John Marrs just gets better and better and better!
If you haven't read anything by him yet, why not?
This book was full of everything I love, secrets and lies, darkness and mystery.
John Marrs is in my top 10 of favourite authors!

Oh my word, what a fantastic book! This has got to be one of the best psychological thrillers I have read. Ever. It is so cleverly written and although I guessed a couple of the twists, there are so many in here it's impossible to work the whole thing out. And the ending was just perfect. I enjoyed the alternating storytelling from the two main characters, both of whom appear to have done some dreadful things and my sympathies swayed backwards and forwards as each chapter gives the reader a new nugget of information. Some of which is assumption, some fact, meaning that you never know until right at the end what the real truth is. A compelling story masterfully constructed round a hell of a premise. Hats off to you Mr Marrs!!!

Well, this book was a bit of up and down for me. I found myself during some portions devouring each word, unable to put the book down. Then I would get to points that would cause me to stop reading and not want to pick it back up. Honestly, the Nina chapters were really hard to get through as she was unlikeable to me from the beginning regardless of what Maggie did or didn't do. I ended up finishing the book, but overall it was just okay.

3 out of 5 stars.

This is the first book I have read of John Marrs and wow what a read. Gripping and dark the story about the relationship of mother and daughter... Wow really enjoyed this one.. Thanks netgallery for the advanced copy of this.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I enjoyed this immensely. It is the first book John Marrs and will definitely not be the last. I’m not putting any spoilers in here but safe to say this storyline twisted and twisted again, then you thought you had it - nope twists again! The vivid description of each character with their individual story and then an altogether story was genius. This is not my usual genre but in this instance I am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. Thanks again.

Wow what have I just read!
Cancel all your plans and read this book it is a crazy, amazing story, I couldn’t put it down.
It deserves 5 stars and more.
Bravo John Marrs you’ve done it again, your books get better and better.
Thank you net galley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Once again John delivered an absolutely chilling and full of suspense novel about crazy, crazy, crazy people and their relationship. I try not to give away any spoilers.

This book kept me attached to my Kindle during all train rides to work, made me think about its characters and made me stay up at night, just to finish the last chapters to find out the truth.

From the start of the book I felt sympathy towards one of the characters, felt so sorry for her and completely understood her behaviour and what was happening with her. But…(of course there should be but)….John demonstrated that not everything is as it seems. Nobody’s perfect and often people’s destructive actions directed by good intentions.

I liked absolutely everything about this book. The pace, the language, all the twists, characters that were realistic and natural. It was John Marrs at his best.

One of the best topics of the novel for me was parent – child relationship, and in particular, between mother and daughter. The questions like how to protect your little girl from all the dangers of the world, how to teach her what is right and what is wrong, how to make her listen and how to try not to strangle her with your motherly love, limiting her freedom. It was absolutely horrifying to read about things that were happening in the book, but at the same time made me think about the reality of raising a teenager which I will experience in 10-13 years.

I would recommend this novel to all readers of thrillers and suspense, twist lovers and John’s fans.

Fast paced. Kept me guessing right until the end. I kept finding myself be like no way! 😱😱 not surprised really because this authors books are always brilliant! You always think you know what’s happening and then BOOM, new twist!

**I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Maggie and Nina live in the same house. They eat dinner together every few nights and discuss Nina's work day as a local librarian. Then after dinner Nina brings Maggie back up to her soundproof room. She makes sure the chain around Maggie's ankle is nice and tight and securely attached to a metal post in the middle of her room. Maggie has done some terrible things and Nina wants to make sure she pays for it every day for the next 21 years.

This was my first John Marrs book and I'm just wondering if they're all as good as this one?? This book hooked me right from the first chapter and I had to keep reading until I got to the end. There were some twists I saw coming, but then those twists had twists that kept me guessing up until the very last page. I'll definitely be reading more from Marrs. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

Awesome page turner by John Marrs. I would recommend to anyone who loves twisty roller coaster rides of a story. I never knew from one page to the other which one of the alternate narrators was lying: Maggie, the mother, or Nina, the daughter--you feel for them and find them frightening at the same time because at first glance they SEEM normal. I felt it was a great ending and the real monster in this family dysfunction was revealed earlier so no loose ends or confusing threads.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this gem.

I have read all of John Marrs previous books and they have all been five star ratings from me. There was just something about this book that just didn't live up to his previous books in my opinion. I guessed certain things quite early on and that sort of spoiled it for me.

Having said that though it is another well written, dark disturbing tale that had me gripped from the start to the end.

If you are looking for a 'can't put it down' psychological thriller then this will appeal to you.

I was extremely lucky to be given an advanced copy, for an honest review..

Wow, just wow. I completed this book 10 minutes ago, and yet here I still am, sitting in shock, trying to understand how one man can write such a fantastic novel.

Nina & Maggie have a complicated relationship. A parent should always protect their children, but at what cost?

I’ve read numerous John Marrs books, so I knew I would instantly love this, and I wasn’t wrong. I love the style of Johns writing and the pace in which he sets his books.

