The Lies We Tell - Jane Corry

We start this book seemingly at the end of the story, then go back to see how we got there, which I found a particularly enjoyable aspect. Sarah and Tom really go through the mill in this book, and drag the reader along with them, there are plenty of unexpected twists all the way through, with the main characters secrets being discovered at different times in the story. Overall a great page turner, which focuses on how far a parent will go to protect their child even at their own expense or safety.

A family saga covering four generations and how the tragic mistakes of the older three generations will ultimately decide the future of the youngest member. A bohemian young woman, mother of a young girl, Sarah, is tragically killed, leaving her child in the care of cruel uncaring guardians. This will ultimately affect and influence every event in the formative years of this young girl. A young boy, Tom, has a difficult childhood, loses his mother but also suffers childhood abuse. Two damaged individuals, through improbable circumstances end up together intent on righting the wrongs of the past. Totally unsuited and I’ll equipped to deal with the intimacy of family life they project their inadequacies onto their only child. A catastrophic incident involving the son leads to a life or death decision, with each going in a totally opposite direction resulting in choices that will ricochet down through the years. This storyline was raw in emotional angst, with any conclusion to have serious repercussions for all concerned and little opportunity for redemption or forgiveness. Perhaps the only misstep in this harrowing story is the author’s intent to tie up lose endings into an acceptable conclusion. Perhaps too much a realist I believe this story raised so many moral and ethical issues, the conclusion did not do justice to a book that left the reader asking many unanswerable questions as to what would they do in similar circumstances. Many thanks to Author, publisher and NetGalley for this hugely thought provoking book.

Another great book from Jane Corry A well written story that pulls on your heart strings, great characters and a believable storyline.

The story meandered far too much for me to enjoy it. I understand the need to go back into the history of the characters but in this case it overwhelmed the plot. So nothing after the start in the way of a thriller and far too much self analysis… I can’t believe people really do this and not to the extent you read it in this book.

This was my second read by Jane Corry though I have had 'Blood Sisters' and 'The Killing Type' on my e-reader for some time. I was certainly not disappointed with The Lies We Tell!

Freddie, Tom and Sarah's fifteen-year-old son returns home late one night after 3 am, having previously agreed to be back by midnight. He is wearing clothes that aren't his then confesses to his parents that he has committed a murder...

This was a very emotional story of simmering resentment, betrayal, lies and fraught relationships. Tom wants to inform the police, but Sarah has other ideas and wants to protect Freddie. The Lies We Tell was really well written and totally believable. I was pulled instantly into the very clever storyline and loved every twist and turn. I really appreciated this totally outstanding, seriously addictive psychological thriller with its explosive ending. Highly recommended and definitely a five-star read.

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

Unfortunately I just could not get into this book. It may be one for other readers, but I was unable to finish it.

"I always used to think that a mother’s job was to protect her child. But here’s the real truth. At least, the way I see it. When it comes to a mother’s love – that boundless, almost undefinable, primal, umbilical-cord-wrenching bond that cannot be broken – there are no rules.”

Sarah always thought of herself and her husband, Tom, as good people. But that was before their son Freddie came home saying he'd done something terrible, begging them not to tell the police.

Soon Sarah and Tom must find out just how far they are willing to push themselves, and their marriage, to protect their only child.

As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddie off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision: Save her son... or save herself?

In my opinion, it is the characters drawn by Corry that truly make this story come alive. Their quirks, flaws and their perception of life derived from the skeletons in their past give an edge to the events that unfold. The family dynamics are continuously evolving and the author keeps you engaged with jaw-dropping plot twists.

The plot itself is actively paced and presents a moral dilemma at every step - What would you do in Sarah's place... as a woman hiding a secret... and as a mother?

An addictive thriller, this throws you into the deep end and shows what it’s like to live on the dark edge of life.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK.

Not what I expected. The book starts with the revelation that Freddie, Sarah and Tom's son has killed someone. The story immediately jumps back to Tom and Sarah's first meeting, then slowly telling the story of their marriage and revealing lies they had told each other. It is not til two thirds through the book that the repercussions from Freddie's confession begin. Despite the long wait for the story to get going, it rather fizzled out with an improbable neat ending. If I had been expecting a story about lies within a marriage I might have enjoyed it more but probably I would not have chosen to read it.

I enjoyed this book and found the characters interesting but it didn’t have me gripped from end to end like some books do. It did make me wonder if I’d do the same thing as Sarah if put in her position and I like books that get me thinking!! The ending came as a shock though which was good.

Thank you so much to Penguin UK & Netgalley and for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

A well-paced book which would make a good, holiday read.

I loved the premise of this book based on the "blurb". For me, it perhaps didn't go far enough into just what a parent would do for their child but nonetheless it made for a good read. Characterisation was a little mixed and I struggled to connect with the lesser talked-about characters who, despite their lack of page time, were instrumental in the story (e.g. the father and the friends). Despite this, I would still recommend the book!

A great book with lots of twists and turns and an example of how things can go as a result of keeping secrets from the people in your life. Would I do the same as Sarah in the same circumstances?...more than likely! A well paced and thought provoking book.

