I Never Lie

After a, somewhat, slow start I Never Lie hit me; unless in unplanned situations, alcoholics could function very well.. We're following Alex who, after a miscarriage, fled to London to start over. As a freelance journalist her carreer can be made with one story and broken with the next.
When she hits a rough patch in her personal life, she hits the jackpot as a journalist: A serial killer is on the lose, very very close to where Alex lives..

As someone who lives pretty close with a (not at all functional) alcoholist, it was difficult to sympathise with Alex, though reading about her daily struggle was enlighting to say the least. As for the other main character, that was a little creepy; loved it! Both POV's were well built, it did the story good to switch between 'dear diary' and Alex. The plottwists were not too predictable, except for the few you could see from a mile down.
Overall I really enjoyed this read, it was well built, after a slow start I basically 'flew' through it and it kept me on the tip of my seat throughout most of the story.
A big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this!

I Never Lie Jody Sabral

Split between the current day, and diary entries from last year, this is one of the most original plots I have ever read.

Alex South is a 39-year-old alcoholic. She is also a TV journalist who is has already had one “episode” on live TV.

When a woman is found murdered, in a park just around the corner from her house, Alex gets another chance and is sent with her cameraman and producer to the crime scene.

This is the third woman to be killed in similar circumstances in a few weeks and the press are saying there’s a serial killer on the streets.

The book is written in the first person from Alex’s point of view. The struggles of getting through the day without appearing drunk, trying to keep the balance between the sober shakes, and the outward drunk.

She struggles with panic attacks and blackouts. Her memory is shot, and things she did 24 hours ago are hazy at the least.

But she’s functioning, she’s managing to carry herself professionally, and convinces herself that she will get sober……one day. But first she needs to be the investigative reporter on-the-spot for the serial killer murders.

This book is brilliant. Jody Sabral is a journalist and so she knows the business, and it shows in the realism of this story. But what really puts this book above the others is the realism with which she treats the alcoholism of Alex.

The self-destructive cycle of life. Waking up in the morning convinced today will be a sober day, but reaching for wine instead of coffee, and there’s always a justification.

The pure panic when no booze is available. The waking up, sometimes next to a complete stranger, and having no idea who they are, or how you got to bed, and then actually finding comfort in somebody just being there.

The walking out of a shop with a bottle of wine, or vodka, in your bag you had no intention or recollection of buying

The water bottle with vodka in it.

The belief that you’re fooling the people around you.

I loved this book. The story is great, the characters are really well written, and I didn’t get anywhere near guessing the end.

Pages: E-book 951KB
Publisher: Canelo
Publishing Date: 11 June 2018

Alex South is a tv reporter and fully functioning alcoholic who is struggling to rebuild her career after a rant on live tv.She is handed a chance to redeem herself when the body of a young woman is found in a park near Alex`s home.Within the next few weeks two more bodies are discovered,both having been killed using the same method.Alex finds herself caught up in the biggest story of her career,a front page headline grabbing story that could cause her Twitter followers count to explode.She needs to be on top of her game,she`s fine! she`s in control of her drinking,no way is she an alcoholic! But why does she keep having blackouts and being left with no memory of what she has done during the missing time.As the story she is covering starts to creep into her life,is Alex a danger to herself - or to others.

Alternating between Alex`s story in the present day and `Dear Diary` chapters that start a year before in 2017,this is a gripping story of addiction,denial,obsession and revenge.Alex is a complex character who spends every day insisting that she is going to detox but always seems to find any reason to have just one more drink.The authors descriptions of the secretive and deceitful life of a addict where vivid and realistic.The blackouts,the gin filled water bottle,the fear and despair Alex felt when she couldn't find any alcohol,Alex suddenly discovering she had a bottle in her hand or bag that she couldn't remember picking up.Not being an addict myself,I found Alex`s self destructive behaviour very frustrating and to be honest the constant mentioning of detoxing was quite repetitive at times.The italicized Dear Diary parts of the story were intriguing and quite creepy.This person's back story was quite sad but who was narrating the diary and how did they fit into the story?

