She Lied She Died
by Carissa Ann Lynch
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Pub Date Nov 08 2022 | Archive Date Nov 29 2022
Harper 360 | One More Chapter
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Description
A gripping new page-turning thriller from the USA Today bestseller!
Best friend. Teenager. Murderer.A young girl found dead in a neighbor’s field.
A fourteen-year-old who confesses.
Just a child herself, could Chrissy Cornwall really be a cold-blooded killer?
Years later, the murderer is getting out and Natalie Bryers, unable to forget the night of Jenny’s murder, still has questions.
Did Chrissy lie then or is she lying now? Did she really kill Jenny? And if so, will she kill again?
Readers can’t get enough of SHE LIED SHE DIED:
‘Literally blew me away… A fantastic five stars and a MUST READ!!!!’ Peggy
‘Wow. What on earth did I just read?! This book was OOZING with lies, and the ending was so full of twists my head spun’ Natalie
‘It isn’t very often that I get 3/4 of the way through a book and think OMG, WTH, but this book left me unable to set it down until I finished the very last page’ Meredith
‘Wow great book… I loved the way she writes’ Judy
‘Creepy and dark and very very good’ Julie
‘I couldn’t put this book down it was absolutely brilliant’ Martina
‘I was hooked from the very beginning’ Gina
‘Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. It even had a twist that I didn’t see coming’ Jean
‘A tautly written page turner that never tips into the implausible’ Kathleen
Available Editions
EDITION | Paperback |
ISBN | 9780008421038 |
PRICE | $12.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
This was a quick but really good read for me! I love the author's writing and how descriptive she gets. I love when an author / book can make me feel like I'm transported into the story and Calarissa did just that! Thank you for an advanced copy of this book!
Holy Cow! This book sucked me in like a piece of lint run over by a Hoover vacuum cleaner! There are so many plot twists and lies, I did not know what to believe. She Lied She Died by Carissa Ann Lynch, is a
G-R-E-A-T book you don't want to miss!!!
Main Characters:
Jenny Juliott age-14, was a very popular and beautiful young girl. She was found murdered on the Breyas family farm. Who killed Jenny? Why was her body left in a field?
Natalie Breyas was just 9-years-old when Jenny's body was found on land owned by her family. As a adult, Natalie has never come to terms with the childhood trauma of seeing Jenny's dead body outside the window of her house. Natalie still has questions and knows who has the answers. Will she uncover the truth?
Chrissy Cornwell lived in a trailer next door to the Breyas farm. At 15-years-old Chrissy confessed to Jenny's murder, but did she really commit the crime? Is there more to the story?
This is such a juicy novel. Several times I thought I had it figured out, but boy was I wrong. This is my first Carissa Ann Lynch book. I am now a huge fan of her work. I highly recommend this 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read! It will be published April 26th.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360, for the joy of reviewing this thrilling e-book. I loved every page!
This was my first book by Carissa Ann Lynch, and it was a full 5 star read for me! This was unputdownable, and every page/chapter kept my interest. I had been in a book rut, and this one ended that for me. This book flashes between the past and present life of Natalie and Carissa. After witnessing the discovery of a young girls' body, Jenny, in the field of her family farm, 9-year-old Natalie's life was never the same. Neither was Carissa's, a teen at the time of the murder, who served years in jail for the crime. Now, Carissa is being let out on parole, and Natalie is bound and determined to find out Carissa's whole story, for the truth to come out about what happened to Jenny. I really enjoyed Natalie's character. She was the girl that never really went anywhere in her life, due mostly to what happened in her past, and she really didn't give a crap about what anyone thought of her. She was just very strong and independent. Carissa, also, was protrayed as a very dark, sinister teen, but later, getting to know her, I actually felt empathy for her. There were several twists in this story. I have not read a shocker in a book that made my jaw drop in quite some time, but the twist that I never expected coming certainly did that, and did it well. I would recommend this book to any of my friends who read and enjoy thrillers. It read quickly, and was just very enjoyable to read. Again, 5 stars!
