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Call Me a Liar
A new standalone psychological thriller from Colette McBeth, whose dark, twisty and hugely compelling novels are beloved of writers like Paula Hawkins, Clare Mackintosh and Marian Keyes.
You could say it started with vanity. We believed we were special. But the truth is we were simply vulnerable.
One of them is lying.
One of them is guilty.
No one is safe.
Months after landing their dream job, five brilliant young minds are sent on a remote retreat. But when one of them disappears, they're forced to question why they were brought here in the first place, and how far they'd go to get what they want.
And for the first time in their lives, they realise too much knowledge can be deadly.
This is the chilling story of what happens when the idealism of youth turns toxic. Can it ever be justified to do bad things for the greater good?
'Clever, atmospheric and truly scary. Colette is the real deal' Marian Keyes
'A rare thing: gripping but compassionate' Paula Hawkins
- GenresThriller
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2019
13 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Colette McBeth
10 books185 followersColette McBeth had been a BBC News reporter for 10 years when she won a place on the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course and started her first book, Precious Thing. She lives in London with her husband and three children but dreams of being beside the seaside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 1, 2019
I’m the biggest fan of Colette McBeth, she writes some of the best psychological character drama out there at the moment and Call Me A Liar only confirms that.
The group dynamic set up in this novel is utterly gripping, young friends and work colleagues on a retreat, but this is no ordinary retreat and everyone has at least one thing to hide…
This author writes the characters we love to hate to love, all of them very human, incredibly authentic and entirely engaging. Then she sets them into a twisty, relevant, morally blurred situation and leaves them to fight it out, usually as here in a proper page turner of a literary delight.
What I love about it is the genuinely unexpected nature of the plot development, impossible to predict as each new secret is revealed. A thought provoking theme and a beautifully layered story only seals the deal, a perfectly formed finale creating an excellent close to proceedings.
Completely wonderful to read, first page to last. Highly Recommended.
The group dynamic set up in this novel is utterly gripping, young friends and work colleagues on a retreat, but this is no ordinary retreat and everyone has at least one thing to hide…
This author writes the characters we love to hate to love, all of them very human, incredibly authentic and entirely engaging. Then she sets them into a twisty, relevant, morally blurred situation and leaves them to fight it out, usually as here in a proper page turner of a literary delight.
What I love about it is the genuinely unexpected nature of the plot development, impossible to predict as each new secret is revealed. A thought provoking theme and a beautifully layered story only seals the deal, a perfectly formed finale creating an excellent close to proceedings.
Completely wonderful to read, first page to last. Highly Recommended.
July 20, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Call Me a Liar by Colette McBeth is one of those books that kept me wanting to read it as fast as I could to see how it was all going to end, and I can tell you it definitely did not disappoint.
What it's about: Five young people are selected for a high paying job straight out of college. They think it only has to do with how smart they are and how good they are at hacking. And while that is partially true, it is not the whole truth. A few months after starting the job they go on a remote retreat with the pretense of team building, but when someone disappears it turns into so much more. They say knowledge is power, but sometimes it can also be life threatening when you know too much.
I had not re-read the synopsis for Call Me a Liar for some time before I started reading it, so I mostly went in blind not remembering what it was about. The synopsis is incredibly vague as it is, and really doesn't tell you much about the book which I think is a great idea for this one. There are a lot of twists and it would be hard to say too much without giving things away.
The book switches around to different viewpoints but spends most of its time in the viewpoints of Libby and Joe who are 2 of the 5 who get hired, and also boyfriend and girlfriend. The writing style was fairly unique, and it almost feels like the characters are talking directly to you the reader from their viewpoints. I really like this way of writing, and especially for this book. There was also some pretty heavy foreshadowing which I'm not used to seeing but enjoyed.
Call Me a Liar was such an interesting book to read, especially when it talks about hacking. I really liked that aspect since it's not something I regularly read about. It never gets too in depth or anything, but it was intriguing all the same. It was also a pretty fast read and had shorter chapters, which kept the pacing going for me. I was so interested in what was happening that I didn't want to put it down!
