Never Lie by Freida McFadden
“The only way two people can keep a secret is if one of them is dead.”
Fantastic! This is my second Freida McFadden book and my second 5 star rating for this author!
Ethan and Tricia are newly weds looking for a home to start a family in. They set out to meet their realtor only to arrive at the house in the middle of a snowstorm and find that she isn’t there. Being snowed in, they decide to go in and wait out the storm.
The house belonged to a famous but presumed dead psychologist, and Tricia is not sure if she can live in a house someone might have been murdered in. Then she stumbles into a secret passage way behind the bookcase. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read this exciting thriller with a great twist!
This book is perfect for this time of year if you’re already experiencing cold and snow. It’s full of all the things I like in a thriller. A big house in the middle of nowhere, a snowstorm that prevents anyone from leaving, a secret passage way and mysterious happenings that indicate they are not alone.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #dreamscapes for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. I read The Housemaid by this author in one sitting and the only reason it took two nights to read Never Lie is because I was working. Freida McFadden is now an auto-buy author for me!

Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, dual timeline, snowed in, rich husband, psychiatrist, missing person, mystery

Told in the now by Trisha and in the before by Adrienne with some transcripts thrown in for fun.

So I am going to put this one in the middle. It wasn't a perfect thriller ~ I liked some things and didn't like some things. I'm still wondering how the twist didn't dawn on me sooner cuz it's rather obvious looking back. Interesting ending though.
Adrienne and Trisha are our narrators and both have plenty of secrets. Adrienne is a psychiatrist and seemed a little cray cray. Trisha was really getting on my nerves being so scared of the house and she seemed a little cray cray. Also, if you're snowed in and don't know when you'll be able to get out for food why are you throwing away perfectly cooked eggs?? wasteful.

I must say that the dual timeline approach was a good call since it left the reader in suspense.

Narrated by Leslie Howard for 7 hours and 22 minutes, fine at 2x, but wish I could've sped it up some more without it skipping. Her voice was a little slow and I really wish there were 2 different narrators or some distinction between characters. I'm wondering if I would've enjoyed it a tad more if I read it rather than listened.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

Wowza! I really enjoyed this story and the narration was perfect! It was one of those books where I thought I had it all figured out pretty early on was was caught completely by surprise! I love never knowing what’s coming next and having all my predictions proven wrong. The characters were clearly developed and the details really made me feel like I was in the snow storm and freezing cold with them. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller on a rainy day.

Hey Y’all, I did a thing…

After all the belly aching I did about audiobooks, I finally gave it another shot .

I work about 1 hour and 15 minutes from my house. I used to spend this time chatting with my dad and having our virtual coffees (tea for him). Since he passed I use my commute to distract myself from missing those calls…

Why distract myself? Those are minutes I can’t get back and life is too short . Why not do what I love the most?

Being as though audios never worked for me I had to choose an author that I knew would keep me engaged :

Freida McFadden

This was hands down one of the best decisions I have made to date. This book was absolutely perfect! Not only did it blow my mind but I was actually excited to get in my car to go to work! I was completely consumed by the patients cassette tapes and I just didn't want the book to end! I found myself pulling into the parking lot at work and just sitting in my car to listen. I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH.

Although I was late to work 4 out of 5 days this week, I have zero regrets.

I am so excited to try another audiobook and I know hands down it will be by Freida McFadden.

Teaser :

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.

But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.

In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.

Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.

And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.

Overall I thought this was a great read and I give it 5 stars. I think Freida McFadden is a very talented and creative author. There were some things about this book that didn’t exactly work, but I wouldn’t say that it took away from my enjoyment. The book was written in first person POV but probably should have been written as third person for all the twists to make sense. *SPOILER* Two of the main characters, Tricia & Ethan, are traveling in a blizzard to look at a house that they are interested in buying. They are having some difficulty finding the house and disagree on where the road is. Later we learn that the house is known to both of them and they had been there many times. So with these later twists, the beginning just doesn’t make sense, they should have known right where to go. Once inside the house, they both look around in awe, in shock over its beauty. Again, they had both been in the house many times so they shouldn’t have been surprised by its size and beauty. They end up stranded at the house without phone signal in a blizzard, yet Ethan gets his laptop and does some work. Where did his internet come from and why didn’t they use that to contact help? Even though there were things in the story that just didn’t work, I found the book to be very compelling and creative. I listened to the audiobook and I loved it so much that I stayed up all night listening. When reading fiction for enjoyment, not everything has to be believable. Sometimes the most far fetched scenarios can make for the best reading. I read a lot of thrillers but this was unlike any other suspense I have read. Kudos to this author for coming up with a new creative idea for a book. Another positive, this author is excellent at red herrings and you are unsure which direction the story will go. I loved this book and I will definitely read some others stories by this author.

