🤫 Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🤫

An Honest Lie is a dark and twisty novel about Rainy, a very successful artist with a very complicated past. She’s recently moved to Washington from New York to move in with her boyfriend Grant, who knows nothing about her past. With Grant being the only person she knows, she begins to hang out with his friends in hopes of making them her friends as well. It seems like Rainy has been accepted into the group and is invited to the girls trip to Las Vegas, but she has no desire to go and won’t tell anyone why. After Grant convinces her and she agrees to go, she’s thrown back into her past and it comes back to haunt her.

This story goes back and forth between Rainy’s present day and her past point of view. Rainy’s past is a complicated one, to say the least. Starting at 13, she grew up in a cult in the outskirts of Las Vegas and the memories still follow her. While on her girls trip to Vegas, her friend Braithe does not return to their hotel room after a night out. Rainy texts her, only to find out that someone has Braithe and Rainy is the only one that can save her. But in order to save her friend, she has to relive parts of her past.

This book threw me for a wild ride. I got pulled in right away and could not put it down. I did find Rainy’s past story line more captivating and I really wanted more about her time in the cult. I was so invested in this story and Rainy’s character, but I did feel the ending was a little rushed and found myself wanting more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is a fan of thrillers and is ready for a roller coaster of twists and turns.

An Honest Lie is set to be released on April 26, 2022.

TW: cult lifestyle, drugs, death of a parent, overdose, death/murder

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was intriguing from the very beginning with the dual timelines and cult-vibes, but was not at all what I expected. It felt like there was some disconnect between the two timelines and at times it was hard to keep track of all the characters. The book didn't wrap up in a way that I expected at all, and the ending fell a bit flat, in my opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

This dual-timeline thriller alternates between young Summer growing up in a cult and adult Rainy navigating a girls' trip to Las Vegas. The narrator is a complex woman who repeatedly shows her strength despite her choice to keep her past a secret. Although the different timelines at first felt disjointed, they came together wonderfully as the story unfolded and the past is revealed.

Rainy moves from Nevada to a remote mountain town with her boyfriend & becomes acquaintances with some of the local wives. She agrees very reluctantly to go on a girls weekend with them to Las Vegas where after an eventful night her past catches up to her.

This nail-biting thriller was hard to put down in the best possible way! The dual timeline was nicely done. This was SUCH an enjoyable read for me right up until the big reveal.

Wow! What a gripping read! Did I stay up until 6am reading this one, I sure as hell did!! Such a captivating novel with a twisty plot and such an intriguing main character that I was rooting for the entire time. I loved Rainy and I just wanted to see her rage and burn it all down!!! I LOVED this book. Probably one of my favorites of the year so far.

This one was a quick read but not for best reasons. The book contains two plots - a “then” and a “now.” The “then” was by far the best and most entertaining part of the book. Those sections I ate up. However, the “now” was so SO dull that I just browsed those sections for key plot points - there were none. Then the two timelines finally jive together and you’re kinda like - Really? That’s it?

The characters were “meh” at best. I liked a few - Viola and the younger group members had nice qualities - but the rest were poorly developed. Additionally, I disliked how some aspects of the book got tied up perfectly in a bow at the end, but the more interesting aspects (like questions about the main character’s mother) are left unanswered.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC!

I had heard many good things about Tarryn Fisher and was excited to read one of her books. This was definitely a very unique, dual timeline thriller. It started off slow but picked up towards the middle and made it hard to put down then. I will say at times it felt like there was almost too much going on and the plots seemed disconnected, but it was still overall enjoyable.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC for my honest review

Trust me, this review isn't an #honestlie

I was ecstatic to get early access to Fisher's new book - I absolutely loved her last two and was hoping that this would be no different.

AN HONEST LIE is action packed with a strong female lead. I was really interested in the cult aspect, however I was hoping for more jaw dropping twists. I found the plot hard to follow at times, which did leave me wanting more. Overall I enjoyed this one and do recommend it. That said, some more seasoned thriller readers may find it a bit lacking.

I think that had I not just read 4 suspense books about cults in the last 2 months I probably would have enjoyed this more, because I like and appreciate Tarryn Fisher’s writing, but I think this is the case of wrong book to read at this time and it heavily influenced my opinion of it.

