Absolutely riveting domestic violence drama with a little mystery. Well developed characters that you cared about. While I guessed the ending, it didn't ruin it for me. Was very informative on domestic violence while telling a good story.

The only problem I had was the main character meeting a man at a dance and leaving with him while her violent husband was there. Not plausible. She would have fear ingrained in her not to respond to a man. If it wasn't that I would have given it 5 stars.

Still, I absolutely loved this book. Read it one sitting.

A truly stunning read. This family domestic saga covers some very dark situations but still manages to be a beautiful read. Told by three characters this sums up a family in turmoil following Carol leaving an abusive husband with her two children. Going from a lovely house with a best friend next door to a horrific council flat the family react to their new lives differently. Such fantastic characters who you can visualise due to the clever written speech - the working class Merseyside deprecated perfectly. Heartwrenching and who could imagine you could start to love the violent, disturbed Graham. A great read with a bring you to a gasp of an ending.

If commanding literary novels give you a buzz, then you must read The Lies We Hide, the latest novel written by S. E. Lynes. I have read some of this fabulous author's earlier work, and even though this is very different from her usual thriller genre, I knew I was still going to be in for a treat with this one and it was stunningly good!

In The The Lies We Hide, bestseller S. E. Lynes explores the darkest corners of physical abuse from a savage husband, and the malevolent psychological torment that affects the whole family, in a mesmerising and chilling tale of evil, secrets, lies, and manipulation.

Written in alternating chapters, from three characters' perspectives, I was given the opportunity to see things from several viewpoints, making the story altogether more interesting. Each is told with such empathy and insight that I felt I knew the characters first-hand. Susie Lynes' characterisation was incredibly impressive, and pretty much made this story the remarkable read it was. The author explored the psyche of her characters with great conviction, making them very credible. There were interactions and relationships that added complexity and depth to all of them and illustrated how their pasts haunted them and affected the perceptions they now possess.

I particularly liked the author's portrayal of Carol who's story was heartrending, and all too commonplace. Although there seemed to be an abundance of players, each had a part to play in the story and I was never overwhelmed. Everyone has different motives and priorities for their actions, thoughts or behaviour. The Lies We Hide brought me no disappointments, capturing my attention from the prologue to the final word. Susie Lynes created an underlying sense of tension that was totally gripping. I appreciated the tautness of the plot, the twists and revelations, and the overall quality of the writing. My interest never wavered as the story spiralled its way towards a superb denouement.

The Lies We Hide is exceptional, standout, literary fiction that I cannot recommend highly enough.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I LOVED this book! I have goosebumps just writing this review.

Told mainly from two points of view and flicks between Carol the mother whose story unfolds in the past, the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of the vile alcoholic Ted, and Nicola one of Carols two children, the little girl who carried the guilt of her dark beginnings and tells the present day story as she grieves the loss of Carol.
The story is deeply moving and, as the story unfolds the revelations and twists are both poignant and unexpected.

Although a slower pace than the usual page turners penned by the author the characters really unfold between the lines and captures the lengths families will go to to protect the ones they love, even if that means having to lie.

A well deserved 5/5 from me and I'd like to thank Netgalley and the author for the ADR in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book which will be hard to put down and will stay with you long after. It is like watching a car wreck on the should of the road - you have to look no matter how uncomfortable or sad. I struggle to find the words to convey what I've read - it is intense, real, heartbreaking and almost unbearable. This should be required reading for anyone interested in human nature, psychology, sociology and the human condition.

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book! This is a haunting story of domestic abuse and what happens to a family when secrets are kept. This is not really a story I can easily summarize-too many things happen! It's a powerful story of what a mother will do to save her children. Kept me hooked right from the beginning-liked the author's writing style!

Absolutely fantastic. Probably one of my top 10 books for 2019. Highly recommend. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

C
Thanks netgalley for allowing me to read this very well written book by S.E.Lynes.
It was a sad and thought provoking story as you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Carole is beaten up by her abusive husband, and Nicola is being interfered with sexually by her father.
Graham stutters badly when his father is around and Carole then takes the children away into a safe house.
Nicola is very clever and becomes a lawyer, but graham gets in with the wrong crowd and has to serve a prison sentence for.
Murder.
It’s not until their mother dies to Nicola and graham talk about their childhood and discover the lies they hide.
Yes this was a great book, and am now reading another book by the same author.

