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Let Me Lie
Two years ago, Tom and Caroline Johnson committed suicide, one seemingly unable to live without the other.
Their adult daughter, Anna, is struggling to come to terms with her parents’ deaths, unable to comprehend why they chose to end their lives. Now with a young baby herself, she feels her mother’s presence keenly and is determined to find out what really happened to her parents.
But as Anna digs up the past, someone is trying to stop her. She soon learns that nothing is as it seemed.
Their adult daughter, Anna, is struggling to come to terms with her parents’ deaths, unable to comprehend why they chose to end their lives. Now with a young baby herself, she feels her mother’s presence keenly and is determined to find out what really happened to her parents.
But as Anna digs up the past, someone is trying to stop her. She soon learns that nothing is as it seemed.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2018
About the author
Clare Mackintosh
21 books9,262 followersClare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of New York Times bestseller I LET YOU GO, and Sunday Times bestsellers I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE, AFTER THE END, HOSTAGE and THE LAST PARTY Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart. Her latest novel is A GAME OF LIES, the second in a crime series featuring Welsh detective DC Ffion Morgan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,067 reviews
September 24, 2022
Some authors are a one trick pony; they continue to write the same type of stories for the duration of their career, sometimes successfully and other times not so much. Clare Mackintosh is no such pony; while all three of her novels fall clearly in the crime fiction genre, the style, flow, and thematic elements vary drastically. I highly respect this move-it's ballsy for an author working within such a rigid genre and she does it beautifully. In fact, I can't think of many other authors who have been able to carry off such a diverse set of novels and applaud her with the greatest of respect. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that contain aspects of the police procedural realm, these books will be right up your ally.
"Three may keep a secret, it two of them are dead."
-Benjamin Franklin
The blurb for Let Me Lie is short, and for good reason. Like the author's previous novels, this one entices the reader initially with it's vagueness and ends with a shocking twist, so shocking in fact that a handful of people have messaged me with a "Wait, what just happened?" and I was in that same boat as them. I had to flip back to a certain scene in the story to see what I had missed. For this very reason I'm not going to rehash the summary; you already know that the police think Anna's parents committed suicide and that she thinks it was murder and the publisher says coyly "BUT IT WAS NEITHER MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA". I did guess the what (meaning what happened to Anna's parents) before I even picked up the book, but I didn't understand the "why" or "how" until I had made good progress in the story. While Mackintosh's debut I Let You Go will always be a tough one to top in my rating scale, I did find Let Me Lie even more enjoyable than I See You.
You may be surprised that I found the mental health representation my favorite aspect of the novel. While the mystery at hand was nice, I was particularly drawn in to Murray's personal side story with his wife and her struggles with her diagnosis, as well as the general, overall themes dealing with suicide, anxiety, and depression. I was incredibly moved by this, along with some of the more sensitive details, such as Anna's journey as a new mother and all the bittersweet parts that go along with it (breastfeeding, exhaustion, postpartum emotions, etc). These components alone deserve a 5 star rating, and her own experience as a mother was evident in her tender, moving writing of Anna's inner monologue.
My only downside to this one was that it is a very slow burn, and while I expected it to be a slow building suspense, at times I found myself putting it down because I could sense my attention span waning. A few parts dragged and felt like filler to move the story along with no real purpose, but otherwise the story was solid. I'd like to insert that my issues with the slowness and disinterest at points might be due to a looming slump of crime thrillers at the moment. Let Me Lie might simply be the latest victim at no fault of it's own. Again, the last 25% was classic Clare; her writing had me grasped by the collar of my shirt and I couldn't swipe the pages fast enough. The final twist was a really nice touch, reminiscent of her first novel and it warmed me down to the bones. If you're a fan of Mackintosh's novels, definitely give this a go. Another entertaining mystery from a seasoned vet and I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes us next.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy.
"Three may keep a secret, it two of them are dead."
-Benjamin Franklin
The blurb for Let Me Lie is short, and for good reason. Like the author's previous novels, this one entices the reader initially with it's vagueness and ends with a shocking twist, so shocking in fact that a handful of people have messaged me with a "Wait, what just happened?" and I was in that same boat as them. I had to flip back to a certain scene in the story to see what I had missed. For this very reason I'm not going to rehash the summary; you already know that the police think Anna's parents committed suicide and that she thinks it was murder and the publisher says coyly "BUT IT WAS NEITHER MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA". I did guess the what (meaning what happened to Anna's parents) before I even picked up the book, but I didn't understand the "why" or "how" until I had made good progress in the story. While Mackintosh's debut I Let You Go will always be a tough one to top in my rating scale, I did find Let Me Lie even more enjoyable than I See You.
You may be surprised that I found the mental health representation my favorite aspect of the novel. While the mystery at hand was nice, I was particularly drawn in to Murray's personal side story with his wife and her struggles with her diagnosis, as well as the general, overall themes dealing with suicide, anxiety, and depression. I was incredibly moved by this, along with some of the more sensitive details, such as Anna's journey as a new mother and all the bittersweet parts that go along with it (breastfeeding, exhaustion, postpartum emotions, etc). These components alone deserve a 5 star rating, and her own experience as a mother was evident in her tender, moving writing of Anna's inner monologue.
My only downside to this one was that it is a very slow burn, and while I expected it to be a slow building suspense, at times I found myself putting it down because I could sense my attention span waning. A few parts dragged and felt like filler to move the story along with no real purpose, but otherwise the story was solid. I'd like to insert that my issues with the slowness and disinterest at points might be due to a looming slump of crime thrillers at the moment. Let Me Lie might simply be the latest victim at no fault of it's own. Again, the last 25% was classic Clare; her writing had me grasped by the collar of my shirt and I couldn't swipe the pages fast enough. The final twist was a really nice touch, reminiscent of her first novel and it warmed me down to the bones. If you're a fan of Mackintosh's novels, definitely give this a go. Another entertaining mystery from a seasoned vet and I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes us next.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy.
May 15, 2018
4.5⭐️
Anna is trying to come to terms with her family’s tragic past. You see, she lost both parents to suicide. Adding to the unbearable pain, it was only within 7 months of each-other. Both having taken their lives in the very same way.
Anna is starting over. She has a new boyfriend and a new baby. New beginnings...unfortunately, the past won’t stay in the past!
On the anniversary of her mother’s death she receives an anonymous and disturbing card:
Suicide? Think again.
Is this someone trying to be cruel? A really bad joke? Or is there something more to her parents deaths/suicide? After all, Anna never really believed either one was capable of taking their own lives.
A diabolically clever thriller loaded with twists you’ll never see coming. I had several shocking moments that left me speechless all the way to the last page! I truly thought I had this one figured out (several times in fact) but once again, I was led down the wrong path! Well done Clare Mackintosh! I tip my detective’s cap to you!!🕵🏻♀️
There are a lot of mixed reviews for this book. So much so I had left it sitting on my shelf for quite some time. Now I’m kicking myself for waiting! I hope you’ll have the same reaction I did if you decide to read this one!!
A fabulous twisty read with Susanne!🤗
Thank you to Edelweiss for an ARC to review.
Anna is trying to come to terms with her family’s tragic past. You see, she lost both parents to suicide. Adding to the unbearable pain, it was only within 7 months of each-other. Both having taken their lives in the very same way.
Anna is starting over. She has a new boyfriend and a new baby. New beginnings...unfortunately, the past won’t stay in the past!
On the anniversary of her mother’s death she receives an anonymous and disturbing card:
Suicide? Think again.
Is this someone trying to be cruel? A really bad joke? Or is there something more to her parents deaths/suicide? After all, Anna never really believed either one was capable of taking their own lives.
A diabolically clever thriller loaded with twists you’ll never see coming. I had several shocking moments that left me speechless all the way to the last page! I truly thought I had this one figured out (several times in fact) but once again, I was led down the wrong path! Well done Clare Mackintosh! I tip my detective’s cap to you!!🕵🏻♀️
There are a lot of mixed reviews for this book. So much so I had left it sitting on my shelf for quite some time. Now I’m kicking myself for waiting! I hope you’ll have the same reaction I did if you decide to read this one!!
A fabulous twisty read with Susanne!🤗
Thank you to Edelweiss for an ARC to review.
September 29, 2019
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
2.5 Stars!
I read " I Let You Go " by Clare Mackintosh a few years ago and LOVED it. The author’s second novel " I See You " has been on my TBR for a while and I am looking forward to reading it too. However, when the opportunity came up to read " Let Me Lie ", I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get reading.
The police say it was suicide.
Anna says it was murder.
They're both wrong.
Anna Johnson is trying to adjust to life without her mother and father. Her mother committed suicide a year ago, just a few months after Anna’s father killed himself.