The story is well written and keeps the reader guessing,the killer could be any one of a number of characters.Although the story isn't action packed,it does have plenty of twists and turns,red herrings and short snappy chapters that hold the readers attention and give you a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome.

Really believable and authentic portrayal of alcoholism and the battle people can have with regards to this. I enjoyed the two voices and the different way the story was told. I thought it kept the pace throughout and I wanted to finish it to find out what happened but then disappointed when I finished- always a good sign.

Mixed feelings about this book. It was a real page turner and the character of Alex certainly held your attention. the issue I have with the book is that it was really all about the booze, Alex is an alcoholic in denial, the constant need for a drink and the constant reference to the need for a drink become a little tiresome. The "water bottle"of booze is familiar to anyone who has ever lived with an alcoholic and indeed is very hard hitting because it is hidden in plain view.

The twist at the end came as a bit of a surprise and the book is all the better for it. I would have liked a bit more about the reasons the four women were "chosen" and a bit more of the crime drama, if I am honest. The obsessions of the addictive personality and the endless need for self justification and indeed self denial are well portrayed and sad in themselves.

This is not my usual type of book and I am very grateful to the publishers (Canelo) and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read it in advance of publication. The views expressed are my own

To me, a rather powerful story centred around journalist Alex who is an alcoholic in denial. Alex uprooted her life in Manchester a year earlier after a traumatic incident, compounded by her alcoholism, and took a new job as a TV crime reporter in London. She needed the drastic change to get her life back on track. That hadn't been going very well until a murder very close to her home. She convinced the channel that she could do this and give her career the boost it needs - which it does.

As the story unfolds you realise how bad Alex's life is, literally lunging from one day into the next with every new day being the one she is going to detox, start again, and have the life she longs for.

The murder mystery around the story is very overshadowed by Alex's lifestyle but I felt it was well written and pulled you into having hope for Alex and Sarah getting the help they both needed.

Alcoholism and the rebounding effects from this are the centre point to this book along side the gripping reality of a potential serial killer, stalking women on a dating app.
I literally read the book cover to cover in a day. Thought it was well composed and thought out.
Shall be adding this writer to my watch list for new releases in the future.

Alex is an alcoholic. She denies it to herself but she is. In order to get through the day she swipes booze from wherever she can: other people's houses, shops, hotel mini bars. She has a stash hidden around her house. Her life is falling apart as her addiction is affecting her job (she is a TV reporter) and her personal life (she has split up from her long term partner after a miscarriage). Instead of enjoying a successful career and family life she is always on edge about her job and uses dating apps to hook up with strangers in desperate attempts to get pregnant. She has just spent the night with one (who strangles her in a horrible sex scene) when news comes in that a third body has been found near to where she lives and she grabs this opportunity to revive her career. Her narrative is interspersed with diary entries from another woman, also an alcoholic who is obsessed with Alex. This helps us fill in some of Alex's missing back story; as an alcoholic she is prone to blackouts and has huge holes in her memory. I enjoyed this novel, finding Alex to be a sympathetic protagonist. The obvious comparison to be drawn is with The Girl on the Train but I thought this was better. I really liked the details about social media and how it can be used to track people down and keep tabs on what they're doing. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

This is centred on the effects of alcoholism and Jody Sabral has obviously done a lot of research to write about such a topic in a really readable manner. The story begins with one murder and then is followed closely by three more. Alex as the crime reporter endeavours to solve these murders but finds herself heavily embroiled in the victims lives and because of her alcoholism does not know how to cope other than by lying to everyone. The book has been written in a fairly unique style as it is written in the present and diary entries from the past. It is not until the end that the diary entries author becomes clear which adds to the enjoyment of continually trying to calculate the true murdered. This was a very well thought out book that left me as a reader not wanting to put it down until the end.

With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

High functioning alcoholic Alex South had her own radio programme in Manchester. After suffering a miscarriage she left her fiance Greg and moved down to London . Alex now works in television but her career is in freefall after a drunken rant on TV.

