This book was such a mess. It had some good ideas but they were completely overshadowed by an implausible plot and flimsy writing.

Liz Nugent does it again with Lying in Wait! If you were stunned by Unraveling Oliver, this will be right in your wheelhouse. Lying in Wait is a thrill ride right from the opening sentence. This is not a simple “who’s the killer?” mystery. Nugent deftly reveals the murderer on the first page. The whodunit and the whydunit are not the core of the story — it’s the family collapse and desperate murder cover-up that make this book so enthralling.

I don’t want to delve too much into the story for fear of giving something away, but it begins with Lydia, an agoraphobic, mentally-unstable housewife of a crumbling estate, and her obsession with her only child, Laurence. Lydia has a shady past that she’d rather not come to light, and more recently has been involved in a murder that she wants kept under wraps, no matter the cost. Laurence pieces together the truth about his mother, and events spiral out of control.

As in Unraveling Oliver, Nugent doles out the story from multiple points-of-view, which rounds out the perspective and gives it some depth. Numerous twists and interwoven relationships will spin you around, and no detail is irrelevant. The ending is satisfying with enough mystery to keep you speculating about what really happened.

Definitely pick this one up! Once you do, you won’t want to put it down.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster | Scout Press/Gallery Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This novel had me hooked from the very first line, and kept me enthralled throughout.

From the characters, to the era, to the setting, it is just excellent! Liz Nugent has written a claustrophobic, tense and very unnerving book.

A Dark Tale of Family Secrets

Lydia Fitzsimmons has an almost perfect life. Mistress of Avalon, the house she grew up in, she has a successful, hand-picked husband, Judge Andrew Fitzsimmons. They have one son, Laurence, the delight of his mother. The Fitzsimmons have their trials. They’ve lost most of their money through the machinations of Andrew’s accountant and golfing buddy.

The family is struggling to keep their impecunious position from the world. Then in a ploy to get their money back, Lydia and Andrew plan to meet Annie Doyle at the beach. She’s a heroin addict and appears to have been blackmailing Andrew. Unexpectedly, as Lydia watches, Andrew strangles her. Then the cover-up begins.

The killer in this story is no mystery. The plot revolves around the three Fitzsimmons and the effect the killing has on their ordered life. Probably the most disturbing relationship in the story is that between Lydia and Laurence, a tangled mother-son alliance that becomes more and more strained as the secret behind Annie’s death threatens the family.

This is a very dark tale. It’s not so much a murder mystery as a psychological description of a deteriorating family, particularly mother and son. The plot is filled with twists keeping you in a state of suspense. The ending is not a happy one. However, it fits the characters and the story.


I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The book starts with a woman getting murdered and a husband and wife covering up the crime. You don’t know why the man killed her, just that his wife claimed she was stealing their money and shooting it up. They become one another’s alibis, but the police are still suspicious. The teenage son also becomes suspicious as well. The mother is manipulative and has her own personal issues as well. I felt like 5e book was a bit dragged out. It could have been half the length and would have done a better job of keeping my attention. I was going to give the boom two stars, but I enjoyed the twisted ending.

Oh, 'mommy dearest'.

The family Fitzsimons lives in a beautiful old mansion in Dublin. Andrew, the father, is a respected judge and Lydia enjoys being the lady of the manor. Though beset by fertility issues, they do manage to have a son, Laurence. Unfortunately, Lydia wants another child and urges Andrew to impregnate a local girl, Annie Doyle, so they can have her baby. Things go wrong as they often do, and Annie ends up dead. Covering up her murder isn't so hard, but living with it is...

