Whew! I loved this book! It took off at breakneck speed and didn't stop until the very last page! A wedding on an island in the middle of nowhere in a creepy castle that is said to be haunted...and so many lies swirling around the bride, groom, and their families--yes please!! The first thing Claire hears when she steps onto the island is that a skeleton has been found. But who's is it? A body from centuries ago? Or the body of her fiancée's ex girlfriend? And then, a huge storm hits and all hell breaks loose. Such a great book!!

There are many, many books and blogs dedicated to helping you create a “killer” wedding. For the bride and groom of Her Dark Lies that doesn’t just mean designing a dress to die for and booking a location you’d commit murder for – it means an actual body count.

At the beginning of the tale, we are introduced to an ingénue – the young, sweet, vibrant Claire Hunter – who is engaged to the decade older Jack. An up-and-coming artist, she’s genuine and charming and eager to be married. She adores Jack, and just wants the nuptials– planned for three days later – to go well for his sake. She would have preferred a small, modest, low-key ceremony but realizes that marrying a man from one of the wealthiest families in the world means making some sacrifices, like having a splashy, expensive destination wedding at a European villa.

Jack Compton is deeply in love as well. Married before to a woman who died under mysterious circumstances, he is determined that Claire will be his fresh start – his chance to stop grieving and finally start really living again. As the older and presumably wiser and more sophisticated member of their partnership, he is ready to show Claire the world and teach her how to handle herself in the dangerous, difficult universe of the one percent. He knows his money – soon to be their money – attracts unsavory and unwanted attention so he’s not surprised when they arrive home from their final pre-wedding party and encounter an intruder – the big shock is discovering that Claire can shoot a gun and kill a trespasser as easily as she can chug champagne.

The Compton wealth and influence – as well as a few little white lies – ensure that Jack and Claire are easily cleared of wrongdoing and able to catch their flight to Italy the next morning, where they find a whole new set of disasters waiting for them. Claire’s dress has deliberately been destroyed. The island which serves as the location for their breathtaking destination celebration is experiencing heavy storms and power shortages. A body has just been discovered on the grounds. And the security system upon which the Compton’s computer company has built their considerable wealth has been hacked and someone is threatening to release the information stored there unless an unspecified person in the clan confesses to an equally unspecified crime.

A lesser woman would see all this as an omen and politely bow out of the marriage – or at least postpone it. But whoever is trying to stop the wedding has no idea just how stubborn Claire can be.

Like most books on the thriller market these days, Her Dark Lies is built around the premise that we never really know people as well as we think we do. In this case that means that the Comptons, Claire, and all the guests at this remote, picturesque island getaway (or as I like to call them, murder hotels) have hidden agendas and deep, dark secrets. Being stuck together in a storm at a high stress event naturally brings all that to the forefront. Add in a mysterious, sinister figure waltzing unseen in the background – who no one can find – wreaking havoc and murder and voilà!, you have a mystery novel.

But not a stellar one. This book begs comparison to other recent novels about destination weddings and comes out a bit flat in contrast. Part of the problem is that it gets bogged down by too many – as in too many descriptions of the location, too many people with secrets, too many mistakes made by people who should have known better, and too many pages of text. It’s too long to be tight and twisty and those are the hallmarks of a good thriller.

The story also suffers from a case of ‘too little’. We have too little time with Jack and Claire to believe in a love that survives the kinds of revelations theirs does, too little time is spent with Claire as anything but victim for us to really believe she is as kick ass as we later find her to be, and too little closure – the story wrap-up is done too quickly and incompletely to be genuinely satisfying.

Add to all that some ‘overs’ – as in the overwhelming wealth of the Compton family, the over complicated – and overtly ominous – way the Comptons made said wealth and an over-the-top villain.

Which is unfortunate because with a few tweaks this could have been an outstanding story. The basic plotline – two people deeply in love who are keeping secrets from each other – is intriguing. The author does a fabulous job of creating a beautiful, opulent setting that turns sinister and scary as the story progresses. The prose is smooth, the descriptions eloquent, and I loved how the author mostly uses conversation or other tools – rather than flashbacks – for big denouements.

Ms. Ellison also does a great job with the gothic elements of her story – not just her spooky setting but the innocent heroine, the wealthy family with dark secrets, the enigmatic servants, the haunting, chilling, threatening atmosphere which permeates the tale – all are done beautifully. I especially enjoyed how she modernizes each of these elements through little touches like cell phones, diesel operated generators, and an ingénue who isn’t a virgin, has a past, and knows how to handle herself in tough situations. Claire’s innocence comes not from cluelessness but from a mistaken certainty of the goodness of the people around her.