The story begins on Alex's birthday when she wakes up in bed with a hangover from hell, laying beside her is Neil who she the night before over the internet. Later that day Alex discovers that the body of a unknown female had been found in a park close to her home. The body could be linked to the unsolved murders of Jade Soron and Maggie Horrocks. Seeing this as a chance to redeem her she rings the newsroom and volunteers to go straight to the crime scene.

Alex finds out that next to the body was a gym membership card in the name of Sarah Wilcox. The police try to trace Sarah but cannot find her. The body is later identified as Alice Fessy who regularly met dates on the internet. As Alex reports on the crimes her drinking increases causing her to blackout and waking hours later with injuries.

The story was told from the POV of Alex and Dear Diary excerpts from an unknown person from 2017 to the present day. I Never Lie was more about Alex's descent into alcoholism then the murders, I would of liked the POV of DI Brooks the detective in charge of the investigation.

I did not like Alex but but I was sorry she depended on alcohol to get through the day. My favourite character was her friend and next door neighbour Charlie who tried to look after her. The story went at a steady pace with plenty of red herrings. I was sure I guessed the cliff hanger to this tale but I only got it half right. The ending was clever but I would of liked a more cut and dried ending instead of leaving it to make my own conclusions.

Overall I did enjoy this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Story of Alex, a permanent drunkard, struggling to do her job of reporting through a drunken haze. When murderers occur of local women in her neighbour, she gets herself on the story. The latest victim is known to Alex and she is determined to solve the murder mystery. Story is told from Alex's view with excerpts from a diary of an unknown person. Gripping story with Alex's drink problems well described, great characters and a shock ending makes this a must read!

A twisted tale of addiction and denial. Easy to read, fast paced and as addictive as it's content. A thoroughly modern thriller, with a satisfying conclusion. I read this in one sitting. Excellent book

I was a little unsure about this book in the beginning but I was soon gripped by the fast paced storyline. This book provided the fine line between uncomfortable reading about likeable characters and a compulsive need to read more that makes such great reading.

Alex is an alcoholic trying to hold down a job as a television reporter. Her personal life is a mess. A spate of murders occur near to where she lives and suddenly her career is back on track. However, the drinking is getting worse and she has times where she can remember nothing of where she has been and who she has seen. As the murders begin to have connections to herself is she in danger or is she the danger?

This is a very good book with a strong story line that makes you want to keep on reading.. For over half the book I thought 'yes, a bit predictable, I know who is the culprit'. Then about 75% through my initial prognosis appeared to have been blown out of the water but at the very end I was proved almost right! This is well worth a read if you are into mystery thrillers. Didn't give it 5 stars as I didn't think the 'was I or wasn't I involved' feelings did not materialise soon enough in the book (I expected this from the book summary). I generally have an aversion to books where the main character is a woman in her thirties who continually does things that make you wonder why. However this is different as the lead is already an alcoholic but who makes valiant attempts to overcome the addiction.

A great novel!

Our main character is a flawed person, on a path of self destruction. It was very interesting to read this and see what was actually going on. Full of tense moments

Never underestimate the horrific grip of addiction. It shows how easy it is convince ourselves that we are 'normal' and how we choose to ignore/disbelieve what others tell us. Gripping and compelling.

I got an advanced copy through netgalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which had me gripped me very quickly. This was a proper page turner reminiscent of The Girl on the Train.

Like TGOTT, this book is about a functioning alcoholic, devastated after a miscarriage and the end of a relationship. Alex is also a TV journalist, reporting on a potential serial killer.

I agree with a previous reviewer about the cover/blurb highlighting a potential plot twist in a somewhat pointless manner.

I would definitely read books by this author again.

