When I saw this title on Netgalley, I was immediately intrigued. A young woman refuses to believe her friend has committed suicide and does whatever she can to find out how she really died. The concept behind Dead Girls Can’t Lie is quite promising, however, there are elements of the novel that just didn’t work for me.

North Stone’s best friend Kelly, has hung herself in a local park. It seems like an open and shut case of suicide, however North refuses to believe it. After losing her parents and grandparents, Kelly is the only constant in North’s life and North knows without a doubt that Kelly would never leave her. When the police refuse to investigate North’s claim, she sets out on her own to uncover the truth surrounding Kelly’s death. As she descends further into the glamorous world of the European elite, she uncovers truths that rock her to her core. What secrets did Kelly have? And why did she feel like she couldn’t tell North the truth?

The plot of this novel is well constructed. The narrative moves from flashbacks of North and Kelly’s childhood to the present, as North conducts her investigation. Jones’ writing flows smoothly and the transitions between time periods are clear for the reader. The flashbacks definitely help to set up the context surrounding North and Kelly’s relationship.

Despite the context in the flashbacks, I didn’t feel any real connection to either of the girls. In the flashbacks, it seems as though Kelly took advantage of North, and used her to get out of trouble on more than one occasion. She doesn’t seem to be the great friend North says she is. North is emotionally reliant on Kelly and seems to latch on to her to overcome her own personal issues.

I know this novel is marketed as a mystery/thriller, however, I found the thrills to be lacking. The outcome of the plot is quite evident from the beginning of the novel and there are few other twists and turns to be had along the way. I found that I kept waiting for some big surprise to happen and it just never materialized in this one.

Big thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for an ARC of this novel. It was my pleasure to provide a review!

Carys Jones is back with a sensational new thriller that grips like a vice: Dead Girls Can’t Lie!

North Stone and Kelly Orton are not just best friends, but soul sisters absolutely devoted to one another. Having known each other since they were children, North and Kelly are absolutely inseparable, know one another’s secrets and have an unbreakable relationship that is absolutely rock solid. Nothing could tear these two girls apart – until Kelly is found hanging lifeless in a tree. Everyone is shocked that Kelly had taken her own life, but North – the person who knows her better than anyone else in the world – is absolutely convinced that Kelly had not taken her own life and that there is something even more sinister afoot which she is absolutely determined to uncover – even if it takes her down a dangerous path that could cost her everything…including her life!

North is absolutely positive that Kelly had not chosen to end her own life. Her best friend had absolutely everything to live for – and even if she had decided that she had no other option but to kill herself, North is certain that Kelly would not just abandon her. However, with the police refusing to take North’s suspicions seriously, she realises that she has absolutely no other option but to investigate her best friend’s death herself. But was Kelly truly North’s soul sister? Did she really tell her all her secrets? Or had she been keeping something deadly serious from her…something that had claimed her life?

As North is swept up in a whirlpool of jealousy and menace, she soon finds herself getting close to danger and face to face with some harsh truths about Kelly she had never imagined. Is her search for the truth going to shed light on Kelly’s death? Or are there some desperate people who will go to any lengths to keep the truth dead and buried?

Dead Girls Can’t Lie is so addictive, it will force you to put your entire life on hold! A compulsively readable thriller where the pace never flags, the tension will make you chew your nails to the elbow and the chills absolutely heart-pounding, Dead Girls Can’t Lie is a taut and terrifying read that will make you jump out of your skin. Carys Jones is the mistress of suspense and she will grip your attention from the very first page and keep you turning the pages in open-mouthed shock until you reach the book’s conclusion!

Dead Girls Can’t Lie is this summer’s The Girl On The Train and Gone Girl and I await with bated breath Carys Jones’ next unputdownable read!