Although Anna still mourns her parents, she has a distraction…a new baby with her partner, Mark. They will soon be celebrating their daughter, Ella’s first Christmas. She wishes her parents were there to celebrate with them. She doesn’t understand how her mother, after seeing how devastated Anna was after the loss of her father, could put her through it again a few months later. She struggles to believe either of them could have done this. “ They were the last people you would expect to give up on life ”.
So why did they do it?
Then on the anniversary of her mother’s death, she receives an anonymous card in the mail, with a message that is impossible to ignore. This message raises even more questions and Anna is determined to get some answers. But not everyone is happy with Anna digging around in the past, and she could be putting herself and her family in danger.
Detective Murray Mackenzie is technically retired but works as a civilian at the police station, dealing with things like lost pets. The station has been so quiet lately and he's been feeling rather useless. Then Anna Johnson walks into the police station. Will the detective be able to help Anna find out what she wants to know? What if she doesn’t like what she finds?
So many secrets….so many lies.
I found the first part of this novel pretty slow, but the story eventually pulled me in. There were some well-timed twists that really surprised me, though I did see a few of the others coming. I was also somewhat baffled by the ending. I'm not sure if I am over-analyzing it, but I’ve read it a couple of times and I’m still unsure.
I loved Detective Murray Mackenzie's story. His relationship with his wife, Sarah was incredibly heart-warming. How he helped Sarah with her struggles, how she helped him with his cases. A wonderful detective and an amazing husband, he was honestly my favorite character.
While “ I Let You Go ” is still my favorite novel from this author, I thought “ Let Me Lie ” was an enjoyable read. I am looking forward to seeing what Clare Mackintosh comes up with next!
I'd like to thank Berkley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
2.5 Stars!
I read " I Let You Go " by Clare Mackintosh a few years ago and LOVED it. The author’s second novel " I See You " has been on my TBR for a while and I am looking forward to reading it too. However, when the opportunity came up to read " Let Me Lie ", I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get reading.
The police say it was suicide.
Anna says it was murder.
They're both wrong.
Anna Johnson is trying to adjust to life without her mother and father. Her mother committed suicide a year ago, just a few months after Anna’s father killed himself.
Although Anna still mourns her parents, she has a distraction…a new baby with her partner, Mark. They will soon be celebrating their daughter, Ella’s first Christmas. She wishes her parents were there to celebrate with them. She doesn’t understand how her mother, after seeing how devastated Anna was after the loss of her father, could put her through it again a few months later. She struggles to believe either of them could have done this. “ They were the last people you would expect to give up on life ”.
So why did they do it?
Then on the anniversary of her mother’s death, she receives an anonymous card in the mail, with a message that is impossible to ignore. This message raises even more questions and Anna is determined to get some answers. But not everyone is happy with Anna digging around in the past, and she could be putting herself and her family in danger.
Detective Murray Mackenzie is technically retired but works as a civilian at the police station, dealing with things like lost pets. The station has been so quiet lately and he's been feeling rather useless. Then Anna Johnson walks into the police station. Will the detective be able to help Anna find out what she wants to know? What if she doesn’t like what she finds?
So many secrets….so many lies.
I found the first part of this novel pretty slow, but the story eventually pulled me in. There were some well-timed twists that really surprised me, though I did see a few of the others coming. I was also somewhat baffled by the ending. I'm not sure if I am over-analyzing it, but I’ve read it a couple of times and I’m still unsure.
I loved Detective Murray Mackenzie's story. His relationship with his wife, Sarah was incredibly heart-warming. How he helped Sarah with her struggles, how she helped him with his cases. A wonderful detective and an amazing husband, he was honestly my favorite character.
While “ I Let You Go ” is still my favorite novel from this author, I thought “ Let Me Lie ” was an enjoyable read. I am looking forward to seeing what Clare Mackintosh comes up with next!
I'd like to thank Berkley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2018
FOUR STARS
With a smidgen of optimism, I finally decided on a 4 star rating for LET ME LIE. But, in all fairness of honest disclosure, at certain points in the book I felt the dreaded THREE STAR rating looming in the distance.
My queen of plot twists, Clare Mackintosh, does not disappoint in the department of surprise. She rules the world of shocking revelations! Where her second novel I See You crossed the line of believability, this new novel only briefly straddles the line. Cross that line more than once and forgeddahboutit...I can't squelch the urge to roll my eyes and give up caring about the story. That didn't quite happen, but almost did.
There is a big twist in the structure of the book that will remind you plot twist lovers of The Wife Between Us. It's exciting and crazy, but it’s this particular twist that was too unbelievable for me to handle. I actually think the story would have been better without it. AAAAH, I’m on tiptoes with the plot, I apologize for making no sense at all here!!! I think you will know what I mean when you read it :-)
Aside from the (many) shocking plot reveals, Mackintosh brings her flair for sensitively portraying emotional human narratives in this novel. I particularly adored the character of Murray, a retired cop who agrees to look into the deaths of Anna’s parents, after they have been ruled as suicides. His relationship with his wife of 25 years is touching, tender. Together, they have endured and persevered through her mental illness challenges. Oh, I want more Murray! What an endearing character! Please bring him back, Clare Mackintosh!!
Mackintosh's strongest suit is her undeniable writing talent. Aaaah, I could read her words all day long. Charming and utterly engaging use of language, I really love her style! As with her first book, I flew through this addictive story. Being a former policewoman, she truly knows her crime stuff, but she also knows how to write like the pros.
Mackintosh's third book rates somewhere in the middle of her two previous ones. Whew! After that blockbuster gorgeous first book, I Let You Go I was seriously wondering if she even wrote the second one, I See You. She has redeemed herself with LET ME LIE.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
With a smidgen of optimism, I finally decided on a 4 star rating for LET ME LIE. But, in all fairness of honest disclosure, at certain points in the book I felt the dreaded THREE STAR rating looming in the distance.
My queen of plot twists, Clare Mackintosh, does not disappoint in the department of surprise. She rules the world of shocking revelations! Where her second novel I See You crossed the line of believability, this new novel only briefly straddles the line. Cross that line more than once and forgeddahboutit...I can't squelch the urge to roll my eyes and give up caring about the story. That didn't quite happen, but almost did.
There is a big twist in the structure of the book that will remind you plot twist lovers of The Wife Between Us. It's exciting and crazy, but it’s this particular twist that was too unbelievable for me to handle. I actually think the story would have been better without it. AAAAH, I’m on tiptoes with the plot, I apologize for making no sense at all here!!! I think you will know what I mean when you read it :-)
Aside from the (many) shocking plot reveals, Mackintosh brings her flair for sensitively portraying emotional human narratives in this novel. I particularly adored the character of Murray, a retired cop who agrees to look into the deaths of Anna’s parents, after they have been ruled as suicides. His relationship with his wife of 25 years is touching, tender. Together, they have endured and persevered through her mental illness challenges. Oh, I want more Murray! What an endearing character! Please bring him back, Clare Mackintosh!!
Mackintosh's strongest suit is her undeniable writing talent. Aaaah, I could read her words all day long. Charming and utterly engaging use of language, I really love her style! As with her first book, I flew through this addictive story. Being a former policewoman, she truly knows her crime stuff, but she also knows how to write like the pros.
Mackintosh's third book rates somewhere in the middle of her two previous ones. Whew! After that blockbuster gorgeous first book, I Let You Go I was seriously wondering if she even wrote the second one, I See You. She has redeemed herself with LET ME LIE.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
May 3, 2023
My first Clare Mackintosh novel...
There were moments when I was really enjoying it, but at other times, I was simply trying to make it through. I was a little unsure as to where it was going.
I know a genre-mashup can come off fantastic at times, but to me, this wasn't one of those times.
The most positive aspect of this was the literary sleight of hand played on the Reader.
Certain elements lead the brain in one direction which, at least for me, ended up being flipped completely on its head.
That I enjoyed and applaud the construction of that within the greater story arc.
We follow multiple perspectives, but the main two are Anna and Murray. Anna is a young woman who recently lost both parents to apparent suicide.
Murray is a semi-retired criminal investigator, who ends up looking into their cases. Both Anna and Murray suspect foul play, or are at least willing to entertain the idea.
There were plenty of twists and turns, however, the end was sodumb WILD it teetered on the brink of ridiculousness.
With this being said, and ridiculously far-fetched plot points aside, I can't deny it was entertaining. It did keep me engaged; I was particularly drawn to the chapters from Murray's perspective.
Although his chapters were not as wrought with turmoil as Anna's, there was something very likable about his character.
