A poignant and emotional psychological investigation of marital abuse, and the consequences and devastation reeked on the lives of the adults and children involved. The story switches between past and present, moving from viewpoint to viewpoint of the brilliantly conceived characters. Highly recommended.

Thirty years ago, Nicola was ten years old and lived with her parents and older brother in a respectable suburb.  She didn’t understand why she felt her stomach tightening whenever she heard her fathers heavy footsteps or why it made her brothers stammer worse.  Then, in the middle of one night her mother woke them both and took them from their home into the unknown. 

Now a successful Lawyer, Nicole has returned home for her mother’s funeral.  As she remembers the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family and the terrible belief that she played a part in events that led to her fathers murder. 
When Nicola finally learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.

Another brilliant book by S.E. Lynes.  This was extremely hard to put down, if I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it!!  It was emotional in parts, had some secrets and twists along the way and pulled at my heartstrings.  This book,  and the characters are going to stay with me a long time. 

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC copy.

It’s my second book by the author and again it touched a very interesting and great topic for nowadays real life.
The only thing that I didn’t enjoy much was maybe the paced, it fell way too slow for my liking or what I’m used to reading but overall it’s a great story with compelling characters and interesting thoughts.
Grief is a state of mind that changes you and your day by day life especially when the person you grief is your own mother and step by step you discover that nothing was as it seemed and there are so many secrets to unveil.
Living and then trying to make a new life away from an abusing husband and father , the complications and all the obstacles that a single mother had to go over for her children better future, everything was well done and an eye-opening that many people are suffering in silence and are too proud or even afraid to seek out for help.

Wow! What a riveting family drama. Domestic abuse and relationships, happiness and sadness, joy and tragedy. 
I absolutely love everything I’ve read by S.E.Lynes
I was completely lost and absorbed in this book! 
Five stars 🌟

I knew when I requested this book on NetGalley that it wasn’t the author’s usual Psychological Thriller, so I went in with no preconceptions. 
I did find it very slow going, to begin with, it didn’t feel like a lot was happening other than the retelling of the past. It was, however, well written, and the characters were likeable, so this kept me reading. I did keep expecting something significant to happen or a major twist, but even though there are a few revelations at the end, it is just a steady-paced story.
We start off in the present with Nicola learning of her mother’s passing. The present chapters are interspersed with the past telling the bigger picture and of everyone’s history. Carol has suffered from years of abuse from her husband and one night it reaches breaking point, and she escapes with her two children. The past tells a tale not only of their escape but of overcoming the torment they had endured. They have to learn how to move forward with their lives, and this story concentrates on how that isn’t always easy. Graham, the eldest son, has his own demons and his side of the story was very interesting, especially when he is interacting with Richard, the chaplain.
It was a very sombre and melancholy story and made for tough reading in places. This is actually the fourth book from NetGalley that I have read about domestic abuse, without really meaning to. It must be a popular choice of topic at the moment. This story did grip me more than the others, though, which is good!
The more entangled you get in the story, the more emotionally entwined you feel with the characters. It was such a blow every time we were back in the 2019 chapters and reminded that Carol had died. It was like a sucker punch to the stomach every time. 
The way the story was told it really felt as if you were there along for the ride, so despite the slowness of the story the way it encaptured me took it from a three to a four-star. I think I will remember this story for quite a while.

A very sad tale of domestic violence and the effects on victim and other family members.  I found it to be a little slow on places but still a highly recommended read.

Many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was definitely interesting because it isn't like the ones I have been reading. I don't think it was my favorite book I have read but it is the kind of book that if someone brings it up, I will remember the details and would want to talk about it because it's so complex.

A story about domestic abuse, strength and survival, told from multiple perspectives and timeframes. I felt compassion for Carol, the mother of two children and victim of domestic violence, and held my breath when Ted, her abusive husband entered the picture. I was hopeful all would turn out well with Carol and for her children who had been impacted in different ways by their mother’s toxic relationship.

Will post to online venues closer to publication and input link below. Thanks for the galley!

The Lies we Hide is an emotional, twisty and intensely gripping read! this is a book you'll find very difficult to put down. Deeply rooted in family drama this book takes us through the life of the Watson family- a normal family according to anyone else but Carol Watson and her kids. It's an emotive and powerful read that touches your heart and has the power to get you thinking.

When Carol Watson bundled up her kids Nicola and older son Graham one night and set out into the unknown, she didn't know the things she set into motion. Carol and the kid's life instantly changed from comfortably luxurious to surviving on charity and making ends meet with much difficulty. So why did Carol run?
Returning to her home after 30 years has Nicola thinking of the night Carol left and changed their lives forever. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.

