The Lies I Tell

QUICK TAKE: I might have enjoyed this book more than Clark's previous book, THE LAST FLIGHT (which is an excellent thriller, btw). I really enjoyed the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the two female characters at the center, and thought this was a fun, twisty, soapy suspense story about women taking down very bad, no good men. If i had any issues, I wish there were some higher stakes as at no point was I concerned Meg wasn't going to pull off her plan, but it's a small quibble. Highly recommend!

Oh, this is sooo good. The story revolves around two women, becoming “friends” each with an ulterior motive. One a con artist, the other, the reporter planning to expose the big con. The characters are so subtly drawn and nuanced that the reader is empathetic to both.

I found myself totally engrossed in their stories. Meg and Kat are both fascinating characters. A subplot revolves around Kat’s fiancée, a compulsive gambler. I loved the character of the mark, with the reasoning selecting him becomes clear. Gradually, the reader’s sympathy is skewed in unexpected ways.

For those of us who loved her first novel, this one is even better! Don’t miss it and put it on your book club summer reading list. I think this is Avery satisfying book which is about not only the obvious, but also about women’s issues and empowerment.

Thank you Netgalley, loved this book.

In this exceptional character-driven book, you’re pretty sure how things are going to turn out, but watching the story unfold is truly and adventure you don’t want to end.

I fell in love with Julie Clark’s writing after reading The Last Flight. The Lies I Tell blew me away. The unreliable yet likable narrators, the whiplash-inducing twists, the perfectly paced plot, and an ending befitting every character in the book, make me want to shove it in the hands of all of my friends. Would be a great book club choice, too!

THE LIES I TELL
BY: JULIE CLARK

I read and loved Julie Clark's previous book called, "Her Last Flight." So I was so excited to see that she had written a new psychological thriller called, "The Lies I Tell," and this one was even better. That might not seem possible but it is absolutely true in my humble opinion. The pacing is fast and it drew me in right in the beginning and I was so engrossed in reading this it was done in one sitting. It has been expertly plotted and the characterization of two women named Kat and Meg was stunning. It begins with Meg's return to California with Kat out to expose Meg as the con artist she thinks Meg is. But as the narrative builds things are not at all as they seem. It was easy for me to sympathize and empathize with both women the deeper I got into their stories.

Kat had blamed Meg for a trauma that she suffered year's ago when she was trying to prove herself as a journalist but as time goes on she realizes that it wasn't the case. Meg is back in California and she is now posing as a realtor trying to get even with Ron who is running a race to become Senator. He robbed Meg and her now deceased mother of their family home.

I really enjoyed both women's background stories which is rare with two prominent female protagonist's. Usually when their are duel women alternating chapters I usually like only one or prefer to be interested in one of them more than the other. Not the case here. This is where Julie Clark succeeds to be able to make both Meg and Kat equally fascinating character's so that I loved both of them which made for a riveting read. I was totally immersed in this novel and can't praise it highly enough. Julie Clark just gets better with each new novel. This is one you will not want to miss.
Five Resounding Stars all of the way!

Publication Date: June 21, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Julie Clark and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheLiesITell #JulieClark #SourceBooksLandmark #NetGalley

What was a fast-paced, suspenseful story. Meg is a long-time grifter who, after many years conning people around the country, returns to Los Angeles to get revenge for her deceased mother. When Meg was young, her mother's boyfriend cheated her out of their house, which left her mother dead and Meg living in their van, and this is the man Meg is after. Kat is a reporter who has her own reasons for researching Meg, and when the two of them meet - not accidentally - they use each other to get what they want. Each of the women narrate part of the book, and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who the bad guy really was - I really felt sympathetic toward both women. Thank-you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Ms. Clark for the ARC of this wonderful title.

Julie Clark, author of the sensational book “The Last Flight” has done it again with this suspense thriller featuring two women. Meg is a con artist who changes her identity and name with each town she goes to before hitting her target and moving on leaving her victim with a lot less of their finances. Kat is a reporter who has been searching for Meg for years wanting to do a story exposing the truth about the woman who wreaked havoc on her life. Meg finally resurfaces and Kat is able to work her way into her circle to find out how she works, but what she learns is not what she was expecting.
This book alternates chapters between Meg’s story and Kat’s, bringing the two closer as their backstories unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Julie Clark's newest thriller, The Lies I Tell. It takes an amazing storyteller to create complicated characters like Kat and Meg, two women who have been burned in the past and decide to take justice - or revenge - into their own hands.

Kat is a reporter who ended up in a dangerous, life-changing situation after following a lead years before. She has never forgiven the informant who gave her the tip that brought her career to a crashing halt. Now she is a journalist writing top ten lists and searching for a way to expose Meg Williams for the con artist and fraudster that she knows her to be. Kat befriends Meg against the advice of her boyfriend Scott, a recovering gambling addict and detective who thinks that Kat is in way over her head.

Meg is a real estate agent/con artist who has traveled far and wide with the money that she has "earned" from scamming unsuspecting men. You would think that Meg would be unlikeable to say the least, but Clark makes it impossible to root against Meg, especially as we learn the motivations behind her inspired - and illegal- activity.

Get ready to stay up all night with some of the strongest female characters you'll ever meet. Five stars for this empowering, engaging new novel by master storyteller Julie Clark.

A delicious tale of intrigue! I highly enjoy the characters in the story of this book. The plot was incredibly engrossing. Great book!

You may not know this about me, but I often, in fact always, have about a dozen books going at once. I like to rotate from one to the next, not really buckling in until I'm about 3/4 of the way through, then finishing them off. Not so with The Lies I Tell, which had me from page one. So, here I am 16 hours (including a sleep and a football game) from the beginning, quietly closing the book at the last page with a big smile on my face.

If you were a fan of Julie Clark's "The Last Flight," and crave more smart women leading characters, you will NOT be disappointed in her new book, "The Lies I Tell."

Kat has spent the last ten years following the con artist Meg, after one lead led to disastrous consequences for her. Kat knows if she can uncover Meg's motivation and her big con, this will be the story that will headline her career as a journalist, maybe even land her a book deal.

However, Meg sees Kat coming and becomes her friend. But is she? Can she be trusted? Is it another con?

I LOVED this story and it left me gasping at the last few pages... I can't wait to see what else Julie Clark puts out, she's proven herself a master of suspense and mystery.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Julie Clark for this advance reader copy! My reading experience with The Lies I Tell was very much like my time with The Last Flight, Julie Clark’s debut thriller. Both feature: Strong and complicated female protagonists with a story to tell, a fast-paced read, and many crazy twists and turns! Also, why are men so terrible?! I didn’t expect to read this in a day, but I was so deeply immersed into the story the second I was introduced to the iconic character, Meg Williams. Ugh, I can’t give anything away, but I truly love her and her cunning tactics!

The Lies I Tell focuses on two women with alternating POV: Meg Williams and Kat Roberts. Meg Williams is a clever con artist who has returned to LA and Kat Roberts is ready to take on a story that could change her life as a reporter. Determined to expose Meg for her wrongdoings, Kat befriends Meg. As the saying goes…“Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” Ultimately, I really enjoyed both characters equally. I like that Julie Clark didn’t pin the characters against each other and that secrets and revelations were revealed in vulnerable and satisfying ways. This book will be a great summer thriller read – so excited for Julie Clark and what’s to come! Release date: June 21, 2022

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book so much, Julie Clark's last book 'The Flight Attendant' was good, this book "The Lies I Tell" is great.

I love, love, love any story written from conman's POV.

I was particularly fascinated by one segment of Meg's storyline, and all the small details Julie Clark provided to enrich the reading experience- poor homeless Meg and how determined she was to put a roof over her head. I really enjoyed about reading how she slept in the car, used her workplace's laundry, and how carefully she laid out the trap for Cory. So good, so fun, so interesting.

This was a new author for me and I will definitely be back for more! This book centers around 2 main characters- Meg and Kat. You learn early on that each has their own agenda for revenge. But just who exactly is their target? Thus begins the reader's journey of solving just which of these two characters is to be believed. The story is told through the alternating voices of Meg and Kat and throughout the book, we travel back and forth in time to discover what led each character to this point where their lives intersect. If you are the kind of reader who likes to connect to characters, this is the book for you. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Lie I Tell by Julie Clark.

The pacing of this story was on-point: fast-paced and suspenseful, I could not put it down. A fantastic thriller that follows con artist Meg and Kat, the reporter who has been researching her. 5 enthusiastic stars! Julia Clark nails it yet again!

