Let Me Lie is a true psychological thriller. The suspense, the mystery, the secrets all feed into the story keeping the reader guessing as to what will happen next. There were so many twists and turns that I found myself wanting to skip ahead and see where they were heading. And oh the lies… so many lies. Lies on top of lies on top of lies. Sounds like it could get confusing but it was just the opposite. They all played into the story perfectly.

The story is told from multiple points of views. I loved that one of the points of view was unidentified. This kept me guessing as who was telling their story without revealing themselves. From the different voices it was fun to try to tell who was lying, who was telling the truth, and who was telling the story as they knew it whether truthful or not.

If you are looking for a psychological thriller full of twists and moment that will make you stop and think…Let Me Lie is the book for you.

My first read for author, Clare Mackintosh...(will obtain her previous novels) unable to recall when last I picked up a crime fiction novel. The subject matter on suicide and murder would yank on the heartstrings of any human being. I felt Anna’s loss of both her parents. She exhibits strength in dealing such deep human tragedy and dark life experiences.
Thank you net galley for the opportunity to get acquainted with this writer’s work.
LM

crime/police investigations/death

Let me Lie is an intriguing read about a woman who suddenly discovers that her parent's suicides may not have been investigated properly. With the help of a retired, volunteer cop, Anna attempts to uncover the truth of her parents disappearances. There are some truly excellent twists to the book and I know on more than one occasion I was sure that I had it figured out, only to be wrong. By the end of the book, everything fell into place and it was a satisfying conclusion. Most of the characters are well fleshed out, the ultimate resolution is believable, and most of the suspects are red herrings.

Clare Mackintosh’s Let Me Lie was my first read by her and let me tell you it was a crazy ride. This psychological thriller had so many twists and turns and kept me captivated! The blurb gives you just enough to get you interested but once you dig in, you want to see how it all ends.

Anna has lost both her parents. Though the police think they committed suicide, Anna believes they were murdered. After her father’s death, she was devastated and cannot believe her mother would put her through it again. Now with a child of her own, Anna is missing her parents and wants answers. But what will be the cost of those answers?

Though I enjoyed the story, Murray and his wife were the best part of this book. I loved them. Their support and love for each other was amazing. This was my first read by this author and I loved the story and the mystery. The story was a bit slow in the beginning, but it seemed to be setting the groundwork, because once it picked up, I was captivated. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

Clare Mackintosh knows how to write a mystery that is riveting from page one to the very last sentence. A couple, Tom and Caroline Johnson commit suicide and leave their adult daughter behind to pick up the pieces. In the aftermath, she falls in love with her therapist and they have a baby. Through out all of this she misses her parents immensely wanting them to be there for the whole thing.

The story starts when Anna is left a suspicious note and takes it to her local police department where she meets a retired police detective who is now working more of an admin like job at the station and he decides to take the note and investigation on himself. And from there it is a fantastic ride.

It has twists and turns and I may have predicted one or two, but I was not in the least bit disappointed when I did, the story was that good! I think Clare Mackintosh knows how to unveil bits and pieces at the right times to keep the reader reading at the fastest pace. Be warned once you hit the last 80 pages, you won't be able to put this one down!

I like that Clare Mackintosh books are all self contained, so you can read one and be done. I have read all of her US releases and will read all of her future ones!

Thanks to Berkley Pub for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Who else is a Clare Mackintosh fan? I loved I SEE YOU when it released last year and I couldn't wait to see what she came up with next. LET ME LIE is on the lighter side when it comes to a suspense novel with a slower build to it. So if you're going into it expecting a crazy thriller, then you may come out disappointed.

Tom and Caroline Johnson committed suicide just two years ago. They couldn't live without the other, so they went together. Anna, their daughter, is trying to come to terms with their deaths, but she has so many questions. Why did they take their lives? She begins to investigate into their suicides more, but there's someone that wants the past to remain buried.

"The police say it was suicide. Anna says it was murder. They're both wrong."

There's absolutely no denying that Clare Mackintosh knows how to write a story. The way she develops the characters and weaves the events always amazes me. So for the writing alone this was a great read. If you're in the market for a slower burn read then this will be perfect for you! I can see this being one that Mackintosh fans will be divided on, but that's what keeps this community so fun!

That last portion of the book will sink it's teeth into you and you won't want to stop reading!

I give this 3.5/5 stars!

I figured most of this one out, but Mackintosh still had some surprises up her sleeve, and even when I knew which "twist" was coming, it was thoroughly enjoyable to read and I was racing through the pages. That's the sign of a good thriller to me! :)

I have a very short list of must-read mystery/thriller-suspense authors, but I would say Mackintosh is at the top. She made me a fan with I Let You Go, and her two follow ups have solidified my fangirl status.

