Yara Gibson, is a very modern kind of gal, a successful TV writer who is working hard towards living her best-life. But, like so many of us, all it takes is a trip back to her hometown, in Yara’s case Palmdale, California, to be reminded of where she comes from. A little pushback (of the "Who do you think you are?" variety) from her controlling mother has her doubting herself. A reminder that daughter Yara has always tended towards the dramatic, been overly anxious, and occasionally even delusional.

But Yara just has to keep focused on her reason for returning home: She is hosting a party for her parents' wedding-anniversary. It will be the party event of the season. Get it done. Get gone. No problem. In the meantime she can plot out her idea for a television show based on her family called The Queen of Palmdale. At least that WAS the plan... Until things start to unravel and Yara gets sucked into a mystery full of old family secrets that has her questioning her own sanity.

We Lie Here by Rachel Howzell Hall is at the far edge of my go-to comfort zone. I am usually more of a hard-boiled or noir fan while this leans far into a more contemporary style... Oversimplification: I'm more crime fiction and classic-style P.I. (Chandler, Leonard, Crais) and this is not at all that type of story.

In fact it's so far removed from what I usually read that I have no reference point as to what readers might know that is similar. But it's really, really good. Well crafted characters with individual, distinctive voices. Compelling plot with a dark mystery running through it and some nice plot twists.

I think the idea of the young Black woman who is trying to fulfill family obligation while making herself miserable will resonate with a lot of people, especially since it's so well written (I'm a middle-aged White guy and I could feel her pain - that's good writing!).

The best recommendation I can think of is that I could totally see this book as a limited series on cable television.

This is my second download of a book that didn't need an approved request, which going forward I'm going to be really suspicious of and avoid, because here we have another one star that was really painful to read.

This book is about Yara, who returns home to organize her parents' anniversary party. She's immediately sucked into old family dynamics with her little sister, Dominique, who is dating a criminal, her mother who swings between differing personalities, and her distant father. During this trip, a cousin who she doesn't know reaches out to her, saying she has information that will change her life. She doesn't get the chance to find out what that is though, as Felicity (the cousin), ends up dead. This spurs Yara to finding out the mystery.

This book was so painful, I had to hard skim through the second half of the book. It is not well written, full of cliches, bad puns ("Bye, Felicia!" is literally written in the manuscript... what is with authors sinking their teeth into name-based overused puns recently? Please stop doing this! You're more creative than that!), unrealistic dialogue, melodramatic relationships that are just not believable. There is so much repetition, and the pace is so slow, filled with details and dialogue that don't actually move the plot forward.

One major part of the book that was a huge distraction/turnoff was the use of asthma as a personality and tension device. The amount of the plot and writing dedicated to describing Yara's asthma was so, so boring and tedious to read, and in large part medically inaccurate. It was painful to read. Yara continually is checking the status of her inhaler counter, saying "130 puffs left .That should get me through the week." Well, I certainly hope so, since if you're using that much in a week, you're using 18 puffs of Albuterol A DAY... if your breathing is that bad you really should be in the hospital, you're having some kind of horrible respiratory infection. That is not a normal amount of medication to be taking at all! The character also used to be a smoker, which is so unrealistic, if her breathing is truly that bad it would literally not be an option. She also describes having "vials of prednisone" at her bedside as a child... that is not how prednisone is administered. Then we have the "two inhalers, one steroid and one emergency." Your emergency inhaler is always going to be steroidal, the normal one is going to be a steroid/bronchodilator combo. And of course we have the usual administering of a puff of Albuterol and it instantly working, and the good old "relax, breathe:" self pep talk that also reduces symptoms magically. The medical inaccuracy and asthma in place of an actual personality turned me off so much about this book. It was the most tedious and ineffective way to try to bring tension to the plot. When that wasn't enough, the author threw in the good old "I have an expensive loan" plot to really dazzle it up. I couldn't roll my eyes enough.

