This was a highly addictive intense read that made my heart race and my mind spin!

Wow! This was one thrilling verbal ping-pong match! An intense game full of thrills, chills, secrets, and lies! I felt as though I was on high alert this entire book, there is a definite sense of impending doom throughout this entire story... two liars, one room, and one fantastically disturbing tale!

Susanna is a counselor, and the book starts out with Adam a new patient entering her office for the first time... there is something familiar about Adam, but Suzanna cannot put her finger on it... as the therapy session progresses things start getting a little strange, and then a little disturbing, and then downright creepy.... when Adam shows Susanna a picture of her teenage daughter Emily, Susanna knows there is much more to this therapy session then... well therapy.... yikes, I get chills just thinking about it! Who is Adam? And what does he want with Susanna? And what has he done with her daughter? These were the questions spinning through my head throughout most of this book.... and try as hard as I might, I could not figure out the connection... oh I had theories and speculations, all of them wrong!

Boy oh boy this is one crazy ride that will keep you on pins and needle’s from first page to last.... I had no idea what I was in for when I pick this book up, but it definitely exceeded all my expectations! A story that will leave you a little unsettled, a little off balance, and a lot bewildered! Filled with unreliable, untrustworthy, and unlikable characters that will have you questioning everything....

This is the perfect thriller for the thriller lover it is dark, creepy, and disturbing... this book will screw with your mind and leave you reeling! absolutely recommend!

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

PS: before I wrote this review I was going to give this book four stars, but after this review I’m going to have to give it the full five, this is a story that really had it all!💫

As dark and twisted as it is suspenseful, The Liar’s Room by Simon Lelic is filled with long buried secrets and worst case scenarios. I wondered how it would feel to be in this position! Though nearly the entire book takes place in either flashbacks or a single room, the plot moved lightening fast as Susanna’s entire life and past unraveled before our eyes. With two incredible books by him that were top reads for me, Simon Lelic is officially a favorite author for me. I’m looking forward to more from him!

Reflection

What a trip this book is! For a book with almost no action (when I say nearly the whole book takes place in a single room, I mean it), this book is a wild ride with a surprisingly fast pace. The beginning of the book was positively chilling! It feels like there is something off with Adam from the first moment he enters the office, but it’s hard to say exactly what is off.

Susanna has the quiet confidence of a long-time therapist, so initially she takes his odd behavior in stride. But after awhile it becomes clear that there is something not right. And when he pulls out the photograph of Emily, even though I knew it was coming from the synopsis, I was horrified!! Can you imagine what that would feel like as a mother??

I have to say, there are some dark themes as secrets are revealed. The book delves into the past through retelling for the most part. Susanna telling Adam about the events that preceded her fleeing her life. I don’t want to spoil any of the secrets, but I’ll say there are some disturbing things that happened in Susanna’s old life! Things I could barely imagine how she must have felt. Her running away—well let’s just say I completely understood that reaction.

There are some really fascinating characters. I wish I could say more about them, but I’m not sure how to bring them up without spoiling. How about I just say, there are some first person letters and journals that will keep you on the edge of your seat when they enter the story! I won’t say whose they are or what they say, but I am still creeped out even imagining them!

So as a credit to Simon Lelic, he really went there with his story telling. Hearing the voices of other characters was so pivotal to the story. Susanna and Adam were compelling, but the additional narratives are in my opinions what brought this novel from good-to-great. I finished a few days back and I’m still thinking about them!

I read this twisted story with the book besties and it was an interesting discussion, that’s for sure!!! Lots to unpack here and there are a few ways to interpret the truth of the events that unfold, which led to some great speculating and discussion of the clues and things we knew for sure!

The Liar’s Room was an interesting thriller. I thought the premise was really creative, and the first chapter immediately drew me in. This is definitely a hard book to put down. Thrillers usually keep me reading, and this one was no exception. I did think this book went on a bit too long – it’s 352 pages – and there were parts that felt too slow for me. It wasn’t by any means a dealbreaker for me, but I did find myself wishing the pacing could have been a bit faster, because some of the anticipation got lost.

I did think the twists in this book were pretty great. I thought they each added a deeper element to the story. Every time a twist was introduced, the stakes felt higher. I don’t read a lot of thrillers or mysteries, but (for some reason) I am weirdly good at guessing twists in books, and I saw all of them coming. Don’t ask me how, because there weren’t even that many clues, I just had a feeling, and I couldn’t tell you why. So, while I thought they were all really clever, they didn’t have the same effect on me that I wish they’d had.


