This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter is a captivating thriller set in an isolated lodge during a fierce storm. With the manager, Percy McAlpine, dead and the guests trapped, Will and Sara must unravel a web of deceit among the lodge’s occupants. As they dig deeper, they discover that everyone is hiding secrets about their past. Slaughter expertly builds tension and suspense, delivering a story full of twists and complex characters. Though some plot elements may feel familiar, the book’s gripping narrative and well-crafted atmosphere make it a must-read for thriller enthusiasts

It’s news to absolutely no one that I love Karin Slaughter and everything she does. So this newest Will Trent novel is no different! I loved the new setting and the story so much - I had my mind made up like 4 times before I got to the reveal. And I still hadn’t figured it all out!

I just love Will and Sara so much. They are two of my absolutely favorite characters ever written and I’m ready to continue to read about them forever (Karin willing).

All I can say is this:
If I haven’t bullied you into reading these or putting them on your TBR, this is my formal shout to do so NOW. If you like procedurals or whodunit type books, these are the blueprint. And they’re secretly romance novels and no one even knows until they read them 🥹

And if all of that doesn’t convince you, the cover should. It’s the best cover of this series to date - just LOOK at it 😍

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Umm what did I just read? This was an extremely dark book. That had me careening through the pages, paper was floating through the air like confetti by the end. When I say dark, I am not kidding. Every trigger was detonated. The McAlpine family are a rough, tough, horrifying group of characters. That do not take care of their own, oh no-no. They are only out for the good of themselves. While taking down everyone around them. Including their children, grandchildren, adopted children, you name it. This family has done it. The setting is superb for a lock room suspense thriller. A lake retreat that you must hike five miles to reach. The McAlpine's live there and take care of their guests. GBI Investigator Will Trent has booked the best cabin at McAlpine Lodge for his honeymoon. No stone is left unturned to make sure his wife, Sara, is happy and cocooned in nature for this trip. No expense is spared to make memories to last a lifetime.

That first night Will and Sara are swimming in the chilling lake waters when they hear a terrifying scream. Was it a person? Or an animal? A few minutes later, a second scream. Will and Sara tear through the woods looking for whoever is in agony. They find Mercy McAlpine lying in the water, stabbed more times than you want to imagine. Will sits with her when she whispers her final words and takes her last breath. Both Will and Sara know their honeymoon will be spent hunting down her killer. Bringing justice to a woman that was constantly beat down her entire life. First by her father and now by her ex-husband. Who she could not escape. Her story will bring you to tears, will want to scream at everyone that hurt her during her life. Finding justice in her death is the only way Will and Sara will be able to sleep again. There are so many twists and turns. The list of suspects grows and shrinking with each step they take around the compound. That ending will throw you back and make you gasp aloud.

This is the twelfth book in the Will Trent Series. It can be read as a standalone. You will uncover more of Will's childhood, as he made his way through the foster system. His nightmares coming back to haunt him as he hunts down Mercy's killer. As Karin Slaughter writes this is a cross between an Agatha Christie novel with a heavy dash of VC Andrews. Thank you to Karin Slaughter and William Morrow for my gifted copy of this chilling read.

Will and Sara are on their honeymoon at a beautiful family-owned lodge in the mountains. They are to have an entire week of relaxation and that special time together. That’s until the manager is brutally killed. Will can’t help but figure out this case and Sara stands by his side and works alongside him.


The story was ok. The book could have been easily 100 pages shorter. It was very descriptive to the point where I felt as if all of the details were necessary.

Please check the trigger warnings. There is tough content in this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy for an honest review!

4.5 stars, rounded up. I am finally caught up on Will Trent! The most recent installment in the series does not disappoint. Apparently this is a locked in murder mystery with tribute to Agatha Christie and VC Andrews. I really enjoyed the aspect of being “trapped” on a mountain which is an exclusive resort operated by a family for generations. It felt different from other Will Trent / Slaughter books because they tend to take place in Atlanta. I enjoyed the change of pace and the map had me excited at the beginning.

