Solid mystery thriller. Lots of good twists and turns--some I saw coming and others really surprised me. With a genre that is getting more saturated by the day, it takes a lot to craft a well-plotted mystery that can keep me entertained. The Washington state location, with so many familiar towns and areas referenced, were just icing on the cake to me as it gave the story local flavor.
There were a few things I had to suspend disbelief about, but overall this is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing.

Oh my goodness, what a disturbing novel. Lying Next to Me is the story of Adam and Sophie Warner who chose to vacation in Washington state with their three year old daughter over the Memorial Day weekend. On the first day of their relaxing family holiday, Adam sees his wife accosted and drug away by a stranger while he is on the lake crabbing with their child. A sick and complex web unwinds from there. Lying Next To Me is definitely a psychological suspense novel, leaning more towards the dark and twisted end of the spectrum. Many of the characters are vulgar, psychotic and appalling in their relationships and behavior and it’s hard to determine if any of them are telling the truth because most are guilty of something. The plot is all over the place weaving and winding down some dark hallways until the very end when the reveal is made. I can’t say that it was entirely surprising, but it was full of twists and turns, lies and revelations until the very last. This was a fast-paced story, but as a result of the profuse profanity and salacious content, I can’t say I enjoyed it as much as his previous books.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Murder, Cheating, Mental Health issues

This book starts with Adam watching his wife being abducted from the shore while he and his daughter are rowing back from being out on the water. Despite being in fairly decent shape, he can’t row fast enough to get to her and even though he is calling out for help, there are not many people around. When the unthinkable happens, we watch as witnesses are interviewed, police become involved, and to see whether or not Adam is going to be able to withstand this traumatic experience.

The first chapter sucks you right in. You want to know what to do. You want to be able to help Adam and his daughter, but then, things start to come to light and you’re left wondering what the whole story really is. Despite the well-developed storyline, the characters are hard to relate to, mean and petty and altogether not very likeable.

Also, other issues I have with this story are that the police force are instantly biased in their search for who kidnapped Sophie and they are not afraid to show it. Also, Sophie’s parents are abusive and unlikeable, at best. I wanted to scream at Sophie’s mom and smack her dad. Finally, and what I would say is my biggest peeve about this story, is the issues with biological children and adoption. They are horribly offensive to those who are adopted.

So, while this is a good thriller, the issues outweighed my ability to truly enjoy the story. But it was well developed in the way it was told and the story.


Shelby – ☆☆☆
Lying Next to Me was just a three-star read for me, I liked the beginning and the end was interesting but the rest was just meh. Adam and Sophie Warner take bit of a vacation with their three-year-old daughter, when the worst thing happens... Sophie is abducted right in front of her husband! Queue Adam's friend's sister, Lee, and her partner's arrival as the law enforcement on the case. Now we have a real crime drama mystery.

I enjoyed meeting each of the characters and getting a glimpse of their lives. I must say that they all seemed a bit one-dimensional and predictable. I was hoping for something to wow me but was left wanting. The story had its high points and many, many low points. I felt most of the middle was slow moving (I may have set this down and started another book), but this really gained traction toward the end. I will say that I thought I knew what was going on, but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

There is a really clever twist to this story and although at one point I was pretty certain how things would turn out, I was delighted at the ruse. That is after all why we read such books, to have the clues pile up and send us down blind alleys. In this book, we get to learn the facts by travelling back in time at key points in the story. These snippets gave us the hints to keep us hooked.

There were some things which I had serious issues with – the biggest being the release of her body for cremation within days of her death... we see too much crime on TV to think that this could possibly be the case – especially when they make a point of saying that they don't even have their own forensic team. Weird, and actually given there was no big funeral, it was just not necessary, so it threw me out of the story somewhat. Likewise, the overemphasis on the attempts at creating a child – important in the scheme of things, but not at quite a level of repetition. Instead, I would have liked more on Lee – she turned out to be a key figure, yet we know very, very little about her, other than the crime committed against her.

Overall, I think that the story is worth a read and definitely kept me guessing until the final reveal.

This book surprised me, i Have read others of his and liked them, but this one, really grabbed my attention, the triple overlapping storylines, the pacing, while it is probably more of a 4.5 for me. I guessed the outcome partway through but still enjoyed how he took us there. and the of course of it

Much thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.

📚 Series: No
📚 Genre: Mystery/Thriller
📚 POV: Multiple First Person
📚 Cliffhanger: No

⚠ Content Warnings: Abduction, Murder, Infidelity, Sexual Assault, Alcoholism, Drug Use, Infertility Issues, Mental Health Issues
⚠ Read if: you are a domestic violence thriller fan.