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't got any children but I found myself constantly questioning what I would do in Sarah's situation. I love thought-provoking stories that really make you imagine and think, and this book certainly did just that. I'm still thinking about it now!
Split into two parts, we read about the early life of Sarah and Tom, while the second part reveals Sarah's decision about her son. Honestly I found myself more gripped by part 1. While I wanted to know what was gonna happen next, the second half of the book was a little slower than i would of liked. Still an excellent read regardless. I empathised a lot with Sarah and Freddie, and I definitely intrigued from start to finish.
Not my favourite Jane Corry book, but still one I would absolutely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Publishing and Jane Corry for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Jane Corry never disappoints! I absolutely loved this book. The plot was classic Jane Corry style and continued to keep me guessing throughout. I loved all the characters and how they changed throughout the book. This was a really refreshing read and it was great to see some good character arcs. I can’t recommend this enough.

I was so drawn in by the premise of The Lies We Tell and it totally lived up to its promise of a thought provoking thriller. The story follows Sarah and Tom, a married couple with a teenage son who comes home one night and confesses to doing something terrible. He pleads with them to help him and not to tell the police – Sarah and Tom then have a life changing decision to make.

At almost 500 pages The Lies We Tell is not a short book, but I absolutely raced through it! It’s a really addictive read which keeps you turning the page to find out how things ended up the way they do for this family. After throwing you in at the deep end with Tom and Sarah’s son coming home and telling his parents he has done something awful the narrative reels back to the very beginning of the relationship between this unlikely couple. I loved this structural choice – it completely pulls the reader into the entire evolution of a relationship which is full of secrecy, lies and two very different individuals. Tom is a sensible creature of habit who lives to follow the ‘rules’. He is logical to a fault and has a mind for numbers. Sarah on the other hand is an artist with a troubled past. She is more emotional and free spirited than Tom and adores her much longed for son, Freddie, with all her heart. The relationship between Sarah and Tom is the central thread of the book. The way their secrets slowly eat away at their bond and the crucial differences between them become insurmountable is fascinating and allows the reader to really feel they know these characters. Then comes the moral dilemma at the centre of The Lies We Tell, mainly how far should a mother go to protect her child? This is the kind of book that makes you question what you would do in the place of these characters and I found it incredibly engrossing. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a compelling thriller which makes you think with an intriguing dissection of a complex relationship at its heart.

When Sarah and Tom’s son, fifteen-year-old Freddy, hadn’t returned home, at the time they said he had to be in, his dad wasn’t surprised, and his mum was worried. Freddy wasn’t an easy child, he had another side to him. When he got home, he was covered in blood, not his own. He had killed someone. Tom wanted to call the police, but Sarah had other ideas. The story drops back to when Tom and Sarah met.

Tom and Sarah could not have been more different. Tom had been educated at boarding school, and lived by routines and tidiness and was never impulsive. Sarah on the other hand, had been born in a commune and lived in chaos and clutter. He felt compelled to care for her, and once he had kissed her, she saw stars like never before. They asked each other about their pasts, and the lies began. Of course, they married. They didn’t know better.

Now we aren’t talking little lies, these were life-changing events, but by the time they knew about each other, it was too late. It wasn’t just them that would be affected.

The story has some mighty powerful themes running through it about the consequences, that come from the actions and choices that we make. The opening chapters certainly grabbed my attention. I could only think of one worse situation. I liked how the story took on the two scenarios of opposite reactions and how they panned out.

I never knew what was coming on the next page of this story, which kept me guessing about how it would end. It felt realistic and made me question what I would do if that had been me. There are some surprises which I had not seen coming.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

A story of a woman and a man - both with troubled pasts - who have a child together. When the child gets into trouble, his mother wants to protect him, but his father doesn’t... what would I do, I kept thinking. A tale with twists, turns and unexpected information. Secrets, intrigue, bad communication, love - it’s all in this book.

This book had me gripped from the first page. Well written and a really thought provoking storyline about how far a parent would go to protect their child.

After a night out a terrified Freddy announces to his parents, Tom and Sarah that he has killed someone. What would you do? The story unfolds slowly going back over Tom and Sarah’s relationship before Freddy was born developing the characters’ history and showing how chalk and cheese they are in their attitudes to life and parenting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Corry has woven a brilliant novel, expressing the mother's love for her son in every page.
Sarah, an art teacher gets the attention of analyst Tom, who attends some. of her art classes. He, always so calculating, starts to fall in love with her. This only lasts until he discovers the secrets from her past. But he also has secrets on his own.

After trying for a long time, they have a son. They can't really agree on how to bring him up properly and their relationship takes a questionable until that dreadful night when he makes a confession to his mum.

All in all a great novel, read it in almost one breath.

Thanks @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

A soul searching read about how far a mother will go to protect her child. Underneath that there runs another dilemma held by many of the characters and that is how much they held back from telling their partners about what happened before they met. Sarah and Tom the initial and lead characters had difficult and disturbed childhoods. Did this affect their adult lives? Nature versus nurture.
Many of the characters brought to life in this had an effect on one or another by keeping quiet and letting someone else take the blame
An interesting read with well portrayed characters

Good thriller that is a well-plotted slow burning story that really makes you think about what you would be willing to do to protect your child.