Alex a former DJ with her own radio show in Manchester has now moved to London and is becoming a respected news reporter for a major broadcasting network. Well she would be if she could get control of her drinking issue which is part of the reason she had relocated on the back of a miscarriage and also breaking up with Greg her former finance, this was a year ago. Now it's about turning her life around which has already had one epic fail when she was making a live report whilst under the influence and started ranting on about the government hence she had been working at a desk making and researching reports rather than airing them. However the finding of a body just around the corner from her home opens the door to a live report that begins to open doors to prime time reports she just has to get her drinking under control long enough to do her work and make a name for herself but as anyone suffering from alcoholic addiction will know that is not a easy task.
This is a extremely well written and informed book that treats its subject matter incredibly well it's about a series of murdered girls with connections to on-line dating sites and a date rape drug but you need to read the rest so i won't say any more about the story line. It is another of those books you won't want to put down but makes you uncomfortable as a true thriller must to fulfil its requirements but this does so much more as the twist build and turn you upside down and you will never truly know what's next until it's finished and then you can breath again.
This book is a highly recommended book in my view and if you like your thrillers to feel real with truly believable characters and plausible plots then this is for you. Obviously you don't expect that many murders around the corner to you but sometimes the facts or possibilities just happen. I was given this copy of Jody's book from NetGalley and here is my honest review I hope you enjoy it as much as i have.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book. It definitely transcends genre conventions with character development, and gives a wonderfully accurate picture of high-functioning alcoholism, even though the ending was a bit obvious. Better read as a novel than a thriller

This was a great read. A real page-turner that kept me gripped throughout.

I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

I thought the whole concept of this book was very interesting. There was s whole story within the life of the main protagonist, and adding in the murders made for a very complex tale. There were a number of threads, but very easy to keep the strands going, and they knitted together fabulously at the end to make an extremely satisfying result. This is my first book by Jody Sabral, but it definitely won't be my last.

Interesting take on a psychological thriller . I liked the way that it intersperses diary entries ( you quickly work out who’s diary it is) with the narration of Alex,a journalist who is also high functioning alcoholic in denial about her problems. How reliable is her recollection of the events surrounding the murders of women in her locality that she is reporting on ? Her lack of honesty about her past life and her drinking to others and herself actually make her more endearing and human than I at first thought . You end up willing her to sort herself out ,unlike Sarah the other alcoholic who I found it hard to warm too. Believable account of modern day life pressures and enough to put you off internet dating!

A fantastic book. I especially liked that the main character was very dysfunctional, but more than that, the author chose not to put in some soppy superhero to save her and fill the pages with silly love scenes! A very gritty read that kept it real throughout. Excellent.

Enjoyable read that keeps you guessing to the end. Alex main character is realistic and found myself routing for her to have. a happy ending.

It took me a little while to get into this, but when I did I couldn't put it down. It was an unusual plot focusing on a high profile TV journalist who juggles this extremely pressured job with being an alcoholic. It was interesting to see how her career, her alcoholism and the high profile story she was covering interlock in an intriguing way.
Whilst reading it, I couldn't decide who the killer was, and had various suspects in mind, but it wasn't until just before the end that I worked out who it was, but not the whole scenario! I would definitely recommend this and it was great to be able to read it before it was published.

An interesting and informative insight into the life of an alcoholic and the importance of The AA for those people affected. Needless to say a very interesting storyline about investigative journalism, thoroughly good and engrossing read, leaving the reader wanting more.

This book had me hooked but I did work out some of the twists before they were revealed.
Alex is a high functioning alcoholic and is currently off work following an on air drunken incident. There’s a murder just round the corner from her home so she calls the producer and asks to be the live reporter. She’s given a chance and makes it work - most of the time.
Alex needs her vodka with her each day and more in the evenings when the day has not gone to plan.
Soon four women have been murdered and it seems those closest to Alex are suspects. She can’t get her head round this and soon the situation spirals out of control.
There’s also chapters written in the form of a diary from a woman called Sarah, who Alex met many years ago when she was drinking more heavily.
This is a gripping read.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I'm not sure if it was intentional, but I thought this carefully crafted novel sent out a powerful message about the dangers of alcoholism especially those in denial and also the need to be vigilant on dating sites. Certainly, it gives an amazing insight into alcoholism. Alex Smith is a journalist, but because of her obsessive drinking problem, with vodka, she becomes unreliable absent-minded and disorganised. She stresses about losing her job. She lives from one drink to the next as she tries to "manage" drinking by detoxing. Deep down I think there is an underlying theme of isolation, loneliness, running out of childbirth years, and other factors prevalent in our modern society which is saddening. I learnt the shocking facts about the agonising grip alcohol has on Alex - fighting hard against her need and also on Sarah Wilcox who wanted the oblivion of gin to block out pain and memories but becomes a recovering alcoholic. Sarah tries AA and goes onto Rehab. Is it really SO expensive!!!? It crossed my mind several times that Alex was not too kind to everyone in a bid to escape herself. Was that her dilemma side-effect of the evil drink? Sobriety must be hard to maintain. The slightest thing and you are so vulnerable to hit the bottle. I was fascinated by the job of a journalist. A mix of excitement and nerve-wracking! There was humour, four dead bodies and loads o suspects. It's a food-for-thought novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo.