My first book by this author and it had me drawn in from page one. A real page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. I recommend this book if you are tired of your normal genres and want something different.
I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion and review.
This is a Psychological Thriller. This book had me from the first page, and I really loved the build up this book takes you on. This book is a very fast pace book that gets to the point. There is not a lot of fluff put in which I loved. That ending WOW I really did not see coming, and I was living from it. I do think in some ways there could be a little more build up. I really did love the characters of this book. I also loved the old farm house setting this book takes place at. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (HarperCollins UK / One More Chapter) or author (Carissa Ann Lynch) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
4.5/5⭐️
𝙾𝚖𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚎!
𝙰 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍. 𝙰 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗-𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛-𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛. 𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚢 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑. 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚍? 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚎?
𝙸𝚏 𝚢’𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜👏🏽𝚒𝚜👏🏽𝚒𝚝👏🏽
𝙸 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝙸 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍?! 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚋 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍. 𝙸 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔. 𝙸 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔-𝚝𝚘-𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜 🤯
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚙, 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛!
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 @carissaannlynch_thrillers @netgalley and @harpercollins360 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ❣︎
She Lied She Died by Carissa Ann Lynch was an interesting book that was filled with all kinds of twist that I did not see coming and an end that made me say SNAP.
This book I read in one sitting because I could not wait to see what was going to happen and who the real killer was. I had all kinds of ideas dancing around in my head and I kept throwing them out and changing my theory around as the book moved on. I will admit I did flirt with who the killer was but did not have any clue who the real killer was and how this book was going to end and I loved that about this book.
I am going to give She Lied She Died four out of five stars.
When a woman who allegedly murdered a girl while in her teens is released from prison, a struggling true crime writer with a personal connection to the case begins to wonder if she is truly innocent--and if so, who the real killer could be.
Propelled by suspenseful secrets and clean, strong writing, SHE LIED SHE DIED is an amateur detective mystery that you won't be able to put down. The clues are numerous (as are the complicating red herrings), and the twists are satisfying. Plus the eerie small-town setting and character-driven narrative create a delightfully immersive experience that will snag thriller fans as well as mystery readers. I highly recommend this one to adult fans of the genre. It would also make a great pick for book clubs who don't mind dead bodies (in their books, of course).
4.25 ⭐
Gripping from the beginning to the chilling end. Just when I think I am reading too many thrillers in a row and it'll be predictable ~ WHAM I get totally blindsided ~ I did not see that twist coming.
When Natalie was 9 years old, Jenny, a popular 14 year old girl, was found brutally murdered on her family's farm. Local trailer park 15 year old girl, Chrissy, confesses to her murder. Now, some 30 years or so later, Chrissy is out on parole and folks from the small town are not happy one bit.
Natalie has always wanted to be a published author, even has a degree, but she was never successful and is making ends meet by working at K-Mart. On a whim, she reaches out to Chrissy to try to figure out why she so easily confessed all those years ago in hopes of writing her story.
As the pages turn more information is slowly, but not annoyingly so, revealed of what really happened that night.
For some reason, maybe because we first meet Natalie when she is 9, she always seemed somewhat immature to me, even when she's in her 40's. Perhaps it was because she was running outside in the middle of night because she heard a noise. What single lady would do that when living on a remote farm?
Fast paced with tons of action jammed packed in this quick read. Happy to have found a new author to devour again and again.
TW ~ Suicide, brutal teenage murder, and I did not care for one part that joked about child molestation.
*Thanks to Netgalley, Harper 360 and Carissa Ann Lynch for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
This was a really good thriller. I read the whole thing in a few hours! It sucked me right in and I devoured it. I loved Natalie and following her to find out who the true killer was and I never would have guessed the true story! Thank you netgalley, Carissa Ann Lynch and Harper 360 for giving me the chance to review this book and leave my honest feedback!
A convicted murderer is released after serving time, but claims she is innocent, despite her confession! With a strong connection to the case, a would be author investigates and finds the truth! Surprising ending!