It tells the story in a dual timeline of a woman who grew up in a cult with her mother and she was able to escape and move on with her life, in present day she’s in love and goes on a girls weekend with some of her boyfriends friends....and something bad happens that harkens back to Rainy’s childhood....

Idk. I wanted it to be better. Sorry for not loving it, Tarryn, but I still love you!

Vegas + murder + secrets

Tarryn is the queen of dark and twisty — and in An Honest Lie, she takes it to a whole new level! Quick thriller read, emotionally unwell characters, and fast-paced endings. I loved every moment and the ending was unbelievably shocking. This dark, twisted book was glorious.

Thank you to Graydon House + NetGalley for my e-copy ARC.

Girls trip to Vegas-what could go wrong? Everything when people keep secrets! Fast moving plot with sketchy characters makes this mystery a great addition to the collection.

Name of Book: An Honest Lie
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing – Graydon House
Pub Date: April 26, 2022
My Rating: 3 Stars


When Summer was a teen she used to be part of a Cult located in Vegas. She escaped and changed her name to Lorraine ‘Rainy’. She has been hiding from her disturbing past but has been able to establish a new life by moving in with her boyfriend Grant who lives in a remote mountain area. Grant has many friends in this area but Rainy doesn’t quite fit in. When the ~‘Women’s Club’ from the area invites her to a weekend in Vegas, she declines but Grant has already paid for the trip.
She reluctantly agrees to go and is prepared for an exhausting evening of slot machines and drinking. First night doesn’t go well and Braithe a friend goes missing; Rainy get a text message from Braithe’s phone that they have her but they want Rainy.

Personal Note: I read and loved "The Wives". My comments included one made by an author
You’ll have whiplash until the very end; this will leave the most sure-footed reader uneasy until
the last word is read”.
So yes I went into this story with high expectations; but it wasn’t the Wow I hoped.

But I always like when an author gives insights as to how they come up with ideas. So I did enjoy reading the Q & A with the Author.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing – Graydon House for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 26, 2022.

Synopsis:

“I’m going to kill her. You’d better come if you want to save her.”

Lorraine—“Rainy”—lives at the top of Tiger Mountain. Remote, moody, cloistered in pine trees and fog, it’s a sanctuary, a new life. She can hide from the disturbing past she wants to forget.

If she’s allowed to.

When Rainy reluctantly agrees to a girls’ weekend in Vegas, she’s prepared for an exhausting parade of shots and slot machines. But after a wild night, her friend Braithe doesn’t come back to the hotel room.

And then Rainy gets the text message, sent from Braithe’s phone: someone has her. But Rainy is who they really want, and Rainy knows why.

What follows is a twisted, shocking journey on the knife-edge of life and death. If she wants to save Braithe—and herself—the only way is to step back into the past.

👆 so…. Reading this synopsis and then reading the book made me feel like I didn’t read the right book. I was so excited and intrigued to read this, but most of the excitement and thrilling parts came in the last 30 percent of the book. This book had two timelines, past and present - but for a lot of the book it felt like two different books - it didn’t make sense what one had to do with the other. I didn’t find many twists in this book and didn’t find it overly suspenseful.

I was wanting so much more from this book. But just not for me 🤷🏽‍♀️

Thanks so much to killer crime club & HarperCollins Canada & NetGallery for the ARC ebook

An Honest Lie is Tarryn Fisher's latest thrill-ride that is hard to put down! Once I had the characters straight, I stayed up until 2am reading as long as I could. I had to know how the main character's early life was going to mesh with her present day and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you so much @GraydonHouseBooks & @NetGalley for giving me this physical ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 26 April 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Rainy moves from Nevada to a remote mountain town with her boyfriend & becomes acquaintances with some of the local wives. She agrees very reluctantly to go on a girls weekend with them to Las Vegas where after an eventful night her past catches up to her.

