Tell Me Lies
by Teresa Driscoll
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Pub Date Apr 18 2023 | Archive Date May 02 2023
Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer
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Description
“Full of twists and turns, this is an exciting, pacy read.” —Heat, Book of the Week
“The brilliant Teresa Driscoll builds tension and menace with a flick of a sentence.” —Fiona Barton
“A creepy and addictive read” —Katherine Faulkner
"A deliciously sinister story…” —Jane Corry
From bestselling author Teresa Driscoll comes a chilling thriller of past secrets and present terror. Deep in a rural hideaway, it’s only the owls watching them…right?
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…
When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity.
As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
A Note From the Publisher
Teresa’s novels have sold more than two million copies and have been published in twenty languages. She lives in beautiful Devon with her family. You can find out more about her books on her website (www.teresadriscoll.com) or by following her on Twitter (@TeresaDriscoll), Facebook (www.facebook.com/teresadriscollauthor) or Instagram (@tkdriscoll_author).
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781662504983 |
PRICE | £8.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 335 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Sam and Hannah are trying a last ditch solution to save their troubled marriage; the move to Owl Cottage in Cornwall with their daughter, Lily, is their hail Mary pass. But Owl Cottage is dark and creepy, Hannah hears strange noises and is left nasty little”gifts” on the doorstep. Is she losing her tenuous grasp on reality? Sam is little help, dismissing Hannah’s concerns out of hand, leaving her to wonder if she may be sleeping with the enemy
I've been a big fan of Driscoll since reading her I Am Watching You in 2017.
Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll was a tense and exciting read!
Teresa Driscoll does it again. Bringing us another amazing, unputdownable, suspenseful masterpiece.
The characters Hannah, Sam even Lily are greatly developed.
I loved reading Hannah's story and being in Owl Cottage in Cornwall with this family.
I enjoyed them and how they interacted it was great.
The suspense, intrigue and questions were phenomenal.
It definitely kept me on my toes. And flipping the Kindle page's pretty quickly.
I thought that the plot was great as usual. She knows when ramp it up.
The writing style was excellent and the pace was great, it was full of suspense and twists and turns.
Overall, a gripping, unputdownable, very clever and completely unexpected read!
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Amazon Publishing UK,
Thank You for your generosity and approving this eARC!
📚 Book review 📚
Tell Me Lies - Teresa Driscoll
4.5/5
For synopsis swipe left.
Thank you for the early copy @netgalley.
I have only read one other of this authors books, Her perfect family and remembered how much I enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this one. Wow what a read, I really was hooked from start to finish. Loved the writing style and the way the story was set out, I found it hard to put down and read it in just two and half days. it really keeps you in suspense all the way through until the surprising twists at the end. I will definitely be reading more from @TeresaDriscoll. I am so lucky to have got a chance to read this early.
#booksofinstagram #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookstagrammer #thrillerbooks #goodreads #bookrecommendations #tellmelies #TeresaDriscoll
📚 Book review 📚
Tell Me Lies - Teresa Driscoll
4.5/5
For synopsis swipe left.
Thank you for the early copy @netgalley.
I have only read one other of this authors books, Her perfect family and remembered how much I enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this one. Wow what a read, I really was hooked from start to finish. Loved the writing style and the way the story was set out, I found it hard to put down and read it in just two and half days. it really keeps you in suspense all the way through until the surprising twists at the end. I will definitely be reading more from @TeresaDriscoll. I am so lucky to have got a chance to read this early.
#booksofinstagram #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookstagrammer #thrillerbooks #goodreads #bookrecommendations #tellmelies #TeresaDriscoll
📚 Book review 📚
Tell Me Lies - Teresa Driscoll
4.5/5
For synopsis swipe left.
Thank you for the early copy @netgalley.
I have only read one other of this authors books, Her perfect family and remembered how much I enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this one. Wow what a read, I really was hooked from start to finish. Loved the writing style and the way the story was set out, I found it hard to put down and read it in just two and half days. it really keeps you in suspense all the way through until the surprising twists at the end. I will definitely be reading more from @TeresaDriscoll. I am so lucky to have got a chance to read this early.
