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I Lie in Wait
Nobody just disappears into thin air…
One year ago, Amelia Taylor’s sister, Lark, vanished without a trace from a family holiday in the Scottish Highlands.
The police are convinced that Lark was abducted, but with no new leads, the case has gone cold. Amelia is certain that the answer lies at the holiday cottage and retracing their steps might unearth a vital clue that could help make a breakthrough.
But during their second night at the cottage a shrill scream cuts through the darkness, just as it did a year ago, and a sense of dread engulfs everyone.
Another girl has vanished.
Leading the search, Amelia is convinced that both girls are alive, waiting to be found. But someone is determined to keep her from the truth at all costs…
Will Amelia be able to find her sister, or is she too about to find herself in danger?
Fans of The Perfect Couple, My Lovely Wife and The Silent Patient will love Amanda Brittany!
One year ago, Amelia Taylor’s sister, Lark, vanished without a trace from a family holiday in the Scottish Highlands.
The police are convinced that Lark was abducted, but with no new leads, the case has gone cold. Amelia is certain that the answer lies at the holiday cottage and retracing their steps might unearth a vital clue that could help make a breakthrough.
But during their second night at the cottage a shrill scream cuts through the darkness, just as it did a year ago, and a sense of dread engulfs everyone.
Another girl has vanished.
Leading the search, Amelia is convinced that both girls are alive, waiting to be found. But someone is determined to keep her from the truth at all costs…
Will Amelia be able to find her sister, or is she too about to find herself in danger?
Fans of The Perfect Couple, My Lovely Wife and The Silent Patient will love Amanda Brittany!
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2020
107 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Brittany
15 books205 followersAmanda Brittany is the best selling author of psychological thrillers NOW YOU ARE MINE, HER LAST LIE, TELL THE TRUTH, TRACES OF HER, I LIE IN WAIT, I'M WATCHING YOU and THE ISLAND HOUSE
LET ME OUT is out on June 29th 2025 with Boldwood Books.
Her debut, HER LAST LIE has so far raised £9000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister from eBook royalties.
Amanda lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her crazy, cute dog. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, travelling, walking her dogs, reading & sunny days. She also has a soft spot for snow, which features in HER LAST LIE & I LIE IN WAIT.
Amanda has studied psychology and criminology, has a diploma in creative writing, and a BA(Hons) in English Literature.
She also writes psychological suspense novels with Karen Clarke. THE SECRET SISTER, THE PERFECT NANNY and THE NEW WIFE.
You can follow her on:
Twitter: @amandajbrittany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabrittany2
Instagram: @amanda_brittany_author
LET ME OUT is out on June 29th 2025 with Boldwood Books.
Her debut, HER LAST LIE has so far raised £9000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister from eBook royalties.
Amanda lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her crazy, cute dog. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, travelling, walking her dogs, reading & sunny days. She also has a soft spot for snow, which features in HER LAST LIE & I LIE IN WAIT.
Amanda has studied psychology and criminology, has a diploma in creative writing, and a BA(Hons) in English Literature.
She also writes psychological suspense novels with Karen Clarke. THE SECRET SISTER, THE PERFECT NANNY and THE NEW WIFE.
You can follow her on:
Twitter: @amandajbrittany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabrittany2
Instagram: @amanda_brittany_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 28, 2020
This was an interesting one for me rate, for a few reasons.
1. The ending actually surprised me on two separate occasions. I read so many books in this genre, like many of us do, that there aren't a vast number of authors who can shock me anymore...especially twice in one novel. Major kudos to Amanda Brittany! However, the twists had a bit of that 'left-field' quality which never sits well with me. They weren't completely over the top, but were certainly sitting on the precipice.
2. The chapters, narrated entirely by Amelia but during two different time frames (one year ago and present day), were virtually indistinguishable. Both were set in the same place, during the same season...exactly one year apart, and with the very same characters. This tends to make stories a little messy, as it's sometimes hard to differentiate between the two threads. I found that to be the case here.
3. This is a minor gripe, but it irritated me nevertheless. If you and another person share one biological parent, that makes you half-siblings...NOT step-siblings. I hope that little annoyance is cleaned up in the final edits.
Overall, I'm giving this book 3 stars. I started at 4 stars due to being fooled by the twists...then deducted a half a star each for points two and three above.
Available August 28th!
**My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and HQ Digital for my review copy.
1. The ending actually surprised me on two separate occasions. I read so many books in this genre, like many of us do, that there aren't a vast number of authors who can shock me anymore...especially twice in one novel. Major kudos to Amanda Brittany! However, the twists had a bit of that 'left-field' quality which never sits well with me. They weren't completely over the top, but were certainly sitting on the precipice.
2. The chapters, narrated entirely by Amelia but during two different time frames (one year ago and present day), were virtually indistinguishable. Both were set in the same place, during the same season...exactly one year apart, and with the very same characters. This tends to make stories a little messy, as it's sometimes hard to differentiate between the two threads. I found that to be the case here.
3. This is a minor gripe, but it irritated me nevertheless. If you and another person share one biological parent, that makes you half-siblings...NOT step-siblings. I hope that little annoyance is cleaned up in the final edits.
Overall, I'm giving this book 3 stars. I started at 4 stars due to being fooled by the twists...then deducted a half a star each for points two and three above.
Available August 28th!