The story starts out gory, which is just how I like it. We follow will and Sara on their honeymoon and the resort manager, Mercy. Someone ends up dead and every guest at the resort has a motive! I don’t want to give much away but this had multiple twists and TWs galore!

I’m excited to see where will and Sara go next!

4.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Slaughter is the thriller QUEEN, and she has done it again🙌🏻 My favorite duo, Will and Sara, are back and this time they are enjoying their honeymoon at the McAlpine Lodge-that is until the resort manager ends up brutally murdered. Our favorite duo is quick to take action as they dive into the investigation. Who exactly is the McAlpine family, and why have one of them been murdered? The better question is WHO murdered her? Will and Sara soon find themselves in a twisted web of secrets and lies.
Slaughter is beyond talented in how she always masterfully creates such multilayered plots and gripping and engaging characters to give us such shockingly twisted and dark books. Everyone appears ton have something to hide & there is no one you can trust 100%, everyone is a suspect, which leaves the reader questioning who is behind the recent murder. Slaughter delivered another shocking, twisted, suspenseful, and addictive thriller. Slaughter delivers twist after twist, and I was unable to guess the ‘whodunit’ with this one. The last half of this book left me on the edge of my seat, and my jaw on the floor….AND THAT ENDING🤯 Did I mention that I adore Will and Sara?! My only gripe is those looonnnggggg chapters! I’m definitely a short chapter girly. Even though this book is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend the series and getting to know the characters from the beginning! Overall, another amazingly dark and twisted book fro the Queen of thrillers!🙌🏻

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Dark, twisted, suspenseful, addictive, and shocking thrillers
✦Long chapters
✦Multiple POVs
✦A book that is part of a series but that can be read as a standalone
✦When all the characters have something to hide and are a suspect
✦Eerie and remote settings

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

Will and Sara are on their honeymoon in a remote mountain retreat. When they stumble upon one of the owners stabbed they jump in to figure out what happened. ARC from NetGalley.

Always a pleasure to welcome back Will Trenton and Sara Linton for another gripping adventure!
One wonders what happened to Mercy McAlpine during the ferocious storm that hit their honeymoon destination. To compound matters, the only access to and from the island can't be reached to enter or exit. Shaking already--
This fast-moving and dynamic chronicle kept me on my toes and guessing as to the outcome. Although this wasn't my favorite of Slaughter's series, I still couldn't stop reading until I finished, almost in one sitting. Can't wait to see Will and Sara in their next escapade!

This was such a page turner thriller! I loved every minute of it. Attached is my full review on Instagram.

The Will Trent Series never fails. I have been on this ride from the beginning.

Will Trent and Sarah Linton are FINALLY married. They are headed off to their honeymoon which was kept secret from Sarah. They arrive at the glamping expedition and we all know Sarah hates camping, but Will pulled this off in spectacular style. Everything is not as it seems and from the time of arrival until the end of the first day we have a murder and a lot - I mean a LOT - of dirty secrets.

Karin Slaughter never ceases to amaze me. I couldn't get through this fast enough! Will and Sarah are an undeniable team wrapped in love and strength and a promise not only to each other, but a promise to right the wrongs and do what is best.

(Don't worry -Buffy and pizza will show up)

Get ready for an intense ride with "This Is Why We Lied" by Karin Slaughter! This gripping mystery takes you to the secluded McAlpine Lodge, where every guest is hiding something. Lying, manipulation, and betrayal run deep in this toxic family, making them some of the most despicable characters you'll ever encounter.

As Will Trent and Sara Linton find themselves on their honeymoon at the lodge, they quickly realize that they're in the midst of a chilling murder investigation. With a killer on the loose and a storm cutting off all access, the tension reaches a fever pitch as everyone becomes a suspect.

The fast-paced narrative keeps you on the edge of your seat, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the shocking final reveal. If you're a fan of locked-room mysteries and complex, flawed characters, this must-read keeps you hooked from start to finish. But be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart, as it delves deep into dark themes and suspenseful thrills.