Out of the three major elements of a novel -- plot, character, and language -- not one ended up being compelling enough to make this book a worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read tis early in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5

Yara Gibson, a TV writer for a popular crime fighting show, becomes the target of a vindictive killer harboring family secrets, when she travels back home to Palmdale to plan her parent’s anniversary party. She hates it in Palmdale. The dust storms, and her mother’s chain smoking cause her allergies to flare up and her asthma to become almost unmanageable. But even though her relationship with her mother is toxic AF, she wants to please her by throwing her the anniversary party of her dreams. So much so, that when a relative Yara has never met before shows up at her hotel begging to talk to her, offering long-lost family secrets, Yara declines. She doesn’t want any drama. But as much as Yara tries to avoid it, it comes for her. When the relative ends up dead in a lake it is clear to Yara that this is not normal family drama. This is life and death. She begins to get threatening texts and postcards, her car is vandalized, and a hooded assailant is after her. And as she begins to dig into the past it becomes obvious that the killer is trying to keep her from finding out the truth. Yara must use her crime writing expertise to figure out who the killer is before its too late.

I don’t usually read mystery/thrillers, but I’ve been trying to expand my tastes. I can’t always read deep, sad, tragic literary fiction. Sometimes it’s okay to grab the popcorn, sit back, and enjoy a solid mystery, or a mushy romance. But because I haven’t read many mystery/thrillers I don’t have much to compare this to, but what I will say is that I enjoyed it. At times the story got a little convoluted. The more Yara dug into the past, there were a lot of dates, and names, and people, and stories to keep up with. At times, I just couldn’t wait to get to the end so everything would be neatly explained. (Because we all know the killer is going to spend time explaining everything before trying to kill the main character). And yes, everything is neatly explained at the end.

What I mostly enjoyed was how strong the voice and characterization was. Yara and her family members seemed like real people, authentic, original, and raw. The plot was a bit messy, but I still enjoyed trailing through the thick of it because Yara was a character I didn’t mind spending time with. Was the revelation of the killer a huge shock to me? No. I figured that out about halfway through, BUT I still liked the outcome, and I still enjoyed the journey of discovery. It’s fast-paced, full of suspense, mystery, and anxiety. It was a hot mess, but like… the good kind. And who doesn’t like a good family drama, especially when the drama is founded on mystery, murder, and deceit? I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, solid, messy mystery.

Thank you to #netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story line is a bit all over the place, which made it confusing at times. There are a lot of different characters involved and not really introduced well, which then adds to the confusion. That being said, I really enjoyed the book and how it ended. I felt for the main character in dealing with her frustration with her family, even though at times I wanted to shake her for giving in so easily! There were events in the story that seem a bit far fetched, and almost not necessary to the story line, but it all came together in the end. Ultimately, a good book that I would recommend.

We Lie Here takes on a whole new approach to domestic thriller and I. Am. Here for it! Yara Gibson is well established in Los Angeles as a writer for a hit TV show. Even though her relationship with her mother is…complicated…she decides to return to her hometown of Palmdale, California to throw a twentieth anniversary party for her parents. Upon her arrival to her hotel, she is confronted by a woman who claims to be an old bestie of her mother. Even though Yara has never heard of her, Felicia Campbell DOES have a past with Barbara (Bee) Gibson and information that will change Yara’s life…so she says. Yara ignores Felicia’s pleas to listen to her and the next day, Felicia is DEAD. Who killed Felicia and why? Did she really have information to change Yara’s life? Yara simply can’t take her death as a coincidence or accident and begins investigating on her own. She finds a cabin, a basement, some documents, and a pile of mystery that makes her rethink everything.

I absolutely loved this book and the story line was different than many other domestic thrillers. I found the main character, Yara, to be personable and easy to like even though I felt bad for her throughout the book because she was in a constant state of pain, shock, or anxiety brought on mostly by her severe asthma. Rachel Howzell Hall has a writing style that sucks you in quickly and keeps you captivated until you’ve devoured the story in its entirety. This is the first book of hers I have read but you better believe I’m going back to read her previous books and look forward to more in the future!

My rating is a 4/5. I was captivated and entertained the entire time and shocked by the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this book. I have provided my true and honest opinion.

This thriller is a well written story which include a lot of very interesting dynamics such as the one between the main character and her mother, unfortunately a lot of it and even the main mystery gets lost in the writing that includes a lot of repetition and information that don’t benefit the story. However it was all pretty promising and I will most likely check out the author’s other books

Skimmed through the last two thirds of the book, after the repetition wore me down.
I hate to rate this a 2 but I just did not feel this lived up to the hype. It may work for someone else.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

I found I was able to leave this down and not rush back to it as the story didn’t grip me at all as it was the usual family occasion with skeletons falling out of the closet at all sides ….

