You know those books where you read the whole book in 2 sittings, and then when you read the last chapter you start talking to yourself, because you realize the twist that is coming, and your brain screams "NO!!!!". Yup, this is one of those books! It is a canny look at just how malicious family dysfunction cane be, and how secrets that lie festering can erupt when least expected. Lydia is both a sympathetic and hated character, a victim and the personification of evil incarnate. But is she really? Where does the responsibility lie? Will Laurence be able to break free of the web of lies he has grown up with? If you love a twisted English mystery, with a healthy dose of family drama, then THIS is your Summer read!

Earlier this year, in the span of 24 hours, I saw two of my favorite writers, Denise Mina and Rupert Thomson, both Tweet about the Irish writer Liz Nugent. One for her upcoming UK title, Skin Deep, the other for her upcoming American release, Lying in Wait.



This is clearly a sign to pay attention and meant that I had to get ahold of these books right away. Which I sort of did. The library had Nugent's first novel Unraveling Oliver but I had to wait a while until I got an advance copy of Lying in Wait. (Technically, I can't get my hands on Skin Deep until it is published in the US, whenever that is. Next year I'm guessing.)



While I was prepared for the hype, I was not prepared for the first lines in these books.

Unraveling Oliver: "I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her."

Lying in Wait: "My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it."

Skin Deep: "I wondered when rigor mortis would set in, or if it already had."

Who isn't going to keep reading after opening lines like those?



In Lying in Wait, an Irish judge and his wife open the book by murdering a woman named Annie Doyle. Why this has happened is not immediately clear. It's complicated. But once you murder someone, you've got a lot of work to do to get away with it, especially if you are not the murdering kind. The story of why a judge and his wife would be in this situation and how it unfolds is told in alternating points of view from the wife, Lydia, her son, Laurence, and the victim's sister, Karen.



I too easily resort to calling things Hitchcockian (which is short-hand for a lot of tension and suspense, or anticipated fear, especially waiting to see if people are going to get caught). But this is one of the greatest Hitchcockian things I've read in a long time. Who will get caught? Will they find the body? What else are these people capable of? What is Laurence thinking?



One of the other admirable qualities of this novel is that Nugent is very good at exploring the long lasting effects of trauma on people. We learn about the mother's childhood and how it shapes her adult life. We see how the murdering of Annie Doyle affects Laurence's childhood and early adulthood. One gets a good understanding of why things have gone off the rails for these people - yet the suspense never lets up. Not for a second. And sometimes, when you least expect it, Nugent drops another surprise on the reader. Endings are hard to do but the ending here is spellbinding.

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent certainly starts off with a bang (and on my birthday no less) that gets one’s attention, a husband and wife are out late one night and the husband strangles a young women with the wife coming in to finish her off. WHAT?? A murder duo? At that point the book definitely grabbed my interest.

You see, Lydia Fitzsimons and her husband got a little carried away covering up their secrets. The young woman was a drug addicted prostitute so who would possibly miss her? Lydia tells her husband to simply bury the body and they can go about their rich, comfortable lives with no one the wiser.

The story is told from multiples points of view along the way from the various characters involved. From Lydia the murderer to her son the alibi to the worried sister of the victim. All of these characters end up woven into a web so sticky and tangled that it will be hard for one to imagine the outcome.

When finished with this book it was one of those WTH did I just read moments. I will admit the middle of this one got a little slow to me thus only the four stars but boy oh boy was the ending worth the wait. No exactly what I’d ever expected to happen as the years ticked by in the book after that opening death scene. If dark and disturbing personalities and actions intrigue you I’d suggest picking up a copy of Lying in Wait.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

5plus stars! Gripping and disturbing, but unputdownable. Grabbed me on page one and didn't let go until the end. I had to know what was going to happen and what exactly had taken place! Highly recommend! Will be reviewing in Chapter Chatter Pub closer to release date!

It is, without doubt, a ballsy move to craft any sort of mystery (or psychological thriller) wherein the big question of “whodunit?” is revealed in the first few pages… yet that’s precisely the tack Liz Nugent takes in her wickedly-twisty (and twisted) new page turner, Lying in Wait.

As you may have guessed, though, there’s a brilliant method to her madness, because the pages which follow concern a far-more intriguing question: the “whydunit”, if you will.

To wit, any idea why a respected, middle-aged judge would kill a wrong-side-of-the-tracks young woman—with his to-the-manor-born wife’s assistance, no less—then drive the body to their own home and proceed to bury it in the back garden on their posh estate?

