Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Full review to be found on Goodreads and on my website.

Liz Nugent knows how to write a gripping first line to a novel, and the one she uses in her 2016 novel Lying in Wait is a very good one, indeed: “My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.” From there, we learn the story — told from three different vantage points in true Rashomon style — of how a heroin addict and prostitute was murdered and the impact that the murder had on various lives. First, there’s the story of Lydia, who is a mother to Laurence (the second voice) and one of the perpetrators of the murder. Then there’s the perspective of Karen, who is Annie’s straight-laced sister, and is desperate to crack the clues of the case when the cops fail to do so. The three lives entangle in a web of deceit and lies, making for a riveting thriller.

Lying in Wait is the type of book that I don’t want to say too much about, because doing so might give away the big twist of an ending, which I did not see coming. Suffice to say, this is a riveting thrill-ride of a book, one that is at its heart a simple thriller but with enough juicy references to things that were happening in Irish history during the ’80s (when the novel is set; the locale is Dublin) that make things particularly interesting. Nugent’s first book, Unravelling Oliver, was gripping enough, but Lying in Wait surpasses that novel — nearly everything about this volume is pitch-perfect and I can’t really find any faults with it.

This novel is about a lot of things: Irish political history, which gives the reader a bit of a crash course on what was happening in Ireland at the time of the book’s setting (I didn’t know that divorce was ever illegal in the country), but also the crumbling of the class divide in Ireland. Both Lydia and Lawrence are from a higher degree of peerage than the commoner Doyle family, and so one wonders as part of the mystery just how these lives became intertwined with each other. When you find out what Lydia and her husband Andrew were doing with Annie, about a third of the way into the book, the result is a little bit shocking. However, just having shock value isn’t the book’s only selling point. You really get a sense of how unhinged Lydia was more and more through the duration of the novel, as you find out secrets from her past that point to the fact that she is, perhaps, a complete sociopath.

Lying in Wait also has some similarities to the recently published suspense novel The Boy at the Keyhole in that in that that book’s central character and Lawrence here are kinds of mama’s boys. As Lying in Wait progresses, we see Lawrence trying (and sometimes failing) to assert his own independence from his parents. I have to wonder if this is part a new trend in suspense writing to make such characters — reading a third recent novel with this aspect would only cement that belief — but this might also be something that speaks louder to British traditions, as both novels are set in Great Britain. (It may very well be that having a mother-complex in a British novel may speak to larger things that have been happening lately, namely centred around Brexit.) Needless to say, the characters in the book really grow and mature in some ways, which is another feather added to the cap of Nugent’s writing arsenal.

Basically, this is a thrill-inducing, pulse-pounding novel (in more ways than one, given one family’s penchant to have heart attacks — which figure prominently) that I read in almost one sitting. The book never grows old or stale, and Nugent casts enough line into the water to bait you, the reader, into wanting to see what happens next, as much of the chapters end on cliff-hangers. However, this book isn’t a cheap dime store knockoff. It’s more than competently written. While it might not exactly be high literature, it isn’t roughly written as some thrillers (cough, cough, Trust Me) are. Lying in Wait is a compulsively readable book. Everything about it is nuanced, and, as a whole, this taut thriller is highly enjoyable.

I’ve probably said just about all I can say about Lying in Wait. I would encourage you to read it, which is why I’m a bit cagey about saying a whole lot about it for fear of dropping even the remotest hint of a spoiler. However, as a family drama and as a thriller, there’s enough of an edge to this book that will have even the most reserved person biting their fingernails in anticipation of what might happen next. It’s a novel that dares asks the question, how far would a person go to exact revenge? It also asks, can justice ever be served in this topsy-turvy world? The answers are not easy, which is what makes Lying in Wait such an exemplary work of art. It is an utterly fascinating read, so do yourself a favour — bypass the library and buy a copy already. You won’t regret it. It’s just that kind of a book, believe me. From knock-out first line to the very last chapter, this is an experience to be savoured.

