Wow, just Wow! One of the most twisted, didn’t see that coming, heart pounding, couldn’t even begin to predict the outcome, thrilling read I’ve had recently. My adrenaline still hasn’t returned to normal levels. I read a lot and it’s hard to surprise me multiple times. There’s a reason Patterson keeps topping bestseller lists and this collaboration with Ellis really works. The characters pull you into their normal lives then everything turns upside down. The plot builds with one unexpected event after another. The lies are stacked higher than a skyscraper. There’s intense double-crosses, betrayal and heartbreak. I kept cheering for the lawyer, mother and wife whose life is blown up. I highly recommend you put this at the top of you TBR list. I’d give more than five stars if I could.
An Advance Reader Copy of “Lies He Told Me” by James Patterson and David Ellis, was provided by Hachette Book Group, Little, Brown and Company (via NetGalley). The personal, honest thoughts and opinions expressed here are all my own given voluntarily without compensation.

I don’t know how much input Patterson has into his books lately but this is definitely a David Ellis book through and through - it’s kind of a combination of his last two standalone novels (Look Closer & The Best Lies), combining a domestic thriller with a heavy crime storyline. Ellis writes such bingeable reads and this one was really fun and twisty. fans of his previous stuff should like this one too!

My favorite author duo is back (insert happy dance here)! I’ve (quite literally 😳) been in a summer-long reading slump, so the fact that I was able to finish this in 24 hours kinda says it all! These two never disappoint!

This was insanely good! Super fast-paced with short, punchy chapters, and entirely unpredictable. Book 2 had me on the edge of my seat—I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! It’s an easy 5 stars from me!

Thank you ever so kindly to NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for the gifted review copy! LIES HE TOLD ME is out September 30th!

Lies He Told Me is a page-turning suspense with quite a few twists and turns.

Marcie is the strong FMC that every wronged woman can relate to.

Lies He Told Me is a must-read for fans of the limited Netflix thriller series Fool Me Once.

“An attorney and mother of two discovers her husband's secret life-and it might cost them all their lives.

Everyone in Hemingway Grove, Illinois, knows David and Marcie Bowers.
David owns the local pub.
Marcie is a former big-city lawyer who practices family law.
When David jumps into Cotton River to save a drowning stranger, he's celebrated as a hero. His muscled physique, shaved head, and piercing blue eyes are broadcast on every news outlet.

For most people, newfound fame is a lifeline.
For David Bowers, it's a death sentence.
For Marcie Bowers, it's a test.

A wife knows the difference between a loving husband and father and a cold-blooded assassin. Right?”

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!
I couldn’t put this book down. I finished it in a day.

James Patterson and David Ellis didn’t disappoint. There’s so many twists and turns that just when you start to piece things together, you realize there a new twist.
Marcie’s husband David goes viral rescuing a person from an accident. Strange things start happening in their life soon after. Turns out Marcie’s previous criminal law job came with some secrets and David isn’t who we think it is.

Highly Highly recommend this book.

When I first started the book I was very sceptical about how many 4-5 star ratings it had. But I kept at it and It threw in a few big curveballs that changed my mind. About the 50% mark it had me not wanting to put it down. I’m a huge fan of James Patterson and this book was just as good as his others. It’s a fairly easy and enjoyable read. If you want something to read that is going to keep you going wow with twist this is definitely worth reading.
A solid 4-4.5 star rating from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

I’m so so grateful my book fairy got me an ARC for THE LIES HE TOLD ME. I had never read a a book where they co-authored it, just their individual books. I am a sucker for a good domestic suspense, action packed thriller and this was all these things.

I loved everything about this book. I loved the character development of Marcie and David. I wanted to put my foot up David’s behind for a majority of this book and I felt so much sympathy for Marcie because she was in the dark. I kept thinking I had everything figured out and then the story would shift and I’d be thrown for a loop. There’s so many twists that even if you think you figure something out, you probably don’t.

