In this gripping novel, the author crafts a compelling narrative centered around David and Marcie Bowers, a well-known couple in the small town of Hemingway Grove, Illinois. The story explores the complexities of fame, identity, and trust as David is thrust into the spotlight after heroically saving a drowning stranger, a moment that turns his life upside down.

The characterization of David and Marcie is particularly strong, providing readers with a deep understanding of their backgrounds and motivations. David’s physical prowess and heroic act garner him admiration, but the sudden fame leaves him vulnerable, setting the stage for intense internal and external conflicts. Marcie, a former big-city lawyer turned family law practitioner, brings a fierce intelligence and sensitivity to the relationship, making her journey equally compelling. As she grapples with the implications of David’s newfound fame, her role as a wife and mother is put to the ultimate test.

The tension in the story escalates as Marcie begins to suspect that beneath David’s hero facade lies a much darker reality. The author expertly builds suspense, leading readers to question the true nature of David’s character and his actions. The evocative writing draws the reader into a world where trust is fragile, and the line between heroism and villainy blurs. The emotional stakes are heightened by the couple’s history and the choices they’ve made, making the narrative not only a thriller but also a poignant study of love and commitment.

While the pacing is typically strong, some moments felt slightly drawn out, particularly during scenes of reflection that could have benefited from a tighter focus. Additionally, a deeper exploration of the growing impact of fame on their community could have added richness to the story’s backdrop.

Overall, this novel is a thought-provoking and suspenseful exploration of the intersection between love and ambition. It keeps readers engaged with its intriguing premise and well-developed characters, challenging the notion of what it truly means to know someone. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological dramas and domestic thrillers, as it raises important questions about identity, loyalty, and the shadows that can lurk behind even the most heroic acts.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Loveeeee the short chapters! Loved the twists in this one! You think you know but you don’t! 2 of my favorite authors that write great books together.

This was an excellent read! Of course I would expect no less with both Patterson and Ellis involved! This novel had me on the edge of my seat pretty well the entire read.

Marcie, a lawyer, comes to find out, that her husband isn't really who she thought he was and has been leading a double life. David owns a local pub, and when he rescues someone and becomes a hero, it was the worst thing that could have happened. He was recognized. From there things start to get interesting.

Pros:
Fast paced
Short chapters
Constant twists and turns

Cons:
Some things are predictable
A few unrealistic things happening

Patterson like only he can do. Twists and turns around every corner. I'm hoping he continues with this character.

"Lies He Told Me" by James Patterson and David Ellis is an action-packed, 5-star read! David and Marcie Bowers are living a simple life in Hemingway Grove, IL, until David gains unexpected fame after a viral video captures his heroic efforts to save a drowning man. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished—and that's when trouble begins for David and Marcie.

First, I highly recommend skipping the publisher-provided synopsis, as it gives away an important aspect of the story. A large portion of the book is told from Marcie’s perspective as she navigates strange occurrences happening around her home while trying to get to the bottom of what’s really going on. Additionally, chapters are told from the viewpoints of both the good and bad characters, adding depth to the narrative.

In typical James Patterson fashion, the short chapters make this a fast-paced read. The story is packed with twists and turns—some of which were truly surprising. Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I look forward to seeing what this dynamic duo comes up with next!

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson, David Ellis, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up. Talk about a page turner! I flew through this book over the course of a weekend and seriously did not want it to end. I read a ton of James Patterson in high school and college, now I am wondering why I ever stopped?! This was my first David Ellis book and I loved the collaboration of writers. I look forward to reading Ellis’ other books.

I loved how engaging this read was as I was constantly left guessing. Each character was well crafted, as we slowly uncovered their troubled pasts. I wished a little more time was spent on Marcie Bowers former days as a big city attorney. There was much to unpack there. I get that we had to be in the dark a bit because of the storyline. This would be a great vacation read!

Read if you like:
- Wrong Place, Wrong Time
- Secretive pasts
- Short chapters

Thank you @netgalley and @littlebrown for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, authors, Little Brown & Company for the ARC.
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Marcie Bowers has traded the chaos of big-city lawyering in Chicago for a quieter life in Hemingway Grove, Illinois, where she works as a small-town lawyer while her husband, David, runs the local pub. Their life is idyllic—until David’s heroic act of saving a drowning stranger goes viral. What should have been a moment of celebration turns into a nightmare as buried secrets resurface, threatening to destroy everything Marcie thought she knew about her husband, her family, and their peaceful life.
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Having loved James Patterson's movie adaptations and David Ellis’s gripping novels, I couldn’t wait to dive into this crime thriller by the powerhouse duo—and it did not disappoint!

This fast-paced thriller had me hooked from the very first chapter. Narrated solely by Marcie, the story unfolds with cliffhanger after cliffhanger, leaving me breathless and desperate for answers. Twists? Oh, there are plenty—and every time I thought I had it figured out, the rug was pulled out from under me.

The short, punchy chapters kept the momentum alive, and while you’ll need to suspend disbelief, the storytelling is so gripping you’ll gladly go along for the ride. Secrets, lies, and jaw-dropping revelations create a domino effect that shatters Marcie’s seemingly perfect life. And let’s just say… David isn’t the man you think he is.