I don't know if I really connected to any of the characters in the novel, but the end was very satisfying, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Song/s the book brought to mind: I'm Not Calling You a Liar by Florence + The Machine
Final Thought: If you are even slightly interested in anything techy, I think Call Me a Liar is a great book to check out. While the main emphasis is on the characters, it still has aspects that I think would appeal to people that like books that mention tech. Otherwise, if you just like a good ole' mystery/thriller I highly recommend it! I am very interested in reading more from McBeth.
Thank you to Random Things Tours and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!
Call Me a Liar by Colette McBeth is one of those books that kept me wanting to read it as fast as I could to see how it was all going to end, and I can tell you it definitely did not disappoint.
What it's about: Five young people are selected for a high paying job straight out of college. They think it only has to do with how smart they are and how good they are at hacking. And while that is partially true, it is not the whole truth. A few months after starting the job they go on a remote retreat with the pretense of team building, but when someone disappears it turns into so much more. They say knowledge is power, but sometimes it can also be life threatening when you know too much.
I had not re-read the synopsis for Call Me a Liar for some time before I started reading it, so I mostly went in blind not remembering what it was about. The synopsis is incredibly vague as it is, and really doesn't tell you much about the book which I think is a great idea for this one. There are a lot of twists and it would be hard to say too much without giving things away.
The book switches around to different viewpoints but spends most of its time in the viewpoints of Libby and Joe who are 2 of the 5 who get hired, and also boyfriend and girlfriend. The writing style was fairly unique, and it almost feels like the characters are talking directly to you the reader from their viewpoints. I really like this way of writing, and especially for this book. There was also some pretty heavy foreshadowing which I'm not used to seeing but enjoyed.
Call Me a Liar was such an interesting book to read, especially when it talks about hacking. I really liked that aspect since it's not something I regularly read about. It never gets too in depth or anything, but it was intriguing all the same. It was also a pretty fast read and had shorter chapters, which kept the pacing going for me. I was so interested in what was happening that I didn't want to put it down!
I don't know if I really connected to any of the characters in the novel, but the end was very satisfying, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Song/s the book brought to mind: I'm Not Calling You a Liar by Florence + The Machine
Final Thought: If you are even slightly interested in anything techy, I think Call Me a Liar is a great book to check out. While the main emphasis is on the characters, it still has aspects that I think would appeal to people that like books that mention tech. Otherwise, if you just like a good ole' mystery/thriller I highly recommend it! I am very interested in reading more from McBeth.
Thank you to Random Things Tours and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!
March 19, 2019
Tense and darkly addictive.
A delicious web of lies and deceit that'll keep you on your toes until the very last page.
A delicious web of lies and deceit that'll keep you on your toes until the very last page.
August 24, 2019
For the first 1/3 of this book I got pretty bored, but things got more interesting when the characters went to a remote location and the story turns on its axis - numerous times.
I loved all the twists and turns this book has and am so glad I persisted with it.
I loved all the twists and turns this book has and am so glad I persisted with it.
April 28, 2019
This book is a tangled web, or shall I say mess, of lies and twists, told by multiple narratives. For the first half I did not know where the story was heading. I was a bit confused what was going on for most of the time. Then I felt that the story was taking a turn into a direction I did not expect. And unfortunate it was a topic which is not very high on my list of interests. So it is my personal problem that I did not enjoy the storyline. But there is still more I did not like. The writing was all over the place and it was confusing and everything was explained in so many words. The first half drags and I was considering putting the book aside and starting something else. The pace got better during the second half of the book but still I had my problems with the story. I can see the twisted tale the author spun and I admit that the idea behind it is not so bad. The book is a character driven one but the characters are all poorly developed. None of them is likeable and they all lack depth.
I don’t have a problem with unlikeable characters. I don’t have to bond with them to enjoy a book. But when they are flat I do have a problem. The first half of the book is dragged to much while in the second half there is twist after twist that it felt just over the top and messy.
This was my second book from Colette McBeth and I enjoyed the previous read. But this book was not my cup of tea.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I don’t have a problem with unlikeable characters. I don’t have to bond with them to enjoy a book. But when they are flat I do have a problem. The first half of the book is dragged to much while in the second half there is twist after twist that it felt just over the top and messy.