This was a slow-burner of a psychological thriller and I'm glad that I stuck with it though tempted to give up several times. NO SPOILERS but you will have to just get into it all yourself at your own pace and stick in until the ultimate shocker of a conclusion. I think you'll end up seeing it worth your while.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Simon & Schuster for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent was as I anticipated, a good book. With intriguing and sometimes hugely dysfunctional characters, Nugent paints a picture of a domestic mystery with broad strokes and plenty of creepiness. Early on the focus is on the initial crime, and while not a whodunit, because that is revealed quite quickly, this book is truly more of a character study, and the lengths to which some people will go to keep a secret. Lydia was a fascinating character with dark secrets that eventually come out, most hideously in the end, as she smothers her son,(not literally) with motherly attention. Laurence is written as the ever dutiful son, who ultimately wants to find his way, but can't seem to escape his mother's clutches. A substantial read for me, and anticipating what is next from this compelling author. Many thanks to Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I almost DNF’d this book at 55% because it felt like the story was chasing rabbits. The first sentence really draws you in: “My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.” I really thought I was in for a thrilling ride, but this one tanked for me.

Lying in Wait is told from multiple POVs, mostly Laurence, his mother, Lydia, and Karen, Annie’s sister. Lydia’s husband has killed Annie and the novel plays out like an unrealistic daytime soap opera from there. This book is full of unlikable characters, which doesn’t really bother me. But the different POVs did not feel distinctive to me.

The novel could have been about 75 pages shorter. Some of the story felt like filler and fluff to make the book longer. I forced myself to finish the book because it has rave reviews that talk about the “shocking ending,” but I did not feel satisfied or shocked by the ending. I expected a psychological thriller, but it felt more like a dull drama on daytime TV.

This is a psychological thriller that will hook you in from the very first line. Once you get started this is story you won’t be able to put it down. If you love books about murder & family secrets this is a must read for you. The story is told from multiple points of view which helps to build a great story. It starts out in the 1980’s in Dublin Ireland where a women is murdered and how deeply it effects the families of the victim & the murderer. I don’t want to say too much to give away any spoilers but for a physiological thriller to start you out with such a shocking opener, then the build up of characters who can have you laughing one moment than gasping at the shock of another tells you how brilliant of a book this is. This was a fun, smart book that I definitely see going to screen one day.

What the hell just happened? I just found my new favorite author that's what happened. I was hooked from the beginning and I'm still reeling from the ending.

What a dark but weirdly lovely story. The twists and turns and different points of character views really made for quite a delightful read! This novel tells the story about a girl's death and the aftermath it brings to two separate families.

I honestly can't say much about this story without giving things away. The characters were very well developed. On one side of the story we have a highly dysfunctional, "rich" family that includes a manipulative mother with a dark past and her sheltered and timid son trying to find his place in the world.

We also are introduced to another type of family. This poor but loving family is torn to pieces when their daughter/sister goes missing. They try their best to move on and live their lives, but the tragedy of their loss seems to have trapped them all in the living hell of not knowing what happened.

The psychological thrill in this novel is a slow burn, but worth the wait! The ending was so satisfying yet so tragic that I was left thinking "Am I okay with this ending? It completely works, but is it justice?".

Lying In Wait is a Summer '18 must read! You will love it! A 5-star read for me! It was just released last week here in the U.S. so get your copy now!

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review!

With LYING IN WAIT, Liz Nugent delivers a taut, clever psychological suspense that deftly explores a chilling mother-son relationship and the dark recesses of the sociopathic mind. Similar to her debut, UNRAVELING OLIVER, Nugent creates a gradual, sort of quiet tension throughout while she delves into what drives someone to do the often horrible things they do.

We meet the Fitzsimons—a Dublin family coming apart after husband (Andrew) and wife (Lydia) are driven to murder. The why comes later, but as we get to know them and their overweight, bullied son Laurence, we begin to peek at the secrets hidden behind the façade of this perfect family. They live in a mansion called Avalon, but are penniless, with Andrew being a respectable judge with blood on his hands. Lydia too hides secrets and her psyche and transgressions are at the center of this sinister story.

Lydia is a fascinating, multifaceted character whose past inclinations continue to shape her, pushing husband and son to the brink of their own sanities. What Lydia and Andrew were embroiled with sets in motion a series of events they can’t seem to circumvent, and one that inescapably entangles their own son.

