The Lies I Tell is a thriller that truly delivered and I couldn't put it down.

Meg Williams is a con artist who has duped many people across the country for a decade. Kat Roberts is a former journalist who's determined to expose Williams for professional and personal reasons. Kat has been patiently waiting for years, and when Williams finally returns to her hometown, she decides to put her plan in actions. But as Kat gets closer to Meg, she starts to question her initial assumptions. Is Meg Williams a heartless criminal or is there more to her than her crimes?

Julia Clark does a great job of providing something more than a thriller. She delivered fully fleshed and compelling characters. In this case, I was more interested in the criminal than the crime. Meg is a great protagonist/antagonist and I enjoyed reading her past and motives. I was less impressed with Kat and her motive for going after Meg wasn't that believable but since Meg was so formidable, I think Kat worked as a foil.

The plot was well paced and the conclusion left me satisfied. There were details that were hard to believe (the gullibility of Williams' victims especially Corey, the food executive/divorcee) but I think with any fictional story, you sometimes have to put realism aside.

Overall, I would recommend this for people who want a thrilling read that has substance and heart.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark topped even my high expectations after reading & loving her previous book, The last Flight! And huge kudos for crafting such a layered, empathetic anti-heroine in Meg. I could not read this book fast enough- it was fantastic! Highly recommend!

Lies I Tell
Julie Clark
Fiction
Nancy
5

It has been ten years since Kat survived a brutal assault, and she is still devoted to finding Meg Williams, the woman she holds responsible. Meg vanished after revealing the truth about Cory Dempsey, a former beloved school principal who, it turns out, had taken advantage of young girls in his care by choosing, then repeatedly molesting them. Dempsey was destroyed by Meg, left friendless, destitute, and imprisoned: a story newspaper reporter Kat was covering until a tip leads her to the meeting that changed her life.

Now Meg is back, and Kat is determined to finish assembling the facts that will leave Meg as shattered as she when Kat publishes the story, a plan that makes far less sense to Kat once she and Meg meet and Kat discovers not only what Meg did ten years ago, but what she is still continuing to do.

Lies I Tell grabbed me from the first page; Clark has written a fast-paced, can’t-put-it-down thriller. This is a definite must-read for suspense fans!

My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the chance to read an ARC of this title.

nancy@NancysBookNook, found on Facebook

Kat Roberts has been waiting ten years for Meg Williams, the woman who ruined her life, to return to town. And when she does, the aspiring journalist is determined to expose her to the world.

Meg is whoever you need her to be--a talented con artist, she's got an unnatural ability to pull you in. And when you finally realize what her game is, she's taken everything from you.

When Kat and Meg meet, they play a complicated cat and mouse game. But as they grow closer, neither is sure what the other's end game is, and Kat's left wondering who Meg's true target is.

I'm conflicted here. The Last Flight was one of my favorite books last year, so I jumped at the chance to read The Lies I Tell immediately. But it didn't live up to the book that preceded it for me.

Had this just been Meg's story, I would have rated this novel as a 4 or 5 star. Though some of the day-to-day activities (and the long backstories) slowed down the pace at times so that it never was the quickly plotted thriller I loved in Flight, I did enjoy her POV. I thought she was smart and interesting and I liked how the author made us doubt her motivations and actions (is she after Kat or isn't she?).

Kat's POV, however, was a 2/3. I found her to be irritating and overly preachy and I really hate books that have the main (or one of the main) female characters act like an idiot and make poor decisions constantly just to uphold the "all men are dirt" trope. Do men get away with things? Sure. But they also get caught and face consequences, and maybe if Kat had held one accountable instead of worrying more about her career and blaming another woman for what happened to her, maybe said guy wouldn't have been enabled to keep being a dirt bag. Sorry to be negative, but I can't stand the "we poor women are always victims to the white patriarchy" that seems to be standard in books these days. That it's in a book is fine, as long as it's not heavy-handedly delivered as was in Kat's case.

Special thanks to Sourcebooks for making this ARC available to read in exchange for a review on NetGalley.

Julie Clark is quickly becoming my go to author. If you would have asked me three months ago, I would have said mystery/suspense books aren't my jam.. However, I took my aunt's advice and The Last Flight.. Wow , just WOW! If you have not read it, read it now.. It's that good..

When I read the blurb for The Lies I Tell, I knew I needed to read it. Meg's character is smart and cunning with a heart like know other.. Kat is determined to seek justice for a horrible situation that was out of her control.. Following both their journey over the past ten years to right wrongs that occurred will keep you turning the pages.

My only wish would be to a glimpse of the wrath of Kat!

A must read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Lies I Tell.

I liked the author's first book, The Last Flight, but I didn't love it.

I did love The Lies I Tell.

Kat and Megan don't know each other yet. But they have a history. Ten years ago, Kat's life was irrevocably altered by Megan's actions. And Kat's been waiting for Megan to return ever since.