This was my second book from Colette McBeth and I enjoyed the previous read. But this book was not my cup of tea.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
July 19, 2019
Libby,Joe,Tess,Will and Asha - five brilliant,young technical minds who manage to land themselves a dream job,simply by cracking a code on the internet. They foolishly believe that they are special when in reality,they are the pawns in the greedy plans of some dangerous individuals quest for money,power and control. Things take a sinister turn after the group are sent to a remote retreat,when one of them goes missing,the group start to question why they have been brought there in the first place and how far they are prepared to go to get what they want.
This gripping,twist packed thriller is split into three sections and voiced from.multiple character perspectives including one individual who was so despicable and unlikable that I dreaded getting to that character's chapters in the story. Each member of the group was a authentic,realistic character,they were individuals with believable personalities but none of them were trustworthy or knew how to tell the truth. My favourite parts of the story were the sections set at the isolated,remote retreat. I always feel that a remote setting adds tension and atmosphere to a story,the sinister setting as well as the growing senses of mistrust and manipulation spreading throughout the retreat added to the claustrophobic atmosphere of this thriller.
We know from the opening chapter that something bad has happened to a member of the group but who? What had they got themselves involved in and who knew more that they were letting on? Who were the twisted puppet masters who were pulling the strings and manipulating people for their own gain.Well written with a thought-provoking,scarily relevant for our modern day internet obsessed society multi layered plot. The story hooks the reader in from the first page,the twists and turns come at the captivated reader at a break neck speed as the truth and lies are revealed. This is the third book that I have read by this talented author and it most definitely will not be my last.
Many thanks to Anne Carter of Random Things Tours and Headline books for a arc of this book in exchange for a honest review and the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
This gripping,twist packed thriller is split into three sections and voiced from.multiple character perspectives including one individual who was so despicable and unlikable that I dreaded getting to that character's chapters in the story. Each member of the group was a authentic,realistic character,they were individuals with believable personalities but none of them were trustworthy or knew how to tell the truth. My favourite parts of the story were the sections set at the isolated,remote retreat. I always feel that a remote setting adds tension and atmosphere to a story,the sinister setting as well as the growing senses of mistrust and manipulation spreading throughout the retreat added to the claustrophobic atmosphere of this thriller.
We know from the opening chapter that something bad has happened to a member of the group but who? What had they got themselves involved in and who knew more that they were letting on? Who were the twisted puppet masters who were pulling the strings and manipulating people for their own gain.Well written with a thought-provoking,scarily relevant for our modern day internet obsessed society multi layered plot. The story hooks the reader in from the first page,the twists and turns come at the captivated reader at a break neck speed as the truth and lies are revealed. This is the third book that I have read by this talented author and it most definitely will not be my last.
Many thanks to Anne Carter of Random Things Tours and Headline books for a arc of this book in exchange for a honest review and the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
September 3, 2019
I have read one of Colette McBeth's books before so I picked up this book based purely on the author's talent. This dark and dangerous tale certainly kept me riveted as when you get told that 'one of them is lying', you don't know who to believe. There was steam coming off my internal lie-o-meter as it struggled to keep up with all the twists and turns in this fast-paced book.
It feels very much like MI5 when five graduates are hand-picked to work for a private company that identifies security risks in systems. There's even secrecy among the graduates as each of them are given a client that they must not discuss, not even with each other. When main character Libby's clients' secrets are exposed in a newspaper, Libby knows her hands are clean so she's like a dog with a bone as she attempts to identify the mole.
To build bridges, and to attempt to expose the mole, they are taken on a team building retreat as this thriller turns into a horror. I can't think of anything worse! Just the thought of team building exercises gives me the creeps; you can accuse me of not being a team player but I work perfectly well in a team without having to take part in paintball or orienteering, thank you very much. If I wasn't already put off by team building retreats, I most certainly am now after events in Call Me A Liar get more twisted.
Told from various viewpoints and with little hints that something bad has happened, I found that I effortlessly whizzed through this book. Where lies are involved, you can never be sure who is telling the truth so, although I had ideas about what was going on, I could never have guessed the outcome.
