
Lies have a life of their own in this novel...
Mel lies to Peter ....once, twice, three times....
A momentum of lies - lies - and more *lies*.
The title fits!!!
April 28, 2018
4 incredibly hard to put down stars
OH MY GOODNESS! This was a delicious rainy day read and I was completely captivated from beginning to end. Each chapter made my head spin as T.M. Logan just kept taking me deeper and deeper into a mystery that kept playing with my head. The less you know, the more enjoyable your read will be.So strap on the seatbelt and prepare yourself for a very bumpy ride.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
OH MY GOODNESS! This was a delicious rainy day read and I was completely captivated from beginning to end. Each chapter made my head spin as T.M. Logan just kept taking me deeper and deeper into a mystery that kept playing with my head. The less you know, the more enjoyable your read will be.So strap on the seatbelt and prepare yourself for a very bumpy ride.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2017
LIES is a well written debut psychological thriller by T.M. Logan. This one is sure to please and will have you flipping the pages.
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS BASED ON LIES?
When Joe Lynch while driving his son, William home stumbles across his wife driving into a hotel car park while she's supposed to be at work, he's intrigued enough to follow her in.
Joe Lynch is a high school teacher happily married to wife, Mel with son, William. But Joe is so naive…I wanted him to wake up and smell the roses!
When Joe witnesses his wife in an angry dispute with Ben, the husband of Mel’s best friend, Beth, he knows he must step in.
But the conflict between the two men turns violent, and Ben is knocked unconscious, Joe's young son has an asthma attack and Joe must leave the scene in order to get help.
When Joe returns to the scene to make sure Ben is OK, Joe is horrified to find that Ben and his car have disappeared.
And then Joe’s world falls apart! He starts to receive emails and text messages from Ben! Ben says he's going to take everything away from Joe ... his wife, his house, his son, his job!
Ben’s wife reports to the authorities that Ben is missing…and Joe becomes the suspect!
Joe must discover the truth to prove his innocence.
This is a well-written debut psychological thriller with well-developed characters, and an excellent plot. The first-person perspective worked really well through Joe’s POV. Fast-paced with lots of twists, turns and a major final twist that I didn’t see coming.
Many thanks to T.M. Logan, Bonnier Zaffre, Twenty7 Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS BASED ON LIES?
When Joe Lynch while driving his son, William home stumbles across his wife driving into a hotel car park while she's supposed to be at work, he's intrigued enough to follow her in.
Joe Lynch is a high school teacher happily married to wife, Mel with son, William. But Joe is so naive…I wanted him to wake up and smell the roses!
When Joe witnesses his wife in an angry dispute with Ben, the husband of Mel’s best friend, Beth, he knows he must step in.
But the conflict between the two men turns violent, and Ben is knocked unconscious, Joe's young son has an asthma attack and Joe must leave the scene in order to get help.
When Joe returns to the scene to make sure Ben is OK, Joe is horrified to find that Ben and his car have disappeared.
And then Joe’s world falls apart! He starts to receive emails and text messages from Ben! Ben says he's going to take everything away from Joe ... his wife, his house, his son, his job!
Ben’s wife reports to the authorities that Ben is missing…and Joe becomes the suspect!
Joe must discover the truth to prove his innocence.
This is a well-written debut psychological thriller with well-developed characters, and an excellent plot. The first-person perspective worked really well through Joe’s POV. Fast-paced with lots of twists, turns and a major final twist that I didn’t see coming.
Many thanks to T.M. Logan, Bonnier Zaffre, Twenty7 Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
August 26, 2018
Lies is a novel about 2 adult couples, their interactions, and the impact of these interactions. What sets the novel apart is the role technology plays in the plot development. Without iPads and cellphones and their various apps, this would just be a novel like others we have read before.
The novel opens very benignly and quickly devolves to threats, physical confrontation, lies and importantly loss of a cell phone. Next are the unanswered questions: Why was main character Joe's wife, Mel, secretly meeting friend/neighbor Ben? Was was Ben hostile and cryptic? Did Ben have something to hide? Was Ben's wife Alice afraid of Ben? Why did Mel have so many cell phones? Why did Ben vanish? Was Ben dead? These are pretty basic questions but in this novel issues are advanced through facebook postings, tweets, cellphone messaging and syncing.