Wow! This one was good! I couldn’t put it down, it was so fast paced and kept my attention from page one until the very end. I kept thinking it had this one figured out, but I never did!
She Lied She Died is the story of Natalie Bryers. When she was nine a body was discovered in her fathers field. This is the moment when everything changes in her life. The victim, Jenny Juliott, was brutally murdered. Christie Cornwell aged fourteen confesses to killing her and she is imprisoned.
Thirty years later and Chrissie has been paroled. When Natalie hears the news she wants to know the truth. She has always wanted to write a book about it, but there were so many what would be the point. Now she wonders if Chrissie would talk to her and tell her the truth about what really happened all those years ago. She decides to write her a letter to see if she will see her. After Chrissie gets the letter she comes to see Natalie. She wants to tell her side of the story and have Natalie write a book about her, she says she has evidence that will prove her innocence.
As is usually the case there was more to the truth than the police discovered. With a confession from Chrissie, she was sure to go to prison. But why would she confess? Could she have been protecting someone? At nine her memories are more of what she was told or read than what she actually remembers. Chrissie share some truths and a box of "proof" with Natalie. She also gets to read the evidence file. But still she has more questions than answers. The truth is just below the surface and she is bound and determined once and for all to find the truth.
The lies people tell to protect themselves or their loved ones keep piling up in this story. As Natalie fights for the truth she discovers more than she ever thought possible. This is a quick but fantastic read with many twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages until all is revealed.
Excellent book by Carissa Ann Lynch!
When Natalie Bryers was only nine years old she snuck into her older brothers bedroom in the country home and looked out the window. What she saw would change her life forever..... The brutal murder of a young girl committed by 14 year old Chrissy Cornwall. Now Natalie is in her 40s and living alone in the same country house and trying to adapt to being a failed writer working at a K-mart barely making ends meet. And to everyone's horror, Chrissy Corwall is being released from prison, time served for that viscous murder years ago. On a whim, Natalie writes her a letter offering to write her story in a effort to jumpstart her writing career. And who appears at her door......
What follows is a captivating, well plotted thriller as Natalie interviews Chrissy and tries to get the real story as Chrissy claims she is innocent even though she admitted to the murder. What I liked about this book: It is well plotted with perfectly paced chapters. Carissa Ann Lynch is a gifted writer and every character has their own personality which jumps through the pages.
I also liked the personality of the town itself. Small town life is perfectly captured and you can imagine the fields (and trailer homes) of small town life. You can also get a sense of the loneliness and depression that Natalie is going through as a single 40 year old who in her head has maybe failed at her dream of being a writer.
Another refreshing change from this thriller..... and this may be just me, but I loved how the book was so linear. For example, it seems like every thriller I have read the past year or so was very formulistic: You had two alternating POVs going back and forth, or two time lines, Or just multiple things going on at the same time trying to come together at the end. This book just followed Natalie's footsteps every step of the way.
What I didn't like....... Not anything bad but the ending was slightly anticlimactic in my opinion. I didn't guess the ending but I thought she didn't nail the landing. That definitely doesn't take away from the ride however and this one is very much recommended!
Book given free for a honest review.
She Lied, She Died....
Now, that is my kind of title. Pulls me right in and instantly has my attention.
This is my first book by Carissa Ann Lynch, but without one doubt in my mind, I know it will not be my last.
This is a mind blowing read that I was captivated with early on. This book is not only a suspenseful thriller but also super creepy. I loved every minute of it and I devoured this book in one sitting.
I will be recommending this book for a long time coming!
