The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes is a powerful story of domestic abuse, the enduring and unbreakable bonds of family, and the lengths that we will go to for those we love. This is a domestic drama that will get under your skin, and will not soon be forgotten after the last page has been turned.

Nicola and her brother Graham are only children when their mother Carol wakes them in the night to flee the family home in order to escape the horrors of domestic abuse that Carol has long endured. In the years that follow, the family struggles to move forward, but always in the shadow of a dark and disturbing past. It is only when Carol dies, many years later, that Nicola learns the full extent of her mother's courage, and Graham is able to unburden himself with the secrets he has been forced to hide as he battled his own demons through the years.

This is an involving and emotional story that will evoke empathy in even the most hardened of hearts. Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

This is an incredible novel. Well written with great characterisation. The author skilfully weaves the strands together making a really solid story that consistently delivers.

I really like S. E. Lynes’ books, and I loved The Lies We Hide, although I’m not wild about the bandwagon-jumping “lies” title (aren’t lies, by definition, generally hidden anyway?). By the end, it seemed to make slightly more sense, but I still feel there could’ve been a much better title for a book I otherwise really liked.

Anyway... in the present day Nicola, a London lawyer, is grieving the death of her mother, Carol, after receiving the news from her brother Graham. Although the “now” sections are narrated by Nicola, this is really Carol and Graham’s story, and while there are elements of suspense and mystery (and, yes, lies), for me it has more of a feel of family drama than psychological thriller. That’s far from being a criticism, by the way, because like I said at the top of the review, I loved it.

Carol, young and pregnant in 1968 (that’s the year I was born!) accepts Ted’s marriage proposal rather against her better judgement, and indeed it’s probably the worst move she could have made, because Ted is not about to win any husband of the year awards. Carol’s and later Graham’s story encompasses domestic abuse, drugs, violence and death - nobody, not even sheltered younger child Nicola, the repository of everyone’s hopes, will emerge unscathed.

Another strand is narrated by prison chaplain Richard, and the friendship which develops between him and Graham is genuinely touching and convincing.

An amazing read with superb characters, particularly Carol, who you are rooting for all the way.

(One *very* minor niggle - I’m not sure Carol would’ve had a mobile phone in 1993 - I don’t think I knew anybody who had one until the end of the ‘90s and Carol didn’t seem like the sort of person to be an early technology adopter!)

Almost three years ago to this day, I read S.E. Lynes' debut novel, Valentina. Since then, I've read and loved every one of the four books that followed, but none of them quite managed to tip Valentina from the top spot. Until today. The Lies We Hide is probably one of - no, scratch that - it's probably THE best book I've read this year. It has everything. An amazing writing style, a realistic and fantastic storyline, characters you will absolutely love and absolutely loathe, characters you will feel real empathy for and want to hug, and characters you will cheer on, rooting for them all the way. I have to admit, I wasn't sure how I'd take to this book. S.E. Lynes is an out and out genius at writing psychological thrillers, and that's the genre that really gets me going. I knew this book was going to be a completely different kettle of fish, and I did wonder if she could pull it off. I can now honestly say nothing would surprise me as far as her writing is concerned. This book really drives home the lengths families will go to to protect the ones they love, even if that means having to lie, and then live with the consequences of those lies, continuing to stand by each other even when they've fallen apart. Absolutely bloody brilliant. MASSIVE thanks not only to the author, but also to her publisher, Bookouture, for publishing it and bringing it to the masses.

The Lies We Hide

We all have secrets, things we didn’t do, lies we told in all innocence or maybe not. Three stories, three secrets, twisted and braided together to form a perfect whole.

I won’t lie, I sobbed a good way through The Lies We Hide and for two days my life went on hold while the story of Carol, Graham and Nicola held me hostage, emerging red eyed, exhausted and elated - without a tissue left in the house. My initial response on finishing was an inarticulate, ‘Wow!'

This is an accomplished work, full of twists, turns, crossing generations and times and all handled with all the assurance we have come to expect from this author. A story deftly woven by the hands of a master craftswoman.

Carol struggling to keep her family together in the face of an abusive violent husband. Graham struggling with teenage hormones, the darker side of inner city council estate existence and no refuge to run to, and Nicola the one they must all protect at whatever cost, so that she can escape into the better life of the aspirational middle classes.

Days after finishing this book I am still thinking about it, still wondering about these characters as if they are people I know and love. A book that stays with you, that has you thinking about your own values, your own family, your own secrets, that haunts your dreams and fills your waking hours - now that’s a book to read, keep and read again. I will treasure this when I get my hands on a physical copy and over the years it will, I have no doubt, become a well worn and much loved favourite.

A brilliant domestic thriller ! WOW!! Loved this book - almost read it straight through.

The story begins in 1968 when Carol (who is pregnant) and her boyfriend, Ted, become engaged at an amusement park.

Ted and Carol's daughter, Nicola, is now a lawyer in her 30's. She receives the tragic news that her mother has passed away. Returning to her hometown for the funeral, Nicola becomes nostalgic...

From there the story is told among a few narrators and from past and present. Some of the past (and present) is frightening, and sad. Yet, some of the story shows happiness, strength and love. .

The book takes us next to Pauline and Tommy's wedding where Carol meets Jim, Tommy's cousin. Carol's husband is literally passed out from drink. We then are taken to a story of abuse and betrayal.

Too many spoilers to leak out. I suggest you read for yourself!

The end has a twist I did not see coming!!!

I HIGHLY recommend "The Lies We Hide" to all!

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a fine read.

First book I had read by this author and I’ll certainly check out her others. The story switches between the present and the events from previous decades. It is told from the viewpoint of the different main characters all of whom are believable and well written. Not always an easy read since one becomes involved with the emotional turmoil that has led to the present. I thought I had it all figured out and didn’t see the twist at the end coming at all.

What an ending... ! Great read and just got better and better the more i got into it. Love this author, never seems to disappoint.. Can't wait for more books in the future.

Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an early release of this book.

The Lies We Hide is fantastic but I don’t think it fits the mystery and thrillers genre.

It’s a beautifully tragic tale of family life, of the horrors of domestic abuse and of a mother’s love.

Parts of this story broke my heart while others left me angry enough to (almost) throw my Kindle across the room. I mean what more can you ask for from a story? I feel privileged to have read this, yes it’s different from the books I normally review but I can’t deny how powerful and atmospheric it is.

5/5