I also enjoyed the homages to classic gothic novels in the book, like the important moment reminiscent of Rebecca and the aspects of Jane Eyre strewn throughout.

The mixed bag nature of Her Dark Lies – with glaring problems but also some really good features – is reflected in my grade. In terms of recommendations, I would say that if you love gothics and don’t mind a slightly too long, overwrought version of that genre, you might want to give this a read. If you absolutely hate cartoonishly evil villains, give this a pass and try Ms. Ellison’s Tear Me Apart. That book nails all the elements of a psychological thriller and delivers the twist ending beloved of most of us who read this genre.

Claire is a struggling artist till she meets Jack Compton. Jack is from an extremely wealthy family and he pours his heart and soul into Claire. When they decide to get married they do so in a big way. They are headed to Jack’s family villa on the coast of Italy for a wedding weekend blow out! But, it becomes a nightmare and a moment of truth.

J.T Ellison always creates the best, flawed characters. And this novel has two of the bests! Claire has secrets from her past. And Jack has not told her the truth about many things. So, their relationship is not on even ground by any means. When all the strange things start to occur before the wedding, the cracks in their relationship starts to show.

This story kept me up late reading! I was so caught up in what could possibly happen next. And the setting of the ancient villa on a remote island during a massive storm…I mean…what could go wrong there! This book had me…hook, line and sinker!

Need a quick, fast paced thriller….oh boy! This is it! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

A deliciously dark tale that will sweep you up into the dangerous depths of love and murder.

Within the pages of this book, a storm brews, one so dark and damaging that its sweeping powers mesmerize you.

This isn’t a book to read in one sitting. You could…but if you want to get lost within the pages, within the storyline itself, then this book deserves to be savored like a fine scotch.

There is so much about this book that I loved: the setting was a character, the villa I knew I’d get lost in if I were there, the fact that JT Ellison goes THERE…she kills all her darlings without hesitation. That, I think, is what I loved the most.

Italy is a special place to me. I’ve been a few times now, explored the coast, walked through the ruins, fell in love with the food. While this story didn’t take place on the Isle of Capri, that’s where my mind always went with the setting…I could picture it in my head so clearly. This book, while mainly taking place in one central location in a made up island on the coast, has me wishing I could go back.

Did I mention that the author goes THERE? The places most authors want to go but hesitate. She went into the places you thought she might but figured she wouldn’t, and then even a few places where you had no idea were possible.

HER DARK LIES is twisted in a dark, delicious way. It’s definitely a book that belongs on my bookshelf and will be read again, and again!

A wedding on an idyllic sounding island off the coast of Italy sounds like a dream event but this one is definitely much more of a nightmare! The wealthy Compton family own the island and it is there that Jack Compton plans to wed his fiancée, artist Claire Hunter. However, this setting hides dark secrets, unnerving messages, disturbing events and threats. When a huge storm cuts the power and this atmospheric thriller takes readers on a roller coaster ride packed with terror, fear and danger.

I am definitely trying not to reveal anything in this review to spoil your enjoyment of this book, should you choose to read it. It is a story where most of the characters seem to have secrets. The sense of danger permeates this story, giving it a very edgy, dark, menacing feel that only escalates as the story progresses. It is told from several points of view but readers aren't always aware of just whose viewpoint your are reading, adding to the mystique and sense of peril. This is a deadly wedding, one in which the body count mounts, the sense of dread and danger grows and you're not certain just who will survive to the end. If you enjoy dark thrillers, this is one you'll probably find enthralling!

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Her Dark Lies reads like a Netflix thriller. The atmosphere hinges on the (largely) island setting and nature is definitely a character in the novel. The plot is a fairly loose affair, about a supposedly dead wife, her killer husband, and his new bride-to-be who has her own secrets, but it zips along pretty quickly.

Set on a secluded private island in sun-kissed Italy, Claire Hunter is about to marry the man of her dreams, Jack Compton. Just before they leave NYC for their wedding though, something horrific happens that Jack and his family cover up. When Jack and Claire finally get to the island, we find out that a body has just been unearthed, and it’s reported to be Jack’s first wife, which is odd since her hand had been reportedly found in California 10 years ago, on their honeymoon. As a storm rages outside, and the estate loses power, bodies start stacking up, and what people thought were long dead secrets are brought to light.
The book does start off slowly. Once you get through the beginning, the book picks up pace and you’ll fall headfirst into figuring out who all is involved. It’s not your normal whodunit. You do learn who the mastermind is pretty early on, the one controlling everything, but you don’t know who the minions are.
This book is well written, very descriptive, with fleshed out characters, and a storyline that pulls you along until the very last page.

