I don't know if it was the story line or the characters that kept me hooked, maybe both. It was a good mystery. I can honestly say, I didn't figure it out. I've read all Ruth Ware's book, this was by far her best.

I loved The Woman In Cabin 10. I have expectactions of reading In a dark, dark wood. But this book just didn't do it for me. I have to quantify that I'm one of those rare creatures who never had a "ride or die" friendship. I wasn't going over the Grand Canyon with Thelma. I wasn't going to rob banks with Queen Latifah and die in a blaze of glory. I just don't have those connections. At all. So I couldn't suspend my belief that these young women would undertake an immoral, unethical, illegal act such as they did.
While I can understand that they were young and immature and as adults had to continue their lying ways to protect themselves individually and collectively (because if you don't, the other will rat you out), I didn't feel the crime was strong enough to do such an act.
This book was written wonderfully. Meaning, the description and pacing kept me going, but the overall "story" wasn't gripping to me. I connected with the narrator's intense connection with her infant daughter--even the description of her nursing, the child's movements and fussiness, the feelings of intense protection.
I look forward to reading more of Ms. Ware's books because she captivates you with her prose. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.

What an awesome book! I love this author!! This book definitely did not disappoint!! Keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I didn't figure it all out until the very end!!

I just didn't get this one. Sorry. This one just wasn't for me.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A tense and suspenseful read filled with lies, fear, and consequences.

THE LYING GAME is centered around four high school friends, Isa, Kate, Fatima, and Thea. Even though it has been years since they attended boarding school together and they each have their own lives, when one calls, they all come. The reason? These four women share a history. More importantly, they share a lie.

The beauty of this book is the slow undoing of the characters and the reveal of the truth behind this huge lie. Ware creates such tension, anticipation, and an ominous feeling of dread through each piece of the puzzle that she gives her readers. Even though all the women have been effected by their past, it is not until a body is found that they are instantly brought back into the web of lies they once so easily told.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that the book reminded me of Pretty Little Liars. However, there is much more of a grit and reality to this book. Don’t get me wrong. I love my PLL, but the author depicts Isa, Kate, Fatima, and Thea with a bit more honesty in the characters.

The dark and twisty nature of this book will keep you guessing and have you completely addicted to THE LYING GAME. Are you ready to play? Trust me…you are.

Intriguing story of relationships established in one's youth. There is a mix of private girls' school, art being taught be someone not a teacher, and the inevitable young man. This story shows the consequences of secrets and lies.

There’s something to be said for reading experiences that are exactly what you anticipate. Ruth Ware has her formula down, and it’s no surprise that her popularity continues to grow. The isolated settings, the slightly compromised protagonist (but not nearly as compromised as others) who serves as the reader stand-in, the slow-burn tension, and the concert of twists, double-blinds, and hint of something unresolved as the cover is closed – all these elements work exceedingly well, especially for those who want to be carried away by story. Some may quibble with character choices (I'm at the front of that particular line), and more than once the jigsaw pieces must be strong-armed into the final whole, but even those hiccups make for lively dialogue among readers. That’s a success.

P.S. Isa Wilde is an inspired character name. Adore!

The Lying Game is a fantastic example of what happens when lies get out of control.  They have been best friends and even though the years have passed, Isa, Kate, Fatima, and Thea are as close as ever.  They each had there own secrets, but Kate's secret could possibly destroy them all.  Will their friendship be able to survive the truth?

This was a very entertaining mystery.  It had so many twists, that I was completely engrossed until the very end.  The ending threw me for a loop, I didn't see it coming.  An absolutely great novel, The Lying Game is one  everyone should read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

The Lying Game that began when the girls were young traps them in later life. I liked the way the story unfolded. I was particularly taken by the various ways that Ambrose's letter could be interpreted. Without facial and vocal hints, our letters, emails, texts, etc. can easily be misconstrued.

I look forward to more books by Ruth Ware.

An interesting, well written book that has a certain amount of suspense. I loved the first part of the book but found myself becoming increasingly bored as the author kept inserting extraneous details that made me crazy. There were just too many walks at night through the treacherous bogs and a baby put to the breast too many times. Some of the characters were better developed than others. The story line was, for me, not very believable. The lying game itself was interesting and something I could see teenagers at boarding school participating in on a lark. The fact that it spilled over into their adult lives gives pause for thought.

After an ending that, for me, strained believability, I had the book at 2.5 stars. The fact that the book is still with me a full day later, causes me to bump that up a star. It is not with me in a creepy way. Rather it is causing me to ponder on lies and the part they play in our lives and loves.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.

I was so bored reading this that I found myself not wanted to pick it up. I am sorry but this was a DNF for me. It just isn't my taste. Thank you for the advanced copy.

Another suspenseful book by Ruth Ware! Best friends in a boarding school keep to themselves and play a game where the best lie gets the highest points. Be careful what you lie about because as these girls find out 17 years later, it could come back and bite you in the butt. Highly recommended.

This book is another compelling one by Ware. It is about friends who were caught up in a dangerous game during their younger years. Now, their secrets are about to come to light and there is no telling what the fallout will be for them.

Isa was a very interesting main character and the storyline definitely kept my interest. This one had me guessing and on edge.

Realistically dark, this book had me looking behind myself and turning on lights- loved it!

3.5 stars. This was fully a character driven story, which I love and the author did a great job with developing each character. The story was slow and dragged at times. The mystery wasn't a real hard one to figure out or at least see the direction it would take, but it was engaging and kept you reading to find out how everything ended up.

Ruth Ware's four main characters reminded me of other secret-keeping girls, except more real. In the vein of Pretty Little Liars or We Were Liars, the four teens did something their last semester together. When a body is found, they are brought back together with the text message "I need you", their bat signal. As the fully-grown women come back together, more secrets come out that scare them even more.

Reviewed at http://www.alexbooksit.com/2017/08/the-short-stack-july-or-first.html

A good read with an unexpected resolution - always the best!

Staggering. The story of four friends who meet and set out to dupe others in 'the lying game' eventually hold to a lie that's so big, it has haunted them for 17 years.
Told with flashbacks intertwined with present day events, Ware masterfully draws you in and holds you tight in this plot's sinister and suspenseful web. Rules are made to be broken, and when the final truth is told, you will not have seen it coming.
Ware writes in an intelligent and clever manner by slowly drawing out clues and events that piece the story together splendidly. This is not one to be missed.

Ruth Ware is quietly emerging as the suspense writer to read immediately! I was weary of her third book, primarily because I've loved her others so much and I was afraid that this would be her Sophomore slump. I was so wrong. In fact, I think she's only gotten better. Fans will recognize her ability to slip in the red herring and have you on a twist that makes you think you've got it solved... I was most impressed by her ability to write this with more of a slow burn than her last books. Get to know Isa, Thea, Fatima, and Kate and see if you know who the queen of the lying game really is.