For me, this book was a chore to read, one that I struggled through and pushed myself to finish, not because it was a difficult read or anything like that (in fact, I found the writing on this one a bit too simplistic), but rather, I felt that the story never really took off. The premise had potential, as there aren’t too many books out there nowadays that incorporate modern technology (in the form of smartphones, tablets, laptops) and social media (i.e. Facebook) into a crime thriller – the technology in this case was front and center and in some instances, even became one of the focal “characters” in the story. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t really work for me – I felt that the plot was a bit all over the place (especially in the second half of the book), the characters were one-dimensional and written in a way that made all of them unlikable (with the exception of the kid William), and too many elements of the story just seemed implausible. Throughout most of the story, there just seemed to be way too much “explaining” going on by various characters, especially as it related to aspects of technology and social media, things that I felt were common sense enough in this day and age that such thorough explanations felt unnecessary. Parts of the story were also bogged down by what I felt were details that didn’t matter (for example, one of the characters taking out their smart phone, swiping over to an app, opening file manager, going through each folder, pulling up a file, closing it out, etc.) – it felt tedious, and for me, detracted from the telling of the main story.

I went into this book initially expecting it to be an “edge-of-your-seat” thriller and admittedly, the first couple chapters did pique my curiosity. However the story slowed considerably and started to drag quite a bit in the middle, to the point that by the time I got to the “twist” at the end, it felt anti-climactic (though it probably didn’t help that I already figured out most of the ending already by then so the surprise element wasn’t there). I also felt like I had to suspend disbelief a bit too much throughout the story – yes, the title of the book is Lies and there are plenty of them in the story, but it seemed like only the main character Joe was the one constantly being lied to….he came across as a little too naïve and clueless until the end when he suddenly figured everything out, which seemed just too implausible to me. Joe’s reaction to things that happen in the story also felt a little off, emotionless almost, which made it hard for me to connect with that character (technically all the characters to be honest), though I think this has to do more with Joe also narrating the story from his own first person point of view. I guess I’m just not a fan of fictional stories that are told in 1st person because the viewpoint is so limited and unless the author is trying to achieve a particular purpose with the story, it’s a skill that I feel is hard to get right.

While I don’t regret reading this one and some parts of it truly were entertaining, it just wasn’t enough for this to feel like a satisfying read to me. Overall, I felt the content was good, just didn’t really like the execution. With that said, I do appreciate all the research that went into the book and I actually did learn a bit more about social media and technology than I knew before, which is why I decided to rate this 3 stars, even though it was technically closer to 2.5 stars. It looks like I’m in the minority with this one though, as everyone else seemed to like it more than I did, so I would recommend checking out those reviews to get a more balanced opinion.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

What happens when an innocent request by your child winds up turning your whole life upside down? This is what happens to Joe. As he witnesses an argument between his wife and a male friend of theirs he’s quite perplexed. To remove his son from a potentially upsetting situation his wife speeds out of the parking garage, confronting the friend who then tries to attack him. He pushes the friend out of the way, injuring him. Before he can decide how to help him, his young son has a life threatening asthma attack, causing him to speed home for the inhaler which seems to be missing from Will’s backpack. When he goes back to check on Ben, both Ben and his car are gone. In approaching his wife about the situation, the lies begin. This is a great psychological thriller with complex characters. My suspicions about some of the situations changed throughout the book and the ending was spectacular. A great read!

Also reviewed on B&N and Kobo under the name IrishEyes430

Lies by T.M. Morgan was the first book I read by this author and was one I truly enjoyed. Joe Lynch’s life is good and he is happy. But all that changes when he unexpectedly witnesses his wife, who is supposed to be at work, arguing with a family friend. In one moment, everything in his life changes!

Though I like Joe very much, he was also so naïve. Suddenly he is learning everything he thought was true may not be at all! I found myself wanting to know what would happen next and how would it all end! Lies by T.M. Morgan was intriguing and suspenseful and I look forward to reading more from this author!

Happy reading!

This book captured me right away. I could not put it down. Then, for a wee bit of the middle, I was thinking "enough already"! But that went away.

Just enough plot twists to keep you interested. I would recommend as a light read. Great for a flight or road trip.

What if everything in your life turned out to be a LIE? For Joe, it all started on a Thursday afternoon when his 4 year old son, William, spotted his mother, Mel's, car and wanted to know where she was going. What follows is a mind boggling, twisty, and gripping search for the truth. How well do you really know those closest to you? What if being the "good guy" isn't enough? And, lastly, what happens when that "good guy" is pushed too far?