But as Kat insinuates herself into Megan's life, hoping to expose her and her devious plot, Kat begins to realize her assumptions may have been wrong and Megan has never been her enemy.

Megan was like Dexter Morgan, minus the sociopathy, targeting men who deserve her wrath (as well as her vengeance.)

I admired her, her dedication and discipline to researching her targets and focusing on the task at hand. It's not easy.

I learned way too much about real estate shenanigans, most of which went over my head, but I enjoyed reading about Megan's plan, how she planned to destroy Ron.

Kat was a little harder to like, mostly because despite the fact she was a journalist, she couldn't see how her fiance was scamming her.

She was blind to his faults, but the point was after meeting Megan, she became stronger, mentally, emotionally and psychologically.

I love revenge stories and it was gratifying to read about a positive female relationship where the women didn't snipe or back stab each other, who empowered one another and emphasized taking back control of their life and actions.

I loved the ending; just as Megan has achieved her goals and has come to peace with all she had done, Kat takes over the reins, embarking on her own journey of revenge and justice.

Our heroine, Meg Williams, is a modern Robin Hood to be sure!! This is a delightful twist on so many modern stories of suspense featuring women of revenge. Meg uses her feminine wiles not to “beat them at their game,” but to make them make them play her game! I love reading about women who are smarter and who support those who have been wronged.

I loved Julie Clark’s first book, Last Flight, and will eagerly anticipate anything else she writes!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for an ARC of this wonderful novel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I highly recommend this book to everyone – men and women!!

Walter Mitty, the charming con artist in the movie “Catch me if you can”, those men have nothing on Meg Williams, or whoever she’s calling herself on any particular day. Kat Robbins has been waiting for the opportunity to get back at the woman who ruined her life. Kat plans to make sure everyone knows just how dangerous Meg is, but as she gets to know her nemesis, Kat finds she’s drawn to her and begins to think she may have underestimated Meg and what her real motives are. Clark’s real accomplishment with this book is the creation of two female characters who both shine in their own right for their own reasons

Julie Clark's new book is exhilarating just like the previous one, "The Last Flight," with a matter of seriousness tucked inside.

Meg Williams said, "I was born to be a grifter." Meg started small to survive while living in her car. She used an online dating company and met with men that were willing to take her out to dinner so she could have decent meals during the week. However, she decided quickly that men up to 55 years old would be her best bet. She ended up with a high school teacher, Cory Dempsey, who didn't remember her and seemed a tad bit too nice. He trusted her until one day when she walked off with a used car and $30,000. Then she disappeared. Her targets got larger as time went on with the long-range goal of a man her mother thought she loved, Ron Ashton.

Her mother inherited a house from her family on Canyon Drive in LA. She couldn't afford to pay the mortgage and taxes and had to rent it out. Ron convinced her to trust him and he ended up with his name on the title of this million-dollar home. She died shortly afterwards with cancer while Meg was still in high school, close to graduating. That would have been Meg's inheritance and she wanted it back. Ron was the man who "tore my life apart."

The author alternated between Meg and Kat Roberts who was working as a reporter for the LA Times. She had enough information on Meg to just about write a book. She managed to get inside her world and started a job as Meg's assistant in real estate. She had to pay attention to every word she said.

Julie Kelly did a remarkable job creating a story that is timely and concerns us all with con artists and scammers that are constantly searching on social media accounts for vulnerable individuals. The book grabs you at the beginning which touches on: politics, wealth, real estate, sexual abuse - you name it. The characters were well defined with a fine line between fantasy and reality making us feel tense at times with the dangers that could happen. Our job was to try to keep up with the fast pace.

My thanks to Julie Clark, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected release date of June 21, 2022.

Thank you @netgalley for an advanced copy of #theliesitell. This book doesn’t come out until June but available to preorder.

@julieclarkauthor has done it again! I loved #thelastflight and The Lies I Tell did not disappoint. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say this book has it all. Revenge. Redemption. Justice. It’s like Robin Hood for women. Loved the dual narration and the full circle moment for both of the main characters. Cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Such a twisty, fast-paced read about a con woman working her last con. The Lies I Tell shares the story of Meg Williams, our con woman, who is coming home to seek revenge on the man who set everything in motion for her rough childhood. Meg takes on several different identities, does research on her prey to help build a back story, and navigates different careers to help each of her cons move forward. Kat, our other narrator in the novel, is a journalist, who got caught up in one of Meg's cons, and is seeking to expose her by writing a big story and catching her big break. Kat quickly develops a friendship with Meg as a way to learn more about her and her current con, but what she doesn't realize is that it is difficult to con a con.

The author toggles between the two narrators, and several different time frames, to tell the story and explain how Meg was able to be so successful as a con woman. As the reader, you are pretty confident Meg will be successful in her latest con, but you are still left guessing her end game. I enjoyed how all the con stories connected, and the author does a great job providing an ending that will satisfy the reader.