Great thriller! I had it all figured out in a couple different scenarios.....I was all wrong! Definitely a surprise ending

All the stars for this book!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every Freida book I’ve read so far but this one might be one of my favourite. I did do the audiobook on this one (thank you to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review) and the narrator was great.

I really thought I knew what was going on but in true Freida fashion - I HAD NO IDEA.

Why are you still reading the review? Go read this book instead.

Fredia McFadden gives us another great thriller! While The Housemaid is still my #1, this one was a quick and fun thriller. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was absolutely WRONG on a lot of fronts.

Plot: Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan visit a remote manor in hopes of finding their dream home. This manor used to belong to the famous psychiatrist, Dr. Adrienne Hale, who had vanished four years prior under suspicious circumstances. Tricia discovers a secret room that contains audio recordings of Dr. Hale's patients and begins to listen to them. Little did she know that she would listen along to the series of events leading up to Dr. Hale's disappearance. The pieces of the puzzle slowly start to come together, and the truth will surprise you!

Thoughts: This is an easy to binge thriller that will hold your attention from start to finish. As previously mentioned, I had a whole theory about where the story was going and ended up being completely wrong. The twists along the way were enjoyable, and fans of thrillers should check this one out. The audio is very easy to follow for fans of listening.

Never Lie by Freida McFadden is a gripping and entertaining read! I had a hard time putting it down and finished it in less than 12 hours. I love how Frieda weaved the three timelines (current, before, and transcripts) together seamlessly. And the twist...my jaw literally dropped.

I rate it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I deducted half a star due to editing. There were multiple times when the same (inner) dialogue was repeated as though new, which was slightly annoying. Also, part of the ending seemed forced. Why would the character instantly admit such a massive secret without any prying?

Leslie Howard was a joy to listen to. Her voice had subtleties between Adrienne and Tricia that made it pretty easy to differentiate who was speaking.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ALC.

NEVER LIE by Freida McFadden (audiobook review)
Narrated by Leslie Howard (7 hours 14 minutes)

Never Lie is atmospheric and creepy. It is set in a snowstorm during the winter season. I am immediately drawn into the story as soon as I start listening to it.

Synopsis:
Ethan and Tricia have been married for six months. They are looking for their dream home. A violent winter storm traps the couple on the estate of Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier.

As Tricia searches for a book to keep her entertained during the snowstorm, she discovers a secret room. The room contains audio transcripts of every patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. Listening to the audio tapes, Tricia learns the truth about what transpired before Dr. Hale's disappearance. As Trish progresses through the tapes, a terrifying truth is revealed.

I automatically read Freida McFadden's books. She is an incredibly talented author who never disappoints. Leslie Jordan does an amazing job with voice inflections making the audiobook spellbinding.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media (Hollywood Upstairs Press), for sharing this intriguing audiobook with me. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. (4/5)

Downright spooky, supremely twisty, smart thriller that left me open-mouthed at the end. Kudos to McFadden. Highly recommended!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio for this audiobook ARC! Freida is one of my favorite thriller authors and this might be one of my favorite reads by her. I didn’t see the twists coming in this one and it made me gasp out loud at parts! I really enjoyed the narrator for this audiobook as well, their voice was perfect for this story.

This is my second Freida McFadden book, and I've decided to read the rest of her books ASAP. Here's why I LOVE "Never Lie."

Creepy atmosphere: The descriptions of the snowstorm and the abandoned house kept me on the edge of my seat. You have a gut feeling that something bad is going to happen.

The uncertainty: Which character is good? Which is evil?

The alternating chapters: each character has a piece of the puzzle. How do they fit together?

The narrator was great; I have no complaints. Glad this book is in an audiobook format because it works quite well.

Thanks for the advance review copy.

Creepy and twisty! I enjoyed the author’s writing style and when I looked to see what else she had written, I realized I had read and liked a few of her other books. I listened to the audio version and thought the narration added a lot to the intensity.

Never Lie was not as predictable as thought at first. The use of initials was a good trope to send out potential clues and red herrings. That said, the character of Trish was more than annoying with her constant declarations that her husband was her hero and “the best husband ever” simply because he put dirty dishes in the kitchen. The incessant references first to her deep, dark secret she hasn’t told her husband, then to the baby were obnoxious. Ethan, Trish’s husband is entirely unlikeable, and Trish makes comments about his anger issues, indicating that she may be afraid of him. There are frequent references to her friends warning him about his “red flags,” but then McFadden does absolutely nothing with all these “red flags.”

