State of Lies
by Siri Mitchell 

Paperback, 368 pages
Expected publication: August 13th 2019 by Thomas Nelson (first published August 2019)




Goodreads synopsis:
One woman is forced to question everything she knows in this domestic suspense novel from award-winning author Siri Mitchell.

Georgie Brennan may be a world-class quantum physicist, but she grapples with life as a single mother after her husband is killed. When she receives a message from beyond the grave, it leads her to question the details of her husband’s death.

As she follows the clues he left behind, her discoveries increasingly implicate those closest to her. When her father is nominated as the new United States Secretary of Defense, she must uncover the truth before his confirmation hearing—even as the same people who killed her husband are now after her. Nothing is at is seems. Lies are truth; enemies are friends. Even her child is at risk. As every possibility but one disappears, Georgie may find herself to be the antithesis of everything she’s thought herself to be.

***

5 Stars

OMG! This was a great read! UNPUTDOWNABLE!

Siri Mitchell is known for her ChickLit/Contemporary Romance novels but has struck out in a new genre with this new release. And might I say… she is KILLING IT! I think she has found her writing niche for sure. I am always happy when an author ventures out into a new writing area and then owns it like she has been doing it all her life. So exciting!

This book is centered around the political intrigue of Washington DC and feature a main character named Georgia Ann Brennan, quantum physicist. Georgia Ann thought life was great. She had everything she ever wanted. One gorgeous husband. Check. One extra cute kid. Check. One father who has been nominated to become the next Secretary of Defense. Check. When Georgia whispers this fact to her husband one night, her whole world began to change. Her husband was killed in a supposed car accident. And while she tried to deal with the tragedy and not fall apart, Georgia began to realize there was something fishy going on. The more she investigated what her husband had been working on prior to his death the bigger the conspiracy became and the more danger she found herself and her son in.

This novel is thrilling, I feel like this could be any of us. All the lies and secrets are so overwhelming it could break a normal person. This has the perfect amount of build up and suspense. It goes from Georgia being an unaffected woman to one nearly drowning in lies. I think Sean’s time in the military and previous experience with protecting his sister really served him in dealing with the all the fallout and consequences.

Another reviewer said this was Christian fiction. But I didn’t notice any overtly religious themes in this novel. It will stand up against any of the popular thrillers out there. I was glued to the page and marveled how anyone could come out of this situation unscathed. I am definitely adding Siri Mitchell to my must read list. I am a believer!

Highly recommended.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise was engaging, the writing flowed well - this was definitely a page-turner. However, the story did not hold up for me, there were way too many much too unlikely coincidences in the name of driving the plot and the ending was fairly improbable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was excellent! Totally kept my attention and I wanted to find out what would become of the main characters. Highly reccomended.

Last night was a “rough night” as in I couldn’t fall asleep. So after lying there for sometime restless with my brain pinging endlessly, I decided I might as well read. Have you ever picked up a book and immediately wonder how the author can weave such a plot? State of Lies by Siri Mitchell had. me. hooked. As in, I read the entire book in one session. As in my husband rolled over in the wee morning hours and asked if I ever sleep. (No. The answer is no.) My 6 o’clock alarm came very quickly… but this book was worth it. Better than any dream I could have dug from the back of my imagination.

Action. Drama. Twists. Turns. Shattered Trust. Loss. Chaos. This book has it all. All espionage, political intrigue, danger, and lies. This novel is fast-paced and kept me guessing at the beginning, and totally engaged at the end. My only complaint is that it was too short… and I found the post-climax writing a little…. slow? I honestly was surprised at how much I liked it – political suspense and physicists aren’t really my thing…. but life-threatening incidents and doubts about everything and everyone, including yourself, while trying to maintain a normal existence? Dished up generously!

This title is published by Thomas Nelson (generally considered a Christian publisher.) However, unlike other books by this author, it skated across that genre – it wasn’t offensive, but it wasn’t faith-centric, at all. This is a non-issue for me, but if you’re familiar with their publishings, this might catch you by surprise a little – no verses, no church, no questioning of beliefs – other than those our heroine has of those she loves and trusts. I definitely recommend it as an exciting read. Watch for it to hit shelves August 13th and pick up a copy for yourself. You’ll thank me.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

**I received a complementary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Do you ever pick up a book to start reading it and find yourself thinking that perhaps you made the wrong decision? This book was that for me... but not for the reason you might think. It wasn't because it was BAD, but because it was so action packed from the very start that I had to keep reading. My plans of 'I'll just dip my toes in with a few chapters before I go to sleep...' became 'Sleep, who needs sleep? I MUST know what happens!' Once I started, I did not want to put it down!