#booksofinstagram #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookstagrammer #thrillerbooks #goodreads #bookrecommendations #tellmelies #TeresaDriscoll
📚 Book review 📚
Tell Me Lies - Teresa Driscoll
4.5/5
For synopsis swipe left.
Thank you for the early copy @netgalley.
I have only read one other of this authors books, Her perfect family and remembered how much I enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this one. Wow what a read, I really was hooked from start to finish. Loved the writing style and the way the story was set out, I found it hard to put down and read it in just two and half days. it really keeps you in suspense all the way through until the surprising twists at the end. I will definitely be reading more from @TeresaDriscoll. I am so lucky to have got a chance to read this early.
#booksofinstagram #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookstagrammer #thrillerbooks #goodreads #bookrecommendations #tellmelies #TeresaDriscoll
Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll.
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah…When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity. As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
Really enjoyable read. Great story. Loved the scenery and how she told it. 5*.
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Sam and Hannah rent Owl Cottage for a week with their daughter Lily, to try and save their marriage: Sam has had an affair and Hannah is not sure if she wants to stay with him; she's devastated.
Strange things are happening in the cottage, and she has an ominous feeling in her gut. Sam poohpooh's her feelings and she wonders whether he's not the man she thought he was.
Even though Hannah has had a terrible thing happen when she was a little girl, I found her a bit hysterical and I found her at times quite irritating.
Despite that, I did enjoy the book, it was tense and exciting with a surprising ending.
DNF
I got about 50 pages in and I couldn’t finish. The writing for me was too simple and it was repetitive. Both times she found the owl she did the EXACT same thing and even said “out for the count” when referencing her daughter.
There was no flow because everything was so simple and the sentences weren’t complex. There was no atmosphere or build up. Everything was just presented
Hannah and her husband Sam have taken a break in a rural area, trying to save their marriage after Sam had an affair. Strange occurrences happen at Owl Cottage while they are there, knocking on the door, power outages and dead owls on the mat in the morning.
Their 8 year old daughter, Lily seems to feel the tension by manifesting an imaginary friend. Hannah plagued with terrible nightmares.
Hannah overhears a call that Sam is taking behind closed doors and feels that she can no longer trust him, but blames her uneasiness and paranoia on her recent withdrawal of anti depressants, not realizing that there are other factors in play, that the people she trusted are real threats.
I really enjoyed this book, I read it at one sitting, the chapters are short and I just could not put it down, wanting - no - NEEDING to see what comes next.
I really can recommend this book to those that enjoy a psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story begins with the marriage of Hannah and Sam on the rocks after Sam is caught cheating. They have done counseling and plan a trip to Owl Cottage with their young daughter Lily as an attempt to figure out what to do next. Most of the story is told from Hannah's viewpoint, more in her head than through her eyes, and the inside of Hannah's head is a dark place. Apparently her father died in the woods during a long ago father-daughter afternoon outing and Hannah never fully recovered from what became a traumatic overnight search and rescue. As a character I found Hannah to be very self-absorbed and prone to overthinking everything. Catering to her daughter Lily's happiness and care is more of an obsession than normal responsible parenting.
Things go wrong quickly at Owl Cottage when baby owlets turn up dead on the doormats inside the locked cottage. Strange knocks happen at the door and only Hannah seems to experience them then she falls down the stairs in the middle of the night when the lights black out. All the while, she is thinking and overthinking her situation with Sam, whether he could be doing bad things to upset her, whether or not Lily is safe or knows what is happening between them or in the cottage. Finally, another couple they are friendly with shows up to stay at a nearby cottage, but neither Hannah nor Sam are particularly happy to see them. A neighbor ends up dead and the police get involved.
