A page turning thriller that I surprisingly enjoyed. Highly recommend this one. It was a page turner and I kept second guessing my ideas (though I was right at the end.)

This book was very enjoyable and was very much a cat and mouse game. There was aspects of this novel that created a concern in the people I am around but hey that means it is a good book! I thought I understood what was happening but it wasnt until the end that I truly understood it! I really thought it had the best amount of thrill and mystery in it!

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Julie Clark. The plot was gripping and fast paced and I read this book very quickly. I really enjoyed the two perspectives, both from women. I felt the characters were well developed and I could understand where each was coming from. You also will find yourself empathizing with both of these women.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this ARC!

Man. I kept putting this book off because I was *only* seeing fantastic reviews and I was highly anticipating it after loving Julie Clark’s 2020 book, The Last Flight. I finally picked it up and, of course, should’ve just picked it up months ago! Julie does the Dual POV impeccably well, and in this book I loved going back between con artist and journalist. The whole premise of lies, deception, and blurred lines made for a fast-paced and compulsive read, and I just love where everything ended up. Love love love Julie’s writing!

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book, but it turned out amazing. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading it. I found the characters so interesting and easy to connect to. I would recommend this book and author.

As a woman, I was particularly intrigued by this story of men's accountability for their actions against women and am grateful for the authors that write about these injustices. This plot was smart, well thought out, and captivating from the start! I hungrily ate up these pages in a day! I can't imagine Clark's isn't a realtor, as her expert research seemed so specific and detailed. I loved the relationship that grew between the two main characters. It was believable and reflects girl code! Such a great read!

Absolutely loved this book. Julie Clark is an amazing Author and I will now be reading everything she writes. This one had me gripped from the first page!!!

TLDR:

The Lies I Tell is the newest Thriller by Julie Clark. She is best known for writing The Last Flight.

Notable elements:

- Fake Identities
- Investigative Journalism
- Revenge vs. Justice
- Multi-Timeline

What I liked:

- Investigative Lens — I enjoyed having Kat’s exposé perspective to inform my opinion of Meg.
- Respects Victims — There are a number of content warnings mentioned below, but Clark does a fantastic job focusing on agency and strength, encouraging a safe space for any reader.
- Moral Ambiguity — If you looked up “Moral Ambiguity” in the dictionary, the definition would be “Meg.” I don’t regret being completely invested in her cunning.

Reminds me of:

- A Kiss After Dying by Ashok Banker
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Content warnings:

Sexual Assault, Toxic Relationship, Pedophilia, Date Rape, Infidelity

Final thoughts:

I really enjoyed The Lies I Tell! Julie Clark leverages the moral ambiguity of her characters to dismantle expectations and create a suspenseful, psychological/domestic Thriller.

Julie Clark's previous book, The Last Flight, was one of the best suspense novels I read in 2021 and her follow-up novel about a scam artist did not disappoint. It read like a house afire and I ended up reading it too far into the night. I do have a few quibbles but they are mostly on the practical side, such as having the ability to check real estate listings online or phone calling for account balances but maybe that's just me. I would love to talk more about this book but the less you know going into it, the better.

Anyway, if you haven't read LAST FLIGHT, give it a try then get a copy of this in case you are in the mood for a sleepless night. This is perfect for fans of Ocean's Eleven and Frank Abnagale's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Tense and twisty, The Lies I Tell got me thinking.

“I spend hundreds of hours on observation and research….When I’m done, I know everything I possibly can about you, and most of the people around you. By the time you’re saying nice to meet you, I’ve already known you for months. Does this worry you? It should.”

She’s been Meg, Maggie, Margaret, Melody. She’s been a college student, a life coach, a real estate agent. Over the years, Meg has perfected the art of the con. She knows how to get what she needs and disappear before she gets caught.

Kat's life was upended 10 years ago, and she’s always blamed Meg. And when Meg comes back into her orbit, she’s determined to expose her for what she’s done. But as they draw closer, she doesn’t know what to believe about Meg. What is her end game this time? Whom has she targeted? And is she going to get the best of Kat again?

I found this absolutely fascinating and compelling. I loved Julie Clark’s last book, The Last Flight, and this has cemented her as an auto-buy author for me. There were twists I anticipated and twists I didn’t, and in the end, the book definitely surprised me a bit. Meg and Kat were fascinating characters.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review! The book will publish 6/21.

The Lies I Tell is a suspenseful thriller about a con woman and the woman trying to expose her. I really enjoyed the character development and the twist and turns throughout.

Loved this suspense story about a con artist and a young journalist trying to uncover her story to make a name for herself. This was propulsive and we will definitely be reading more from Julie Clark!

When con artist Meg Williams returns to Los Angeles, struggling reporter Kat Roberts is even more determined to expose her. Ten years earlier Meg ruined Kat's life. This cat-and-mouse chase, between these two women, is so refreshing and at times intense, making Julie Clark's sophomore novel just as compelling as THE LAST FLIGHT, her debut. For fans of Samantha Downing and Lisa Jewell. One of my favorite thrillers of 2022

As thrillers go, The Lies I Tell, did a good job of keeping me on my toes. Kat has been waiting a long time to expose the woman with many names, Meg, Maggie, Melody, so when she suddenly reappears, Kat is ready. Meg isn’t your traditional villain though and I found myself cheering her on as she attempts to take down a politician who ruined her life many years ago. Full of good twists and turns that keep you guessing, this was a fun ride.

3 for neutral, was unable to access my netgalley account for months, until today. Because of this, I was unable to see which books I needed to read. I apologize for the inconvenience and hopefully will not have any more issues in future.

The Lies I Tell was not what i was expecting, in a really good way. it had a engaging, original plot and was very well paced. the perfect, fast, engaging read when you need a distraction in. your life.

I really enjoyed The Last Flight, so was excited to dig into this one. We're introduced by con woman Meg immediately via Kat, a reporter who is pursuing her for a yet-unknown reason. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse, where we are constantly left guessing who's the cat and who's the mouse. Plot and structure was a swift-moving, though I had a number of issues with the plausibility and motivations that propelled the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I enjoyed this story. It kept me guessing and had a great ending. I rate it a 4.1

The Lies I Tell is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Lies I Tell today.

Meg, is a con woman; she spends years honing her craft for her biggest con of all.

Kat, an investigative reporter; she believes she is a victim of Meg's. collateral damage in a con.

Julie Clark weaves a masterful tale; I was never really sure who was getting conned or who the victim was or the hero, perhaps a Robin Hood type tale.

A clever story, a quick read. I recommend this book to readers of all genres.