Special thanks to Killer Crime Club, Harper Collins Canada, for gifting me this e-arc via NetGalley. I wasn't obligated to write a review; all opinions are my own.

⚠️TRIGGER WARNINGS--Pedophilia, incest, sexual abuse, spousal abuse, rape, murder, drunkenness.

Everyone lies. Some do it to cover up shame, others to hide secrets. Some lie to avoid vulnerability, while others lie for control and manipulation, deriving pleasure from it.

GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton are recently married and on their honeymoon. Will had always wanted to go camping since his time in the orphanage, but he couldn’t because he couldn’t remember the Bible passages. He would hear the other kids talk about how great it was, camping around the campfire, singing, bonding, and being outdoors. Now, he finally has the chance to stay in a luxurious cabin with no Wi-Fi, no distractions, just enjoying his new bride, nature, and unplugging.

As newlyweds, Will and Sara decide to lie about their professions to distance themselves from their jobs and titles. They even get frisky and go skinny dipping late at night. Suddenly, they hear a cry for help and find Mercy McAlpine, the lodge manager, stabbed and dying in Will’s arms. With her dying breath, she asks Will to convey her final thoughts to her son, Jon.
Will and Sara break the tragic news of Mercy’s murder to the entire McAlpine family. Shockingly, no one seems surprised or concerned. Stunned, Will and Sara are drawn into this bizarre situation, determined to solve Mercy’s murder. Adding more fuel to the fire, someone from Will’s past appears, leading to an ugly confrontation. The layers of lies everyone tells are even uglier, with the biggest lies being the most disturbing. The family isn’t the only one with secrets; the guests are full of them too. Could one of them be the killer?

This book is a must-read if you love thrilling mysteries and twists that linger long after you finish. Although it’s part of the Will Trent series, I had no problem following it as a standalone.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Every year I feel so incredibly lucky that we get another installment in the world’s greatest crime series. THIS IS WHY WE LIED is book TWELVE in the most addictive series and I have been hooked for years. My only regret is not discovering her books sooner!

I loved Slaughter’s unique spin on a locked room mystery and the atmospheric setting. This was probably my least favorite in the series just because it was slower paced and Faith Mitchell played a smaller role than I would have preferred, but it’s still an amazing five star read!

If you want to become a member of the Slaughter Squad, here’s my unsolicited advice:

GOOD IDEA - technically you could start with THIS IS WHY WE LIED, but it’s a little different from the rest of the series and you won’t already be obsessed with the characters.

BETTER IDEA - start with the series with TRIPTYCH (book one) or FRACTURED (book two).

BEST IDEA - start from the very beginning with Grant County book one, BLINDSIGHTED. I’ve been talking about her books for years and have never convinced someone to start and finish an eighteen book series but I’m trying!

If you want to start with a standalone, THE GOOD DAUGHTER is my very favorite!

🎧all of her books are amazing on audio, especially those narrated by Kathleen Early (luckily, almost all of them are!)

Finally, a petition for Will and Sarah to get a proper honeymoon!!

🥳pub day: AUGUST 20th
Thank you the publisher for the gifted copy!

After 12 books, I can truly say that I still LOVE this series and our main/side characters so much. I just love this world Karin Slaughter has built and so appreciate all the work that went into building the life that is Will Trent.

I couldn't be happier for a fictional character the way I am for Will getting married to Sara and for them getting to go on their honeymoon. Of course, we can't have the happy without a side of *murder* so even though they definitely didn't mean to, they end up playing a game of clue with a big cast of characters and a whole wide range of motives.

Not sure about everyone else but with so many possible suspects, I spent the entire book pointing fingers and giving my husband a run down of my theories only to be proven wrong over and over. There were the obvious ones and the not so obvious (which def blew my mind!).

I was a little worried we weren't gonna get any Amanda and Faith action but luckily, we do get some facetime with them.