Yara Gibson seemingly has it all. She is a TV writer in Los Angelos and the money she makes funds her comfortable lifestyle and helps her family and sister with college costs. She is stuck in a bit of a writing rut when she returns to her hometown of Palmdale, California to host her parents’ twentieth-anniversary party. The town of Palmdale could be considered a character within the book as the stark and dangerous landscape is surely not something most readers are used too.

This is where things get strange. Yara's mother has an iron grip on the family and the dysfunctional family is amusing, confusing and mysterious. It's hard to understand the where an why of it all, but you are drawn in. Yara is immersed in creating the most perfect party for her parents when she receives a mysterious note that threatens to upend her life. Not long after, a murder of an acquaintance brings the police into her orbit.

What is happening in Palmdale? And better yet, has it been happening the whole time?

The character of Yara is great, she kept my interest and as a fellow asthmatic I sympathized with her breathing problems. I don't know if other people will feel the tension of the countdown on the albuterol inhaler! I rooted for her the whole way through and was not disappointed with the ending. Like I said, Palmdale itself, is a very interesting place and I would love to know more about it. The characters were truly great and the story was interesting. If you like family drama, a little lite murder and stalking or just are haunted by the idea of returning to your hometown, then this novel is for you. #NetGalley #WeLieHere
#ThomasandMercer #Thomas&Mercer

This is a thriller about a woman who wants to give her parents an anniversary party. In returning to her childhood home, she uncovers secrets about her family and herself. I thought the story was good, for the most part. I especially liked the ending. However, there were parts that I felt dragged.

This latest from Rachel Howzell Hall does not disappoint. There's murder, family dysfunction and suspense all rolled into one.

Asthmatic Yara Gibson returns to her home that literally tries to kill her - thick with cigarette smoke and dust. She's planning an anniversary party for her parents Rob and Barbara. A cousin she doesn't know tries to reach out to her with "information that will change her life". Yara assumes she's just trying to get an invitation to the party, and on her mother's advice, ignores her. This cousin Felicia winds up dead.

Secrets from the past won't stay hidden and Yara can trust no one as she struggles to unravel the unknown.

I was excited to read another book by Rachel Howzell Hall. This book takes place as Yara goes back home to host an anniversary party for her parents. There is lots of family drama involved but Yara wants to stay focused on the party, until a family member dies. Lots of twists and turns to keep the pages moving in this book!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Thomas & Mercer and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This thriller takes you on a ride you won’t want stop. Rachel Howzell Hall weaves a tale you won’t want to put down. We Lie Here is a book the summer of 2022 isn’t ready for and will set it on fire.

Yara Gibson is headed home to Palmdale, California. Is she looking forward to her trip? Well, yes and no. She is hosting an anniversary party for her parents, which she wants them to enjoy. But her relationship with her mother is, shall we just say complicated, and being around her is like walking through a minefield, never knowing when a bomb will go off. Yara is also suffering from her own health and emotional issues, and the climate at her home does her no favors.
A text (I have information that will change your life) from a childhood friend of her mother, sets in motion an unbelievable series of events.
So, this one just missed the mark for me. There was a lot of repetition and though I didn't figure out the motive for what was happening to and around Yara, I guessed the who pretty early on. This book doesn't publish until July, so it is quite possible that there could be some edits/revisions by then that would make it a much more engaging read(to me). I know that not every book works for every reader though and I will still be looking forward to the next book.

Enjoy everything from Rachel and this didn't disappoint. Great plot and characters, would definitely recommend. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I was excited to read this one as I enjoyed the previous books by this author. This one is a bit different though, and I can't say it was for the best. Yara is in her early twenties and is heading home to host a party for her parents' twentieth wedding anniversary. She's dreading the return to her desert hometown in California and doesn't look forward to spending time with her dysfunctional family. Her mother rules the home, her father is distant, and her younger sister is dating the criminal son of her mother's best friend. Yara attempts to ignore the drama and focus on the amazing celebration she has planned.

She's unexpectedly approached by Felicity, a cousin she's never met nor heard of, who says she has life-changing information for Yara. But as Yara's determined to ignore drama, she brushes Felicity off. She has second thoughts when Felicity is found dead. Now she can't stop herself probing into her family's history, wondering what secrets Felicity had and who would have harmed her. But the more she digs into the past, the more danger she puts herself in. Will she uncover her family's secrets before she becomes the next victim?