The book opens with protagonist Natalie Breyas, who is nine when she sneaks into her brother’s room, disobeying her parents who told her to stay in her own room on the other side of the house. Borrowing his binoculars, she focuses on the emergency vehicles and people gathered in the family field until the circle opens, revealing a deceased young teenaged girl. Her appearance will haunt Natalie for the rest of her life. Another young teen confesses to the murder, an “open and shut case.” Her mother leaves the family when Natalie is fourteen, her father, broken, dies from a heart attack, and her brother commits suicide. She returns to live at the family farm after finding her brother’s remains. The murderer, Chrissy Cornwall, is released from prison after thirty years, proclaiming her innocence. Natalie becomes determined to find who lied the night Jenny Juliette died.
Wow. I had to get up and walk around my home for a bit to digest this novel. I am stunned. “She Lied She Died” is an unputdownable book that caused me to jump out of my own skin when the phone rang because I was so deeply engrossed. I feel like I was the one trying to the untangle the web of lies that swallows the reader whole. I was so embedded that it seemed like I was hearing a neighbor tell me about a horrendous bit of news that shook my small town. If you like thrilling suspense, real characters, convincing settings, and surprises, then I cannot recommend this outstandingly well-written work enough.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, One More Chapter/Harper Collins Publisher, LTD, and Carissa Ann Lynch for the ability to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She Lied She Died is an excellent thriller by Carissa Ann Lynch.
This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it.
Natalie was only nine when a body was discovered in the field.
The murder victim was only a teenager. A 14 year old by the name of Christie Cornwell confesses and is sent to prison.
Thirty years later, Chrissie is released from prison but the locals are not happy..
This was a well written book with so many twists, it was hard to put this book down.
Thank you to Harper, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
She Lied She Died by Carissa Ann Lynch is a terrifying thriller that is not for the faint of heart. The story revolves around Natalie, who is haunted by a murder that happened years ago. Jenny, a young girl, was murdered and found in a field in a small town. A fourteen year-old, Chrissy, confessed to the murder and went to jail. Now, she's getting out. Did Chrissy really murder Jenny all those years ago? Can Natalie figure out the truth before the murderer strikes again?
Here is a chilling excerpt from Chapter 1:
"I was nine years old when the murder happened.
Old enough to taste fresh-found fear in the air; young enough to feel unscathed by it.
Alone in the farmhouse, I squatted on my haunches in front of my brother Jack’s bedroom window, eyes peeping over the ledge as far as they dared, faded binoculars shielding my face.
Jack would have killed me if he knew what I was doing because: 1. I was never allowed to enter his room, uninvited. 2. I’d gone through his trunk, which contained his “private things” (if you consider pics of naked girls with hairy bushes, and a pair of binoculars, “private”) and worst of all: 3. I’d borrowed those precious binoculars."
Overall, She Lied She Died is a scary thriller with non-stop twists and turns. One highlight of this book is the Prologue, which was absolutely terrifying. If you're a typical domestic thriller reader, this book might be too intense for you. If you enjoy dark thrillers though, this book will be just right for you. I did take off 1 star though, because I am tired of the "small town" setting. It just didn't appeal to me, but I'm sure many readers will enjoy it though. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
“There is more than one way to kill a person. Not all of those ways involve death.” A teenager’s dead body is found in a field, and her teenage killer confesses to the murder. When the killer is released years later, the true mystery begins. Was the right person convicted, or did the real murderer evade the law? Some secrets are better left in the past. This fast paced, character driven thriller proves that ignorance can definitely be bliss. Who is the real villain in this twisted tale? “When bad girls lie, good girls die.” The question is, who is the liar? Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for my copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to read and review this book.
She Lied She Died is the story of how lies can add up and tear apart lives (and entire towns). A childhood tragedy, a false confession, and years of secrets all comes to a head when Chrissy Cornwall is released from jail. Natalie Bryers, our main character, is left to untangle the threads of the tragedy that happened quite literally in her backyard.
The voice of the main character is very strong throughout the novel, and roped me in immediately. I would have liked to see a bit more development and growth of other side characters to fill the world out a bit more, especially because I think those details are what really allows that small town feel to come to life. Overall a solid page-turner with a pretty interesting twist.
Crossposted to goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4748558098
I love the books that grip you right from page one. It was consistently good and built to a fantastic ending. Thank you!