**My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and HQ Digital for my review copy.
November 14, 2020
Let me begin this review saying that “I lie in wait” managed something that not many psychological suspense stories can do, specially with so many of them out there. Its ending caught me completely unaware, to the point I should reread some passages because when I read them it was with my theory on mind and as I was proved totally wrong maybe there were some clues I didn’t catch.
Although it deals with some of the usual tropes of the genre, as a missing girl, past and present storylines, a group of characters isolated by a snowstorm with several of them dropping dead, it managed to grabbed my attention practically from page one. I flew through the first 60%, then I went on holidays and didn’t seem to find time to go back to it (I was so tired at night than I only managed a couple of chapters) but as it was raining today I knew it was time to finish it, and I’m glad to say that the ending was totally satisfying, both past and present lines.
If I had to make a critique would be that as both past and present lines take place at the same place with practically the same cast of characters, just one year apart, some times it was a bit confusing trying to remember which line we were in or where we have left the characters at the end of the previous chapter of that timeline. Anyway, both of them were quite engrossing, so that was just a minor complaint.
Fast paced suspense story with an ending that caught me by surprise and for a hardcore fan of psychological suspense that’s quite a feat.
This was my second Amanda Brittany novel and, as I’ve enjoyed both of them pretty much, I should definitely check her earlier work.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although it deals with some of the usual tropes of the genre, as a missing girl, past and present storylines, a group of characters isolated by a snowstorm with several of them dropping dead, it managed to grabbed my attention practically from page one. I flew through the first 60%, then I went on holidays and didn’t seem to find time to go back to it (I was so tired at night than I only managed a couple of chapters) but as it was raining today I knew it was time to finish it, and I’m glad to say that the ending was totally satisfying, both past and present lines.
If I had to make a critique would be that as both past and present lines take place at the same place with practically the same cast of characters, just one year apart, some times it was a bit confusing trying to remember which line we were in or where we have left the characters at the end of the previous chapter of that timeline. Anyway, both of them were quite engrossing, so that was just a minor complaint.
Fast paced suspense story with an ending that caught me by surprise and for a hardcore fan of psychological suspense that’s quite a feat.
This was my second Amanda Brittany novel and, as I’ve enjoyed both of them pretty much, I should definitely check her earlier work.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2020
3+ stars.
Amelia Taylor’s seventeen year old sister disappears from a holiday cottage in the Scottish Highlands a year ago. Their father Thomas wants to return to Drummondale House a year on to see if they can find any trace of her. If the first visit can be described as a nightmare holiday then the second is the holiday from hell. The story is told principally by Amelia and goes backwards and forwards from the Present to a year ago.
The book starts really well. I love the atmospheric setting of the Highlands and this visit there is deep snow, they are trapped and this adds an additional element which is good. The emotions of a year ago are well captured too and the Past/ Present storyline works well too. There’s a Gothic dimension to the storytelling with ghostly and creepy occurrences which initially is really good. There is a real air of mystery hanging over the Drummondale Estate which is also good and there’s tension, suspense with the feeling of waiting for something bad to happen.
However, the book loses its way for me when the plot developments become too over the top. Some of the dialogue just doesn’t ring true and at times made me almost wince as mayhem is occurring around the characters. They also seem to think that putting the kettle on and making tea will solve the chaos!! Masks play an important role in the story and as time goes on the image I have in my head is the Lone Ranger which I’m pretty sure the author is not aiming for!!
Overall, a good start to the book, it’s mostly enjoyable but becomes overly dramatic but if you can suspend disbelief you may enjoy this one.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC.
Amelia Taylor’s seventeen year old sister disappears from a holiday cottage in the Scottish Highlands a year ago. Their father Thomas wants to return to Drummondale House a year on to see if they can find any trace of her. If the first visit can be described as a nightmare holiday then the second is the holiday from hell. The story is told principally by Amelia and goes backwards and forwards from the Present to a year ago.
The book starts really well. I love the atmospheric setting of the Highlands and this visit there is deep snow, they are trapped and this adds an additional element which is good. The emotions of a year ago are well captured too and the Past/ Present storyline works well too. There’s a Gothic dimension to the storytelling with ghostly and creepy occurrences which initially is really good. There is a real air of mystery hanging over the Drummondale Estate which is also good and there’s tension, suspense with the feeling of waiting for something bad to happen.
However, the book loses its way for me when the plot developments become too over the top. Some of the dialogue just doesn’t ring true and at times made me almost wince as mayhem is occurring around the characters. They also seem to think that putting the kettle on and making tea will solve the chaos!! Masks play an important role in the story and as time goes on the image I have in my head is the Lone Ranger which I’m pretty sure the author is not aiming for!!
Overall, a good start to the book, it’s mostly enjoyable but becomes overly dramatic but if you can suspend disbelief you may enjoy this one.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC.
August 29, 2020
A Christie-esque locked room mystery combined with a missing girl story... and a truly shocking twist.
I liked the setup of this mystery: a secluded resort, a killer on the lose with a limited number of possible suspects and a lot of red herrings.
For me though, there were a few problems. First, the two timelines ("then" and "now") were so similar in tone and characters that they were hard to tell apart. Also, I never really connected with the main character, Amelia, or the missing girl, Lark. Finally, this book does what a lot of books in this genre are trying to do lately: it just keeps coming at you with the shocking twists, without really providing much of a foundation or providing any space for the reader to legitimately guess what's coming, which for me is the most fun part - whether I get it right or not, I like to feel like I had a fair shot at guessing. In books like this, it always feels a little unfair when a twist comes out of nowhere. While some people like the shock (and I do at times too) I don't love it when the who or the why don't make a lot of sense with what I learned in the rest of the story.