Although Laurence struggles with his obesity and isolation, he is sharp and observant, not blind to the fact his parents hide secrets within their sprawling estate.

What Lydia fought so hard to control and keep buried, begins to unravel, however. She holds tightly to their pretense, to their secrets, to her son, even as he tries to sever ties. But as the story continues, they each begin to disintegrate, their carefully curated lives falling apart.

Overall, I thought the book was so cleverly written, with so much nuance and thoughtfulness that it kept me reading. I had hoped for a big twist (even though I knew at least from UNRAVELING OLIVER that perhaps that wasn’t her style), but the book is really rather quiet in its effectiveness and draw, so I think it’s important for readers to realize that should they expect edge-of-your seat thrills and plot twists. And while we don’t exactly get that, the end is deeply chilling and unsettling.

This is a great book for those who enjoy dark and compelling characters studies—it’s definitely quite the ride.

It's rather hard to give this book a star rating because I am so torn!! While I loved the second half of the book...the first half nearly put me to sleep. The first 50 pages or so pull you in but then the story comes to a screeching halt. I know it does that to build up the characters and help you understand further how truly TWISTED Lydia is...but most readers would give up by then haha. If you can push past the slow parts...you will love the ending! The second half of the book will have you thinking, "oh my God...what would I do?!" How dangerous is Lydia?? The author had fun with the thriller part of the story, that is for sure! I would still recommend this book but just be aware!

Talk about twisted!! Lydia is the ultimate 'Mommy Dearest'. What a despicable woman! This book is well written with fully developed characters and a narrative that never lags. It kept my interest throughout . Deliciously creepy!

You know a book is good and an author is talented when you hate her characters and find them despicable. That is the case with this book. These people are so horrible ! From beginning to end it is one twist and turn after another. And if you think you know how it is going to turn out, trust me , you are wrong. I really enjoyed this book, it just came out so scoop it up. Definetely worth reading.

This was my first read by Liz Nugent and I was blow away! Lying in Wait was such a suspenseful, crazy read! I devoured this book in a few short days. It would have been sooner had I not been so busy. I found myself sneaking in a few pages whenever I could. You learn from the get-go that something is very off with Lydia and her crazy past. The way her family lives just isn't right. You feel so very sorry and smothered for her son, Laurence, whose life clearly revolves around his mom. By the time I got to the ending, I just kept saying, "No way!!". I liked that the story was told by each character in their own chapter. I thought the book flowed nicely. If there was some repetition, it was nice to see how different the characters saw things/ situations. Does anyone else wish they had included a picture of Avalon? I would love to see the house Lydia owned. Overall, I highly recommend to everyone. I will be looking for other books by Liz Nugent. #Netgalley

Absolutely fantastic! I could not read this book fast enough. I was a little disappointed in the beginning, because you know the murderer from the first few chapters. But where the story takes you from there is just amazing. I definitely recommend this title!

In a well-paced psychological thriller, LIz Nugent breaks the rules by telling the reader who killed the victim in the beginning of the book. The thrill is then devoted to who will find out, as well as the aftermath of those connected in the web of relationships to the victim, Annie. Given the crime first, the characters are well developed throughout the book creating chasms of judgement verses sympathy for villains as well as the innocent. From the first word the jaw dropping last sentence, the reader will need to make plans to read this, as it will not be put down until finished.

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent

This was a really slow burn psychological thriller by Liz Nugent. It was very difficult to put down once I started reading. It was still a page turner even though the pace was not pulse pounding fast. The character's were very well developed as is a trademark of this author. I read "Unraveling Oliver," which made me very anxious to read her new title "Lying in Wait." The title is very significant to the unfolding of this macabre story.