Call Me A Liar is an utterly compelling psychological thriller that gave my brain a good workout as it twisted and turned through this riveting story.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
It feels very much like MI5 when five graduates are hand-picked to work for a private company that identifies security risks in systems. There's even secrecy among the graduates as each of them are given a client that they must not discuss, not even with each other. When main character Libby's clients' secrets are exposed in a newspaper, Libby knows her hands are clean so she's like a dog with a bone as she attempts to identify the mole.
To build bridges, and to attempt to expose the mole, they are taken on a team building retreat as this thriller turns into a horror. I can't think of anything worse! Just the thought of team building exercises gives me the creeps; you can accuse me of not being a team player but I work perfectly well in a team without having to take part in paintball or orienteering, thank you very much. If I wasn't already put off by team building retreats, I most certainly am now after events in Call Me A Liar get more twisted.
Told from various viewpoints and with little hints that something bad has happened, I found that I effortlessly whizzed through this book. Where lies are involved, you can never be sure who is telling the truth so, although I had ideas about what was going on, I could never have guessed the outcome.
Call Me A Liar is an utterly compelling psychological thriller that gave my brain a good workout as it twisted and turned through this riveting story.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
May 10, 2020
Months after landing their dream job, five brilliant young minds are sent on a remote retreat. But when one of them disappears, they're forced to question why they were brought there in the first place. And for the first time in their lives, they realise too much knowledge can be deadly.
What a fast paced, twisting read this was! I would not say I was immediately hooked but very slowly, McBeth eased me into the read until I was surrounded by the plot and unable to put it down. I also felt the beginning was a bit confusing trying to establish what was happening but I urge you to stick with it.
When you do you will be very well rewarded as this turns into a deadly, intense battle to survive. McBeth really does not hold back with the plot twists throughout. Just when you think everything is out in the open McBeth throws more into the mix. It makes for exhilarating reading and left me completely unable to put it down, nor did I want to.
The characters are good, they are realistic and mostly likeable although like the plot it took me a while to warm to them. I will not spoil the plot by detailing what happens but when the characters go on the retreat is when we learn who are the strong characters and who have the most to hide.
'Call Me A Liar' is intense, exhilarating and incredibly fast paced. I was left breathless by the twists and turns McBeth takes and what a read it turns out to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.
What a fast paced, twisting read this was! I would not say I was immediately hooked but very slowly, McBeth eased me into the read until I was surrounded by the plot and unable to put it down. I also felt the beginning was a bit confusing trying to establish what was happening but I urge you to stick with it.
When you do you will be very well rewarded as this turns into a deadly, intense battle to survive. McBeth really does not hold back with the plot twists throughout. Just when you think everything is out in the open McBeth throws more into the mix. It makes for exhilarating reading and left me completely unable to put it down, nor did I want to.
The characters are good, they are realistic and mostly likeable although like the plot it took me a while to warm to them. I will not spoil the plot by detailing what happens but when the characters go on the retreat is when we learn who are the strong characters and who have the most to hide.
'Call Me A Liar' is intense, exhilarating and incredibly fast paced. I was left breathless by the twists and turns McBeth takes and what a read it turns out to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.
July 29, 2019
Call Me A Liar is a wonderfully twisted novel that really kept me on my toes. Libby, is in relationship with Joe and they have both just graduated from university. She is thrilled, when Joe helps her get a position with a new firm alongside him and three others. One of these is Tess, who Libby has a fractured relationship with straight away. As the pressure increases at work, and Libby struggles with Tess more it isn’t long before things start to fall apart.
And it is here where the twists start. With multiple narrators, particularly in part two, my thoughts changed constantly. I had no idea who, if any, could be trusted. There were times that I wasn’t sure who I liked, had any sympathy for or whether they all deserved everything that was coming to them.
Some of the technology went over my head but I didn’t care. All I needed to know was who was behind everything and would I be at any stage correct in my analysis of the characters. There were some I liked, some I hated as soon as they appeared but I can’t say who. This is a novel where everybody will have a different opinion about each of the characters and I have no doubt that there will be others like me. Who liked, loathed, seethed, and cheered at the finale. Brilliantly done.
