Lies That Bind by CJ Stone

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Lies That Bind is a gripping domestic thriller that explores the dark secrets and lies that haunt a family after a tragic night. Jess, the eldest daughter, returns home from college to find her father dead from an apparent suicide, her mother and sister killed in a car crash, and her two brothers traumatized and alone. As she tries to keep the family together, she also starts to question the circumstances of their deaths and uncovers shocking truths that will change everything.

The author, CJ Stone, does a great job of creating suspense and mystery throughout the story, as well as portraying the complex emotions of grief, guilt, and anger.

The narration by Gail Shalan and Chris Devon is also well done, giving voice to the different perspectives and personalities of the characters.

The plot twists and revelations are surprising and satisfying.

Lies That Bind is a compelling and emotional read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and family dramas. It is a book that will make you think about the consequences of secrets and lies, and the power of love and forgiveness.

Lies That Bind was a great read by C.J. Stone. Jess has seen tragedy in her life; a crash killed her mother and five year old sister, and her father died as well. After this she is determined to take care of her surviving brothers, Frankie and Tom. The siblings struggle through grief and wonder where there mom was going and why their dad killed himself. Not only this but there is a sinister presence that lurks in the family home. There are strange noises in the night, items in the house moving, and disturbing visions. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

I was very invested in this story from the beginning! What an interesting family dynamic! Honestly, I also didn’t see some of the twists coming either. This was a great audiobook to really feel the desperation in the characters.

This was a domestic thriller that had action early and kept me interested the whole time. I never completely guessed what was happening, although the first death was fairly obvious that everything wasn’t what it seemed. This tactic was nice, because it kind of made me more invested in the book to make sure that the truth was discovered. And what truths were discovered, I was not ready. Overall a good read.

One Sunday night turned Jess’s life upside down. She was away at university when her brother Frankie called, he had found their dad,possibly dead, in the garage. As Jess rushed home, her mom called her saying she was racing to the hospital, but the phone was cutting out, and Jess’s phone died. She gets to the hospital to find Frankie by himself. Her mom never made it to the hospital, she crashed with her two youngest children in the car. Now Jess had to try and take over the household, keep everyone together, all while that nagging feeling that things aren’t how they appear to be.

This was my first book by CJ Stone and it did not disappoint! I was hooked right from the beginning and did not see the twists in the book coming. AND there was a semi-happy ending to boot! I am in for more books by this author for sure!

#LiesThatBind
#NetGalley

This was my first CJ Stone, and won't be my last. This is an interesting, complex, and intriguing dark thriller, filled with secrets, suspense, mystery, drama, and twists and turns. The characters are well developed. Great narration from Gail Shalan and Chris Devon. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, a Dreamscape Media Audio production, for an honest review. #NetGalley

Book about three children who lose their father (suicide), mother and sister (car accident) in one day. The oldest child is 20 and is at university. She comes home to help her brothers and attempts to get guardianship over her 17 year old and 9 year old brothers. However, things are difficult and her older brother thinks she is hiding something. Her younger brother keeps seeing ghosts and strangers in his bedroom at night. None of the children understand why their father killed himself. All is slowly revealed. The plot was not bad but the story was painstakingly slow. All the characters started to irritate me and all had moments of complete stupdidity. The narrators were ok (female narrator for the eldest sibling, male narrator for the 17 year old).

This book is masterfully written, with twists along the way and a cast of characters that you love and love to hate. Jess, especially, is young and flawed and her secrets barely take second stage to those of her parents. Again, I really really suggest listening to this book. I never wanted to take it out of my ear!

I just finished listening to the Netgalley Audio ARC of Lies That Bind by Cj Stone. It came out in book form in September of last year, but just came out on Audible last month. The narrators are absolutely amazing and make this an entrancing book to listen to!
Here is the starting point: Jess has so much to say to her parents, but isn’t able to do it at the time she is visiting for her father’s birthday celebration. Not long after she goes back to University, she gets a call that her father has killed himself. And, as her mother frantically drives back (from where - Jess is never sure) with Jess’ sister and youngest brother - they get in a car accident and Jess’ mother and 6 year old sister are killed as well. Jess now has to leave her University life, before finishing school, and help with her now orphaned brothers Frankie and Tom. But, they soon find that someone is watching them and the reasoning behind the deaths of their parents are not everything they thought they were. Their parents had secrets and those secrets are coming back to haunt the survivors. Jess becomes committed to finding out the truth - but in doing that, she begins to expose some secrets of her own.

