Often times I dislike a character and that will ruin the story for me and make me throw it into a DNF pile. I didn’t like the main character here but I think perhaps I wasn’t meant to which would be clever on behalf of the author. The ending wasn’t something I was expecting and I love being tricked. This book was right in the middle for my rating scale.

My most favorite style of book to read is historical fiction but occasionally I like a good thriller and this far surpasses that style. From the unsolved mystery of the lost girl to the lies that are told and covered up, this novel will have you turning pages to discover the outcome. Paul Morris is a failing author who had one best seller in his 20’s. Now in his early 40’s, he gets thru life by sponging off friends and stretching the truth. He has a reputation as a womanizer but has finally met a woman who he thinks he could settle down with. Problem is, they had a run-in years ago while he was intoxicated that he struggles to remember. The story hurtles to an unpredicted end as lies pile on top of each other for an unexpected outcome.

The author does an extraordinary job of spinning a plot with an unpredictable outcome. All the pieces fit together to make you think the story is heading in one direction and then you find out differently. She uses the creation of her character’s personalities to make the story believable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-moving, suspenseful story. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last! Although it involves adult situations, they are handled tactfully and can be enjoyed by teens to adults. Grab a blanket and a warm cup of tea and snuggle in for a rollicking ride!

I loved LIE WITH ME! It's hard to explain exactly why I loved it so much without spoilers, so I'll say that it gets an A+ for twists and my favorite kind of is-he-or-isn't-he unreliable narrator. I read so many books in this genre and only a few of them really hit all the right notes and leave me turning the final page with pure satisfaction. LIE WITH ME is one of those. I'll read anything Sabine Durrant writes next. I'll be recommending it in my next Tinyletter: www.tinyletter.com/sarahknight

I looooooved this book. BUT - not at first. It took me a while to get into it. I didn't like that it was a male lead, I went into it thinking the lead was female. So, maybe that's my fault. I couldn't connect with him, and I didn't like him. But maybe that's the point? By about 1/2 way through I was HOOKED. I could not stop reading to find out what the heck was going on! And the ending! WOW! SO not what I expected or what I've ever read before. I coulnd't believe it. So clever, and so unexpected - I wanted to hate the ending but in the end I ended up LOVING it! Nice job!

Sometimes God does not have to chase you with a stick nor beat you over your head with one, to get your attention. Sometimes he just lets fate deal with you. Perhaps one might say karma also can come to those who deserve a good swift kick.

In this book, Paul Morris a true cad, if ever there was one. He is a liar, a cheat, a minor thief, and a person you would hope never to cross paths with. In fact pretty much of his own life and existence is built on lies. Paul is a user, he uses women, friends, family to attain what he needs and wants. What Paul wants is to be a sponger. His one hit book that he authored while in college is the acclaim he treads upon. Paul is now forty two, pretty much washed up in the literary world, lacking money, prestige, and accolades but then he finds a chance out of his current situation. He comes across his old friend, Andrew, from college and begins to associate with his Andrew's friends ultimately ending with an invitation to spend (and sponge) off Alice, a wealthy lawyer, who owns a place in Greece. Paul, of course thinks he will charm the pants off of Alice because that is what he does and the Greek villa offers him just what he needs, a place to stay and the life he so aspires to.

However as in all psychological thrillers, things are not always what they seem to be. Paul twists and turns, and like oil he coats his relationships with others in a layer of grease.

Ms Durrant has written a story of a psychologically, misogynistic man who possesses all the qualities many of us have come to abhor. She entices the reader with a fist person narrative that sends one down many avenues until it ends with quite a surprising conclusion. I recommend this book to those who enjoy not knowing what will happen until a book concludes. "You can only chase a butterfly for so long."

Thank you for Sabine Durrant, Hodder & Stoughton, and netgalley for providing an arc of this novel.

This book just did not resignate with me. I struggled from the first page. It’s not the author fault. It’s just not a type of book that appealed to me.