As with Mackintosh's previous works, I found myself fully engrossed in the story, and was pleasantly surprised by some really great twists. However, this one was a little different in that it elicited tears from me. These were not tears due to fear, but honest to goodness sad tears. I think it had a lot to due with the author delving into a lot of relationship issues, as well as mental health issues.

Mackintosh also made me fall in love with one of the characters - Murray. Murray was just the sweetest, most big-hearted guy. I am getting tears in my eyes just thinking about what a beautiful person he was. The way he loved his wife was very special. I sort of wish Mackintosh would have given him a little better ending, because I just adored him.

I am a fan of Mackintosh's writing and her storytelling. This book had a bunch of really great plot twists, and the ending!!! I just love it when something comes out of nowhere like that. Another thing I really thought was well done, was the use of a third POV. I wasn't sure who it belonged to. I thought I knew, but I wasn't sure. What I will say is that it added some extra tension and mystery to the story, and kept me wondering, which is alway fun when it comes to this type of story. This story starts really strong, but then builds slowly from there. My patience had a big payoff though, and some of those reveals were well worth the wait.

Overall: Another solid suspense-thriller from Mackintosh, which was packed with some gasp-worthy twists, some heart pounding events, and heart-tugging moments.

I read Ms. Mackintosh’s book “I Let You Go” and enjoyed it. I was looking forward to another great read in “Let Me Lie”. Although some reviewers seem to be disappointed in this book I liked it. Here’s why:

The story is told from multiple points of view which is always interesting and since one of the narrators is not identified I found it that much more enticing.

The writing is very good. It flowed well and kept me reading. It had plenty of twists and lots of lies, lots and lots of lies! The main character, Anna Johnson, is well described. She is a young woman dealing with the deaths of both of her parents, a new baby and a still developing relationship with the baby’s father. I may have wanted her to handle some of the situations differently but, hey, this is a story. She is just beginning to heal when she receives an anonymous note which suggests that perhaps her parents deaths were not by suicide, as they had been ruled by the police investigation but something else.

When Anna calls the police it is an answered by a retired police detective, Murray, who still works at the station at the desk for incoming calls, etc. Though he is no longer licensed to take on a case he has a suspicion about this one and decides that he can at least get some information to pass along to the detectives. He gets more and more involved and we learn a lot about his character and his own family life. His wife has been battling mental illness all of her life and has been in and out of hospital and psych wards throughout their marriage, he never gives up on her. I couldn’t help but love this character who, in spite of his own pressing problems, continues to try to help Anna.

There are other characters as well who could possibly be involved in a cover up, or a part of a crime committed. There is her partner, Mark, a psychologist, who appears loving and cares about Anna and baby Ella and wants to marry her but how much does she really know about him? There is her uncle Billy who, along with Anna, inherited the auto business that her parents started. She has a very good friend named Laura who also lost her mother a few years back. Dr. Drake is a next door neighbor who always seems to be a bit too interested in what is going on at the Johnson house.

I liked the book and the notes from the author afterward. She wanted not only to write a thriller but to also convey a message about suicides. She states “According to the charity MIND, 1 in 4 of us will experience mental health problems this year and more than 25% of us admit to having had suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives”. I don’t know how much more research backs up these numbers but I know that there are lots of suicides committed every year and perhaps some may have been prevented if someone noticed the signs of depression or mental illness in their loved ones, friends or family and reached out a helping hand. I applaud her in trying to bring awareness to this subject.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley, thank you.

Will also post to Amazon upon publication on March 13, 2018

Posted review to Amazon on 3/13/18

Oh my, so many lies. So many. A whole story full of lies. I was never sure what to believe. But Clare's books are like that, full of twists and turns and truths and lies. And once again, I was totally taken in by this story, continuously trying to figure it all out.

Let Me Lie will keep you guessing and it will keep you turning the pages, as you work to find out what are the real lies and what is the truth. It is definitely a page-turner and a wonderful read!

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


Anna is still reeling from the grief, her father committed suicide and then seven months later her mother did as well. Anna met Mark, her husband at a grief counseling session. Now they are together and living in her parents old house. She has a baby and all is well except she just can't understand why her parents killed themselves.


Then Anna recieves an odd postcard in the mail, it says Suicide? Think again! She knows something is going on and so she goes into the police station and talks to the desk sgt. Murray listens to what she asks, and decides to look into the case and find evidence of the murders Anna believes happened before he takes it to CID.


Anna is consumed by finding the answers until the day she finds a brick thrown into the window of her daughter's room telling her no police leave it alone. She wonders what is really going on and if the people who killed her parents are after her.


