I have lost sleep in order to finish this book! Totally compelling psychological drama. Lots of twists and turn as the true events and personalities are revealed.

‘OMFG’  what have I just finished reading? Only one of the most twisted books I’ve had the pleasure to read. What Lies Between Us by John Marrs, is an incredible, intense read, the plot, the twists, the characters, the writing, all blend to create the perfect read for psychological thriller lovers. If you don’t believe me, then perhaps knowing that THE Renee Zellweger’s Big Picture Co/MGM TV have purchased the television rights, will convince you that this book is a ‘MUST’ read. 

What Lies Between Us is one of those that the less you know the more thrilling the read and please if you are thinking of checking out reviews for this book tread carefully as so many of them describe one of the big ‘reveals’. What Lies Between Us tells the story of two women, Maggie and Nina, who live together. Many would  consider that normal, but their relationship is anything but! Maggie is kept in chains, imprisoned in the attic, by Nina. What has Maggie done to Nina to deserve such treatment? What secrets is Maggie desperate to hide? What’s the connection between the two? 

I found The complex relationship between Nina and Maggie fascinating, the bitterness and resentment between the pair is palatable throughout. I found I couldn’t flick the pages on my kindle fast enough as their story unfolded, there were so many emotions that spilled from the pages, anger, fear, guilt, and disgust. The author has created characters with their own unique voice; he discloses Maggie and Nina’s story in such away your sympathies constantly waiver between both characters, Amid the horror and the abuse, there are tender moments that offer glimmers of hope that their toxic relationship can be repaired. I must admit I had a love/hate relationship with both women, throughout What Lies Between Us depending on which part of the book I was reading. 

The beauty of this book is the way John Marr’s tantalises the reader with details about both women’s life’s, never revealing too much, but just enough to tease you.  The author’s twisted imagination allows you to be privy to the two women’s disturbed minds, it’s bone chilling, and creepy, but it also makes for an exciting read. The tension never waivers, the horror of the story ebbs and flows, and the plot is perfectly executed. Up until now The One has always been my favourite book by John Marrs but I’m not sorry to say What Lies Between Us has just taken its place. Is it a book I would recommend? You bet! This has to be one of my best reads this year. 

Review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

My thanks to Amazon publishing, Mr. Marrs and Netgalley.
I have this friend on Goodreads, "Dita, Dita, hey Dita! and she has nothing but good things to say about this author.
I don't know John Marrs from a hole in the ground.
This story is unlike anything I've read before. This isn't something that should bother me, yet it does.
I will admit that I had an idea of what was going on. I wish I could say it's because of my superior mind." Hyuk, hyuk! " Unfortunately, it's only because sometimes I think the same as the author! Bummer, dude! So, much as I loved this book..and believe me this is some crazy shit that needs to be gobbled up. It's that good! The intricacies, and the subtleties in the last 35%. ....,........not to be missed.

I have one word for this book, MAGNIFICENT! This is my first John Marrs book and I am beyond dazzled. From start to finish, it is so compelling. Nina and Maggie are exceptionally scary, and that is a compliment. A story that can sure give you paranoia and nightmares. I LOVE IT!

I continue to really love Marrs' writing style and each of his books are vastly different which is so fun. This book wasn't my favorite of Marrs' books however it was still a strong read that I did enjoy. There were some unrealistic parts that had to be overlooked and I liked it progressively less towards the end. I saw all the "twists" before they came. But I don't think it was meant to be super twisty/shocking and found the majority of the book to be pretty entertaining and solid. For Marrs fan I would recommend this book! For those new to Marrs I would recommend starting with The Good Samaritan or one of his other highly rated books before moving to this one. I will definitely continue to read and recommend Marrs!

This book started out slow and I almost ga be up but I’m glad I didn’t. Loved the twisty ending. Great book

Omg this book was unreal. Loved it. Didn't want it to end. Loved they way the story jumped between the present and the past, while I tried to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Can't remember this book enough. Not sure if I can another book just yet;
Well done John Marrs -. A def five star read

Reading a Marrs book is always an absolute treat and this is no exception. The plot was layered like an onion; everytime you thought you knew the characters a layer was peeled off and mad eyou reevaluate. Fantastic.

I loved John Marr's the one SO much. Unfortunately, this one was not as great in my opinion. I found the plot to be slightly predictable and not all that unique. It was however, a page turner.