She Lied She Died definitely kept me invested throughout the entirety of the book. The writing style was really engaging and easy to get into.
Long story short, a convicted murderer is released after serving time, but claims she is innocent, …. Despite her confession. A would-be author with a strong connection to the case investigates and finds the truth and much of her life unravels as she does.
I found this to be a fast and easy read. Even when I thought I knew, I was wrong. Recommended for those looking for a quick thrill and surprise.
Many thanks and much appreciation to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
I liked this thriller and found it to be an enjoyable story. The narrator had an interesting perspective - what would happen to a child whose property was where a body was discovered? Natalie grew up with the shadow of that crime over her, but the murder was caught and quickly convicted because she confessed, then 15 year old Chrissy. Chrissy has served 30 years of her life sentence and has now been paroled. Chrissy has claimed she was innocent and aspiring author Natalie decides she wants to tell their story, whatever the truth may be. I did like the twists, but I thought the end of the story came very quickly and it could have taken a little more time for the story. That being said the ending was good, just very quick.
Another great read from Carissa Lynch! I've read every one of her books, and this is one of the best. You could cut the tension with a knife in this suspense novel. This is one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait to read more of her books.
She Lied She Died by Carissa Ann Lynch
A gripping small town murder mystery book that keeps you on the edge of your seat! This book was very well written, from setting the dark atmosphere of a gloomy small town, the captivating characters and a story line that keeps you guessing. I would highly recommend this book.
NetGalley
She Lied She Dies
By: Carissa Ann Lynch
Publication Date: November 8, 2022
Who killed teenager, Jenny Juliott? It should be easy to know since Chrissy Cornwall already confessed and has done her time in prison. Chrissy went in a teenager herself but is now a middle aged woman who wants to make the truth be known, she didn’t kill Jenny. Natalie Breyas now lives on her family’s farm where Jenny’s body was discovered. Her family was split apart from this tragedy and now Natalie is just the person to write a book to tell Chrissy’s side of the story. Is Chrissy telling the truth or will Natalie be deceived by a convicted killer?
I’ve become such a fan of Carissa Ann Lynch her thrillers are well written, suspenseful and always a quick read. This one is no different. I loved the family secrets and small town gossip. So many book these days are too long and drawn out with unnecessary details but Carissa always manages to keep the story suspenseful and to the point.
"Pretty truths or ugly lies, which one do you choose?"
Fourteen-year-old Jenny Juliott was found dead decades ago on the field at the Breyas farm. Chrissy Cornwall, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, just a child herself, confessed to her murder and was currently being released from prison. But now Chrissy was claiming her innocence in Jenny's death. Was she lying then or is she lying now?
Natalie Breyas lives at the farm and gets the opportunity she's been waiting for to launch her writing career, the chance to write a book telling Chrissy's side of the story. With a town strongly opposed to Chrissy's return, Natalie sets out to uncover the truth in a somewhat risky endeavor. Who can she trust as she tries to unravel this complicated web of lies?
"Is it better to administer the truth in small doses, or inject it all at once? I used to think I knew the answer, but I know nothing anymore."
As Natalie learns more about what happened that fateful night, she finds truth and lies tangled in the shadows of the past with hidden family secrets at every turn. How well does she even know her own family? And what would she be willing to do to protect them?
Captivating, thought provoking and well paced with plenty of twists, She Lied, She Died kept me engaged in the story throughout. Atmospheric descriptions and brewing thunderstorms added to the eerie setting and the secrets and evil hidden within its depths. I couldn't see, however, what made Natalie so trusting of Chrissy, enough to let her spend the night in her own house, other than simple intuition that there was more to her story. Initially, I also found some of the characters to be unlikable but I understood them better and became more invested as the plot unfolded.
Ultimately, this was a story about young love, jealousy and revenge, asking what lengths you would go to follow what's in your heart. With an interesting look at family dynamics and a path of lies hiding the truth, this ended incredibly with an unexpected plot twist that blew me away completely. And it leaves the reader with one final thought. Is it better to learn the truth at any cost or to remain oblivious in the lies of the unknown?