I really enjoyed this novel. I did not know the author or anything about it but from the very first pages, I was hooked. We follow the lives of Lydia, Laurence and karen, who are very interesting characters with a very dark secret in common. It was a very twisted story, with extremely twisted characters and for some reasons, I had no problem imagining some people being very much like them… and that was one of the main reasons why I was so taken by that story. Read it, you will have a good time

This book was so easy to peel through that I did it in one sitting. It has all the meaty plot driven-ness you look for in an exciting thriller, but also take you down twisted ways of thinking. The warped logic of these characters, at times, is frighteningly approachable in their ways of rationalizing things. It is definitely a great thriller for someone to dip their toe into the whole thriller and suspense genre.

I received a ebook ARC from NetGalley for my honest review. Having read Liz Nugent’s previous title, Unravling Oliver, I was anticipating a great Mystery and I was not dissapointed, this new title started great, but somehow as we moved on it lost me. I think I got bogged down in so much character detail, and I love character development, I somehow lost the flow, 3.5 stars

Reading this book was like watching a train wreck in slow motion and not being able to do a thing to stop it. I knew what was going to happen and yelling at Lawrence did nothing to change the out come. I didn't connect with any of the characters and really didn't care what happened to them.

I can’t say enough about this book! From the very beginning it is very apparent that I was going to enjoy this story. The characters are detestable and yet I just couldn’t get enough. There were multiple twists, most I didn’t see coming, which is exactly what I look for. I kept putting it down and looking away. Trying to wrap my mind around it. Like.... what? 😟 no way. ⁣
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This will definitely stick with me for a while. One I will recommend in the future to my friends : ) ⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
#allthestars⁣
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Thank you for the complimentary copy! ⁣
@gallerybooks @liznugentwriter #netgalley #partner⁣

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent is absolutely the most sinister book I have read this year. As with Unraveling Oliver, the author begins again with a crime: Lydia and Andrew kill Annie, a junkie prostitute. In an attempt to hide their crime, they bury Annie's body in their back garden, while their teenage son Laurence is unaware of the goings-on. The author does a great job of making this story unpredictable from the get-go. Soon Annie's family , including her twin Karen, begin a failed search for her. The Dublin police are not showing a great deal of interest in this disappearance. More and more secrets surface as the years go by and the plot literally thickens until the creepiest of endings. This psychological thriller will have you holding your breath. A highly- recommended read. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I raced through this book, I loved the creepy characters and the different points of view. I thought the concept was very original and I would definitely recommend it. 3.5 stars.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

This story is so diabolically, terrifically sinister that I could not help but completely love it. Liz Nugent dumps the reader into an immediate state of suspense as Annie Doyle is unceremoniously murdered, and her body hidden by Lydia and Andrew. What follows is a master class in a psychopathic cover up of a crime and the consequences that stretch long and far.

I completely love Liz's writing style, as she moves the story perspective from character to character. It so flawlessly let me as a reader get into the heads of the characters, and I was totally engrossed in seeing just how far Lydia would go to cover up her crime and keep her son in her clutches.

I spent half the book not sure if I was rooting for the villains to get caught or get away with it, but I can say with certainty that I did not see the twists coming and I completely love a book that catches me by surprise. I won't say more than that, as the reader deserves to have no idea what to expect with this book.

If you love a good mystery suspense read, get this on your winter TBR - it will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very last page.

5+ stars!! Liz Nugent is AMAZING!

This book ties top spot for my favourite read of 2018 (so far)! Wow – this was deliciously creepy, compulsively addictive and thrillingly satisfying! I LOVED it!

The characters are fantastic! Some you will love, some you will hate, some you will love to hate. The author, Liz Nugent, does an outstanding job creating an unforgettable cast of deeply affecting characters. I had such a mixture of feelings while following the storyline – shock, anger, frustration, hope, humour. I was gripped from start to finish – very first sentence to the very last. The flow and pace of the story were perfection, the narration was brilliant and kept the tension and intrigue high throughout. My full attention did not waver once – I was glued to this novel.

