Let me start off by saying that my review is biased. I really enjoy this series and this was another solid installment. I was happy to be back in the world of these characters and watch them solve a crime. Thus, my 4.5 star rating is colored by these facts. Was this the best book I have read this year. Probably not, but I am happy that I read it and look forward to the next one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

YOU GUYS! I cannot tell you the absolute JOY it brings me to be back in a world with Will and Sara. If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with this series- shout out to my girlie @kell.of.a.read for getting me hooked on it back in 2022!

Given that this is the 12th book in the series, there isn't really anything I can say that isn't a spoiler for the rest of the books, but let me just say... if you are STILL sleeping on Will Trent, JUST START! You won't be sorry. Every book has a little bit of everything you could want from a fantastic read centered around a nice murder (obviously) and a touch of romance (duh).

Each book in this series just builds on the previous one, and the character development for every👏🏼single👏🏼character👏🏼 over the course of the series is 👩🏻‍🍳💋 This book hooked me from the very beginning and my ONLY complaint is I missed some of the supporting characters in the first half of the book.

Ok, ok I'll stop talking about Will and friends... for now 😉 But do yourself a favor and snag this book when it is out on 8/20!

Book review 📖

📜This Is Why We Lied
✍️Karin Slaughter
📠William Morrow
📚 Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: August 20, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @williammorrowbooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨McAlpine Lodge was supposed to be a secluded and relaxing retreat, a perfect honeymoon getaway for Will and Sara. Some might say it’s too secluded, as the only way to get to the mountain-top cottages is to hike. Some might also say it’s the perfect spot to commit cold-blooded murder.

✨A earth-shattering scream has Will running through the woods, only to find Mercy McAlpine dying from stab wounds. Mercy, the manager of McAlpine Lodge, has many secrets she took with her to her grave.

✨With a killer amongst them on the top of the mountain, Will and Sara must investigate buried secrets and uncover a myriad of lies from a large cast of characters.

✨Karin Slaughter is a golden pillar in the author world and I wouldn’t expect anything short of a an amazing read from her.
This Is Why We Lied is a Will Trent series, a little different from others in the series. This one wasn’t my favorite plot and at times it was a little confusing piecing together who was who, considering the amount of characters. I typically love Karin Slaughter, though, and will continue to read this series!

#netgalley #thisiswhywelied #karinslaughter #williammorrowbooks #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #ivegotbooks #idratherbereading #thrillerfiction #summerreleases #willtrentseries

I really enjoyed this book even though I haven't read any other in the series. There is quite a bit of abuse and violence throughout the book which is hard to stomach. There is also a very dysfunctional family--probably the most I've ever read about. Lots of content warnings here. At times it was difficult to read about Mercy, knowing all the horrible things that had happened to her, and knowing her eventual murder.

Will and Sara have finally gotten away on their honeymoon when romance is cut short with a scream.Solving a murder at this isolated resort is hampered as family and guests all have reason to lie. Series fans will appreciate new insights into Will’s past but those new to the Will Trent series will find this an accessible entry point. A convoluted, satisfying read by Karin Slaughter.

Posted in Goodreads and on Facebook

Karin Slaughter.....Enough said! She once again rocked the book. The thrills, the lies, the secrets, right until the very end! She did not disappoint!

She has done it again! MY GOSH. There are several reasons why Karin Slaughter is my favorite author & I can now add another to my list. I'm not a locked room mystery kind of person. I've never met one I've liked...until now. This next book in the Will Trent series did not disappoint. Per usual, it was tense, thrilling, fun, but also dark & sick (in the best of ways, of course), with characters you love to hate, and characters you just straight-up love. Seriously, there will be a huge hole in my heart the day this series comes to an end. But more about this novel....

No one does characters quite like Karin. No matter what kind of person they are, they're well written, well developed, and never half-assed. If you're going to hate them, you're going really FEEL that hate. If you like them, you'll feel it, not just think it. That's one of the reasons this was the first locked in thriller to ever work for me. And holy hell...that ending. I was so proud of myself for thinking I had figured it out. Little did I know, the WHO was only a small part of what I'd find out. My jaw was on the floor! This was sooooo very good!

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow Books for this AMAZING ARC!

It’s to be expected that Will’s and Sara’s honeymoon is interrupted with a murder. Slaughter beautifully describes the surroundings and buildings of the upmarket camp. Unfortunately the owners are a dysfunctional backstabbing secret ridden family and watching the murder unfold is like watching a train wreck -you can’t stop. I appreciated the insight into Will’s childhood and his partner Faith’s relationship is very funny. There is sure to be demand for this title given the TV series, but it is a page-turner in its own right. Part of a long-running series this still can stand alone. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow, for an early reader’s copy of This is Why We Lied.

The story started well, but then went downhill into the depths of depravity – not just one element, but all the characters, in one way or another. “Dysfunctional family” doesn’t even begin to describe the McAlpine family members who are central to the book. Pedophilia, incest, sexual abuse, spousal abuse, rape, murder, drunkenness fill every page.

I think I read about 1/3 and simply couldn’t stomach any more.

First off - this is number 12 (I think) in the series and I have not ready any in the series - so thank GOODNESS Karin Slaughter writes these in a way that they can be read as standalones or as the series. I didn't feel like I missed anything with this being my first Will Trent read.

Secondly - Karin Slaughter is the queen of the dark/mind bendy/twisted thrillers.

This was darrrrrrrrrrrk. When the twist at the end was revealed, my jaw dropped and I gasped out loud. I didn't see that twist coming even though I figured out the killer fairly easily, that didn't take away from the reveal at all. This was so good. If you like Slaughter's writing, you'll like this.

