This was probably my favourite Linwood Barclay book. It was fast paced and unexpected. Loved it! The main character Jack Givins was a little tragic, but came through at the end.

This was a suspenseful thriller with an interesting premise. Jack Givens is a down on his luck author until he finally gets a lucrative offer from the Witness Protection Program to write back stories for people being relocated. Jack assumes he was chosen because his father was relocated after testifying against the man who made him murder people. Jack asks his handler if they can arrange for him to meet his father. When they look into it, his father is missing and possibly in danger.

This was such a fun read with red herrings and lots of twist and turns I never saw coming.

Jack Givens is a somewhat struggling author, he has published two books but his yet to be sold 3rd book has him in financial straits. That is until he receives a call from the Witness Protection Program asking if they can use his writing skills to create background stories for witnesses in the program. Jack is skeptical because it turns out his father is a part of the program but with a salary of $1,000 per week, it’s an offer he cannot refuse.

At the same time, Jacks girlfriend, Lana, who is a reporter is trying to investigate some suspicious drowning deaths of a doctor and a judge.

When Jack starts asking about his Father and if he can meet him then things start to unravel and may not be as they seem.

This book was like a ball of string that just kept unraveling as the story continued. This was my 3rd or 4th book by the author and he is becoming an auto read for me. His story premises are always unique and the twists and turns just kept me guessing. I also enjoyed how the author weaved three storylines together. Jack Givens is a great character and his relationship with Lana was great and I hope to see more books including them in it. As a Canadian I also enjoyed some Canadian specific references sprinkled amongst the pages. I highly recommend this book and think it appeals to most recents but definitely thriller/mystery fans.

The lie maker certainly lives up to it's title. There are so many lies in this book that you must read it to figure it all out. I read it so quickly because I had to find out the truth. Another win from Linwood Barclay.

Really enjoyed the pace of this one and found the synopsis interesting.
Although at times a little predictable this suspense thriller was well played out and I truly enjoyed main characters ; Jack, Lana & Michael.

The Lie Maker from the great Linwood Barclay did not disappoint. Although the story jumps around it all make sense and comes together nicely.
I really enjoyed the plot twist that keeps you guessing who the villain is. The characters and storyline was imaginative and original. The last 100 pages was riveting and fast paced. Thanks once again to Linwood Barclay for another great book and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

I was hooked by the strong premise of the book, but found myself wishing for more character development come the 50% mark. It felt a little bit like reading a screenplay. (This would make an amazing movie! But as a book, it felt a little thin.)

Really enjoyed this thriller mystery book, the storyline felt fresh compared to others I had read. I enjoy this authors style of writing . I did have have an inkling of where some of the story was going about half way through but not completely. I enjoyed the timelines from past as a young boy to present as an adult. I liked how the wallet played out in the end. Overall a great read

I voluntarily received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own

I would recommend this book to my friends, family and book club

Thank you to NetGalley, Linwood Barclay and William Morrow for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Barclays writing and this was no different. It’s very twisty and I loved the way each little piece was revealed like it was no big deal while your like no way! It all tied up so nicely and I enjoyed that about this one.

First I want to thank @netgalley, @killercrimeclub and @harpercollinscanada for the ARC (advanced ready copy) of Linwood Barclay's book, The Lie Maker. I am a huge Linwood Barclay fan and this book did not disappoint,

A writer has been handed an assignment to write background bios for the Witness Protection. Through this process his past comes to the front and he has to deal with and overcome. Linwood's development of this character was always evolving, keeping me intrigued and the 'oh, didn't see that coming' moments.

The other characters are also well written and their development never got tired or boring. The character stories were very creative and took me on a ride that never waivered or stalled. The ending got me as it took a twist that I saw, but didn't see, if you know what I mean.

I highly recommend this book, it is a solid storyline with great character development. Thank you @LinwoodBarclay for another great story.

Fast and fun, a thriller with some great twists.

Many years ago, Jack’s father was put into the Witness Security Program after testifying against his former boss. Although Jack Givens and his mother could have gone with him, they did not and rebuilt their lives. Jack, however, has always missed his father and has channeled his emotional pain into writing. When he’s approached by a US Marshal to write backstories for people in the protection program, Jack begs Gwen to help find his dad.

The narrative introduces the reader to several different characters whose presence in the novel is not initially clear but it all comes together as revelations and discoveries are made. The main characters are well-developed and Jack was certainly a likeable protagonist. I always enjoy Barclay’s writing style and plot lines. Found this one hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

Linwood Barclay will make you speed read to the best of your abilities with his awesome writing style. Great new novel.

** spoiler alert ** Honesty time: this book, like most of Barclay's books since the Promise Falls series, was just OK. I keep reading them because I enjoy his writing and I have read all the others but the stories don't grab me and hold me anymore. Like Grisham, I just don't feel compelled to shove everything to the side for his books anymore.
I loved the premise of this book, and it isnt that it was BAD. I have high expectations for a thriller- a premise that grabs me and a timeline that SNAPS. I need to be worried about future crimes if the killer is not caught. Lie Maker plods along until about 80% and then the story hits the breakneck pace I would have expected to hit around 50 to 60%. Bythat point I'm tired and if it wasn't an ARC I would have put it down- entirely too late to commit the reader to the story. I also... hated the ending. I know... endings are hard, but this is the 4th book where *that* is the ending and I'm hating this trend.

