I was excited for this book because I had heard so many good things about it. I had a hard time finishing it, it just did not hold my interest, was quite predictable. Spoiler below.
It started off promising. Eva gets struck by lightning, wakes up in the hospital and then she is told she might have killed her mother. I did not care for most of the characters and I am done with unreliable narrators and rape as a plot point. I did not like all the different things that were going on, it was hard to follow and not in a good way while also being predictable. Would not recommend unless you're not sensitive to sexual assault, domestic violence and enjoying predictable thrillers.

Another twisty, suspense adventure from Christina McDonald! I love that she's woven into this thriller another mother-daughter theme, much like The Night Olivia Fell. McDonald has definitely established her style - opening the book with one of the final chapters to give us readers a glimpse of what is to come without having ANY backstory. We quickly learn that Eva's mother is dead - but we don't know how or why. Naturally, I immediately start trying to solve the mystery (then re-solve multiple times before I make my way to the end).

Slowly the story of Eva and her mother, Kat, are revealed layer by layer - told in alternating POVs. The reader is pulled along with Eva as she uncovers the truths of who she was and who she is now. As startling as each truth is, Eva is still faced with the fear that she most likely killed her mother. Poor Eva can't catch a break throughout this story, but she seemingly takes each blow with as much grace as she can muster and continues on to find the truth.

Overall, this was a quick read! The premise is a bit much, but that's what makes for a grippy, page turner!!

Christina McDonald is a master of writing difficult mother/daughter relationships.

Behind Every Lie is a dark, atmospheric thriller that will have you guessing the whole way. You could practically feel yourself immersed in the Pacific Northwest setting.

Eva is in the hospital after being struck by lighting. Her mother, Kat, has been murdered. The police think that Eva is the violent perpetrator. Eva is on her own to find out what really happened and clear her name before it's too late.

The discovery of secret documents in Kat's desk only deepens the mystery, sending her on an international race against time to find out the answers she needs about her childhood and the people she has been hidden from for decades.

I enjoyed the plot twists and the strength of the women as they overcame tragedies and forged ahead.

BEHIND EVERY LIE
By: Christina McDonald

Eva, having been struck by lightning, wakes up in the hospital to the news that her mother was murdered. And Eva can’t remember what happened. Her last memory of her mom was a dinner they shared the evening her mother was killed. Is she responsible in some way for her mothers murder? Did she kill her?

I didn’t really feel like this storyline stood out amongst the thrillers I’ve read recently. I think sometimes it’s thought that all you need is a reliable narrator to create a mystery.

I did like that it was fast-paced and enjoyable to read. The writing was smooth and it transitioned well between POV’s and timelines.

Rating 3/5 stars ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and @gallerybooks for this complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review.

"If you can’t remember it, how do you prove you didn’t do it?"
I loved The Night Olivia Fell just as much as I loved Behind Every Lie. There are a couple twists towards the end that had me shaking my head saying well done McDonald, well done. A total favorite for sure!

This sounded kind of silly but was a solid, fun read. Eva is struck by lightning the same night her mom is murdered. She can not remember what happened before the lightning struck, but things are pointing to her being the murderer. She uncovers reasons that would look a lot like motive, and must decide how to find out the truth.

This is the second book I've read by this author and it was just as amazing as the first! Suspenseful, and kept me guessing until the end!!!

Another suspenseful page turner by one of my favourite authors, Christina McDonald. A cast of unreliable characters and a storyline that will take you on a roller coaster ride with twists and turns so sharp your head will be spinning. This was unputdownable and I’m already looking forward to reading her next one!

I loved Christina McDonald’s previous book The Night Olivia Fell. And Behind Every Lie didn’t disappoint and was equally wonderful to me. It is full of tension and shocking as the story goes on. It’s full of secrets, dark deep secrets so well hidden for so long. And it has the emotional sections that will reel you in as well.

I really like this author's books. I recommend this book as well as all the author's other books. I look forward to more books by Christina McDonald. She is one of my favorite authors.

Fantastic story. I read it in one sitting. I loved the time jumps for mom and daughter. That made it very interesting.

I stopped reading and didn't finish this one about halfway through.

Rape as a plot device is something that always bugs me as do overly convenient excuses that seemed to be a common occurrence in this book. I rolled my eyes each time the main character did something stupid and although that can be enjoyable to read about it just didn't work for me. Definitely a story with too many twists and too much going on.
If you like super super twisty domestic dramas with some typical plot bullshit this could be a great read for you, but if you read a lot of thrillers you'll recognize a lot of plot points and should pass on this one.