I really enjoyed this book. I actually retains off the anxiety and feet Maggie was having! I was really hoping for a happier ending but I definitely enjoyed it and will absolutely look for other books by this author.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.
I heard a rumor that a film could be in the works and it should be. I would see it, for sure.
What Lies Between Us is the epitome of dark and twisted. It is so messed up but in that “I can’t look away” kind of way. I will say this; it’s a very dark story with a lot of violence, dysfunctional characters, and heart-wrenching decisions. Maggie and Nina are so intertwined, so co-dependent, so abusive to each other that I didn’t know whether to hate them or feel sorry for them. Possible triggers warnings for some people.
I don’t want to give too much away, so I’m going to try to keep this clean and quick.
Nina has locked her mother, Maggie, up for reasons we don’t know. Nina hates her mother. Maggie loves Nina, maybe too much, I can’t decide. Maggie’s love for Nina knows no bounds. I’m not exaggerating; it’s intense. Nina should have been seeing a doctor for years, in my opinion. Life for Nina and Maggie go off the rails when Nina is about 13 years old. The story’s told in alternating POV between Maggie and Nina. It shifts between when Nina is younger, up through age 36-ish. I’m not always a fan of flashbacks, but Marrs did a great job.
I will say that I unraveled the story long before we got to the big reveal, which usually makes me dislike a book, but I still couldn’t put this one down. I had to know how it ended. Warning: It’s HEARTBREAKING and yet cathartic in away.
This book is not for everyone. As I said, this one is dark, violent, and contains other possible triggers (things I don’t want to mention because it could give away too much) BUT all that said, I know plenty of people who will love this one. Thank you, NetGalley, for sending it my way!

This book made it official: John Marrs is one of my new favorite authors. This book follows two women: Nina and Maggie. They live in the same house, and Nina is keeping Maggie there as a prisoner. That's basically all you know going in, and for good reason. This story took so many twists and turns, and I loved all of them.
Maggie and Nina are both such awful people, but Marrs writes them in a way that you can still sympathize with them, even when they're doing despicable things. The things these women go through in this book are so awful, and they make *such* poor decisions...but it was one hell of a ride.
I know that sounds really vague, but I honestly don't thing you should know *anything* about the plot of this book going into it-it is so satisfying to discover everything for yourself as you get farther and farther into the story. What Lies Between Us isn't a super fast paced thriller like The Passengers, but I still couldn't put it down and read it super quickly. If you liked any of Marrs' other books, I think you'll love this one.

I will say that the plot of this book deals with a lot of hard to read topics, including emotional abuse, addiction, pedophilia, and death of family members, so if those are triggers for you then definitely be cautious.

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy of this book via NetGalley!*

The blurb of this book was excellent: it was super intriguing but didn't give anything away. I started it with huge curiosity, wanting to know what was happening, and I wasn't let down, because it was a fast paced and gripping read from start to finish. I liked how we gradually learnt more about Nina and Maggie and their pasts. There were lots of twists and turns, and, while I guessed some of them, they were very well done and were revealed at the right time.
This was also one of the most twisted and disturbing books I've ever read, so be aware of it. Some parts and themes were a little hard for me to read, but at the same time it was hard to put the book down and I couldn't wait to find out how it would end. I wasn't entirely happy with the ending: it was a good way to end things, but I wanted a little more from it.
If you don't mind disturbing books and enjoy darker reads, I would highly recommend this one.

Holy WOW. John Marrs has done it again!

I was a huge fan of his last novel, The Passengers. I read it in one sitting and gave it 5 entertaining stars. So, I was a bit hesitant about What Lies Between Us. I’ve been disappointed before (not by Marrs) and really didn’t want this one to go there. Imagine my delight when this not only did not disappoint, but was fantastic!

I have some serious emotional whiplash from this story. I have never flip flopped this much from hating one character to hating another character and then back again. That’s just a testament to how good Marrs is in his pacing. Truly masterful.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy. I will be posting my review on Instagram and goodreads closer to pub date.

John Marrs you devious devil, you write stories that worm their way into my brain and then refuse to leave! It's a marvelous and irritating skill in equal measure because it means once I pick up one of your books, I can't put it down - regardless of my *real* obligations or life-requirements... This latest novel is no exception. It's a creepy horrifying tale of love and obligation and the insidious necrotizing power of lies. It's a dark tale full of misdirection and red herrings and misunderstandings - and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

There were so many times when I thought I knew what was going on and underpinning a character's decision, when I was sure I knew who the good guys were - and each and every time I was wrong. I don't chalk this up to my reading but to Marrs' phenomenal ability to misdirect and taunt his audience. I read a LOT of psychological thrillers. After a while, it gets pretty easy to see where things are going - there are usually not that many unique ways to hide the eight ball, after all... Or so I thought. Then, once again, Marrs showed me how wrong that statement can be.