Wow. Just... wow. What a way for me to end a truly tremendous year of reading!
I thought the author's last book (The Last Flight) was great, but this blew it out of the water. It's a well-crafted thriller, with two protagonists that have a little unreliability that I love in a narrator. So many twists and turns that kept me interested throughout- I finished the entire book in just a few hours. I could not put it down. Without spoiling anything, I'll say that the ending was both expected and unexpected, and wholly satisfying for the reader.
I would highly recommend this to others without hesitation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

I loved Last Flight! I wasn’t expecting that dear Julie Clark may write something even better! But she did! She literally rocked my world! Just like Last Flight, she focused on two different women character: one of them is a notorious con woman Meg who ruined reporter, non-published struggling author Kat’s entire world 10 years ago!

I never thought I could love an anti-heroine so much but Meg deserved each praise I may give! She was fighter, survivor, smart, patient, cunning, loyal to girl code, easy to resonate!
Interestingly I loved her more than Kat who is also suffering from big traumatic experience which affected to her relationships, career, life choices.

Meg: with different names and occupations returns back to LA after 10 years she’s been awol for a long time. People thought she left her predator older boyfriend who was taking advantage of under aged high school girls, laundering his money account as a vengeance plan. But Kat knows the real reason behind her abrupt leaving. Her imminent actions already changed Kat’s life. So she waited for her return for years and her patience is rewarded!

Meg returns as real estate agent, probably targeting very powerful politician and Kat is so determined to expose her secrets! Best way to accomplish this mission is keeping her enemy closer, befriending her, working as an assistant of her real estate company.

But what if the monster she thinks is just a survivor, giving the justice by punishing real villains who hurt lots of people! What if Meg is not the bad guy of this scenario?

I couldn’t put this book down. My eyes hurt. My stomach grumbles after seven hours nonstop wild ride ( don’t ask me how to handle my bladder issues) I loved it, loved it and lovveeeeed it!

The smart cameo of Last Flight’s characters at the chapter takes place at airport made me smile a lot!

This is already one of my favorite ( probably it guaranteed its place at my top 5) thrillers of 2022! I highly truly recommend it!

So many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I have had several friends recommend Julie Clark novels to me and I now officially know why! Wooowee, I always like getting lost in a fantastic thriller and The Lies I Tell captivated me from start to finish! Julie Clark brilliantly created a storyline with so many moving parts that you just can’t seem to find a good spot to stop reading for the night—so I literally didn’t lol! The characters were so realistic and gripping that I found myself daydreaming about their situations long after I finished the book! The Lies I Tell is a solid and complete 5 star read and Julie Clark is now on my must read list! After finishing The Lies I Tell, I immediately put her previously released novels on the top of my TBR list!

Absolutely one of the best books I've read all year....and I read 250 books this year.

I loved this cat and mouse story that revealed incrementally the relationship between Kat, a journalist and Meg, a con woman, over the course of ten years.

Electric and BRILLIANT.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Loved her 1st book and dove into this one as soon as I got it. Great characters and plot, loveeedd the storyline so much. Can't wait to see more in the future from her! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

As a big fan of The Last Flight, I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of Clark's latest book, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This book was equally as exciting and suspenseful. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and I found it quite a roller coaster. It was very stressful not knowing who the villain was at some points in the book. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy thrillers.

Absolutely fantastic book by Julie Clark. If only there were real people out there like Meg Williams:) I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a well crafted story with characters one can connect to. Also, if you like revenge-no, not revenge-justice to be served you will loved this book.

Sincere appreciation to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Marksmanship.

Swindle, Fleece, Rook, Snooker, Shaft, Dupe.

What do these words have in common?

This book!

The bigger question is: Who is the con and who is the prey?

With two savvy and unflinching female characters, I was caught in their circuitous web of deceit. Blurred lines, interchangeable roles, and other lying characters made for intrigue as I tried to ascertain who was conning who and what the ultimate goal was.

I love thrillers and especially these ‘Sting’ type sub-genres. With a clever, intricately built plot, each detail added to the final outcome and I loved guessing until the very end.

Julie Clark delivers again!

Her novel The Last Flight was a favorite last year and I loved it so much, I purchased a copy for my bookshelf and two more for friends. You know a book has made an impact when you can remember the details a year later.

Because of that, I was quick to request The Lies I Tell and ecstatic at receiving it. It’ll be a repeat for me to buy my own copy upon June 21, 2022 publication.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Clark, and Sourcebooks Landmark for my electronic advance review copy.

This book was a fast paced, well written
and suspenseful.... The characters were well written, realistic and likeable despite their faults. You think you know which direction the book is going in and all the sudden plot twist! I would definitely recommend, solid 5 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC on exchange for a unbiased review.

Meg has always wanted one thing in her life, revenge on those that have wronged her or others. When she comes back to her hometown to her next target, she meets someone from her past. Kat thinks she will be able to expose Meg and all she has done, but really it’s Meg that saves Kat and teaches her a thing or two along the way. Great read!

I adored The Last Flight so I was sure I would love this one too and I did! The novel revolves around two women, Kat and Meg who become "friends" even though one is a con-artist and the other is trying to make her way as a serious journalist. But they actually have quite a bit in common so their friendship seems somewhat solid. Vacillating back and forth in time, we see how they met, and how the future will impact their lives as well as the lives of the men who've wronged them. Friendship, revenge, deception, and misguided trust are all themes that Clark delves into with a fabulous, twisted plot that you won't see coming! Can't wait for her next one!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Once again Julie Clark has another winner! From the first page I was hooked. Even though i figured out the ending, it was a quick, fun read.

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

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

Julie Clark has done it again. She sucked me right in from the first page and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. She manages to keep me guessing until the very end with her twists.

Wow! The Lies I Tell is an unputdownable domestic thriller. Meg Williams is a con artist. She has gone by many different names, and she will be whoever she needs to be to get the job done. Kat Roberts is a journalist who won’t rest until she exposes Meg for who she is. Both are determined to enact revenge for past wrongs.

The characters were really complex. Even though Meg is a con artist, I felt really drawn to her. It was amazing to see her cons played out step by step and all the research and planning she did. I really felt like I was seeing into the mind of an actual con artist.

The writing was brilliant. This one should be at the top of everyone’s TBR pile.

This book grabbed my attention right away and kept it through out. It kept me guessing. I'm not usually a fan of books that jump back and forth between characters viewpoints but this one was well done. Kat has been waiting a long, long time to find Meg. Read on to find out why, and if she gets the closure she has been desperate for. I definitely recommend this book.

I don’t want to go into too much detail so as to avoid any spoilers, but I’ll say that I liked this book very much. I love when a book leads you to believe it’s telling you one story but it’s really telling another one. It’s a deft con job which is fitting since this book is about a con artist. There’s a nice symmetry to the tale as well which I always find satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reading copy! I loved this book! I requested it from NetGalley without knowing too much about it. I liked the cover, and Julie Clark is on my radar as her other novel The Last Flight is on my reading list. I thought it would be more of a thriller, but I would actually call it domestic suspense. Both main characters were wonderfully real and fleshed out. It is easy to root for both of them. Definite strong women vibes. And the whole con thing is so well researched - left me shaking my head and thinking, wow, that is smart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this intriguing domestic suspense story.
It's told in first person, present tense, alternating viewpoints between the two main female characters. Meg Williams is a clever con artist, but you end up rooting for her because the victims she chooses deserve everything they get. Meg and her mother lived in their car for several years after their family home was stolen from them by her mother's unscrupulous boyfriend when Meg was still in high school. After her mother died from cancer, Meg continues living on the streets, doing what she has to in order to survive, becoming a pro at reading people, and vowing to someday get justice for her mother..
Kat Roberts is a reporter who is fascinated with Meg's story and is determined to expose her; Kat believes Meg is responsible for ruining her career because of a lead that went terribly bad, and she's out for revenge..
The two women grow closer, each pretending to be someone they're not, each trying to manipulate the other, Kat's perspective changes as she uncovers more and more details of Meg's track record--and discovers a con artist with a heart..
Definitely a page-turner; highly recommended!

Revenge : /rəˈvenj/
noun
the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.

Wow, this was one hell of a book . I read The Last Flight, by Julie Clark and I was equally knocked off my feet. I knew without fail, I would love this book, and I did .

The layers these characters possessed made each one of them come to life. I will say this, I started out indifferent with Meg. There were times that I felt sympathy for Corey, and then he would do something dumb and I would understand why Meg was doing what it was she was doing. However, I didn't love her from the start. Over the course of the book, my mind was persuaded to a different direction and I did love her.