Also, I feel like this book tried to take every trendy aspect of the current suspense genre and incorporate it in one book. Missing girl plus locked room plus secret identities and love affairs plus a mysterious masked man plus blackouts plus a lot more common tropes that I won't spoil is a lot for one book.
For whatever reason, even though it has a lot of elements I usually like, this story never grabbed me and pulled me in so I wasn't as invested in it as I could have been. I just felt like it was trying for too many plot points and twists at once. But I seem to be in the minority here, so check it out for yourself. I would say that this is best for you if you like very plot-driven, creative, incredibly twisty stories. The author is definitely talented, but it just wasn't my favorite in this crowded genre.
Thanks to HQ Digital, NetGalley, and Amanda Brittany for the advance copy!
I liked the setup of this mystery: a secluded resort, a killer on the lose with a limited number of possible suspects and a lot of red herrings.
For me though, there were a few problems. First, the two timelines ("then" and "now") were so similar in tone and characters that they were hard to tell apart. Also, I never really connected with the main character, Amelia, or the missing girl, Lark. Finally, this book does what a lot of books in this genre are trying to do lately: it just keeps coming at you with the shocking twists, without really providing much of a foundation or providing any space for the reader to legitimately guess what's coming, which for me is the most fun part - whether I get it right or not, I like to feel like I had a fair shot at guessing. In books like this, it always feels a little unfair when a twist comes out of nowhere. While some people like the shock (and I do at times too) I don't love it when the who or the why don't make a lot of sense with what I learned in the rest of the story.
Also, I feel like this book tried to take every trendy aspect of the current suspense genre and incorporate it in one book. Missing girl plus locked room plus secret identities and love affairs plus a mysterious masked man plus blackouts plus a lot more common tropes that I won't spoil is a lot for one book.
For whatever reason, even though it has a lot of elements I usually like, this story never grabbed me and pulled me in so I wasn't as invested in it as I could have been. I just felt like it was trying for too many plot points and twists at once. But I seem to be in the minority here, so check it out for yourself. I would say that this is best for you if you like very plot-driven, creative, incredibly twisty stories. The author is definitely talented, but it just wasn't my favorite in this crowded genre.
Thanks to HQ Digital, NetGalley, and Amanda Brittany for the advance copy!
August 9, 2020
MY goodness, Amanda Brittany writes a great murder mystery/psychological thriller. I Lie in Wait kept me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. I have never been disappointed by any of her books and I loved this one too. It is a creepy and atmospheric story that definitely has Agatha Christie vibes.
A year ago Amelia’s sister Lark disappears without a trace. A year later she returns to the remote holiday location in the Scottish highlands with her family to see if they can remember anything else that might help them find Lark. But another girl disappears this time and that is just the beginning of their troubles. Heavy snow and power outages have them all fearing for their lives.
Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
A year ago Amelia’s sister Lark disappears without a trace. A year later she returns to the remote holiday location in the Scottish highlands with her family to see if they can remember anything else that might help them find Lark. But another girl disappears this time and that is just the beginning of their troubles. Heavy snow and power outages have them all fearing for their lives.
Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
December 4, 2020
One year ago, Amelia's sister, Lark, disappeared while on a family vacation. The police are convinced she was taken, but there's never been any leads, witnesses, no body has ever been recovered, never a ransom note. So what happened to her?
Amelia wants answers ... and she is set on reliving the time spent on holiday... staying at the same cottage. On her second night there, she hears a scream ... another girl has disappeared.
The more she investigates, the more she feels that both girls are still alive.
There's someone out there that wants Amelia to go home ... to quit looking for answers. They are willing to do anything to keep the truth from Amelia .... even willing to kill for it.
Cleverly plotted, the suspense starts on the first page and doesn't let up until the unexpected, surprising conclusion. Told by Amelia in two timelines, it was a bit confusing as they seemed to be the same. A few twists and turns kept the deftly drawn characters and varied suspects front and center.
Many thanks to the author / HQ Digital / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Amelia wants answers ... and she is set on reliving the time spent on holiday... staying at the same cottage. On her second night there, she hears a scream ... another girl has disappeared.
The more she investigates, the more she feels that both girls are still alive.
There's someone out there that wants Amelia to go home ... to quit looking for answers. They are willing to do anything to keep the truth from Amelia .... even willing to kill for it.
Cleverly plotted, the suspense starts on the first page and doesn't let up until the unexpected, surprising conclusion. Told by Amelia in two timelines, it was a bit confusing as they seemed to be the same. A few twists and turns kept the deftly drawn characters and varied suspects front and center.
Many thanks to the author / HQ Digital / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 16, 2020
I Lie In Wait is a great example of a book with so much potential plot-wise, which completely let me down structurally.
When I'm talking about the structure of the book (there may be a better word for it), I'm talking about perspectives, timelines, chapter length, pacing... I Lie In Wait I think tried to do too much for a story that was already very interesting and didn't need much flair.
We would be in the perspective of Amelia, and then suddenly whiplash into the past. When we return back to the present, we're probably in somebody else's perspective. It moves very quickly and is very hard to catch up with. It's definitely not a leisurely read for me, I found myself constantly reading back for character names and actions that I missed.
That was the biggest let down for me, but I'm very confident if there was a total rewrite of I Lie In Wait it would be an easy 4-5 star book. I would recommend this if you're looking for a thriller that wastes no time getting into the story.