This is a delicately woven, incredibly intricate tale of the dangers that love can represent. It's told through a back-and-forth narration between the two main characters, and the format heightened the tension until each page was so fraught with it that I was almost afraid to turn them, for fear of what spanner would be thrown in the works next. I've become a bit jaded about the use of unreliable narrators as a plot device. It's been done SO MANY TIMES by now, that it's not (usually) effective any more to me. But clearly, it's not the device that is the issue because Marrs uses an ongoing level of disturbing uncertainty in his narrators that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the course of this fantastic tale.

If you don't know Marrs' work, this is an excellent place to start. It's an insanely compelling tale and a grand introduction to an author who is at the top of his game...

4.25 traumatisied stars ★★★★✩
This book is for all of you… who thrive in violent, sociopathic environments that leave no space for calmness. At one point I didn't know who to trust and what to think, much less was I brave enough to not read on.

⤐ Overall.
Well, this was intense. Considered me damaged. Long-term.

This is my second John Marrs book ( The One was my first), nonetheless I've come to value him for his ability to make sure you're sure that nothing's what it seems in the stories he presents to you. What Lies Between Us has proven just that.

I'm in awe over the way John captures the readers' attention and makes us tip around our guesses on light and careful feet, inviting us to speculate and deem nothing too unlikely. His way of telling stories is also full of determination: every sentence serves a purpose, every twisted detail makes us recoil and cling to the pages at the same time.

What Lies Between Us is not for the fainthearted. It shows how misinterpretations and actions that seek to protect a loved one can make reality become a nightmare. Even the best intentions have outcomes that make you doubt whether they were a good motivator in the first place.

⤐ What’s happening.
‘The next time we are together, I want one of us to be lying stiff in a coffin wearing rags that no longer fit our dead, shrunken frames.’

Nina and Maggie have a difficult daughter-mother-relationship. Lot's of triggering memories, very intense past. But does it justify Nina keeping her mother prisoner in the attic of their house? And if so, what did Maggie do? Or not do?
_____________________
writing quality + easy of reading = 4*

pace = 4*

plot/story in general = 5*

plot development = 4*

characters = 5*

enjoyability = 4*

insightfulness = 3*

What a bloody cracking book!! Does John Marrs ever disappoint?? I’d give this book 6 stars if I could!!

A gripping psychological domestic thriller which may hold triggers for some, will put you on the roller coaster of a lifetime! Just how does John come up with the twists and turns that had me guessing all wrong until the very end??!! Who to believe, who to side with, I went back and forth throughout the entire book....mother Maggie, daughter Nina....back, forth, back, forth.

A must read for anyone who wants to be utterly gripped by a story and left with the words WTF!

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

John does it again. I read a lot and am very eclectic although mainstay is suspense/thriller/horror. When I read "The Good Samaritan" my first reaction was "Who is this guy? What else has he written?" and I've been hooked ever since - this one has the same atmosphere which I was really pleased to see. I have several authors who are my favorites and John maintains his standing in the top few. Exceptional character development - who else can maintain interest at this level with two main characters? I mean really! He is the master of leaving the breadcrumbs along the way to keep you guessing but providing enough to keep you going. I kind of guessed part of what was going on, but what is most fun is there is always a tidbit or two that still eludes you. I am a big fan of multiple plot lines merging toward the finale, and John continues to perform on this venue, I must say this is one of his many strong points. This one does not disappoint - it takes a real talent to keep a story going with only two main characters and he does it so well. I've got maybe a handful of authors I follow and really enjoy, and John continues to lead the pack. Was a treat to read this one and can't wait until the next.

What an interesting book. I have very mixed feelings.

Maggie and Nina. Mother and Daughter. Both really despicable human beings. One more than the other but we don't get to find that out until deep in the book.

Nina keeps her mother prisoner in the attic of her home. She tells her friends and co-workers that her mother had a stroke and is recuperating at her sister's house. Why would she do this?

The story bounces around in time which is a very effective way of telling this story. We learn what Maggie did to merit this imprisonment through Nina's eyes and then we learn why Maggie feels like she is protecting her daughter through her eyes. It's hard to read a book where one can root for one of the characters but the book is engaging and a page turner. It's a quick read and makes one think.

Oh my God what a brilliant book. Ridiculously far-fetched at times - did no-one ever check or investigate or even visit the house - but hey ho, it's fiction. Two of the most ghastly and wicked protagonists I have ever come across but nail-bitingly good and full of unexpected twists right up to the end.

Some bits will really shock until you say 'please no more' but still it goes on. On a number of occasions I had to hide behind the sofa metaphorically speaking and scream to myself - 'please don't!' but then she did or not as the case may be.

By the end I'm not sure which of them is worse - actually I am but I'm not giving that away. At least you'll never question your relationship with your mum/daughter again. You'll think thank God we are not like that. Unless of course you keep your mum chained up in the attic....

Many thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.