The book was well-written and the end result was not obvious, but spending so much time in Hannah's messed up mind did wear on me. Sam was pussy-footing around his problems too and if he had just talked to Hannah or their therapist the rest of it might never have happened. His excuses are weak.
Tell Me Lies fits well in the thriller genre of couple on the rocks mending their relationship at a cabin in the woods. I do recommend it and thank Teresa Driscoll and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
A brilliant and unsettling domestic thriller filled with tension and feeling. Teresa Driscoll's writing is expressive and captures the reader’s attention from page one to the sensational finale. The protagonist Hannah is confused and angry after her husband Sam has an affair. The family go on holiday to Owl Cottage in Cornwall in an attempt to repair the marriage but disastrous events create havoc in the relationship. A highly recommended read and well worthy of five stars.
I enjoyed reading this, it kept me guessing and wanting to turn the pages to uncover the truth. Despite the genre and series of unfortunate events it also felt believable and the main character rang true.
TERESA ! GIRL YOU DID NOT HAVE TO DO ME LIKE THIS !
okay oh god this was a trip !!!
So it's following hannah after a betrayal her and her husband take their 8yo daughter lily to this cottage in hopes of a new fresh start buuuut something is off.. hannah starts getting flashbacks and shit hits the fan when there are these mysterious knocks on the door and god damn animals start showing up dead on their front door steps !
So first things first THE PROLOGUE !
literally everything u want in a gripping start ! I started and i was like ....well i'm not gonna sleep tonight
The formatting was so good ! It kept me intrigued the whole time
I loved the multiple POV's and how we get mental struggles from both the person dealing with them and the ppl trying to help.
ON PTSD
from personal experience i can tell u that mental health is a tricky thing to write about but this one did PTSD almost perfectly ! It felt like the author actually did their research !
Even when some chapters get a bit slow they end in a cliffhanger and what even is sleep anymore??
The only reason i was gonna give it 4 stars was because i thought it was a little slow but then the ending pulled everything together and i just couldn't NOT give it 5 stars !
Thank u so much for sending me this ARC i cannot wait for the release
i will add the link to my youtube video reviewing this book as soon as i get it up
How have I never read any of this author’s previous books?! I will definitely be going back to check them all out after thoroughly enjoying this intriguing psychological thriller. It was perfectly paced, and kept me thinking and guessing the entire time, I could not put it down. Highly recommend!
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read Teresa's most well known novel 'I am watching you' last month and while I was not blown away with it I enjoyed the writing style and multiple storylines. So when I opportunity to read 'Tell me lies' came up I jumped at it.
I read this book V quickly, it definitely fall into the page turner category, addictive and thrilling. The perfect book to get someone out of a reading slump, I always pick up a thriller when I am not feeling excited about anything I am reading.
SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD
So let's get into it. This story centers around married-on-the-rocks couple Hannah and Sam (they also have a daughter Lily) So Sam has recently cheated and after counselling they decide on a trip to owl cottage to make some new memories. Initially I was confused, was I reading the haunting of owl cottage or tell me lies :') there are some spooky goings on which lead the reader in a different direction, honestly was this going poltergeist. Lights going out on their own accord, dead owls appearing in the house and childhood dolls turning up and being destroyed. This all became sort of background noise as the story became more sinister and dark and of course all was revealed at the end, I was pretty impressed with how this was all brought together actually.
I want to talk a little bit more about the characters. .So Maude is Hannah's mum and I personally felt like her story line and the past of Hannah's mysterious fathers death felt like coals tossed into the fire to confuse the reader. It felt a little unnecessary to me and I don't think we would have lost anything without Maude's character input at all. Sam as a character is purposefully blank, we get very little backstory on him or his personality so we can draw any sinister conclusions we wish when he starts asking for money from Hannah's trust fund. All we know about Sam is he is a cheater, this is done with intent though and I thought it was well thought out.