Joe's life devolves from respected teacher, loving husband and father, to murder suspect on the run. The novel ends with a twist that ties up the issues in a neat package. Most satisfactory is the role of cellphones in the conclusion for the technology that was being used to ruin his life, saves him.
This is a novel of well defined characters involved in an intricate plot that keeps our interest. Who could ask for anything more?
I received an advance copy from Netgalley. #Netgalley #Lies
The novel opens very benignly and quickly devolves to threats, physical confrontation, lies and importantly loss of a cell phone. Next are the unanswered questions: Why was main character Joe's wife, Mel, secretly meeting friend/neighbor Ben? Was was Ben hostile and cryptic? Did Ben have something to hide? Was Ben's wife Alice afraid of Ben? Why did Mel have so many cell phones? Why did Ben vanish? Was Ben dead? These are pretty basic questions but in this novel issues are advanced through facebook postings, tweets, cellphone messaging and syncing.
Joe's life devolves from respected teacher, loving husband and father, to murder suspect on the run. The novel ends with a twist that ties up the issues in a neat package. Most satisfactory is the role of cellphones in the conclusion for the technology that was being used to ruin his life, saves him.
This is a novel of well defined characters involved in an intricate plot that keeps our interest. Who could ask for anything more?
I received an advance copy from Netgalley. #Netgalley #Lies
September 24, 2018
Joe Lynch is a happily married man with a beautiful wife and a gorgeous little boy when he stumbles into the middle of a scenario he doesn't understand and his whole world starts to crumble.
This is a fast paced thriller with lies, lies and more lies leading Joe down a terrifying path where nothing is what it seems and he is slowly being framed for something he didn't do. A very contemporary story with social media and technology playing a major role in Joe's nightmare. Suspenseful and highly addictive! 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for a digital ARC to read
This is a fast paced thriller with lies, lies and more lies leading Joe down a terrifying path where nothing is what it seems and he is slowly being framed for something he didn't do. A very contemporary story with social media and technology playing a major role in Joe's nightmare. Suspenseful and highly addictive! 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for a digital ARC to read
September 28, 2018
I started reading Lies on 9/18/2018 and finished it on 9/27/2018. This thriller is an okay read for me. I like the start of the book. I like how the lies slowly unraveling. The characters aren’t my favorite. Joe is annoying to me. He complains on and on about how trusting he is and how sad for him that everything bad is happening to him and how Mel could be irresistible that someone could be obsessing on her. I don’t like Mel because she is quick to blame others, even when she’s caught lying. I feel like Joe is one of those unreliable narrator because he seems to be the last to know the things that are happening with him. He browses Facebook and the news to blame the other guy for his unpleasant situation – not thrilling to read for me.
This book is told in the first person point of view following Joseph (Joe) Lynch, a teacher, as he drives his son William, 4, home from school. On the way home, his son and him spots his wife Melanie (Mel), driving to a hotel’s underground parking lot. They follow because they want to surprise her. When inside the hotel, Joe witnesses that Mel looks to be having an argument with one of her friends’ husband, Ben. He decides to wait for Mel at the car but when she comes down she hurries off and Joe misses her. Then Ben came down later and lies to Joe about not seeing Joe’s wife Mel in the hotel. They have an altercation where Ben is left bleeding on the ground. Later that night, Mel comes home and lies to Joe about being at the hotel. When Ben’s wife, Beth, came around saying her husband Ben has gone missing. Joe and his wife Mel went to the police to help with the case. This book is organized in a timeline by days of the week. Later Beth confronts Mel of the pictures, Joe’s happy marriage and comfortable life as he sees it is no more.