The crime takes place in 1980's Ireland and this isn't your usual who did it. In the first few pages you discover who the victim and perpetrators of the crime. The brilliance is in the setting and the different character's. It is eery and wonderful how the story unfolds. Even though I knew who did what to whom the mystery plays out with how the sister of the victim unwittingly gets involved with the son of the judge and his wife Lydia.

I liked this even better than "Unraveling Oliver," because I really became invested in the victim's sister who is a very sympathetic character. The author is brilliant in creating atmospheric chill both in descriptions of setting and the evolving characterization. I was hooked right from the beginning to the very surprising ending. This author keeps getting better and better with each book she writes.

The story is unique while realistic and I liked that it took place in the 1980's. Lydia is diabolical and menacing as the mastermind between committing two crimes without a conscious. She has inherited a mansion where she lives with her husband who is a judge and her only child Laurence. Lydia and her husband cause another family unspeakable pain by taking things into their own hands. Laurence their only child wrongly suspects that his father committed the evil act.

Laurence and the victim's sister Karen become entwined in a romantic relationship. Karen is a beautiful model who is desperately searching for her missing sister. How the two come together is adding more suspense as they are an unlikely match. Both Karen and Laurence are likable and Laurence is helping Karen find out who could be responsible for Karen's sister Annie who has disappeared.

There is a dark mood throughout the background of explorations of how the police treat the missing Annie because of what she did for a living. Her mother and father and sister Karen are in a lower class in Ireland than Lydia, her husband and son Laurence. The investigation into Annie's disappearance is handled poorly by the police. Will Karen find out what really happened to her sister Annie and who was involved?

There are vivid descriptions that make the weather and the colors of Ireland come alive as it's own character. Class and society of privileged and not so privileged are a sad fact of life. Liz Nugent has written a brilliant character study with suspense but no gore. Good Reads is giving a free giveaway of this book currently and I would urge those who like suspense and a much early Halloween read try this brilliant novel. You won't be disappointed. Five stars. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Net Galley, Liz Nugent and Gallery, Pocket Threshold Books for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Author delivers chilling, taut psychological thriller in 'Lying in Wait'
By Sandy Mahaffey For The Free Lance–Star

“My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it. After we had overcome the initial shock, I tried to stop him speaking of her. … It upset him too much and I thought it best to move on as if nothing had happened … but facts are facts and we must get used to them.”

If the first paragraph of Liz Nugent’s “Lying in Wait” does not grab your attention, I can’t imagine what would. This is where the book picks up—the aftermath of the murder, with three narrators trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.

It is Dublin in the 1980s. The quote above is from Lydia, wife of the judge who killed Annie Doyle. She is controlling, obsessed with her son and determined life will go exactly as she wants.

Her son, Laurence, also narrates. His obsession is with food, but he was pulled into the deed during cleanup and is not nearly as naïve as his mother believes. He is treading a very thin line while trying to gain some independence in his life.

The third narrator, Karen, is Annie Doyle’s sister, a successful model who still suffers from frustration over her sister’s disappearance. The police never found a body, but quickly dropped the investigation when they discovered she was a drug-addicted prostitute.

Nugent tells a brilliant tale—taut, horrifying, chilling. Characters are vividly drawn, some showing dysfunctional and sociopathic tendencies. They are complex and fascinating. Flashbacks to earlier days reveal multiple layers of experience that shaped them into the adults they now are. How did Lydia become so unlikable? Why does Laurence seem so spineless? How do they even function in this devious web Nugent has created? Everyone seems to be keeping secrets, no one can be trusted. The location of Lydia’s body is superb irony.

The characters may not be likable, but the plot is impossible to resist and the tale is beautifully written. It is a dark tale, but there is enough dark humor to keep the reader from sinking in too deeply. The difficult part is tearing yourself away from it.

If you like psychological thrillers, “Lying in Wait” is perfect.

Sandy Mahaffey is former Books editor at The Free Lance-Star.

LYING IN WAIT
By Liz Nugent
(Scout Press, $26, 320 pp.)
Release: June 12, 2018