I had a few minor annoyances. I'm sorry but who calls their daughter 'lovely'? when she is 8 years old :') There was about 15 references to the PanyD which also felt like Teresa was trying to be relevant, we know it happened, it wasn't a part of a story line so I don't think it had to be mentioned quite so much. And one thing that I didn't like, In Hannah's chapters she is writing like she is writing to Sam, so she would say something like 'I had an apple and so did you' 'you never find me interesting' etc. this was a little confusing at times and I'm not sure why the writer chose to do that.
Overall I enjoyed it very much and I would recommend for those interested in Thrillers such as girl on the train, the silent patient etc.
Sam has cheated on his wife Hannah and they decide to take a break in Cornwall at an air b&b called Owl Cottage. Mysterious things start happening like knocks on the door but when opened noone is there and dead baby owlets being found on the doormat.
Hannah starts to question wether she is being over sensitive to things because of a traumatic event that occurred during her childhood.
I really enjoyed this and the fact that I finished it in three nights is a testament to how it kept me gripped. I have read one of the authors previous books and was delighted to see DI Melanie Saunders from a previous story make an appearance. There are some twists and I really like Teresa Driscolls style of writing.
I would highly recommend this to anyone that like an addictive thriller/mystery.
💔 Heartbreakingly Brilliant
As usual, Teresa delivered. This was fantastic and I polished off this in a day.
🧸With a small cast of characters, this book creates suspense and intrigue without any need to over complicate things.
💍There were a few different elements at play here - the death of Hannahs dad, navigating marriage and the ups and downs that go with this, and the mental health considerations that go alongside these things.
🌊 I enjoyed the references to cornwall and the issues around second homes. Love reading a book by a local author in a local setting for that totally relatable part of the story!
😥The ending was brilliant, heartbreaking, satisfying. This book ticks every box and ties up every loose thread
I enjoyed this book overall- the story was good and kept me entertained. I found the characters a bit annoying at times though.
I really enjoyed this read, it was creepy and atmopheric and full of suspense. It was well written and the characters were well developed and continued to be throughout the book, some of them were more likeable than others but all were relatable.
There were twists and unpredictability and kept me guessing, which made for a fantastic read.
This was a twisty little book about a married couple who hope to heal after a betrayal.
Hannah finds a perfect seaside cabin for healing and arranges for her family to take a break by the sea. Almost immediately however, strange things start to happen, and Hannah wonders if her luck is refusing to change. With a horrible secret in her past, the damaged Hannah has no idea who to trust.
The book was a fast, engaging read with great characters and good twists. I would recommend to suspense lovers.
Tell Me Lies
by Teresa Driscoll
This was a brilliant book. I was all in front to end, stopped only to rush dinner and clean up. A Jaw dropper in the last chapter. Never came close to figuring this one out. NOT once. I felt truly saddened for Hannah and all she had gone through. I know this is one I say was one of the best of the year.
This was an ARC. Thanks to NetGalley. This was a first by this author and I was not disappointed. Good solid domestic read. Three stars.
I love Teresa Driscoll’s books and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. This is a well written, atmospheric thriller that i quickly got engrossed into.
The ending was fabulous and one that I definitely didn’t see coming.
Another great read and one that I’d recommend.
I don't really read Teresa Driscoll a whole lot and she's not a go to author but I really enjoyed "Tell Me Lies".
I wasn't sure when first starting the book whether I would enjoy it or not, but it really grew on me and by the end I was hooked.
I thought lead character Hannah was really well written and her mental health issues came across as very authentic. The parts with her father were really touching and it was clear to see how events made her into the character we meet in the story. I also enjoyed seeing Matthew make a cameo appearance!
After a bit of a slow start, I was really fascinated to find out who Hannah could trust and what was really going on in Owl Cottage. I didn't guess the ending at all, and whilst I did like it there are some plot holes/unanswered questions if you look too deeply into it.
The only thing I wasn't keen on was the 'you' style narrative, it's not something I enjoy and I find it jarring. I was willing to overlook it in order to enjoy a good story though.