As soon as you think the plot has thickened, something even more explosive happens. Each character and their past is described thoroughly and I went from loving, hating and wanting to help each one of them.

A well deserved 5 stars from me!

Five stars! I still haven't recovered in my race to finish this book last night. My heart was in my mouth as I turned the pages. This book was packed full of unexpected twists. Just brilliant writing by John Marrs, yet again.

Maggie and Nina are hiding a lot of secrets from each other and it is these secrets that have Maggie where she is today, chained up in her own attic for the past two years. Mother and daugter are living together in a love/hate relationship. The story unfolds with the author bringing us back 25 years when the events happened leading to Nina imprisoning her mother Maggie in her own soundproofed bedroom for the past two years.

Captivating storyline and amazing character portrayal. I didn't want it to end.

I read The Passengers last year and was elated to get an arc of this one as well. John Marrs is written cocaine! His writing is some of the most addictive I've come across.

A daughter in her late 30's has imprisoned her mother in the house they share and we find out why piece by piece. THERE IS SO MANY TWISTS! You will NOT expect this book to end the way it does.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Actual rating: 3.75

Well, that’s one f*cked up book!
I feel like the less I say about this, the better, so I’ll try and keep it vague.

In Maggie and Nina, John Marrs has managed to create such vivid, disturbing, and entirely complex characters—two women who, from the start, will make you uncomfortable.

Typically with novels that hold their secrets close to the vest, I’m usually left unsurprised by the mysteries and their developments (I blame my intuitive/perceptive nature and having absorbed so many mystery novels/tv shows/films over the years). I believe that a majority of the books that claim to have “big twists” and “plots that will keep you guessing” are all show and no deliver. And to be honest, What Lies Between Us had some fairly obvious twists... but here’s the thing: for once, I didn’t really mind! If only because the book is so well written and the characters so intriguing. I didn’t care that a good chunk of the revelations were predictable; Marrs managed to keep me engrossed by fashioning some pretty messed up sh*t!

The dual narratives between mother and daughter, captive and captor, work wonderfully here to define their motives and distinctive psyches. As we learn, too, their pasts in alternating POV shifts, the picture becomes clearer, and it’s paced so brilliantly.

I know some readers might like the “Bobby” character, but I actually hated him. For such a nut, I was still Team Nina on that front, but in the long run: Team Maggie all the way. Or maybe Team Neither?? I don’t know. This is the most fascinating sort of book for me, where you have a couple of great characters who have done despicable things—but still have redeemable moments and qualities—and you’re constantly seesawing between rooting for this one and/or that one.

What Lies Between Us is twisted, dark, and pretty damn bleak... and I’m glad—Glad that John Marrs didn’t go the expected, cookie-cutter route. This could’ve so easily fallen into the category of ordinary, but it doesn’t. This is a sick little novel, and I’m happy I read it... I just feel like I need to take a shower.

Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really like this author. Though this isn’t his best book,it is a very unusual study of people’s behaviors.Sometimes the best-laid plan’s fall. When a mother tries to protect her delusional daughter from harm,she does more damage. While the it might seem unbelievable, Mr. Marrs brings an understanding to the story. You sympathize with the characters. Even though they can be despicable,they are also human and we make mistakes. The story comes to it’s inevitable conclusion. Not great,but a good read nonetheless!

Thanks to author and publisher for early release read of this title. I absolutely loved it. John Marrs is one of my favorite authors. He takes you on a crazy train and it’s amazing ride. I was sucked in from beginning and couldn’t wait to pick it up every night. Read this everyone. You won’t be disappointed.

Nina and her mother, Maggie, live together in the same house but this is no ordinary mother/daughter relationship. Nina keeps Maggie prisoner, held captive by a chain in the attic. There are things that Nina can never forgive her mother for and she is determined to make. her pay.

But the past holds more secrets than Nina can ever know and Maggie is determined to keep it that way. Even if it costs her her life.

This story is so full of twists and turns it will make you dizzy. Just when I thought that I understood and I knew you I felt empathy for then "Bam!!" another twist that changed everything and my loyalties would shift again. This is a dark and compelling tale that deals with some difficult subjects. It kept me hooked and guessing right until the very end.

This is the second book that I have read by John Marrs, and it definitely didn't disappoint.

Thoroughly recommend!!

Thank you to Netgallery for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.

Wow! Just Wow!! What Lies Between Us By John Marrs gives new meaning to the term highly dysfunctional family. With the story going back and forth between Nina (daughter) and Maggie's (mother) point of view. You are drawn into a truly messed up family you'd never want to be part of. Fast paced, truly disturbing and a great read!

This book was amazingly written and one heck of a page turner. It gripped me from beginning to end. I had an internal battle on who to blame and hate for every event that happened. Both Nina and Maggie are to blame for the events that happened in their lives. Both were co-dependent on each other. Maggie was trying to protect Nina from herself and what she did to her father under a false claim. Nina didn’t want to let go of her mother or her son once finding out about everything taking from her. Nina needed saving from her self and Maggie wanted to redeem herself for what she did. The ending was gripping as well. I’d definitely recommend this book.