Lies is a fast paced read. I’m surprised Joe and Mel are comfortable enough to argue with the door closed upstairs while their 4 year old toddler is alone by himself downstairs. I like Joe’s lawyer’s advice about how to handle police’s questions. Definitely a fun read between the police and the lawyer. I do like that Joe try to take active roles in solving his situation rather than just sit back and complain. I read closely the first 50% and skim through the last 50% because the last 50% was not thrilling for me. I like the twist at the end because I couldn’t have guessed it. I thought it involve one or the other because they are quick to point the blame to someone else. I have seen mixed reviews on Goodreads, so I do recommend everyone to read this book and make your own conclusion whether you enjoy reading this thriller or not.
Pro: fast paced, modern technology, short chapters,
Con: unreliable narrator, not thrilling, the chase is endless
I rate it 3.5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won a copy of Lies from a Goodreads giveaway hosted by the publisher. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book is told in the first person point of view following Joseph (Joe) Lynch, a teacher, as he drives his son William, 4, home from school. On the way home, his son and him spots his wife Melanie (Mel), driving to a hotel’s underground parking lot. They follow because they want to surprise her. When inside the hotel, Joe witnesses that Mel looks to be having an argument with one of her friends’ husband, Ben. He decides to wait for Mel at the car but when she comes down she hurries off and Joe misses her. Then Ben came down later and lies to Joe about not seeing Joe’s wife Mel in the hotel. They have an altercation where Ben is left bleeding on the ground. Later that night, Mel comes home and lies to Joe about being at the hotel. When Ben’s wife, Beth, came around saying her husband Ben has gone missing. Joe and his wife Mel went to the police to help with the case. This book is organized in a timeline by days of the week. Later Beth confronts Mel of the pictures, Joe’s happy marriage and comfortable life as he sees it is no more.
Lies is a fast paced read. I’m surprised Joe and Mel are comfortable enough to argue with the door closed upstairs while their 4 year old toddler is alone by himself downstairs. I like Joe’s lawyer’s advice about how to handle police’s questions. Definitely a fun read between the police and the lawyer. I do like that Joe try to take active roles in solving his situation rather than just sit back and complain. I read closely the first 50% and skim through the last 50% because the last 50% was not thrilling for me. I like the twist at the end because I couldn’t have guessed it. I thought it involve one or the other because they are quick to point the blame to someone else. I have seen mixed reviews on Goodreads, so I do recommend everyone to read this book and make your own conclusion whether you enjoy reading this thriller or not.
Pro: fast paced, modern technology, short chapters,
Con: unreliable narrator, not thrilling, the chase is endless
I rate it 3.5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won a copy of Lies from a Goodreads giveaway hosted by the publisher. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
September 4, 2018
I didn’t find that this novel got particularly interesting until I’d reached the almost 40 percent mark (I read it as an e-book).
Without giving away the major plot points, it then becomes a page turner. It’s not the best suspense novel I’ve read recently, but it’s not bad.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. For more reviews, please visit: http:://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Without giving away the major plot points, it then becomes a page turner. It’s not the best suspense novel I’ve read recently, but it’s not bad.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. For more reviews, please visit: http:://www.theresaalan.net/blog
September 12, 2018
Happy Release Day! ( I'm a day late, sue me)
3.5 ⭐
"There was a stranger in my house and I was married to her."
Lies is a compelling cat and mouse thriller that grabbed me from chapter one. Although the premise is pretty implausible, the story is still a fun ride that kept me guessing until the very end. When the truth was finally revealed, I was disappointed. The ending is very contrived and, honestly, pretty ridiculous.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 ⭐
"There was a stranger in my house and I was married to her."