I read this book in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down! I had to know what the end result would be. Such an amazingly written book that had me hooked from page one. I loved the “girl power” vibe with a “Robin Hood” twist. “Girl code - you help other women whenever you can”.

I liked “The Last Flight”. But Julie Clarks new book, “The Lies I Tell” is on another level. This book was perhaps one of the best thrillers I have read in a while, and definitely at the top of my list for 2022 so far! As someone who reads more thrillers than almost any other genre, I pride myself on being able to figure out what’s going to happen. Clark had me on the edge of my seat for this one, and I didn’t see this ending coming, and I loved it! She crafted an unpredictable story line.

Even more striking was Clark’s portrayal of Kat and Meg: you become invested in both characters, flaws and all. I love a strong and witty female character and in Clark’s new book, you get two.

As a mom of a toddler, even I was able to read this in a weekend. In fact, I couldn’t put it down. I read it while I waited at the grocery store for our groceries to be ready. I read it while I rocked my daughter to sleep. I read way longer into the night, unable to put it down. Clark captivated me- and I couldn’t stop because I had to know what happened to Kat and Meg.

Clark delivers again, and this time, it’s even better. Highly recommend putting this at the top of your 2022 TBR list.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the Advanced Review Copy. I am already on the edge of my seat for Clark’s next one.

Book Dynamics✨
Dual POV
Non-Linear Timeline
Femme Fatale


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

After my love for The Last Flight my hopes were high for this one and it did not disappoint!

Clark seamlessly writes femme fatale and leaves nothing to be desired. Her writing is sharp and immersive.

I thought about this story constantly. What’s the end game? How do all the pieces fit? Will I be left wanting more?

This is a slow constant burn. The puzzles pieces slowly fall into place and I was left so satisfied by the ending.

Grab this one if you love a female protagonist with lots of layers to piece together.

If you can’t wait, as mentioned, I highly recommend her first novel The Last Flight. But be warned, the end of that one is a gut punch. I still think about it 2 years later 😂

I loved the suspense and mystery that encompassed this book. It keeps your attention and you won't want to put it down.

I loved The Last Flight by Julie Clark, so when the publisher granted my wish to read The Lies I Tell I was thrilled! This book is about strong women, female friendships, truth and justice, and manipulation. As the story progresses it's hard to know who is conning who..... This book read extremely quickly-I devoured it in an evening and was sad to come to the end. I'd recommend this to anyone who loved The Last Flight or who enjoys thrillers with strong female characters.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is excellent! Well played Meg!
From the opening line until the last sentence, I was hooked. Meg admits from the start that she is a grifter or con. It is not what you may think. She has been living in her minivan since her mother's death. She and her mother had known the safety and comfort of a wonderful estate with Meg's grandfather before his passing. Meg's mother fell in love with a person who used her to gain access to her home and money and wrecked their lives. After he took everything, Meg and her mother lived day to day in poverty and fear, but they had each other until death separated them. Meg's target is a current realtor and political hopeful, Ron Ashton. Meg has plans for him and a fantastic strategy for making him pay for the pain and poverty he caused.
Kat is working hard to make a name in journalism at the LA Times. She is working on a story about the disgraced high school teacher, Corey Dempsey. He was exposed as a predator among some of the students in his classes. Kat heard a rumor that Dempsey had been set up for exposure by his girlfriend, Meg. Now Kat wants to pursue the backstory about Meg, a woman who was able to con a teacher out of his money and bring him down for his behavior. Kat does not realize as she pursues Meg's story how this decision will affect her life with an appointment with disaster.
I enjoyed this book very much!
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Clark, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow! I could not put down The Lies I Tell. This is the first Julie Clark book that I have read, and I will definitely be looking for her books again. The two female protagonists in The Lie I Tell were wonderfully defined and complex. I like both of them. This book is a genuine Cat and Mouse thriller. Obviously I loved Clark's novel. I am only sorry that I finished it, since these characters will stay with me for a long time. I don't want to give away the plot, but I think that many women will see themselves in this book. I plan to go back and read it again, since I am sure that I have missed details in this carefully crafted novel. This is a Wow book.
I want to thank the author and publishers for granting me my wish and access to this ARC. I definitely appreciate that NetGalley has provided access to so many wonderful books. I have found many new authors, whose books are now populating my kindle.

Told from the dual perspectives of Meg, con artist, and Kat, former reporter, The Lies I Tell is the story of two women doing their best to get by in life, despite the tough circumstances they've had to face.

I loved this as much as Julie Clark's The Last Flight! Each woman has her own unique voice and story to tell that made me binge this book as quickly as I could. It reminds me of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, Lucky by Marissa Stapley mixed with a modern day Robin Hood vibe.

Wow! Julie Clark weaves a tale of two women - one a swindler and one that is lost and doesn’t know what she is looking for. This book keeps you guessing. One minute you dislike Meg and one minute you admire her. Kat seems meek but then her steely mind jumps from the page. The entire book keeps you glued to it one word at a time. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I can’t wait to see what Julie Clark writes next!