This is a bold and interesting book as for the most part it essentially focuses on a conversation between two people. It is (deliberately) claustrophobic and tense but at the same time did occasionally feel repetitive. I was intrigued by the motivations and secrets of the two lead characters and there were some more action packed events recounted in the second half of the book. There was unfortunately a sense of inevitability with the final reveals but maybe that is due to me reading too many similar genre books. Having previously enjoyed The House, I would look out for more from Simon Lelic. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books (UK) for the ARC of The Liar's Room.

A terrifyingly claustrophobic thriller, with all the action taking place in one room, between a counsellor and her new client. Tension and suspense are maintained throughout the many layers. A fantastic smart read.

Not for me. One of those books that you just can’t get into. I tried to get into this a few times and really struggled

This was such an interesting premise for a thriller as it’s set in one room between a therapist and her patient. I was intrigued from the start and was keen to see what was going to happen, and how. It started off really well as you get the sense there is more to this appointment than we know at first and the tension just builds and builds from there. It’s a novel that really makes you think about the nature of right and wrong, and how nothing is ever black and white. It really makes you question your thoughts about each of the characters. It’s a good read and I recommend it!

What a great way to tell the story! Two people in one room for the entire book and the backstory given by each party remembering, loved it. Surprised by the reveal of how the two individuals are connected, didn’t guess it at all. Would definitely read other books by this author.

I quite enjoyed this book, it was a rather claustrophobic and intense read. Both Susanna and Adam were chilling and hard to suss out. Things were a bit slow to reveal and confusing at times. I was willing more information to come out! The ending was rather dark and shocking and almost made me want to start at the beginning again to get things straight in my mind. A good read but rather unsettling and the whole story was slightly unbelievable.

This story is all about festering lies, untruths and betrayals. Sounds ace right?? 😉
As a psychiatrist Susanna spends a lot of time unravelling people's lives but spends none of that time thinking about her own past. This soon changes when a new client drags her kicking and screaming into a joint history that she doesn't want to address.
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This book was pacey & punchy. I read it in next to no time and the premise was so good. Two people trapped in a room recounting their lives and lies. There is one particular scene that added a real layer of repulsion so go in with that in mind. But that only adds to how good a story teller Lelic is. Loved this, such a good thriller. 📚

A gripping concept, which lost a bit of traction as the story unfolded. The characters seemed to be well-formed and interesting, but some of their actions seemed inexplicable to me and a bit too farfetched.

A very complex story of two people sitting in a room trying to outwit each other. Constant twists and turns that keeps you on edge and wondering what comes next.

After reading The House last year and devouring it, I couldn’t wait to read Simon’s latest book.

This is an intriguing read, that’s will have you on the edge of your seat as you try to guess who’s lying. Is it Adam, or is it Susanna? And to make it more fun, every time a question is answered a new one appears.

An instense drama, this will probably end up scaring you as you’re taken down quite a dark and chillingly path.

This is was a clever twisty book, that had me second guessing, changing my opinion and gave me a little bit of anxiety. Yep this book will keep you on your toes.

The bar was set very high by Simon Lelic’s first novel, The House [read my review here], and I’m very happy to report that The Liar’s Room, though a fairly different read, is just as gripping!

This story centers around one location really, in that it’s all about counsellor Susanna and her client Adam, who seems to know too much about Susanna’s ‘previous life’ that she’s tried so hard to keep a secret. Adam bring a level of threat to Susanna’s daughter, Emily, and she’s desperate to stop the awful events that Adam has already put in motion, seemingly to punish her – but why?

Part of the enjoyment of this story is that you don’t really know what’s going on but, through flashbacks from Susanna’s past, as well as extracts from her daughter’s diaries, we slowly begin to find out more and more about what happened with Susanna’s son Jake. I found myself really wanting to find out what had happened with Jake, and the awful occurances that took place many years ago – this is the main storyline really, as everything taking place in the present day (in Susanna’s office) is all about finding out what happened before, what Adam has done to Emily, and why Adam is so angry. This one main setting creates a surprisingly claustrophobic atmopshere.

There are twists and surprises in this novel which I really enjoyed reading, and it made me really think about how I’d feel in a similar situation. Themes of responsibility and guilt are prevalent, as well as some shocking and disturbing parts which are difficult to read but made me even more invested in the story.

I liked the way Simon Lelic crafted the characters, making them believable enough but also incredibly interesting and flawed; they felt like they could be real people, and in addition to this the storyline itself felt fresh and different to others in this genre. I would really recommend this gripping read.

Susanna is a counsellor and when she see’s new patient Adam for the first time she realizes there is more to him than he is letting on. She feels like she knows him but she cannot put her finger on it but her instincts are telling her differently.

The story soon unfolds and Adam makes his intentions clear, he has kidnapped her daughter and he wants to know the truth from Susanna’s past, the truths that she has been hiding from for years.

A story of secrets, lies and hurt lay behind this twisted novel. I really enjoyed this book and I read it in super quick time.

I'm sorry. I got halfway through and really struggled to get that far. It's just not my type of book in afraid.

I love thrillers, especially psychological thrillers where there are secrets.

This one is not one of them. I understand I am bucking the trend here but it just didn’t pull together enough.

It’s a very quick read, and there is lots happening in the book. I just think for me I got the story very early on and wasn’t surprised. Horrified maybe, but not surprised.

I couldnt get into this story at all- I DNF'd at the 15% mark

Sorry- but thankyou for the opportunity

This book lets you greet the two main characters and immediately you start to try and guess the thread of the book. Once you are drawn into the room, the tension rises and with each chapter you keep eagerly reading, trying to get to the end to find out what is happening but equally not wanting the book to end.

The last 30%, is the most chilling exciting and thrilling that kept me captivated with so me asking myself so many questions and doubting myself on what I had just read - what is going to happen? surely not, that didn't happen did it? I could not put this book down and it 100% deserves it''s 4 stars.

A compelling and dark read that keeps you reading. I liked the way that the majority of the book was based around the two characters stuck in a room together.

This Book was beautifully crafted. The setting really amps up the tension and the plot flows smoothly. I really enjoyed the way that the book scaled the plot down to focus on the two people in the titular room.

Gripping from start to finish

This is not my usual type of book - I don't normally enjoy thrillers but I read the excerpt and was hooked!

This is definitely a book that had me on the edge of my chair wondering what was going to happen next, a great read that plays on your emotions and has you invested in the characters from the very start!

This book has a really unusual concept at its heart. The story starts when Susannah, a counsellor, takes on a new client - a young man who begins by telling her he is worried he is going to hurt someone. The story is mainly told in the conversation between the two of them in her counselling room, with the odd story of what has been going on outside the room. Very dark, totally engrossing. I wanted to read quickly to find out what was going to happen. A definite page-turner and I have gone straight on to see what other books have been written by this author!