When I'm talking about the structure of the book (there may be a better word for it), I'm talking about perspectives, timelines, chapter length, pacing... I Lie In Wait I think tried to do too much for a story that was already very interesting and didn't need much flair.
We would be in the perspective of Amelia, and then suddenly whiplash into the past. When we return back to the present, we're probably in somebody else's perspective. It moves very quickly and is very hard to catch up with. It's definitely not a leisurely read for me, I found myself constantly reading back for character names and actions that I missed.
That was the biggest let down for me, but I'm very confident if there was a total rewrite of I Lie In Wait it would be an easy 4-5 star book. I would recommend this if you're looking for a thriller that wastes no time getting into the story.
December 15, 2020
Amelia has been persuaded by her boss to take time off work after losing her baby and splitting up with her partner.
She decides to visit her father and brother, but when she gets there she discovers that they are getting ready to go to Drummondale House in the Scottish Highlands. The house where a year ago her sister Lark went missing. Her father is hoping to find out what happened to Lark.
Amelia decides to go with them even though her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea!!
This is such a great thriller that kept me hooked from the first page. Loved how the cottage’s isolated location and bad weather built up the tension and made it creepy, with the power cut and then a woman cries out .. well that definitely gave me goose bumps and I’m pleased I wasn’t reading this at home on my own!!
The ending was definitely not what I was expecting!! WOW I had to reread it to make sure I had not read it wrong.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review
She decides to visit her father and brother, but when she gets there she discovers that they are getting ready to go to Drummondale House in the Scottish Highlands. The house where a year ago her sister Lark went missing. Her father is hoping to find out what happened to Lark.
Amelia decides to go with them even though her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea!!
This is such a great thriller that kept me hooked from the first page. Loved how the cottage’s isolated location and bad weather built up the tension and made it creepy, with the power cut and then a woman cries out .. well that definitely gave me goose bumps and I’m pleased I wasn’t reading this at home on my own!!
The ending was definitely not what I was expecting!! WOW I had to reread it to make sure I had not read it wrong.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review
September 29, 2020
I lie in wait is a beautiful atmospheric suspense book filled with creepy moments. The setting of the book was so very beautiful yet a kind that is certain to send a chill down your spine. The book alternated between present & past timelines & created a good effect in the narration of the plot. The book has a creepy opener that hooks you in. The subsequent chapters with their highly sinister content keeps you turning those pages. I liked most of all the characters but could not figure out the person responsible right up till the very end. This was a gripping & twisted book that comes with the bonus of having being set in an absolutely ominous setting. I'm glad I picked this one up because I definitely enjoyed reading through it.
Thank You, NetGalley, HQ Digital & Amanda Brittany for an arc!
Thank You, NetGalley, HQ Digital & Amanda Brittany for an arc!
August 27, 2020
Thank you to HQ for my gifted copy in return for my honest review. Wow!! I’ve read some good thrillers this year but this is my favourite by far! Short snappy chapters full of tension & suspense. The opening is an instant hook and I was, I couldn’t put it down. Easy writing style, likeable MC and shifty sub characters, I had it wrong so many times! The twist at the end?! Omg!! This is a brilliant read, highly recommend it!
August 10, 2020
Not sure if it was just me but I,struggled with this book. I found it very confusing and at times wasn’t sure what was going on and who all the characters were.
June 2, 2021
Rating: 4 stars.
This book was a ride from start to finish.
First, I loved the setting of the Scottish Highlands. It really added to the atmosphere, I loved the addition of the snow trapping the group in the house, the getting lost in the woods, it all felt like the typical setting of a horror movie. The atmosphere was beautifully haunting and creepy and it really added to the suspense.
I really enjoyed the plot and the pacing, I couldn't put the book down because I was so intrigued what would happen next and it was really keeping me intrigued during the whole read.
I struggled with the change of perspectives between Ruth and Amanda at first, as well as the switch between past and present. During the second half, those switches were less frequent and I felt like that greatly improved the reading.
I was really positively surprised by the ending. It was well set up, the plot twists were unexpected and although I had a theory, I was proven almost completely wrong. All the clues and hints were carefully lied out during the book and the ending was almost perfectly constructed, which really wrapped up the book beautifully.
This book was a ride from start to finish.
First, I loved the setting of the Scottish Highlands. It really added to the atmosphere, I loved the addition of the snow trapping the group in the house, the getting lost in the woods, it all felt like the typical setting of a horror movie. The atmosphere was beautifully haunting and creepy and it really added to the suspense.
I really enjoyed the plot and the pacing, I couldn't put the book down because I was so intrigued what would happen next and it was really keeping me intrigued during the whole read.
I struggled with the change of perspectives between Ruth and Amanda at first, as well as the switch between past and present. During the second half, those switches were less frequent and I felt like that greatly improved the reading.
I was really positively surprised by the ending. It was well set up, the plot twists were unexpected and although I had a theory, I was proven almost completely wrong. All the clues and hints were carefully lied out during the book and the ending was almost perfectly constructed, which really wrapped up the book beautifully.
August 5, 2020
This is my first book to read by Amanda Brittany, but definitely won't be my last. This suspenseful whodunnit had me on the edge of my seat! Amelia is plunged into a game of cat and mouse while trying to unravel the mystery of her sister's disappearance. The journey leads her down dangerous paths of murder and betrayal. She is forced to question who to trust and who she really knows in this twisty tale with an ending I never saw coming. The isolation of the Scottish Highlands sets the stage perfectly as Amelia searches for answers and struggles to survive the elusive killer that holds her fate. This is a page turner from beginning to end! Thank you NetGalley and HQ Digital for my ARC!