This was a suspenseful read, very mysterious. Quite a few mysteries all within this one book. Probably not my favorite book by this author, it seemed a bit meandering at times. But plenty of twists, the largest towards the end. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ve figured it all out because you’re in for a shocking close.
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was my second read from Teresa Driscoll, and once again, it did not disappoint! This book is jam packed with exciting twists and turns. I highly recommend giving this a read, you will not be able to put it down! I did not predict the ultimate twist.
The book is mainly told from Hannah's perspective, but is also sprinkled with multiple other perspectives. I really enjoyed this style of writing. It was easy to follow and provided the reader with insights into all of the characters.
3.5 rounded up
Hannah and Sam‘s marriage is in big trouble and so they decide to take a holiday at Owl Cottage in Cornwall in an attempt to put a sticking plaster over a large fracture. It’s more in the hope of a fresh start than in expectation. However, whilst the cottage is all they hope for a disturbing sequence of events occur which plunges Hannah back into the maelstrom of her past.
This unresolved issue collides with the present in a manner Hannah could never have predicted.
Whilst I think this domestic psychological thriller starts somewhat slowly I do enjoy the way it builds and the pace definitely picks up. The location in Cornwall is really good and it’s used very effectively with everything from an odd vibe in the village with an unease that builds to quite sinister proportions. A sense of foreboding develops heightened by tension between the couple along with other disturbing signs.
The characterisation of Hannah is good although Sam is less well fleshed out. She’s definitely an over thinker and I find her rather exhausting at times! However, this does fit with the intriguing mystery of what lurks in her past as it clearly continues to haunt her. Maybe we’d all be over analytical too and find it hard to trust in the same circumstances? The relationship between Sam and Hannah is done well and as an outsider you can see there are faults on both sides.
A bonus for me is the appearance of a repeat character from previous books, that of DI Melanie Sanders and a brief appearance by Matthew Hill. These are very likeable characters and so I thoroughly enjoy their entry into the ever deepening and increasingly murky plot.
For a long time the author keeps you in suspense, you don’t understand the direction she’s taking us in but it definitely becomes very dark which is unexpected yet the signs are there they just misread!!! It becomes very sinister and there are some shocks in store.
I really like Teresa Driscoll‘s books, I’ve read most of them and this is one that keeps you invested in discovering the truth.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This was such a fantastic read , didn’t want to leave it down, so well written and such an intriguing psychological thriller I wanted to get to the end which kept you guessing right to the end . The story unfolded leaving you shocked and wanting more at the end of each chapter with brilliant characters and a great story line. Would really highly recommend this book as a must read .
Another excellent novel by Teresa Driscoll. It started slow but then develops into a strong multi-layered novel.
As usual the character development by Teresa is excellent and this is a very emotional novel dealing with many themes. The plot is strong and believable and leads to a satisfying conclusion.
The epilogue is very emotional and brought a lump to my throat!
Also nice to have Matthew Hall make an appearance again.
Highly recommended!
Hannah and her husband Sam decide to go away on a holiday to Owl Cottage in Cornwall. Hannah has recently discovered that Sam has cheated on her with a coworker named Sophie, and she is hoping that time away for him with their 8 year old daughter Lily will ultimately help them reconnect. The problem is when they arrive, Hannah starts to hear strange noises and she falls down the stairs when the power is cut and a few dead owlets appear on their doorstep. Is Hannah losing her mind? Is her husband doing all of this or could it be someone else?
TELL ME LIES was another fantastic book by Teresa Driscoll. I have read all of her books and this one may be my new favorite. I loved the creepy isolated cabin and the past and present timelines. I don't want to say much more, but to enjoy TELL ME LIES and all the surprises that are in store for you. I really enjoyed the ending and how everything came together.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I’m always excited whenever I hear Teresa Driscoll has published a new book. Tell Me Lies is another chilling, nail-biting thriller, set in a rural hideaway where secrets and lies slowly unravel.