At first strange things were happening and that piqued my curiosity but then things started to become more sinister. This book was also jam packed with action with VERY short chapters. I read this book within a day which is unheard of for me. There was so much action and the chapters were so short that it was easy to say okay just one more chapter and then it’s an hour later and you’re still reading. It was truly such a solid read that kept my attention throughout. This book is going up as one of my favorite books of the year!

Such a thriller! Lies He Told Me races along from the opening with heart-thumping action and foreshadowing to the WILD ending. James Patterson and David Ellis have created a super, fast-reading nail-baiter. If you enjoy being riveted for several hours, read this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Book Title: Lies He Told Me
Author: James Patterson and David Ellis
Publisher: Little Brown & Company
Genre: Mystery
Pub Date: September 30, 2024
My Rating: 4.4 Stars
Pages 384

David Bowers is turning forty-two and decides instead of celebration he wants a little trip down memory lane with wife Marcie. They met years ago cooling off after a run on the path overlooking Cotton River near Anna’s Bridge and married a year later living in the small town of Hemingway Grove, Illinois and have two children - Grace -12 and Lincoln- 10.
David owns “Hemingway’s’ a popular pub/restaurant and Marcie practices family law.
But this walk turns into something they never ever expected .A plunges through a guardrail on Anna’s bridge and goes into the icy cold Cotton River. David heroically dives into the river and Marcie calls 911. David becomes the local hero as a video of the rescue goes viral,
Strange things start to happen at the Bowers house - a coffee pot ends up in the dryer, a kid’s lunchbox is in the middle of the lawn, the dog goes missing and reappears, and the incidents escalate and become more frightening.

This story held my attention. I was curious as to who was pulling tricks on this family.
I so wanted them to be an ideal All American family but feared that just might NOT be the case.

The story gets involved but the JP trademark of short chapters kept me saying – 'One more chapter.'

Want to thank NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 30, 2024.

"Lies He Told" serves as yet another testament to James Patterson's unrivaled ability to captivate me with his compelling storytelling. Collaborating with esteemed mystery author David Ellis, it is a fast-paced narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story revolves David Bowers, the proprietor of a local pub, and Marcie Bowers, a skilled attorney. They find themselves entangled in a web of deception and uncertainty. This novel is definitely one for your TBR list!

Thank you to Net Galley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC to read and review.

As noted in my previous James Patterson reviews, I am a huge fan and when you add David Ellis as the co-author, it is an amazing duo! I loved Lies He Told Me and had many theories throughout the book which kept changing as the chapters progressed and more details were revealed! David and Marcie Bowers were quite the interesting couple! I read this one very quickly as I could not stop reading to find out how it ended! Thanks to NetGalley & Little, Brown & Company for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Rating: 5 stars Publication Date: September 30. 2024

I am a long-time fan of James Patterson and many of this co-authors, and "Lies He Told Me" is a very good addition to Patterson's body of work. The premise of this story felt a little too familiar with some others I have read recently - someone is filmed doing something heroic, the video goes viral, and then that person is exposed for who they really are, and the people that have been looking for them now know exactly where their target is hiding. In this case, the hero is David Bowers, and the enemy after him could be multiple people.

I enjoyed the story being told from the point of view of David's wife, Marcie, who had no idea her husband wasn't who he said he was until he saved someone from drowning and weird things started happening in their small town home. Marcie and David were both likable characters, but David didn't feel developed enough for me to get a sense of who he was supposed to be as a father, husband, and businessman to get invested in how things would turn out for him. The story had a good breadth, but lacked depth, but I find this is often the case with Patterson's coauthored works, and if it is something you are used to, it won't be as disappointing as it might be for a first-time reader of these authors.

Thank you to NetGalley, James Patterson, David Ellis, and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.


*** Review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, and blog on August 31. I will return and post review links at that time.***

Usually I'm not a huge fan of book collabs but this was fantastic! Interesting cast of characters, twists that I didn't see coming and a fast-paced plot come together in a suspense novel that I definitely did not want to out down!