Another positive for me was the way this book took classic gender roles and challenged them. It challenged what the Reader would typically expect to happen.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.
I had some fun with it and would definitely be willing to check out more of this author's work. I think perhaps this plot just didn't work for me, although it had some good bones.
There were moments when I was really enjoying it, but at other times, I was simply trying to make it through. I was a little unsure as to where it was going.
I know a genre-mashup can come off fantastic at times, but to me, this wasn't one of those times.
The most positive aspect of this was the literary sleight of hand played on the Reader.
Certain elements lead the brain in one direction which, at least for me, ended up being flipped completely on its head.
That I enjoyed and applaud the construction of that within the greater story arc.
We follow multiple perspectives, but the main two are Anna and Murray. Anna is a young woman who recently lost both parents to apparent suicide.
Murray is a semi-retired criminal investigator, who ends up looking into their cases. Both Anna and Murray suspect foul play, or are at least willing to entertain the idea.
There were plenty of twists and turns, however, the end was so
With this being said, and ridiculously far-fetched plot points aside, I can't deny it was entertaining. It did keep me engaged; I was particularly drawn to the chapters from Murray's perspective.
Although his chapters were not as wrought with turmoil as Anna's, there was something very likable about his character.
Another positive for me was the way this book took classic gender roles and challenged them. It challenged what the Reader would typically expect to happen.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.
I had some fun with it and would definitely be willing to check out more of this author's work. I think perhaps this plot just didn't work for me, although it had some good bones.
June 12, 2018
2.5 stars rounded down
First off I want to mention that I absolutely loved I LET YOU GO and was absolutely WOWED by that book and subsequently will read anything that CLARE MACKINTOSH writes! Even though this one didn't quite work out for me I will still read future books by this author.
If I am rating this solely on my review rating system this book gets no more than 2.5 stars from me which I have decided to round down. It was just okay and for the most part it wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. For all of you who follow my reviews I think you all are pretty much aware that I pretty much love and enjoy most of the books that I read and I hand out a lot of 4 and 5 star ratings. Endings in books are a huge deciding factor for me in what I will rate said book. With that being said I was really disappointed with the way that this one played out.
LET ME LIE by CLARE MACKINTOSH was an interesting enough psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns to be had here and there was definitely something about this book that did hold my interest enough to keep me wanting to read to the end. There were just a few too many things included in this storyline near the end of the book that just didn’t work for me and just left me feeling disappointed with the outcome.
CLARE MACKINTOSH does know how to write though and I really do enjoy her writing style so I definitely had no issues there. I must also say that I absolutely love that cover and the best part of this book for me were the chapters told in the perspective from retired cop Murray. I really loved the characters of Murray and his wife Sarah!
Thank you so much to all my fellow Traveling Sisters for another wonderful discussion!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
First off I want to mention that I absolutely loved I LET YOU GO and was absolutely WOWED by that book and subsequently will read anything that CLARE MACKINTOSH writes! Even though this one didn't quite work out for me I will still read future books by this author.
If I am rating this solely on my review rating system this book gets no more than 2.5 stars from me which I have decided to round down. It was just okay and for the most part it wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. For all of you who follow my reviews I think you all are pretty much aware that I pretty much love and enjoy most of the books that I read and I hand out a lot of 4 and 5 star ratings. Endings in books are a huge deciding factor for me in what I will rate said book. With that being said I was really disappointed with the way that this one played out.
LET ME LIE by CLARE MACKINTOSH was an interesting enough psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns to be had here and there was definitely something about this book that did hold my interest enough to keep me wanting to read to the end. There were just a few too many things included in this storyline near the end of the book that just didn’t work for me and just left me feeling disappointed with the outcome.
CLARE MACKINTOSH does know how to write though and I really do enjoy her writing style so I definitely had no issues there. I must also say that I absolutely love that cover and the best part of this book for me were the chapters told in the perspective from retired cop Murray. I really loved the characters of Murray and his wife Sarah!
Thank you so much to all my fellow Traveling Sisters for another wonderful discussion!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
December 8, 2017
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
Truth be told, Let Me Lie didn't do much for me. As psychological thrillers go, this was tepid to the point of going cold. Doubly disappointing as I thoroughly enjoyed the author's first novel, I Let You Go.
Mistakes are made, accidents happen, lies are told. So many lies, it becomes exhausting. A new mom is still mourning the suicide of her father. A few months later, her mother follows suit. Questions remain.
The writing was fine, the best thing in the book to me was the time spent with retired cop Murray and his wife. For seasoned readers of thrillers, this probably won't bring anything new to the table.
Truth be told, Let Me Lie didn't do much for me. As psychological thrillers go, this was tepid to the point of going cold. Doubly disappointing as I thoroughly enjoyed the author's first novel, I Let You Go.
Mistakes are made, accidents happen, lies are told. So many lies, it becomes exhausting. A new mom is still mourning the suicide of her father. A few months later, her mother follows suit. Questions remain.
The writing was fine, the best thing in the book to me was the time spent with retired cop Murray and his wife. For seasoned readers of thrillers, this probably won't bring anything new to the table.
February 7, 2018
Clare Mackintosh and I have a very interesting relationship; I have strong opinions about her novels....and she has no idea who I am. When I started reviewing thrillers, one of the first big stories I reviewed was I See You, and it just wasn't my favorite story. I do know that the author spent over a decade on the police force and it has become some sort of a muse for her widely popular thriller novels. When I received my advanced copy of
Let Me Lie
from Berkley (thank you!), I wanted to give Ms. Mackintosh a second chance. Let me tell you, I am so happy that I did!
Let Me Lie is a deep, emotionally-driven thriller that successfully juggles many real-life dramas that can happen to anyone. What makes this story so enthralling for me was that while I was reading, I felt that this could happen to anyone. These realistic themes not only make the story immersive, but also very enchanting. In Let Me Lie wdeal with suicide, family conflict, mental illness, and betrayal. Anna Johnson is coping after a year of chaos and depression from the suicides of her mother and father. Both parents chose to end their lives in the same way within a short span apart from each other. Anna is now a mother, raising her newborn Ella with her partner Mark, and she is still struggling with the aftermath of their deaths. She misses her parents immensely, but on the anniversary of her mother's death she receives information that could change the magnitude of everything.
Let Me Lie is a story that if you know any more than the blurb I provided, it could potentially spoil it for you. Go in blind, I'm warning you now. Anyone who tells you more about this story is a bad friend and should be excommunicated immediately. While I was reading Let Me Lie , I did note many similarities to I See You that I wanted to comment on. With this story, we do receive multiple POVs that alternate mainly between the main character and the police officer investigating the crime. I believe what makes Let Me Lie a more robust story than her predecessors is that we have an interesting back story for both narrators without deviating too much from the main plot. The story this time around is concentrated on a centralized theme and we really don't get any irrelevant potholes. My only concern with this novel is that in the first 1/3 of the story, it stays pretty stagnant in terms of plot development. We hear accounts from Anna and the people in her life and how they dealt with the suicides of Caroline and Tom Johnson. I grew a tad impatient when starting this story because I knew that it was going to deliver more action. Before any real action took place, we kept hearing about the emotional status of everyone around her. It just felt a little repetitive to me and I caught myself itching to skip around. However, I stuck with it and I am glad I did because as I read on, everything made sense to me. If you find yourself feeling like this is a slow-burn without any golden nuggets, keep going—I promise it'll all make sense. Ms. Mackintosh set the stage expertly and you'll catch yourself going "ah-hah! at the perfect moment.
Clare Mackintosh, I'm back on board the super-fan train. I'm excited for what you have next in store. Let Me Lie will be released on March 8, 2018 everywhere. Thank you again Berkley Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm much more fun on Instagram | @scared_str8
Let Me Lie is a deep, emotionally-driven thriller that successfully juggles many real-life dramas that can happen to anyone. What makes this story so enthralling for me was that while I was reading, I felt that this could happen to anyone. These realistic themes not only make the story immersive, but also very enchanting. In Let Me Lie wdeal with suicide, family conflict, mental illness, and betrayal. Anna Johnson is coping after a year of chaos and depression from the suicides of her mother and father. Both parents chose to end their lives in the same way within a short span apart from each other. Anna is now a mother, raising her newborn Ella with her partner Mark, and she is still struggling with the aftermath of their deaths. She misses her parents immensely, but on the anniversary of her mother's death she receives information that could change the magnitude of everything.