Kat, hmm. I found her to be annoying. I understand what she went through was really traumatic, but to blame Meg? Meg didn't know what Kat would do with the information, she was not purposely setting her up. She was providing information to put a predator away. Also, as much as I do understand that everyone heals and or deals with a situation differently. I feel as though Kat was overly dramatic for someone who didn't report the crime and wanted to blame Meg instead of the actual criminal .

This is an extremely intricate and detailed book, you will not be able to put it down and on top of that, your mind will be blown. This book will have you questioning your own feelings about certain things and where you would place blame. Is revenge ever ok? Or do we let karma take care of those who have wronged us?

I wish I knew the answer !

This is a must read and I could not recommend it more. Easy 5 stars. Make sure you pre-order this book now! The Lies I Tell, is set to release on July 21, 2022 and you do not want to miss this!

WOW! This story was exquisite! It was very compelling and enjoyable. I literally had to keep turning the pages!. This book is about Meg and Kat. Kat has been trying to track Meg for 10 years. One day, her internet search pings that Meg is back in town. Now, the “Kat” and mouse game starts. Meg is a con woman, but not totally for self-gain. She is more like an avenging angel. Kat feels that something Meg has done in the past is a reason to hunt and expose her. There are so many twists and turns in the book and the story plays out. I feel strongly this will be one of my favorite books of 2022.
Thank you NetGalley for the change to read in advance for my opinion.

What a fantastic book! The writing is beautiful and the plot is complex, fascinating, original, well researched in regard to real estate and other business deals, and all very satisfyingly wrapped up. The story is told from the point of view of two women, Meg and Kat, and both their narratives are equally engaging. Although Meg is clearly a con woman, I found myself kind of rooting for her since the reasons for her behavior are convincingly explained, and both women are likable. All in all, a fabulous read--highly recommended! I look forward to reading other books by this author. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book.

Quick thoughts for now…….

I do not lie when I tell you that “The Lies I Tell” is wicked justice! Beautiful, immensely satisfying, gut punching, wicked justice!!

I’m so angry it had to end. I’m gutted it had to end. I relate to the MC (Meg) and man she is something else. Top………..not even top 5. Literally the top #1 best MC I have ever “met” in a story. She and Kat together, in this story, are a duo incomparable to any others I’ve read and I love them both, but Meg……..Meg stole the the lifetime achievement award for all time best MC.

I was so broken when I hit 94% that I literally let the story sit from Friday into Saturday, unread. Saturday night, I read one chapter and then I finally allowed myself to finish and have to close the book on these bold, powerful, smart, and sneaky, fakes who are anything and everything but fake, characters. I’m blown away. I knew I’d love this, but not this much. I’m not posting this anywhere else just yet. Both because, the publishers request to wait and because I have to figure out what exactly I can say. I’m at a loss for words except sweet, beautiful, wicked justice which was so therapeutic at the same time. I either need a Meg in my life or I need to become Meg. The best MC ever written.

A million times over, thank you to @NetGalley, the publisher @Sourcebooks Landmark and the author #JulieClark for granting me access to this fantastic book in exchange for my honest review……….I hope I can do it justice.

Review will be posted to Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon per the publishers wishes and I have a new Instagram account which needs one of the best books ever to kick it off. #UnforgettableBooks #BestBooksEverGiftItForward #2022MostAnticipatedBooks

I just LOVED this book. Unfortunately I cannot write the review in detail as this is a mystery/thriller book, but what I can say is that this is a book from the perspective of 2 woman, one of them, Meg Williams is a con artist and very good at that and the other one, Kat Roberts, (whose life was changed completely by Meg 10 years back) trying to unravel her. Although Meg cons people and steals from them but by the end of the book you will strongly root for her. You will empathize with her. You will want her to succeed in her motives. After reading the book you will realize why she chose only those people and especially men to con. I also liked Kat’s character but hands down I still loved Meg. The way her character was written blew my mind. I was so happy at the climax of the book. Beautifully written thriller/mystery. I was always biting my nails and was hoping Meg succeeds in her very interesting endeavor. Also this book is very fast paced which I love in thrillers. So overall HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I liked how this story started. It hooked me I liked the Meg character very much even though you got the impression she was going to be a very bad person. I thought she ended up being a stronger person than Kat. I really liked the premise of this story the back and forth between the main two characters. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Is she a con artist or a grifter? Meg Williams goes by many different names. Each name correlates to an identity that she assumes. Why? She is seeking revenge but for what?

Kat Roberts knew Meg Williams year ago. When Meg returns, Kat wants to know exactly what she has been up to. As Kat befriends Meg, Kat realizes that Meg has a plan. Now it’s up to Kat to discover Meg’s motivation.

This domestic thriller examines how two different women deal with past injustice and whether revenge can help you overcome the past. Julia Clark writes an an impressive thriller full of surprises that will captivate any reader.

Fantastic read! This story grips you from the beginning. I love the way this author writes about these strong, female leads, encompassing intelligent twists and turns and action-packed storytelling. This author is becoming an auto-buy for me because her stories always get my brain churning, my adrenaline pumping and my anxiety thumping. Love it. Must read!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Kat has one agenda and that is to capture Megan whobis a fon artist. Kat finds Megan up to her old tricks a decade later. This book was well written and kept me interested from the start.

This is not a drill… go buy this book! Julie Clark will completely absorb you into the story and you won’t be able to put it down. I’ve had very few 5 star reads this year but this is phenomenal!

Meg and Kat steal the show in this cunning cat and mouse tale. The characters are so well developed that you like them, relate to them, and feel like a part of the story. It’s an incredible chess match between Meg and Kat and who is conning whom? It’s hard to decide which character to cheer for and who you like more and the story is a real page turner… highly recommend!

Julie Clark is now an auto buy author for me! I love her strong female forward plots and characters.

The Lies I Tell, by Julie Clark, is an absorbing chess match between two women with vengeance on their minds. Meg is an accomplished con artist who targets men who have hurt others. Kat is a former journalist who believes she was harmed by Meg’s actions.

Kat has been trying to locate Meg for 10 years. She believes making Meg pay is the key to her own emotional healing. At last she locates Meg and sets her plan in motion. Meg recognizes someone with an agenda when she meets one. So she decides to keep Kat close to discover her agenda.
When Kat becomes the victim of identity theft, she is sent reeling.

This book is fast-paced and absorbing. Both Meg and Kat are well developed, nuanced characters. The outcome of the story is both surprising and satisfying.

I could not put this book down. It is an engaging story which makes you question what is real and what is a lie. You know that the main character is a con artist, but is she? The story is very clever and well written.

Julie Clark knows how to capture her reading audience with the way she weaves her story in “The Lies I Tell”.. I definitely enjoyed reading this book as the story twisted and turned so many times. The main character Meg, went by many different names, as she is a professional con artist. She literally went from rags to riches. Meg had many different professions, which she researched very thoroughly for each con, and as a result was able to swindle her prey. Although this book was the first one I read by Julie Clark, it definitely will not be the last. Thank you to the powers that be in Net Galley for choosing me to read this book.
Irene Geller

The story is well written and drew me into caring about the two female characters. I was surprised by the ending but also felt it was the perfect way to conclude the book. Great suspense. A different subject that k!let me reading to the end.

Meg is a con artist with a conscience. She has the remarkable patience and ability to reinvent herself so that she can be exactly who she needs to be, in order to carry out her plans. Each of her cons, however, have a deeper purpose than the reader is at first inclined to believe. It’s as though Meg is a modern day Robin Hood, a character with whom the reader can soon empathize. An incident in high school sets her on her path to uphold the “Girl Code” and the reader gets to tag along for the ride.

Kat is a journalist who is relegated to writing fluff pieces and peddling them to various publications just to pay the bills. Meanwhile, she is on the hunt for that career-making story that has Meg at the center and will, not only make a name for herself but, provide closure as well. A story that started 10 years ago and whose leads seem to have dried up. Until Kat receives a Google Alert that she set ten years ago.

Julie Clark has written a mystery thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages. She hooks you from the start and keeps you turning pages right up to the very end. 5 stars! A perfect read for a book club.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for this ARC.

This Intriguing and cleverly written tale of cat-and-mouse doesn’t dole out many twists and turns, but the beguiling females at the center of it all held me captive from start to finish. They are not only likeable and relatable, but they are brilliant in a way that has you rooting for both sides to win by the culmination of this ingenious sting operation. And though their ultimate end goal is to finally right the wrongs of the past, it is just as much about female empowerment as it is about revenge. This is the very first novel that I have read by Julie Clark, but it definitely won’t be the last!

