My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A fabulously sinister tale filled with lies and manipulations.

Holy crap! THE LIES WE TOLD was so addictive. I knew I was going to love it from the first couple of chapters in, but I never thought I would read it all in one sitting. This is just how good the book was.

What made it so bingeable for me were two things. The first is the multiple perspectives of the narrators. By having this, the author added to the tension while slowly giving the reader pieces of the puzzle. The second thing that pulled me in was simply the story. The darkness that was always looming coupled with the twists and turns truly keeps you on the edge of your seat.

There wasn't one moment I felt secure enough to say I knew how this was all going to play out. Every time I had an inkling of what was to come, the author would throw a curve ball or reveal another deception. The secrets and lies in these pages will have you questioning everyone. And the ending! I am not giving anything away, but Way nailed this thriller from beginning to end.

Edited 10/13/18 - increased to 3 stars see comment below

Initially, I thought The Lies We Told was among the best in a number of psychological suspense/ thrillers I had read recently. But, in my opinion, it has one very serious flaw. The story actually had a mysterious and unique plot with interesting characters and lots of twists going for it. All in all, it kept me turning pages and stuck in my mind well after I had finished the last page. In fact, I even went back and re-read several sections.

I'm going to leave the job of summarizing the book to other reviewers because I want to focus on why this one was so close to, but fell short of, perfection. First off, there were a couple of little hiccups - mainly in how a few literary devices were applied. But for me, the major disappointment was how the character of Luke was handled.

In light of concerns raised by the #MeToo movement as well as others over the past decade, the character of Luke really made me shake my head. The conversation between Clara and Jade, an old acquaintance of Luke’s, in Chapter 18 captures the essence of the issue. Pay close attention to Jade's comments about the common feelings regarding "boys will be boys" and how Luke’s only consequence was when she broke up with him. Sadly, they foreshadow the ending of The Lies We Told.
I felt so strongly about perpetuating the stereotype I took off 3 stars from what would have been a 4- 4.5.

SPOILER ALERT - Edited 10/13 - after reading all the rave reviews, I thought about what I might have missed. Was Luke's behavior what prompted Hannah to kidnap him? if so, I guess the "justification" was not clear to me. When Clara's reaction was to walk away with vague discussion, all I could see was a repeated pattern - see Jade's comments. Have re-thought my disappointment and raised to 3 stars out of what otherwise would have been a 4 - 4.5

FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Lies We Told is an explosive thriller that keeps your head spinning and your fingers turning the pages. There are more twist and turns than one can simply imagine. This deliciously dark novel will entertain you for hours and keep you guessing.

The book jumps from past to present with a variety of story lines weaved in. The story consists of two families who each have very unique story lines.

In the first story we have Clara and Luke. The have just moved in together and everything seems perfect. Clara wakes up one morning to discover that Luke never came home and all his belongings including his cell phone are in their dwelling. Is, Luke cheating, did he change his mind or are sinister things afloat?

In the second story we have Beth and Hannah. Beth is a wife and mother to, Hannah. Hannah is a troubled child and makes life challenging. Hannah's antics and increasingly bad behavior leave Beth fearful and the tension is causing havoc on her marriage.

You just know somehow these stories are going to intersect and if you're a decent detective you'll figure out some of the clues but not all.

* I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

WOWZA! This was psychological thriller PERFECTION!

This book had me riveted from cover to cover... it was one of those books that I flew through and as I got closer to the end I wanted to slow down, because I was not ready to let this book go.... but as much as I wanted this book not to end, I needed to know what all had happened, and what was going to happen next.... because let me tell you what, Camilla Way had me completely stumped!

This book starts out with two seemingly separate storylines, That you know are somehow connected... but how? Clara wakes up to find her boyfriend luke’s phone, but no Luke.... where is he? Did he runaway? Was he kidnapped? Clara knows he was being stalked? But by who? And why? 30 years earlier in 1986, beth a loving stay at home mother is struggling to raise her troubled daughter Hannah... OK troubled might be an understatement Hannah is pretty much a psychopath.... her actions, words, and looks were simply chilling, and her character was portrayed so perfectly and realistically ... seriously I had chills running down my back from some of her evil looks!

So how are Clara and Beth’s stories connected? This book had my mind spinning, I had so many theories going on, most of them pretty convoluted... this was a group read with my book Besties and we were all scratching our heads trying to figure this one out... and as Camilla Way began to weave these stories together the fog began to lift and it became crystal clear.... Crystal clear that this was one Hot mess! So many lies leading to so many secrets, and so many secrets leading to so many lies....