And it is here where the twists start. With multiple narrators, particularly in part two, my thoughts changed constantly. I had no idea who, if any, could be trusted. There were times that I wasn’t sure who I liked, had any sympathy for or whether they all deserved everything that was coming to them.
Some of the technology went over my head but I didn’t care. All I needed to know was who was behind everything and would I be at any stage correct in my analysis of the characters. There were some I liked, some I hated as soon as they appeared but I can’t say who. This is a novel where everybody will have a different opinion about each of the characters and I have no doubt that there will be others like me. Who liked, loathed, seethed, and cheered at the finale. Brilliantly done.
March 7, 2022
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October 29, 2019
Another great read from this fabulous author
May 30, 2019
I've really enjoyed Colette McBeth's writing in the past, in particular An Act of Silence which I thought was brilliant. Call Me A Liar has a different feel to it, probably due to the subject matter, but it's still a great read.
Joe and Libby met at university and soon formed a relationship. On looking for a position post-studies, Libby stumbles across a newspaper advertisement which simply asks candidates to crack a code. Whatever the job is, it requires the best, young, technical minds. Joe and Libby fit the bill, along with three others, Tess, Will and Asha. They are sent to a remote house for a retreat and it's there that things start to really go awry, especially when one of the gang goes missing.
The big strength of Call Me A Liar is the fact that it's never clear which character can be trusted. There are three sections and each one turned what I thought onto its head. It's very cleverly plotted to achieve this, to put the reader on the back foot. It's also full of sinister undertones, with these technical minds doing all kinds of computer wizardry that may or may not be completely ethical, and dangerous people keeping an eye on them doing so.
This is not a book full of easy to like characters but what was interesting was that ultimately I think everyone ended up where they should be, got what they deserved.
This is a complex and twisty read, and a dark one at that. It highlights how much is going on behind the scenes that we have no idea about. I do think the first section was quite slow as we are introduced to the characters and what they have let themselves in for, but the second and third sections really pick up the pace and got me really interested in (a) what was going on here and (b) what was going to happen next and how would it be resolved.
Call Me A Liar doesn't beat An Act of Silence for me, but it's an accomplished story of deceit, morals, fear, and the dynamics between family and colleagues.
Joe and Libby met at university and soon formed a relationship. On looking for a position post-studies, Libby stumbles across a newspaper advertisement which simply asks candidates to crack a code. Whatever the job is, it requires the best, young, technical minds. Joe and Libby fit the bill, along with three others, Tess, Will and Asha. They are sent to a remote house for a retreat and it's there that things start to really go awry, especially when one of the gang goes missing.
The big strength of Call Me A Liar is the fact that it's never clear which character can be trusted. There are three sections and each one turned what I thought onto its head. It's very cleverly plotted to achieve this, to put the reader on the back foot. It's also full of sinister undertones, with these technical minds doing all kinds of computer wizardry that may or may not be completely ethical, and dangerous people keeping an eye on them doing so.
This is not a book full of easy to like characters but what was interesting was that ultimately I think everyone ended up where they should be, got what they deserved.
This is a complex and twisty read, and a dark one at that. It highlights how much is going on behind the scenes that we have no idea about. I do think the first section was quite slow as we are introduced to the characters and what they have let themselves in for, but the second and third sections really pick up the pace and got me really interested in (a) what was going on here and (b) what was going to happen next and how would it be resolved.
Call Me A Liar doesn't beat An Act of Silence for me, but it's an accomplished story of deceit, morals, fear, and the dynamics between family and colleagues.
June 27, 2019
5 brilliant young minds. 1 remote retreat... what could possibly go wrong?! In this twisty thriller you'll get to find out and let the mystery unravel in front of your eyes - trust nobody is my advice!!
When these young people are brought together to work for a secret company using questionable methods to undertake hacking, you really get a sense of them feeling proud that they've been chosen in such a way to do this kind of work, but slightly unnerved as to what the main purpose of this company is. But they seem too wrapped up in themselves and their own issues to question too much and just go with the flow! Libby and Jo are a couple and you get to see the story from both of their point of views - how they met, their hopes and dreams and where they see their relationship going.
