This was such an interesting book from the start. Paul has written one book, but when he runs into his old friend Andrew, portrays himself as an established author with a career and life others would envy. I don't think he realized how much his one lie could snowball. He is invited to a family dinner, discovers a liking to family friend Alice, and then ends up going on a family vacation with people he doesn't really like.

Unfortunately, I found Paul to be a really unlikeable guy. He was pompous and arrogant and really didn't care about anyone else's feelings or life. He was just along for the ride. A real lazy loafer that lied so easy to everyone. You can just tell that soon Paul's lies will catch up to him. However, this book had an unexpected ending which made me really enjoy it. Be careful who you lie to and boast your conquests to, it could come back to bite you!

I was intriguied to ready this book by the description of a psychological thriller—and it is that. However, it seemed to take a long time to get to the gist of the twist. I didn’t tumble to the plot until I was well into the book. That being said, it wasn’t necessarily a book I couldn’t put down but I found myself drawn to it over and over again when I had a few minutes to read. The main character, Paul Morris, isn’t very likeable. He is a down on his luck author turned freeloader and it is his manipulation to get something for nothing which puts him in a compromising situation. I did enjoy the book, however, and have recommended it to friends.

With delicious prose, I enjoyed the narrative style, and even the dislikeable Paul Morris. As we get to know him--even detest him a bit--and as the story progresses, he evolves as Alice breaks through his charming facade and his affection for her deepens...along with his lies. The plot unfolds with shifts back and forth in time, which bolster the pacing. Paul clearly has a link to a missing girl, and the clever twist gives readers a well-timed shock. While it opens and burns long and slow, everything appropriately intensifies near the end.

It's my first foray with Durrant, and it won't be my last.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. It’s a very well written mystery. It kept my attention from the beginning.
I look forward to reading more books written by Ms Durrant. Very well done

This book is well written so you will stick with it. At the beginning their is a lot of detail but you don't know what the crime is or what it is leading up to until near the end. It gives you two hints that something happens to the main character Paul but you don't know what it is. Then everything makes sense at the end.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I got about half way through this book and just can’t finish it. That almost never happens. I HATE the main character! I can’t put up with him anymore. No matter how much I want to finish this, I can’t. I HATE not finishing a book, but I can’t! The main character, is a washed up writer who lives with his mother and is a freeloader. He goes on a holiday with his girlfriend and their friends. He rambles on, and on, and on. I just can’t put up with him!

It starts with a little harmless lie. We’ve all told a little lie at some point, right? The problem is when you tell one lie and then another and another until everything seems out of your control. I would cringe every single time the protagonist, Paul, lied. So many times he could’ve corrected it. I have to say I didn’t like Paul’s character. He’s an arrogant, self-absorbed, middle-aged jerk. In fact, I really didn’t like anyone in the book but still enjoyed the quick read.

You will probably read other reviewers comments that this book had a slow build. It does build up slowly, but it reads smoothly and you won’t be bored. Trust me. You’ll want to see where it takes you.

Thank you Netgalley and Mullholland Books for the opportunity to read his book in exchange for an honest review.

The first third of this book consists of the mental ramblings of Paul, an annoying man who is so self centered, he never seems to consider the feelings of others. Most of his time is spent taking advantage of people as well as lewdly accessing what it would be like to have sex with every female he meets and doing his best to accomplish it. I almost gave up on this book because I found his attitude and behavior to be beyond irritating. I also didn’t like that all the recent books I have read have sex scenes thrown in. In this case, it just seemed like another addition meant to make the reader totally dislike Paul.

Most of the other characters are as unlikeable as Paul.The only likeable character seemed to be Paul’s mother, who was barely mentioned, but who appeared to be a very caring woman; Paul, down on his luck, was upset he had to move back in with her. Like most psychological thrillers, the author does her best to have your opinion sway this way and that. The author also has a way with descriptions making the people and scenes come alive. I can’t say I was completely surprised by the ending. I could see some of it coming.

Although not one of my favorites from this genre, the book was ok. You really have to hang in there and keep reading even though Paul is such a jerk, you may want to toss in the towel.