This was a fast-paced addictive read that will keep you glued to those pages.... A book that will keep you guessing until the bitter end, if you figure this one out... my hats off to you! Strongly recommend to all psychological thriller lovers, the twists and turns in this one will leave you reeling!

*** A huge thank you to Berkley Pub for my copy of this book ***

I received an ARC from Netgalley of The Lies We Told by Camilla Way. I loved reading this psychological thriller, it made my heart beat faster and I was excited to be reading. I read the book in one setting because I was drawn into the story and couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. Clara is happy- she is living with her boyfriend Luke and she has really fallen in love with him. Unfortunately, Luke has had a stalker and Clara has been worried about it but she and Luke have been unable to figure out who it is and why this person is stalking him. Then, the unthinkable happens- Luke disappears. Clara knows that the stalker has everything to do with it…so she begins to investigate with the help of Mac, Luke’s best friend. The investigation leads Clara into a web of lies that goes back to Luke’s family. In the midst of Clara and Mac’s investigation, Emily, Luke’s sister who disappeared twenty years ago, begins to communicate with Clara. In the midst of all of this, we have the story of Beth and her daughter Hannah, who has never seemed quite right. All of the connections lead to a story with fascinating twists and turns. If psychological thrillers are a genre you are interested in, I encourage you to read this book ASAP! It does not disappoint.

A child who's not quite right, a missing boyfriend, a stalker, and a secret. All of these combine to make for a dark and sinister tale where not everyone is who you think they are. The story is told primarily by Clara in the present, searching for Luke, and Beth in the past, dealing with her daughter, Hannah. I have to say I was impressed with the distinct voices of both as the story progressed. In the beginning, it seems as if these two stories have little to do with each other, but if you're paying attention, the hints are there to piece some of it together. The secret at the heart of this story is a combination of narcissism and desperation, and while I did figure out part of it, I certainly didn't get it all until the big reveal. The author is talented and masterfully builds tension as we follow Hannah into young adulthood and Clara as she learns more and more about who Luke really is. The only drawback for me were the last two chapters. That extra little twist was unnecessary and for me, a bit of let down after an otherwise solid story. That aside, I did enjoy the read and would recommend it.

I have not read Watching Edie but after reading this book, I want to check it out. There was a dark edge to this book that comes with psychological thrillers.

This book is told from two character perspectives of Clara and Beth. Both women were good. I found them engaging and could hold the leads in the story. I like that Clara did not come off as weak and let everyone else around her support her or solve the case. She did a lot of the heavy lifting. Where Beth is concerned. Her parts of the story reminded me of the book, Baby Teeth. Hannah is an evil girl. It would be hard to love but at the same time hate your child.

The mystery surrounding Luke, his family, Beth, and Hannah is where the grittiness comes into play. I kept trying to piece together all of the pieces to solve the whole puzzle before the author revealed it in the story. Yet, I think I figured it out a little bit before the reveal. I was not disappointed by the ending. Beware "The Lies We Told" as revenge is a killer.

This was one of my favorite reads of 2018. The story hooked me from the first line, and it never slowed down. Clara's boyfriend Luke didn't come home this morning. She knows he would never leave without all his things nor miss the important promotion he was scheduled to interview for. Beth knows there is something wrong with her daughter. She tries to deny it, but something is not right with Hannah.

I really enjoyed the dual viewpoints of this story. We get information about Hannah's past through her mother Beth's point of view beginning in the 1980s. Readers also read about the present from Luke's girlfriend Clara. I was amazed by how fast paced this book was. I could have easily read it in one sitting. The mystery was not only thrilling, but I was not able to guess what was going on from a mile away.

I was also impressed by the accuracy of Hannah's central problem. It was obvious Camilla Way had done her research on this particular thing, and made sure that there were consistencies with it throughout the novel. I was thoroughly impressed by her ability to bring to life the horrors of be careful what you wish for.

I definitely contracted read until your eyeballs-fall-outitis from this book. I stayed up way too late reading because I knew each chapter would bring a new piece of the puzzle and a new mystery to solve. If you are a fan of thrillers, I highly recommend this story.

Wow! What a mystery thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat wanting to find out what happened to Luke and how did his sister that has been missing for years finally shows up. The Lies we Told is filled with twists and turns that will leave you glued to the page. The book also reminds me a little bit of Girl on the Train and Murder on the Orient Express with the murder mystery who done it reflection throughout the story. This book we definitely could not put down.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This will definitely be considered in our Fiction/Mystery collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars!