This story is so filled with twists and turns that you will be questioning not only everyone in the story, but you might just find yourself wondering if you should trust those around you too. It truly is a story that shows us that sometimes the truth is far from what we know. As truths are revealed throughout the story, we see just how far someone is willing to go to keep them hidden. The action packed events had me at the edge of my seat right through the end. I couldn't get enough.



Christian suspense is my personal favorite genre, and while this is classified as such and published by Thomas Nelson (a Christian publishing company), I would say that it barely really falls into that category if at all. There is brief mention of faith here and there, but it does not play a major role as many others in the genre do. For this reason, I could see it having a broader appeal beyond those who typically read the Christian genre. That being said, there are a few more suggestive scenes that some Christians may not appreciate either. Though these scenes are not graphic (more implied than detailed) and DO occur between a married couple only, it is more than what you would typically expect in a Christian read and therefor worth noting before you read. Personally, while I think these scenes could have been left out, I also don't feel like they took away from the story, or that they were overtly inappropriate.

Overall, this was a great read and one that fans of a good mystery will thoroughly enjoy! I know I did!

This was a well-paced suspense novel. One caveat: if you're expecting "Christian" fiction because of the author and/or publisher, you may be surprised. I don't remember any Christian content, not even a mention of prayer.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Georgia Ann Brennan is a brilliant quantum physicist, a loving wife and mother, and the daughter of parents actively involved in Washington D.C. society and politics. One afternoon, her husband, Sean, leaves on an errand but is very late returning. Georgia answers a knock at the door to find two strangers who report that he has been killed in a hit and run car accident. Months pass as Georgia struggles to come to grips with this devastating loss for herself and her 6 yo son, Sam. One day, she realizes that she still has questions and the answers just don’t add up.

This book was a page turner from the very beginning and, although the pace fell off a bit in the middle, it had a thriller ending. A quick, entertaining read, the plot was a blend of love, friendship, and betrayal as well as numerous secrets, espionage, and treason. Although there were a few coincidences and "tells", they could be overlooked and didn't diminish the overall suspense.

As a first-time reader of author Siri Mitchell, I was not aware that she is known primarily in the genres of: Christian, Historical fiction, and Romance. Since this is her first Suspense title, I’m impressed and will be looking for more!


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

#StateofLies #NetGalley
Intrigue at the highest levels of government. Who can you trust? Your husband? Your friends and family? Can you trust the FBI.? The United States Government?

In this fast paced political thriller, a brilliant physicist, Georgie Brennan, quickly discovers there is no one she can trust and no where that is safe for she and her young son, Sam. Months after her husband, Sean, is killed in an accident she discovers that her husband was not the person she thought he was. He had lied about where he was going the night he was killed, and numerous lies were discovered about his secret life. She uses her skills as a physicist to methodically unravel the web of lies told to her by all that she loves. Danger and political intrigue become a part of her life as she struggles to pull the truth from the lies.

Georgie's father, a military hero has been nominated for the position of Secretary of Defense, and is preparing for his confirmation hearing. As this develops, her mother, a Southern beauty queen and very efficient army wife anxiously awaits the hearings with ambitious hopes for their future Raised by parents who were very ambitious and "correct," Georgie had been taught to listen to her parents and to aspire to a virtuous life, always being truthful and highly loyal to country and to one's self.
As Georgie continues to dig and search for the truth, her own life is threatened and she seems dangerously close to losing all that she holds dear. As the events continue to unfold, she realizes that this tangled web has the potential to destroy not only her way of life, but the very core of the American government!!

I literally could not read fast enough to get to the end of this book! State of Lies is an excellent political thriller that I recommend to readers who enjoy and love a good mystery! I found the pace of the story exciting, the characters well developed and the ending left me satisfied, but shocked!! Great and unexpected ending!