This review is written with thanks to Aria and Netgalley for my copy of Dead Girls Can't Lie.
North Stone and Kelly Orton have been inseparable since they were toddlers. When Kelly is found hanging in the woods, North is sure that Kelly would not have killed herself, and if she was depressed, she would have talked to her. Unable to convince the police that Kelly's death was anything other than suicide, North goes in search of the answers herself. Will she discover what happened to Kelly?
​Having read Jones' previous two novels, Wrong Number and Last Witness, which are a duology, I was interested to see how she would approach a standalone novel with completely new characters. Jones includes several flashback scenes in the novel, which gives the reader insight into North and Kelly's friendship in the build up to Kelly's death. As North and Kelly are a similar age to me, I appreciated the numerous references to 90s pop culture, and the context allowed me to connect with them, where I would have otherwise found it difficult. I found some aspects of their relationship a little unrealistic - they did most things together even in their thirties, and seemed to exclude others, which made them appear slightly cold to me.
Jones has a talent for creating tension, and as the novel picks up pace, North experiences violence and hostility that made me anxious for her safety. This was increased by Jones' extensive research into the celebrity world that North investigates, as it helped her to build a detailed picture of the situation in which North found herself. I wanted to keep reading to find out whether North would be safe, as well as discovering whether Kelly did commit suicide. I did guess what had happened long before the end, and as such I was expecting a twist. As there wasn't one, I did finish Dead Girls Can't Lie feeling a little disappointed.
​

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.

North has just found out her best friend Kelly has been found on a jogging trail hanging from a tree and the police believe that it was a suicide but North knows that isn't true. Kelly used to tell her that if she was ever found hanging from a tree on a jogging trail by a dog walker that it was murder, not suicide.

North has had trouble in the past so most people believe that she has gone over the edge with her determination to prove that Kelly didn't kill herself, but she knows that Kelly would fight for the truth if it was her, and so she sets out to find the truth.

North learns that Kelly was pregnant and it wasn't her boyfriend Dean's baby, everyone else uses that as the excuse to justify the suicide. However, that just cements North's convictions and she begins to dig deeper knowing that the yacht is the key to what happened to her she makes plans to go visit the yacht and find the truth.


Soon it seems that she in over her head, lucking Elijah from work has been keeping her company and helping her uncover the truth. But the crew is afraid, and the only person it willing to talk to her and she is told that it isn't uncommon for girls to leave the yacht early and just disappear.


I am torn in my feelings for this book, the mystery was a bit pat, but I loved the characters and I loved North's determination to do right by her friend no matter the cost. I couldn't stop reading the book at all I finished it in one sitting.


I will say initially I was wondering if the twist would be something different, I know vague but I hate spoilers and I realized if I typed out what I was going to say that I would steal that wondering from you and I just can't do that! Ha sorry, I am bad...

I found this book to be hard to invest in, I didn't really connect with the characters and it wasn't my best read, I hate to say this and hope others think I am wrong, and they enjoy it, I just wanted more than I found in the book I guess, if you are looking for a quick easy read, this may well meet that description, and honestly I hope it does, I would give it 3.5 stars, and wouldn't put others off, it just wasn't for me.Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Dead Girls Can't lie by Carys Jones.
When North Stone's best friend Kelly Orton is found hanging lifeless in a tree, North knows for certain it wasn't suicide. Kelly had everything to live for – a loving boyfriend, a happy life, and most importantly of all, Kelly would never leave North all by herself.The girls have been friends since childhood, devoted to each other, soul sisters, or at least that's what North has always believed. But did Kelly feel the same way, or was she keeping secrets from her 'best friend' – deadly secrets...
When the police refuse to take North's suspicions seriously, she sets out to investigate for herself. But her search soon takes her to a glamorous world with a seedy underbelly, and before long North is out of her depth and getting ever closer to danger. Determined to find the truth, she soon wishes that dead girls could lie, because the truth is too painful to believe...
This was a good read with good characters. Although north wouldn't give up it was a little slow. 4*. Netgalley and Aria.

They synopsis and the author drew me in right away. I had read a couple of other books by Carys Jones in the last few months and she easily made the list of Jump on this book now for authors I watch out for. She’s a fantastic writer who makes suspense filled novels feel easy to read and immerse yourself into so you can enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes from being creeped out by her character’s less than ethical deeds.

This one I’m still trying to figure out how I feel.

When I first started reading something about the main character’s (North) dialogue and actions felt like she was an older teen or at least close to that. Not so far in you discover she’s actually in her early 30s but I could never shake that her mindset, the way she was described and acted, was easily a decade or more younger.