Sadly I must leave it at there because spoilers. Whew what a book, Clare Mackintosh is becoming a go to author for me. I have read all three of her books and I love them. She is so masterful in her twists. This one I thought I was on top of it when I guessed a couple of them before they happened, but the rest of that I did not see coming. Like I want to rave about some things, but I can't because spoilers.


I hate that I want too, no I need to talk about this book and get all of my thoughts and feelings out. Needless to say that Anna wasn't surrounded by the best people. If you are looking for a slow burn thriller guaranteed to throw you for a couple of loops look no further.

A big thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this new book from one of my favorite authors.

Ever since I read "I Let You Go" I have held Clare Mackintosh in high esteem for her skills in putting together the red herrings and plot twists that surprise you time after time. "Let Me Lie" does not disappoint. We see the story from Anna's POV as well as Murray, a retired police officer who is still helping out at the station and is Anna's first contact there. In addition we have unnamed narrators who could be male or female, alive or dead. Add in a neighbor dispute, a new baby, a faithful dog, a car chase and more and you have a riveting novel. Highly recommended!

In seven months, Anna lost both her parents. First her father and then her mother jumped from the same cliff and a year later, Anna is still grieving, despite having her newborn daughter to keep her busy. On the first anniversary of her mother's death, Anna receives a card that questions her parents' suicides. Asking for the help of a retired detective, Anna digs into her parents' past but there is someone who doesn't want her to find out the truth and that person seems to be ready to do anything to stop her.
I love Clare Mackintosh's novels and this is another success story. In this novel, she explores complicated family relationships, dark secrets and the lies we tell to protect them. The truth unravels slowly, one little piece at the time, and there are shocking surprises throughout the whole novel. It's a gripping and suspenseful read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first to the last page.

This was the first Clare Macintosh book that I’ve read, and now I need to go back and read the others. I had heard from coworkers that she writes amazing twists into her books, and Let Me Lie does just that. There were a few times I thought I almost had it figured out, and then I was all turned around again. I quite liked many of the characters and their stories, especially the relationship between Murray and his wife. That was an unexpected part of the book that hit harder than I was expecting. Definitely recommended.

Stevie‘s review of Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh
Women’s Crime Fiction published by Berkley 13 Mar 18

Unexpected, potentially suspicious, parental suicides seem to be cropping up a lot in my reading list at the moment, especially where UK authors are concerned, and quite possibly due to some well-publicised cases a few years ago. Whatever the reason, there are a variety of plot twists that can be laid over the same starting point, and I know from experience that I can rely on Clare Mackintosh to place a particularly interesting slant onto any topical theme. The first twist in this story is that the two apparent suicides occur some months apart, albeit at the same location, while the second is that the daughter left behind only begins to properly investigate what happened a year after the second death.


Anna Johnson is devastated when her father, an apparently successful second-hand car salesman suddenly commits suicide at the infamous Beachy Head – more so, perhaps, since his body has never been found. When her mother carries out a seemingly copycat suicide some months later, in the run-up to Christmas, Anna seeks counselling and ends up falling for her initial therapist. Now, a year on, Anna and her partner – and their new baby – are living in Anna’s parents’ former home as Anna still tries to make sense of what happened.

On the anniversary of her mother’s death, Anna receives an anonymous card alleging that her parents’ deaths weren’t suicides. Spurred into action, she takes the note first to her father’s brother – still running the family business – then, when he dismisses it as a crank letter, to the police. The retired detective manning the front desk takes Anna’s concerns more seriously than he suspects his younger colleagues might and begins to investigate, even as Anna does the same back at her home.

As Anna pieces together the truth of her parents’ life together – theirs was far from the happy marriage she always envisioned – more messages arrive, now becoming increasingly sinister. Although Anna is at first convinced that her parents were murdered, she soon comes to believe that they faked their deaths and are still alive – and possibly in grave danger.

I was thoroughly gripped by this story, narrated from three points of view: Anna’s, that of the retired detective, Murray Mackenzie, and that of the unnamed person – a murderer? – who is watching Anna’s investigations from afar. It took me a long while to work out who that third person was, due to all the very clever red herrings that were jumbled into the plot, but once I knew, all the clues had been there all along. It took me even longer to work out who else was responsible for the mysterious happenings that occurred once Anna began investigating, but again the answer was obvious once I knew it. Meanwhile, the views we got of Murray’s home life and his loving marriage to a woman with more than enough problems of her own was heart-wrenching, even as his courage at continuing to care for her was heart-warming. Another triumph from an outstanding author.

Grade: A

"Suicide? Think again. Not suicide. Murder. Someone stole the life I had. Someone murdered my mother. And if they murdered Mum, it followed that dad didn't kill himself either. Both my parents were murdered."....