I actually did enjoy the writing for the most part. I thought it fit the story well, and I didn’t find it distracting, which is a pet peeve of mine, especially in thrillers. It was solid, and it felt like the author was experienced (which he is). I did have one small complaint (minor spoiler): there are some letter included in the book, and I wasn’t a fan of the writing style in those. They felt too much like a narrative and not a letter written by an excitable young person. I just wish they’d felt more authentic, and differed more from the writing style of the rest of the book. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Lelic’s style in general, I just didn’t think it fit that small part of the story particularly well.

Overall, The Liar’s Room was a solid thriller. There was definitely tension and high stakes that left me flipping pages as fast as my eyes would take me. I’d definitely look into Lelic’s other novels next time I’m in the mood for a thrilling read.

THE LIAR’S ROOM is a mystery/thriller that is presented to the reader as a multi-perspective story. It follows a therapist named Susanna and her late son, Jake. Susanna is met at her place of employment by Adam, a stranger who ultimately turns her (and her daughter Emily’s) whole world upside down (again)!

I tend to take notes so I can remember how I felt while reading a particular passage. I just went back to reread my thoughts and the first thing I jotted down was how Susanna made horrible decisions from the very beginning of the book. One example was when she allowed her business partner to leave while she had a new patient in her office. This new patient, who turned out to be Adam was completely unstable and even violent on more than one occasion. I just didn’t find that to be relatable or realistic. (I know that she was concerned about her daughter but still)

The mystery of this book was hard to figure out which is a positive for me. I could not easily piece together how these people connected with one another and was pleasantly surprised when it became apparent.

*WARNING* There are references to sexual assault in this book so reader beware.

I consider THE LIAR’S ROOM to be a decent weekend read and interested to check out more of the author’s work.

Thank you, Berkley, for providing a physical copy in exchange for my honest review.

A counselor's new client seems to know everything about her, but who is he?

Susanna must be thinking at this point that this appointment is turning into an utter nightmare and fast. Adam is a new patient and he has lied and turned the tables on her fast. Can Susanna depend on her training to get her out of this?

A perfect, edge-of-your seat beginning with a intriguing story line that promises some bits and pieces from their past.  Adam knows things about her that he shouldn't, but how? I wanted to learn how they were connected and began guessing (I was wrong), maybe you can figure it out.

We are stuck in Susanna's office for most of the book (with Adam) and it becomes very claustrophobic with a few intense, sizzling moments. Some dark secrets come to light as we ride it out with Susanna until the end.

I was glued to parts of the story, while some seemed to be a bit over the top. It was quite claustrophobic being in that doctors office for most of the book (I wanted out too), Overall.......an enticing read.

Fans of this genre should enjoy this dark story that was full of secrets.



4 STARS
Blog review on 1/15/19

We are huge fans of Simon Lelic! He hooked us with his last book, “New Neighbors”, a uniquely written thriller with a plot that keeps you guessing! So obviously when “The Liar’s Room” was gifted to us as an ARC to review, we were over the moon to review it!
This was a completely engrossing thriller with another unique and intensely webbed plot! Unexpected twists and the revelation of true character identity was at the root of the many surprises at the turn of each page.
So Suzanna never expected to open her door to a new client she accepted to counsel only to find out she NEVER would have done so had she known his true identity. But will you, the reader, be able to figure it out? Not likely! I was completely shocked when his identity was revealed and the purpose for his presence that day unraveled.
The question is… what the heck is his connection to Suzanna’s past? What has he done with Emily, Suzanna’s daughter? How will Emily’s diary reveal her secrets? But will Suzanna figure it all out before it’s too late?
Adam. That’s his name. The new client. The young man who will show up at Suzanna’s door, slowly reveal a truth that Suzanna is not read to admit. Adam… a character you may just hate to love. Or is it love to hate? Guess you’ll have to read it to find out!!
Whew… one never can guess what secrets some people bury! Loved this book!

We are huge fans of Simon Lelic! He hooked us with his last book, "New Neighbors", a uniquely written thriller with a plot that keeps you guessing! So obviously when "The Liar's Room" was gifted to us as an ARC to review, we were over the moon to review it! 
This was a completely engrossing thriller with another unique and intensely webbed plot! Unexpected twists and the revelation of true character identity was at the root of the many surprises at the turn of each page. 
So Suzanna never expected to open her door to a new client she accepted to counsel only to find out she NEVER would have done so had she known his true identity. But will you, the reader, be able to figure it out? Not likely! I was completely shocked when his identity was revealed and the purpose for his presence that day unraveled. 
The question is... what the heck is his connection to Suzanna's past? What has he done with Emily, Suzanna's daughter? How will Emily's diary reveal her secrets? But will Suzanna figure it all out before it's too late? 
Adam. That's his name. The new client. The young man who will show up at Suzanna's door, slowly reveal a truth that Suzanna is not read to admit. Adam... a character you may just hate to love. Or is it love to hate? Guess you'll have to read it to find out!!
Whew... one never can guess what secrets some people bury! Loved this book!