This was a bit cliche for my taste. While I appreciate the author's efforts and intent, it just wasn't for me. I enjoy faster paced reads.

This book started slowly but it built up a nice head of steam. At times I hated some of the characters but eventually Paul seemed so human in a very sad way. Although Alice had her reasons, I am glad to not know anyone quite like her. This book made me question my relationships to some people. How well do you know them? And would they have your back in a crisis? Overall, a very enjoyable book

There is a lot of hype about this book and I'm going to have to be in the minority with this and say it was really difficult to read. I hated the main character, Paul Morris, pretty much immediately and he never really improved. The other characters in the book were either shells or just as despicable as the main character. This book reminded me of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, which many people loved but I just couldn't get into.

I find it hard to connect with a book when all the characters aren't likable. The other characters were manipulative, mean and shallow. I didn't care what happened to any of them and I had a hard time wrapping my head around Pauls love interest, Alice, who lost her husband it seems a while ago yet everyone in her circle keeps treating her like he died yesterday. It just seemed really off.

The last 1/3 of this book gave it a reprieve from a one star rating. There was intrigue, manipulation and some nasty well deserved retribution but it just was a little too late for me. If you liked Gone Girl or books like that you may love this but it wasn't for me.

I hate to give a bad review of a net galley free book but I just was not able to make a connection with this book. The characters were too unlikable. I didn't care about any of them. The book just didn't work for me.

It took me two days to devour LIE WITH ME and I stayed up late to finish it. The narrator, Paul Morris, immediately brought to mind Patricia Highsmith's invention "The Talented Mr. Ripley".

Originally published in Great Britain in 2016, LIE WITH ME has garnered rave reviews around the world being compared to GONE GIRL and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, both of which I read and loved.

FIRST SENTENCE: "It struck me in the night that it might have started earlier."

THE STORY: The opening, on a wet day in London, sets the dismal tone. Some twenty years earlier, Paul Morris wrote a much acclaimed book, but has never been able to build on that success. Instead he manipulates the world around him through his charm and small lies. Now at the age of 42 he finds himself broke and having to contemplate moving in with his mother. Then an unexpected opportunity to spend a fortnight in Greece presents itself.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Although Paul lies casually to those around him, he seems to let the reader in on the truth of his life. He rationalizes his behavior, "Plenty of friendships, I am sure, are based on lies."

I was fascinated with the structure the author used to tell this story celebrating all the small triumphs of a rather selfish person. Beautifully written, the language describing Greece is painterly. Although this is a character driven psychological thriller, it is also a page turner.

Don't read any more reviews so you can discover LIE WITH ME with no preconceptions.

BOTTOM LINE: I'm guessing this will be a widely read psychological thriller in 2018. You don't want to miss the experience. Highly Recommended.

Genre: Psychological thriller
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Mulholland (January 11, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1473608333
ISBN-13: 978-1473608337

Disclaimer: An electronic copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley/Mullholand for a fair review.

Sabine Durrant's first psychological suspense novel, UNDER YOUR SKIN, was published by Hodder in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US in 2014. Her second, REMEMBER ME THIS WAY, was also published by Hodder in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US in 2015. Both novels have been translated into more than 15 languages. Her third novel, LIE WITH ME, will be pucblished in the US on January 11, 2018. Sabine has written for the Guardian, Observer, Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph. She lives in south London with her partner, the writer Giles Smith, and their three children.

Oh what a tangled web we weave when we.....LIE... and this is all full of them... those impulse little white lies that you say without thing all the way to the major ones...
Interesting concepts and ideas.

This story is, in my opinion, a good study of character writing. From the beginning I had a deep in the bone reaction to the main character, Paul. The question was did I root for him or against him? The problem is, this is supposed to be suspenseful and I found it to be lacking in that department. I never quite understood the mystery because it felt like multiple mysteries were being teased instead of focusing on one or even two. Overall it was an okay book for me, not one I will rave about but also not one that I hated either.