I found this to be a cracking read.

It's a very unusual storyline and an ending I didn't see coming.

Alex is the functioning alcoholic protagonist who is a TV journalist embroiled in a murder mystery. She blunders through each day in a way I found frustrating, sympathetic and intriguing, all in equal measure.

The writer is excellent at building suspense and I found it was one of those books that, even when I wasn't reading it, never really left me.
I recommend this murder mystery, whodunnit, with a difference and wish the author much future success.

Many thanks to net galley and Canelo for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

Alcoholism, murder, lies, intrigue are all found in this book. I loved the two person commentary. Following the life of a reporter and how she tried to find out who the murderer was. Very intriguing and exciting story. Thoroughly enjoyed this and would happily recommend.. Will be looking for more books by Jody Sabral.

Fantastic narration and storyline throughout. Loved the different viewpoints angle and a powerful message contained within

A story told through up to date details of a news reporter and a diary of someone she met and friended the year before. Who's the killer and is one of them to become a victim of the serial killer.

A well told, interesting story, which gives an insight into the world of the alcoholic, with the results of both drinking and the hard found sobriety following it.

I'm glad I read it.

It took me a little while to get into this, but when I did I couldn't put it down. Although a flawed character the book gives an idea of how a alcoholic can function on a day to day basis. The pressurised job that she had as a high profile TV journalist made everything worse. I couldn't decide who the killer was, and had various suspects in mind, a great twist at the end that I did not see coming. I would definitely recommend this.

This was a pacy, entertaining read and the main character's alcoholism was skilfully dealt with, engendering both sympathy and frustration. I found it harder to engage with the Dear Diary writer and her story arc felt slightly less convincing, but switching between the two narratives worked well.

Although the second half of the novel was a real page turner, the ending felt a little abrupt to me and I also found myself wondering about the title after I'd finished. It felt like a slightly odd choice for the story. But certainly an enjoyable read overall with a memorable main character and a fascinating insight into the world of crime journalism.

Loved this book. Lots of twists and turns, lot of suspense throughout, a good read and good easy read to as it keeps you going.
Loved the characters and loved the flow of the book.

I Never Lie makes for an enjoyable read, with short punchy chapters that will have you thinking "Just one more chapter" and as we all know that leads to sleep deprivation. But it's well worth every lost hour. The book is written between two characters - Alex and diary entries from Sarah. This adds to the intensity and need to keep turning the pages.
Alex South is a journalist, whose personal and professional life suffers because she is an alcoholic. This is the differentiating factor, to other psychological thrillers I have read. The author increases the awareness to the dangers of alcoholism, addiction denial and the extent someone such as Alex goes to, to feed the need for alcohol. It's definitely increased my awareness.
As Alex reports on a local suspected murder case, we learn that due to her addiction she suffers with memory loss and blackouts. This doesn't help the pressurised environment of her reporting live. But the cases, aren't all that they seem. A fourth body is found , and Alex soon begins to recall that she is connected to the individuals who have been murdered and those who are wanted for questioning.
This novel also increases awareness of the use of online dating sites, Alex is currently registered and dating men through the site under question. Are any of the men Alex had met recently responsible for the murders? Has she met the killer? Will she be the next one killed, or is she the killer? It's a real twisty read, and when Alex has a blackout, so do we as that part of the story is omitted. This gives a real feel for what Alex goes through.
As always no spoilers! If you like an easy reading thriller, with twists and turns then this one may be for you.
Thank you to Jody Sabral and Ellie (happy birthday for yesterday) at Canelo for our advanced review copy and invite to join the book tour.