WHAT I LIKED:
- I was invested in the flashbacks the most (but thought the current day timeline didn't really add anything to the story)
- the cult / compound atmosphere

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- a lot of characters to keep track of (both past & present)
- the story itself felt a little all over the place & not very cohesive
- the pacing was too slow for the first 70% then far too fast once they're actually in Vegas
- you have to really suspend your disbelief

I will literally read anything from Tarryn Fisher and usually rave about her books, but this one just didn’t work for me. It was hard on me to even type that sentence.

This story follows Rainy who is settling into a new neighborhood and life with her boyfriend. This new life includes a group of women who are trying to bond with her so they extend an invite to Las Vegas for a girls trip. Rainy is hesitant to go to Vegas with these “new friends”, but she’s also hesitant because Vegas holds nothing but bad memories for her. Rainy spent years in a cult with her mother in Nevada growing up and lost everything important to her during that time. Rainy knows her past will catch up to her when she boards the plane, but nothing will prepare her for the bizarre turn this trip takes.

Dual timelines always pull me in- and I found both storylines (past and present) so interesting, but there was a disconnect for me with trying to weave the two together. I really enjoyed the flashbacks of Rainy’s time in Nevada. If cults fascinate you, I think this is one you will appreciate- Tarryn really goes for it and makes sure this fictional cult is as terrifying as the real thing. Overall, this one did hold my interest and I’m glad I picked it up- even if it was only a 3 star read for me. I look forward to seeing what Tarryn Fisher comes up with next.

Thank you Netgalley and Graydon House for this advance reading copy. An Honest Lie is available 4/26/22.

This author is a hit and Miss for me. I clicked on requesting this without even reading the plot. The story just wasn’t for me.

Rainey has just moved from New York to Washington to be with her boyfriend Grant. Grants friends have now become her friends if you can call them that, she’s still trying to find her footing with them she has always felt like an outsider that’s why she loves just being alone with her art. Wanting her to fit in Grant talks her into joining the other girls for a girls weekend in Las Vegas. What no one knows is the desert of Nevada holds secrets to Rainey’s past.
Her name was Summer during her childhood, and her life changed after the death of her father. Sneaking out in the middle of the night to avoid past rent Summer and her Mother packed up their car and headed to the desert of Nevada. Her mother tells her that her childhood friend Taured is offering to help them, he has turned an old prison into safe place where people can live free. What they find their is anything but safe , it’s a compound and Taured is an evil man, he rules with fear and abuse.
Rainey knows she can’t outrun her past but soon it appears her past has caught up with her , and now it’s holding one of the woman hostage until she pays! Wow this book was amazing the author did a fantastic job showing the evil and fear that’s surround a cult , and how it takes strength to face our past! I’m all for strong woman! Be aware of some disturbing scenes.

This is my first Tarryn Fisher novel and I think because of this, I might go and check out a few of her others! This was definitely creepy and a little chilling. It was darker than I was expecting as well. It was a bit of a slow burn and picked up more towards the middle to end of the book and I don't particularly love that in a thriller.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an early read of this book! #Netgalley #AnHonestLie #TarrynFisher

So going into this I was already unsure. Tarryn Fisher is usually hit or miss for me but, I love her as a person on IG if that makes sense. I think this will get polarizing views.

She definitely always has a fresh take on a thriller which I appreciate. This one is unique and I liked the fresh take on a cult and the after effects of it. It merges current and past timelines and sticks with one POV (Rainy/Summer)

I felt like the current timeline didn’t really add anything to the story. The major part of this book was the effects cult living had on Rainy/Summer and her childhood. So I guess it provided some added drama and a “new setting” for the whole thing to wrap up into. I just didn’t care for it or the side characters. It was a weird transition for Rainy as well and I didn’t see her “new” life as believable because I don’t think she would have become that person.

The flashbacks and dynamics of the cult intrigued me. As you know I am obsessed with anything cult related so I was vested and intrigued as to what was going to happen. You have to suspend belief a bit in the end but, what thriller is truly accurate right? Plus in a flight or fight response I think someone with Rainy/Summer’s PTSD and past would make her a fighter.

I know it sounds like I didn’t like this all that much, but I actually did. It was entertaining and had some real twisted moments which you know Im here for. I personally think this was my favorite by this author! Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy in exchange for my review!