Tess is also part of the group but tries to distance herself from the others which really riles Libby who doesn't trust her from the outset. You really are conflicted about the disputes at times as they all seem to have secrets to hide and it's difficult working out who you trust the most!
When they are all sent away on a remote retreat with work, that's when the S*** hits the fan! One of them goes missing, the others suspect each other as to being behind the darker side of what is really going on and the more you find out about the company, the more shocking it all becomes... I will say no more!
Really enjoyable and mysterious thriller that you can just imagine being turned into a glossy drama with all the betrayal and secrets involved!
When these young people are brought together to work for a secret company using questionable methods to undertake hacking, you really get a sense of them feeling proud that they've been chosen in such a way to do this kind of work, but slightly unnerved as to what the main purpose of this company is. But they seem too wrapped up in themselves and their own issues to question too much and just go with the flow! Libby and Jo are a couple and you get to see the story from both of their point of views - how they met, their hopes and dreams and where they see their relationship going.
Tess is also part of the group but tries to distance herself from the others which really riles Libby who doesn't trust her from the outset. You really are conflicted about the disputes at times as they all seem to have secrets to hide and it's difficult working out who you trust the most!
When they are all sent away on a remote retreat with work, that's when the S*** hits the fan! One of them goes missing, the others suspect each other as to being behind the darker side of what is really going on and the more you find out about the company, the more shocking it all becomes... I will say no more!
Really enjoyable and mysterious thriller that you can just imagine being turned into a glossy drama with all the betrayal and secrets involved!
July 22, 2019
When Libby sees a poster, advertising ‘Can you crack the code’, her and boyfriend Joe get started, eventually they manage….Will they get a job now?
Libby’s Uncle has told her his business is struggling, so feeling a little responsible, she really needs a job. So when Freetech offer her and Joe a position they jump at the chance…..
They find themselves, using social engineering to gain security information from various sources…..Kyle, the boss confirms the companies are their clients and the intent is to highlight the holes in security …so all above board !
The gang of 5, Libby, Joe, Tess, Will and Asha are then invited to a corporate team building stay, a luxury break…all expenses paid…so off they go, but what is Tess up to? Who is the mysterious Tomaz?….
So when one of them goes missing, they come to realise a little knowledge is a dangerous thing…and their naive, idealistic world comes to a rude awakening…
A contemporary and relevant thriller with its marvellous twists, incredible and well plotted by Colette McBeth…..I can thoroughly recommend it….
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review.
Libby’s Uncle has told her his business is struggling, so feeling a little responsible, she really needs a job. So when Freetech offer her and Joe a position they jump at the chance…..
They find themselves, using social engineering to gain security information from various sources…..Kyle, the boss confirms the companies are their clients and the intent is to highlight the holes in security …so all above board !
The gang of 5, Libby, Joe, Tess, Will and Asha are then invited to a corporate team building stay, a luxury break…all expenses paid…so off they go, but what is Tess up to? Who is the mysterious Tomaz?….
So when one of them goes missing, they come to realise a little knowledge is a dangerous thing…and their naive, idealistic world comes to a rude awakening…
A contemporary and relevant thriller with its marvellous twists, incredible and well plotted by Colette McBeth…..I can thoroughly recommend it….
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review.
August 5, 2019
Call Me A Liar is a terrifyingly modern tale: part mystery, part thriller, part conspiracy theory and all gripping.
This is the first book I have read by Colette McBeth – bar her excellent short story in the first Killer Women anthology – but I doubt it will be the last.
The book keeps you intrigued and wrong-footed from the start, keen to find out how the prologue and initial chapter fit into the overall story. After the strong opening, it does briefly settle down into a more sedate pace but this scene-setting is absolutely essential to the plot.
It jumps a little through time and is written from several viewpoints, each with its own distinct voice and each gradually adding seemingly unconnected pieces to the jigsaw until the final picture is revealed.
The twists are many, the ground is constantly shifting and at the halfway point I had absolutely no idea who to trust! This is a fabulous, tense and complex book, right from its compelling opening to its very satisfying ending. I will definitely explore more from Colette McBeth.
