Jude is a burnt-out, exhausted nurse working late nights and barely getting by, so when Rik shows up offering to be her friend, she appreciates the kind gestures he shows to her. Shortly thereafter, her mother Margaret is accused of a horrific crime, and Jude discovers that Rik is the accuser. As the court case unfolds and Jude begins to question her perception of reality, it becomes unclear whether she should be defending her mother or asking deeper questions. The choices Jude makes will lead to irrevocable outcomes that will have devastating consequences should she make the wrong decisions.

The Night She Lied is a quick-paced thriller with murder elements, a bit of a true crime vibe, and a heart-pounding court case. I was flipping pages so quickly, I had to go back a couple of times to make sure I didn't miss anything! Following the trail of clues the author left was incredibly fun, and this was a delightful thriller that explored themes of parenthood, mental health, and personal relationships right alongside the adrenaline inducers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Such a well crafted novel, compelling enough to pull you through and very quick read. I enjoyed it so much from the first page till the end. A good story like this needs a quiet afternoon, a sofa and a warm blanket.

Jude is a nurse who is working permanent nights due to her inability at the moment to sleep normally. At a cafe she meets Rik who also is a night owl, working from home, something to do with IT. Jude’s Mother Margaret calls her saying something is dreadfully wrong and hangs up which leaves Jude understandably worried. It turns out to be nothing, but leads into something more. Margaret has been accused of a historical sexual crime- an assault and cruelty of a groom from many years ago. Margaret insists to Jude that she is innocent and wants her to intervene to try and get the man to drop the case. Jude accidentally discovers the man involved is Rik, or Richard as he once was. When one thing leads to another both women are up to their necks in the situation. Can they prove their innocence and will Margaret’s trump card come to light if it even real?

OMG! A read that suddenly grabbed me and made me think what on earth? An innocent woman seemingly doing her best for her mother is swept up and dragged along without knowing the full story as her mother is difficult to say the least and has only ever told Jude (and others) what puts her in a good light, something some of us can perhaps relate to. One sentence stuck with me “ a mother should make you feel safe”, sadly not always the case. A drama ending in a court case, which could irreparably change someone's life. A thrilling, gripping read I thoroughly enjoyed.

This book fell short for me. Jude rushes home to help her mother who called with an emergency. We then see just how selfish and degrading this mother is. Jude spends this entire book trying to please her mom by helping to cover up her mistakes and past. It's very hard for me to think Jude would continue to let her mother verbally abuse her like this. She is a little too gullible for me. I just felt the whole book was weird and kind of choppy.

It looks like I am in the minority, but I did not like this book. The chapters were entirely way too long and drug out. I find it very hard to believe that Jude would be that gullible time and time again and that she would constantly allow her mother to treat her like that. It is a sad subject but the mother needed to be slapped and she got what she deserved in the end.

I love all of Lucy Dawson’s books and the night she lied did not disappoint. It was such an action packed thriller which had a bit of everything intrigue, mystery, abuse, murder and a who done it. The plot was fantastic and kept me gripped throughout and what can I say about the plot twist really wasn’t expecting it fantastic thriller which I can’t wait to recommend to everyone. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

Lucy Dawson does it again. An action packed thriller with red herrings and suspense. Great read, well written with interesting characters. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy. Five stars all the way.

Full of twists and turns, this book instantly pulls you in and doesn't let go. This is a great thriller with the plot lines revealed over time and will keep you guessing right until the end.

When Rik runs into Jude during her lunch break at work he immediately gave me the creeps. Jude was way too trusting of someone she had only just met. Jude's mom was a piece of work, wow what a nut job. I can't really say that I liked Jude that much either. I didn't know who to trust!

I look forward to reading more by Lucy.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Lucy Dawson for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy Dawson has done it again. This is a terrific thriller with plenty going on in terms of relationships and character history. The two protagonists are not particularly likeable and this makes it even harder to trust either of their perspectives, The clues are all there but it is still a shock when key evidence is revealed. Loved it.

The Night She Lied is gripping and twisted. Jude is a night-shift nurse trying to get over the loss of her partner. Sitting in the hospital cafe late at night she is approached by a young man who sees her through the window while running. While they both discuss the benefits of living a nocturnal lifestyle, Jude receives a frantic call from her mother, Margaret, crying that “something terrible has happened.” In fact, Margaret has been accused of a terrible crime many years ago. What is set in motion is a series of seemingly conflicting yet intertwining events for all three. The story shifts back and forth in time, with exasperating characters and hidden connections. Margaret is intensely unlikeable. The book is quick moving and the author has you guessing all the way through to the end. I highly recommend it! With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC. My opinions are my own.
Susanh_bookreviews

Wow this book really had me gripped instantly and I couldn't put it down. The twists and turns really kept me reading right until the end

Secrets and red herrings keep this novel moving quickly. What is the truth? The characters are realistic although disturbing. This author has woven a whodunit that is difficult to figure out. The mother is not motherly. The daughter tries, but is not always successful. The man who shows up…an enigma. Thanks Netgalley.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, mystery, abuse, murder, gas lighting, a sort of who done it, great plot twist, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!