John Marrs has written one twisted tale! What Lies Between Us goes to some dark places as it explores the dysfunctional relationship between Nina and Maggie and the choices they’ve both made over the years that ultimately keep them bound together. Maggie has always tried her best to protect Nina and what does she get for it? Shackled to a room because as far as Nina is concerned, Maggie has been the root of every problem she’s ever had and for that, she must atone. I don’t want to risk any potential spoilers so I’ll just say sometimes our misguided attempts at keeping ourselves and/or loved ones safe do more harm than the very things we’re trying to shield against.

I’ve read two other books (The Passengers and The One) by this author that I loved and am pleased to say after reading What Lies Between Us that he’s three for three! I look forward to reading the rest of his work.

This was my first John Marrs book and OH.MY.STARS. I loved it!
, I have read a lot of suspense/mystery/thriller and it’s usually fairly easy for me to predict what is going to happen. That being said.....I did not see any of that coming.
This book is so deliciously twisty that I devoured it in one day.
If you like a good twisty mystery, READ THIS BOOK!

This book contains the following potential triggers: paedophilia, child abuse, domestic abuse, underage pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion

Marrs has a real talent for writing books that draw the reader in and slowly reveal their secrets and he has written another thrilling read with this book!

Written from dual perspectives of Nina and Maggie, we slowly uncover the terrible secrets hidden in their past concluding in a truly bittersweet ending.

I felt that I knew the truth behind the secrets fairly early on however there were some clever bluffs throughout the book which meant that I was continually kept guessing.

An absolutely fabulous book, I thoroughly recommend!

And I thought I had a dysfunctional relationship with my mother ... We had nothing on Nina and Maggie. Absolutely nothing whatsoever ...

Well I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up this book but it wasn't this. I mean, sure, there are some pretty hefty hints in the blurb. You can't really miss them, but still.

The story is split into two points of view - those of Maggie and her daughter Nina. It is really interesting seeing the world from the two women's polar opposite points of view as while, at the beginning, we're pretty sure we know who is the aggressor and who the victim in this very toxic relationship, your thoughts and feelings will wax and wain as you read and by probably the halfway point you will be left with no idea who, if anyone, to trust.

It's really hard to talk about the story without feeling as though I would give too much away. What I can say is that it's a really interesting study of human nature. Of a person's resilience in spite of seemingly overwhelming situations, and of the tenacity and strength that can help people endure even the hardest of circumstances. It certainly made me question the root cause of Nina's decisions. Was it nature or nurture? I didn't find either character particularly likeable and yet I was fascinated by the dynamic between them and keen to read more to try and find out exactly what had happened to bring them to where they were. Was finding out satisfying? I've got to be honest, I'm not sure. I think I understood them both better, even if it didn't particularly make me like them more. It is a real skill taking characters you don't like and making you want to read on about them anyway.

The ending was certainly shocking but quite fitting. It is a slower paced story and it takes a while to get to the reasons behind Maggie's imprisonment. This is a story of obsession, of family and of the danger of keeping secrets. It is also the story of the hatred that can fester when you don't move on or find closure. It had a claustrophobic feeling to it, not only driven by the fact that Maggie is locked in her own home, but by the fact that her's and Nina's worlds evolved only around each other. That there was never a break. It was certainly an intriguing premise, one that I am sure will have fans reading into the night.

It’s took me a while to get into this book, the chapters go back and forth between the past and present. After getting use to this the book certainly packs a punch. Dark and disturbing at times but yet a great twisty thriller about a twisted family life.

I am a John Marrs fan, so I was really excited when I was approved to read an advance copy of ‘What Lies Between Us’. This book does not disappoint. I went from chapter to chapter unsure which of the main protagonists (Nina and Maggie) were to blame for their predicament.

In short an amazing read that I couldn’t put down .

CW: child rape, elderly abuse.

I feel like Gillian Flynn fans who liked Dark Places will LOVE this book. For me, Dark Places only kind of worked, and I feel the same way about What Lies Between Us.

What worked for me:
-I liked the reveals in this book.
-The icky factor was there— you know when you read a book and some of the characters are so awful it really affects you? Yeah, this book nailed that.

