This was fine. I feel like it is mismarketed as a psychological thriller or domestic suspense when it’s real genre is more like crime thriller.

And crime stuff is just not really my jam. So the rating is more of a reflection of my enjoyment of this book then the quality. If the crime genre doesn’t put you off this would probably be a great read to pick up.

I thought the characters were compelling and well written. I thought the set up was intriguing. I just think once the crime angle came into play it was a little predictable. You already knew the whodunnit and the why, so there just weren’t many places to go from there.

The ending is largely an action sequence. There was a small twist which I already had seen coming.

I did receive a free digital galley of this from NetGalley, however I purchased and listened to the audiobook. I thought the audio was a good way to read this. It had a full cast and the narrators were great.

Walter’s writing is sharp and engaging, pulling you in from the first page and keeping you hooked as the twists and turns unfold. The characters feel real and complex, especially the morally gray protagonists who keep you constantly second-guessing their motives. If you’re a fan of thrillers with a psychological edge, this one is a must-read. It dives deep into the messy, gripping territory of what happens when someone who’s been wronged decides to take matters into their own hands.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the early review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was very fast paced, intriguing, and mysterious. I enjoyed the writing and definitely liked the different POV chapters. I thought it was different from the start because you have the main character living out of her car and essentially homeless. I haven’t read any books that start off like that. I just wanted to keep reading because I wanted to know more about how she got to that place. Overall the characters were enjoyable to read about and the story was well rounded. I would definitely pick up another book by Susan Walter.

This book had so many twists and turns I was on the edge of my seat following it for dear life! It was so well written and I felt like I could really dive into each of the characters mindsets. This was a fantastic mystery, and I highly recommend it!! *I received this book as an ARC copy from NetGalley*

This was a really good book by an author I had never heard of. It was a thriller and it had elements of all kinds of other thrillers. I liked the main character who was living out of her car because she had somehow lost everything she owned BUT her car when she lost her husband. Then there were the siblings that seemingly had nothing in common, but were bonded in a way that made me want a brother so badly. The characters to root for were all pretty great with very few flaws, which might bother me sometimes, but especially during the summers, I love it.. I would recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers but doesn't want them to be too dark or violent.

This was a book full of secrets and lies, creating an atmosphere of tension that kept me guessing. I loved the multi POVs and short chapters. This was a fast paced and well written read. I feel like this book is the perfect summer read that will keep you on your toes from start to finish.

Bree and her husband share a fancy house in Beverly Hills, until something happens to him and she blames herself for it. Penniless, living in her car and with no options, she jumps the fence of her old house and falls into the pool house. All she wants is a good night's sleep. But Sophie, the daughter of the new absentee owner, finds her, and out of pity (or for another reason) invites her to a party. When it's all over, Bree can't resist and sneaks upstairs to sleep in a real bed. The next morning, she wakes up, finds the body of a young woman in the pool, who appears to be Sophie, calls the police, becomes a suspect. Until that moment I was very intrigued, curious about the story, well written, it's worth highlighting, but the ending... I didn't like it so much.

I work with people experiencing homelessness so this book struck a note on a different level for me. Reality is that rug can be pulled from underneath anyone’s feet and our systems often make it almost impossible for people to get back up.

Bree is a widow and a piano teacher currently without an address and very limited options. After getting caught crashing in someone’s pool house, she ends up with an unexpected party invite. And soon things start rapidly spinning out of control.

This is such a great summer/vacation read. Despite Bree’s difficult circumstances, I was highly entertained and absolutely loved how the stories connected. Twists, turns, action and plot that was easy to follow.

Read this if you’re a fan of
🩵 multiple POV
🩵 dual timelines
🩵 twisty action packed thrillers

A huge thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

Now eagerly awaiting Running Cold!

Different from what I was expecting - in a good way! A great crime thriller with plenty of shocking twists that I had no idea were coming.

I found the characters relatable and likeable and was rooting for them, especially Bree.

A great read!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Susan Walter and Lake Union for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions and Susan for an advance copy of Lie by the Pool. I did read this back when it was getting ready to publish, however it’s one of those reviews that fell by the wayside and I forgot to get it done.

Bree is a widow living in her dream home. In an exclusive area of Beverly Hills, a beautiful pool and pool house, it’s the definition of luxury. The problem is that it’s not her home and she’s living in the backyard at night because she’s currently homeless, living out of her car and having exhausted all of her options, she seeks refuge in the seemingly empty home. Until one night the owner shows up and finds her camping out on a lounger. Instead of being put off by an intruder in the yard of her home, Sophie is quite taken with Bree, going so far as to invite her to a party at the house later that week. As the party is coming to an end, Bree sneaks upstairs to sleep in a spare bedroom and get some real rest for the first time in a long time. The good night of sleep gives way to an awful scene however, when Sophie’s body is found floating in the pool.