In a book that takes place not only in one day, but in an afternoon during a counseling session these two people will come to terms with things that happened in the past and how they are both involved with all of it.

Susanna Fenton is a counselor. She has a secret that she is trying to keep under wraps and has done a lot of things to keep it quiet. Adam Geraghty comes to a counseling session with her and needs her help to deal with issues that came from his past.

I read this book in one day in two sittings. It is such a page turning book that I warn not to start it until you are ready to sit and read the whole thing! The book just keeps you locked in until you have to know how these two are connected and then how things will get solved.

As with my review of most mystery thrillers I will have to keep it short and simple and say this one has become one of my favorites. I loved the writing, the plot and how it was constructed to take place in such a short amount of time - it all worked so well.

This was my first reading of Simon Lelic and after finishing I had to go see what was of his backlist. He has quite a few, have you read anything else by him, where should I go next?

I love this genre, so I was excited to read this book, especially as the summary really caught my attention. However, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It was slow to engage. I found Adam to be a much stronger and memorable character than Susanna. The psychological thriller angle wasn’t as strong as I anticipated. I would’ve enjoyed this more if the pace had been faster. Pieces came together a bit too slowly. There were a few unexpected twists, which is why I’m giving it three stars vs. two. I’ve never read anything by this author, but I would be willing to check out future books.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Susanna Fenton has spent the past 14 years running from her past. A tragedy for which she might have born a degree of responsibility has come back to slam her without warning and she faces an unexpected adversary in this drama about parenting and loss.

Adam Geraghty, a new patient, shows up at the appointed time to Susanna's counseling practice office. He's young, and she gets the feeling she might know him but proceeds with the session. It seems Adam has an issue with Susanna and is there to hear her confession before deciding what he's going to do about a certain other situation that he's set up to punish her with. NO SPOILERS

This was an interesting psychological thriller with a style that allows for a slow reveal of the history of Susanna's past troubles and what has led to this confrontation. Adam has an agenda but his vendetta is fueled by lies and a lack of perception of events that transpired many years ago. I wasn't particularly drawn to the characters and the particular drama but did have some empathy for a mother's pain when faced with dealing with a troubled teenager. Domestic drama always holds my interest and it certainly held my attention until the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

If melodrama's your thing, you'll absolutely love this book. But even if it isn't, chances are you'll enjoy it anyway. I did, getting so caught up in it that I read for nearly two hours straight just because I "had" to get to the end before putting it down.

The reason isn't that I loved the angst-ridden characters who have almost unbelievably over-the-top "secrets" they've been trying to hide (and lie about) for years; rather, it's an artfully written story that draws the reader in and simply won't let go. It's much the same feeling I had at the conclusion of another of the author's books, "The New Neighbors," which I also very much enjoyed and, nearing the end, couldn't put down. And you can be sure that I'll be chomping at the bit to get the next one as well.

This one centers on Susanna Fenton, who for a reason unknown at the beginning left her former self in the wind some 14 years earlier, studying to become a mental health counselor. She's got a daughter Emily (who, hint, hint, is around 14 years old), and good friend Ruth, a dentist who has a practice right next to Susanna's counseling office. One day, Susanna opens her door to a mysterious but vaguely familiar-looking young man who's made an appointment for help. But quickly, the roles change - and it's no longer Susanna who is in charge. Worse, he knows way more about Susanna's carefully hidden past life than she's willing to remember. But remember it she must if she's to save her precious daughter.

Chapters shift between what's happening with Susanna and Emily (in their past and present), all leading up to revelations and admissions about what happened in Susanna's life 14 years ago and why she tried so hard to escape. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.

I loved Simon Lelic’s novel, The House, so its with immense anticipation that I am starting The Liar’s Room. Have you noticed how many books contain Liar in the title lately? It’s a trend! This book promises to deliver a ride of creepy thrills and nerve-wracking intensity!

Here’s the plot:

Susanna Fenton has a secret. Fourteen years ago she left her identity behind, reinventing herself as a counselor and starting a new life. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe.

But everything changes when Adam Geraghty walks into her office. She’s never met this young man before – so why does she feel like she knows him?

Then Adam starts to tell her about a girl. A girl he wants to hurt.