Hemingway Grove, Illinois seems like the most average, easygoing town. Everyone knows everyone. David owns the pub and Marcie is one of the town lawyers. What seem to be two casual, run of the mill Americas turn out to be something much, much different. Having kept out of the spotlight, he's suddenly in headlines and photos around the nation after a heroic save. His anonymity is gone, and suddenly their seemingly basic lives are turned upside down.

James Patterson and David Ellis kept me on the edge of my seat with this one! I loved the twists and turns, and the characters were written so well. This was an excellent read!

This was totally badass! Just when I would think I figured out where it was going-nope, it twisted again! One of the best I’ve read by JP and David Ellis obviously is a great writing partner for him. Very original and well executed! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

Two of my hands-down favorite authors working together on a single book? OH MY LORD how thrilled I was to receive this eARC. I've read James Patterson's Womens Murder Club series (as well as many standalones) multiple times and given so many copies to those I travel with, this will now be at the top of the list for recommendations and great twisty mysterious suspense thrillers. David Ellis also had me in a chokehold with Look Closer and he's now an auto-buy author for me. Just wonderful and gripping and I don't want to give a thing away - just READ IT!!

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lies He Told Me by James Patterson and David Ellis is a fast paced thriller with twists and turns everywhere. Some of the twists I saw coming and some I did not see coming at all. This book had a good plot and good pacing. I enjoyed the short chapters, which made this book feel like a quick read. While I enjoyed this book, I wish the chapters had a title of whose POV that chapter is in. It was confusing at times. This book is worth the read and will be released on September 30, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of this book. I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

Here is some information about me:
I will be posting my review on Goodreads, Instagram, BookBub, Storygraph and Amazon. On Instagram I have 880 followers. Once I post my review on Instagram I will update my review here by inserting the link below.

This book had my undivided attention from the start and never let go of it! Marcie and David Bowers appear to be the perfect, All-American couple especially after David reaches viral fame after jumping into a river to rescue someone whose car went off a bridge. Unfortunately, David's heroics bring back secrets from his and Marcie's past that they never thought they would have to worry about again. I'm afraid to try to say too much more for fear I'll inadvertently spoil one of the many plot twists that make this a fantastic book. Just know that you're going to need to carve out some uninterrupted time to start this book, because once you start, you're going to need to finish it as soon as possible because it's that good! I started and finished this in just a few hours because I HAD to know what happened next.

Thank you toNetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC to review and give my honest review on.

"Lies He Told Me" by James Patterson and David Ellis is a fantastic book that had me hooked from the very first page. The authors have crafted a story that is twisty, interesting, and utterly immersive.

The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me engaged and entertained throughout. Just when I thought I had things figured out, a new revelation would come to light, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The suspense is masterfully maintained, making it hard to put the book down.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each contributing to the depth and intrigue of the story. Their motivations and secrets are unveiled in a way that adds to the overall tension and mystery, making the narrative even more compelling.

The writing style is clear and concise, yet rich in detail, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The pacing is perfect, ensuring that there's never a dull moment while also allowing for moments of reflection and deeper understanding of the characters and their predicaments.

In conclusion, "Lies He Told Me" is a wonderful book to read and enjoy. It's a gripping thriller that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. Highly recommended for fans of suspense and mystery!

"What am I willing to do for my kids? It's a question all parents ask themselves--a rhetorical question usually. Would you give your life for your children? Almost every parent would say yes. Would you lie for your children? Almost every parent would say yes. Would you break the law for your children? Would you kill for your children? Questions I've never confronted. Never thought I would have to confront. But now I do."

Wow! I literally finished this book in a day! It was completely unputdownable! And, I really thought I figured out the twist, only to find that James Patterson had delivered the mother of all red herrings and I'd totally gone down a wrong path! This book truly has it all: strong characters, suspense all the way through, so many twists and turns that keep you guessing. I can only hope that James Patterson and David Ellis team up again because they truly make an amazing team. They kept me interested and guessing and unable to stop reading all the way through!