I really enjoyed this book with its very unique plot! It reminded me of one of my favorite movies, "Catch Me if You Can", Meg (who has also gone by other names) takes on different identities and gets away with it. I really hate to give away much of the story, because it's so delicious as you read it and come upon the different situations. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. Highly recommend!

I am now interested in reading other material from Julie Clark.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of this book. I could not put it down. Meg and Kat both trying to con each other. Meg has big plans and learned at a young age how to look out for herself since her Mom didn’t look out for her and picked the wrong men and let them take advantage off her.. Meg preys on these types and is able to swindle money from them. Kat is following Meg after an incident that turned her life upside down. There’s so much more to the story but I don’t want to give anymore away. I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

"Two women working together are a force to be reckoned with."
Julie Clark's novel The Last Flight is one of my top 10 favorite reads of all time. Now, after reading this novel, it is safe to say that it is easily in my top 10 as well. The story grabs you in immediately, gets you invested in the characters, and keeps you guessing page after page. There were so many twists and turns that I truly never saw coming, leaving me jaw dropped upon completion.

WOW WOW WOW. First five-star read of February ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I truly couldn’t have asked for more from this book, and I cannot wait for everyone on bookstagram to get their hands on it.

Meg Williams has spent years waiting for this moment. Her chance to finally get back at the man who stole everything from her and her terminally ill mother. She’s done her research, conned some easier marks along the way, and waited patiently for her final mark. Everything is going according to plan. That is, until Kat Roberts enters the picture. Meg has been seeking justice from those who have wronged her, but little does she know that Kat is seeking justice too. And Meg is her target.

I’m a sucker for a good con-artist story, and it’s even better when the con goes deeper than just the desire for money. In The Lies I Tell, Julie Clark does a fantastic job weaving a story of intrigue, revenge, and even…friendship?

There was one twist I kind of saw coming, but I’m not even mad about it because the in my opinion, the point of a good con isn’t always the destination, it’s the journey. And wow, what a fun journey that keeps the pages turning!

Thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

After The Last Flight by Julie Clark, I highly anticipated her next book to be brilliant and it is!! This twisted domestic thriller is based on manipulation, lies and justice, but who is fooling who? With two women at the rein, it's like an allusion in order to gain more control.

Meg and Kat have both been hurt. Meg's story begins with her mother before her death loses their home to a con artist boyfriend, who is now seeking an elective position. Meg has moved to different locations, with different names and jobs using each stop as a catalysts to earn money and come back to take what is hers. She is like a chameleon lurking in corners to see where she can slither into their lives. You can call her a con artist.

Kat is a journalist seeking justice. She believes Meg had a part in ruining her life years ago and plans to expose her as a con artist. Both women are able to infiltrate lives, act as a confident friend and trick others for their own advantage. Their friendship unexpectedly takes a turn and can see through their lies, but not before a fun filled adventure to see who will gain the most momentum in each chapter. Hang on because it is going to get wild!!

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for this title in exchange for my honest review.

Meg Williams is a con artist. Kat Roberts is a reporter who has a history with Meg. These two cross paths 10 years later when Meg is pulling one last con and Kat will do anything to stop her.

I loved this book. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and the character development was fantastic. I love a book with strong female characters, even when one is a con artist. Kat is extremely relatable as a normal girl and while Meg is quite the opposite I found myself very invested in her story too. I was torn between flying through this book because I wanted to see what happens and taking my time because I didn’t want it to be over. Highly recommend this one!!

First, a HUGE thank you to @netgalley for this ARC! When I originally went to request this book, unfortunately all of the spots were taken so I wish listed it. A few days later, NetGalley emailed me saying that wishes come true and I was randomly selected to read this one. I am SO grateful I was chosen because this book was PHENOMENAL!

CONTENT WARNING: There is sexual assault in this book. It’s not descriptive but it’s a driving force of one of the main characters’ life.

“A good story can be seductive. Most people
are inclined to believe one rather than examine the evidence piling up in front of them. But what they don't know is that no one is a reliable narrator. Reliable narrators don't exist.”

Kat Roberts was at a fundraising party when she spotted Meg Williams: the woman who changed the course of her life. Depending on what or who you need determine which Meg you’ll receive: college students, life coach, real estate agent, you name it. 10 years after Meg Williams disappeared, she popped up again and Kat was determined to reveal Meg Williams as the con artist she is.

Meg and Kat are the alternating points of view in this book. I loved following the developing pseudo-friendship Meg and Kat developed. It was a friendship where both were keeping secrets from the other and neither trusted the other, yet they still grew to care about each other as much as they could. This was a really good psychological thriller, but beneath the surface, it’s also about the resilience of the human spirit, it gave some great insight into the human psyche, and it promoted strong female empowerment. This was a really quick read and once you get started, it’s almost impossible to put it down.

My only complaint about the book is that I wanted more of it. Especially with the semi-open ending Clark gave us.

This was my first Julie Clark book but it is DEFINITELY not my last!

It's official, I'm a Julie Clark stan. I loved The Last Flight and loved this book as well. The Lies I Tell has a con woman that you actually want to cheer for and a writer looking to uncover the con. There's a great message about how society treats powerful men but it doesn't come off as preachy.

This book is well-paced and keeps your interest from start to finish. It's also the perfect length. The author knows how to resolve the story in a concise and entertaining way.

I look forward to Clark's next book.

Thanks for the advance review copy.

Julie Clark has done it again! I absolutely loved this book!! I read it in one sitting. The Last Flight was my favorite book of 2020 and this one is definitely going to be one of my favorites of 2022. Hard to believe it has been that long since The Last Flight. Highly recommend! The con aspects of this story were so interesting. This book caught me off guard multiple times!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5 stars
THE LIES I TELL has the makings to be one of my favorite thriller of 2022. Even this early in the year, I know this one is going to hard to beat!!
WOW. this story took me by storm. This is my first book from Julie Clark - I have yet to read the last flight - and I’m absolutely blown away. Julie really has a way of engrossing you so completely in the story that’s it’s impossible to look away. I finish this book in one setting, refusing to look away from my kindle for a single second. I stayed up in the wee hours of the morning, dying to know how Meg & Kats story finished. And it did NOT disappoint.
Meg is a con artist. Kat is a reporter. And the way their lives interconnect and they become such major parts in the others lives is amazing. The Lies I Tell was honestly a work of art. It has everything I want in a thriller! Suspense. Bad ass Female main characters. Twists. Con artists. “Bad” cops. Crooked politicians. A dirty teacher. Thank you Alice for writing this marvelous story which will stay with me long past the last page!

wow. i absolutely adored this story.

Meg Williams slowly becomes pro con-artist looking for revenge after her mom’s ex boyfriend scams & steals their home. Kat Roberts has been searching for Meg Williams for the past 10 years, now she shows up and is going to get what she wants from her. but can you con a con-artist……

i couldn’t wait for the ending, which ended up making the book so much better when i got to it. the character development was phenomenal & you just gotta love an unreliable narrator. i was #TeamMeg all the way!

if you really think about it, someone can learn SO MUCH about you from social media. it’s also astonishing how easy it is to manipulate… well anything and anyone just from patience & research. wow.

i 100% recommend this book to anyone & everyone.

I really enjoyed this book. The research and thought, not to mention the time that Meg put into her takedowns was intriguing. It was also nice to learn that she really only went after very bad men. There are lots of twists and turns in it that kept it really interesting. I was sorry to see it end.

Meg Williams is a con artist. She is very, very smart, and exceptionally good at what she does, and she has been waiting years for the opportunity to get revenge on her current mark. Kat Roberts was an up-and-coming journalist until 10 years earlier when Meg Williams called in a tip on a story on which she was working. That tip led Kat to a man who drugged and raped her and destroyed her life and career and she has blamed Meg ever since. For the past 10 years Kat has been trying to find Meg and uncover all her cons so she can write an expose and once again be a respected journalist. Suddenly Meg is in LA where Kat now lives, and Kat finds a way to get close to her. This should not be a feel-good story, it should not be a story of friendship, it should not leave you rooting for a con artist, but it is all that and more. Julie Clark has once again taken the stories of two strong women told alternately in their own voice and written a novel that you will not be able to put down and you won’t be able to put out of your mind for a long time after you have finished. If you loved The Last Flight trust me, The Lies I Tell is even better.

I am absolutely crazy about this book! After falling in love with Julie Clark after The Last Flight, I was very excited to hear about The Lies I Tell and to get an advanced copy - Christmas came early!