A solid 4/5 🌟 read for me. This book reminded me of why I fell in love with crime and legal thrillers in the first place—fast, thrilling, and utterly addictive. If you’re looking for a wild ride with secrets that will leave your heart racing, Lies He Told Me is your next must-read.

Would you trust the one person you thought you knew best? Think again.

This book was really good and once I got started, it was really hard for me to put it down. It read quickly, and it was really good in terms of the character development. I enjoyed the time I spent with all of the characters and found myself thinking about it, even after I finished reading it. I would say this is a must read for any thriller lover I loved how fast pace it was and how I was able to get into it and read for hours and not realize that I had lost myself in the book.

Two of the very best authors at what they do, truly doing their very best! 5 stars, absolutely recommend!

Really fun adventure that starts out as a domestic thriller and, several twists later, morphs into a high-octane mafia mystery. I really liked the characters of Marci and David, and their love story, and David Ellis' writing always keeps me interested. Here, with Patterson, he multiplies his usual number of twists and ups the action for a completely rewarding, emotionally impactful, and always fast-paced thrill ride. You will be hoodwinked by the plot several times, and you will like it.

I flew through this book. The authors did a great job as revealing just enough information to keep you reading. The authors also knew how to lead you to the wrong conclusions, so when the twists are revealed, you are shocked.

I want to thank NetGalley & Little, Brown and Company for an ARC of this book.

Loved the short chapters and I flew through it--would love to reread with an audiobook. Lots of "what ifs" spread throughout this book--could not put it down!

Lies He Told Me, by co-authors James Patterson & David Ellis, is a Thriller that explores how much a wife actually knows about the man she married. Marcie and David Bower are married with two children and still crazy in love with each other. Marcie, a former member of a highly prestigious Chicago law firm who left after finding it hard to defend a man based on lies, is now content practicing family law. David is the owner of Hemingway’s Pub, a local bar and restaurant that does well.

On the night of David's birthday, David and Marcie witness a car drive off a bridge into the river below. When David heroically jumps into a river to save a man, he is hailed a hero, his photo is everywhere, and his pub is filled with people congratulating him. While somewhat understandable, Marcie cannot comprehend why the notoriety makes David so uncomfortable. Then a journalist shows up asking questions and investigating David.

Right after this strange things start to happen. Someone steals their dog for a day, their home is broken into, and items turn up in the wrong places. Enough to scare Marcie especially as Marcie would have said she knows David inside and out. Or does she? Engaging the local police, one who Marcie was once linked to, these are apparently random attacks, but the reason remains a mystery. Things continue to get worse, and David becomes more troubled. He begins keeping things from Marcie, which she finds additionally problematic.

Then things get worse when Marcie discovers that David lied to her. His explanation feels very wrong to her. She starts to wonder if David’s celebrity status has brought unwanted attention of a dangerous kind. A kind from her past in Chicago. However, the scary truth that Marcie faces is that she may know less about her loving husband than she ever imagined. David’s lies begin to create a wedge between himself and Marcie, which only fuels a desire to get to the truth.

One of the best things about this book is that the authors didn't reveal too much all at once. They let the reader sit back and try to put what happened in Marcie's past, together with what is happening now that David's celebrity status seems to have brought the wrong attention down on them. Plot is key to the story of this nature. The authors keep things on point and surprise the reader at various times in the novel, especially as the truth emerges and David Bowers is revealed to be the man he wants no one to recognize.

Patterson and Ellis have crafted quite the read with Lies He Told Me. The plot has many twists and turns as a wife and mother tries to make sense of her husband's apparent secret life. Great characters. Great suspense. Readers who enjoy crime thrillers will not want to miss this one. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

What was I expecting from 2 of my favorite authors, nothing less than perfection. This book was amazing. So fast paced and unputdownable. The cliffhanger ending chapters were so addictive that you just can't stop reading. It was also highly unpredictable. A one sitting bingeable read that deserves to be read!

2.5 stars

I think I'm mostly alone on saying this is ok but I wasn't thrilled with it. There are just too many plot points that don't quite add up and make any sense, you have to suspend all your normal thoughts about the justice system and just read and being a huge true crime junkie I had a hard time doing that with this one. It was a fast read/listen but just middle of the road for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Lies he Told Me by James Patterson and David Ellis. This is the story of David and Marcie, who seem to live a charmed life in a small town. But David saves the life of a stranger, it is widely publicized, and all of a sudden it seems that he is not the humble bar owner that everyone thought he was. Did Marcie know, or did David keep all of this from her? This is a fast paced mystery/thriller, lots of secrets and crazy things happen. Recommend for a mystery and family story lover. #lieshetoldme #jamespatterson #davidellis #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookstagram #takeapagefrommybook #lovetoread

A book that’s ultra-packed with action – this is how I feel is the best way to describe the book. Then, add a hefty dose of deception and dodgy characters, and – this book is THE WORST case of one-more-chapter-itis disease. Really. The old word “unputdownable” can and should be retreated when there is this book.

Action from the beginning to the end. Who would want to cause havoc on a suburban family? I love how the chapters are short and makes you feel like you are just flying through the book quickly. This is the first book I have read that was co-authored with David Ellis and it sure didn't disappoint. If you are looking for a great, non-stop thriller, then this is the book for you.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc for an honest review. This review is my own opinion.