The Lies We Hide is a very emotional book, it deals with domestic abuse and it's impact on the whole family. It's a sensitive subject and I think the author writes about it with heightened awareness. The book shocked me at times and I had a lump in my throat at others. Definitely one to get you thinking.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Susie Lynes, what a beautiful book you’ve written! I know, I know … it seems like the strangest thing to say, considering the subject matter, but you’ve created such a moving story with incredibly real characters who really reach out and grab hold of the hearts of your readers.

Everything changes for Carol and her children, 16-year-old Graham and 10-year-old Nicola, the night she decides to finally escape from her cruel, abusive husband Ted. Although she wavers between returning to him and staying in the awful new place that is their new home, and the new reality she has brought her children to, Carol quickly realises that going back is not an option and that they must now look forward to the rest of their lives, without the fear of Ted returning home every night.

But although she does her best for her children, always putting them first, it’s impossible for life to continue peacefully. Graham is silent and surly, and Nicola retreats into her schoolwork, knowing that things are just not right in their home. Things gradually deteriorate, eventually spiralling out of control and through it all, Carol constantly questions and undermines herself and her decisions. so used to the constant cycle of being told that she’s just not good enough.

Told from different points of view, and moving between the past (1960’s and 1970’s) and present, this is a story that despite a predominant theme of domestic violence, is told gently and subtly through characters who have a strong determination to correct the wrongs of the past, whether these were their own, or inflicted by others. Ms Lynes has crafted personalities who are resilient, brave, loyal and at times even humorous. They are extremely endearing and readers will find themselves cheering them on and celebrating every victory they achieve.

This is a highly recommended 5-star read – in fact, I’d give it extra stars if I could. The sheer willingness of the characters to improve, learn and understand themselves better in order to take that knowledge out into their community and help others was something that really struck a chord with me, and I found this to be the overwhelmingly positive, uplifting message that I was left with.

S.E. Lynes has taken a departure from her usual thriller genre with this powerful work of literary fiction. When I was just barely half-way through this novel I knew it would be on my 'Best of 2019' list for sure. Brilliant!

It was the outstanding characterization that makes this novel a five star read. Told from three different points of view, each is told with such empathy and deep understanding that you feel you know the characters personally.

Carol's story was heartbreaking, and all too real. Although this is a book about domestic abuse and its aftermath, it was told in such a compelling way that it had a unique impact.

Though the book is set in the Liverpool area, it could be set anywhere. It is the characters and their often tragic story that shines in this book. I was so mesmerized and engaged with these characters that I couldn't put the book down until the final page was read. And then... already I missed the characters. I thought I'd list my favourite characters, then I stopped myself because really I loved them all with a special mention to Carol Watson, Jim MacKay, and Graham Watson. Oh, and I cannot fail to mention the heartwarming friendship between Carol and her next-door neighbour and best-friend, Pauline.

A novel about bravery, cowardliness, kindness, grief, loss, hope, contrition, self-sacrifice, shame, and endurance. It speaks to the resilience and love of family white at the same time lamenting how precious time is with the ones we love - and who love us.

Just because this novel is not a thriller does not mean that it can't have plot twists. There are a few near the end that will satisfy most readers. Not shocking as such, just secrets revealed slowly over time, like peeling back the layers of an onion.

Highly recommended, memorable, literary fiction!

Wow I don’t know what I expected from this book after picking it blindly because of the author . A fantastic book of domestic abuse and the after effects . 5star read

wo timelines, one of a mother in the mid eighties and her abusive husband, one of the daughter Nicola in present day now grown and with a family of her own sorting out her mother’s funeral. A family having to move in the dead of night because of how the father treats the mother. The upset it causes to all of them but mostly to Graham the son who quickly withdraws into his shell. We also have occasional chapters from Richard who has just started as a prison chaplain. A shy introvert himself with his own issues. He quickly takes to Graham and does his best to draw him out from his withdrawn, stuttering, fearful being. Nicola is sorting out her mother’s house and realises how brave she was to have made the move. This is a very moving poignant
story very well told. You can’t help but feel for Carol and her two children and the scars that someone left on them. “There in the reflection is a girl she remembers although they lost touch many years ago now “. Anyone who has had a dominant character rule their lives will truly get not only how well this comes across but also
about the fear and thoughts that shape every move. I was so touched by this (I cried at the tealight). Not what I was expecting at all - in a good way if that makes sense. Well researched and written from the heart. An extraordinary book- this has left a mark on me and will be remembered for a long time.. 10 * if I could.