Overall, super satisfied with the ending and a little sad it is over. Always so excited when we get a new Will Trent book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

This Is Why We Lied by @karinslaughterauthor

It’s hard to put into words the feeling of being back with Will & Sara & Faith & Amanda — it’s like an instant boost to my mental state 😂

TIWWL is the 12th (!!!!) book in the Will Trent series and I LOVED IT. If you haven’t started this series, get going now. And if you feel slightly overwhelmed at the number of books you have to commit to, please just know that we finally convinced @naesreadingnook to read them and she started like two weeks ago and finished this one last night 😂😂😂😂 and it was her favorite! All this to say, they are addicting!

We get a little different “feel” in this one than the others, where Slaughter gives us a bit of a locked room mystery — on a secluded cabin retreat where Will & Sara just happen to be honeymooning 😻

What you’re getting:
🔪 a murder early-on that we get to solve
🔪 Will & Sara putting all the other lovebirds to shame ☺️
🔪 small town secrets, family alliances
🔪 Faith being Faith (the best and making me LOL)
🔪 the most clever storyline
🔪 dark & twisty

The weave she wove 👏🏼 I did not see that ending coming and I felt all the emotions! Shock, sadness, disgust, relief. @karinslaughterauthor I’m not sure how you do it but I’ll be sure to ask ALL the questions when I see you at Quail Ridge later this month 😜

Perfection 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Out Aug 20th!! A million thank you’s to @williammorrowbooks for the gifted finished copy.

Some truly evil characters and some who just got caught up with them are found in This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter. Will Trent and Sara continue to make a great crime solving team. This book was very hard to put down.

Karin Slaughter is ALWAYS five stars for me, and I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book. In my personal opinion, it's been way too long since we had a new Will Trent book. I'm so attached to Will, Sara, and Faith. Karin Slaughter always pulls off a great mystery and she isn't afraid to get dark, which I really enjoy even though sometimes it makes me wince. This is one of those that got REAL messed up. Or maybe I'm just extra sensitive when it comes to kids. Either way, loved it, devoured it, five stars once again!

A riveting detective thriller by an amazing author! This is well-written, gripping, fast-paced and full of shocking twists - I couldn’t put it down!!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'm such a gigantic Karin Slaughter fan. I've read all of her books and absolutely LOVE the Grant County and Will Trent series. I've listened to almost all of them on audiobook and Kathleen Early is such an amazing narrator! So I'm always happy to read a new Will Trent - This is Why We Lied is book #12 in the series.

I really enjoyed this one - I love that Will and Sara finally got married! While this has all of your usual Karin - murder, horrible crimes, violence, deeply troubled people and Will trying to solve the crime, this was much tamer than some of her previous books. However, the end was a bit of a shock.

Karin's writing is just SO good. I will always read everything she writes and she has the best characters with such interesting plots that I don't know how she comes up with them.

A huge thanks to William Morrow for my copy!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Karin Slaughter delivers yet another masterful thriller with *This Is Why We Lied*. From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The secluded cabin retreat that was meant to be a dream honeymoon for Will Trent and Sara Linton quickly turns into a harrowing nightmare, and Slaughter expertly builds the tension with every twist and turn.

The atmosphere of McAlpine Lodge is perfectly rendered—a seemingly idyllic, off-the-grid mountaintop hideaway that becomes suffocatingly claustrophobic as the storm rages and the body count rises. The isolation of the setting amplifies the suspense, making every character's secret feel like a ticking time bomb ready to explode.

Slaughter’s portrayal of Will and Sara’s relationship amidst the chaos is both tender and raw, grounding the story with an emotional depth that makes you root for them even more. The investigation into Mercy McAlpine’s murder is riveting, with each revelation peeling back layers of lies and deceit, keeping you guessing until the very end.

What I love most about this book is the complexity of the characters. Everyone is hiding something, and as Will and Sara dig deeper, the lines between victim and perpetrator blur in fascinating ways. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the pace never lets up, leading to a heart-pounding conclusion that left me breathless.

If you’re a fan of gripping, atmospheric thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, *This Is Why We Lied* is an absolute must-read. Karin Slaughter has outdone herself with this one—don’t miss it!

Thank you Karin Slaughter, William Morrow, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!