The Lies We Told by Camilla Way was full of mystery and suspense. I loved the dual timelines showing how two very different women’s lives will collide at some point. One whose child is showing dangerous behaviors while she tries to keep her other child safe. And the other where a woman fears for her boyfriend that has disappeared without a trace.

Clara is worried after Luke misses a big appointment at work and knowing he had a stalker. But he did not want her to worry. As Clara begins to search for him, what kind of discoveries will she make? On the other side, Beth begins to really worry about her daughter and some of the things she does. How will it all tie together?

The Lies We Told by Camilla Way was riveting and engaging as I tried to figure out how it would all end. This story had twists at every turn. I quickly fell into the story, wanting to know what would happen next!

Happy reading!

Beth is a mother who has seen the darkness that has befallen her daughter Hannah from young age. As she grows this darkness seems to be growing into violent behaviors. Life take a dark turn when Hannah over hears Beth talking about the past and this sets her on a darker path.

Clara wakes up to an empty bed with Luke no where to be found. As the day goes on she begins to realize something is really, really wrong. She teams up with Luke's best friend to try and uncover the truth of what happened to Luke. The police continue hitting dead ends, his parents are in a panic along with his brother, and Clara continues to find new secrets of Luke's behavior thru the years towards past girlfriends as well as herself.

Has Luke been taken or has he ran off with someone else? Will they ever find Luke?

The Lies We Told was published today and I just finished it! I normally try to be a bit faster than that with my ARCs… but I have been under the weather with a cold so this was the best I could do! I will say that I read almost all of it in 2 sittings and I could have easily read this all at once if I didn’t start it so late in the night each time. This book is high on the suspense scale while the reader tries to figure out what is going on, who is telling the truth (since it seems like everyone is lying) and how the story will unfold. Clara’s boyfriend Luke vanishes and she tries to piece together what happened. Meanwhile, his sister, Emily, who has been gone for 20 years, comes back into the picture. Clara isn’t sure if the two events are related. She uncovers creepy (stalkerish) emails on Luke’s PC as well as stories of his infidelity. Did he leave her to be with another woman or is something sinister going on?

The narration switches off and we learn about Beth who is the mother to a sociopathic Hannah. This part of the story made me think of Baby Teeth with all of the bad seed vibes. I obviously knew that the two stories would end up connected, but I wasn’t sure as to how they were woven together until later into the book.

This book will keep you guessing with its twists and turns. I highly recommend this book for thriller fans. This book is also a @bookofthemonth selection so I am excited to have lots of bookstagram friends read it so we can discuss!

Thank you to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for my ARC of this book. All views are my own!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.


Clara isn't worried too much when Luke fails to come home one night, but after he misses a major interview and no one can find him she knows that something is wrong. Everyone else though thinks that maybe he just took off, but that isn't the Luke she knows. So Clara begins to work with Mac in order to uncover Luke's past and find out what is really going on.


The deeper Clara digs the more uncomfortable she becomes, and she really wonders who she can trust. It seems like someone is one step ahead of her, and when the police find proof that Luke disappeared she knows that she is in a race against time. Especially in light of all the emails and harassment Luke has been enduring for months.



Will Clara uncover the mystery behind Luke's disappearance? Will she also find the truth about what happened to his sister all those years ago? Can Clara trust anyone?



I was hooked the moment I started reading. It alternates between Clara in the present and Beth in the past. Slowly we begin to learn about Hannah, but it takes awhile before we realize exactly how she fits in the situation. I was kind of frustrated about the end, for reasons I won't spoil, but it doesn't take away from my love of the story.



I will say that I loved Clara and she was the only person in the story that was remotely likable. It was heartbreaking to see her go through all that she did. However, she handled things better than I ever would that is for sure. This is my second book this author, and I for one can't wait to see what else she brings us.

This book was pretty good but a bit too predictable. I did like the back and forth perspective, it made the story flow and gave the character a bit more depth. I will say that I was disappointed in the last chapter as it probably wasn't needed. It felt like a last ditch effort to make another twist happen. No need for it. Other than that it was a pretty good book.

This was my first introduction to Camilla Way and boy was it a good way to meet. Way wove a tapestry of misdirection and intrigue throughout this twisted story. This story was told through two different timelines which is something I actually really like. To me, when this is done correctly, it is like seeing magic unfold when you least expect it.