What didn’t:
-Nina’s diagnosis. Maybe I would have preferred this had no one ever tried to diagnose her? I’m not sure, but it didn’t feel believable to me, and it seemed to border on the trope of the evil person with multiple personalities. That trope’s tired for me, and I felt like thrillers usually have a better portrayal of mental illness now.
-The characters weren’t compelling enough to compensate for the stretches of the book that were boring.

What did I just read?? Like one of our protagonists, Maggie, I am a little picky about thrillers and I get disappointed if I guess the ending too easily. The great thing about this book is that while there are several large twists, some of which I guessed, there are so many little mysteries and twists that are constantly unraveling throughout the book that kept me on the edge of my seat, even when I was certain I’d figured out a few key plot points. That is truly rare. I can’t really go into the plot because of it, and I don’t like giving spoilers. The publisher’s book description is all you need. I will say if you like family dysfunction and domestic psychological thrillers, this is definitely for you. What a crazy, wild, effed up ride. Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book i have read by this Author i keep looking at his books but never got around to reading one well I am so pleased i have at last what a story .....Maggie and her daughter Nina live together not like a mother and daughter should because Nina keeps her mother locked in the attic ....
Written from both Maggie and Ninas point of view This book is full of twists and turns why does Nina keep her mother chained up what could be so bad to do that read the book to find out its great ...

Oh my god...this book...everyone should read it. What a dark and twisted ride it was. Without a doubt one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a while. Full with secrets and twists with every page you turn. I was glued to the pages from start to finish. Mind blowing. Wow.
Gosh I loved everything about it. I loved the way it was written. Flawless. His writing style is amazing. I could read anything by this author. He keeps you intrigued the whole time. There wasn't a moment where I was bored. None. And I love when an authors is capable of doing this to you.
The plot itself was brilliant.
Is a mother allowed to want the death of her child? You need to read this book to find out.
This was my first read by this author and I highly recommend it. I give it all the stars possible. Hands down.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my early copy.

**Review**
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
Mother and daughter, Maggie and Nina share a home. Over the years secrets and lies have soured their relationship, and Nina can never forgive Maggie for some of the things she has done. But she can’t let her mother leave her either....
Wow! What did I just read?! This book grabbed me from the first chapter. It features one very twisted Mother/Daughter dynamic, resulting in a compulsive read. This story takes a look back at Maggie and Nina over the years, and explores how they have ended up in their current situation. Some quite staggering secrets, elaborate lies and sensitive subjects are central to the plot, and although very far-fetched, it was addictive reading.
I felt both Maggie and Nina were well developed over the course of the book, and although I found neither particularly likeable, I could understand their motivations.
I was pretty sure Marrs wouldn’t disappoint with this, and I am pleased to say he didn’t! Although over the top and a bit nuts, I really enjoyed it. A must for Marrs fans and for anyone who enjoys a dark, twisted and elaborate thriller. Thank you @netgalley for this advanced copy.
Publication date: 15/05/2020

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I would say it is not a new favorite of mine. I kept reading the book in order to see where the plot twists ended. Some were predictable and some I was like WHAT. The book was ok but not likely I would be like OMG you have to read. I just didn't connect with the characters and the time flipping threw me off. Recommend : undecided ~Happy Reading~

What lies between us is a dark, twisted and devious story of a mother and her daughter.

Maggie and Nina live in the same house for over 25 years. Some nights they have dinner together. But once the dinner is over, Nina ties a shackle and keeps her there. The room is devoid of any light and is closed with shutters. Nina went to the extent of even soundproofing the floor. But why? Why will a daughter treat her mother this way? The house has secrets that are not just old but also dark. Nina doesn’t know all of it!

I could have finished the book in one sitting, but I stopped. I took time before I resumed reading this intense journey.
The curiosity and the need to know what happened with these 2 women kept me pushing forward.
This is my first book by the author and for sure will not be the last one. John Marrs weaved an intense story with beautiful words. The words that made me look into the fear, grief and hatred.
Maggie and Nina had their happy times. The author portrays their lives before when things were normal between them. Something happened in their past, and everything turned dark in their lives. To live a life where every step towards goodness goes awry. To be stuck somewhere, where the hope for next day ceases to exist.
Maggie and Nina narrate their stories in two timelines spanning 25 years. John Marrs keeps you engaged and enthralled in this devious plot. He beautifully used his word to convey a thoughtful message. The human mind is fragile and we don’t understand how our actions (sometimes inappropriate) hurt other people. We recover from physical injuries but not always from mental wounds.
His words are addictive. John Marrs can create an amazing story with his words.

