A nail-biting thriller that kept me up at night

This is Why We Lied by @karinslaughterauthor is my first Slaughter novel, though I’ve been wanting to read her for a long time after seeing her on the thriller side of Booktok.

Now, recently I’ve been feeling fed up of the same Detective thriller novels, they were all getting too similar. THIS novel is what I’ve been needing to get me back into thrillers.

What was meant to be a peaceful, tranquil honeymoon for newlyweds Will and Sara goes awry when they notice that everyone at McAlpine Lodge is clearly hiding something.

When going into this, I had no idea that it was part of a series. This, however did not stop me devouring the book and in no way made it difficult to understand the plot. The character development was so well written I never felt like I would have needed to have read the other book in the series first.

Also had to be mentioned that a thriller book has a map?! I hardly ever see this and I love it. Such a great addition to the book

——————————————————————

Thank you to the publisher @harpercollins and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC


Review is available to view on my Instagram (@rhisreads) which should be linked below

Something a little different from the queen of crime, and Karin Slaughter does it again with this super suspenseful thriller. I did not read the synopsis and (as I always do with my favourite authors) went in completely blind. I feel this makes for even better reading as everything is new to me.

As always, Karin's writing is immaculate and draws the reader in straight away. In the prologue to be exact! I mean, what do you expect, Ms Slaughter has been at this game for some time now...

In case you like to go in blind too, I don't want to give too much away other than that the rest of the book works backwards, as in "twenty hours before..." and the suspense is throughout the entire book, keeping you guessing and wondering "what the actual...?" until the jaw dropping, cringe-worthy end.

There are a mixture of nice and just plain nasty characters in this book, and as per the title, there is a whole lot of lying going on! It's up to you to work out who's lying, and who's telling the truth. So go on, do yourself a favour and grab this book. If it's your first Karin Slaughter (what??) guaranteed you'll be on Amazon to get her complete backlist after reading this one!

And a HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an eARC of This is Why We Lied to read and review.

This beauty is out now!

This Is Why we Lied is the next book in the series with Will Trent and Sara Linton. They have finally got married and are on a lovely honeymoon that Will has gone to great lengths to choose and its also a throwback to his childhood. Unfortunately life is not simple and after only one night in paradise in the middle of nowhere there is a murder. There are multiple suspects including a throwback bully from Wills childhood and the children's home he was in. An enthralling read that I could not out down to get to the end of the mystery.
Amazing storytelling as usual from Karin Slaughter and brings even more depth to Will and Sara's characters. I look forward to the next one.

"This Is Why We Lied" throws the newlyweds Will and Sara into a dark and twisted mystery during their honeymoon at the McAlpine Lodge, where everyone is clearly hiding something.
I must admit, I didn't realise at first that this book was part of a series, but Slaughter's talent for character development and intricate storytelling kept me thoroughly engaged. This book can be perfectly well read as a standalone.
While I enjoyed the darkness and complexity of the story and characters, I would have preferred shorter chapters and a slightly faster pace at times. It was a gripping read, but the lengthy chapters occasionally slowed down my focus.
Overall, "This Is Why We Lied" is a dark, multilayered thriller. If you enjoy intense, character-driven mysteries, this book won't disappoint. But it's surely not a fast-paced read to devour in a couple of days—at least for me it wasn't!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Karin Slaughter is on top form with this book. Her plots are always compelling. You don't have to be familiar with the series to get great enjoyment from this story but it's nice to see favourite characters continue to grow.

Karin Slaughter has done it again. Absolutely loved reading this. The only reason it's not 5 stars is just because it was a bit too long and drawn out.
But the plot, the writing in general and and the characters were all great. Definitely did not see that ending coming.
Already excited for the next one.

Well one of the lines in the book sums it up for me perfectly. An Agatha Christie locked room mystery meets VC Andrews.
At first I was hesitant on starting this one since it was #12 in a series, and it can be tough to understand all the characters but the author does a fantastic job of explaining the characters and this could have been a book all on its own. I don’t think I need to read the first 12 to understand it. But I can definitely tell you I will be going back to read the others.
A lot of trigger warnings if you can’t handle domestic violence, child abuse etc.
But if they aren’t triggers for you and you can read this as a book I definitely recommend picking this one up. But be prepared to not be able to put it down.