August 4, 2020
I lie in wait⭐️
People dont just disappeared. But Lark dissapeared from their family’s holidays without a trace. The case ran cold but Amelia, Larks sisteris convinced that Lark is still out there. When another girl goes missing rhe same way Anelia is on the hunt to find them both.
On problem that really kept me from enjoying the story was that we kept getting pulled back in time then to the present before I really got to know anything. The chapters were really short that it prevented me from getting into the story.
Thank you to Netgally via forsending me an ARC copy of I lie in wait by amanda Brittany. This is available on august 28 2020.
People dont just disappeared. But Lark dissapeared from their family’s holidays without a trace. The case ran cold but Amelia, Larks sisteris convinced that Lark is still out there. When another girl goes missing rhe same way Anelia is on the hunt to find them both.
On problem that really kept me from enjoying the story was that we kept getting pulled back in time then to the present before I really got to know anything. The chapters were really short that it prevented me from getting into the story.
Thank you to Netgally via forsending me an ARC copy of I lie in wait by amanda Brittany. This is available on august 28 2020.
August 21, 2020
A brilliantly crafted whodunnit mystery, with jaw-dropping twists!
There is nothing I love more than a good old murder mystery, especially one set during a snowstorm! What I loved about this book is that it had all the great qualities of a murder mystery, yet it also had all the suspense of a psychological thriller. It really is so cleverly written.
The story is told in multiple POVs and two timelines (now and one year ago). The main character Amelia is having a terrible time, her mum passed away shortly after her sister went missing and now, she’s lost a baby and her boyfriend has left her.
Urged by her boss to take a break from work she decides to go back home to see her dad and brother. On arrival she finds out they are about to head off to Drummondale House in the Scottish Highlands, a place where only a year ago Amelia’s sister Lark went missing. She joins them on their trip, hopeful that they might find some answers as to what happened.
When some familiar faces join them at the holiday cottages, Amelia soon starts to realise that it wasn’t such a good idea to go back there, especially when history starts to repeat itself and another teenage girl goes missing! With freak weather, murders, scary masks and rarely any phone signal, Amelia and the rest of the characters must find a way of getting help and getting out of Drummondale House. Can they all trust each other, and can they all get out alive?
I really did enjoy this book and found myself guessing throughout and suspecting everyone! Whilst I was right on a couple of bits, I did not guess the ending and what a cracking ending it was. So cleverly plotted I’d be surprised if anyone solved this mystery.
There are lots of characters to keep track of, but I didn’t find this to be a problem and enjoyed having so many suspects. Do make sure you read the title of each chapter, so you know who you are reading about and if it is the past or the present.
Like a book version of Cluedo, this would most certainly make a great TV Drama. If you loved An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena then you’ll love this one.
Thank you to Amanda Brittany, HQ & NetGalley for my ARC of this book.
There is nothing I love more than a good old murder mystery, especially one set during a snowstorm! What I loved about this book is that it had all the great qualities of a murder mystery, yet it also had all the suspense of a psychological thriller. It really is so cleverly written.
The story is told in multiple POVs and two timelines (now and one year ago). The main character Amelia is having a terrible time, her mum passed away shortly after her sister went missing and now, she’s lost a baby and her boyfriend has left her.
Urged by her boss to take a break from work she decides to go back home to see her dad and brother. On arrival she finds out they are about to head off to Drummondale House in the Scottish Highlands, a place where only a year ago Amelia’s sister Lark went missing. She joins them on their trip, hopeful that they might find some answers as to what happened.
When some familiar faces join them at the holiday cottages, Amelia soon starts to realise that it wasn’t such a good idea to go back there, especially when history starts to repeat itself and another teenage girl goes missing! With freak weather, murders, scary masks and rarely any phone signal, Amelia and the rest of the characters must find a way of getting help and getting out of Drummondale House. Can they all trust each other, and can they all get out alive?
I really did enjoy this book and found myself guessing throughout and suspecting everyone! Whilst I was right on a couple of bits, I did not guess the ending and what a cracking ending it was. So cleverly plotted I’d be surprised if anyone solved this mystery.
There are lots of characters to keep track of, but I didn’t find this to be a problem and enjoyed having so many suspects. Do make sure you read the title of each chapter, so you know who you are reading about and if it is the past or the present.
Like a book version of Cluedo, this would most certainly make a great TV Drama. If you loved An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena then you’ll love this one.
Thank you to Amanda Brittany, HQ & NetGalley for my ARC of this book.
August 27, 2020
This was a decent thriller, in the "locked room" style where the characters are trapped at a secluded resort where the potential villain pool is limited. It's centered primarily on Amelia, whose sister Lark disappeared a year ago at the same resort- since then, her mother died of cancer, she miscarried her baby, and broke up with her boyfriend. She is understandably an emotional wreck and ends up going back to the resort on the year anniversary of Lark's disappearance with her father, her brother, and her brother's caretaker to see if they can learn more about what happened. Others end up joining as well so it's a full reunion of the original group, and almost immediately, creepy things start happening again.