The story opens with the Hannah and Sam’s marriage disintegrating after Sam’s affair is exposed. After having counselling they decide to holiday at Owl Cottage with their daughter Lily in an attempt to give it another shot. Written mainly in Hannah’s point of view (with a few others sprinkled in here and there), we get flashbacks of how her father’s death has affected her—a search and rescue—that has left her traumatised. But when baby owlets are left on the doorstep, a dead cat in the house and knocks on the door with no one there, she feels a deep sense of unease. An unexplained power cut leaves Hannah with a sprained ankle and she begins to wonder if she’s safe. According to Jenny, none of the other neighbours experienced the same outage and it appears Hannah is being targeted. But why? Could Sam be responsible?
It’s Amy’s strange phone call that stuck in my mind, cleverly delayed a few more chapters as we learn about how Hannah and Amy became friends. The call is a warning, a woman pushing for damages, claiming unfair dismissal and something much worse. As Hannah stalks this woman online, she realises the fallout from Sam’s affair may be far from over. As DI Melanie Sanders investigates a sudden death in one of the neighbouring houses, Hannah’s welfare couldn’t be more critical.
Deep down, I couldn’t help feeling frightened for Hannah. She is devastated by Sam’s affair and trying, at the same time, to keep her family together. Is her mind’s eye severely hampered? Or is Hannah truly gifted? But with all the weird goings on at Owl cottage, I never guessed what she went through, the horror of it all. The ending made me cry; the guilt in the wood and her father’s bravery. I regret Sam not giving Hannah the real story right from the off. The delay put her in such danger. But a thumbs up for Mathew Hill. Always good to see him make an appearance.
Tell Me Lies is brilliantly written and expertly plotted. Another un-put-down-able book with its deliciously dark and flawless trademark, as with all Teresa Driscoll’s books. I want to thank the author, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the privilege of reading this advance copy.
I really tried to read this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I kept picking it up and finding that it just didn't grab me like other books by Teresa Driscoll. I won't give up on the author, but will with this book. I hope others enjoy it.
Thank you Netgalley & Amazon Publishing for an eARC of Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll! Driscoll is the author that got me back into reading after about 10 years of a hiatus. I was deep in a COVID depression and needed something to focus on other than the news. I read one of her books - Started my bookstagram page - And the rest is history. That being said, I couldn’t wait to dive in to new newest thriller!
What’s it about?
Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start after a recent betrayal that sent their marriage into a complete spiral. The couple and their 8-year old daughter Lily take a vacation to Owl Cottage, Hannah’s beloved and favorite animal adorning the home. Something about the home seems off, though, and strange happenings make Hannah wonder if someone is messing with her, including her husband, or if it’s all in her head.
Once again, I found myself completely immersed in the fictional world created by Driscoll. You’re unraveling three mysteries here - What’s happening at owl cottage, what is happening behind the scenes in Hannah and Sam’s marriage, and what happened in Hannah’s past that is now coming back to haunt her. All three come together seamlessly to deliver on a jaw-dropping conclusion that was well crafted and not foreseen by myself at all, an avid thriller reader!
Hannah, Sam and their young daughter Lilly are staying in a picturesque holiday cottage on the English coast. Sounds idyllic until we remember this is a Theresa Driscoll novel. The marriage is in trouble and this trip is a last ditch effort to repair the damage. Sam seems to be trying but Hannah has trust issues, on antidepressants, having nightmares and being sleep deprived begins to suspect things are not as they seem ar Owl Cottage. Fast paced, deceptive and a really good ending.
I am a big Teresa Driscoll fan and her latest book did not disappoint. I always find it super hard to write reviews for her books without spoilers but needless to say this book was full of twists!
You meet Hannah and Sam who have gone on holiday with their daughter Lily in the hope they can repair their marriage following what you are led to believe is an affair on Sam’s part. What follows is some really chilling events which quite frankly put me off the idea of holiday cottages in the middle of nowhere! But although you can see one of the twists coming as the book switches between the current time and earlier in the holiday, the motivations and consequences are shocking and I truly did not expect them.
