Different from what I was expecting - in a good way! A great crime thriller with plenty of shocking twists that I had no idea were coming.

I found the characters relatable and likeable and was rooting for them, especially Bree.

A great read!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Susan Walter and Lake Union for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions and Susan for an advance copy of Lie by the Pool. I did read this back when it was getting ready to publish, however it’s one of those reviews that fell by the wayside and I forgot to get it done.

Bree is a widow living in her dream home. In an exclusive area of Beverly Hills, a beautiful pool and pool house, it’s the definition of luxury. The problem is that it’s not her home and she’s living in the backyard at night because she’s currently homeless, living out of her car and having exhausted all of her options, she seeks refuge in the seemingly empty home. Until one night the owner shows up and finds her camping out on a lounger. Instead of being put off by an intruder in the yard of her home, Sophie is quite taken with Bree, going so far as to invite her to a party at the house later that week. As the party is coming to an end, Bree sneaks upstairs to sleep in a spare bedroom and get some real rest for the first time in a long time. The good night of sleep gives way to an awful scene however, when Sophie’s body is found floating in the pool.

Now Bree has become the prime suspect as she is the ‘new girl’ with an unfortunate living situation and every instinct is telling her to run before this death is unfairly pinned on her. Even worse, it’s not the first suspicious death that she’s been around…the last being her husband.

This should be added to all those summer 2024 poolside TBR piles right now. Lie by the Pool could easily be devoured in a day, with its fast-paced suspense keeping readers glued to the page and desperate to know what happens next.

It is a dual timeline, multi POV book, but I had no issues keeping characters or current events straight. I thought that every character had a distinct personality, and while none of them were exactly likable, I also didn’t dread getting to anyone’s POV either.

The setting is seductive - I mean, even as someone who doesn’t want to live in LA, I found myself wishing I could sneak into the backyard of this house and pretend it was my own. Same goes with some of the characters we met. They were obviously trouble, but equally as magnetizing and I found myself wanting to know them.

The layers of the story too, just wow. You think you might have an idea of where you’re headed, and then the redirection sends you spiraling and clueless as to where you’ll actually end up. And the twists and surprises start from about the first chapter, which if memory serves me correctly, is exactly what to expect with a Susan Walter book.

Last I checked she had a new book listed on goodreads, but no cover, synopsis, or pub date listed…cannot wait to see where we go next.

Pretty good thriller. Lies, murder, what else can you ask for. It was pretty fast pace which I enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an edge of your seat thriller that really had me guessing. I'm usually 50/50 on if I can figure out what's going on before the end of the book but Lie by the Pool was so fast paced and kept me guessing from beginning to end. I devoured this read and it's something that can easily be consumed on a weekend. I highly recommend checking this one out! You won't be disappointed.

The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

This was not the one. I DEVOURED Over Her Dead Body in 24 hours and think about it often. It will be on the reread pile for 2024. I enjoyed Good As Dead also, it was well-written and kept me guessing throughout. Lie By The Pool however, seemed to lack so much of the twists and turns that I've come to love from Susan's writing. Maybe it was me and a reread would improve the experience but it fell short for me which is a shame. I',m intrigued to see what's next though because if it's anything like Over Her Dead Body then I'm sold!

This was my first book by the author and I cannot wait to read more by her.

The book pulled me in right from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down.

The jump times and the different POV makes you stay connected with the story and make you want to continue reading.

Wow, what a thriller! Started strong and kept me coming back for more. Deception, FBI involvement, a tangle of lies, and me trying to figure out where it would go…. I really enjoyed this one….from the first party at the Rodeo Drive house to the last. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this early read. This was a good read. Very interesting and easy to read. I like thrillers like this one and will look for more from Susan Walter.

Lie by the Pool is a quick and action-packed read.

I love multiple POVs and different time periods in my thrillers. Sophie's POV was my favourite, especially in the present timeline. No spoilers, but anyone who knows me will know exactly why I connected with the character. With four POVs, the book gives us a wide range of perspectives on the same events, however, until the end, Carter's story didn't quite click for me.

I truly did not anticipate all the twists and turns of the many layered plot. Everything comes together at the end and Walter does a great job of making sure there are no loose ends.


Thank you to Lake Union & NetGalley for the free e-ARC for review.