Let's kick this review off by noting the plot of this novel is perfection. A tale of revenge and justice that is guaranteed to keep you up hours past your bedtime, unable to put this book down. This storyline of The Lies I Tell is exciting and oh so deliciously satisfying. The bulk of the story takes place across 10 years and moves well across the timeline not staying in any one period too long, ensuring the reader remains engaged in every page.

An unreliable narrator and excellent character development are surefire ways to get me hooked on a book and The Lies I Tell knocked both completely out of the park. The two narrators each offer a unique perspective that moved the story along beautifully and layered their idiosyncrasies in a way that had you questioning motivations, while still rooting for their success.

I am not usually one to reread books, but I can imagine myself revisiting this one - it was that good.

Bravo Ms. Clark! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and #NetGalley for granting my wish of this ARC!


#TheLiesITell #JulieClark #SourcebooksLandmark

Really excellent mystery. Kept me guessing about how it was going to play out. I think it will be just as popular as The Last Flight. Can’t wait for her next book.

Reading this book will give you a ringside seat to the machinations of a conniving female con artist and the journalist who wants to expose her. There are layers of intrigue that will without a doubt keep the reader guessing until the very end. And, when you're finished, you will ask yourself if the crafty swindler's actions were justifiable or just plain revenge?

I really enjoyed reading this book, as well as this author's last book, The Last Flight, and I highly recommend both of them to readers who love mystery and suspense with strong female protagonists. Julie Clark will definitely be added to my list of favorite authors and I will be eagerly awaiting her next book.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. Expected publication date: 6/21/22.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I could not stop reading. I needed to find out Meg's next move. I needed to find out what was happening, how it was going to happen and if Kat was going to trap her.
The story is so much more then just a CON woman, scamming men. Its more about control, power, taking back agency, not being a victim.
I loved the interplay between Kat and Meg, I loved that it wasn't just two women against each other.
The story is so layered, I devoured it.
The characters so relatable, all women have been screwed over by a man at some point in their lives. It was a wonderful story and a great fantasy to harbor.
I can't wait to see what else this author has in the works.

Julie Clark is a literary master! The Lies I Tell is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. The twists and turns and her characters...just wow.

If you like thrillers, you will love this book. I really enjoyed The Last Flight by this author but would rate this one even higher. I love being in the head of the characters. The author's style is to flip first-person narratives between the main characters. And they are conflicting characters so you are scratching your head trying to figure out who is good and who is bad? But the beauty in her writing is she doesn't make blatant villains and victims. Like real life, the characters (like us) have both qualities. The book pulls this off all while giving a great mystery along the way.

Just read this book. It is so good. Yes, it is an awesome thriller- cat and mouse game between a master con artist- Meg, and the writer Kat who is determined to expose her. But it is so much more than that. Julie Clark explores the WHY of how people get to be who they are. Why is Meg the damaged master con artist? Why does she do the things she does? Kat thinks she knows who Meg really is- and is determined to tell the truth to the world about her- and in turn get revenge for what Meg did to her. But as the reader you learn along with Kat- that things- and people-are not always what they seem. I love this novel because it isn't just a fantastic thriller- Clark took it further and explored how events in our life damage us and change us. I am still thinking about these two women. I hope Julie Clark writes another novel with both women in it. I am jealous of anyone who hasn't read this book yet and still gets to discover it.

I don’t usually read these type of books (women’s psychological thrillers) but thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, who provided me with this arc in exchange for an honest review, I have expanded my horizons. I am glad I did. It reeled me in from the beginning and I could not put it down. This book is about a con artist (Meg) and the journalist (Kat) who blames Meg for a horrifying act that caused changes in Kat’s life. Kat investigates Meg so that she can expose her for her criminal acts. But, of course nothing is ever as it seems-revenge or justice?

Wow! This is an amazing book! Couldn't put it down.

Kat Roberts is a reporter. When she receives a random call with a tip about a story she is working on, she oversteps her bounds to follow the lead. Unfortunately it has disastrous consequences. She blames the caller, who she knows is the infamous Meg Williams, who is a con artist and very much at the center of the case Kat is working on.

10 years later, Kat sees Meg at a function she is attending and realizes that she must be up to her old tricks. Kat finds out Meg is working as a Realtor and decides to get close to her to find out what she is up to.

Unfortunately, Meg is on to Kat from the beginning. Despite the lies they both tell to keep up appearances, the two women develop a complicated relationship.

Soon strange things start happening to Kat, such as bills going missing and random attempts to access her accounts, Her fiance thinks that Meg, being a con artist, is after Kat's money.

Kat must get to the bottom of things before Meg finishes her latest con and disappears again.

Riveting story from start to finish! I am thankful to have been gifted an advance copy of this book!

Well written & fun. The evolving relationship between Meg & Kat is truly dynamic. Both strong females in their own ways. This is a page-turner with plenty of twists to keep it interesting! All identies are just a shade of the truth in this book & in life! My 1st work of this author I've read & I will definitely be reading her other works!

Julie Clark is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors- I read this book in one sitting. It centers on 2 women, Meg and Kat, the former who cons men out of money and the latter looking to settle a score.

Clark has a way of making you love characters that aren’t likable on the surface. I rooted for Meg the whole way through, and while it took me longer to warm to Kat I ended up rooting for her too. The story itself was fast-paced and well written and invoked so many feelings along the way, from fear to empathy and back again! I found the ending to be completely satisfying.

I don’t know what else to say other than to tell you to go read this book, assuming you have a few hours to spare since you won’t want to put it down. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oooooh, I wanted to go into this hating Meg and seeing Kat get her revenge, but I fell for Meg and her almost Robin Hood like quality. Thos book was just se well-written and very well-done, and I ran through it in about a day and a half, which is approximately half the time I normally need to read a book. I kinda hope there is a follow up so I can see that Nate gets what he deserves.... whatever the case, this book was an easy five star read.

This book was awesome! I enjoyed the first book by this author and this one was just as good. I read it in 2 sittings. Lots of twists and keeps you guessing, look forward to her next book!

5+++ STARS!!!!!

The Lies I Tell is outstanding! Great characters, amazing storytelling and a relationship between two women who were wronged that is both somehow both disturbing and satisfying.

Meg and Kat are complex women and the way Julie Clark reveals their past and the way it motivates both of them in the present is brilliant. The lives they lead and lies they tell become intertwined so the reader becomes invested in both Kat's and Meg's paths toward the revenge they want.

The pacing was spot on and having each women share the narrative drives the plot. In a way, it makes the reader become like a con artist's victim because they don't know what's happening as the story progressed.

I literally could not stop reading. (Just ask two adorable cats who become quite testy waiting for their canned food dinner.)

Thank you so very much to Julie Clark, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Last Flight so much, I was thrilled to read this one! The author gives another set of damaged yet strong female characters in Meg Williams and Kat Roberts. Meg Williams didn’t have the greatest upbringing and so she quickly learned to adapt to her surroundings. She is a con artist, inventing different names and professions to get what she needs. Kat Roberts is a journalist and has been chasing Meg for years. Kat finally has Meg in her grips, before her secret is revealed she needs revenge! Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

Meg is a con artist that has spent 10 years bringing justice and/or revenge to corrupt men. Kat is a reporter who has been looking for Meg because 10 years ago her own life was upended due to an experience involving Meg’s final target. Meg has returned to her home town and this is Kat’s chance to get Meg’s story. Both of the women are lying and conning each other and they both know it. This is an interesting concept and the reader ends up cheering for Meg.

Book received for free from NetGalley

So so good. Once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those books you’d love to see another one for but at the same time the ending makes sense. So glad I came across it.

Julie Clark's THE LIES I TELL is my first 5-star review of the year. Centered around two strong, bold women, this novel is the epitome of a cat and mouse game as Kat hunts down Meg Williams (aliases Melody Wilde, Maggie Littleton, and who knows how many more).

Spoilers ahead so read with care!

When I first dove into THE LIES I TELL, I expected your run of the mill thriller. What I got was so much more than that. Clark has woven a truly gorgeous novel about revenge, redemption, and the lengths we go to make people pay for what we've done. In a world where men are allowed to take and take and take, Clark found a way to write a story where women get the pay back we deserve.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Meg is wild and wily, written with care and great depth. Every action she does is planned for steps ahead. Kat is careless, but brave, all heart. Her desire to see the best in everyone is both her greatest asset and deepest flaw.

A great read for anyone who is hungry for justice, for righting the scales, and for reading terrifically written women.