My rating for this book 4.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the early reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really interesting unique psychological thriller.

In this book you follow a woman called Nina, who every other night has dinner with a woman called Maggie, her mother. She then has Maggie back to the attic where she chains her up. Maggie has a lot of secrets that she is keeping from Nina and will do anything to make sure she doesn't find them out. You as a reader discover why Nina is keeping her mother captive in the attic.

This was definitely a messed up, dark and very different psychological thriller. If you read a lot of psychological thrillers like I do, I think you will like this one as it's a break from the norm.

I really enjoyed the writing style. It was very easy to read and engaging. I liked how it went back and fourth between perspectives and time periods.

I thought it was a very clever plot and was definitely something fresh, which I personally haven't read before, as it has that family element to it rather than being a stranger abduction and capture.

I definitely didn't see the twists at the end coming. I was 100% shocked

I would definitely recommend this book to people who like dark and messed up thrillers.

TW: abuse, still birth, pedophilia, suicide, torture and violence

Thank you Net Galley for providing me an early copy of What Lies Between Us! This is my third book by John and he did not disappoint! I absolutely love his writing and he did an excellent job at writing this one as well! I loved the whole story and loved the little twists that happened throughout the book. At first I was a bit bored by chapter 20 or so but I told myself to keep on reading since I knew how great his writing was and I am glad I did because the story turned out great and loved the rest of it! I loved both of the characters Maggie and Nina. They both were insane and had their crazy moments to get back at each other. I love a good thriller and this one was awesome! I think this book would also make a great show or movie!

John Marrs does it again. Another nail biting page turner.
You don’t know who to feel sorry for most whilst reading.
Brilliant book!!

Umm....I need to speak to John Marrs immediately to ask him how he came up with this storyline.

You know those YouTube videos where you watch peoples reactions to something creepy? I feel like there needs to be videos like that about this book. I'm not going to share the plot line with you because I went in blind and I want you to do the same. I will share my reactions with you though (although it won't be as gold as a YouTube reaction video would be).

When I started reading I had no idea what was going on but I was hooked. As I got deeper into the story, parts began to unravel and make sense but I was never able to predict where this story was going. I had to stop every few chapters to turn to my husband and rotate these three phrases:
What the f***?
Oh my gosh
What am I reading?
How is this happening?

...

You get the idea.

And book buddies, believe me when I say to you that my state of shock continued until the very last page.

What Lies Between Us is incredible! Seriously twisted and crazy but addictive and not easy to put down. Are you sold yet? I had heard alot of good things about this book and after reading The Passengers by this author last year I knew that I had to pick it up. Make sure that when you start it that you have nothing planned in your life (so iso is a great time!!). You will not want to stop reading it.

Where do you start with a book like this, and not spoil anything? What you need to know about this book is this:

Nina lives with her mother Maggie in her childhood home. They have dinner together and then Maggie is returned to her room in the attic, a room that she is chained to by her daughter. Yes you read that correctly. Nina has found out things from her past and cannot forgive her mother for them. Only she doesn't know the half of it. We learn what has happened between these two in alternate chapters, voiced by each character. We jump from the present to points in the past that changed everything.

Do not even try to guess what is going to happen in this one - you will be wrong. This book twists and turns so often you will be dizzy - in a good way! Absolutely loved it John Marrs. All the stars from me. Out May 15th

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

The dark side of a disturbed mother-daughter relationship, where the lies go round and round, with horrific results.

Content Warnings:


SPOILER pedophilia, abuse, elder abuse END SPOILER

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.

WOW! This book was so good! Such a great psychological thriller between a mother and a daughter and it was just sooo bat shit crazy!

I can't say enough about this book without giving away spoilers. However, I kind of guessed one of the plot twists involving the baby and what happened to the father.. but what happens after- and the ending! So good!

I give this book 5 stars! This is a definite must read. John Marrs did it again and he is now one of my favorite authors!