I was equal parts intrigued and appalled by how those with knowledge (I'm talking to you, tech nerds!) can manipulate data to their own advantage. This part of the story made my heart race just thinking about the possibilities for evil, and it definitely provided an element unique from other thrillers I've read. Yikes.

While I was compelled to keep reading -- and I definitely had to know if sweet, endearing Joe would survive this nightmare -- I'm giving this one 3.5 stars, instead of a solid 4, because I felt like some questions were left unanswered. I did, however, love the engaging writing style and look forward to more from this author!

I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Location: London, England

Ben was playing head games, having an affair with his wife, taunting him online, on his phone. His life was falling apart.
What was real? Could he be sent to jail for murdering a man who was still alive? What is reality? Is he losing his mind?
You will never see it coming.

I was pulled in by the story and there was an unanticipated page turner. Loved the beginning but was not a huge fun of the end.

Joe's naivety drove me crazy at points. The story starts when his son, William, spots his wife's car while on a drive back from school. William wants to say hi to his mom, and Joe decided to follow her. And pretty much all the hell starts from there... he is pulled in in a crime that he did not commit and no one believes him.. His lovely wife Mel, admits that she cheated on him, and apologies but things don't add up. Joe's life becomes a nightmare that won't stop quickly enough...

Overall I am giving it a 3.5 Stars because I truly enjoyed it. It could have been a perfect psychological thriller if not for Joe's unconvincing naivety..

Sometimes the ending of a book can completely turn around how you feel about it. I had felt rather ambivalent about this, having read rather too many domestic suspense thrillers, and books with Lies in the title, this year, but requested it based on multiple good reviews from trusted bookfriends, and with publication date nearing, needed to get on with it. I think that may have been part of my problem - the right read, at the wrong time. It started well, but I got increasingly frustrated with the hero, so for most of the book was not enjoying it, but then wham, the brilliant reveal - despite the twist being mentioned by almost every reviewer, I still didn’t work out what was going on - and I read a LOT of mysteries, so my congratulations to the author for keeping me in the dark.

Amiable English teacher Joe Lynch is driving his four year old son home, when they spot his wife Mel’s car turning into a hotel car park. Deciding to surprise her, they follow, but when he sees her in an argument with her friend’s husband, Ben, Joe retreats, unseen, not knowing what to think. Then Ben appears, spoiling for a fight, and Joe, defending himself, knocks him to the ground. Joe wants to help, but his son’s sudden severe asthma attack takes priority, and he is forced to leave quickly. When he returns to check on him, Ben is gone, but it soon becomes clear that he is not happy, and is out to get revenge by destroying Joe’s career, reputation, marriage, and even freedom, by using his advanced IT and telecommunications skills and considerable wealth.

Part of my problem with this, most of the way through, was believing that Ben would sacrifice his own company and personal life, just to get one up on someone, and also that Joe could be so stupid, stumbling from one revelation to the next, desperate to believe any lie that will repair the situation, but making things worse at every turn. The police investigation also seemed completely inept and implausible. These criticisms were all negated by the ending, and while there were subtle clues throughout, the plot was like a game of snakes and ladders. I’m very glad I did persist with this - mainly because I really wanted to know what the much hyped twist was. 3.5 rounded up for the hype being justified, and also for the author sticking with traditional first person past narration (rather than the annoying first person so prevalent in modern thrillers.) I’ll be looking out for more from this author.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review.

4.25-4.5 STARS

Upon reading the premise of "Lies" by T.M. Logan, I was immediately intrigued. Boasting a unique concept that kept me guessing most of the way, I found "Lies" to be a very compelling story from start to finish. Distinctive, gripping and suspenseful, “Lies” is a psychological thriller that doesn’t disappoint.

Engrossing! Engaging! Frightening!

🎵Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)
Lies lies lies yeah (they won't forget you)
Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)
Lies lies lies yeah

Oh you know I know🎵
Thompson Twins 1982

This song went through my head every time I picked up this book, so I thought I’d share with you all! And you’re welcome if this song runs through your head the rest of the day... 😝

This book pulled me in right from the start and did not let go until that unpredictable ending! One small inconsequential decision can alter the course of a life irreparably... if you go to Red Lobster instead of Red Robin perhaps you Will meet the man of your dreams... if you had made a left instead of a right perhaps you would not have got in that car accident... or in the case of this book perhaps if Joe hadn’t followed his wife’s car when he saw it, he wouldn’t have ended up in the middle of a murder investigation....