Summer is here and this is a superb summer read for those of us who like a bit of darkness in the sunshine. Yep, it's surprisingly light for alcoholism and murder, and that makes it ideal for reading on a plane, beach, or park bench with your lunch. But just because it's a book that can be easily read amongst chaos and noise doesn't detract from the plot twisting thrills. Sabral manages a lot in the brief chapters.

Alex is a cleverly crafted character with fathoms of depth that slowly come into focus. In the first few pages, she seems a collection of well-worn tropes. We've seen the character setup numerous times before... but Alex is one of those that develops against the cliche. She is flawed in a human way. She is a character that frequently left me disappointed and annoyed in an ultimately satisfying way. And that is the treasure of this entire book - it frequently swerves the easy, traditional choices that can score easy points. Instead, it delivers a subtle sense of unease. Sabral seems intent on unsettling the reader by carefully playing with expectations. The simplicity of the book lulled me into a false sense of security, it made me expect the predictable, I was ready for every move to be signposted from across the park, but it never really happened. All of which resulted in a conclusion I would typically dislike - it was brief and brutal. In many books, I would call it rushed and unsatisfying, but here it left me pleasantly uncomfortable.

This is a book to breeze through, but one that lingers. I suspect I'll remember the feeling of reading it more than I will the story that I read, and I like that. It bodes well for next summer, I'll be tempted to pick it up again.

I enjoyed reading this book and was interested that the main character was an alcoholic. Our society today seems to accept drinking and it is good for an author to explore when things might just have gone too far. It was a well written story and I really didn't see the ending coming at all. Plus I did read the book in the space of a couple of days so I was quite addicted to the story!

This really is a compelling psychological thriller.and an insight into how a functioning alcoholic gets through her life. It's hard to know if Alex is endangering herself, or others. Is she a victim? Or the perpetrator? Or an interested bystander? So many questions. What is her relationship with Sarah? Why did she befriend her in the first place, and then ignore her. I found it fascinating to see how Alex could convince herself that today she wouldn't drink, she could be sober. And then her magic water bottle would appear, or she'd reach for the wine. And Sarah's dysfunctional relationship with her mother - I hadn't expected a well to do family. Many questions are thrown up as you go through the book. And while I didn't warm to any of the characters, I had a real interest in what was going to happen. Highly recommended. #netgalley #IneverLie

I have not actually finished reading this book yet (work gets in the way!), however, based on what I have read so far, I just wanted to say I am hooked (so much so, that I was reading at 5.45am this morning before the kids got up, to find out what is happening!) Without giving anything away...
Is Alex involved more than it seems? What about Greg, or Charlie, or Nigel? Why was Sarah so attached to Alex? Whose dating profiles are real, whose are fake... who is the killer?!!!!
Can't wait to finish the book, and hope the ending lives up to the suspense it has created so far!

A brilliant and well written book that will keep you hooked from page one. A gripping psychological thriller

I enjoyed this book, our main character Alex is an alcoholic and a news journalist, after a ropey live on air screening her career has been teetering on the edge. Young females have been getting murdered..... very close to where Alex lives, reporting on these murders could be Alex's last chance to continue her career... However, her drinking is getting more excessive and could the answer to the murders lie closer to home than she realises.

This book was well written and soon picked up pace. I liked the fact that it alternated between Alex and our other main character who's story was told via 'dear diary' extracts. The storyline was well thought out and I loved seeing how it built up towards the end.

I found this a compelling read although an uncomfortable one. Alex the main character is at times infuriating and at others I found myself deeply sorry for the mess she find's herself in. The author creates many other believable characters who I at times rooted for and at others despaired off. The use of two different but similar geographical locations was interesting. The only downside for me was at times those terrible and fraught events seemed skimmed over.
That said I enjoyed it and whilst the ending wasn't a total surprise it was riveting enough for me to finish.