Of course, there’s more to murder than just the act—especially for seemingly “normal” folks, like you or me. There’s the memory of it (and trying to live with same). There’s guilt (for the murderers here are anything but your typical cold, hardened killers). There’s a lifetime of lying that must follow (especially when you have a teenage child in the house, who mustn’t ever find out what you did). And, above all, there’s keeping every bit of it a secret, forever.

Fortunately for us, Nugent didn’t content herself with looking at things from the couple’s point of view; we’re also privy to everything from a viewpoint of 180—the family of the “missing girl”, in other words (for without a body, anyone who vanishes without a trace must needs be considered “missing”, unless/until evidence to the contrary surfaces). And things are very, VERY different from the other side…

Perhaps the greatest brilliance in Lying in Wait, though—the real shocker—is the element of Hatfields-&-McCoys, or even Romeo-&-Juliet, in a sense, once the paths of the two families cross again, down the road… and everyone involved discover that memories, like hidden bodies, are always just lying in wait.

I absolutely loved Lying in Wait. It’s awful and horrible (some of the characters, not the writing), but entirely believable—full of hope, despair, and pathos, by turns. In the end, it delivers an emotional punch which refuses to go unfelt. This one demands your attention, your patience, and your heart… so just give them up.
~GlamKitty

Andrew and his wife Lydia have an encounter early on with a prostitute named Annie. An argument ensues and Annie is (accidentally?) murdered. For whatever reason Lydia insists on burying her in their back garden, and then the trouble begins...their son, Lawrence becomes suspicious and obsessed with Annie, and Annie's sister begins to do her own investigation. The mystery surrounding the relationship between Annie and Andrew, and his wife Lydia, is unclear but it unravels tantalizingly as the story progresses. Highly recommended!

A really amazing book! The characters are so well described that I felt I was looking at pictures! I felt I knew them and could understand them! The story itself was quite captivating and I just kept reading to find out what happened next!! So goid!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

How best to describe honestly how this book affected me, in light of the great glut of psychological thrillers and family dramas currently on the market?

This is a well-written story, especially as a second book. It isn't the story itself that left me wanting something else - it was the characters.

Overall, this seems a pastiche: of upper-class versus lower class, of mental illness, of beauty versus the not-so-blessed. Everyone just seemed to be all of one type or another with very little gray in between.

I was expecting something different from the description, but there's no "mystery" here. The plot twist wasn't, really, a plot twist. I wasn't stunned. I didn't gasp. It was pretty much over-the-top.

It was a clear-cut case of the psychopath being a psychopath and getting away with it. None of the characters evoked much sympathy. Most of them crumpled at the feet of the psychopath and gave up.

That was really the only chilling aspect: the giving up.

Were I new to the genre, had I not had such an extensive history of psychological thrillers, mysteries and horror behind me, I might've been more inclined towards the fourth star.

I do appreciate the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this one.

Lying In Wait
By
Liz Nugent



What it's all about...

This book is about a totally dysfunctional family. This family carries dysfunction to a level that is almost impossible to understand. I think it begins with Lydia’s childhood and continues through her marriage to Andrew and the birth of their son...Lawrence. Lydia finds it impossible to let go of anyone and anything...but especially her son and her family home.

Why I wanted to read it...

This book began with an event that continues throughout the book. The event is startling, raw and rough. From the very beginning of this book it is impossible to consider this family ordinary...but...it’s easy to consider them insane...especially Lydia.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

The events of this book are delivered in such a sort of deliberate manner that it’s difficult to believe that the next thing that happens is even more shocking than the last thing that happened...but it is. It was difficult for me to feel sympathy for anyone in this book...I didn’t like anyone but these unlikeable flawed chaotic characters made this book a fast paced reading experience. It was a fascinating book.

Why you should read it, too...

Readers who love mystery and a chilling plot should consider this book.

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.

Was his life and his family made of secrets? That is what it seemed like to Laurence.

Laurence found out that his father had killed someone because she was blackmailing him. What his parents did with the body and the fact that Andrew killed a woman was a huge secret his father had to keep. This secret took its toll on Andrew and Laurence.

His mother actually was not fazed by it perhaps because of a deep, dark secret from her childhood that neither Laurence or Andrew knew about and which was another secret that didn't bother Lydia.

Their home and this totally dysfunctional family was a house of secrets and lies.

And the lies continued as Lydia thought of ways to hide what happened and how to protect herself. Lydia was a very cunning woman who made sure everything benefited her.