Many questions bubble to the surface after tragedy strikes Jess's family. Her mother and sister die in a car crash on the heals of her father's death by suicide. Jess is faced with secretive actions from her own past as she and her brothers grapple with their new reality. Though her current situation seems daunting and plagued with strange and mysterious events, following Jess on her journey is worth it. If you are into spooky reads that also explore some stress-inducing family drama, this could be for you. As with many thrillers, it did wrap up a little too quickly at the end, but reading it was time well-spent and I will look for other books by Stone..

The audiobook was excellently narrated by Gail Shalan and Chris Devon.

My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies……

Book Information

Lies That Bind was written by Cj Stone. The audiobook was published on January 10, 2023 and is 9 hours and 31 minutes. It is narrated by Gail Shalan & Chris Devon. CJ Stone is an avid thriller reader turned writer. Lies that Bind is Stone’s debut novel. Thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.

Summary

Jess is having a very bad day. Her brother Frankie called her at university in a panic having just found her father hanging in their garage. When she arrived at the hospital, she learns that her mother and sister died in a car crash as they rushed to the hospital. Her whole world has been devastated and she finds herself now trying to figure out how to take care of Frankie and her younger brother, Tom.

As they all struggle….questions linger: Why would their dad kill himself? What was going on at home? Where was her mom when it happened? And, while they all grasp at straws trying to answer these questions, strange things begin to happen---shadows, sounds, visions. What’s really going on?

My Thoughts

Lies That Bind will keep you guessing. It will make you wonder. You will want to know what’s really going on. You will guess….and be wrong. It’s gripping, engaging, layered, and most of all—a good read.

The story is told from the perspective of two characters: Jess and Frankie. I listened to the audiobook and they each had their own narrator, which I thought worked very well. Not only did it help in keeping the story straight, but also allowed for unique personalities for each of them.

The book is heavy on suspense, mystery, and most importantly heart. Essentially, 3 kids are trying to make sense of the worst moment of their lives while swirling in ever-expanding mysterious events. They are struggling with their own emotions, thoughts, doubts, fears, and uncertainty with very little firm ground to stand on. Who is lying? What is truth? Who can they trust? Can they survive on their own? Is that the best path forward? Are they ever safe?

Gail Shalan & Chris Devon did a great job with the narration. I haven’t listened to many books that had more than one narrator—and again, it worked very well.

Recommendation

Suspense, check. Mystery, check. Engaging, check. Heart, check. If you like any of these things….you will enjoy Lies That Bind. Recommended.

Rating

4 Secret Stars

Jess, the oldest sister, is a literal mess, just trying to keep it together. The middle brother, Frankie, seems to have his own demons that seem to get bigger with time, and then the youngest brother, Tom, seems sweet and innocent. Can they make it through a giant family trauma together and then a giant family secret after that?



To be completely honest, I had to power through to finish this one. This first 20% of the book started so strong, then like turtle paced through about 60% of random back and forth, almost unnecessary, but necessary information, then the last 20% was fantastic. I get why the middle 60% was there, but it's missing something. If it weren't for the narration, I probably would have given given up on this. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to read and review Lies that Bind.

Published: 01/26/23

Solid four stars from me. I was hooked from the beginning. I was satisfied with the ending.

I had the audiobook. The female narrator was spot on. She took the book to the next level. I wasn't a fan of the male narrator.

I love a story told well, and this worked for me. I liked how smoothly the timeline flowed. I had my usual angst midway, three-quarters of the way, and at 86%; hats off to CJ Stone for writing a good ending. I was surprised at myself. I didn't have a list of this or that, and when the reveal happened I literally shook my head. I didn't see it coming. The writing kept me from wandering ahead. I stayed in the moment. All the loose ends were tied up nicely.

Stone also made me happy by ending the book soon after the reveal. I'm ready for the next book before The End is on the page. Stone tidied up, and I was done. Yay. In my opinion it is the sign of clever and smart writing.

As for swearing/profanity: I don't remember.