This is not your typical "unreliable narrator" book. I love that Julie Clark developed her female leads beyond alcohol-induced foggy memories.

Two books in and Julie Clark is officially a must-read author for me!

Fans of Julie Clark's first book, "The Last Flight," will certainly dive headfirst into her newest foray, "The Lies I Tell." Clark features two strong female characters in this fast-paced and immensely entertaining novel. Meg Williams returns to Los Angeles after a ten year absence to settle a score with a highly visible politician who wronged her family. Kat Roberts is the journalist who has been waiting for years to expose Meg as a con artist.

In tight alternating chapters, we learn about the many nuanced layers of Meg and Kat as the story vacillates between past and present. Meg learns to be an expert at setting up her "mark" and patiently waiting to ultimately upend their lives. "It starts how it always starts. With me, quietly slipping alongside you..." What looks like a cold, calculating invasion of someone's life actually becomes something much bigger and more meaningful which is revealed later in the story.

Kat Roberts was a junior reporter at the LA Times when she first heard Meg William's name. During an interview she overheard that Meg had conned a predatory school principal into giving her access to all his financial accounts. Intrigued, Kat ends up investigating the angle of a woman con artist and ends up having her life turned upside down. She ultimately blames Meg for the havoc that ensued.

Ultimately, Meg and Kat end up in an unlikely friendship which is peppered with distrust and misgivings. Kat reads into all of Meg's actions believing she is the next "mark." Julie Clark does an expert job in leading the reader along on a exciting ride to the ultimate conclusion. This book is highly recommended and will most undoubtedly be a breakout hit.

Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“The difference between justice and revenge comes down to who’s telling the story.” – Julie Clark. Oh, how this quote sets the tone for the story. First the reader meets Meg, who had been dealt a terrible hand of cards for her life and flipped the script to emerge from the rubble to provide for herself. Clark then introduces Kat, who seeks justice for her suffering a decade ago, by attempting to unravel Meg’s latest con. As the story progresses, Clark beautifully blurs the lines with these two flawed main characters, leaving the reader to decide whether it is one of revenge, or justice, or perhaps a bit of both. Highly recommend!

Amazing thriller! Not your run of the mill domestic thriller, definitely has a lot more depth and a psychological component as well. Very well written, and the characters are so relatable, funny and even likable. Meg is an all around mastermind, something she had to learn out of necessity, Kat is pretty naive and I didn't like her at first, but she ended up coming full circle in the end.
My favorite thing about this book, was that it had a robinhood/vigilante aspect to the Con. It wasn't so black and white, good guy vs bad guy. Everything came full circle in the end.
I also love that she made the LAPD Officer character have a gambling addiction. Classic.

What a twisty, complicated story that weaves friendship, betrayal, con artist and mystery! Another hit from Julie Clark after the Last Flight! A journalist after the story meets the career criminal. When the journalist can't decide who to trust and continues to pursue her story, life becomes complicated and frightening. Terrific excitement build with unexpected elements along the way!

I loved this book!! This is such a wonderfully tangled, complex web of deception and fraud, centered around two remarkable women, both wanting revenge for different reasons. At the core of the story are Meg, the brilliant con artist and Kat, the journalist who feels Meg destroyed her life. As the story evolves, it becomes evident that Meg also has her own reasons for revenge against someone else. The two women become cautious friends, each hoping the other can further the revenge they seek. The book has two timelines, with the alternating narrators of Meg and Kat. It is a suspenseful, twisting mystery that literally had me guessing until the last page and rooting for both Meg and Kat! It is a superb thriller! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

“Two women working together are a force to be reckoned with!” Truer words have not been spoken! Julie Clark has written a story of redemption, revenge and good ol fashion Girl Code Power! This was a rollercoaster ride of a story leaving you wanting more until the very end and beyond. Meg and Kat are truly Amazing characters and I really hope she writes a follow up to this!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this digital copy with me for my honest thoughts!

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in return for my honest opinion. This is the only book by this author that I have read and the instant I finished I searched for other books that she has written (phew there is one so yah!).

At the end of this book, I wanted to jump and shout “Yah Meg, way to go!” Meg is a con artist that you just have to love and she and Kate, who is entwined in her “past life” though she is unaware of this, become friends. Kate still holds her responsible for what happened ten years prior but they become friends, or do they?

I don’t want to say too much and be a spoiler. Just read it. The character development is wonderful, the plot will keep you on your toes, it’s just a great book.

Thanks again!

This is a decently-written, thoughtful tale with a relatively tight plot line. The POVs and timelines are easy to follow and move the story along without being distracting, while subtle exposition prods the characters through their various transitions. It kept me reading, which is saying something since I have an enormous slush pile and very little tolerance for bad writing. Though I correctly assumed where the plot was eventually going, it didn't detract from the story's impact and packed a few surprises that I hadn't anticipated. In all, well worth the read.

Whipsmart female characters. i couldn't put this one down. Julie Clark writes characters that you care about and an engaging plot. I cant wait to read more from her!

Another winner from Clark, whose The Last Flight I devoured in 2 days. The Lies I Tell is equally as engaging, interesting and spellbinding. I read it in one day, hanging on to every word and plot twist. Clark is a master at character development within suspenseful, fast- moving plots and The Lies I Tell did not disappoint. Would highly recommend!

So I LOVED The Last Flight - it was one of my favorite books I read in 2020, so I had high expectations going into The Lies I Tell and JULIE CLARK - YOU DELIVERED ONCE AGAIN!

This is such a fast-paced thriller - any fan of Liv Constantine would love this book. The book follows two women who befriend each other for ulterior motives. The book is very cat and mouse as Meg and Kat learn more about each other and unearth each other's true motives. This domestic thriller dives into what it's like to get revenge from wrongs in the past and write the future you want.

I'm calling it now - this will be the most anticipated thriller of the summer.

Thank you SO much NetGalley for the early look at this book - I was hooked from chapter one and I hate that everyone has to wait 5 more months for it to come out - it is SO good.

I just finished The Lies I Tell and it is addictive. I didn't want to put it down. The stories of Meg and Kat, how their lives overlapped, and how Megs actions really hurt Kat in ways you wouldn't imagine, is hard to put down. Hearing the stories of Meg ripping off unsuspecting "victims" is actually easy to imagine this being a true story. It almost, and I mean almost, makes you give sympathy to those who are conning others, but only if it's done in the specific way that Meg did it. She vindicated the victims of her marks and really worked to make things right along the way. It was nothing like Kat had dreamed up of Megs actions for the past 10 years. In the end, you are rooting for Meg and Kat both in their new lives and roles. I definitely recommend this can't set down book.

The lies I tell by Julie Clark, a first I’ve read I’d hers and definitely won’t be a last. Thank you for opportunity to read this book early. From the moment I started reading I could not put it down and kept me yearning for more.
It focuses around two main characters Meg and Kat and is told from each POV. Meg was the character you love to hate!
Loved this book and am sad ii finished! Definitely a pageturner!!

📚 Book Review 📚 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark

Meg is a con artist who becomes whoever she needs to be to in order to get close to you. Kat is a reporter wants to expose her. What happens when these 2 women come face to face?

“The difference between justice and revenge comes down to who’s telling the story”

Holy smokes this book is so flipping good!! Told from Meg & Kat’s point of view and over the course of 10 years, we learn how one went from homeless to conwoman and the other from reporter to a woman out for personal answers. What we end up with is 2 strong women who what justice! I couldn’t get enough of this book!!! The cameo from The Last Flight was icing on the cake!!!

Mark your calendar for June 21st when this gets released!!! If you loved The Last Flight then you’ll devour this one just like me!!

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Julie Clark for the advance readers copy of this amazing book!!!

#TheLiesITell #NetGalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #elizabethreviewsbooks #julieclark #Sourcebooks #sourcebookslandmark #thelastflight

After reading The Last Flight, I became a huge Julie Clark fan. I wasn't sure her new book top that thriller extraordinaire. Well, rest assured Clark fans, The Lies I Tell sure does! The Lies I Tell gives you perspective from two different women, with two varying yet intertwined storylines. Are they really "friends?" It is hard to choose which one to love. This story is unputdownable! There are twists and turns, suspense and a game of cat and mouse. I was sad when I finished. The Lies I Tell is a brilliant thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Julie Clark for the chance to read this eARC.

I loved this book!!! I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and am so glad I did!!! This book reminded me of Catch Me If You Can but with a female con artist! It was a book that I could not wait to get back to when I was at work!!! You’ll laugh and get angry, but then will see why Meg does what she does for her ultimate con. It publishes in June and I cannot recommend it enough!!! It is listed at 320 pages and does not feel like it is that long because of how good it is!!