I have been a fan of S. E. Lynes for a little while now. I have read, reviewed and loved most of her books. I read the synopsis for 'The Lies We Hide' and it certainly sounded like the sort of psychological thriller that I particularly enjoy. I couldn't wait to get started so as soon as I managed to get my hands on a copy I settled down with a cup of tea in one hand and my Kindle in the other hand. Blimey, 'The Lies We Hide' was a cracking read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but more about that in a bit.
I found the characters of Carol and her daughter, Nicola to be very interesting and intriguing at the same time. When I first met them both, I had a feeling that both would have more layers to their personalities than at first appeared. It emerges that Carol was married to the father of her children (she also has a son who is 6 years older than Nicola), although to be honest it sounds like a marriage from hell. The husband sounds like the worst form of pond life- he's brutal, violent and an alcoholic. Mix all that together and you can imagine the sort of fearful toxic environment that Carol and her children had to endure for many years. I really felt for Carol and her children and if I could have rescued them from that man, then I would have done. It's safe to say that Nicola and her brother have been left psychologically scarred by the things that they witnessed and experienced. Both still feel the effects to this day which is hardly surprising.
Oh my word, 'The Lies We Hide' was an absorbing read and then some. I was drawn into the story from the start and the story carried me along. I think that part of the reason why I felt drawn to this book was the fact that I felt as though I was 'going back to work'. I used to work in Childrens Services and I used to come across reports of incidences of domestic violence time and again. Reading this book felt as though I was reading a report or a case file. I approached the story from a safeguarding viewpoint. Reading 'The Lies We Hide' became an addiction and it was an addiction that I couldn't give up. The book developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I didn't want to break. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I didn't want to risk missing a single second of the story. I just had a need to know how the story panned out and what implications this had for Carol and her family. The closer to the end I got, the quicker the pages seemed to turn. There was definitely a twist to this tale and it was a twist that I didn't see coming at all.
'The Lies We Hide' is well written but then I find that to be the case with all of this author's books. She certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and she keeps that attention for the duration of the story. S. E. Lynes has created compelling and realistic characters, They were so realistic that they seemed to spring to life and leap off the page as it were. They seemed just as real as you and I. As we all know, domestic violence is all too common an occurrence today. This author used such vivid and realistic descriptions that I did feel as though I was part of the story myself. I found that I was going through every single emotion that Carol and Nicola went through and that's thanks to this author's brilliant writing and story telling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Lies We Hide' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Lies We Hide’ by S.E. Lynes in exchange for an honest review.

This intense domestic drama focuses on Carol Watson and her two children, ten-year old Nichole and sixteen-year old Graham. One night in 1984 she gathers her children and leaves behind her marital home and Ted, her abusive, alcoholic husband.

In 2019 Nicole is now a successful lawyer in the City. She returns home for Carol’s funeral and muses upon her mother’s life and all that she sacrificed for her children.

Although there were some elements of suspense in the story, overall this felt more of a considered exploration of its themes that includes domestic violence, alcoholism, grief, guilt and remorse.

While I certainly felt that it was a well written novel that is addressing important issues with sensitivity, I didn’t really feel connected to its characters or storyline. I feel that this is more a matter of it just not being my kind of novel rather than a reflection of its worth or appeal.

"Motivations are mysterious things; what we do and why."

Just finished this and must say that my thoughts are all over the place. First of all, as I am used to S.E. Lynes writing psychological thrillers, I was not at all expecting this dark domestic drama full of sadness that permeated through the narrative as it dealt with spousal abuse, drug addiction, imprisonment and death. A bright light that did shine through however was the stress on the importance of family love and the certainty that family can provide redemption as well as it can slowly kill a person by degrees. It's not luck that puts you in one type or the other. Our own choices and the decisions made can affect where we end up, or with whom, but that doesn't answer the big question -- if you marry and/or stay with the wrong kind of person, is that on you -- and if it is, then what does that mean for the children born into such a bad relationship? Because they certainly suffer and, worst of all, they have no control over the situation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this book deals with those issues and will elicit a lot of your own introspection as you read.