Lies That Bind
By CJ Stone

Jess is a student at University living the life of a co-Ed when she gets a call from her brother Frankie that their dad had just killed himself. When Jess gets to the hospital a policeman tells her and Frankie that their mom, brother and sister were all in a car accident while driving somewhere out of character and mom and sister passed away in the accident. During this horrific time, Jess needs to stay home from university and take care of her younger orphaned siblings. That is when the secrets start to unravel.

I really enjoyed listening to Lies That Bind and the narrator’s were pleasant to listen to.

Again, thank you for the advanced audiobook in turn for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley Dreamscape Media for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Jess in her final year at University when tragedy hits and her parents and sister die. She moves home to take care of her two younger brothers. They are all dealing with their grief and trying to figure out why their father took his own life. Weird things are happening in the house and in their lives. Jess is struggling with lots of personal issues while keeping things together for her brothers.
Plenty of family secrets to uncover.

I enjoyed the audiobook but there was one timeline plot hole that didn't work for me but plenty of other secrets to keep the readers on their toes.

I am forever scarred by a horror movie I watched more than 40 years ago called Bad Ronald where a guy lives in the walls of a house. I kept waiting for Bad Ronald to show up in the book--he doesn't btw.

Gail Shalan and Chris Devon did a great job with narration.

Lies That Bind By: CJ Stone
Narrated by: Gail Shalan, Chris Devon
Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Colleen Chi-Girl's review on GR:
Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author CJ Stone for the Audio Arc. I loved this novel and couldn't stop reading/listening to it.

Jess, a college student, is the lead protagonist and is called home by her 17 year old brother who has found their father dead, in the garage. They also have a younger brother Thomas "Tomo" who is a sweetheart at 10 years old. Then there's another huge tragedy, which I won't disclose, but go with your suspension of disbelief so you can get into this well done thriller despite an OTT beginning.

The rest of the book keeps you guessing at what will happen to this group of 3 siblings. There is an aunt and her husband but they live far away and don't have children of their own, and the kids hardly know them. They're alone in their family home trying to figure out why there are strange noises, what was the reason behind their father's death, and questions about their mom and other young sibling. You can read the publisher's blurb to get a clearer picture of course. It's a character driven thriller and we get to know some of the elder siblings secrets along the way. This audio features a female and male narrator who both do a terrific job.

Some 4 star reviews are barely 4 stars - but not this one. It is a strong 4 to 4-1/2 stars. It would've been a 5* but with the exception of a small part of the book at the "beginning of the ending" that I disliked. I let it go and enjoyed the rest of this unputdownable thriller and its conclusion.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the oppurtunity to listen to this audio book.


3 stars or 4??? I guess I voted down. No real reason. It was an entertaining listen.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a good one! Despite guessing some of the twists it kept me engaged and interested in how everything unfolded. The narrator was good as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was creepy and gave me a few nightmares. The thought of the ghosts of their parents being in the house after their untimely deaths freaked me out just a little. I did not see that ending coming and was completely creeped out by the events of this book. Overall though, I enjoyed this book as a creepy thriller is always a good thing.

I received an advanced listening copy of Lies That Bind by CJ Stone through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and, here it is!
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☆☆☆ ½ - rounded up to 4 stars
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Jess has her own life at uni that she's pretty content with. During a recent visit home, she notices tension between her parents, which isn't unusual nor is it exactly alarming. However, once she's back at uni she gets a call from her brother Frankie that changes their lives forever.
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I appreciate that we get to see how the siblings deal with their grief, individually and together. I feel like it was quite rushed at the end while everything was being wrapped up and I wanted more clues throughout the story. I was absolutely entertained by this story and I was totally rooting for the siblings throughout!
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Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and author CJ Stone for this ALC to honestly review. This book is out now! Go get it!!!

If you like family drama and secrets, this book is certainly for you! It explores how secrets are created and how the power of shame can shape our lives. I felt empathy for the characters and what they had to endure. All in all, I enjoyed reading the story and couldn’t wait to find out how it would end. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Special shout out to NetGalley, CJ Stone and Dreamscape for affording me the opportunity to listen to an advanced readers copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Sincerely, Thank You!!

https://storytellersbookclub.wordpress.com/2023/02/15/lies-that-bind-by-cj-stone/