**I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I’m glad to be taking part in the blog tour for this new suspense/thriller HER DARK LIES by J.T. Ellison. This one kept me up late reading and guessing until the end. It’s a bit of a feel like Gone Girl – different narrators, people in peril, trying to figure out what’s happening and why. I liked it a lot!

If you like suspenseful reads, don’t miss this one! Thank you for my mobi copy and for making me part of the tour!
(full post at drbethnolan.com)

3.5 stars
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, JT Ellison knows her stuff when it comes to atmosphere and setting a scene. That said, Her Dark Lies may have had a little too much all at once in the very beginning of this one. The author does paint a detailed picture of the island, and the book has a rather slow start due to that. I'll admit that it was easy to picture the island, but I prefer descriptions like that to be a little more organic as the story moves along rather than all at once. The pacing does pick up as the story progresses, and it keeps a steady pace with building tension once the initial scene-setting is done.
As for the mystery/suspense, and for me this one is more suspense than thriller, the story is dark and twisted. This is supposed to be a weekend wedding on a beautiful island, but both sides have more combined secrets than you can shake a stick at, so naturally, those have to come out.
Ellison makes some intriguing choices for points of view, including the antagonist - that's something that can go either way in a mystery. Sometimes it works and sometimes not, but I think it works out pretty well in this story.
All things considered, Her Dark Lies did hold my interest, and there are plenty of twists to keep things moving along, so it's definitely worth the read, and if you like a mystery with Gothic tones and atmosphere, I'd recommend this one.

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this thriller. I would consider this a closed-circle mystery as everyone is on a somewhat secluded island, and there is a limited guest list for the wedding that is to take place there. The Compton's (they own the island) take their security very seriously so the suspect has to be someone from a very limited pool of people. This kept me on my toes, because while I knew what was going on for parts of the book, it kept me guessing about others.

I always find it really difficult to review mystery/thrillers because I don't want to give anything away or spoil anything. I like to go into them blind and figure out what is going on as I read them and do the detective work on my own. I think the author did a great job weaving the thriller aspect into this book. None of the characters in the book are particularly likeable and they are all a bit morally grey. As the story unfolds on this beautiful island in Italy, we come to find out that everyone is caught up in a web of lies leading up to Jack and Claire's wedding and someone wants the truth or a version of it told.

This had really good pacing and I actually appreciated the different perspectives we got from the different characters. While it kind of took away from the who-dun-it factor, it added to the creep factor. As the story unfolds and more is revealed you are never really sure what is going to happen next, and even at the end you aren't really sure what really happened. There were some convenient and perhaps unbelievable wrap ups to some of the plot points, but that just added to the morally grey status of the characters. It just made things even more twisted when it was all said and done. This was my first book from J.T. Ellison and it won't be my last.

I received an advanced reading copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5
This thriller is in no way a work of literary masterpiece, but it sure is a fun, thrilling read. Main character Claire is a real character, easy to identify and empathize with by the reader. The nice(?) thing about this novel is how neatly each character plays a role in the story. The setting is also very cool.

Claire Hunter’s wedding to Jack Compton, a member of a wealthy and influential family, is going to take place at the Compton family villa on an island off the Italian coast. But as soon as Claire arrives at Isle Isola she feels uneasy. Her wedding dress is mysteriously damaged, unidentified skeletal remains have been found nearby, and there’s the unavoidable question of what really happened to Jack’s first wife. Not to mention that there’s a monstrous storm bearing down on the island.

Her Dark Lies is descriptive and atmospheric. The reader can almost feel the impending storm and hear the howling winds. But, there are times that the descriptions almost overwhelm the plot and that makes it less suspenseful and tense. The characters felt underdeveloped and I never did connect with any of them. There is a lot going on in this book, but even so, the pace is often slow and it can be difficult to focus on the matters at hand. I was expecting more suspense, as well as a conclusion that tied up the loose ends a little better.