Lies is a compelling cat and mouse thriller that grabbed me from chapter one. Although the premise is pretty implausible, the story is still a fun ride that kept me guessing until the very end. When the truth was finally revealed, I was disappointed. The ending is very contrived and, honestly, pretty ridiculous.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2018
For me, this book was a chore to read, one that I struggled through and pushed myself to finish, not because it was a difficult read or anything like that (in fact, I found the writing on this one a bit too simplistic), but rather, I felt that the story never really took off. The premise had potential, as there aren’t too many books out there nowadays that incorporate modern technology (in the form of smartphones, tablets, laptops) and social media (i.e. Facebook) into a crime thriller – the technology in this case was front and center and in some instances, even became one of the focal “characters” in the story. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t really work for me – I felt that the plot was a bit all over the place (especially in the second half of the book), the characters were one-dimensional and written in a way that made all of them unlikable (with the exception of the kid William), and too many elements of the story just seemed implausible. Throughout most of the story, there just seemed to be way too much “explaining” going on by various characters, especially as it related to aspects of technology and social media, things that I felt were common sense enough in this day and age that such thorough explanations felt unnecessary. Parts of the story were also bogged down by what I felt were details that didn’t matter (for example, one of the characters taking out their smart phone, swiping over to an app, opening file manager, going through each folder, pulling up a file, closing it out, etc.) – it felt tedious, and for me, detracted from the telling of the main story.
I went into this book initially expecting it to be an “edge-of-your-seat” thriller and admittedly, the first couple chapters did pique my curiosity. However the story slowed considerably and started to drag quite a bit in the middle, to the point that by the time I got to the “twist” at the end, it felt anti-climactic (though it probably didn’t help that I already figured out most of the ending already by then so the surprise element wasn’t there). I also felt like I had to suspend disbelief a bit too much throughout the story – yes, the title of the book is Lies and there are plenty of them in the story, but it seemed like only the main character Joe was the one constantly being lied to….he came across as a little too naïve and clueless until the end when he suddenly figured everything out, which seemed just too implausible to me. Joe’s reaction to things that happen in the story also felt a little off, emotionless almost, which made it hard for me to connect with that character (technically all the characters to be honest), though I think this has to do more with Joe also narrating the story from his own first person point of view. I guess I’m just not a fan of fictional stories that are told in 1st person because the viewpoint is so limited and unless the author is trying to achieve a particular purpose with the story, it’s a skill that I feel is hard to get right.
While I don’t regret reading this one and some parts of it truly were entertaining, it just wasn’t enough for this to feel like a satisfying read to me. Overall, I felt the content was good, just didn’t really like the execution. With that said, I do appreciate all the research that went into the book and I actually did learn a bit more about social media and technology than I knew before, which is why I decided to rate this 3 stars, even though it was technically closer to 2.5 stars. It looks like I’m in the minority with this one though, as everyone else seemed to like it more than I did, so I would recommend checking out those reviews to get a more balanced opinion.
Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley
December 9, 2018
Wow. I
just
read another book ('You' by Caroline Kepnes) about a guy named Joe and how dangerous social media can be. That certainly holds true for this gripping psychological thriller as well.
Joe Lynch is driving with his young son when he sees his wife pulling into a hotel car park. (She's supposed to be at work.) Confused and a little curious, he follows her. A few minutes later, he discovers her in the hotel lobby arguing with a family friend named Ben.
All of the scenarios your mind begins to come up with to explain this situation are not true. This one really got me. I absolutely did not see it coming, and my mouth literally fell open at the end.
“So much of our existence is on these things.... social media, email, apps, photos, music, work calendar, lists of birthdays.... a download of our lives.... our generation's compulsion to share every event, every emotion, every success, every random thought, every half-funny conversation.... I turned the phone face up again. How are you going to betray me this time, you little bastard?”
This is a twisty, fast-paced, addictive psychological thriller which will absolutely surprise you, guaranteed.
Joe Lynch is driving with his young son when he sees his wife pulling into a hotel car park. (She's supposed to be at work.) Confused and a little curious, he follows her. A few minutes later, he discovers her in the hotel lobby arguing with a family friend named Ben.
All of the scenarios your mind begins to come up with to explain this situation are not true. This one really got me. I absolutely did not see it coming, and my mouth literally fell open at the end.
“So much of our existence is on these things.... social media, email, apps, photos, music, work calendar, lists of birthdays.... a download of our lives.... our generation's compulsion to share every event, every emotion, every success, every random thought, every half-funny conversation.... I turned the phone face up again. How are you going to betray me this time, you little bastard?”
This is a twisty, fast-paced, addictive psychological thriller which will absolutely surprise you, guaranteed.
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