Another problem I had was the story moves back and forth between present and past in order to show more of the life between the best friends since the story revolves around the alleged suicide of one of them. It would’ve been easier to distinguish when it had gone into the past if Jones had uses a different font, style or even a whole new chapter for those sections so you could mentally switch gears easier as well. Eventually you get used to knowing what time period you’re in but I would’ve liked a clearer definition from the start.

In the end though the most disappointing thing was that it felt as if you could read the first few chapters then skip to the last few chapters and still get the whole story without feeling like you are missing anything important. Her normal ability to add build up and suspense to keep you guessing just wasn't here, it was like her heart wasn't into this one.

It feels like Jones is having an off day with this one so hopefully her next will find her showcasing that amazing talent I know she has.

There wasn't a lot that was surprising to me about the answers North sought about the death of her friend Kelly but that didn't stop me from reading this straight through. It's well written and keeps up a brisk pace. I liked North even though there were times that she made some incredibly stupid choices. All of her foibles, oddities, insecurities etc. made her more realistic to me. My problem is that I didn't have a good sense of Kelly. I read a lot of this genre; this doesn't stand at the top of the pack but it's a decent read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this and I'm always looking for new authors. Found another great one to add to my list and will watch out for the next book!

In the end, this book needed a bit of work. Was it engaging? Yes. However, it was predictable. There were tropes in this novel that have been repeatedly in other mystery/thrillers both in print and television shows I’ve seen. The unhealthy relationship between North and Kelly was a turn off as well. When you lose your own identity because are solely dependent on a person who loves to control everything, it’s a turn off. I get it if you are best friends, but there is a line. I wish North grew more in the novel, I really did. She had potential to be more….

North Stone has had a very difficult life. Her parents were lost at sea and now her best friend has died and she is having difficulty accepting her suicide. Kelly, according to North, would never kill herself, so she decides to prove it. Of course, she is not a detective so she doesn't know where to begin. All she knows is that Kelly would not go jogging and that the last place she did was work on a yacht with a billionaire so that is where here detection takes here. North listens to the voice of Kelly leading her as she is determined to seek justice for her friend. The book is somewhat difficult to follow as the author writes as North in the present tense and then North with Kellly in the past and North with her grandparents. The story itself is entertaining and somewhat suspenseful but you almost have to take notes to keep up with whether North is in the present or in her dream world. There are no divisions between the two in the book, so you will be reading along and suddenly you find yourself in the past with Kelly talking to North and there she is alive again. It's disconcerting at times, but once you get used to the author's style, you can read the book faster and find that you understand more what it happening. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if the dream portions had been in italics or something and the regular parts of the book had been in regular type, but it was a good read that kept me reading just to see if North was crazy or if she really did win her case.

How to describe how I felt about this book. Hmmm. It's a tough one. Ever really really want something for Christmas, see a package under the tree that looks like it could be the right shape and size and then open it to find out it isn't what you hoped? It was kinda like that.

I wanted to love this book. The plot sounded highly interesting and in the beginning, I had high hopes for it, but it never quite lived up to those hopes. This is a very dark story, which, actually works pretty well for it, since the characters are quite depressing, but it wasn't for me. The main character came off as needy and desperate, at least to me and that made it hard for me to feel close to her.

I didn't find any of the characters to be particularly likeable, to be honest. I did like the descriptions the author used, especially after she left the place she called home to find answers, but the ending of the book was no great surprise and that left me feeling disappointed. Sometimes I don't want my first guess to be right.

Overall, I didn't think this was a terrible book. The author had some great ideas, but I didn't love the way she chose to execute them. I say give it a try yourself and see what you think. It just wasn't for me.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me a pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a brief outline of the plot, we see North Stone - a woman who has seen more than her fair share of despair and grief - coming to terms with the suicide of her best friend, Kelly. However, North refuses to accept that Kelly would do that and so she starts to dig around Kelly's life to find out the answers to the secrets she never knew Kelly had kept.

So, while I found this novel went on a quite a steady pace, doing enough to keep you wanting to read on, I wouldn't exactly call it a thriller. I can't say there were any moments when I felt the urge to bite my nails or sit on the edge of my seat. It's more intriguing and interesting than thrilling. I also have to say that I can't really come to terms with the ending - for me it left more questions than answers. Hence the reason for only four stars.

