Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy in exchange for this review.

Apparently this book is a British phenomenon. I didn't get it.

Paul is an author. He's not good at it. He needs money and as a result, he has to move in with his mother. He runs into an old friend named Andrew, goes to a dinner, and meets Alice. Except he already knew Alice. Ten years ago, everyone was in Pylos. A girl disappeared. Paul used to "date" Andrew's sister. Paul doesn't really remember all of this because he was drunk. He starts to date Alice. Paul lies and lies about being a successful author living in a sweet pad. More lies. Except he's not the only one lying, is he?

zzZzZzz

I kept waiting for ~something~ to happen. I was somewhere around 50%, and I just couldn't read any more. I skipped to the ending, and had a pretty minimal reaction. First of all, there's really no one to like in this book. Paul is terrible. His friends are terrible. Paul also has this creepy thing for hooking up with girls that are much younger than him. No thanks. I don't know if the author wants us to feel sorry for him or not. There was one scene where he was worried he would have to pay at a restaurant and ends up making a fool of himself, but I just continued to feel disgusted with him. For a book being labeled as a thriller (cue the Gone Girl and Girl on the Train comparisons), this is a dull attempt at best.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Sabine Durrant, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read an early copy.

It starts with a lie. The kind we've all told - to a former acquaintance we can't quite place but still, for some reason, feel the need to impress. The story of our life, embellished for the benefit of the happily married lawyer with the kids and the lovely home.
And the next thing you know, you're having dinner at their house, and accepting an invitation to join them on holiday - swept up in their perfect life, the kind you always dreamed of...

Which turns out to be less than perfect. But by the time you're trapped and sweating in the relentless Greek sun, burning to escape the tension all around you - by the time you start to realise that, however painful the truth might be, it's the lies that cause the real damage...

... well, by then, it could just be too late.

Lie With Me is such a unique read (with a GORGEOUS cover). The main character is unreliable and unlikable, but it's intentional and is done extremely well. The characters are so well developed, and the detail is perfect. There's just enough to keep you hooked. This fast-paced read was quick, suspenseful, and at times, dark, gritty. I read this in one sitting. Highly recommend!

Yikes. Reading this was like going to the dentist: Painful. Just opening my kindle to keep reading was like pulling teeth. I questioned categorizing it as a DNF (do not finish) more than a few times, but since I got it from NetGalley I felt like I needed to try and finish: it took me a week. A week of reading I cannot get back.

What attracted me to the book was 1) the cover and 2) the obscure synopsis (as was listed on NetGalley):
“I suppose what I am saying is, how much do we collude in our own destruction? How much of this nightmare is on me?

You can hate and rail. You can kick out in protest.

You can do foolish and desperate things, but maybe sometimes you just have to hold up a hand and take the blame.”

Breathless. Claustrophobic. Unsettling. Impossible to put down.

I recently visited NetGalley and noticed the synopsis was updated to provide more detail. After reading it, I don’t think I would have requested it. But, that can also be because I know the story already and we did not vibe.

Long story short: narcissist, egotistical, womanizer, Paul runs into a former acquaintance, Andrew, whom is the brother of a girl, Frannie, he used to bed. He is invited to dinner at Andrew’s where he meets a widower, Alice, and starts to date her; Andrew obviously not being a fan of this. Paul finds himself changing his womanizing ways for her, although his initial intentions were not too honorable.

In the background are a million (I am exaggerating, but still…) other stories with annoying characters: what happened to Frannie, a possible affair, a teenager fooling around with someone she shouldn’t, a missing girl from a vacation 10 years back, a sullen and angsty teenager, a stepford wife, a girl assaulted while drunk with the assailant on the loose. Why am I sharing this? All these stories apparently are set up for a reason. I don’t want to give it away, that would not be nice. (That can imply that I would recommend reading this book, and I don’t.)

Before I even got the 25% mark I was super confused on where the story was going due to the obscure synopsis and odd character development. It actually didn’t pick up until the 60%+ mark and by then I knew exactly what was happening. It’s a little too obvious and when the ending finally came…(hallelujah it was over) I hated it. Predictable and open ended.