Eva wakes up in the hospital and cannot remember how she gots there. The doctor tells her she was struck by lightning. Then a police detective arrives to tell her that her mother was murdered on the same night. The detectives lead suspect appears to be Eva. Eva knows in her heart that she would never kill her mother, so she starts to do some investigating of her own. She finds a note with some clues that lead her back to her hometown in London. Reading this book felt like I was following Eva on her journey as she uncovered truths along the way. It was an engaging read that I did not want to put down!

BOOK REVIEW: Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald

Genre: Thriller

A thriller with a complicated mother-daughter relationship at the core of the story.

This is a common theme that Christina McDonald loves. In her previous book, The Night Olivia Fell, it is the mother who's trying to unravel the truth about the daughter.

And in her new book, Behind Every Lie, it's that theme in reverse. Plus... The daughter is actually suspected of killing the mother but has no memory of the event to defend herself.

And why is that? Because she was struck by lightning! Oh yeah… Pretty good excuse!

The story is actually told in dual timelines. Both from the daughter's perspective… In going back to the event of the murder and trying to piece the puzzle together. And also from the mother's perspective leading up to the murder.

Each point of the story actually ends up asking more questions than providing answers, which really keeps the suspense element very high.

Have you ever seen the movie Gaslight with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer? Fabulous classic thriller! And there is definitely a Gaslight “flavor” in this book’s recipe as well…

Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald
2020 Book Release | February

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books & DIY Home Ideas | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com ... Including my video tutorials for DIY home ideas inspired by recommended books to support you in bringing your favorite books to life in your life and home.

You can see my full review for Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald at https://www.thisismyeverybody.com/books/reading-wrap-up-march-2020


✨😎✨A big thank you to Christina McDonald, Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.

I did enjoy this one, but with so many twists and turns I had a harder time following this story!
I love this author, so I will definitely be reading anything she puts out, but it wasn't my favorite from hers!

A big thank you to Gallery Books for the advanced copy of Behind Every Lie. Imagine waking up in the hospital and not remembering how you got there, but being told that you were struck by lightning and also not being able to remember why you were outside. Then, a cop enters your hospital room to tell you that your mother was murdered last night, and they wanted to know where you were and why you were out when you were struck by lightning.

That's exactly what happened to Eva Hansen. Behind Every Lie follows Eva's story as she tries to piece together why she can't remember anything about the night prior. This only happened one other time, and she never regained her memories then. Would she now? Eva was hell bent on figuring out why she was out that night and also if she could've had anything to do with her mother's murder, as the police seem to hint at.

With her fiancée, Liam, by her side, she's insistent on forgoing the recommended rest in order to find answers for herself, but also for her mother and brother. What happened to her mom? Why was she out at night? Was there something deeper below the what meets the eye about the case?

Behind Every Lie is out now! I enjoyed the book, and was able to get through it in just a few sittings. The suspense of wanting to know what was happening next definitely kept me interested. The storyline wasn't my favorite, and I was able to put together some of the larger pieces well before the book ended. I may just read a bit too many similar stories. I'd still recommend the book to others if they were contemplating picking it up, but I wouldn't consider it to be one of my favorites read this year or last. That being said, I'll still be on the lookout for Christina McDonald's next novel.

If you can't remember, how do you prove that it didn't happen? Eva finds herself in the hospital after being struck by lightning. To top off her bad luck, she finds out that her mother has been murdered, and she is a suspect because she was found close to her mom's house! The problem is that Eva can't remember what happened. As she tries to prove her innocence, she learns about lies that were told and reveals some secrets that she is also keeping. This story is told from two different perspectives and I love that you really get a feel of both characters' emotions.

DNF 10% in.

Behind Every Lie by all appearances is a twisty domestic thriller. The main character, Eva, finds herself struck by lightning (unable to remember the night before) and gets the news that her mother's been murdered. And then it's off to the races - Eva trying to figure out what happened while there also are flashbacks to 25 years ago.

The first interaction with Liam gave me pause, and Eva feels shame for having not told him something that happened in her past. Doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that he might not be the best partner, and what it is she's ashamed of. So I searched for that in my e-arc copy, confirmed what happened in her past, and also confirmed that the way it's portrayed here just isn't something I want to or feel I should read.

So, with that having been said, content warning for not the best portrayal of rape, maybe don't pick up this one if you're sensitive to the way that's used as a plot device in some mysteries. Otherwise I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for something a bit twisty - you know who's dead at the very beginning, what plays out is how that came to be.

I am never disappointed with any of her books. She has become one of my go to authors when I need a good story. I loved this one so much I also bought the Audible version so I can listen to it again and again.

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy.

This is a crazy book that moves quickly. It fit perfectly into my Multiple Points of View category for 2020 reading goals, going between mother and daughter - Kat and Eva. It takes a minute to put everything in order as it happens very quickly. While I didn't enjoy it as much as The Night Olivia Fell, it's still well written. I simply felt more emotionally invested in NOF.