Anna has had a terrible year. The bright spot in it is her new baby girl. Her parents committed suicide during the past year. Now on the anniversary of her mothers death, a strange card is delivered to Anna. Her nightmare begins again.

What really happened to her parents? There are secrets to be uncovered that will alter Anna’s life forever. Anna enlists the aid of a semi retired police officer, Murray. Murray has his own personal tribulations at the moment, but wants to desperately help Anna find the truth.

Will Anna find the truth about their suicides from the cliffs of Beachy Head? How will the past affect Anna’s present? Was Anna’s fiancé involved, does the neighbor know more than he’s telling? Maybe there are things Anna herself does not clearly remember.

This thriller was a page turner. Unexpected twists. Characters that compel you to the end. Unexpected ending!

Thank you Clare Mackintosh, Netgalley, and
Berkley Publishing Group.

What I loved: Oh the twists and turns of these one. I enjoy a good Clare Mackintosh and this one did not disappoint. I loved that she really kept me guessing most of the way through and even after I sat the book aside I kept working through ideas/scenarios of what might have happened.
What I liked: While I didn't like all of the characters, I liked the way the were each written.
What I hated: Without spoilers...I hated the former detectives storyline. Not because it was poorly written....I just hated the situation for him.

An easy book to recommend through RA and book clubs.

I was so looking forward to reading this book! I loved the first two books by this author. I thought they were gripping and pulled me in right away.

This book, not so much. There were too many distractions for me. Pages and pages about Sarah who I really did not care for did not add to my reading enjoyment.

At one point, I did think, and glad to see I was wrong, that one narrator was coming back from the dead as a ghost.

This was just an okay book for me. I just wish there had been more suspense and less of the mundane.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the third book I've read by Clare Mackintosh and I just love her books. She manages to write such emotional, suspenseful books with the best twists - and she gets me every time! Just when I think I have things figured out, when I think I know where she is going to go - BAM, she totally throws such a good twist in the mix that I am gob-smacked and left completely stunned! And I totally love it!!!

I will say, this book starts off a little slower than her previous books, but not in a bad way. It pulls you in, but just takes a little while to really take off. I was still intrigued and never felt like I wanted to abandon the book...I just wondered where it was going to go and never once did I think it would go where it ended up.

Anna is grieving over the loss of her parents. A new mother herself, she is still dealing with all the emotions that come with that, and finding it very hard to believe her parents would willingly end their lives. She believed they had committed suicide until she receives a note that has her thinking maybe that wasn't quite the case. She brings her suspicions to the police, meeting retired Detective Murray Mackenzie. While technically not an active Detective any more, he agrees to help Anna.

I loved that while the majority of this book focused on the mystery surrounding Anna's parents, we do get to know a bit about Detective Murray and his wife, Sarah. I don't think this in any way detracted from the main story, in fact by knowing about Murray's home life, you realize why he is the way he is. And this isn't a bad thing at all. He just might be my favorite character in this whole book...and I would so love to see him again in another story!

This is a hard review to write without giving too much away. It's definitely best to go into this book as blind as possible for you to enjoy it fully without any spoilers. But know this...Clare Mackintosh is certainly no one-trick pony. Each of her books are as different and unique as the titles. This one is driven by character relationships, family dynamics and the emotional state of the characters involved. I loved it and cannot wait to see what comes next from her. She is definitely an auto-read for me as I know that I will be entertained and surprised with her books!

I was a huge fan of I Let You Go and I See You. I couldn't wait to start Let Me Lie. So imagine my disappointment when after finishing this novel, I couldn't give it more than two stars.

Why didn't this book work for me?

One of the reasons is the slow build up. I felt like it dragged way too many times. The writing was good but the action was minimal except when we get to the end of the book. Also, Let Me Lie has plenty of twists including the ending but for this reader, they felt unbelievable. No one is sadder that this didn't work for me, than me.

So what's the book about?

Anna Johnson recently became a mother. She loves her daughter and can't think about anything happening to her or she not being part of her life. Anna can't understand why first her father, Tom and then her mother, Caroline decided to take their own lives. But Anna has doubts, she's not sure they killed themselves. She believes that just maybe, someone is behind their deaths. So when a card gets to her home on the anniversary of her mother's death claiming foul play, Anna immediately believes it and right away, she takes it to the police. This is where she meets, Murray a retired cop who decides to dig into the past.

Murray was my favorite character. He was smart and methodic. He was a good detective with excellent instincts. He was also a dedicated and loving husband. His side story was so full of anguish and sadness. In this, Mrs. Mackintosh did a great job at describing how mental health issues can affect the dynamic of a marriage.

I won't say more to avoid spoilers but I hope that you enjoy this novel more than I did.

Cliffhanger: No

2/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.