Joe has the perfect life a loving wife, and an adorable little boy, but as in all good psychological thrillers things aren’t always as they seem.... One day on the way home from picking up his son William from school they see his wife’s car turning left ahead of them... prompted by his son who is eager to share his recently acquired award with his mom, Joe chooses to follow his wife.... and his life will never be the same again!

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and had me quickly turning those pages, I just had to know what in the world was going on! And the ending? Did not see that coming... all my speculating never took me in the direction that this book ultimately went in... but the scariest thing in this book was the part that technology and social media played.... how hard it is to dispute something that has been posted on social media... or your location when a cell tower pinged when a message.... was sent from your phone.... in this book technology and social media both helped and hurt Joe, and I’m not sure if it was worth the pay off... but it did truly make you think about social media and how much that has altered today society and our perceptions....

Absolutely recommend two fans of good suspenseful edge of your seat psychological thrillers!

*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

Joe is in a mess. Someone is sabotaging his whole life. Job, family, everything is going down the drain. He cannot figure out why!

This book starts off with a bang. There are actual places in this story I said, out loud, “OH SH*#!”

I enjoyed the anticipation this novel creates. However, the story bogs down in the middle. It is the continuation of all of the tragedies happening to Joe. It just keeps on and on.

The characters are a little lacking in this read. Joe is a little bit of a wimp in my book. I expected more out of him. I wanted him to be more angry, with more fight to keep what he has earned. He just didn’t have it in him. And then there is his wife! She is a piece of work! I wanted to beat her within an inch of her life.


But any book which creates this kind of reaction to the characters can’t be all bad. And it is not! it is a lightening fast read with plenty of gasp worthy action.

I received this novel from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for a honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I was a little disappointed while reading because I was convinced I had figured everything out, but the ending wasn’t at all what I expected. If you’re in the mood for something that will keep you guessing and still surprise you at the end then this is the book for you!

Wow! This book was a real roller coaster ride! I was intrigued from beginning to end as I witnessed a man's life spiral out of control. What if Joe Lynch hadn't impulsively decided to follow his wife's car when his pre-school son spotted it at the intersection? Would he ever have discovered the first of a series of lies threatening to destroy his seemingly perfect family? It's hard to believe this was the author's debut novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Deceit, social media, and misdirection all make for an engaging read. Joe unexpectedly happens upon a situation one afternoon that sends his life into a tail spin. Is everything he believes to be true a lie? I liked Joe. This is a book you take for what it is-entertaining. I didn’t find it to be anything earth shattering in its genre but still a fun read that grabbed me from the get go.

Joe Lynch loved his wife and son, enjoyed his job as an English teacher, and generally thought his life was going smoothly. A chance sighting of his wife’s car, in a place she shouldn’t have been, lead Joe to follow to find out what was happening. To his surprise, she was arguing with Ben, an acquaintance of theirs, and Joe confronts Ben in the parking garage after seeing them together. The men grapple, and Joe pushes Ben to the ground, leaving him unconscious and bleeding.

Joe realizes he’s lost his phone and his leather bracelet in the parking garage at the hotel. Suddenly strange posts are popping up on his Facebook page, and though he deletes them, people start to talk. Joe’s good reputation goes downhill as strange things continue to happen, causing Joe to lose his job, and to be formally charged with Ben’s murder.

This is an exciting book, full of digital intrigue, with a lot of information on things I never realized were possible. Joe’s life turns upside down in less than a week, and it’s both thrilling and unnerving to read how quickly your reputation can be destroyed. I loved this book and will be looking for more from T. M. Logan.

Since this is a psychological thriller and a lot of it's value is in the twists and turns, I'm not going to rehash the plot. The blurb was what drew me into this book.

Joe Lynch experiences a tragic event and finds out he doesn't have the perfect life he thought he had. His wife has lied to him and put his family at risk. What follows is a tense and sometimes twisty journey of Joe trying to put his life back together -- anyway he can.

I did appreciate the use of modern technology in this tale and aside from a bit mushy middle, I thought the story moved along nicely and even though some of the details I was able to figure out, there were a few surprises along the way, and that's a good thing.

So, if you are looking for a psychological thriller that might keep you guessing, Lies might be for you.

An ARC was provided for review.