I really tried to finish this book. Really, really tried.
But it was not one if those books I could urge myself to pick up and continue reading.
The writing isn't bad. But the developing of the plot is sooooo slow. I kept waiting for something exciting. For the story to thicken, grip me into it.... but it just never happened.
The main character isn't even a very likeable person. He's a pathological liar who takes advantage of others and gets to empathy from me in this story.
So sadly to say, this is a book a will not be able to continue with.

Paul Morris is a lying, cheating, opportunistic womanizer. Forty two years old, underemployed and living in his mother’s house, Paul happens upon an old school acquaintance while browsing a bookstore and hunting his latest (uninterested) prey. A seemingly chance dinner invitation introduces Paul to Alice, an older widow with three teenage children.

Paul and Alice start an unlikely affair before Alice invites Paul on holiday to Greece with her family and friends. Alice herself is on a crusade to find the daughter of a friend who disappeared from the area years before.

The story is subtly told in reverse with Paul existing somewhere in the present while looking back over his missteps on that trip. The connection between past and present is annoyingly vague. We know something happened and that there is a line of connection from Paul’s past to that missing girl to Alice however it falls short of creating suspense.

No one is who they appear to be. There is a suspect relationship between Alice and her married friend Andrew. Paul is both jealous and suspicious of their compatibility, especially since Andrew’s wife Tina is also on the trip. Arrogant and self-serving, Paul squares off with Andrew to win Alice’s favor. We eventually learn the answers in the end, an end that can be considered both clever and probably the best part of the whole book. But, an ending is not enough to save this one.

BRB Rating: Skip It

This is a book I just could not connect with. I started reading it a couple of weeks ago and there was always something I wanted to read more, so it would get put down after a chapter or two and the times between picking it up would get longer and longer.
I'm sure it a great book for some, but it wasn't for me.

Best quote: You can do foolish things but maybe sometimes you just have to hold up a hand and take the blame. Paul Morris, a writer without a book to write, tries to create an interesting life by lying to impress others. This lifestyle takes him where he never dreamed he would be which wouldn't have happened if he had just believed in himself.

I'm sorry, I've tried to finish this, but I just can't seem to get into this one. I can't really provide a full review. I can only state this just wasn't for me.

I am providing 2 stars because the writing was okay, just didn't care for the story or characters. Just wasn't what I expected.

(1 1/2). Touted as a thriller, this is a mildly interesting chronicle of a relationship that feels weird from the start. The shift in the last quarter or so is one you can feel coming, if not see. A couple of good characters, a fascinating setting and a lot of dubious activity by all. Sort of good but certainly nowhere near great.

There was nothing gripping about this book. Nothing. The characters are not likable. The outcome is inevitable

Thank you to NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of those books that start out slow, and you wonder where in the world it is going - and then CLICK, it all falls together.

I'll admit I was holding on to this book for a while, mainly because it was a slow start. I am really sorry that I waited. Once it got going, it didn't stop.

I loved that the the main character of the story, Paul Morris, is such a snake. It's nice to actually NOT like the character for once.

It's a good story that makes you think about all those 'little lies' you tell add up and actually do matter.

I was a little disappointed in this book, as much as I hate to say that. In reading the description and all tags about it , it just did not live up to the hype for me. Sorry !

An unscrupulous narrator who longs to fit into the upper classes has a chance meeting with a former classmate in a bookstore on a rainy day. The tension builds as the lies pile up with some interesting twists. The whole narrative comes together at the end, resulting in a clever mystery.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

3.5 stars

It's hard to believe this book kept my interest as long as it did when the main character was so unlikable. Paul Morris is a man who lives off his "charm". It's a Trump type charm only apparent in his own mind. An author who had one semi successful book but nothing since, he lives off other people. He house sits or lives with his mom. He preys on young girls and is an alcoholic. He is not a person that you want to spend time with and he lies. He lies about everything trying to make himself look better.

He runs into an old college buddy one day and then slowly is introduced to that person's circle of family and friends. They end up on a trip to Greece and then things spiral out of control. Things are nothing like they seem. I won't say more because I don't want to give anything away. I will say it kept my attention from beginning to end in spite of the characters. That's saying something.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

While a little slow in the beginning, it did keep my attention enough to keep going! I'm glad I did, I found it to be an interesting read and a possibility for a sequel!!? Well developed characters, you'll soon find yourself turning page after page. I give this a 3.5 out of 5 and would purchase this as well as a sequel if the opportunity presented itself.