This is probably one of my favourite Teresa Driscoll books so far and thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.
Downward Spiral..
The move to Owl Cottage should be the saving of them - a chocolate box cottage in a picturesque part of Cornwall - and for Hannah, Sam and their small daughter this should be a new start. Things are not to be so, however, and a downward spiral soon begins for Hannah who wonders whether she is slowing losing her grip on reality or whether something way more sinister is underway. With a perfectly drawn atmospheric setting, a slow build of tension and credibly crafted characters this is an immersive and compelling suspense.
This book was absolutely PHENOMENAL. The first thriller I’ve thoroughly enjoyed for a while. I got through it so quickly too, I didn’t want it to end but couldn’t put it down!
This was an extremely creepy book and very dark at some points - it can be hit or miss with the kinds of themes involved but Teresa did a brilliant job.
I liked how the book started with a prologue which gives you a taste of what happens in the end, but with no idea WHY it happened and what events led up to it. This drew me in and kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The chapters were a lovely length, quite short and easy to get through. I didn’t find this book difficult to read at any point ☺️
It kept me guessing the entire time and I really did not expect the ending to play out as it did. I don’t know what I expected but it definitely wasn’t that!
I am an absolute sucker for a happy ending so I was slightly let down that it wasn’t a happy ending, but it wasn’t a sad ending either - more like a hopeful one.
The only thing I would change is minor, and might just be the character’s own traits… however when Hannah says “I’m a little bit OCD about XYZ”, this could have been worded better - I’m not a fan of using mental illness as adjectives. Even saying “obsessed” would be better than “OCD”, or just “super picky / specific”. & I only picked up on that as I have a loved one with OCD.
Thank you so much for approving me for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. ☺️
I will be posting a review on my Instagram @homeiswherethebookshelvesare soon!
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC
Another gem from Teresa Driscoll. A tense setup where suddenly everyone seems to be hiding something.
Hannah and Sam with their daughter Lily come to Owl Cottage to try and fix their marriage. But some strange happenings cause Hannah to suspect Sam to be behind all this. Snatches of her childhood trauma start to surface.
The plot is gripping and the ending is totally unexpected.
Hannah and Sam have gone on holiday to Cornwall, staying at a little place called Owl Cottage, which Hannah chose for her love of owls and the good memories of her youth that it evokes. But strange events start happening that put Hannah immediately on edge, not good when she’s already fragile from the affair she discovered Sam was having. This trip was supposed to signify a fresh new start to their relationship, but she’s not sure she can go through with it. She’s determined to try hard though, so she believes Sam when he says she’s overreacting. Although I’m pretty sure mysterious knocks on the door and dead baby owls left INSIDE the cottage would freak anyone out.
Her situation isn’t helped by the locals who are worked up about outsiders that flood the town on vacation. But she finds an ally in the kindly next-door neighbor who lets Hannah and Sam use her driveway. Then out of nowhere, she gets some unexpected visitors to the cottage and her family getaway is truly thrown for a loop. Will Hannah ever get the peace she so desperately needs?
I loved the turn the story takes. But I can’t say that the traumatic memory at the heart of the story that is eventually revealed truly delivers. It’s continually hinted at and yes, it was very sad, but I did expect there to be more to it. Perhaps a twist that wasn’t remembered at first, or the realization that it was remembered incorrectly, etc. If it had been relayed at the beginning instead of teased throughout, I probably wouldn’t have expected more. But it was a great story and I would recommend it for a fun read.
#TellMeLies #NetGalley
A fun read.
After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily—and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah… When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can’t help wondering whether someone is messing with her—or whether the past she’s been running from has finally claimed her sanity. As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?
She's getting better with every book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazing Publishing UK for giving me an advance copy.
Once again Teresa has written an outstandingly addictive book. I have read every book that she has written and can honestly say that I have enjoyed every single one of them. I live in Devon and so was used to Teresa on the news, and you can see that she has taken the area's that she is so familiar with to base some unbelievable thrillers in. I did not get the reveal in total, but the clues were all there along with more than a few red herrings. I loved this book and would highly recommend it, and I wait in earnest for the next Teresa Driscoll book.