"A desperate woman. An irresistible invitation. An escalating nightmare of secrets, lies, and murder.
Bree’s new home is luxurious and private, with a fancy Beverly Hills address. What a shame it’s not hers. Widowed, penniless, living in her car, and out of options, she’s climbed the fence and crashed in the pool house. All she wants is a good night’s sleep. But when Sophie, the absentee owner, finds her, she gets a whole lot more.
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect. Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next."
Such a wild ride, Is Bree going to get her happy ending? You will have to read the story to find out. I give this book five stars.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, netgalley, and the author for the chance to leave an honest review.
Published Sept 12th, 2023.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Lie By the Pool by Susan Walter.

This book starts strong, and stays strong! Bree, who has lost her husband, her house, and most of her income is staying in a beautiful home, unbeknownst to the absentee owners. But when she meets Sophie, one of the owners, you quickly learn how connected they are, and why Bree has ended up losing everything.

You could easily devour this book lying by your own pool in just a day if you really put your relaxing powers to use. It's a quick read and full of a water slide's worth of turns and unexpected twists!

When twenty five year old Bree finds herself living on the streets of Beverly Hills after her husband, Luke, is gone, she begins sneaking into the pool house of her former home for shelter. When Sophie, daughter of the new owner and hopeful future FBI agent starts to leave little gifts for Bree, she is grateful but cautious. When Sophie invites her to a costume party and there is a body found at the bottom of the pool the next morning, Bree is even more afraid.
Sophie has her own reasons for helping Bree. It’s because of her whistleblowing about Luke’s money laundering that Bree finds herself homeless and teaching piano lessons to survive. Throw in Carter, Sophie’s clueless brother who after one meeting is enamored with Bree and everyone is on the run from the Russian syndicate who was forcing Luke to clean up their money. What a rollercoaster of a ride!
This one had me hooked from the beginning and I kept thinking “just one more chapter”, then read well into the night anyway. The twists and turns just kept coming and I had whiplash following it all. Just the kind of book I love. I love the way the author writes so smoothly and seamlessly from one chapter to the next. This is my first Susan Walter book but I already had to buy one of her previous books. This is an author of psychological suspense I will definitely be watching and adding to my ever growing TBR pile. Great job!

Lie by the Pool by Susan Walter an excellent book, especially as this is a new author to me. I was drawn into this book by the beautiful cover and I just wanted to read it and imagine I was back on my holiday abroad. This book was a great page turner from start to finish, with brilliant twists and turns that will have your head spinning! and I loved it.
I loved the character Bree and I just wanted to reach out and help her.

A great holiday read and I highly recommend it.

I am looking forward reading more books from the author. I just love the way she writes and all her characters are excellent.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for my Arc copy.

A solid thriller. The characters were all pretty unlikeable, and the subject matter is certainly well-tread, but it kept me hooked.

this one was pretty good. I liked the dual POV and I definitely did not see the twist coming. will read more from this author!

Excellent writing. Characters are well developed.

A story of a homeless woman who finds herself among the rich. She wants so badly to sleep in an actual bed again but awakes to a brutal murder. Bree has to get away. She knows she will be accused of this heinous crime. Possibly two.

You get to know all about Bree and others. Several POVs and timelines as you learn what actually happened in this story. It's a page turner and will keep you wanting more. All is wrapped up nicely too. I was not left with any questions.

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for this ARC. This is my thoughts about this book.

Four stars. I recommend this one.

This had a great plot and was a real page turner! Loved the writing and especially the short chapters, told from various points of view. A few surprises thrown in to pretty much make this a I can't put it down book!

I adore Susan's writing style and her way with words. They just flow and feel beautiful in my mind as I read them. They also draw me into the story and I can't stop turning the pages. This is a fun murder mystery with lots of little surprises along the way. I always enjoy multiple points of view and trying to figure out if there is an unreliable narrator in our cast of quirky characters. The setting is the glamorous Beverly Hills and it's the perfect backdrop for this intriguing fast-paced thriller with a little something for everyone.

If you are looking for a binge-worthy read, look no further!! I read this book in practically one sitting because I couldn't put it down! The chapters were short and ended with so many clifthangers!
It was fast paced, told from multiple POV's with an alternating timeline, and had plenty of twists. I really liked all of the characters and was able to connect with each of them. I loved seeing how the MC Bree was connected to Sophie. The big twist was clever and I LOVED it!