Let Me Lie is a story that if you know any more than the blurb I provided, it could potentially spoil it for you. Go in blind, I'm warning you now. Anyone who tells you more about this story is a bad friend and should be excommunicated immediately. While I was reading Let Me Lie , I did note many similarities to I See You that I wanted to comment on. With this story, we do receive multiple POVs that alternate mainly between the main character and the police officer investigating the crime. I believe what makes Let Me Lie a more robust story than her predecessors is that we have an interesting back story for both narrators without deviating too much from the main plot. The story this time around is concentrated on a centralized theme and we really don't get any irrelevant potholes. My only concern with this novel is that in the first 1/3 of the story, it stays pretty stagnant in terms of plot development. We hear accounts from Anna and the people in her life and how they dealt with the suicides of Caroline and Tom Johnson. I grew a tad impatient when starting this story because I knew that it was going to deliver more action. Before any real action took place, we kept hearing about the emotional status of everyone around her. It just felt a little repetitive to me and I caught myself itching to skip around. However, I stuck with it and I am glad I did because as I read on, everything made sense to me. If you find yourself feeling like this is a slow-burn without any golden nuggets, keep going—I promise it'll all make sense. Ms. Mackintosh set the stage expertly and you'll catch yourself going "ah-hah! at the perfect moment.
Clare Mackintosh, I'm back on board the super-fan train. I'm excited for what you have next in store. Let Me Lie will be released on March 8, 2018 everywhere. Thank you again Berkley Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm much more fun on Instagram | @scared_str8
April 5, 2018
Something to ponder.......Your tickets are marked Disney World.......only your final destination turns out to be a neighborhood carnival. More on that later.
Anna Johnson looks into the sleepy eyes of her newborn daughter, Ella. (Clare Mackintosh writes this passage in achingly beautiful prose.) But Anna's motherly joy is suppressed by her heavy grief. It's coming up on the one year anniversary of an unspeakable tragedy. Both of her parents committed suicide.....one right after the other.
You don't get to walk away from the impact of such a shocking reality. You wake to it each and every morning. And when you close your eyes, it visits you each and every night. You wear it like a second skin.
Baby Ella was an unexpected gift of an unexpected relationship with Mark. Mark, a professional psychologist, began counseling Anna after her parents' sudden deaths. He recused himself as he became attracted to Anna and they soon moved into Anna's family home. Anna refused his marriage proposals and still remained single in their relationship.
But the wheels on this fast track will start sliding in a different direction. Anna receives an anniversary card in the mail with a shocking phrase written on the bottom of the card: Suicide, Think Again.
Anna bundles Ella up and rushes to the police station. It is here that we meet Detective Murray MacKenzie. He promises to look into the year old case. There just doesn't seem to be enough evidence to go on. But it is the dogged nature of this individual who breathes life into this story.
What exactly is behind these questionable suicides? Could it be murder as Anna suggests?
Let's get back to those tickets, shall we? They are also stamped with a wee bit of disappointment. Clare Mackintosh can write with a quill made of angel feathers. She's proved that in her first offering, I Let You Go. (A masterpiece of mystery/thriller writing) Let Me Lie lacks the thrill. We'd need Michael Jackson to do a walk through. (Ah, Thriller!)
Excellent writing and sound police procedures are not the concern. Mackintosh's plot points suffer from being well-worn and already carried through on many a shelf. The twists had a foot sticking out of the bushes. We followed the breadcrumbs, but then the birds ate most of them. And the path we traveled went on and on. The satisfaction factor seemed to fade even in the very contrived excitement at the end.
Clare Mackintosh shined brilliantly in her descriptors of Detective Murray MacKenzie. We felt the incredible love he had for his wife, Sarah, who suffered from mental illness and spent most of the time institutionalized. No matter how powerfully he loved her, nothing could break through her mental issues. Mackintosh makes you feel every beat of their hearts. It was an exceptional thread in this storyline.
And that's what we need to experience in the next offering from this superbly talented author. She knows the makings of the human spirit. Move away from the stilted storylines and give us, once more, the purity and the essence of I Let You Go. If you write it, Clare Mackintosh, we most certainly will come.....again and again.
Anna Johnson looks into the sleepy eyes of her newborn daughter, Ella. (Clare Mackintosh writes this passage in achingly beautiful prose.) But Anna's motherly joy is suppressed by her heavy grief. It's coming up on the one year anniversary of an unspeakable tragedy. Both of her parents committed suicide.....one right after the other.
You don't get to walk away from the impact of such a shocking reality. You wake to it each and every morning. And when you close your eyes, it visits you each and every night. You wear it like a second skin.
Baby Ella was an unexpected gift of an unexpected relationship with Mark. Mark, a professional psychologist, began counseling Anna after her parents' sudden deaths. He recused himself as he became attracted to Anna and they soon moved into Anna's family home. Anna refused his marriage proposals and still remained single in their relationship.
But the wheels on this fast track will start sliding in a different direction. Anna receives an anniversary card in the mail with a shocking phrase written on the bottom of the card: Suicide, Think Again.
Anna bundles Ella up and rushes to the police station. It is here that we meet Detective Murray MacKenzie. He promises to look into the year old case. There just doesn't seem to be enough evidence to go on. But it is the dogged nature of this individual who breathes life into this story.
What exactly is behind these questionable suicides? Could it be murder as Anna suggests?
Let's get back to those tickets, shall we? They are also stamped with a wee bit of disappointment. Clare Mackintosh can write with a quill made of angel feathers. She's proved that in her first offering, I Let You Go. (A masterpiece of mystery/thriller writing) Let Me Lie lacks the thrill. We'd need Michael Jackson to do a walk through. (Ah, Thriller!)
Excellent writing and sound police procedures are not the concern. Mackintosh's plot points suffer from being well-worn and already carried through on many a shelf. The twists had a foot sticking out of the bushes. We followed the breadcrumbs, but then the birds ate most of them. And the path we traveled went on and on. The satisfaction factor seemed to fade even in the very contrived excitement at the end.
Clare Mackintosh shined brilliantly in her descriptors of Detective Murray MacKenzie. We felt the incredible love he had for his wife, Sarah, who suffered from mental illness and spent most of the time institutionalized. No matter how powerfully he loved her, nothing could break through her mental issues. Mackintosh makes you feel every beat of their hearts. It was an exceptional thread in this storyline.
And that's what we need to experience in the next offering from this superbly talented author. She knows the makings of the human spirit. Move away from the stilted storylines and give us, once more, the purity and the essence of I Let You Go. If you write it, Clare Mackintosh, we most certainly will come.....again and again.
May 13, 2018
3.75 Stars* (rounded up)
Anna Johnson’s parents are gone.. it has now been over a year since she lost her mother and more than that since she lost her dad. She lives each day for her little girl, Ella and her partner Mark. Thank goodness she has them. Everyone, including the police think her parents died by suicide, but Ella knows differently.. she just feels it. When on the anniversary of her mother’s passing, she receives a note in her mailbox which says “Suicide, Think Again” - Anna feels somewhat vindicated and she goes to the police. Detective Murray Mackenzie helps by investigating, even though he is semi-retired and everyone else in the department has closed their cases. Thereafter, bad things start happening to Anna - things that should stop her from moving forward with the investigation. She needs answers, however and she will do whatever it takes to get them. Detective Mackenzie doggedly works the case to the bone - and he doesn’t give up - even when told to do so.
“Let Me Lie” is a twisty turny suspense novel that kept me glued to the pages throughout. Certain parts of the mystery were somewhat predictable, while other parts were completely unexpected. The ending, for instance, took me by surprise. Detective Mackenzie’s character was extremely likable and heartwarming and the side storyline involving him and his wife stole the show.
I read this with my GR sister Kaceey and we both liked it a lot.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Claire Mackintosh for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Edelweiss, Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 5.13.18.
Anna Johnson’s parents are gone.. it has now been over a year since she lost her mother and more than that since she lost her dad. She lives each day for her little girl, Ella and her partner Mark. Thank goodness she has them. Everyone, including the police think her parents died by suicide, but Ella knows differently.. she just feels it. When on the anniversary of her mother’s passing, she receives a note in her mailbox which says “Suicide, Think Again” - Anna feels somewhat vindicated and she goes to the police. Detective Murray Mackenzie helps by investigating, even though he is semi-retired and everyone else in the department has closed their cases. Thereafter, bad things start happening to Anna - things that should stop her from moving forward with the investigation. She needs answers, however and she will do whatever it takes to get them. Detective Mackenzie doggedly works the case to the bone - and he doesn’t give up - even when told to do so.
“Let Me Lie” is a twisty turny suspense novel that kept me glued to the pages throughout. Certain parts of the mystery were somewhat predictable, while other parts were completely unexpected. The ending, for instance, took me by surprise. Detective Mackenzie’s character was extremely likable and heartwarming and the side storyline involving him and his wife stole the show.