The story flips back and forth between the current time and a year ago, but it's easy to follow, as though both are told from Amelia's POV, one is first person and one is 3rd person. There were a lot of characters but I had no issues in keeping them all straight- most of the tertiary characters weren't fully developed but you learned enough to make them seem authentic.
There was some seriously creepy stuff throughout the book, though it did get a little repetitive at times. The twist at the end was genius and I wasn't even close to seeing it coming.
Overall, this was a fun read and I'd recommend to those who like mysteries and domestic thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The story flips back and forth between the current time and a year ago, but it's easy to follow, as though both are told from Amelia's POV, one is first person and one is 3rd person. There were a lot of characters but I had no issues in keeping them all straight- most of the tertiary characters weren't fully developed but you learned enough to make them seem authentic.
There was some seriously creepy stuff throughout the book, though it did get a little repetitive at times. The twist at the end was genius and I wasn't even close to seeing it coming.
Overall, this was a fun read and I'd recommend to those who like mysteries and domestic thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
December 22, 2020
A missing sister. A missing lover (moms’ lover). A dead mom. All that happened a year ago. The family was still trying to pick up the pieces when Amelia’s dad wanted to go back to the place from where the sister went missing. Drummondale House. And this year too, a missing child. Murdered bodies.
My first book by author Amanda Brittany, the book was filled with twists and blind alleys. The Drummondale House with the blizzard in the present time set the right atmosphere for the mystery. With every character having something to hide, the author could play the Blindman’s Buff with me.
The twist that stole my breath came absolutely at the end when I thought I had it all figured out, but the scenario I was left with was so not in my list of theories.
But the book was not with its niggles. The chapters written in the past and present had the same characters and the same setting. So I had to keep reminding myself where I was. That slowed down the book for me.
Overall, it was a tale of twisted minds where they played to the idiom – To thine own self be true.
My first book by author Amanda Brittany, the book was filled with twists and blind alleys. The Drummondale House with the blizzard in the present time set the right atmosphere for the mystery. With every character having something to hide, the author could play the Blindman’s Buff with me.
The twist that stole my breath came absolutely at the end when I thought I had it all figured out, but the scenario I was left with was so not in my list of theories.
But the book was not with its niggles. The chapters written in the past and present had the same characters and the same setting. So I had to keep reminding myself where I was. That slowed down the book for me.
Overall, it was a tale of twisted minds where they played to the idiom – To thine own self be true.
November 5, 2020
I lie in wait is a suspense thriller set in the Scottish Highlands and people stuck in the estate because of the terrible weather and snow.
The narration is in now and then format. Amelia narrates their trip to the vacation home and their time in the vacation home one year back.
Caroline, Amelia’s mother, had cancer and wanted to take a trip with her family for one last time. She was separated from Robert, Amelia’s father, and came with her partner Jackson. But the day Lark goes missing, they never saw Jackson, again. Between losing her mother and sister disappearing, Amelia’s relationship with her partner William becomes strained and they part ways.
The books start with Amelia’s narration but are interspersed with Ruth’s, the owner of the estate, narration. The reader can see the major characters through her eyes, which gives readers a wider perspective.
Brittany’s writing is interesting, and she used uncanny elements to describe the vacation home. Trapped in a snowstorm with a probable kidnapper/killer on the loose couple with no electricity and a masked will bring in the absolute thrill.
The book ends in a two-fold twist that the reader will not see coming.
The book is intriguing and addictive from the start.
My rating is four stars.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the free copy of the book for my honest review.
The narration is in now and then format. Amelia narrates their trip to the vacation home and their time in the vacation home one year back.
Caroline, Amelia’s mother, had cancer and wanted to take a trip with her family for one last time. She was separated from Robert, Amelia’s father, and came with her partner Jackson. But the day Lark goes missing, they never saw Jackson, again. Between losing her mother and sister disappearing, Amelia’s relationship with her partner William becomes strained and they part ways.
The books start with Amelia’s narration but are interspersed with Ruth’s, the owner of the estate, narration. The reader can see the major characters through her eyes, which gives readers a wider perspective.
Brittany’s writing is interesting, and she used uncanny elements to describe the vacation home. Trapped in a snowstorm with a probable kidnapper/killer on the loose couple with no electricity and a masked will bring in the absolute thrill.
The book ends in a two-fold twist that the reader will not see coming.
The book is intriguing and addictive from the start.
My rating is four stars.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the free copy of the book for my honest review.
October 5, 2020
When Amelia Taylor’s seventeen-year-old sister, Lark, vanishes into thin air from their holiday cottage in the Scottish Highlands, her dad, Thomas, wants to return to Drummondale House to see if they can find out what happened to her. The story is told chiefly by Amelia and tos and fros from the present to a year ago.
I totally adored the descriptive style of Amanda Brittany, which I found to be emotive, haunting and affecting. The use of concise chapters meant I was never bored and the narrative was well structured. I Lie in Wait was a story that was packed with mystery and twists as it spiralled its way to the surprise denouement. It is a must-read for fans of the psychological thriller genre. I look forward to reading many more books from this author. I read I Lie in Wait with relish and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Overall, an enjoyable and easy to read domestic thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request, from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I totally adored the descriptive style of Amanda Brittany, which I found to be emotive, haunting and affecting. The use of concise chapters meant I was never bored and the narrative was well structured. I Lie in Wait was a story that was packed with mystery and twists as it spiralled its way to the surprise denouement. It is a must-read for fans of the psychological thriller genre. I look forward to reading many more books from this author. I read I Lie in Wait with relish and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Overall, an enjoyable and easy to read domestic thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request, from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 5, 2020
Wow!!! It is so hard to express my feelings for this book without giving spoilers away. I will try though. This was a totally shocking book. A young teen goes missing then a year later her family goes back to the place they last seen her. Although they hoped to find her they were not expecting to be put into so much danger and people would die. When reading this book I had no ideas what was going to happen next or who to trust. I was suspicious of everyone and did not trust anyone. I was in so much suspense from the beginning till the end. So many shocking things happening that I had no idea would happen. The ending...just wow...I just could had never guessed the ending would end the way it did. Total shocker. Great book. I would highly recommend it to thriller and mystery book lovers.