My only gripe - the chapters are SO freaking long. At times, my Kindle would tell me 32 minutes left in chapter and I wanted to vomit. The story was amazing, but this girl needs short chapters.

Karin Slaughter has written a masterpiece of a who done it! The killer is not revealed until the last chapter and we are kept guessing until the bitter end.

Once again we have Sara Litton, Will Trent and Faith Mitchell back working to solve another grisly murder. Sara and Will have gotten married and are on their honeymoon in the Georgia mountains at a remote resort. Mercy McAlpine is murdered and dies in Wills arms on the lakefront.

There are 3 couples who are guests and multiple family members and staff all staying at the resort. Everyone’s a suspect. And an old classmate of Wills has married into the family and immediately begins antagonizing Will. This brings back all his horrific memories of child abuse in the children’s home he grew up with. Sara is sickened and wants to leave but is drawn to Mercy’s 16 year old son Jon. And wants to help him.

This is my favorite line from the book. “ life makes you pay for your personality”. This is totally true in this story and in real life. Karin Slaughter is the master of creating the most diabolical characters that I have ever read and this book has two of the worst. The abuse that Mercy suffers through is horrific. And yet she is trying to be her best self up until her last breath.

I enjoyed reading this book but the depravity of these characters was a lot. Thankfully we have Sara to balance out all the evil and Amanda to lock up these criminals for the rest of their miserable lives.

Arc received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

3.75 round up to 4 stars for me on This one!
I think my mind has been in a little funk so it was hard to capture my attention on this one but I still really enjoyed this book and the Will Trent series so far. The good thing about reading this series though is that any of them you can read as a standalone and not have to have read all of them (which I will be honest and say I haven't read them all ) but all have been good from what I have read!

It was nice to see that both Sara and Will finally tie the knot though! Lots of action and tension going on with the case with Mercy. I liked the use of going back and forth between present and the past. The time before the occurrence happened. Everyone is lying and you dont know who to believe so you never knew who or what to believe and who had done it! Definitely was always a mystery on who it was the whole time!
There were a few trigger warnings though throughout the book so gotta keep an eye on that such as some domestic violence, some addiction issues and a few others.

Overall good book, def a who did it mystery thriller!

This is my first Karin Slaughter book and it will NOT! Be the last. I have already started searching her catalog for what i can read next. This book was perfect! Kept me on the edge of my seat with all of the twists and turns. I just loved it so much!

Wow!!! You want suspense? Twists? This is the book for you!!! I’m pretty sure my mouth was open several times!!

Will and Sara are on their honeymoon. A resort that is only accessible by hiking, it is family owned and operated. All couples attend and they do dinner and events together, no kids. Will and Sara decide not to tell the others they are a cop/medical examiner crime fighting team normally. But they find themselves in a murder mystery.

Very Agatha Christie locked room- there are only so many people on the property that could have committed the murder that happens in the first few pages. A couple of twists and red herrings, this was well-paced and good characters. I like the way the story unfolded. This is my first time reading Karin Slaughter. I will definitely read more, I like her writing style.

Two main complaints- I guessed the killer immediately, there is a clue right after the murder that is just too, too obvious. I almost never guess the killer. Secondly; the big reveal in the end is too, too cringe. No spoilers. But ew.

Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the ARC. Book to be published August 20, 2024.

Holy thriller this was Ah-Freaking-Mazing! There’s a whole bunch of family drama set in a locked room-type thriller, but make it woodsy. You quickly understand why practically everyone had a motive for the murder. Although you already know Mercy is the one who dies, you can’t help but root for her. I knew things would end badly for her, but I so badly wanted her to win. There were times when my heart was racing! Now that is the mark of an incredible thriller. Karin Slaughter is stunned with this new addition to the Will Trent series.

Ok, so I’m giving this a 4 for the writing, but it’s a 3 as a story for me. I want to be clear that this is only because I found the subject content very hard to read. This book has the love able character of Will as the lead. He just got married to Sara, who is also well developed. The couple are on their honeymoon when one of the owners of the property where they are staying is murdered. The rest of the story is an intriguing who dun-nit mystery. The issue is, there is a lot of child abuse and incest in this book. It was too much for me, but may be an easier read for others. Just know what you are getting into!

It shouldn't be any surprise that Will and Sara would have an unconventional honeymoon. This nod to Agatha Christie and her locked room mysteries draws the reader in. Slaughter develops quite a cast of characters, including a truly dysfunctional family. She also does a great job describing what life in a small town is like and how difficult it is to move on from past mistakes in that type of environment. There were many twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the end.

Will and Sara spend their honeymoon at an isolated resort in rural Georgia. Their first night ends with the murder of the resort host. Will and Sara embark on a mission to solve the murder and uncover what's really happening in the Georgia underbelly.

I am so happy to have a new book from Karin, and a new book in the Will Trent series. I've been missing him since the TV series is on summer hiatus. It sucks when someone is murdered on your honeymoon at a remote cabin! I HATE when that happens.
I love love love Will and Sara.... however... they were so goopy and happy and in love and I thought THANK GOODNESS SOMEONE DIED because I almost couldn't take it.
Again, this is classic, CLASSIC Karin Slaughter, though either I am getting used to her style or this book wasn't as grisly as her previous books have been. This is Why We Lied was excellent- gripping, emotional, layered, enjoyed all the way through. Seemed.... long? But also not long enough because Will Trent.
Just... poor Mercy. Somebody needed to rescue that poor girl.