The more I read, the faster I read. This is one of those rare books that gets almost to the end and then comes around and smacks you right in the head, thinking “how did I not see that coming”? It’s the lies, the little things, that come back to bite you when you least expect them to. What’s a lay-about to do when he needs to impress? Why, lie of course. And when caught in that lie? Why, lie again. The beginning of the end, except she has him figured out and uses his lies against him to perpetrate not one, but two crimes, and guess who gets the blame? The liar of course. So who is worse? Just go read it already!

Paul meets Alice through Andrew, one of his old acquaintances. Paul decides Alice is his next meal ticket and starts to woo her. Alice invites Paul to go on holiday with her, her kids, and Andrew and his family. While in Greece 10 years earlier, a girl went missing, and that tragic event has adversely affected Alice. The memories of the girl's disappearance, along with new events, disrupt Paul's plan for romancing Alice.

This story is told from Paul's point of view. Paul is a scoundrel. He is a self-absorbed, worthless, unemployed womanizer who takes advantage of people to get his own way. So, basically, he's not a likable character. In fact, there aren't really any likable characters in this book.

The plot builds slowly, very slowly. Nothing exciting happens. Then, things start to pick up and it gets more interesting. It was pretty obvious where the story was headed, but still an entertaining read.

A clever, well-written psychological thriller. Good for fans of slow paced thrillers with unlikable narrators, like Girl on the Train.

Lie With Me by Sabine Durant, will make you doubt your next boyfriend or girlfriend.
Are they telling you the true or are they lying to you.
This novel has a strong female lead with a less that dashing young new boyfriend.
With these people you can never believe what they.
But, you will never believe the unsatisfactory ending!
Definitely a FIVE star read!!
I can't wait to read the next one! I've enjoyed this one tremendously.

I read Lie With Me over Christmas break until I had to put it down before I hated everyone in my family as much as I hated everyone in this book. Lie With Me is full of unlikable characters, but the main character, Paul is downright offensive and nonredeemable. The first 2/3 of this novel is slow and plodding, with a pickup in the last one hundred pages that I suppose should make up for it, but I hated Paul so much that I didn't care what happened to him.

How one lie can turn into many lies. Paul thinks he is being impressive and clever when he start telling little lies one after the other, will those lies catch up to him? I liked this book, a vacation to Greece at his girlfriends vacation home, is the setting for this book, and a surprise ending.

I loved this book. I think we have all know someone like Paul Morris, a conceited, self-centered, moocher, sponger male who thinks he is "God's gift to women." He is the one who is always "short of cash" when it is time to pick up the tab. He is the one who is always there to eat and drink at everyone's expense. Paul meets Alice, a lawyer, and he decides that since he has lost his house sitting job and has to move back with his mother, he is going to move in with her. He is invited to go to Greece with her and a group of people that she knows, including Andrew another lawyer, who Paul knows remotely. Things really happen in Greece with lots of twists and turns and a great ending.

I don’t like to do this but I DNF.

Every author has a style. They may excel at character development, plot, dialog, etc.. Every reader has preferences. They may prefer plot over character, certain genres over others, or they may be open to just enjoying the act of reading. When an author and a reader connect it is a joy to read. When they don’t it can be painful. Lie With Me was a painful read for me. Sometimes the main character in a book is dislikeable. Paul started out as an ass. That’s okay. Bad people exist along with good. Having a difficult character can work quite well. But after a while Paul became annoying, then pathetic in his behaviour. I stopped caring what happened to him. The real downside for me was that there were no characters I cared for. Didn’t like, didn’t dislike, I just didn’t care. That’s when I knew I had to put this down.

One thing I did appreciate was Sabine Durrant’s choice of language for Paul. There is a prentiousness in word choice that fit his character well. Using words that have added depth when a simpler word would have sufficed fit Paul well. It took me 3 tries to read Ayn Rands”Atlas Shrugged”. If I revisit “Lie With Me” and change my opinion I will update my review.

My Thanks to Mulholland Books, Sabine Durrant, and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my honest review.