Thank you to the author,Siri Mitchell, the publishers, and to NetGalley for this advanced digital copy of State of Lies. The opinions expressed are my own.

Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.
With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next Secretary of Defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains. Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too.
The more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.
Not her friends.
Not her parents.
Maybe not even herself.

This was an intriguing book. There were twists and turns just about every page. Georgie and her son are running for their lives. She doesn't know who she can trust. She's beginning to see that her entire life has been a lie. The only things that was a little boring was the explanation of her work. I wouldn't describe this as Christian book. But it was clean and there was no foul language. I would recommend this book for those who like a good mystery.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

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

Thriller about a young woman from a political family who finds herself involved in a treasonous situation.

State of Lies
By Siri Mitchell

4 stars.

An excellent read of mystery and espionage.

Who to trust and who to run from? When Georgie's husband is killed in an accident, she has her son struggle to get on with life. When she discovers some unanswered questions about his death, she starts asking questions. The more questions she asks the more people die.

How does what her husband was working on link back to her father?

Written in an easy to read, fast paced style, this book is engaging. The plot, set in Washington politics and military is realistic, and the characters, except the husband generally realistic.

A good mystery to sit back and enjoy.

This title has been reviewed by This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

#StateOfLies #NetGalley

Christian suspense novels are a favorite of mine, and I breezed through this one fairly quick. I'd never personally read anything by this author before, but I'd heard great things, and I was really looking forward to diving into it. I tend to love thrillers that focus around information and secrets and conspiracies, so I had a feeling I was going to really enjoy this one, and I was definitely not disappointed.

Main character Georgia Ann has grown up in a high society type of family. Her father is in an advanced position in politics thanks largely in fact to his military background, and her mother has become the perfect political wife. Georgia grew up knowing how to properly entertain, the importance of charitable luncheons, and how image matters no matter what. So it's not surprising that her family doesn't understand her career choice as a physicist, or the fact that her and her husband Sean have settled for a simpler lifestyle with their son Sam. Georgia's perfectly content with the life she's built for herself, but everything changes the day her husband goes out to get a piece to fix their tap, and never comes home. She later finds out that he was killed in a car accident, and she's left to pick up the pieces of everything herself.

However, Sean's death not only turns Georgia's life upside down with grief, but it also opens the door to a lifestyle of secrets that she was never privy too. Sean had been working on a top secret project for the Department of Defense, and suddenly Georgia's learning secrets and truths she may have been better off never knowing. Betrayals and reveals are hiding around every corner, and you never know who you can truly trust, or if you're ever truly safe. Georgia's may not have been prepared for all she's about to uncover, but she's also not going to go down without a fight. She'll stop at nothing to get her and her son Sam's safety back, no matter what the cost.

From start to finish, Sate of Lies, had me on the edge of my seat, and even though I had pieced together some pieces of the plot, I was honestly still blown away with all the final reveals. This is not the type of suspense story that slowly builds and then has one big revelation. Rather, the plot twists, turns, and changes right from the start, and the reader is treated to one shocking revelation after another.

Georgia's character was one I really enjoyed, as I loved how patriotism and standing up for what's truly right no matter what the circumstances are of such high importance to her. She also refuses to ever take the easy way out, and instead is determined to do whatever it takes to stand on her own two feet, and to give her son the stability and security he deserves.

Even though I really loved this story overall, that's not to say it wasn't without its faults. When I pick up a book published by a Christian publisher, I expect the faith content to play at least a partial role in the plot, and I'm always disappointed when that isn't the case. With everything going on in Georgia's world, I would have loved to have seen her turn to God, and prayer and faith, rather than insisting on doing everything her own way. I'm sure for some this wouldn't have been a deal breaker, but I would have liked more mention of the faith element than in the prayer's her young son says before he goes to bed.

Secondly, considering this is marketed as a Christian fiction title, I was a little surprised with some of the racier scenes that are included between Georgia and her husband before his death. I appreciated that this is only ever between a married couple, but I still don't think it was necessary to the plot, and I could see it being bothersome to some Christian readers.

Overall, State of Lies is a fantastic story that will keep readers engaged right throughout, and I highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of suspense mysteries or political thrillers. While this was my first experience with a Siri Mitchell novel, I definitely wouldn't hesitate to pick up a book from her in the future!