I read this with my GR sister Kaceey and we both liked it a lot.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Claire Mackintosh for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Edelweiss, Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 5.13.18.
March 26, 2018
It’s so hard to weed out the mediocre from the excellent when it comes to psychological thrillers — hard enough that every now and then, it feels like it might be best to abandon the genre altogether. I’m not quite there yet, but Let Me Lie definitely gets tossed onto the mediocre pile.
Both of Anna’s parents committed suicide within a few months of each other — or so she thinks. Retired officer Murray decides to try to help her figure out what happened. The story is told from both their perspectives. There are a few twists and turns all the way to the last line.
While Let Me Lie was clever in parts, it felt long, a bit disjointed and not particularly thrilling or engaging. I keep hearing rave reviews about MacKintosh’s initial book — I Let You Go— but this one and her previous one — I See You, which I read last year — were just meh.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
Both of Anna’s parents committed suicide within a few months of each other — or so she thinks. Retired officer Murray decides to try to help her figure out what happened. The story is told from both their perspectives. There are a few twists and turns all the way to the last line.
While Let Me Lie was clever in parts, it felt long, a bit disjointed and not particularly thrilling or engaging. I keep hearing rave reviews about MacKintosh’s initial book — I Let You Go— but this one and her previous one — I See You, which I read last year — were just meh.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
February 10, 2018
Clare Mackintosh is a brilliant writer. If she writes it, I will read it.
I hate to compare author’s novels to each other and not take them as original works, but I struggled with that in this case. I Let You Go was an amazing book - it ripped out my heart and brought me to tears. (Bit dramatic? Yes. But true.) This one unfortunately didn’t pan out how I was hoping.
This will be an exciting, twisty thriller to some, but for someone who reads a lot of this genre, I found it to be a bit predictable. There are many twists to be had, and unfortunately, they didn’t work for me. This is a downfall for a reader who loves thrillers and mysteries - I seem to always have my detective hat on and can���t take it off and just enjoy!
I did love the characters of Murray and Sarah and would love to hear more about their story.
This was a Traveling Sisters group read and I always love hearing the perspectives from my buddies, they always add a fresh take to my perspective.
Copy provided by Edelweiss for an honest review- thank you.
I hate to compare author’s novels to each other and not take them as original works, but I struggled with that in this case. I Let You Go was an amazing book - it ripped out my heart and brought me to tears. (Bit dramatic? Yes. But true.) This one unfortunately didn’t pan out how I was hoping.
This will be an exciting, twisty thriller to some, but for someone who reads a lot of this genre, I found it to be a bit predictable. There are many twists to be had, and unfortunately, they didn’t work for me. This is a downfall for a reader who loves thrillers and mysteries - I seem to always have my detective hat on and can���t take it off and just enjoy!
I did love the characters of Murray and Sarah and would love to hear more about their story.
This was a Traveling Sisters group read and I always love hearing the perspectives from my buddies, they always add a fresh take to my perspective.
Copy provided by Edelweiss for an honest review- thank you.
May 12, 2018
I read Ms. Mackintosh’s book “I Let You Go” and enjoyed it. I was looking forward to another great read in “Let Me Lie”. Although some reviewers seem to be disappointed in this book I liked it. Here’s why:
The story is told from multiple points of view which is always interesting and since one of the narrators is not identified I found it that much more enticing.
The writing is very good. It flowed well and kept me reading. It had plenty of twists and lots of lies, lots and lots of lies! The main character, Anna Johnson, is well described. She is a young woman dealing with the deaths of both of her parents, a new baby and a still developing relationship with the baby’s father. I may have wanted her to handle some of the situations differently but, hey, this is a story. She is just beginning to heal when she receives an anonymous note which suggests that perhaps her parents deaths were not by suicide, as they had been ruled by the police investigation but something else.
When Anna calls the police it is an answered by a retired police detective, Murray, who still works at the station at the desk for incoming calls, etc. Though he is no longer licensed to take on a case he has a suspicion about this one and decides that he can at least get some information to pass along to the detectives. He gets more and more involved and we learn a lot about his character and his own family life. His wife has been battling mental illness all of her life and has been in and out of hospital and psych wards throughout their marriage, he never gives up on her. I couldn’t help but love this character who, in spite of his own pressing problems, continues to try to help Anna.
There are other characters as well who could possibly be involved in a cover up, or a part of a crime committed. There is her partner, Mark, a psychologist, who appears loving and cares about Anna and baby Ella and wants to marry her but how much does she really know about him? There is her uncle Billy who, along with Anna, inherited the auto business that her parents started. She has a very good friend named Laura who also lost her mother a few years back. Dr. Drake is a next door neighbor who always seems to be a bit too interested in what is going on at the Johnson house.
I liked the book and the notes from the author afterward. She wanted not only to write a thriller but to also convey a message about suicides. She states “According to the charity MIND, 1 in 4 of us will experience mental health problems this year and more than 25% of us admit to having had suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives”. I don’t know how much more research backs up these numbers but I know that there are lots of suicides committed every year and perhaps some may have been prevented if someone noticed the signs of depression or mental illness in their loved ones, friends or family and reached out a helping hand. I applaud her in trying to bring awareness to this subject.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley, thank you.
The story is told from multiple points of view which is always interesting and since one of the narrators is not identified I found it that much more enticing.
The writing is very good. It flowed well and kept me reading. It had plenty of twists and lots of lies, lots and lots of lies! The main character, Anna Johnson, is well described. She is a young woman dealing with the deaths of both of her parents, a new baby and a still developing relationship with the baby’s father. I may have wanted her to handle some of the situations differently but, hey, this is a story. She is just beginning to heal when she receives an anonymous note which suggests that perhaps her parents deaths were not by suicide, as they had been ruled by the police investigation but something else.
When Anna calls the police it is an answered by a retired police detective, Murray, who still works at the station at the desk for incoming calls, etc. Though he is no longer licensed to take on a case he has a suspicion about this one and decides that he can at least get some information to pass along to the detectives. He gets more and more involved and we learn a lot about his character and his own family life. His wife has been battling mental illness all of her life and has been in and out of hospital and psych wards throughout their marriage, he never gives up on her. I couldn’t help but love this character who, in spite of his own pressing problems, continues to try to help Anna.
There are other characters as well who could possibly be involved in a cover up, or a part of a crime committed. There is her partner, Mark, a psychologist, who appears loving and cares about Anna and baby Ella and wants to marry her but how much does she really know about him? There is her uncle Billy who, along with Anna, inherited the auto business that her parents started. She has a very good friend named Laura who also lost her mother a few years back. Dr. Drake is a next door neighbor who always seems to be a bit too interested in what is going on at the Johnson house.
I liked the book and the notes from the author afterward. She wanted not only to write a thriller but to also convey a message about suicides. She states “According to the charity MIND, 1 in 4 of us will experience mental health problems this year and more than 25% of us admit to having had suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives”. I don’t know how much more research backs up these numbers but I know that there are lots of suicides committed every year and perhaps some may have been prevented if someone noticed the signs of depression or mental illness in their loved ones, friends or family and reached out a helping hand. I applaud her in trying to bring awareness to this subject.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley, thank you.
March 8, 2018
4.5 Stars → LET ME LIE is a dark and clever psychological thriller, and the perfect cure for my reading slump. This is the third book by Clare Mackintosh that I’ve read, and I always enjoy her writing. She has a talent for creating emotional, character-driven suspense with amazing twists that really mess with your head. She makes you love/hate/sympathize with characters, and then bam! A big twist comes along to make you question everything.
Anna Johnson is a daughter grieving over the suicides of her parents the previous year. Then she receives something that makes her suspicious, makes her think that maybe they were murdered instead. The story alternates between Anna and other players in this twisted tale, including a retired detective named Murray who checks into the Johnson’s case. I loved Murray’s character, and his relationship with his troubled wife was heart-rending. The book goes from a slow-burn in the beginning to a thrilling roller coaster ride at the end, and I enjoyed it all.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Anna Johnson is a daughter grieving over the suicides of her parents the previous year. Then she receives something that makes her suspicious, makes her think that maybe they were murdered instead. The story alternates between Anna and other players in this twisted tale, including a retired detective named Murray who checks into the Johnson’s case. I loved Murray’s character, and his relationship with his troubled wife was heart-rending. The book goes from a slow-burn in the beginning to a thrilling roller coaster ride at the end, and I enjoyed it all.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2018
This was my first book by this author although I own I Let You Go, a book I've heard wonderful things about and plan to read soon. I really enjoyed the beginning of this one and was very invested in the characters and the writing. I had enormous sympathy for Anna who lost both her parents to suicide within a year. When there are clues that perhaps her parent's deaths were not suicide, Detective Murray is brought in and re-opens the investigation. He was a welcome addition to the story, and ended up being my favorite character. I just loved him. I found the side story of his wife's struggles with mental illness to be sensitive and heartfelt. I applaud the author for wring a character that sheds light and understanding on mental health issues.