July 31, 2020
This is a real page turning read with strong characters, most of whom seem to have quirks that leave you wondering just what they know and what they are capable of. Telling it from several perspectives worked really well and although Amelia, the main character, seemed innocent Ruth, the manager, seemed a dubious character. I did work out some of what had happened but by no means all and the ending was fantastic.
July 24, 2020
This mystery kept me guessing and while I picked up some clues along the way, I was still surprised by the ending.
Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2022
2.5 ⭐️
August 14, 2020
Oh I really enjoyed this one and couldn’t put it down! What on earth had happened to Lark and was her stepfather, who disappeared at the same time, to blame? Her sister Amelia is heading back to the scene of the crime with her father, brother and his carer to search for clues on the anniversary of her suspected abduction. I was convinced that I knew EXACTLY what had happened to Lark but sadly I was so far away from the shocking truth that I’m ashamed to call myself a crime fiction fan!
Told in two timelines from a year ago and the present day, I Lie in Wait gradually introduces the suspects from the previous years devastation and then reintroduces them in the present day. Sadly, Lark and Amelias mother has since passed away without knowing the fate of her youngest child so it’s an extra difficult return to the beautiful Scottish Highlands for her family and friends as the memories return. But present day events start to overtake Larks abduction when another girl goes missing and it becomes clear that a murderer is on the loose…
I Lie in Wait is a twisty, edge of your seat thriller that had me hooked from the opening prologue. The themes of family and loss are unexpectedly poignant for a psychological thriller and I found the descriptions of Amelias relationships with the various members of her family very realistic and often moving. I loved searching both timelines (and that of a third narrative!) for clues as to what happened to Lark as everyone seemed to be hiding some very dark secrets of their own! I found it a very “visually” told book and could see the snowy highlands and the cottages where they were staying quite clearly in my mind which made me conclude that this storyline would transfer perfectly into a tv drama. I’d love to see it played out on the small screen-the creepy masks especially would make for some great scary moments for the audience to jump out of their skins!!
Fans of CL Taylor and Ruth Ware should hopefully have discovered Amanda Brittany by now but if not treat yourself to I Lie In Wait. I’ve enjoyed all her books in the past but this one is definitely top of my favourites now!
Told in two timelines from a year ago and the present day, I Lie in Wait gradually introduces the suspects from the previous years devastation and then reintroduces them in the present day. Sadly, Lark and Amelias mother has since passed away without knowing the fate of her youngest child so it’s an extra difficult return to the beautiful Scottish Highlands for her family and friends as the memories return. But present day events start to overtake Larks abduction when another girl goes missing and it becomes clear that a murderer is on the loose…
I Lie in Wait is a twisty, edge of your seat thriller that had me hooked from the opening prologue. The themes of family and loss are unexpectedly poignant for a psychological thriller and I found the descriptions of Amelias relationships with the various members of her family very realistic and often moving. I loved searching both timelines (and that of a third narrative!) for clues as to what happened to Lark as everyone seemed to be hiding some very dark secrets of their own! I found it a very “visually” told book and could see the snowy highlands and the cottages where they were staying quite clearly in my mind which made me conclude that this storyline would transfer perfectly into a tv drama. I’d love to see it played out on the small screen-the creepy masks especially would make for some great scary moments for the audience to jump out of their skins!!
Fans of CL Taylor and Ruth Ware should hopefully have discovered Amanda Brittany by now but if not treat yourself to I Lie In Wait. I’ve enjoyed all her books in the past but this one is definitely top of my favourites now!
August 4, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC, which I received in exchange for my honest review. I Lie in Wait, is part locked room mystery, part psychological thriller. The author uses familiar literary devices such as past and present storylines and multiple point of view narration which are common in the genre. Most of the story is told through Amelia, a young woman who is reeling from the disappearance of her sister as well as the death of her mother from cancer. Amelia is also facing the loss of her unborn child and the break up of her long term relationship.
Amelia's sister disappeared from a holiday cottage on the Drummondale Estate in the Scottish highlands during a final trip planned by their dying mother. One year later, Amelia finds herself traveling back to scene of the crime with her father, her brother and her brother's caregiver. When a snowstorm hits the area, the family is trapped and the bodies begin to pile up. There are many red herrings and the reader is not sure who to trust.
This book has a lot of characters to keep up with and readers will have to pay close attention in order to keep track of whether the action is taking place in the present or the past. Although the latter half of the book does get a bit outlandish with both a diabolical serial killer and an obsessed lover on the loose, it is an enjoyable read. The author does a great job of tying up loose ends and I was satisfied with the conclusion.
Overall, this is a solid thriller and I do recommend.