LYING IN WAIT had a sinister tone from the start, and it continued to grow in intensity and suspense with a chilling ending.

Ms. Nugent has written an engaging, can-this-really-be happening, pull-you-in psychological thriller.

If you enjoy a book that has you biting your nails and wondering what other evil deeds Lydia is planning, LYING IN WAIT will be for you. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press.

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this book. It was a bit to slow for me and I wasn't anxious to pick it up once I put it down. I also didn't really like the characters which is something one needs in order to enjoy a book. Finally, there were no surprises and I expected there to be some. Everything was laid out pretty early on.

Pathology thy name is Lydia.

You know from the beginning “who done it”; the story, told from various points of view, reveals the effects of a criminal act on family members and friends of both the criminals and the victim; the denouement is somewhat unexpected.

Many of the characters are unlikable and the story annoyed me, but I couldn’t put it down. The author is deft in taking the voices of the various characters and she weaves quite a tale.

I finished this book and sat staring at the last page...

I’m not quite sure what to think, and I don’t even have the foggiest idea on a star rating.

On one hand this book is incredibly well written. I was engaged, and curious the entire time. I was eager to devour more and to see where the story led.

At the same time, I was so annoyed and disgusted. What kind of a person is Lydia?! I mean, honestly. I just can’t even handle her. I hate her. Laurence is a pain in my butt. If he had just been honest from the start, none of this would have been an issue.

As I write this review, my thoughts are able to move around and unjumble a lot. And while I’m still not pleased with the ending, this book is truly well done.

There is a lot of manipulation, deception, and control played out in this book, and it’s done so artfully that it’s angering and maddening in that you just want to help Laurence.

At the end of the day, I’m still not sure whether I loved or hated this book. This one has me in a perpetual flip flop.

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent tells us the story from different points of view, with the action beginning in 1980. This is one of the novels that the reader finds themselves telling a character not to do something...and shaking their head when they do it anyhow. Lying in Wait reminds us "no good deed" goes unpunished. I was given an early copy to review.

If you are a fan of Unraveling Oliver, READ THIS. If you are not a fan of Unraveling Oliver- STILL READ THIS. As a matter of fact, if you are a fan of reading at all; read this! Lying in Wait by Liz Nugget is fantastically creepy. This is one of those books you are going to want to read from cover to cover as soon as you begin, which I did!

I requested this book and then discovered I already owned it and read it. I just saw Liz Nugent and that was all I needed to know. And that tells you everything. You are guaranteed a good read from this author.

Absolutely fabulous book. Well drawn characters. Storyline is superb. And that ending!

I am now a lifelong fan of Liz Nugent.

I LOVED this book. I was able to secure it earlier, and read it in one sitting. I was a huge fan of UNRAVELING OLIVER, and hand sold it to many--and this book is better. The mother/son relationship is tremendously creepy, and so engaging-- BRAVO in the extreme, and I am thrilled for Ms. Nugent--another bestseller is on the way!

Nugent is one of the best voices in suspense out there, bar none. Her second novel demonstrates why. The narrative rockets along with perfect pacing and a breathtaking page turning speed. My only criticism is that I hated the epilogue - I think I know what Nugent was trying to do with it, but it changed the ending for me so dramatically that it soured the book a bit for me.

So I know just pretend the epilogue doesn't exist and I've re-read it three times.

I loved Unraveling Oliver so I was excited to read Nugent's newest one. I seriously had no idea where it was going as it constantly switched focus from character's viewpoints; and I'm a big fan of surprises so I loved it that this novel toyed with my mind! The opening line from Lydia's point of view tells us that her husband didn't mean to kill Annie but "the lying whore" deserved it. So we see from the outset that Lydia is arrogant and despicable even as we learn her backstory about a horrible childhood. I find myself drawn to flawed characters (not sure what that says about me though) and I can really enjoy a novel even when the characters are unlikeable--and there are few in this book that are--as the human psyche is interesting even in its depravity. So if you like a book that challenges you to read about characters who live outside the boundaries of human decency that you may want to slap repeatedly, this is the novel for you. I was left gasping at the end--what a roller coaster ride of a book!

I am Lying in Wait to find out what this book is about. I hate "teaser" books, where the author thinks it's somehow mysterious to not let the reader know what the book is about. NO: A good writer sets the stage, letting you know the mystery or the plot. There has to be SOMETHING that propels you to keep turning the pages to find out what happened. This is only possible if you give the reader some clue as to what is going on.