Lying Next To Me is my first read from this author but I am thankful to have found a new favorite psychothriller writer! Gregg Olsen had me hooked from the start. His writing is very character emotion based that will really draw you in and make you so involved.

Adam Warner was a first hand witness of his wife, Sophie's abduction. What was supposed to be a Memorial Day weekend cabin vacation with their little girl Aubrey turned his whole life around. Narrated through Adam, two lead detectives on the case and the other people who were checked in on the other two cabins, this reads like a crime movie or documentary that will really make you keep guessing and eager to find out who did it.

I am amazed with how Gregg Olsen molded his characters. I felt empathy for Adam and was really rooting for him. Then, I was doubting him. Then, I was believing him. It was insane. I was, of course, mad at Adam's father-in-law, Frank, who was the rudest of them all. Also was mad at Helen, the perfect doormat of a wife.

This was such an emotional rollercoaster but I am 100% happy and satisfied.

☁ THE CRITERIA ☁

🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Hero:⭐⭐⭐⭐ Assumed as Adam.
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Assumed as Lee.
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Thrill/Suspense:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐

This book had me from the very first page. They hit the ground running getting into the story and I just had to know how it ended. This book is told by various characters, mainly that of Adam, whose wife was abducted in plain site, and Lee a childhood friend and detective. Sometimes I find that books like this, with multiple perspectives, can be a little daunting, however this one wasn’t at all.

This book was filled with so many lies, half truths, and entangled pasts, that the reader never knows that to believe. The twists in the second half day of the book were crazy and great. The only thing with the book is that it left me with so many questions. All in all though this is a great edge-of-your-seat book that never left me bored. Would definitely recommend if you like this type of story. Giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my!!! If you enjoy a book with psychological my benders, murder, mystery, lies and a serious obsession, this is the book for you.

I was blown away by the last twist in the story. After the lengths this sadistic, twisted women went, the discovery of her truth, was the icing on the cake.

Hands down, this book will keep you wondering.

It's Memorial Day weekend and Adam and Sophie Warner along with 3-year-old daughter Aubrey rent a cabin for a get away. In the cabin next to them, Kristen and Connor Moss are there for the weekend. Kristen is a corporate lawyer who wants to be a mother and Connor is a "head waiter" and a drunk. In the third cabin, a grandma and her two grandchildren are there for the weekend. Adam and Sophie are out crabbing and heading back to shore when Adam sees someone grab Sophie from the shore and disappear with her into the woods. Detectives Lee Husemann and Zach Montrose come to investigate the case. Detective Husemann is a childhood friend of Adam's. There are lots of very suspenseful twists and turns in this story with a surprise ending that I did not see coming. The characters all start out to be likeable but then they all become very unlikeable and everybody seems to be hiding something. I have been reading Gregg Olsen's books for years, both true crime and fiction, and I always know I am in for a good read. This book captured my attention from the beginning until the very end and it did not disappoint. If you are looking for a good mystery/thriller, this is it.

This book is amazing! The way that it is written from different perspectives is absolutely amazing. Gregg writes in a way that you create a voice in your head for each character and you immediately get sucked in. From page 1 to the shocking ending you can’t help but change your perspective. This is a different style then what I am used to from Gregg Olsen however like all the rest he hit this one out of the park! Do yourself a favor.....read this book! It won’t take long because you won’t be able to put it down!

This is my first book by Greg Olsen and it won't be my last. Wow, what an enthralling story!

The plot was far more complex than I had originally thought and it was difficult to know who could be trusted. There was a great balance between a domestic thriller and a very good police procedural. This self-contained mystery had super character development and I liked that the author had written the book from three different perspectives. I was able to appreciate the connection of each character to the case.

The ending was nicely thought-out and "Lying Next to Me" is a book I would strongly recommend if domestic thrillers or police procedurals are one of your chosen genres.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my own request from the publisher via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Your mind will play tricks on you and Gregg Olsen will play with your mind: assume absolutely nothing! Adam and Sophie Warner and 3-year-old daughter Aubrey are on their Memorial Day vacation in a quaint cottage in Hood Canal, Washington State, and seemingly to add quality time to help a sometimes rocky marriage. As Adam takes his daughter Aubrey on the water, just 100 yards away from shore he sees Sophie abducted by a stranger. He frantically tries to get back to shore to save her but he can’t – and Sophie disappears.

Police detectives Lee Huseman and Zach Montrose are investigating the few clues – an elderly man walking his dog who says he saw a woman get taken, and a grandmother who was there when Adam yelled to her to dial 911 – there seems to be no real suspects. Could the detectives’ database turned up a potential killer with the red truck maybe with the same reeds as those found where they found Sophie Warner floating? Who would take Sophie in broad daylight? On Memorial Day weekend? From a tiny waterfront cottage community? Why?