The ”suspense” fell flat. McFadden would start to build the tension, but it never paid off, not a single time.
Details of the story were inconsistent. The beginning of the story and the details exposed later in the book do not tie together and frequently contradict.

The title has nothing to do with the story. The “heroes” are disgusting. The writing feels like high school.

Book Title: Never Lie
Author: Freida McFadden
Audiobook Narrator: Leslie Howard
Publisher: Dreamscape Media/Hollywood Upstairs Press
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: November 8, 2022
My Rating: 4+ Stars

Story is told from the POV of Tricia and Dr. Adrienne Hall ~ now and then.

Tricia and Ethan have been married for six months and are house hunting. Judy their realtor fails to meet them at the old mansion that she is showing them. She got caught in a blizzard. Tricia and Ethan are driving in the same blizzard and get stuck as they arrive close to the house. They see a light on in the house so figure Judy is already there. So hurry to take shelter.
It turns out to be the house of bestselling author psychologists Dr. Adrienne Hall, who has been missing for three years.
Tricia soon gets a bad feeling about the house and fears something bad has happened.
She is checking books in a book case when she accidently finds a release that opens the door to a secret room. This room has recording sessions of Dr. Hall with her patients.

The mystery most definitely has begun!

I read enough Psychological Thrillers to know the following:
 Expect twists and turns!
 Be suspicious of everyone!
 The most obvious person didn’t do it!
 There will be many secrets!

This is my tenth Freida McFadden novel! I know she is great with twists and turns and loves to lead us down the wrong twisted path. I also know she has a great sense of humor.
I have read enough of her stories that I have her figured out; Right? LOL

I was not fooled by the hints she was thrown making me think I knew whodunit also whom I thought was EJ.
Ha-ha yep! She got me again!
I should give her 5 stars for fooling me AGAIN!

Yikes that ending!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media /Hollywood Upstairs Press for this e-Galley.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date was November 8.2022

It was only this past spring that I read my first Freida McFadden book, The Housemaid, and it instantly made me a fan of McFadden. Seriously that story was delightfully twisted and if you are looking for a book where you’ll be constantly kept guessing I can’t recommend it enough. Guess what…Never Lie delivers another delightfully twisted tale. Once again McFadden has woven another story that kept me guessing. Seriously the story has twist after twist after twist. It all starts with Tricia and Ethan, newlyweds looking to find their dream house. The current house they are looking at once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a famous psychiatrist/author who disappeared without a trace years earlier. Oh and did I mention that there is a massive winter storm going on when they arrive, the realtor isn’t there to meet them, and the house…the house is odd. What’s that mean? It appears deserted but when they arrived there was a light on in one of the upper rooms, and while the house is dusty as heck (hardly in shape you’d expect for a house being shown for sale) and yet for a house that’s been empty for years there is fresh food in the refrigerator. Then Tricia finds a hidden room loaded with audio records of Dr. Hale’s patients…and all this craziness is just the tip of the iceberg and happens within the first few chapters. McFadden has quickly become a must read/listen and I’ve already added more than a half dozen of her books to my collection. Leslie Howard did an absolutely fantastic job with the narration. I’d like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy for the audio version of Never Lie.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2412SLKW6OUEF/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-lie-freida-mcfadden/1142398233?ean=2940176980738&bvnotificationId=8a6cd85f-6455-11ed-b462-0a7c18610eed&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/228335723

I devoured this audiobook - stayed up to finish. McFadden does an amazing job creating a creepy atmosphere with few characters and basically one location. The dual timeline just heightened it all. Secret storage areas. Listening to a psychiatrist's tapes of patient sessions. McFadden hits all the guilty pleasures.
Tricia and Ethan are house hunting - leaving NYC for Westchester in the midst of a snow storm leaves them stranded at the abandoned house. Five bedrooms, huge living space. The previous owner, Dr. Hale, mysteriously disappeared years ago. Dusty furniture remains.
Dr. Hale had just released her latest book - yet went missing shortly after. Could it have been her boyfriend? Her agent?
Well done.

This book was absolutely amazing. Every time that I guessed a twist and I was so sure I was right I was DEAD WRONG. This is my first book by the author and it will definitely not be my last. The writing was engrossing and so well done. Twist after twist. Dang. What a read.

I am a HUGE fan of Freida McFadden! Unfortunately I made the mistake and did audio for this book. I was a little lost in the beginning and then finally things started to make sense. I usually do physical or ebook for this author and it’s always a 4-5 star read for me. With that being said, Ioved the twists and turns she threw our way. She never disappoints!