I'd give this book about 3.5 stars but I don't feel like rounding up- 4 is a great book and this was slightly better than average.

Am I still going to read Barclay? Well, I still read Grisham, so...... yeah.

Linwood Barclay is a Canadian bestselling author and former newspaper columnist who is an auto-buy author for me. Known for his twisty suspense, relatable characters, and bits of dry humour thrown in for good measure, The Lie Maker is the newest addition to his tension-filled repertoire of thrillers which include 2022's Take Your Breath Away and his popular Promise Falls series.

This latest book focuses on Jack Givins, a man who is struggling to make it as an author who is suddenly approached by the US Marshall's Office to write fictional backstories for people in their Witness Protection Program. It seems to be true - a lucrative new job and a chance to find his dad who Jack hasn't seen since he was a child. His dad was a hitman who turned state's evidence and had to leave his young family to go into the Witness Protection Program where he received a new, secret identity.

"Your dad's not a good person. Your dad killed people, son"

Not knowing the details of his father's past, Jack tries to piece together what happened to make his dad leave and why he has suddenly dropped off the US Marshall's radar. Jack's girlfriend, reporter Lana is a great addition to the cast as she also gets pulled into this twisted plot of secrets, nefarious baddies and a plot that introduces interesting morally gray areas for readers to ponder.

I enjoyed recognizing many Boston locations in this story and I found Jack and Lana to be compelling characters. My only wee beef is that there are quite a few secondary characters and, a few times, it took me a bit to remember who was who.

The plot is a bit far-fetched but completely engaging and oh-so-twisty with lots of red herrings to keep readers guessing and a few deliciously tense, white-knuckle moments that will have thriller lovers eagerly turning the pages until the shocking end.

Disclaimer: Thanks to William Morrow for my advanced copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoy this author’s novels and this one is no exception. Fast-paced, with lots of twists and turns and a satisfying ending. Written in an easy to read style, it is very easy to get hooked into reading just one more chapter. The main character, Jack, is very likeable and is very easy to root for. I enjoyed the plotline about the witness relocation program and the way in which the various story threads came together was well done. Very entertaining!

Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

The Lie Maker
Linwood Barclay
Pub Date: May 16, 2023
William Morrow
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion,
This is a must read for thriller fans! Barclay writes suspense so well.
This novel follows Jack, whose father goes into witness protection. Soon Jack goes into helping the witness protection program, great book!
4 stars

This author is an auto read for me. So you know I was thrilled for an arc of his newest book! Murder, revenge, betrayal, intrigue, this book had more twists than a roller coaster at six flags! Great work! Loved it. Lana was a bad ass female character who can handle her own. They make a great couple.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc of this twisty thriller!
Must read for thriller fans.

Linwood Barclay writes suspense so well!

A fast paced thriller with lots of wild twists was just what I needed right now. A second rate author gets the chance to write the character backgrounds for people entering the witness protection program. Jack might even be able to convince his boss to put him in contact with his own father who entered the program when he was nine and left behind with his mother.

I devoured this book in a couple of sittings and would recommend it to others who enjoy gritty suspense filled books that might not be entirely plausible but entertaining from start to finish!

Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks / @harpercollinscanada for this arc in exchange for my honest opinions. The Lie Maker publishes May 16, 2023.

🤯 Yet another SMASH HIT by Linwood Barclay, “The Lie Maker” is NON STOP thrills, totally bingeworthy and filled with twists & turns until the very end 👏. This fast paced thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat and take you by complete surprise!!!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Jack is a struggling writer who is down on his luck and running out of money. He receives a job offer like no other … to work for the US Marshall’s office creating fictional backstories for people in the witness relocation program ✍️

“There was a kind of thrill in being drafted to write for the witness relocation program, even in a tangential kind of way. Composing histories for people who were going to be sent off into hiding for the rest of their lives has filled me with a sense of purpose”

However, this job opportunity hits home for Jack because his own father went into the witness protection program when he was a child. His father Michael was a hit man and personal assistant to a very dangerous person. Jack and his mother were left behind and he always wondered where his dad was. When he inquires about his father to the US Marshall … there’s a big problem. Michael has not checked in with his handler for a while and has gone off the grid … again 😶‍🌫️

Jack is desperate to work with his new ally in hopes of finding Michael. BUT after all these years, Jack is not the ONLY one trying to bring him out from hiding 🫣

Thank you kindly to @williammorrowbooks @harpercollinsca @linwoodbarclay @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on May 16, 2023 and be all yours!

Through the eyes of several characters, this story will slowly reveal answers to questions about Jack's father. The author throws in a couple rabbit trails to keep readers guessing about who the real culprit is. Very entertaining! Recommended.