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

I had read Siri Mitchell’s early novels and enjoyed them so I was excited to see she had written suspense. State of Lies is not your regular Christian suspense novel, reader is constantly wondering through book who can be trusted. Georgie lives in DC and her father is about to become Secretary of Defense when her husband dies. It soon becomes clear that all is not as in seems in Georgie life. She soon does not know who she can trust and who she can’t in her family and friends.
Once I started reading State of Lies, I read it in every spare moment. For the first time in a long time, I was tempted to read ending because I wanted to know ending so badly. Make this book the top one on your Fall TBR pile
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

State of Lies is my first book by this author. An intriguing premise to the novel, and the thrilling storyline will keep readers guessing. However, this book felt more like a secular read to me than the typical Christian fiction I read. I think fans of suspense will still enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I didn't know what to expect going into this book but from the beginning I was completely drawn in. It was a page turner that I didn't want to put down. Every minute that I could steal away to read u was picking up my tablet. Just when you think you know what is going to happen next the unthinkable happens. This book is definitely a must read. I was lucky to get the ARC and would recommend it to anyone looking for suspense.

I love George's POV in the book. She is very personable, easy to follow and seems like a regular everyday mom. She makes the book worth reading. From the beginning I knew that she was going to protect her family at any cost.

I would have to say I didn't know until after reading the book that is was placed in the Christian Fiction genre, I don't see it after reading the book. I wouldn't place it in the category there is not enough faith based talk in the book to give it that title.

I'll give this book four stars based of how it kept my attention and the content layout of the story. There were some parts of the book where I felt like the story went on and on about a topic that could have been shortened but that could just be my preference. Overall it's a great read.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This novel could be taken from today's headlines. Readers will need to pay attention to the details of the first Gulf War and the Bosnia conflict to fully understand the issues. Lots of action and intrigue will hold reader's attention. It's hard in many cases to decipher the goodd guys from the bad guys. Highly recommended!

This book gives you an in-depth look into the meaning behind what you do for family. Also, it made me wonder if the good guys might be bad guys and the bad guys might not always be 100% bad.

Siri Mitchell's latest novel, State of Lies, featuring main character and physicist Georgia Anne, seems like a departure from some of Mitchell's historical fiction novels. But, as a fan of intrigue and suspense novels, I think Mitchell has found her place in a new niche market. I found State of Lies full of action, adventure, and nail-biting suspense. Besides that, Georgia Anne proves to be a realistic, likeable, and easy-to-emphathize with, all-American woman. Committed to her country, her family, and integrity, Georgia Anne finds herself in a situation that will test her character, her beliefs, and her integrity. I found Mitchell's writing style to be refreshing and enjoyable while the novel's plot offered just the right mixture of clues and twists. I appreciated that I could enjoy a suspense novel in all it's excitement without having to sacrifice for bad language and filth. Mitchell also cleverly tied in several clever phrases that made great T-shirt slogans for a physicist to wear! I also enjoyed the fact that Mitchell's character "Georgie" was intelligent (as a rocket scientist should be) and yet so down-to-earth. If you're a fan of suspense and intrigue novels, I highly recommend State of Lies. Bravo, Siri Mitchell! When does the next installment in the series release? I'm anxiously waiting!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Twists and turns in this story kept me guessing. I liked Georgie, who just kept on asking questions when she wasn’t satisfied with the answers. This contemporary thriller seemed a real change from Mitchell’s other novels. Still, I enjoyed the suspense. I did figure out some of the subplots ahead of time, but it didn’t keep me from appreciating the story. I give it 4 stars!

State of Lies by Siri Mitchell is one wild ride. Georgie’s husband Sean died suddenly in a car accident seven months ago leaving her a grieving window taking car of their young son in D.C. all by herself. Then Georgie discovers he wasn’t going where he said he was that night and his military past may have something to do with his accident. As she tries to untangle the truth, strange things start happening, footsteps in her house, a missing laptop, inexplicable wires, people following her, & more and more people end up dead. Being a scientist at heart, she is determined to comb through the facts and get to the truth, no matter who is involved. Definitely a winner for those who love political military thrillers! #StateofLies #netgalley