The last time I read an S.E. Lynes book I went in expecting a twisty psychological thriller. That is probably where I went wrong. And I'm not making the same mistake again. However, I was in for a surprise as the end had this super twist that I never saw coming! I loved all the characters in this book especially Carol Watson and Richard. Certain sections of this book had me stop and digest what was being told. The plot is strong, powerful and almost believable. This one is a perfect balance of mystery, emotion, and grit. I would recommend this reading this book even if you're not into the typical S.E. Lynes books.

Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and S.E. Lynes for an arc!

This book is more of a family drama than a suspense thriller. The suspense is only in the end. It started with a great premise, told from three perspectives. But along the way, it became slow until the end. With a removal of few pages it could be better.

This is one of those books that kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the very end.   This book is done in a then and now format starting in 1968 to present day 2019  with a lot in between.  Ted Watson and Carol Green get married and have two children, Graham and Nicola.   Ted is an alcoholic and is very abusive to Carol and after trying to strangle her in the bathtub, she takes the children and goes to a safe house.  There are several different story lines going on that are all nicely tied together in the end.  I really enjoyed this book and the way the characters developed and changed during the story.  Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this fascinating book in exchange for an honest review.  I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller.

I thought this novel was an absolute corker. It made such a great impact on me and what’s more the inspiration for the story is based on personal interviews conducted by Susie Lynes when she was a reporter many years ago. The theme of this dark and disturbing novel concerns a family that lives with the most terrible of traumas: domestic violence. It goes on to follow the family members throughout their story and spotlights their fractured lives; it highlights their predicament and the reasons for their sometimes skewed decisions. The story grabbed hold of me from the very beginning and held me in its thrall until the final shocking genius of a twist. I cried for their suffering and their mistakes but I was filled to the brim with empathy for them all. It portrays the ugly side of life in all of its devastating horror; physical abuse of a man to his wife, fear, shame, drug addiction, grief, loss, emotional abuse, fighting in gangs and even murder. Thankfully to counter these atrocities there are truly inspirational interactions, wonderful supportive friendships, everlasting love, healing, recovery, tender care and love within the family, the empathy, guidance and the selflessness of counselling, and so much more. I read this story hungrily and yes I begrudged every second there were other pulls on my time.
The Watson family are the focus of this novel; father Ted Watson, mother Carol and their two children, older brother Graham and his much younger sister Nicola. Once the parents were blissfully happy. He was caring, loving and good with their children. She loved motherhood and she felt complete. All of that changed because of Ted’s increasing alcohol abuse. He was not a happy drunk; he became violent hateful and tyrannical. His children were young and frightened to death of his anger with Carol for seemingly no reason at all. She was afraid for her very life. So one night when he went too far, she quietly led her children out of their once cherished home while Ted was sleeping off his excesses. She took them off in a taxi to the safety and protection of a family refuge. She felt it was her duty to protect the children and all she wanted was to be the best mother she possibly could be. 
Everything spiralled into a chaos of unimaginable worry, pain and despair. The Watsons’ story is one I highly recommend for you to read. I have enjoyed all of S E Lynes psychological thrillers, but this one is a change of genre for her and this thrilling, nail bitingly horrific yet compelling novel is my favourite of them all. I have always admired her fluid and exquisite storytelling, and her brilliant characterisation, but this one is on an entirely different level: it is written from her very heart. It may have taken over thirty years to evolve into a novel, but that was always going to be its destiny. It’s an emotional and frightening story, but one of the very highest calibre. I will be thinking about this novel for many days to come and I am so glad that I read it. I’m hoping for more novels in this genre from Susie in the future.
I received a complimentary copy from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you so much. . These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. I would describe this novel as a truly excellent and involving read.
‘

S.E. Lynes is my favourite contemporary author. She was heading toward that title before I read The Lies We Hide, but this is the book that's cemented it.

A departure from her usual taut and intelligent thrillers, this is a beautiful, searing and heartbreaking exploration of the life of one family. There are the occasional twists, but that's not really what this book is about; it's a drama spanning decades, a devastating tale of the far-reaching repercussions that words and actions wreak.

Praise especially must be given for the way the author approaches the emotive topic of domestic abuse. For anyone who has suffered, many of the scenes here will be hard to read; but they are also sensitively and authentically written, with great empathy and understanding. To say I was moved is an understatement.

The Lies We Hide is gritty yet shimmering, desperate yet redemptive. There are echoes of Maggie O'Farrell in the writing, but S.E. Lynes' voice is unique, and this is without doubt her finest moment so far. I cannot express fully or adequately what a beautiful book this is - please, read it and find out for yourself.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant book by S.E. Lynes about a family that have gone through life hiding secrets from each other but are actually lies.
Growing up in an abusive household where alcohol has chaneed so many lives. 
Carol does her up most best to protect her children from the abuse and they escape to a refuge. Carol makes this decision alone but her inner demons try to fight her on it; her children don't agree with the choice she made. Their life spirals from there and the after affects are everlasting.
The book recaps the past; lies are explained which I believe make the characters more realistic. 
This book had me hooked from start to finish.