I really enjoyed this book by Karin Slaughter, a first read for myself from this author and it won’t be the last.

The twists and turns kept me hooked from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I had to keep changing in my mind, who the killer was, although I did have an inkling which was right. The angles changed all the time and I throughly enjoyed it.

I did find it was slightly long winded and could have wrapped up earlier. I also didn’t see the point of some of the characters e.g Monica and Frank but everyone else fitted in nicely.

A good read.

Well.....

This is the first Karin Slaughter book I have ever read. I didn't realise before reading the book that it was part of a series. I don't think you needed to have read the other 11 books in the series to be able to understand the back story.

I liked this book it was very much a slow burner, the first three quarters were slow, very slow at times but something about it kept me coming back for more.

This book will not be for everyone as there are some very dark issues covered in this story.

I definitely look forward to reading more Karin Slaughter books in the future.

A massive thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

Another brilliant book from Karin Slaughter.
I’ve read all her books and especially love the Will Trent series.
Will and Sara are enjoying their honeymoon in a remote mountain retreat when they hear a piercing scream. When they go and investigate they find the resort manager, brutally stabbed.
We then have chapters which give an insight into what happened before the murder, and it’s clear there’s a few people with the desire to want Mercy dead.
This is a gripping crime thriller and one I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Once again Karin Slaughter proves why she is my favourite author! With another book that grips you and keeps you on the edge of your seat al the way through! Literally could not put this one down!
Following Will and Sara on the next step of their journey and of course it's never easy is it?

An Ending I Did Not See Coming… 😲

Many secrets and lies unraveled in this latest novel. Told from various times counting down to Mercy’s murder, many suspects to potentially rule out. A great read from beginning to end, a definite should read.

Any fans of Sara Linton and Will Trent will not be disappointed with this latest instalment.

While on a honeymoon break they are a caught up in a murder. The victim is one of a family of oddballs who all have their own demons and issues. Not to mention the guests staying at the resort, who also have their own secrets.

This will twist and turn and keep you guessing to the very end!

As a huge fan of Karin Slaughter I was delighted to receive the ARC of ‘This is Why We Lied’ and I was not disappointed so many thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review.

This is another in the Will Trent and Sara Linton series but can be read a s a standalone.

The couple are on their honeymoon and have booked a secluded retreat. Flashback chapters give the reader background information and as the story develops so do the secrets, lies and twists.

Another great read from this author.

Highly recommended

This Is Why We Lied is the first Karin Slaughter novel I've picked up. Initially I didn't register that there were 11 previous novels featuring the detective Will Trent, but thankfully that didn't matter - Slaughter has written it in such a way that, while I'm sure there are some extra goodies for returning readers, it reads just fine as a standalone novel. At no point did I find myself feeling lost or confused, and I highly commend the author for that.

The entire book takes place over the course of around 36 hours, and there is plenty that goes on in that time with the first few chapters being set before the incident, and the rest being dedicated to a thorough investigation with plenty of twists and surprises.

I will admit that it took me a little while to get into, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself eager to see what happened next. The chapters are long, which slowed me down somewhat - I find it a lot easier to say 'one more chapter' and binge my way through a book when kindle says it's only 10 minutes as opposed to almost half an hour - but when I was reading I was thoroughly engaged.

Definitely a book worth picking up for anyone who enjoys crime thrillers, especially when there's a side of locked door mystery.

I am a huge Karin Slaughter fan so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read This is Why We Lied featuring Will Trent and Sara Linton. Sara and Will are on their honeymoon at McAlpine Lodge, an off grid retreat in the mountains, when one of the McAlpine family- Mercy- is murdered after she threatens to expose family secrets. I love the Will and Sara novels (although not as much as the Jeffrey and Sara novels) but I'm less keen on locked room mysteries in remote locations. Despite my misgivings, Slaughter is of course one of the best thriller writers around and I'll read anything she writes.
The novel starts off slowly, setting the scene with the location and an introduction to the McAlpine family. The pace soon quickens as the reader is drawn into a multi layered plot which exposes the horrific secrets and lies of the family. I love the characters of Will and Sara, their contrasting backgrounds and how different their relationship is to Sara and Jeffrey's. This is another twisty and compelling thriller from the author that I would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