I am writing an honest review in exchange for an ARC of this novel.
This is the second book I've read by author Teresa Driscoll. I was looking forward to it because I throughly enjoyed the first book I read of hers, The Perfect Family. Driscoll always does a great job of writing from multiple point of views to guide the reader through a twisty tale. In the same breath, the glimpses from the detective, mother, and sometime even main character, Hannah, took away from the book.
The first third of the book was spooky. In my opinion the second third of the book was a very slow and repetitive because Hannah kept harping on the fact her husband cheated and she couldn't forgive him, Hannah's mom worried about Hannah, and the detective was in need of an ego boost. Around 55% of the book, the action statred to kick up again! I had my theories throughout the book but nothing prepared me for the ending.
For these reasons I give the book 3.5/5 star rating. If you want a twisty thriller (skim the middle), then this the book for you.
A definite page turner with short chapters leaving you wanting more! I've read Teresa's last book and this is just as good. She builds the tension with her atmospheric writing and her character descriptions.
I normally love a Teresa Driscoll book. This one I struggled with as found Hannah so self absorbed and overthinking, I just wanted to shake her.
Apart from that it was an easy read as I really wanted to know why and who was responsible. My feelings are not going to put me off this author's books as I really appreciate the plots that she comes up with.
I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
This was my first novel by Teresa Driscoll. I mostly enjoyed Tell Me Lies, but for me, it still ended up being only a 3 star read. Right off of the bat, I enjoyed the countryside cottage atmosphere as well as the way the story took off talking about owls. Owl Cottage was described perfectly, and really set the tone for the book. However, as I got about halfway through the story, I felt nothing was happening, and things got pretty repetitive. I did enjoy the flashbacks throughout the novel, of when Hannah and Sam met as well as her childhood. The author's writing style flowed nicely, and kept me intrigued enough to finish. This was not a bad book by any means, but it just didn't have enough to "wow" me. The setting, writing style and character development were what I enjoyed the most. I just wouldn't classify this as a "thriller", more of a novel of relationships, trauma, mental health issues and dealing with healing.
It was rather disorienting to me for the POV to be written as though addressing another character in the book. So I did not enjoy this one. I also prefer the pacing to be faster.
The storyline is not bad though. I liked the setting. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more as a movie.
Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll is a very dark and unsettling story, It is a broody book, which hovers between being very dark and creepy to being a psychological thriller. I think it managed to be both types of books at different parts of the storyline. The storyline is extremely clever and I really thought parts of the storyline were genius, probably because I didn’t see them coming!
I really enjoyed reading this book and think it could be the author’s best book yet.
Highly recommended
Hannah and Sam set out to a vacation hideaway as they try and mend their marriage after Sam’s affair. But as strange things begin to occur at the cabin, Hannah’s hope for an idyllic getaway is quickly dashed. Tell Me Lies is a slow burn thriller, that really takes its time to get to the heart of the story. Hannah’s dealing with some psychological baggage, and her musings tend to clog up the chapters and sap some of the strength of the plot. When things start to heat up (with the return of some characters from a previous novel), it’s almost too late, but the plot twists save the story. It’s just a chore to get there, though. I loved the author’s previous books, but this one just didn’t hold my interest. I received an arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dark, creepy and nail biting. Another brilliant thriller from one of the best authors. This book literally made me jump at times. Brilliant story xx
I did enjoy this one but found it a bit repetitive. Sam and Hannah plan a holiday at Owl Cottage in a last ditch attempt to save their marriage. Plenty of mysterious goings on occur. Sam has confessed to having an affair so Hannah is already suspicious of him. I found Hannah to be too introspective, a lot of the time we were getting a rehash of childhood events which in the end up seemed a bit irrelevant to the storyline. A few twists but more of a family drama than a thriller.