The plot moves slowly - there's a lot of dialogue in the beginning between Yara and her sister, Dominique, who comes across as immature and unlikeable. Much time is spent throughout the story on the dynamics in the household, specifically the way the family caters to Yara's mother's dramatics. She's bossy and even cruel at times, dismissing Yara's asthma and 'forcing' her to stay in their home rather than the hotel, where Yara can actually breathe. But no one ever stands up to 'Queen Bee' (there are an inordinate amount of nicknames throughout) so they can't really complain. It's irritating as this continues throughout the story, with an excessive amount of inner dialogue by Yara, always thinking what she really wants to say but never saying it.

When there's finally some action, the story improves and proceeds at a quicker pace. More estranged family members, hidden documents and mementos, and now it starts getting good. But it was too late for me and I couldn't wait for the story to end. I'm not a fan of cutesy quirky dialogue and the story is full of it. So if it was the same plot but written differently, I would have enjoyed it more. I'll still read this author's books though, and just accept that I can't love every one of them!

Twists and turns make We Lie Here a great mystery novel you must read.

The well-crafted characters and storyline will keep you guessing until the very end.

This book is a knock out. I was blown away by both the author’s voice and the story. Great, fast pace. Fascinating characters. Twisty, engaging. 5 big fat stars from me. I’ll be reading her other books. So glad to discover a new (to me) author. What a pleasure. Among the best books I’ve read.

Yàra is planning a party to celebrate the 20th wedding anniversary. To finish the planning, she returns home to her dysfunctional family. Long held family issues lead to the discovery that there are old family secrets. We are plunged into a mystery.

Yara is an engaging, quirky protagonist. with a vivid imagination. She is also plagued by health issues and insecurities and the need to see her family as whole.

It was a good read, although I guessed the ending about halfway through the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I kept an unread copy of Rachel Howzell Hall’s “These Toxic Things” (an Amazon Best Mystery choice) on my Kindle for months — but once I read it I knew I’d want to read any of her future books as soon as possible. “We Lie Here” is her latest (to be published in July 2022) and I’m thrilled that I acquired an advanced copy. Make sure you read it as soon as it’s available!

Yara is a dutiful daughter, 24 years old, somewhat successful TV writer in LA, asthmatic, sometimes forgetful, trying to quit the cigarette habit she shared with her chain-smoking adversarial Queen Bee mother and 19 year old sister, and plagued for years from childhood anxiety from unknown causes. She’s spending ten days in Palmdale, CA for the celebration of her parents’ 20th anniversary. Palmdale is portrayed as an unfortunate character of its own: blowing dust, high desert, earthquake fault lines, scorpions, sandstorms, hot winds, wildfires, heat waves, dog fighting, meth labs, ugly neighbors flying Confederate flags, and multiple gangs. Not a love letter to Palmdale or Antelope Valley. Yara has moments of coughing and choking just by being in the town and in her old home.

A woman, Felicia, claiming to be a cousin, texts Yara saying she has some unsettling knowledge that will change her life. It’s like a plot line from the TV pilot Yara is trying to develop: “Annoying Relative shows up out of nowhere bearing bad news right before the big party of the year”. But before Yara can find out what the bad news might be, Felicia is dead. Felicia has left Yara a key to a cabin at Lake Paz which she claims is Yara’s “mother’s favorite place.”

We know from the prologue something happened over 20 years ago at a lakeside cabin where a woman with a small daughter and a gold Camaro (like the one in the Palmdale garage) might have been in some trouble. Was that Yara’s mother before she married? Who is “E” in the photo? Who is “Liz”? It’s a stressful enough week of unfolding family drama and Yara is stuck unwinding what’s happening now and in the past.

The main character, Yara, isn’t a perfect person (she’s way too quick to believe her dad had affairs and might still be). She’s struggling with an incredibly imperious mother and failing health and memory, but she’s determined to make sense of the mystery.

This is a well-constructed thriller, atmospheric, and intriguing. What I remembered from Ms. Hall’s previous book was how descriptive she was — you can feel the heat of the desert, see Yara’s childhood bedroom, understand the layout of the cabin, and sense the coldness of the lake. 5 stars! The story keeps you hooked until the very end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced reader’s copy.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES That would be Kayla, who is Yara’s former high school best friend and an LA Sheriff’s Department detective.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Although Palmdale and Antelope Valley are described over and over again as arid and dusty, there are California poppies in the foothills.