This book was intense and confusing, but confusing in a good way—in the way that made me want to keep turning the pages because I needed to find out who was lying and what was the truth. I knew the story was going to be full of lies, well because, that's the name of the book, right? Lies. So, from the very start, I found myself questioning everything and everyone. Is this a lie? Is he lying? Is she lying? I didn't know what to believe.

On and on throughout the story, as people get pulled one way or another and events get twisted around and around, I got dizzy with the possibilities. And those scenarios in my head did not lead me to the ending that the author wrote on the pages. My mind didn't even go there. I love when that happens!

What if your whole life was based on lies? Joe Lynch had a great life. A wife. A child. A job. A chance encounter changed all of that. Wow,Wow and Wow! This psychological thriller was super suspenseful and grabbed me from start to finish. It was a real page-turner A very intense read with intense lies. Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Joe has a great life, an ordinary life. Being married to Mel and father to William – Wills as he calls him, makes him content. He teaches school, helps around the house and does his fair share of parenting. Life is pretty darned good. That is until it slowly begins to unravel.

It all begins when Wills and Joe see Mel’s car on their way home from school. Wills wants to surprise her, but unfortunately Joe is the one who is surprised. Mel seems to be in some sort of meeting with an old college buddy, Ben Delaney. Joe knows Delaney, his daughter babysits Wills and their social circles sometimes intersect. He cannot figure out why Mel is meeting with him when she said she was at work.

Later, what begins as a conversation between Joe and Ben quickly develops into a confrontation. Words lead to shoving and Joe pushes Ben a little too hard. Shocked, he feels he must do something, but Wills is waiting in the car and has an immediate medical need that can’t be delayed. Once Wills is safely home and has been given his medicine, Joe worries about the fight he had with Ben. Giving an excuse to his wife, which is nowhere near the truth, he leaves the house to make sure Ben is okay.

When Joe gets back to the hotel parking lot where he left Ben, he is gone. Could Ben have been lying about his meeting with Mel? Was Ben hurt worse than it seemed when Joe had to attend to his son and left him bleeding next to his car? Or was he fine and simply gone home.

Joe can’t tell Mel what happened or why. Then she lies to him about the meeting with Ben. As the lies pile up they gain momentum. And to make matters worse, it appears as though someone begins to systematically ruin Joe’s peaceful, perfect life. It begins almost immediately after the incident, whispers and rumors that become accusations and arrests. How did his life unravel in less than a week’s time? Will anyone believe the truth? Does Joe really know the truth about anyone or anything? His life depends upon him finding the true behind all of the lies before it is too late.

The scariest thing about this fabulous book is that it is totally believable. Technology and crime unfortunately have become willing partners. Life as we now know it could end with a few clicks of someone’s computer or a quick picture or two on an anonymous cell phone. Joe’s life goes from bad to worse in the time it takes to pay a bill or “like” something on FB. The tension ramps up from mild to out of control then continues with breakneck speed up until the final chapter.

Lies is Logan’s debut novel, published last year in the UK where he resides. It is now available in the US. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries featuring psychological twists and turns. The characters are everyday people you work with or that live next door. Who knows what secrets they have or what their past and/or present situations may motivate them to do.

Logan’s next book, 29 Seconds is also a psychological thriller and will be available in the US next year. It is available now in the UK if you happen to be traveling there, pick me up a copy.

Copyright © 2018 Laura Hartman

Lies dragged me in right from the beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. It was fast paced and fun to read. I even surprised myself with how much I would read in one sitting.

Joe Lynch is a relatable guy - the kind you would root for in a tough situation. And boy, oh boy has he found himself in one.

Joe has the picture perfect family - his loving wife Mel and their wonderful son William. One day while driving home William spots his Mummy's car and begs Joe to stop to see her. Not wanting to upset William and also wondering why his wife is at a hotel, Joe pulls over. He ventures into the hotel looking for her and finds her arguing with her best friend's husband. Strange...

Obviously put off by the situation, Joe decides to intervene and that is where everything comes crashing down.

As I mentioned earlier in this review, Joe is someone I felt like you would want to win. You want him to be able to pull himself through the difficult situations and I found myself basically talking to Joe and trying to come up with ideas to help up. I thought Lies was going to be just like every other psychological thriller that has been hitting the shelves recently but I was pleasantly surprised. T.M. Logan was able to put this one in a category of its own. I loved the way social media was brought into it. This made is feel realistic and being someone who dabbles in different social media platforms, it allowed me to feel connected to Joe.

Definitely worth the read!