I feel horrible speaking so poorly of someone’s work, as I can imagine how much effort goes into writing a book. I should have given up on this at the 25% mark when I first wasn’t really feeling it. Some books just don’t work for everyone and we should have broken up a bit earlier. I am sorry I strung you along, it wasn’t you, it was me.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant is a GOOD book, but not what I was expecting when I started reading it. I believed this would have been a gritty thriller with head spinning twists and turns by reading the synopsis, but it just wasn't. I had already had a good guess as to how the twists would play out and I couldn't really STAND some of the characters. But, the writing style was good, and the book was an easy read so I flew through it. Overall, I'm not really sure what to make of it, but I did keep reading from beginning to end so it held by interest in that respect. I'm just not sure if I would read another book by the author in the future.

**5 Goodreads Stars**

"Plenty of friendships, I am sure, are based on lies."

Sabine Durrant's Lie to Me is a seductive, subversive psychological thriller that simmers with tension and heat. The book is narrated from the perspective of Paul, a writer who has couch surfed his way to oblivion, relying upon the generosity of his wealthier friends for a roof over his head since he graduated from college many, many years ago. His first book was a one hit wonder, leaving him downtrodden and broke. His days are spent drinking and skirt-chasing, putting pen to paper if and when he feels inspired.

Paul feels that is luck is finally turning when he attends a dinner party with old college friends. There he meets the lovely, lithe Alice, who has been widowed and left to raise her teenager children. The dinner party is hosted by Andrew and his wife Tina, who also have children the same age. Alice's subtle charm and natural beauty intrigues Paul. Paul's well-practiced charm does not work on Alice, which makes him even more interested in her. Eventually, Paul worms his way into her life, though her wealth and reserved nature makes him wonder if she is really into someone as shifty as himself.

The relationship is tested when Paul invites himself along on Alice, Tina, and Andrew's annual vacation to Greece. Paul has been invited in the past, though he has been left out for years due to his financial situation. The group has been going to Greece for many years, and, Alice, in particular, has been drawn back to the place after a teenage girl went missing during one of their vacations. Alice has connected with the missing girl's parents, who they usually see when they are back in Greece. Paul was on the trip when the girl went missing, leaving the reader to wonder if there's a ulterior reason Paul is allowed to join the group. 

The couples share a striking chateau on the beach for a month, where tension builds and relationships are tested. Alice and Andrew seem particularly tight, causing Paul to question everything he knows about his so-called college "friends" and his budding relationship with Alice. Paul is slighted during the entire vacation, made to feel less than the wealthier Alice, Paul, and Tina. He is constantly trying to find a way to prove his worth to the group, which he does through little white lies. He lies about how he arrived in Greece, choosing to take a cheaper flight and a bus service to get to the chateau. He lies about the success of his recently finished manuscript, leading his friends to believe that it has been green-lighted for publication. It seems as though Paul is a compulsive liar, though he does tell mostly small lies to hide his poverty.

Paul's character is called into question when a woman goes missing once again during their time in Greece. Paul claims he had nothing to do with her disappearance. Was he involved in both crimes, or is he completely innocent? 

I absolutely devoured the lush, detailed descriptions of the setting and people in this novel. Durrant is so talented at creating vivid imagery and characters. I read this book in the middle of a snow storm in Michigan, and could almost feel the steaming heat of a Grecian beach in the summertime. That's how good she is. This was my first time reading a book by her, and I can't wait to read more from her. Here is a great example of the thick description she provides:

"The house was sun-baked; the walls trembled in the heat. A black swimsuit hung, bat-like, from a limb of the olive tree..."

This was a really fantastic read, and I went through it very quickly during a busy work week. Thank you to the author, Sabine Durrant, the publisher, Mulholland Books UK, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Lie with Me!

Everyone lies right? This book is all about lies. Lies, lies, and more lies. There were so many twists and turns and with everyone character lying, you are surprised by it all! I did not care for Paul at all. He had some shady things going on. I received an arc from NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this novel--as I've loved all her previous novels! And even though the main character is kind of... well, despicable...I was drawn in immediately as he attempted to "play" and manipulate both old and new friends. Thinking he is lucky to finagle his way into going on a vacation to Greece with his new girlfriend and her friends, Paul worms his way into their lives by snooping, stealing, and taking advantage of their generosity. But who is really being played? As events begin to spiral out of control, Paul becomes the victim of his friends' devious plans and his lies do nothing but implicate him further. I loved everything about this book, particularly the title's double meaning. This one is a must-read!