Even though Her Dark Lies isn’t my favorite book by this author, I will still read more of her books and continue to recommend her.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

**3.5-stars**

From the start of their relationship, Claire Hunter, knows that by marrying Jack Compton, her life will change dramatically. The Compton family is extremely rich and powerful; we're talking the top 1%. Claire is an up-and-coming artist with a studio in Nashville and not much else. She's new to their world and the circle of predators that comes with it.

The couple are set to wed at the Compton family's luxury villa on Isle Isolde on the coast of Italy. It is planned to be an intimate occasion, with just family and a few very close friends. The night prior to departing for Italy, the couple surprises an intruder in their home. It doesn't end well and Claire is rattled by the whole incident. It's not setting a good tone for her wedding weekend.

Even after arriving in Italy, her nerves are still rattled. The property is intimidating and Claire feels unsettled from the start. As she begins to meet Jack's family and the property's many servants, she slowly starts to let her guard down. It's clear they all love Jack very much and want him to be happy. That's how it appears anyway.

It doesn't take long before odd things begin happening; scary things. To Claire it seems that someone is trying to sabotage her and their nuptials, but who? Terribly inclement weather sweeps in, adding more fuel to the fire. Everything has to be rearranged; the villa is in chaos. Then the bodies start dropping.

Her Dark Lies is an over-the-top, locked room Mystery, with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. You better grab your Dramamine before you go on this ride! The author made some interesting choices in deciding what perspectives to follow; you actually get the perspective of the antagonist. I wasn't crazy about this, as to me, it felt like it took all of the suspense out of it.

I liked the setting, but could have done with even more of the lore and history of Isle Isolde. We did get a few glimpses into the past of the Villa and there were a lot of skeletons in those closets. While this is a good story, I was hoping for just a little more atmosphere and suspense. Technically, it has everything that makes up a good Thriller, but somehow it still felt a little anticlimactic for me.

With all of this being said, I know a ton of Readers are going to love the fast-paced drama of this novel. Just because it wasn't the perfect book for me, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I did and most likely, you will too!

Thank you so much to the publisher, MIRA, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion.

Love makes some individuals blind and stupid. Claire claims that she loves Jack and Jack feels that Claire is the one yet, let’s be real here. Do they think that they can hide parts of their lives from each other, when they’re days away from tying the knot? I wasn’t sure who was wearing the better disguise, Claire or Jack? I do know that I enjoyed discovering how they each thought that they had the upper hand.

I was in Claire’s corner as I learned how closed-lipped Jack was about parts of his life. Was he just wanting to move on or was he trying to hide something? She knew that she wasn’t Jack’s #1 but I wasn’t prepared for how this really affected her. The longer I read the book, I thought perhaps they might just be right for each another, as Claire’s secrets were disclosed.

Setting in motion the events leading up to their wedding ceremony, the parties arrive on the island and I was in awe. Talk about money! It’s an amazing place but dang, this wonderful day was turning into a nightmare. A nightmare that I enjoyed but the individuals on the island, weren’t having so much fun.

The author did a great job disclosing their secrets and I enjoyed the implications that these had on the individuals involved. A time for celebration, the main characters were on edge while many of the guests were enjoying themselves on the island, I liked how there was this mix as it provided an element of uncertainty in the book. This was a great mystery that I had a hard time putting down.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Her Dark Lies by J. T. Ellison is a highly recommended atmospheric novel of suspense with Gothic overtones.

The marriage of Nashville artist Claire Hunter to Jack Compton, the son of a wealthy computer company magnate is imminent. Before they leave for their destination wedding being held at the family cliff-top villa on the Isle Isola off the Italian coast, they are having a reception in Nashville. After the reception, Claire and Jack confront what seems to be a burglary, leaving questions and a police investigation when they continue on to the villa. When they arrive there, skeletal remains have just been found, adding to the dark atmosphere that seems to be targeting their wedding. Ominous, events continue to happen as the family and the selected few guests are at the villa and a series of storms are approaching the island.

Both Claire and Jack are complicated and enigmatic individuals, as is all of Jack's family, so there are many more secrets surrounding the characters than there are immediate answers. The novel is told through Claire's first person point-of-view, as well as short sections by a person not named until the end, although the identity is evident. Most of the characters are not clearly good or bad, which propels you to keep reading to see what exactly is happening and who can be trusted. Admittedly you have to set skepticism and disbelief aside over the wealth and success of both Claire and Jack.