I thought that both story lines showed depth and character development which is something that I find is really important to me when I read a good book. I need to get to know a character before I care.

I would definitely recommend this book as a good read if you are into psychological thrillers. It left me with that unsettled feeling that made me want to read the whole thing in one day.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Told from two perspectives, The Lies We Told alternates between 1968, with Beth concerned about the mental health of her young daughter Hannah, and 2017, where Clara’s boyfriend Luke has been missing.

Hannah’s sociopathic tendencies emerged early on, becoming stronger and more obvious after her brother Toby’s birth. Hannah stabbed Beth near the eye with a spoon end, pushed Toby down the stairs, and even set a fire at her babysitter’s home. But after Hannah overhears a secret, she runs wild, threatening to expose her parents if they dare to involve the police to rein her in.

As Clara does everything in her power to locate Luke, with help from his best friend Mac, the secret and sordid details of Luke’s life come trickling out, about his affairs, his cavalier way of treating women, and the sadness and guilt about the disappearance of his sister Emily many years before.

I loved the way this story came together. It was unexpected and compelling, and easily captured my attention. This was definitely an enjoyable read.

The first sentence in this book had a severed head so I knew I was in a f*cked up story, and boy, was I right! Clara and Luke are in love and have just moved in together, and then BOOM Luke goes missing, 20 years after his sister goes missing. Clara enlists his best friend Mac help her find out where he is and if he's even alive when Luke's MIA sister suddenly gets in touch with her after a news broadcast where Clara pleads for help. The story flips back and forth between 1986 and 2017, and while the dual timeline structure was a bit confusing at times, it did fasten the pace even more. Definitely worth the read!

Cambridgeshire - 1986

Beth and Doug had wanted a baby for so long and were thrilled when Hannah was born. But then Beth slowly realized that Hannah was not able to show emotion. One day 5-year-old Hannah killed Beth’s bird, Lucy, by cutting off her head which terrorized Beth. From then on, she was very wary of the child. Even after the birth of their son, Toby. Hannah continued with her “empty” ways. Hannah seems to be working hard to break up her parents’ marriage by pitting one against the other. It brings back memories of an awful thing that happened where they used to live. Her bad behavior at school and hurting her baby brother have become very worrisome. But when Hannah overhears a phone conversation revealing a dark, past incident, she uses it to control her parents.

London - 2017

Clara wakes to find her boyfriend, Luke, is not at home. They have been living together for six months. They both work for a magazine publisher in Soho and Luke is supposed to be having a big interview in the morning, but he doesn’t show up. Clara worries even more that he is missing because Luke has been bothered by someone he nicknamed “Barry,” a stalker. He was getting ugly Facebook messages and pictures of him doing everyday things. Luke tried to laugh it off and refused to contact the police. Now, it has been quiet for the last few weeks with nothing more from the stalker, except that Luke is missing. That’s when Clara decides to get the police involved.

Luke’s parents are retired professional people who having been very welcoming to Clara. They are devastated that Luke has gone missing. They had a daughter who also went missing years ago and they have never heard from her, so this news is terrible for them.

Clara and Luke’s friend join together to try and find what has happened to Luke.

This book is touted as being very scary and spooky. Well, I simply did not find it so. The police seemed to rely on CCTV more than anything to investigate Luke’s disappearance. The part of Hannah as a child made me disgusted with her parents for allowing themselves to be intimidated by her. It’s a good story but I’d have liked to see better parenting to make it appear more believable.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Exciting, intense, thrilling, and enthralling are all adjectives I would use in describing exactly how wonderful The Lies We Told is.

It completely took me by surprise and from the very first chapter had me captivated.

With the back and forth of the past and present slowly unfolding, each mystery had me spellbound until I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I read each page not only as fast as I could but as intently as I can remember reading a mystery in a really long time.

With fascination and slight horror of what would happen next and how the two stories merged, I was so transfixed by the stories that I couldn't even decide which one I liked more and as they slowly, meticulously came together, I decided I liked them both equally for all the same horrifying reasons.

Wonderfully put together and executed, The Lies We Told will leave you chilled to the bone by the very last page and completely in awe over its greatness.

A twisty read from start to finish. Told in two different timelines, Way does a fantastic job of leaving the reader in the dark not knowing how the two will eventually meet. With the many red herrings and dead ends, the reader is left guessing exactly where the book is taking them. Multi layered with a cast of well thought out characters, this story is bound to keep you turning pages and guessing well into the night.