I received a free electronic copy of Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant from NetGalley for my honest review.

I liked this book but at the same time the book frustrated me. Every character in this book is deceitful, manipulative and mean. Every character in this book seems to be guilty of lying. The lies always seem to start out small and just keep growing. You spend the entire time reading trying to decide who is lying and who is pretending. I think all in all everyone is lying and all the characters are just bad people. A good quick read.
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I need a bath. And if I could wash my brain with bleach, that would be great. Lie With Me will make you feel dirty. Not only physically (the ambiance is so flawlessly conveyed, that you can feel the oppressive sun and heat, the sweat, the bugs) but also emotionally. Paul Morris is a washed-out novelist. His first book was a critical success but nobody remembers anymore. He has nothing to his name, literally. He is also despicable. He ogles seventeen year old girls. He steals, lies, cheats and seems incapable of taking responsibility for anything he's ever done. All the damage he's caused in 42 years. How can you possibly care about such a character? Well, that's where a great writer shines. Sabine Durrant made me worry about him and hate myself for it. I should want Paul to be punished for everything. Instead, I was anxious about what was going to happen. This is powerful writing. Reading this novel is unpleasant and suffocating, but the plot is so perfect, that it will trap you until you reach the amazing, powerful conclusion. A serious but entertaining novel about crime and punishment.

Paul, a washed-up novelist and an arrogant SOB is the narrator of this tale. He explains how he meets and falls in love with a (conveniently) wealthy widow, Alice. Of course, readers will find it hard to believe Paul is capable of any emotion as selfless as love. The two lovebirds journey to Greece for a holiday romance, but one there, the tension really ramps up. Just what did Paul do there in the past. Did he rape a girl? Did he kill her? Durrant’s novel doesn’t contain any likeable characters but it does have plenty of sly and slick twists that will keep readers guessing

Meh. This was very slow, and really dragged throughout most of the book. While the very end was a bit more interesting, it wasn't very satisfying because I had rather ceased to care what happened by that point. Part of it was Paul--I don't necessarily mind unlikable characters, especially in psychological thrillers, but there's got to be something that makes me invested in what happens to them. I didn't care much about Paul by the time the climax of the story rolled around, and I was repeatedly exasperated by his choices. But most of what bored me was the plodding pace. Nothing much ever really happened. This is the second book I've read by Sabine Durrant and I haven't liked either, so I think I'll be skipping her books in the future.

Wow! Oh, what tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive! That saying went through my mind time and time again while reading Lie With Me! This mystery/thriller will leave you guessing until the end (which I loved). I thought the storyline was well thought and I enjoyed the well place clues that were sprinkled throughout the book. I went back and forth while reading Lie With Me if the main character was a jerk or a good guy, which added to the suspense of the plot! Ultimately, my jaw was hanging open at the conclusion of this read!! This is the first novel I have read from Sabine Durrant and it definitely wont be my last—I am already looking forward to her next novel!

I was in the mood for a creepy page-turner of a story and Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant was just what I wanted. Reminiscent of YOU by Caroline Kepnes in the creepiness factor, the story centers around an arrogant, struggling has-been novelist named Paul, my favorite kind of narrator for this type of book, an unreliable one. You never know his true intention and while the reader is aware of some of his deceptions, we aren’t quite certain if he’s a misguided soul or a truly evil one.

Paul finds love (or does he?) with a wealthy widow named Alice and becomes enmeshed in her life. He begins a string of lies which grow bolder as he gets closer to Alice. A vacation in Greece is the perfect backdrop for Paul’s deeds. Did he rape a young girl? Did he kill a girl years ago during a time in Greece that he can barely recall?

I’m not quite finished with the book but I am HOOKED and am eager to finish it today. Lie With Me will definitely be a big success and I can clearly see it as a movie. If an author can cast an eerie feeling over an entire novel and keep you guessing, then its a job well done.

Great read. Interesting to have a story with a male narrator but wow what a creepy, shallow character. The first half of the story was a little slow (hence 4 stars) but excellent ending with a satisfying twist.
Beware of telling lies, it can get you into all sorts of trouble!
I would certainly read more books written by Sabine Durrant.