Amelia's sister disappeared from a holiday cottage on the Drummondale Estate in the Scottish highlands during a final trip planned by their dying mother. One year later, Amelia finds herself traveling back to scene of the crime with her father, her brother and her brother's caregiver. When a snowstorm hits the area, the family is trapped and the bodies begin to pile up. There are many red herrings and the reader is not sure who to trust.
This book has a lot of characters to keep up with and readers will have to pay close attention in order to keep track of whether the action is taking place in the present or the past. Although the latter half of the book does get a bit outlandish with both a diabolical serial killer and an obsessed lover on the loose, it is an enjoyable read. The author does a great job of tying up loose ends and I was satisfied with the conclusion.
Overall, this is a solid thriller and I do recommend.
August 18, 2020
My thoughts about this brilliantly written gripping thriller, was just mindblowing.with amazing characters,with a hardhiting story, that has lots of suspense and mystery. grips you from the start till the end. What I loved about the story, was how far would you go, to find out, what really happened to your sister, when she goes missing one year ago. Author Amanda Brittany not only writes a fantastic story, but she really takes you on the darkest secrets, of what really happened One year ago, when Amelia Taylor’s sister, Lark, vanished without a trace from a family holiday in the Scottish Highlands, was just fantastic. Author Amanda's writing is just incredible, loved how she balances the storyline, and the characters together is just amazing. My favourite character was definitely Amelia, who I thought was just a fantastic character. What I loved about Amelia was, she would do anything to find her sister was fantastic. Amanda Brittany's I Lie In Wait is one of those thrillers, you won't be able to put down. A breathless ending, when the mystery is revealed, defiently takes your breath away. A well written mystery thriller, that will grip you from the start, till the end. Highly recommended. I would like to say thank you to author Amanda Brittany, HQ Stories and netgalley for giving me a chance to read and review this outstanding thriller.💥💥💥💥💥⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 5, 2020
Well it’s safe to say I totally did not expect that ending!!! Completely did not see that coming!
I was so excited to be accepted to read this book as the storyline sounded fab! Perfect thriller and it did not disappoint!
From the beginning it grabbed me in and set the scene in my head perfectly, I felt like I was watching it on the screen or right there with them. I could picture the characters and I could feel the emotions they did. Very well written. I also liked how the different chapters were based on different characters and it jumped from present day to a year ago. It really helped set the story.
I still can’t get over the ending but I won’t give any spoilers as you need to read it yourself ;)
Thank you NetGalley and HQ stories for allowing me to read this book! Amazing!
I was so excited to be accepted to read this book as the storyline sounded fab! Perfect thriller and it did not disappoint!
From the beginning it grabbed me in and set the scene in my head perfectly, I felt like I was watching it on the screen or right there with them. I could picture the characters and I could feel the emotions they did. Very well written. I also liked how the different chapters were based on different characters and it jumped from present day to a year ago. It really helped set the story.
I still can’t get over the ending but I won’t give any spoilers as you need to read it yourself ;)
Thank you NetGalley and HQ stories for allowing me to read this book! Amazing!
August 20, 2020
Oh wow this was intense. I was convinced I knew what happened but I was so wrong. This book had twist after twist that led to me not being able to put it down. I was addicted to it from the prologue all the way through to the epilogue. I don’t think I’ve quite wrapped my mind around all the twists that happened in it yet and I’m very tempted to read it again to see if I can put it all together this time.
It’s told through multiple POVs and two timelines. It gradually introduces the suspects from the abduction last year and reintroduces them in the present day. This book seems like a simple plot about two abductions exactly a year apart. However, it very quickly begins to unravel into something so much more. This was the first book I’d read by Amanda Brittany but I will definitely be on the look out for more of her books.
It’s told through multiple POVs and two timelines. It gradually introduces the suspects from the abduction last year and reintroduces them in the present day. This book seems like a simple plot about two abductions exactly a year apart. However, it very quickly begins to unravel into something so much more. This was the first book I’d read by Amanda Brittany but I will definitely be on the look out for more of her books.
August 24, 2020
We could all perhaps be excused for thinking that bookshop shelves are already overflowing with psychological thrillers and who needs more. Then, out of the blue, comes a novel like 'I Lie in Wait' and all those other books can be pushed to one side.
I read this book in a single sitting. The writing is remarkably compelling and the plot races along at a cracking pace. There's suspense aplenty and all the horror of a literary 'The Hills Have Eyes' in this story of a missing teenage girl and the consequences of her family returning one year later to try to find her.
There is such a clever twist in the denouement that I almost stood up to applaud the author. A tour-de-force.
I read this book in a single sitting. The writing is remarkably compelling and the plot races along at a cracking pace. There's suspense aplenty and all the horror of a literary 'The Hills Have Eyes' in this story of a missing teenage girl and the consequences of her family returning one year later to try to find her.
There is such a clever twist in the denouement that I almost stood up to applaud the author. A tour-de-force.
July 29, 2020
This opens with a bang... and then sort of slows right down.
Told over three timelines (a year ago,present day and now) it jumps about a bit.
It was fairly unbelievable BEFORE people started dying,but it was good fun.
Lots of guesses as to who,why what.
Extra points added for a plot line I did not see coming at all.....
If you were going on holiday any time soon,this would be a perfect "beach read"
Told over three timelines (a year ago,present day and now) it jumps about a bit.
It was fairly unbelievable BEFORE people started dying,but it was good fun.
Lots of guesses as to who,why what.
Extra points added for a plot line I did not see coming at all.....
If you were going on holiday any time soon,this would be a perfect "beach read"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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