In the isolated serenity of the McAlpine Lodge, a sinister veil of deceit hangs heavy in the air. The prestigious lodge plays host to a gathering of eight suspicious guests, each bearing the weight of their own concealed truths and hidden agendas. The McAlpine family, a toxic web of simmering tensions and buried secrets that threatens to consume all who dare to tread its treacherous path. Mercy McAlpine threatens to expose them all, yet as the night unfolds in a symphony of whispered confessions and veiled accusations, Mercy's life is abruptly extinguished, leaving behind a trail of shattered illusions and unanswered questions. Who among them is a killer?
Will Trent and Sara Linton are plunged straight in to the investigation.

This was a brilliant story with an excellent plot full of suspense and plenty of twists. I was totally invested in this book and found myself page turning wanting to know more. Highly recommend this book and it totally deserves a full 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Karin Slaughter for an early copy.

I love Will Trent with a passion, I cannot wait till we get the next chapter of him everytime we get a new book. And this one did not disappoint. Will and the lovely Sara are on their honeymoon in a secluded mountain getaway, but there is no getting away from murder for these two. The only nice one of the McAlpine family, Mercy is murdered and Will and Sara take on the task of finding the culprit. The family are so awful, they make your blood boil and you root for Will getting to the bottom of why the family are so nasty and horrible.
Loved everything about this and will wait with bated breath for Karin’s next tale of Will and Sara for us.
Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for this early copy.

Will Trent and Sara Linton are on their honeymoon, staying at the secluded McAlpine Lodge, an off grid property that is the perfect chance to escape and unwind. Or so they thought. When a late night swim on their first night at the lodge is interrupted by a scream for help, both Sara and Will go running, only to find the manager of the lodge, Mercy, murdered. It soon becomes clear to Will that normal rules don't apply at McAlpine Lodge, and he knows that the only way Mercy will get justice is if he brings it himself.

The latest Will and Sara fix sees the couple finally married! When this one started and was in an unusual location I was wondering how it would go without some of the other main characters for this series such as Faith and Amanda. I should know better than to doubt Karin Slaughter!

The McAlpine family made my skin crawl right from the start of this book, and honestly the more I learnt about them the worse things got. By the end of the book I would have been quite happy for the lodge to have been burnt to ground with them all in it. The only ones that had anything to like about them were Mercy who dies at the start, and Jon a sixteen year old boy. Mercy's story was heartbreaking.

In terms of the plot this one as always was cleverly crafted. switching timelines between the hours leading up to the murder and those after it, Slaughter paints us a picture of the events and the people involved. There is a range of suspects and I believed all of them could be the culprit at one stage or other. I did eventually click on who was the killer, but didn't see the why coming. There's a lot going on at the Lodge and unpacking it all made for an interesting and page turning read.

As I said at the start I was a little unsure in the first few chapters on how this would go, but it didn't take long for me to be hooked in. Another great installment in one of my favourite series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Harper Fiction for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another cracking story from Karin Slaughter that begins in a romantic way as Will and Sara embark on their honeymoon. Will, an officer with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and his wife a medical examiner with the same establishment hike to a remote luxury mountain resort and are delighted to find themselves staying in an idyllic cottage surrounded by nature. Without wifi and not revealing their true jobs to the owners, the McAlpine’s, they felt they could really switch off and enjoy a blissful holiday. Of course this would not be a Karin Slaughter thriller if that were the case. Sure enough on their first night when down by the lake, a scream and plea for help has them racing towards the victim. Will desperately tries to keep the person alive but to no avail as their injuries are too severe. There begins a dramatic search for the perpetrator while trying to get assistance from his colleagues. As secrets and lies are revealed amid the dark clouds of childhood abuse and bullying, Will has to face his own demons without it affecting his ability to do his job. A story that gradually reveals the dark truth of everything about the McAlpine family and after many twists the full horror is revealed. With so many unsavoury characters it was difficult to decide who could be responsible and even if I had, I couldn’t have imagined the whole sordid truth as the book escalated to an unthinkable finale. A well executed story that had many layers to it and was extremely thought provoking as to the true meaning of guilt.