How do you sift through the daily lies of a con artist to find the speck of truth that may make her your friend? Meg is back in LA to complete the final con. Kat wants her to pay for a call she made ten years earlier that changed Kat’s life forever. Will their meeting now be the bomb that explodes the past to all or a tie that will bind them even closer?

This is the first book that I have read by Julie Clark. I am anxious to read one of her other novels. I found this book to be entertaining, suspenseful and well-written. I enjoyed the building of suspense, while deescalating the tension with tidbits from the past. I found the characters to be true to themselves, even if they lied to everyone else. The women were more similar than they realized and yet different as a mentor and student might be. The men were stereotypical but with just enough saving grace to make you think the women may have it wrong.

The story itself was slow to build to the finality of Meg’s mission. It did not become apparent until the end what her plan was and how she would accomplish it. Even Kat was left to wonder. The side stories filled in any areas where the build may have seemed to slow.

Highly recommended. I read it in one day.


I received an ARC from Sourcebook Landmark through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

I am a big fan of Julie Clark and this may be my favorite book yet. A tale of two women each 'conning" each other. Kat, determined to get revenge after after 10 years and Meg having no idea what she has done to her. Full of twists and turns, I loved it!

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark tells the story of Meg a con artist and Kat a journalist who wants to expose her. Wow! What a great story! I like the characters. They are believable along with the dialogue. The emotions of the characters were well described. A very different storyline of a female con artist. I read this in 1 day! I will recommend. Thank you for allowing me to review this book

Meg Williams has a grudge. Someone took her family's home out from under them as a teenager leaving her and her family to live in their car. Now she has a plan to make things right. Kat is a journalist eager to make a name for herself. She is on to Meg and knows she could write a major story exposing her plans. This story builds twists and turns right down to the end. Does Meg get her revenge? Does Kat get her story? I definitely would recommend this story. It is a great page turner. Julie Clark does it again!

Julie Clark does it once again! This is a very clever book centering around two women, a con artist and the reporter who wants to write her story and expose the fraud. It’s about the empowerment of women who both try to settle a score. Wonderful writing keeps you engaged with the plot and you start to root for both characters. This will be a great summer read that I will be recommending to all! Not my first book by this author and definitely won’t be my last! #TheLiesITell #JulieClark #NetGalley

I was extremely pleasantly surprised by this book. I was waiting in a long queue and decided to open my NetGalley shelf. Deciding on this title, I dug right in and never looked back. This book was so good from the very first page that I was sorry when my turn came in the queue.
A story about a grifter and the reporter who followed her for 10 years was interesting to me not only for the great characters, but also for the excellent and clean writing style of the author. I found myself rooting for the grifter, Meg Williams, the teenager wronged and scarred by living in a van with her terminally ill mother. They were forced into this life when they were swindled out of their home, the only home she’d ever known, by her mother’s lover. After losing her mother while she was a senior in high school and continuing to live in her van, she became obsessed with the idea of bringing the man down. She practices her game over the years on many marks to perfect her craft. During Meg’s first experience, a very young assistant reporter stumbled upon a story about a high school principal who was taking advantage of his female students. Desperately wanting a shot at a promotion, Kat begin to research this story and found another angle, involving the college student he was living with, Meg Williams.
It begins to affect Kat’s life immediately and it becomes her obsession to track and bring Meg down for the crimes she has committed.
I was so sorry to see this book end. I immediately researched other titles by Julie Clark so I can read them right away! Thank you so much for amending this along to me!

FIVE STARS! I just loved Julie Clark’s novel, The Last Flight so I had some high expectations for The Lies I Tell and it was just as amazing as I hoped it would be. I could not put this one down and was completely taken with the story from page 1.

Meg Williams. Maggie Littleton. Melody Wilde. Different names for the same person, depending on the town, depending on the job. She’s a con artist who erases herself to become whoever you need her to be—a college student. A life coach. A real estate agent. Nothing about her is real. She slides alongside you and tells you exactly what you need to hear, and by the time she’s done, you’ve likely lost everything.

Kat Roberts has been waiting ten years for the woman who upended her life to return. And now that she has, Kat is determined to be the one to expose her. But as the two women grow closer, Kat’s long-held assumptions begin to crumble, leaving Kat to wonder who Meg’s true target is.

The Lies I Tell is a twisted domestic thriller that dives deep into the psyches and motivations of two women and their unwavering quest to seek justice for the past and rewrite the future.

I know we are barely in 2022 but I think this will be one of my favorites of the whole year.

You don’t want to miss this one, get it as soon as it comes out on June 21!

The premise of this book is super intriguing. I've always loved stories involving con artists because it usually makes for a great story. In this instance, the second half of the story was a 5-star read, but the first half was chalked full of a bit too much information right off the bat and was a 3-star read. I've settled on 4 stars because it makes the most sense. A few parts throughout the book were predictable, but I didn't mind that much because the second half was great. Meg's character was really well written, and I loved following along with her. I do with that Kat had a little bit more depth to her (background wise), but I liked her just as much despite that. I do think the ending was fantastic and ended it wanting to read a second. 

Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thriller fans, this is a must read! If you liked Clark’s Last Flight, her newest novel NEEDS to be on your TBR!

“The Lies I Tell is a twisted domestic thriller that dives deep into the psyches and motivations of two women and their unwavering quest to seek justice for the past and rewrite the future.”

Beautiful con artist Meg is on a mission, back in her hometown and using her real name for the first time in a long time. Journalist Kat as been waiting for her opportunity to bring Meg down, but what if truth and Justice aren’t so black and white? Things aren’t always the way they seem, and this complex novel definitely has some surprises!

Huge summer hit alert, so preorder this or get it on your library request list NOW!

This was a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me- pacing on point, surprises, intrigue- fantastic.

**Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #Sourcebooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.**

Wow!! 5 fabulous stars!! I haven’t read Julie’s last book, The Last Flight, yet but I have seen rave reviews for it so when I saw this new one, I knew I wanted to read it. I am so glad I did because I was hooked from the beginning. I became engrossed in the story and it was hard to put down until I finished it. The 2 main female characters in this book, Meg & Kat, are top notch, complex and very well developed throughout the book. The friendship that develops between them felt natural and real. The storyline was original and interesting! This was a face paced book and just overall, an amazing read!! Highly recommend!!

Thank you Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in return for my honest review.

A rather enjoyable thriller from the author of The Last Flight. Julie Clark delivers another hit, focusing on two powerhouse female characters: Meg, a con artist with a tragic upbringing, and Kat, the reporter whose career was ruined ten years prior by the beginning of Meg’s schemes. This was definitely some of the most fun I’ve had reading a mystery; it felt like a cat and mouse game between Meg and Kat, peeling away their layers bit by bit, until you realize you’re unsure of what’s real and what’s a manipulation–and who’s gonna come out on top. Loved, loved LOVED!

What a ride! I loved Julie Clark's previous book, The Last Flight, and I think I enjoyed this one even more. It was such a great story and I was basically unable to put it down; I read it every free moment I had!

Similar to The Last Flight, Ms. Clark weaved a story of two women together: One was a con-artist out for revenge against a man who wronged her and her mother years ago, and the other is a journalist trying to uncover the con(s) and expose her as a grifter. I loved the slow burn of the story, and the ending was incredibly satisfying.

The book comes out in June -- and will be the perfect beach or pool read!

Meg was just a young girl when her mother was betrayed by a wealthy boyfriend who lied his way onto the deed of their family home and then cruelly evicted them. This early trauma and distrust of powerful men set Meg on a course to seek revenge by conning men who were similarly positioned to abuse women. Her revenge plots eventually catch the eye of Kat, an ambitious journalist, who starts to see a larger pattern. Over the course of ten years, Kat pursues Meg’s story, with twists along the way that bring the women closer together as they learn from each other. This story is a satisfying game of cat-and-mouse, part feminist “Robin Hood, and as a reader it is fun to see Meg stay one step ahead of her “mark” - and one step ahead of Kat. Meg’s mission to seek a form of justice against men who have committed acts of violence (sexual, financial, and otherwise) against women makes her a sympathetic character despite the illegality of her work. As the pieces of the story come together, it is less of a “who done it” than a “why done it” tale, and in the post- #MeToo era, the “why” seems perfectly justifiable. The story is written in an engaging structure with chapters alternating perspectives. Overall, a solid work of suspense.