After a slow start spent describing the settings and characters while introducing a few threatening events, the novel begins to take off after the characters are all on the island, basically trapped with each other and a killer. The threats and suspicious events and deaths keep adding up ratcheting up the suspense to the dramatic denouement. Ellison spends time creating the menacing atmosphere, which helps keep the suspense high. There are no huge surprises or twists in the plot, but this is a compelling novel of suspense that will grab your attention to the end.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of MIRA Books/HarperCollins in exchange for my honest opinion.

on 3/15/21: http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/
The review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This was a delicious twisty, turny delight. Right from the start, the atmosphere builds. How can it not when the main wedding is happening on a isolated Italian island with steep cliffs. I mean, come one, Hitchcock couldn't make it any better or creepier.

I do have to say that I kind of figured a few things out ahead of the reveal but that was okay. It all still built up to quite the climax.

Another very enjoyable outing by J.T. Ellison. She definitely has her fingers on the pulse of a good thriller/mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for a copy of this book.

4.5 Stars

Claire Hunter is marrying the man of her dreams, and it’s not his riches or good looks that made her heart sing, but the man on the inside. However, Jackson Compton was married a decade before. Jackson doesn’t speak of it, and Claire is wildly curious. What happened to Morgan, the first Mrs. Compton? Now in just a few days Claire and Jackson are set to tie the knot on a secluded Italian island, part of the perks of marrying into the Compton family, and things start to get…interesting!

Her Dark Lies was a twisty thriller! It took me a little bit to settle in and become invested, but boy this had me on the edge of my seat! Atmospheric and downright creepy, I was hooked! As a reader you do know the main villain, but figuring out the how and why, and all the players made this a riveting read. There seemed to be a surprise around every corner, and I desperately wanted to know exactly what happened the night of Morgan’s death. The ending chapters were quite the wild ride with lots of death and destruction! I’m pleased with how it all turned out, which is something, because I don’t always get what I want by the end with thrillers. The endings can ambiguous, depressing, and tragic, which is unsettling to me, but that wasn’t the case here.

This is my first time reading J.T. Ellison, but it won’t be my last!

✨Book Review✨
Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Her Dark Lies was such a great read! I could. not. put. it. down!
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That being said, it was also the first thriller I’ve read this year, and I deeeeefinitely have been missing this genre, so that could have added to my enjoyment. 😂
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Her Dark Lies is the story of Claire Hunter, who is engaged to marry Jack Compton. Their wedding is taking place in a castle on the cliffs of Jack’s family island in Italy. The setting of this book was so perfect! It was also pretty dark and stormy a lot of the time, which added a lot of atmosphere. I definitely got some Knives Out vibes from it. I won’t give away more, but there are a lot of small twists and moments where you don’t know who to trust.
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The ending was the only part of the book that I didn’t love. I found it to be a little rushed and there was too much going on for my liking.
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Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this one if you like a good thriller.
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#bookreview #books #read #bookstagram #review #HerDarkLies #netgalley #JTEllison @netgalley

We are gathered here today for the wedding of Claire Hunter and Jack Compton, a lovely couple surrounded by close family and friends on the gorgeous Compton family owned cliff-top villa off the Italian coast. Claire is an up and coming artist, and the family is welcoming her as Jack’s second wife. Something happened to his first, she doesn’t know exactly what, and doesn’t really ask as she has no doubt how much Jack loves her. But once she gets to the island, things start to happen, you know, remains are found, her dress is ruined, horrible texts, the usual. Then a raging storm blows in, the power goes out, and chaos sets in.

This was absolutely delicious, I devoured every minute of this and read it in one setting it was so good. So many secrets, but yet it wasn’t over the top, and was very atmospheric. The setting would normally be gorgeous but throw in a storm with a power outage and all of a sudden it turns gothic and creepy and I loved it so much. Claire and Jack were a great couple, each with a past that neither wants to discuss for fear of losing the other, which just added to the intensity. There were a couple of moments of lightness worked in, which relieved some of the intensity and I also appreciated that.

This one starts off slow, setting the stage and atmosphere, but I did not mind at all. It begins building and then it all comes to a head, and by the end I was flipping pages until I was done, and I was very satisfied to say the least. If you are a fan of thrillers then I highly recommend this one, it might be my favorite of hers yet!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @mirabooks for the e-galley to review.

This is a wonderful psychological thriller. I did not like most of the characters. They were all a bit privileged. This made me not want to put it down because I needed to know who was causing all the problems. I loved the descriptions of the island and the home. This book was like a roller coaster ride. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.