"They say that the truth will set you free. But sometimes truth is the prison."
** Special thanks to Harper 360, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available November 8, 2022. **
I wasn't expecting that ending. Good story and the characters were well written. Will check out more of her books.
This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed it and it kept me guessing throughout, which is difficult for most books to do. I felt like I connected with the characters and really enjoyed the plot!
When bad girls lie, good girls die. A young girl was found dead in a neighbor’s field.
A fourteen-year-old who confesses. Just a child herself, could Chrissy Cornwall really be a cold-blooded killer? Years later, the murderer is getting out and Natalie Bryers, unable to forget the night of Jenny’s murder, still has questions. Did Chrissy lie then or is she lying now? Did she kill Jenny? And if so, will she kill again?
When Chrissy gets out of jail, Natalie decides to finally use her degree and write a book about the truth. She knows there is more to this story and wants to uncover the truth; the truth being a theme throughout the story. And Chrissy delivers, showing up at Natalie's door claiming that she is innocent.
This was a fairly quick read and the book keeps you wanting to know more. The end had one big surprise that I could not have predicted. The characters were relatable enough. I really enjoyed this book and the pace at which is read!
I rate this book as 4.25 🌟!
I'd like to say a huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
When a young girl is found dead in her family's field, Natalie is horrified when she sneaks into her brother's room and looks out the window through his telescope. As an adult, she is consumed with the need to know for certain why the teenage Chrissy confessed to the murder and what was her motivation for killing. She is haunted by the scars left on her family in the aftermath - her mother leaves, her father disengages and eventually dies, and her brother commits suicide.
Natalie is a frustrated author and when Chrissy is released from jail as an adult and offers to tell her the real story of what happened, Natalie jumps in feet first. While she is still not sure of Chrissy's innocence and more than a little scared to be in the same room with her, she braves some sketchy circumstances in order to interview her.
I loved the portrayal of Chrissy, and her manipulation of Natalie. The last third of the book takes off and the ending made for an interesting plot twist. This was a quick read, and a real thrill ride!
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an advanced reader's copy for review.
Wow, I enjoyed the intensity and pacing of this so much! This was my first book from this author and definitely will not be my last. From the first page to the last, I was absolutely hooked and had to know more about what happened, who killed Jenny, and never once did I guess what was going to happen by the very end. I definitely recommend if you want a quick but intense read!!
SPOILER ALERT -
She Lied She Died is the first book I read by Carissa Ann Lynch. The book and premise were actually pretty good. The story did kind of wrap up quickly, though. I liked the main character Natalie. The book delves into how lies really do tear people apart.
It was apparent Chrissy didn’t murder Jenny, and as you are reading, you get a clue it was a member of Natalie’s family.
The writing is good and the story well constructed, but it did end quite quickly after so much build-up. I would read more by this author.
#SheLiedSheDied #NetGalley
This storyline may be similar to many other but trust me, this is one that you so not want to pass on. It will shock you, leave you wanting to keep reading, and have you questioning so many things. Written so wonderfully and intriguing. The ending will make you gasp
i loved this book, it was a very slow start for me but throughout the book it picked up, that also might have been personal preference. This book and the twist was amazing and very unexpected!
Never Have I ever read a book by Carissa ann Lynch and not been Totally wrapped up in the book her stories pull you in.. I read this book in 2 sittings it's a fast read.
All small towns have secrets..
Some are more hidden deeper than others some are darker than others. things you don't think are there. hidden deep below in the trunk. Just like family you can never tell whose dark secrets are gonna come to life..
Natalie was only 9 years old. The night Jenny's murdered body was found in the field outside her house.. The whole town thought her family was the culprits...
Chrissy Cornwell, Goes to prison for 30 years for murder she committed or did she..
Now she's being released because she's done her time for this murder..
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