Kat Roberts, a journalist struggling to pay her bills, has been looking for Meg Williams for years. She always figured she'd run into the woman again somehow. So when she sees the woman at a political event, she knows she needs to follow the story. After all, Kat ruined her life a decade earlier.

Meg doesn't know Kat is on to her. Though Meg grew up in this town, she was gone for a long tie, only returning to settle down as a real estate agent and get closer to her roots. Or so she says.

Kat knows Meg is lying - about her past, her name, her career, pretty much everything. But she finds herself drawn to the mysterious woman, so she lies about herself too. Fake past, fake name, fake career. She's only lying so that she can expose the truth - a noble cause. But when you're surrounded by lies, who even knows what the truth is anymore?

I found myself rooting for both women even though they were both lying constantly. The ending was brilliant, and I never would have expected it. Though I loved the author's first novel, "The Last Flight," I enjoyed this one even more.

After watching the documentary on Anna "Delvey" Sorokin, the description of this book was really intriguing. I had heard such great things about Julie Clark's last book (which is patiently waiting to be read on my Kindle), so I had to read her next one after reading a few reviews, and I'm so happy I did.

The book is a fast-paced thriller about a conartist, Meg Williams, who is out to seek revenge and journalist Kat Roberts, whose life mission is to find Meg Williams and expose her for what she is. The story is written exceptionally well, with Kat's findings about Meg weaved into Meg's truth. Clark kept me guessing and there was a twist mixed in that left me shocked. I wasn't sure how it was all going to play out in the end, but I thought it had the perfect ending!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This was so good! It was interesting reading this story of a con artist after watching Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna. The difference with Meg is that she is more of a vigilante taking money from morally corrupt men, instead of taking advantage of innocent people. You are rooting for her. I liked Kat as well and wanted her to succeed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Love love love this book! Even better than her previous book the last flight, I just couldn't put it down!

I was smiling as I read the last page of this book. Julie Clark really has a gift of writing in a way that keeps you guessing and going along on a ride you weren’t expecting.

Meg is mostly homeless, a grifter, and a talented conwoman. Her targets aren’t random, she focuses on righting wrongs. She’s smart, like-able, manipulative, patient and full of vengeance.

Kat is a young journalist that gets entangled with Meg and spends years waiting for her to resurface so she can settle her own score with Meg.

I loved this mystery/thriller book and couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance readers copy of this book. Pub date is June 21, 2022.

I really really liked this one! I find con men-or women-and their stories fascinating. The motivations, the rationales, and the mechanics of The Confidence Game are absolutely intriguing to me. And Julie Clark's writing and characterization really added a depth and breadth to that intrigue that made this one a delight for me from start to finish. She is definitely on my watchlist from now on!

Thank you NetGalley, Julie Clark and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC of The Lies I Tell. This is my personal review.
The story of two women and revenge was the thing they both wanted the most in life.
Meg and Kat are two women that know what the want and then go after it.
This book is so expertly written that kept me guessing the next step Meg or Kat was going to take. The level of suspense and mystery was perfect.
This was the first book I have read by Julie Clark, and she is now on my list of authors to read when I want a book that are out of my comfort zone.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is a mesmerizing story about getting revenge, but with some morals. It had twists and turns I was not expecting and I came to really like the characters in the book. It was thought-provoking and made me contemplate whether this type of con artist was really all that bad. I enjoyed reading and had a hard time stepping away because i always was wondering what was going to happen next. The thread of friendships and love, and justice were all aspects that made me love this book.

The Lies I Tell – Julie Clark

Meg Williams is, for all intents and purposes, a con artist – a grifter. She carefully screens her targets, learning all there is to know, subtly inserts herself into their lives, where she quickly makes herself invaluable. She slowly and skillfully manipulates the situation as she has so carefully planned – then quietly disappears leaving carnage behind for her victims.

It’s been a long ten years for Kat, a journalist, as she’s waited for some sign - any kind of news - of the elusive Meg Williams. Finally receiving a hit on a preset Internet search, she learns that Meg has returned to California, this time posing as a real estate agent. Kat has her own agenda – one innocent interaction with Meg all those years ago created chaos - completely changing her life, and Kat holds Meg responsible.

As Kat begins to stalk Meg, she provokes a meeting with her and slowly, a friendship of sorts evolves. She is somewhat surprised to discover how likable Meg is, yet she remains determined to expose her escapades for all to see. Meg, on the other hand, knows deception when she sees it, and finds herself wondering what exactly Meg may be hiding with her less than truthful persona.

Told in alternating viewpoints of both Meg and Kat, the reader gradually learns the motivations of both women, as each shares the events that have culminated in the ‘chance’ encounter that opens this book and draws you in. I very quickly found myself deeply engrossed in the lives of these characters, the circumstances that shaped who they became – and their individual strengths. The ending caught me a bit by surprise – that’s a good thing – and in retrospect – it was perfect!

This was my first novel by author Julie Clark, but it will not be my last! It grabbed me tight on the first page, and I just had to keep going - I read it in one sitting – just couldn’t put it down! Awesome read!!


Available from your favorite bookseller on June 21st!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last. Meg Williams is a character who can be anyone the situation calls for. She knows what to look for and tests the limits of just how far she can push her targets. A con woman who is also something of a vigilante who targets men who have done other women wrong.

Kat Roberts has blamed Meg for an incident in her past and has been waiting for years to find her. When she receives a Google alert with Meg's name, she is ready to make her move. Armed with the knowledge of Meg and her past, Kat believes she has the upperhand but can she out con the con artist?

I look forward to reading past titles by Julie Clark as well as those to come. The Lies I Tell is a book I started reading and could not put down.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Without a doubt one of my new favorite novels. The mina characters, Kat and Meg are both so likable. The book is clever and I was captivated from page one. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All expressed opinions are my own and do not reflect any stance or position held by the author or publisher. This did not affect my rating or review in any way.

I just finished reading "The Lies I Tell", by Julie Clarke. Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story of revenge and how nothing is quite as it seems. The story is told from the perspective of the two female lead characters Meg and Kat. Meg is a conwoman who was conned herself as a child with devastating results. This event has shaped her future. Kat is a reporter who was a victim of a crime and holds Meg responsible and she wants revenge on Meg by exposing her cons.
The two women meet and form a fake frienship each knowing what the other is up to and then...Le'ts just say that thats when things get complicated.
I really liked this book. Well written with interesting characters and plots. While there was no WOW moment or huge cliffhangers, it flowed well and was so intriguing that I read it in one day. I liked all the characters and felt like I knew them well.
I love books that have strong female characters that can also be vulnerable at times. I absolutely loved the ending. The last page was AWESOME. Girl Power!!!!
The only little thing was that sometimes the timeline confused me so I had to go to the beginning of the chapter to see where in the timeline it was.
Overall though, an excellent read. This is my first read by this author, and I will be sure to read more.
Happy Reading!

I loved this book!! I was a huge fan of The Last Flight by Julie Clark and this book was just as good, if not better!! We follow the story of Meg and Kat — Meg, a master manipulator and con artist, while resurfacing after ten years, Kat — a journalist is working hard to uncover the truth of who she really is and what she really does to people. This book has soooo many layers, and the more you peel back, the more invested you become in the story. The motives and vulnerabilities of both Meg and Kate make this book absolutely impossible to put down. It was so well written with dual POVs. It reminded me a lot of The Last Flight with two really strong female characters so I really enjoyed that parallel to Clark’s previous novel while reading. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I loved it!

I loved the previous author’s book, The Last Flight, and this book did not disappoint. It was one of those books that I can’t stop reading because I just want to find out what is going to happen and how all the pieces fit together. I also liked that it told the perspective of two different women who have a complex relationship with each other, but also similarities in that they were both betrayed by others. The plot was unique and kept me guessing.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a very entertaining read about 'grifter' Meg, and Kat the journalist who suspects what Meg is up to and blames Meg for a traumatic event which derailed her life. Meg's methods were interesting to read about, and gradually my sympathies shifted. I found the voices of Meg and Kat fairly indistinguishable and at times I had to concentrate hard on keeping the timeline straight, but the ending was extremely satisfying.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022. Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest review. I was not disappointed!

Julie Clark has an amazing way of writing strong, believable women characters. She did that in The Last Flight and she did that again in The Lies I tell. The relationship dynamics between Meg and Kat were complicated. Without any spoilers, that was the most enjoyable aspect in this story for me. She also found a new way to include the Me Too movement. My favorite line: The difference between justice and revenge comes down to who’s telling the story.

I can’t wait for her next book!

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.