Thank you to Headline and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for my spot on the tour.
This is the first book I have read by Colette McBeth – bar her excellent short story in the first Killer Women anthology – but I doubt it will be the last.
The book keeps you intrigued and wrong-footed from the start, keen to find out how the prologue and initial chapter fit into the overall story. After the strong opening, it does briefly settle down into a more sedate pace but this scene-setting is absolutely essential to the plot.
It jumps a little through time and is written from several viewpoints, each with its own distinct voice and each gradually adding seemingly unconnected pieces to the jigsaw until the final picture is revealed.
The twists are many, the ground is constantly shifting and at the halfway point I had absolutely no idea who to trust! This is a fabulous, tense and complex book, right from its compelling opening to its very satisfying ending. I will definitely explore more from Colette McBeth.
Thank you to Headline and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for my spot on the tour.
April 30, 2019
Suspend your disbelief and just go with the flow on this book. It's a tangled web of lies and deceit and some really unlikeable characters. Cleverly treading a fine line between the idea that graduates feel entitled to a six figure salary when finishing university, yet encouraging sympathy towards their naivety, this book really kept me on my toes trying to guess if their job was too good to be true and who exactly was the bad guy. Initially it seems as if it is a mere case of office politics and competition in a high powered job, but it soon becomes clear that something much more serious is going on.
Various different voices move the book along, and this really heightened the suspense, as I was never quite sure who was telling the truth. As the book progresses events do stretch the limits of credulity, which is why I advise you to suspend your disbelief, but I really enjoyed it.
My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Various different voices move the book along, and this really heightened the suspense, as I was never quite sure who was telling the truth. As the book progresses events do stretch the limits of credulity, which is why I advise you to suspend your disbelief, but I really enjoyed it.
My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
January 14, 2020
I became a fan of Colette McBeth after reading her prior book, Precious Thing, so it is hard to admit that I am pretty disappointed by this one. I'd probably say it is just under 3 stars but I rounded up. Her other books have all been 3.5 or 4.0 stars for me. So, Call Me a Liar starts off well and has an interesting premise and I like the character development as well ... however, then one thing after another happens that causes this book to just go too far off into utter impossibilities. I won't say any spoilers ... I do think the twists are good but just soooo convoluted that the the twist loses its zeal. I probably would not recommend this book -- but do recommend the author's other books.
April 16, 2019
Call Me A Liar by Colette McBeth 🖤
Thanks @netgalley @colettemcbethauthor and @headlinebooks for my ARC
Publication date is 13th June 2019
‘When you hide the truth no one is safe’.
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This book was really gripping right from the get go. I really enjoyed the alternating chapters, focusing on joe and Libby from past to present. The story revolves around five university graduates who land their dream job together, but is it too good to be true? Well yeah of course it is. The story and characters had a overall tense and menacing feel and I had to keep reading to find out what these people were hiding. A really great and original story. Highly recommended xx
Thanks @netgalley @colettemcbethauthor and @headlinebooks for my ARC
Publication date is 13th June 2019
‘When you hide the truth no one is safe’.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This book was really gripping right from the get go. I really enjoyed the alternating chapters, focusing on joe and Libby from past to present. The story revolves around five university graduates who land their dream job together, but is it too good to be true? Well yeah of course it is. The story and characters had a overall tense and menacing feel and I had to keep reading to find out what these people were hiding. A really great and original story. Highly recommended xx
June 7, 2019
Call me a Liar is a psychological thriller about a group of graduates who go to work for a start up tech company.
It's well written and builds up slowly, with chapters told from the points of view of different characters.
However the plot is just too far-fetched for my taste, and that makes the characters somewhat unbelievable (I know graduates can be naive and idealistic but they are also experienced hackers so would they really be THAT gullible?). Having said that, psychological thrillers aren't really my thing, so if you are into them, then you probably won't agree with my opinion. If you aren't though, I don't think this is the one that's going to change your mind.
It's well written and builds up slowly, with chapters told from the points of view of different characters.