Now Bree has become the prime suspect as she is the ‘new girl’ with an unfortunate living situation and every instinct is telling her to run before this death is unfairly pinned on her. Even worse, it’s not the first suspicious death that she’s been around…the last being her husband.

This should be added to all those summer 2024 poolside TBR piles right now. Lie by the Pool could easily be devoured in a day, with its fast-paced suspense keeping readers glued to the page and desperate to know what happens next.

It is a dual timeline, multi POV book, but I had no issues keeping characters or current events straight. I thought that every character had a distinct personality, and while none of them were exactly likable, I also didn’t dread getting to anyone’s POV either.

The setting is seductive - I mean, even as someone who doesn’t want to live in LA, I found myself wishing I could sneak into the backyard of this house and pretend it was my own. Same goes with some of the characters we met. They were obviously trouble, but equally as magnetizing and I found myself wanting to know them.

The layers of the story too, just wow. You think you might have an idea of where you’re headed, and then the redirection sends you spiraling and clueless as to where you’ll actually end up. And the twists and surprises start from about the first chapter, which if memory serves me correctly, is exactly what to expect with a Susan Walter book.

Last I checked she had a new book listed on goodreads, but no cover, synopsis, or pub date listed…cannot wait to see where we go next.

Pretty good thriller. Lies, murder, what else can you ask for. It was pretty fast pace which I enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an edge of your seat thriller that really had me guessing. I'm usually 50/50 on if I can figure out what's going on before the end of the book but Lie by the Pool was so fast paced and kept me guessing from beginning to end. I devoured this read and it's something that can easily be consumed on a weekend. I highly recommend checking this one out! You won't be disappointed.

The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

This was not the one. I DEVOURED Over Her Dead Body in 24 hours and think about it often. It will be on the reread pile for 2024. I enjoyed Good As Dead also, it was well-written and kept me guessing throughout. Lie By The Pool however, seemed to lack so much of the twists and turns that I've come to love from Susan's writing. Maybe it was me and a reread would improve the experience but it fell short for me which is a shame. I',m intrigued to see what's next though because if it's anything like Over Her Dead Body then I'm sold!

This was my first book by the author and I cannot wait to read more by her.

The book pulled me in right from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down.

The jump times and the different POV makes you stay connected with the story and make you want to continue reading.

Wow, what a thriller! Started strong and kept me coming back for more. Deception, FBI involvement, a tangle of lies, and me trying to figure out where it would go…. I really enjoyed this one….from the first party at the Rodeo Drive house to the last. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this early read. This was a good read. Very interesting and easy to read. I like thrillers like this one and will look for more from Susan Walter.

Lie by the Pool is a quick and action-packed read.

I love multiple POVs and different time periods in my thrillers. Sophie's POV was my favourite, especially in the present timeline. No spoilers, but anyone who knows me will know exactly why I connected with the character. With four POVs, the book gives us a wide range of perspectives on the same events, however, until the end, Carter's story didn't quite click for me.

I truly did not anticipate all the twists and turns of the many layered plot. Everything comes together at the end and Walter does a great job of making sure there are no loose ends.


Thank you to Lake Union & NetGalley for the free e-ARC for review.

"A desperate woman. An irresistible invitation. An escalating nightmare of secrets, lies, and murder.
Bree’s new home is luxurious and private, with a fancy Beverly Hills address. What a shame it’s not hers. Widowed, penniless, living in her car, and out of options, she’s climbed the fence and crashed in the pool house. All she wants is a good night’s sleep. But when Sophie, the absentee owner, finds her, she gets a whole lot more.
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect. Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next."
Such a wild ride, Is Bree going to get her happy ending? You will have to read the story to find out. I give this book five stars.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, netgalley, and the author for the chance to leave an honest review.
Published Sept 12th, 2023.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Lie By the Pool by Susan Walter.

This book starts strong, and stays strong! Bree, who has lost her husband, her house, and most of her income is staying in a beautiful home, unbeknownst to the absentee owners. But when she meets Sophie, one of the owners, you quickly learn how connected they are, and why Bree has ended up losing everything.

You could easily devour this book lying by your own pool in just a day if you really put your relaxing powers to use. It's a quick read and full of a water slide's worth of turns and unexpected twists!