This novel is told in shifting point of view and in past and present time shifts. The different narratives allow the reader a glimpse into the minds of the main characters and their reactions to the different events that occur. Carol is married to a drunken abuser named Ted. When she's had enough, she leaves him stealing away into the night with her two children, Graham and Nicola. You'd think that getting away would allow her to rebuild her life, but life with Ted as left scars on them all. Graham turns to drugs and Nicola buries herself in school work with ambitions to get to University. Things go from bad to worse and it doesn't look like there is going to be any sort of happy ending for this poor family. Help comes in unexpected ways, however. A listening ear. A kind friend. A gentle soul. NO SPOILERS.

I love the writing and the way the author puts a thought out there for the reader to consider. I both empathized with Carol, and like many women who've never experienced domestic violence, I suspect sometimes you'll want to shake her when you see her do something but that's only because you'll fear for her. Since the story is somewhat reflective given the way it's written, you'll likely have to pause a few times as the revelations come. Though none of it really surprised me, I can say that it felt right and wasn't a "shocking twist" per se. I did enjoy this though it's really not the type of book that I gravitate toward for entertainment but I'm glad I read it.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 just because there was this incredible sweetness to it despite all the difficulty this family experienced.

I really enjoyed this book and whilst it was slightly different to my normal reads, I found it held my attention throughout.
I did get a bit confused with the different timelines and people’s perspectives but as the book went on, it got clearer.
This book can best be described as a family drama but there’s also some twists and turns thrown in for good measure.
Carol made the brave decision to take her children away from her abusive husband and life wasn’t easy for them as a result.
We learn what happened in her life and how it affected her children and how they all dealt with what was thrown at them.
This is a great read that will have you hooked from the first few pages.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Carol lived with her abusive husband and their two children, Nicole and Graham. Ted was a drunk, a bully and he liked to use her as a punch bag. Carol tried to hide her abuse from her children, friends and family. She eventually manages to escape with her children. Nicole is now a lawyer. She's returned home for her mothers funeral. Graham has inherited his father's temper as well as substance abuse. He's now in prison.

The story is told from three peoples perspectives: Carol the mother. Richard, the clergyman who tried to help Graham while he was in prison and Nicole, who found out the truth. It also goes back and forward in time. There is also quite a lot of characters to keep track off. I was quickly drawn in to this story. You would need to have a heart of stone not to feel sorry for Carol. Everything she did was to aid the protection of her children. The characters are well rounded and the plotline believable. There is a few twists. This is a gripping and heartwrenching read. A tale of a families struggle for survival.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author S.E. lynes for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have previously said that a new SE Lynes book was a major event in the Devonport household; would the same be true for The Lies We Hide which is a departure from the author's usual genre? Heck yes of course it was!! This may not be a psychological thriller but it contains the heart and soul of Lyne's beautiful writing which shines through regardless of the genre. Essence de Lynes if you will, it permeates every page!

Nicola Watson has returned home for her mother’s funeral. But as she returns to her mother’s house and remembers the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder. As a child she was oblivious to why her mother Carol woke them in the middle of the night and the reasons behind them fleeing. All Carol wanted was to protect her children, but escaping her husband was only the beginning of the story. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.

The Lies We Hide is a family drama/saga; I was gripped from the beginning and desperate to find out all the truths that were hidden. This is a very emotional read and highlights the impact domestic abuse has on the whole family (and beyond) and the lengths people will go to to ensure the safety of their children.

One of the standout characters for me was Richard, the clergy man that Graham (Nicola's brother) speaks to during his time in prison. I loved the face that their chats helped both of them overcome their personal issues with the past. I'd happily read a novel just about Richard!

In summary, while The Lies We Hide is not a thriller as such it contains plenty of shocks and twists. I urge you not to dismiss this just because it's a shift of genre for the author, embrace the change! Five stars from me!

👩‍👧‍👦Excellent, gripping tale of family tragedy and rebirth👍👍

😍 I ended up loving this novel about a fractured family and their sacrifices made to protect each other. This was a powerful story and often dark and depressing, but so realistic and ultimately uplifting. Carol and her son Graham weather so many trials as a rage-filled bully starts the path to abuse, flight and murder.

I loved the twists, the suspense and the supportive side characters like neighbors Pauline and Tommy, chaplain Richard and Jim, Carol's giant Scotsman. But broken Carol and troubled Graham are the heart of the drama which is told alternating between the present after Carol's funeral, in the early days of her marriage, her early years as a single mother, and at a crucial transition time in Graham's adult life. The conclusion is a shocker for Nicola, Graham's successful younger sister, as some long-held secrets are unveiled and others don't bear exposure to the light of day.

Definitely a recommend from me!🤗

Thanks to publisher Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.