I must start by saying what a fantastic book this is. 

Nicola’s mum Carol has died so Nicola leaves her lovely home and family in London to travel up north to her mum’s funeral. Carol, Nicola and her older brother Graham had a tough life growing up with an abusive father. We learn just how much a sacrifice Carol made 

This book was beautifully written and brought me to tears. One of the best books I’ve read this year

The Lies We Hide is moving, absolutely moving beyond measure. I had a feeling early on that this was going to be a five-star-read and I'm so glad I was right! Author S.E. Lynes has succeeded in crafting a read so dark in nature, yet so full of love. We all have our secrets, some are just undoubtedly deeper than others. As the tagline states, "The truth can set you free, or make you a prisoner."

Bits and pieces of the 'Watson' family truth are uncovered from start to finish. We're provided with narratives from multiple perspectives given in a now and then type format. The now is mainly told from Nicola's perspective as she relives the memories of her family's somber past and reflects in her own guilt in the aftermath of her mother's death. Nicola made it, she's a successful lawyer (barrister) in the city, but at what cost? In the end, Nicola learns a truth that changes everything she thought she knew to be true. Simultaneously, the past narrations explore their family life as told from the perspectives of Carol and her eldest child, her son Graham.

Everything Carol does is to protect her children. She's put up with so much abuse from her alcoholic husband until finally one day enough is enough. Due to her own near-death experience and the love shown to her by friends she dares to escape with her children in the dead of night. She survives. They survive. But what is survival really? How much does our past play a part in shaping our futures? 

We're also given insight into Graham's upbringing and find out exactly what lead him down his own destructive path. Children see and hear, experience, more than we think they do. As a parent, that's a hard pill to swallow. Graham's eventual prison sentence takes him down a road to redemption as he puts in the hard work with the new prison chaplain, Richard.

The Lies We Hide is written in a way that truly makes you feel apart of the story. I got the sense that I knew these characters and I felt for them. I felt like I experienced growth with them. I cried with them. I smiled with them. I was in horror for and with them. I was proud of them and I forgave them while drawing from similarities of my own. Not with domestic abuse but rather the sheer, pure and powerful feelings of a mother's love.

I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. There is so much raw emotion, so much love, and much-needed awareness brought to the subject of domestic abuse and the effects it has on the survivors. For those who have read Lynes' work before, please note this is not the psychological thriller that you're used to seeing. She says it herself in her closing letter to the reader, "For me this book is about so many things: family, fear, the legacy of abuse, violence, politics, compassion, friendship, grief, redemption, kindness and, mainly, love." - A letter from S.E.Lynes.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and the author S.E. Lynes for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. I am very thankful to have been able to read Carol's story. I know that this is one that will never truly leave me. Absolutely unforgettable.

I just reviewed The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes. #TheLiesWeHide #SELynes #NetGalley #Bookouture #MistysCornerReviews

The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes is an excellent book! I could not put it down. Carol is physically and mentally abused by her alcoholic husband. After a night of him almost killing her, she leaves him with their two children. Her life changes in so many ways....good and bad. This book kept surprising me until the end!

I received this book for an honest review from Netgalley
This book is a low build up , you get bits of information to keep you turning the pages , because you must know why and what happened.this family is damaged because the husband and father Ted , You will hate him just as I did when you read how he terrorizes his family. The next thing you will be caught up in what will happen next, but as I said this book moves slow , sometimes I wanted to put it down, but I found myself continually turning the pages because I had to know what came next. What happens to a family when they have lived with and through abuse ? how will they survive? this book shows one way that will keep you turning the pages even when you don't want to.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This powerful story of domestic abuse, the enduring bonds of family, and the lengths that we will go to for those we love is an engrossing read, which I won't soon forget.

The story is told from many different view points and two different timelines - at times it took a bit for me to work out where I was, but the many angles and twists added much to the story. The characters were well-drawn, and I felt pulled into the story on various levels.  The only thing I felt was missing was a bit more background on Richard's story. Although it was clear how important his contribution to the story was, I felt as though his presence was little more than a shadow.

Now, this was a great book! A really emotional story of a brother and sister coming to terms with the true story of their childhood.  Told in the ‘now’ and ‘then’ timeline we learn of the story of the mother Carol when her children return for the funeral.  Avoidance and abuse, love and loss, missed opportunities and paths not taken.  This was a much deeper insight into their lives than I expected.  Highly recommended.