Unfortunately, back to the main characters, when the twists started coming, the story fell apart for me. There were too many and the story became a convoluted mess that didn't hold up to scrutiny. Sometimes, less is more. Truthfully, the resolution and the events that happened towards the end ruined the entire book for me.
Some readers have enjoyed this book, so don't take my word alone for it - read those reviews too.
* Thank you to Edelweiss, the publisher and the author for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to my traveling sisters group - you make reading books together always enjoyable.
The Traveling Sister's blog can be found at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
Unfortunately, back to the main characters, when the twists started coming, the story fell apart for me. There were too many and the story became a convoluted mess that didn't hold up to scrutiny. Sometimes, less is more. Truthfully, the resolution and the events that happened towards the end ruined the entire book for me.
Some readers have enjoyed this book, so don't take my word alone for it - read those reviews too.
* Thank you to Edelweiss, the publisher and the author for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to my traveling sisters group - you make reading books together always enjoyable.
The Traveling Sister's blog can be found at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
February 20, 2018
I have read some emotionally driven thrillers in the past, but boy oh boy what the heat on in this one.
I am definitely not going to go into this complex and cleverly written thriller.
You need to go in blind with this one and enjoy the dynamics of this great book.
About 3/4 of the way in you may think, nothing is happening, its like having your camera pointing at something that is times to come near and you want to snap it before you miss it, this was the case in this book, you are poised, waiting, waiting, waiting and then BANG the explosion happens.
Stay with it, its well worth the suspense.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via Net Galley for my copy
March 14, 2018
Both parents committing suicide at the same exact spot seven months apart seemed a bit strange. Anna extremely missed both her parents but didn't know how much until a horrible reminder arrived in the mail.
This horrible reminder had Anna rethinking the possibility that her parents really didn't commit suicide but had been murdered. She never thought her parents would kill themselves and leave her without them.
Anna asked for the case to be reopened, and a retired policeman, Murray, was taking on the job.
No one knew Anna had asked for this case to be re-opened, but it sure seemed as if they did. Strange things started happening that even her husband dismissed. Was she in danger too?
Meanwhile we have another voice being heard in the book. The voice is the voice of Anna's mother watching Anna and being elated that she has a grandchild and also not very happy that Anna was digging into papers that might put Anna in danger depending upon what she would find.
Anna’s mother does some odd things like going into the house when it is empty and looking for things and specifically a key. What could the key be, why is it important to her, and how is she in the house if she is dead?
After this, the intrigue began...secrets were being revealed, impossible things happening, ghosts, seeing things that couldn't be there, feeling her mother’s presence, and the reader wondering what Anna’s mother was looking for and what she was trying to protect Anna from or protect herself from.
LET ME LIE has GREAT twists and is another Clare Mackintosh book you won't want to miss. You won't see it coming and ask yourself how you missed it.
The tension at the end makes this one her best yet. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 8, 2022
4+ stars!
A character-driven, suspenseful and shocking mystery.
As the one year anniversary approaches of her mothers suicide, Anna remains deep in her grief. Her mother took her life in the exact spot her father did less than a year prior. Anna focuses on her new baby to help get her through the dark and heavy days of endless questions and confusion as to how her parents could do this to her. One day she receives a piece of mail that changes everything…
I had an immediate connection to this book! The story slowly unfolds through three narrators and they were all brilliant pieces to this well-layered puzzle — Anna, Murray, the detective, and an unknown voice. Anna’s experience with new motherhood was extremely relatable.
The first half of the book was a solid 5 star. I was hanging on every word, loving everything about the characters, perspective changes, pace and flow. I took one star away because a big reveal that happens around the halfway point was a let down. It wasn’t terrible, but it was unrealistic and not nearly as amazing as I had expected after the build up. However, I was so invested in the story by that point that I accepted it and continued on enjoying the rest of the journey. The ending was dramatic, but highly entertaining and twisty.
Warning: This novel has several heavy and sensitive topics — suicide, depression, self-harm, alcoholism, domestic abuse.
Overall, this was an extremely enjoyable audio! I spent most of these listening hours shovelling off our ice rink and it made that job highly enjoyable. I have read and loved all of this authors work and I look forward to what she comes out with next!
Audio narrator: 5+ star! The narrator was excellent and increased my connection and sense of enjoyment. I loved listening to this!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical and audio loan! Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
A character-driven, suspenseful and shocking mystery.
As the one year anniversary approaches of her mothers suicide, Anna remains deep in her grief. Her mother took her life in the exact spot her father did less than a year prior. Anna focuses on her new baby to help get her through the dark and heavy days of endless questions and confusion as to how her parents could do this to her. One day she receives a piece of mail that changes everything…
I had an immediate connection to this book! The story slowly unfolds through three narrators and they were all brilliant pieces to this well-layered puzzle — Anna, Murray, the detective, and an unknown voice. Anna’s experience with new motherhood was extremely relatable.
The first half of the book was a solid 5 star. I was hanging on every word, loving everything about the characters, perspective changes, pace and flow. I took one star away because a big reveal that happens around the halfway point was a let down. It wasn’t terrible, but it was unrealistic and not nearly as amazing as I had expected after the build up. However, I was so invested in the story by that point that I accepted it and continued on enjoying the rest of the journey. The ending was dramatic, but highly entertaining and twisty.
Warning: This novel has several heavy and sensitive topics — suicide, depression, self-harm, alcoholism, domestic abuse.
Overall, this was an extremely enjoyable audio! I spent most of these listening hours shovelling off our ice rink and it made that job highly enjoyable. I have read and loved all of this authors work and I look forward to what she comes out with next!
Audio narrator: 5+ star! The narrator was excellent and increased my connection and sense of enjoyment. I loved listening to this!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical and audio loan! Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
June 12, 2018
Big disappoint for me, especially after my first experience with this author-I Let You Go- was an easy 5 stars.
I found the protagonist annoying, the plot unrealistic, and the pace so slow I found myself skimming through chapters trying to find the high points. Even the ending couldn't save this one for me.
Others have responded more positively than I, so don't let this review scare you off. I still have faith that my next venture with this author will have me singing her praises again.
ARC provided by NetGalley
I found the protagonist annoying, the plot unrealistic, and the pace so slow I found myself skimming through chapters trying to find the high points. Even the ending couldn't save this one for me.
Others have responded more positively than I, so don't let this review scare you off. I still have faith that my next venture with this author will have me singing her praises again.
ARC provided by NetGalley
March 14, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
First of all, many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via Edelweiss AND a physical copy! All opinions are my own.
There are a lot of mixed reviews out there for Let Me Lie, but I am so glad I read it. It is very obvious to me that Clare Mackintosh has A LOT of talent. I both gasped and cried during this book, and there were so many things that happened that I was not expecting. It was my second time reading a book by Mackintosh, and it definitely won't be my last.
Viewpoints alternate through Anna, an unknown (ghost?), and a retired detective named Murray. After Anna receives a mysterious card she reaches out to Murray who is now working as a civilian at a desk job for the local police station. She wants her parent's suicide cases reopened because she now believes her parents were murdered... DUN DUN DUN.
This is definitely a slow burner (some people might say too slow?), but it definitely picks up after part 2. A lot of people found the book to be predictable, but I didn't see anything coming. I think that Mackintosh does a great job of throwing suspicion on lots of different people, and she sure had me fooled. At the end I suspected everyone except who it actually was.
I also liked that she spent a lot of time on Murray's character. I really got to know that retired cop, and I felt really bad for him and his wife (you'll see why). This book touches on mental illness with them and that was an aspect I wasn't expecting.
Final Thought: Due to the drastically varying reviews on this book, I say it is best to read it yourself. I personally feel like it was worth the read and I know I'm not the only one out there. It wasn't the most amazing book ever, but it kept me interested and I really enjoyed it. There are some bits that are a little confusing, and it could be seen as a little slow, but I still had a very good overall experience with the book.
*This title was published on 13 Mar 2018*
First of all, many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via Edelweiss AND a physical copy! All opinions are my own.
There are a lot of mixed reviews out there for Let Me Lie, but I am so glad I read it. It is very obvious to me that Clare Mackintosh has A LOT of talent. I both gasped and cried during this book, and there were so many things that happened that I was not expecting. It was my second time reading a book by Mackintosh, and it definitely won't be my last.