This is my second book by Liz Nugent. I loved Unraveling Oliver too! I simply can’t wait to read Skin Deep.

This was a Traveling Sister read that we all loved.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Liz Nugent for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lying In Wait is AVAILABLE NOW!

( 3,5 Stars )

Sometimes a cover really speaks to me and that is definitely what drew me to wish for Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent, a wish that was thankfully granted by Simon and Schuster Canada.

I enjoyed how this started, the story hooked you almost immediately by dangling some information in front of you like a prize and giving you that feeling of needing to know what happened. But there was something about the writing and the dialogue that threw me off. The conversations seemed really rigid and it seemed like it was over written, not how people would generally talk, especially in times of distress, and I had a hard time moving past that.

But the story itself was interesting and somewhat unique. It really took a direction I wasn’t at all expecting; instead of focusing too much on a missing girl or the events that led up to it, it focused more on the aftermath of the family of the girl and the family of the culprit. I liked this angle a lot, it was a bit different and tried to show more emotion and was actually very humanizing.

Being so character driven though is very dependent on the characters. Lydia was not a likeable character. She wasn’t supposed to be; she was the driving force behind the entire mess of this story, but she wasn’t even likeably unlikeable like is trendy these days in female characters. I just couldn’t stand her, and it was her dialogue I had a lot of my annoyances with. She was a complex and dark character, which I’m usually drawn to, but there was absolutely nothing intriguing or redeemable in her, she was just straight up a terrible and selfish person willing to do some terrible things to get her way.

That said, this horrible character did grow on me, not to a point of interest, but more of fascination and once I caught on to what kind of creature she was, I was fascinated with discovering what she would do next. That’s what drove me to keep reading; Lydia did some incredibly horrific things and just when you thought she couldn’t go any further, she jumps right over that line.

Laurence, Helen and Karen, the unfortunate bystanders in all of this mess, were a bit easier to handle and cheer for, but I didn’t ever fully warm up to them. Something about the way the characters were written really didn’t connect well with me.

Ultimately, I generally liked the story, but I didn’t really care much for the characters or their written dialogue and reactions. I was intrigued enough to keep reading just to see how far Lydia would take things, and that did pay off in the end, making this a satisfying read.

3.5 Stars.

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

And so begins Lying in Wait, a creepy and engrossing psychological thriller about a murder and dysfunctional family, riddled with secrets and lies. Told from three perspectives (Lydia, her son Laurence, and Karen, Annie Doyle's sister) the novel successfully builds suspense, misleads the reader, and has twists that I did not see coming. And that ending - I read in horror as it unfolded!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of Lying in Wait in exchange for an honest review.

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

This is the first line of the novel. It had my attention right away! I wanted to know more, I actually couldn't stop reading. Even though we know right away about the murder, and what happened to Annie Doyle, you still want to know more and find out what will happen next to this dysfunctional bunch of characters. You have Karen, who cannot let go of her sister's disappearance, you have Laurence that is struggling with a lot in his life, and then finally Lydia, Laurence's mother, she is definitely struggling with some issues in her life. The whole premise of this story is insane, it's 100% a psychological thriller!

The book is told in different POVs and goes from 1980 to 1985 to 2016. I really loved that you had the whole picture of the story, from the whole timeline of events. However, this is a not a neatly "tied up" ending. It was maddening and I still had many questions. All I could think of was Norman Bates when reading this novel! It really reminded me of Psycho by Hitchcock (no spoilers don't worry).

Overall, great story that just keeps you guessing! Highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this advance reader copy . I really enjoy Liz Nugent’s work!

4 ⭐️ Definitely worth a read if you enjoy this genre . It is more of a psychological drama than a “who did it” mystery as we know fairly early on who killed Annie and why. The three perspectives are quite interesting and the ending was a surprise !
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I read Lying in Wait with five of my Traveling Sisters and it made for another fantastic discussion. We highly for group reads!