Lee Huseman is hell-bent to find the answer. Yes she didn’t succeed in a previous murder case which looms over her head like the Sword of Damocles. In addition, she has Sophie Warner’s father Frank incessantly meddling in the case and making his son-in-law Adam to be the killer….while displaying his abuse and control of his Wife (Sophie’s mother) Helen, and abuse of even his daughter Sophie and of course Adam. Lee is torn because she knows Adam, likes Adam and owes Adam.....as he’d saved her from her own abduction when she was young. Will this skew her investigation, perhaps create bias as she tries to find the killer? Will she miss something or will she see more clearly? She’s much more clever than you think as she dives deep into Adam’s and Sophie’s lives uncovering surprises that will help her investigation.

In one of the other cottages is another couple, Kristen and Connor. They’ve heard the news, and, they have problems of their own. Gregg weaves such an unbelievable number of twists and turns and underlying themes – you may get dizzy, yet a good dizzy: all meant to take you through to the pinnacle of this psychological thriller.

Detective Lee assembles the facts, the puzzle pieces and the lives of Adam and Sophie and Connor and Kristen are being woven into a twisted fabric. Someone isn’t telling the truth, not everyone is telling the truth, perhaps no one is telling the truth. You never know all the lies hidden from and between people, and, you never know who’s lying next to you. Never. A spectacularly phenomenal novel by Gregg Olsen, who’s done it yet again; proving he is the mastermind of the psychological thriller. Perfectly constructed, multi-layered, twisted, and poignant – you’ll be turning pages like fan blades.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so many twists and turns that keep you trying to guess the culprit and the ending of this book.

Unfortunately, this book was just okay. All but one of the characters were self-absorbed. The ending was predictable.

A fantastically well done murder mystery with twists and turns that I never saw coming! Well defined characters who change their stripes like chameleons throughout the book. Lying Next To Me is one of those books I couldn't put down, as I was drawn in from the first chapter. Every time I thought I understood who murdered Sophie, and why, the next chapter made me feel I was completely wrong. The ending was so perfect I felt completely satisfied that reading this book was time well spent! This is the first book I've read by Gregg Olsen, and I'll definitely look forward to reading more. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this very good book in exchange for my honest review!

I was immediately sucked into this book from page one and was torn between wanting to digest it in one sitting or spread it out to savor. This book is four hundred pages and so enjoyable I read it in one night. This one kept my interest the entire time, I was positively delighted to be surprised by the ending and was even more pleased to be satisfied by it. It's one thing to shock your readers, but it takes real talent to make it work with the whole story.

Gregg Olsen is one of those rare authors that always manages to get it right. Full of nerve wracking tension and characters that seem to come alive on the page, Lying Next to Me does not disappoint. I am never let down by Gregg Olsen.

You will love Lying Next To Me.

I was completely immersed from page one. The action started up immediately and had me hooked till the end. I especially enjoy the local aspect. I’m a Washington girl and it tickles me to be able to relate to the scenes in his books.

The author is amazing at setting a scene. No detail is skipped over. I can smell the salt air; hear the oars hitting the water as Adam frantically tries to reach Sophie. I can hear the glass breaking and the gravel under the abductors shoes as he grabs Adams wife and disappears behind the cabin.

Gregg has a way of writing characters that you fall in love with, or hate immediately.

Excellent plot. inticing characters. And there’s always that unexpected twist. Damn that twist.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to “If You Tell...” which comes out in November

Spine tingling....this book will keep you guessing from the first chapter to the last page. Gregg Olsen’s character development is so detailed that you feel as if you know each one personally. I always finish a Gregg Olsen book longing for the next release. This one is no different.

Lying next to me was one of those books that grabbed me right from the very beginning. it took lots of unexpected twists and turns, ups and downs like i was on a crazy roller coaster! I really enjoyed the local Washington State flair, and never knew about octopus hole on the Hood Canal. Teresa of course was my favorite character by far! She seemed so relatable like a friend next door!

Deceptive and deceiving
By far the best written by Gregg
Short chapters keep you reading & reading ~ hard to stop reading ~ always saying just one more chapter ~ yet time slips away and you just keep turning the page. Highly recommend

A twisty mystery filled with deceitful, self-absorbed characters!

Adam and Sophie Warner take their 3 year old daughter on a weekend getaway at the lake. It all looks and sounds idyllic until Sophie is kidnapped a mere hundred yards from Adam, who is helpless to save her.

Detective Lee Husemann is called in to find Sophie. What she uncovers is a tangled web of deceit that she must battle to sort through to get to the truth. Olsen definitely kept me turning the pages with unreliable characters that I loved to hate. They were self indulgent, narcissistic, morally repugnant and I quite honestly couldn't get enough. I love a good sociopath and boy did these characters fit the bill! 😉