Viewpoints alternate through Anna, an unknown (ghost?), and a retired detective named Murray. After Anna receives a mysterious card she reaches out to Murray who is now working as a civilian at a desk job for the local police station. She wants her parent's suicide cases reopened because she now believes her parents were murdered... DUN DUN DUN.
This is definitely a slow burner (some people might say too slow?), but it definitely picks up after part 2. A lot of people found the book to be predictable, but I didn't see anything coming. I think that Mackintosh does a great job of throwing suspicion on lots of different people, and she sure had me fooled. At the end I suspected everyone except who it actually was.
I also liked that she spent a lot of time on Murray's character. I really got to know that retired cop, and I felt really bad for him and his wife (you'll see why). This book touches on mental illness with them and that was an aspect I wasn't expecting.
Final Thought: Due to the drastically varying reviews on this book, I say it is best to read it yourself. I personally feel like it was worth the read and I know I'm not the only one out there. It wasn't the most amazing book ever, but it kept me interested and I really enjoyed it. There are some bits that are a little confusing, and it could be seen as a little slow, but I still had a very good overall experience with the book.
*This title was published on 13 Mar 2018*
March 12, 2018
Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh is a psychological thriller that was a bit of a slow burn read. The story is told between alternating the point of view between a pair of main characters and then an unknown person involved.
Anna is a new mother that is still struggling with the loss of both of her parents just a year before. Anna’s father had been seen just before he apparently jumped to his death and then shortly after Anna’s mother seems to have done the same thing weighted down with the grief of the loss of her husband.
But Anna has never been convinced that her parents were suicidal and on the anniversary of her mother’s death she receives a note questioning that fact. Turning the note over to Murray who is a retired detective he begins to investigate thinking that the couple just may have been murdered instead.
Having read I See You by Clare Mackintosh and loving it I was extremely excited to pick up a copy of Let Me Lie and while I enjoyed this one too perhaps I was expecting a bit too much from it. For starters this one seemed to be a really slow moving story that didn’t quite ooze with excitement to me as it slowly unfolded. Of course I do have a tendency to be a tad impatient at times too but that stands out even more when events aren’t grasping me quite the way I like them too while reading.
But on the plus side for this one that left me rating the book at 3.5 stars I really did enjoy the twists the author wove into the story. Some things just weren’t what I was thinking they were which is always a nice surprise and then I did enjoy the ending of the book and how the entire story unfolded. So while not a perfect rating this time around I will definitely look out for more from this author in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Anna is a new mother that is still struggling with the loss of both of her parents just a year before. Anna’s father had been seen just before he apparently jumped to his death and then shortly after Anna’s mother seems to have done the same thing weighted down with the grief of the loss of her husband.
But Anna has never been convinced that her parents were suicidal and on the anniversary of her mother’s death she receives a note questioning that fact. Turning the note over to Murray who is a retired detective he begins to investigate thinking that the couple just may have been murdered instead.
Having read I See You by Clare Mackintosh and loving it I was extremely excited to pick up a copy of Let Me Lie and while I enjoyed this one too perhaps I was expecting a bit too much from it. For starters this one seemed to be a really slow moving story that didn’t quite ooze with excitement to me as it slowly unfolded. Of course I do have a tendency to be a tad impatient at times too but that stands out even more when events aren’t grasping me quite the way I like them too while reading.
But on the plus side for this one that left me rating the book at 3.5 stars I really did enjoy the twists the author wove into the story. Some things just weren’t what I was thinking they were which is always a nice surprise and then I did enjoy the ending of the book and how the entire story unfolded. So while not a perfect rating this time around I will definitely look out for more from this author in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
October 20, 2019
3 stars
Imagine losing your father to suicide and then months later, your mother follows with her own suicide in the same place your father chose to end his life?
For Anna Johnson, this was her reality. Trying to cope with this plus the demands of being a new mother having had a baby with her boyfriend is difficult. However, after receiving cryptic notes in the mail, Anna begins to question if perhaps these suicide were more, that more being murder.
The story continues throwing in many twists and turns as Anna seeks the help of a former police detective, Murray, who himself is dealing with a wife he loves desperately, but who suffers from a personality disorder.
Are Anna's suspicions correct? Is she and her daughter in danger? Can they find the truth surrounding this tragedy and ultimately can she stop the ghosts and memories that keep chasing her?
The downside to this book was that there were many instances where this reader would just roll her eyes. There was a lot going on and at times it seemed as if the author threw caution to the wind and overloaded the novel with too many occurrences that stretched one's imagination.
Thanks to the Claire MacKintosh, Sphere, and edelweiss for a copy of this novel.
Thanks also to my traveling sisters who read and discussed this book with me. As always their insights offered a wonderful view of this book.
Imagine losing your father to suicide and then months later, your mother follows with her own suicide in the same place your father chose to end his life?
For Anna Johnson, this was her reality. Trying to cope with this plus the demands of being a new mother having had a baby with her boyfriend is difficult. However, after receiving cryptic notes in the mail, Anna begins to question if perhaps these suicide were more, that more being murder.
The story continues throwing in many twists and turns as Anna seeks the help of a former police detective, Murray, who himself is dealing with a wife he loves desperately, but who suffers from a personality disorder.
Are Anna's suspicions correct? Is she and her daughter in danger? Can they find the truth surrounding this tragedy and ultimately can she stop the ghosts and memories that keep chasing her?
The downside to this book was that there were many instances where this reader would just roll her eyes. There was a lot going on and at times it seemed as if the author threw caution to the wind and overloaded the novel with too many occurrences that stretched one's imagination.
Thanks to the Claire MacKintosh, Sphere, and edelweiss for a copy of this novel.
Thanks also to my traveling sisters who read and discussed this book with me. As always their insights offered a wonderful view of this book.
September 6, 2018
The police ruled her parents death a suicide but on the anniversary of their death Anna receives an ominous, anonymous note suggesting otherwise. Is it just a hoax, or is it a clue to what really happened to Anna's parents?
Clare Mackintosh is so well known in the Crime/Suspense genre that you know you're going to get a terrific read. Let Me Lie is no exception, perhaps even better than her previous publications which I loved. Her writing strength is that she creates every day people that we can relate to but who find themselves in situations that are mind-blowing even to the characters themselves. In this case, we have Anna who, still grieving from the loss of both parents the year before, has fallin in love with her therapist and has a new child. She already is stretched to a breaking point dealing with these issues when a note arrives on her doorstep:
SUICIDE - Think Again
Anna knows she should leave the past alone but how can she after this note. She elicits the help of a retired cop who, by the way, is far more interesting than most secondary characters, and together they begin to unravel what really happened. Or do they?
The story is murky, the characters extremely well drawn and the suspense is palpable. Mackintosh is well known for her twisty plots and surprise endings but this story exceeds all others. I don't enjoy a surprise ending that is written just to surprise you but when the surprise is something that you should have anticipated, an ending that shocks you but you should have seen coming, then I get really excited - and this ending really was quite shocking. It is worth reading the entire book just to get to the final pages. And, I have to say, that once I began reading Let Me Lie, I did not stop once. It was an all night read for me... and a very blurry following day! The suspense will pull you in and keep you hooked long after you have finished reading.
Five suspenseful and satisfying stars for Let Me Lie!
December 6, 2017
I feel really bad. I loved this authors first book and was very fond of her 2nd but I have so many problems with this one - not to do with the writing obviously she can write - and not even with the addictive quality it's not like I threw it aside, I wanted to know what happened - but I found the plot and execution disappointing considering it came from such an obviously talented author so rather than my *rating reflecting the writing quality this is ALL about everything else.
There are so many generic twists in this book which obviously I can't say as I'll spoil it for others but it's almost like it's had the kitchen sink thrown at it in an attempt to find that book moment or to make it interesting. It starts with an intriguing opening - an anonymous letter suggesting that the suicide of Anna's parents may not be all that it seems - but then descends from there into a terribly convoluted mish mash of reveals, some very annoying plot device behaviour from Anna to allow the "tension" to go on a little , some blatant foreshadowing that allowed another twist that has been used to great effect by better stories and is now nowhere anything near new, followed by another one that was, at that point, almost the one that DID make me just kill the damn thing but it's CLARE MACKINTOSH and I LOVE HER so I thought it would be saved. Then came the end the "hidden bad guy" reveal and I just gave up pretending I could love it and let myself hate it.
The relationship between Murray and Sarah is the shining light in Let Me Lie. If the book had been about them....but....
Too many twists none of them particularly hard to predict and no real connection to any of the characters beyond the two I mentioned just now.
I hate this book. I'M SO SORRY.