However the plot is just too far-fetched for my taste, and that makes the characters somewhat unbelievable (I know graduates can be naive and idealistic but they are also experienced hackers so would they really be THAT gullible?). Having said that, psychological thrillers aren't really my thing, so if you are into them, then you probably won't agree with my opinion. If you aren't though, I don't think this is the one that's going to change your mind.
July 29, 2019
CALL ME A LIAR; A CHILLING SUMMER READ
So Colette McBeth’s new psychological thriller Call Me A Liar was published just a few days ago (13th June 2019) and crikey – it’s intense. It’s so topical it’s chilling! Focusing on the theme of ‘ethical’ hacking, this is a novel that is truly scary as you can really imagine it happening in today’s society. It is fast paced, character driven (something I always love) and full of twists. But for me, the truly petrifying thing about this novel is that in today’s big brother society, the exploration of ‘ethical’ hacking is so close to the bone…
To read my full review go to: https://noveldelights.com/2019/06/16/...
So Colette McBeth’s new psychological thriller Call Me A Liar was published just a few days ago (13th June 2019) and crikey – it’s intense. It’s so topical it’s chilling! Focusing on the theme of ‘ethical’ hacking, this is a novel that is truly scary as you can really imagine it happening in today’s society. It is fast paced, character driven (something I always love) and full of twists. But for me, the truly petrifying thing about this novel is that in today’s big brother society, the exploration of ‘ethical’ hacking is so close to the bone…
To read my full review go to: https://noveldelights.com/2019/06/16/...
June 16, 2019
The whole way through this book I got the sense that something untoward was going on but I was never quite sure what it is was exactly. I started to lose interest a little way through but I was still intrigued enough to want to read to the end to see how it all worked out. There are a few sections which were a bit far fetched for me, but I really liked the concept and the book had a really satisfying ending.
June 28, 2019
I've never read anything by this author before so didn't know what to expect. i'm really glad i have now!
A fantastic read. Complex characters that you can really get your teeth into. A great story line and lots and lots of twists and turn that really keep you on your toes.
You never really know what to trust and just when you think you might it throws you again.
A great read.
A fantastic read. Complex characters that you can really get your teeth into. A great story line and lots and lots of twists and turn that really keep you on your toes.
You never really know what to trust and just when you think you might it throws you again.
A great read.
April 8, 2019
There were lots of twists and turns in this book,and multiple narratives,and for the most part I liked it.
Wondering exactly who knew what,but I'm afraid come the final pages it felt like one twist too many.
page turner though,I read it in one sitting.
Wondering exactly who knew what,but I'm afraid come the final pages it felt like one twist too many.
page turner though,I read it in one sitting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2019
Brilliant. A novel that draws you in from the very first page and only spits you out when it has wrung every bit of tension from you. A psychological drama that will have readers rushing out to buy it. Taut and full of the kind of suspense that will have you reading in to the wee hours.
July 27, 2019
Loved this book . So much so that I read it in 5 days ! Quite a few twists and turns which was why I couldn't put it down . Off to the library today to look for more books by Colette McBeth.
December 3, 2019
Clever, atmospheric and truly scary - exploring what happens when the idealism of youth turns toxic.
January 16, 2022
A brilliant read that kept me gripped. Quite a few twists and turns that I was not expecting and kept the intrigue.
March 12, 2022
Struggled to get into it initially, but found the second half much more readable. Interesting storyline with plenty of twists
February 13, 2025
Personaggi odiosi
June 8, 2019
I am so excited to have been given the chance to read and review another fantastic book from Colette McBeth.
From the first chapter I was totally hooked and couldn't wait to find out what had happened to the characters. Libby and Joe are a young couple just finished uni and ready to travel the world but they get an interesting job offer that’s to good to turn down. The web of lies that follows them makes it hard to know who to trust and which way to turn. This book kept me enthralled from Cornwall to London.
Publication date 13th June
From the first chapter I was totally hooked and couldn't wait to find out what had happened to the characters. Libby and Joe are a young couple just finished uni and ready to travel the world but they get an interesting job offer that’s to good to turn down. The web of lies that follows them makes it hard to know who to trust and which way to turn. This book kept me enthralled from Cornwall to London.
Publication date 13th June
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