And Susanna realizes she was wrong.
She doesn’t know him.
BUT HE KNOWS HER.
AND THE GIRL HE PLANS TO HURT IS HER DAUGHTER…



I always like books about people who reinvent themselves, those who have a secret to keep hidden, something to keep the reader guessing. If you love thrillers like I do, you will want to put this on your Goodreads list!

It’s due out on January 15, 2019

This was a difficult book. The subject matter, the set up, the tension made it very consuming. There are plenty of twists in the tale and the whole psychological aspect of what each character thinks and feels is well handled. There are multiple perspectives offered for each character’s choices and decisions which make it an interesting read. This books made me fee uncomfortable, almost claustrophobic! 'The book is a very right taut suspense that keeps makes it a compelling read. Hats off to the author.

Twisted story of manipulation. Good one!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was so different from what I was expecting and much different from what I have read before this one.

I unfortunately started reading it right before I got sick. For several days I couldn’t pick it up but for very short periods of time. Once I was feeling better, I could focus on the story then I simply couldn’t stop reading.

The author has proved himself to be a master of mind manipulation through his main characters. You simply couldn’t tell what was the truth and what was a lie. The twists just kept coming. What you thought was going on was in fact not the truth. I love the guessing game you play as you read along.

The story was written from several points of view; some in the past, some from now. Bits and pieces of the story soon started to come together and you could get a feel for what is happening – or so you think. This story is a psychological thriller that leaves you shaking your head at the outcome. Brilliant and bizarre!

The Liars Room is a fast moving story that is inventive but a bit freaky too. Perfect if you are craving something totally unique in a thriller. Cannot wait for more from Lelic!

This is a book that I was really looking forward to reading. It is right up my reading genre. The beginning started out fine. To be honest, Susanna is a person that I would have brushed off as unmemorable if it was not for her past. Adam was the stronger voice in the story.

In regards, to this whole tone of the book; it is kind of monotone with a quiet psychological undertone. A lot of the story, except for the flash backs do take place in Susanna's office with Adam running the conversation direction. He feeds Susanna little tidbits of information. This book would have been more engaging if the story moved faster with some bigger events. Plus, just having Adam as the only one that I really found interesting did not help. The story had two main characters and when fifty percent of the cast is unappealing, it does not help the situation. While, this book left me unsatisfied, I would try another book out by this author.

Thank you Berkley Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Adam walks into his new therapist’s office in search for some answers. His therapist Susanna has no idea what’s in store for her. An event in Susanna’s past is slowly coming back to haunt her more than ever. Adam has news for Susanna that she’s not ready to recieve. And, most of all, Susanna’s daughter’s life is at stake. Can Susanna save her? What does Adam have to tell her? What information is Adam in search for?

I was trying to predict the twist the entire time I was reading it. I really thought it was pretty obvious…but I was wrong and couldn’t be happier. I love when I can’t predict the twist! I felt the ending was a bit rushed after the book spent so much time leading up to such a dramatic finale. It is intense! Some features of this story were a little dark for my taste, but it adds to the suspense and the edge-of-your-seat feeling. It was an enjoyable read, but I wouldn’t find myself reading it again because it was so profound the first time around.

4/5 Stars

Susanna is a therapist and she has an appointment with a new client, Adam, on a Friday afternoon. Almost immediately Adam confesses that he's there because he would very much like to hurt a particular teenage girl. Susanna soon realizes the girl is her daughter but she cannot fathom why this stranger would want to hurt her child.

As the story unfolds, we learn that neither Susanna nor Adam are who they seem to be; both harbor dangerous secrets and the twists and turns unfold deliciously as we learn where and how these two characters intersect.

Simon Lelic's writing is superb and I thank him, Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

What an ... uncomfortable book. Lelic seems to specialize in the psychology of bullying. In this novel, a therapist meets an intense young man who ends up confronting her with her hidden past - her son committed a terrible and notorious crime, but she has since had a child, changed her name, and started a new life in which she feels she is somehow repaying a debt. Her client drives her toward the truth with the knife he brought with him, and by telling the therapist he's kidnapped her daughter. It's a bit of a plot puzzler - Lelic has to go through some contortions to explain what prevents the woman from doing more to defend herself, and the story that eventually comes out is an enormous downer, but it's a compelling read, and certainly succeeds at creating psychological suspense.

Susanna Fenton started over, created a new life and a new identity as a therapist over a decade ago to protect her daughter. For fourteen years her secret has been safe, but now she has a new patient who seems to know more about Susanna then he should. Is Adam really a man in need of emotional help, or is he someone who could destroy Susanna and her daughter? Taking on a new identity to escape an ugly past is an old plot twist, but Lelic breathes new life into the story with a strong female protagonist and a twist or two I didn’t see coming