:(
There are so many generic twists in this book which obviously I can't say as I'll spoil it for others but it's almost like it's had the kitchen sink thrown at it in an attempt to find that book moment or to make it interesting. It starts with an intriguing opening - an anonymous letter suggesting that the suicide of Anna's parents may not be all that it seems - but then descends from there into a terribly convoluted mish mash of reveals, some very annoying plot device behaviour from Anna to allow the "tension" to go on a little , some blatant foreshadowing that allowed another twist that has been used to great effect by better stories and is now nowhere anything near new, followed by another one that was, at that point, almost the one that DID make me just kill the damn thing but it's CLARE MACKINTOSH and I LOVE HER so I thought it would be saved. Then came the end the "hidden bad guy" reveal and I just gave up pretending I could love it and let myself hate it.
The relationship between Murray and Sarah is the shining light in Let Me Lie. If the book had been about them....but....
Too many twists none of them particularly hard to predict and no real connection to any of the characters beyond the two I mentioned just now.
I hate this book. I'M SO SORRY.
:(
July 3, 2019
Ms. Mackintosh's mysteries completely captivate me and keep me guessing. Just when I think I know who, I can't figure out why and then additional information creates questions and I'm back to square one.
October 17, 2018
I started reading Let Me Lie on 8/5/2018 and finished it on 8/16/2018. This book is a good read! I love Murray as soon as I read the part about him carrying a handkerchief around just so when a woman cry, he could offer that to her. Anna’s life is a bored to read mainly because she’s in a grieving process and feeling spooked at every turn due to the unexpected mail she received. I like how so many people could be the bad guys. I like uncle Billy’s love story. I’m glad the story change pace in the second half of the book because I was losing interest fast.
This book is told in the first person point of view following Anna, 26, a new mom to Ella. Her husband, Mark, 40 is a counselor she met while grieving through her parent’s deaths. Anna’s parents committed suicide by walking off the cliff, seven months apart from each other. On the anniversary of her mom’s death, Anna receives a card that indicated her mom may have been murdered instead of suicide. The second point of view is Murray, a retired police officer investigating into Anna’s parents’ deaths. This book is divided into three parts. The question is why would someone send a threatening message to Anna that her parents may have been murdered to have a brick thrown into her window to threaten her not to contact the police? There is a third point of view floating around in different chapters.
Let Me Lie is well written, though each of the characters’ life seems a bit dull, except Murray’s. I like following Murray’s point of view. He’s such a gentle soul and very thorough at investigating. I like his relationship with his wife, even though she’s going through tough times. I like the unexpected twists and turns, though I’m getting a bit irritated with many recent psychological thrillers that I read where the focus is on “you never know what goes on behind closed doors.” The working up to the end is excellent especially when police zoom in on solving the mystery while the lie is unraveling. I recommend everyone to read this book, especially for the thrill towards the end!
Pro: mystery, suspense, twists, lies
Con: a bit slow going on the first half with characters’ dull life
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Berkley for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book is told in the first person point of view following Anna, 26, a new mom to Ella. Her husband, Mark, 40 is a counselor she met while grieving through her parent’s deaths. Anna’s parents committed suicide by walking off the cliff, seven months apart from each other. On the anniversary of her mom’s death, Anna receives a card that indicated her mom may have been murdered instead of suicide. The second point of view is Murray, a retired police officer investigating into Anna’s parents’ deaths. This book is divided into three parts. The question is why would someone send a threatening message to Anna that her parents may have been murdered to have a brick thrown into her window to threaten her not to contact the police? There is a third point of view floating around in different chapters.
Let Me Lie is well written, though each of the characters’ life seems a bit dull, except Murray’s. I like following Murray’s point of view. He’s such a gentle soul and very thorough at investigating. I like his relationship with his wife, even though she’s going through tough times. I like the unexpected twists and turns, though I’m getting a bit irritated with many recent psychological thrillers that I read where the focus is on “you never know what goes on behind closed doors.” The working up to the end is excellent especially when police zoom in on solving the mystery while the lie is unraveling. I recommend everyone to read this book, especially for the thrill towards the end!
Pro: mystery, suspense, twists, lies
Con: a bit slow going on the first half with characters’ dull life
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Berkley for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
June 8, 2018
I won this book on a Goodreads Giveaway. I was ecstatic. I had read Clare Mackintosh's debut novel, "I Let You Go," and found it to be brilliant and clever. I have and for sure will read her second book, "I See You" at some point very soon.
Anna Johnson is still reeling from her parents suicides only seven months apart. A year later she is still grieving but has a baby and is living with a partner. She receives a note on the one year death anniversary of her mother that makes her question the death. She goes to the police with her worries and encounters, Murray Mackenzie (a retired police officer working the front desk.) He agrees to look into the case. From then on the story takes on some surprising twists.
The story was interesting but I did find it a little bit slow. It is told in three parts. Half-way through the second part it did pick up and I can honestly say I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. The story seemed to build-up nicely but then the direction sort of faltered for me.
The writing is still top-notch and I would definitely read another Clare Mackintosh book in a heartbeat!
p.s. I'm kind of hoping for a Murray Mackenzie series. Perhaps he can get himself tangled up in another cold case while travelling the country in his motor home. I'd read that for sure!!
Anna Johnson is still reeling from her parents suicides only seven months apart. A year later she is still grieving but has a baby and is living with a partner. She receives a note on the one year death anniversary of her mother that makes her question the death. She goes to the police with her worries and encounters, Murray Mackenzie (a retired police officer working the front desk.) He agrees to look into the case. From then on the story takes on some surprising twists.
The story was interesting but I did find it a little bit slow. It is told in three parts. Half-way through the second part it did pick up and I can honestly say I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. The story seemed to build-up nicely but then the direction sort of faltered for me.
The writing is still top-notch and I would definitely read another Clare Mackintosh book in a heartbeat!
p.s. I'm kind of hoping for a Murray Mackenzie series. Perhaps he can get himself tangled up in another cold case while travelling the country in his motor home. I'd read that for sure!!
March 5, 2018
One year ago, Caroline Johnson chose to end her life brutally: a suicide planned to match that of her husband just years before. Their daughter, Anna, has struggled to come to terms with their loss ever since. Now with a young baby of her own, Anna misses her mother more than ever and starts to question her parents deaths. But by digging up their past, she'll put her future in danger.
Anna recieves cryptic notes in the mail and begins to question the suicide notes her parents left. There are many twists to this story and Anna seeks out help from a former police detective. There is a lot of information to take in in this book, at times it feels like information overload. The pace is steady. The ending left me a bit a bit disappointed.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and the author Clare Mackintosh for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Anna recieves cryptic notes in the mail and begins to question the suicide notes her parents left. There are many twists to this story and Anna seeks out help from a former police detective. There is a lot of information to take in in this book, at times it feels like information overload. The pace is steady. The ending left me a bit a bit disappointed.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and the author Clare Mackintosh for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2018
I loved every page of this psychological thriller, but then again I’m a big fan of Clare Mackintosh. Let Me Lie is now my favourite novel by Clare Mackintosh. With excellent twist in I highly recommend this book. Nineteen month ago Anna’s father took the newest and the most expensive car from the forecourt of his own business. He drove it to Eastbourne to be Beachy Head and parked it in the car park and threw himself off the cliff. Seven months later Anna’s mother followed him. The papers called it a copycat suicide. I simply just didn’t see any of the twists coming. Clare Mackintosh spent twelve years in the police force however Let Me Lie is a clever fictional part of her creative imagination. I’m so looking forward to the next book published by Clare Mackintosh.
February 23, 2020
New mum Anna's excitement of the arrival of baby Ella is slightly tinged by the fact that her own mother had committed suicide the previous year, not only sharing the experience but also the support of being able to ask all those questions that first time mothers experience is a regret.
Anna's mother had followed her father by both ending their own lives months a part, but as the anniversary approaches Anna receives a card with the words 'Suicide? Think again.'
Could they have been murdered?
I found this to be a really strong page turner as the mystery kept me hooked, both Anna and the Detective Murray Mackenzie were great strongly written characters.
There was a nice sense of tension as Anna was delving closer to the truth, as someone was happy to great pains to keep the secret hidden.
This was my first Mackintosh novel and I'm keen to read more...
Anna's mother had followed her father by both ending their own lives months a part, but as the anniversary approaches Anna receives a card with the words 'Suicide? Think again.'
Could they have been murdered?
I found this to be a really strong page turner as the mystery kept me hooked, both Anna and the Detective Murray Mackenzie were great strongly written characters.
There was a nice sense of tension as Anna was delving closer to the truth, as someone was happy to great pains to keep the secret hidden.
This was my first Mackintosh novel and I'm keen to read more...
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