Finally, on a personal note, while many people would find the name "North" quirky and unusual - which I'm guessing the author was counting on - I found it rediculous and quite annoying. I'll admit that, if I'd met this girl in real life, I'd not like her just because she had a stupid name. (Cue the backlash!)

Unfortunately, this book was just ok. The ending was really predictable from about halfway through the book, and I kept waiting for a plot twist that never came. A few things just didn't add up either, and those questions were never answered. I did love North's character and her background, especially her obsession with the stars, but this book definitely left me wanting more. I also unfortunately couldn't stop thinking of North West, the Kardashian kid, because of her name. Since her name is based on a star, there are plenty of other space-related names the author could have gone with. Really loved the cover art though!

When North's best friend Kelly is found hanging from a tree on a well-known jogging route, the police are quick to rule the incident a suicide. But North doesn't believe her friend took her own life. Kelly had no business being on that route as she didn't jog, she had everything to live for and most importantly North is convinced her friend would never leave her alone. Best friends since the age of two, they did everything together but how well did North know Kelly? And is lack of sleep making her paranoid?

North hasn't had an easy life. She lost her parents quite early on and Kelly has always been a constant in her life. The two girls are very different. Kelly is adventurous and up for anything, wanting to live life to the fullest. North is a planner and takes her courage from Kelly, who regularly drags her out of her comfort zone. So when Kelly is found dead, North feels incredibly lost.

""She was the captain directing the ship that was North's life. Only instead of going down with the ship, the captain had jumped overboard, surrendered herself to the sea, leaving the ship rudderless and lost in the darkness.""

There's a solid plot as North not only tries to figure out what truly happened to Kelly but also finds strength within herself to stand on her own two feet. Through flashbacks, we get a great insight into this wonderful friendship which really brings home why North's loss cuts so deep. Overall, I feel this needed a bit more depth and a lot more tension to really hit the mark as a psychological thriller but Dead Girls Can't Lie was an enjoyable read that held my interest until the end.

North Stone and Kelly Orton had been best friends since they were very very young and had always considered themselves to be soul sisters. When North gets the news that Kelly was found hanging from a tree on a jogging path from an apparent suicide North knows that there is no way Kelly killed herself. Kelly was a fun a vibrant person whom everyone loved with a great boyfriend and no way she’d leave her best friend behind without a word.

The police are not listening to North’s pleas to investigate further into Kelly’s death with all clues pointing to the suicide so North decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate Kelly’s death. With what little information the police have given about Kelly’s death and a few leads into her past few months North sets out to prove her theory and ends up putting herself directly in the path of danger in her search for the truth.

Dead Girls Can’t Lie by Carys Jones is one of those books that after I was finished I was truly disappointed that I didn’t care for it as much as I had thought I was going to when picking it up. Shortly after starting this mystery/thriller read though two distinct things happened that brought the entire book down for me from then on out.

First, I was never convinced of this amazing friendship between North and Kelly. The book takes the reader back and forth with flashes from the girls past and North’s investigation in current time and truth be told the more I read I just disliked North and wondered about the friendship overall. Parts of it had me thinking North seemed just rather kind of creepy or in the very least needing a bit of help to deal with her own issues instead of focusing on Kelly.

Then the other thing that had me a bit disconnected during the read was it seemed shockingly obvious what the outcome would be at the end and then unfortunately I was right. I wanted to scream where’s the twists, where are the turns? Perhaps with a shocking ending I would have at least felt happy to have continued on but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I’m chalking this one up as to the it just wasn’t for me as there are others enjoying it but I couldn’t say the same unfortunately.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I did like this book, found it very engaging and easy to read and not put down. But I didn't like how the ending was. Found it could of been in more depth and info, it just seemed to stop dead

Interesting read. A change from the feel good books ive been reading recently. Interesting storyline and characters, Enjoyed all the same even though it wasnt the happiest of books

this is a great book. when Norths best friend Kelly is found dead hanging from a tree she knows that she didnt kill herself. nobody believes her so she sets out to find out what really happened.. at any cost. thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and author for the chance to read and review this book

Must read. Thank you again netgalley. This story did not disappoint. Right from the start I felt like I was as invested in finding out the truth about Kelly as North was. The characters were very similar to people I remember from my own past.