Lying in Wait’s first line caught our attention, peaked our interest and we all flew through this one as fast and we could. It's one of the most intriguing starts to a book we have read. The ending left quite an impression with us all too. It had us jumping up out of our chairs, throwing our arms up and cheering or yelling and chanting WOW or WHAT did I just read!!

Lying in Wait is a well-layered, complex and entertaining story that delves into the mind of a controlling, calculating and cold character. When buried secrets start to surface our characters start to unravel and we are drawn into their insecurities, greed and the lengths they will go to keep their secrets buried. The story becomes darker and murkier with each page.

Liz Nugent does a great job creating intriguing and creepy characters with complicated relationships. At times I questioned who was the victim and who was the villain. The characters are fun to dislike and are unlikable in the best possible way.

After reading Lying In Wait, we have put Unraveling Oliver on our list for an upcoming group in November.

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for my ARC to read and review

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this compelling book of psychological suspense. This was a dark, disturbing tale which focused on two Dublin families connected by murder. I found all the characters to be despicable or pathetic. The entire cast were unpleasant people with whom one would not want to spend time, but was enthralled with the plot and dreading the outcome. I was anticipating a horrible conclusion.

I tells how murder or loss can affect people throughout a lifetime and may linger on into the next generation. The story involves guilt, either misplaced or deserved by some. It also shows how a psychopath’s compartmentalizations leave them devoid of any guilty feelings. There is the smothering, damaging and possessive love of a mother for her adult son carried to demented extremes. We read of jealousy and hatred between sisters leading to a death. Years later the love of one sister for another causes her to forgive her missing sister despite knowing she had a history of theft, prostitution and heroin addiction. She searches obsessively for her although the police seem to have done little to investigate the disappearance.


The story touches on elitism, snobbery, an eating disorder, forgery, mental illness, overused medications, deception, secrets, suspicion and spousal abuse. Almost every known human dysfunction is featured.

As the suspense built up I was compelled to know the outcome for all these unlikable characters and at the same time anticipating a disturbing ending. The book certainly kept me absorbed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book by Liz Nugent. Unraveling Oliver was brilliant and this book did not disappoint either. I wish there was a way to give more than 5 stars to this author.

The plot was brilliant, extremely well written, surprise after surprise awaits the reader and a surprising twist ending. Lydia is living a wonderful life with her husband Andrew and their son Laurence. They live in her massive family home where she has lived her entire life. Andrew is a very well respected judge. Laurence her only child, struggles with weight issues but is adored by his mother to the point that it's an obsession.

Then comes the murder of Annie Doyle, a young woman who is struggling with life. This sparks the beginning of the end of this family. Laurence starts to suspect that his father may have murdered Annie. Lydia is a mastermind at controlling the family and running the show her way. A spiral is set in motion that does not end well for this family.

This book is extremely hard to put down. You will want to know what happens next to each character. I'm looking forward to the next book from Ms. Nugent.

This is a dark and compelling read. The characters are not lovable, there was no clear hero in this one and I wasn’t rooting for any of them. Yet I couldn’t wait to learn more them! The more you read, the more disturbing and gripping it gets. Liz Nugent has a way of keeping the suspense and tension going, while throwing in a few surprises along the way. This psychological thriller is unputdownable and will draw you in from the very first sentence and keep you hooked until the very last page. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
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Thanks @netgalley and @simonschusterca for this electronic copy.

I blazed through this book because it was unputdownable. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

In the first sentence we learn of the murder of a young woman. The couple who kill her, a judge and his snooty wife, bring the body home and bury it in their garden. But then suspicion begins to come down on them. Their teenage son Laurence was supposed to be out when they arrived home, but he was asleep in his bed, knowing that the car wasn't in the garage. Then we hear from the dead girl's sister, who had been expecting to visit her sister that day. She is relentless in trying to find her missing sister.

The book in told in alternating chapters, and was a real page turner. Well done Liz Nugent!