I felt that this played into stereotypes, which took away from my enjoyment of the story a lot. I also just found the writing to not be believable, and the culprit to be obvious. Henry did a good job building suspense though!

This was a quick and easy read that keeps your attention the whole time. It’s a whodunnit that gives off Clue vibes. It makes you want to keep on reading to find out who the bad guy is and why. I never would have guessed!

This was a fun YA thriller! I love books with a winter setting. It was creepy and atmospheric. The writing style wasn’t my favorite but I enjoyed the premise. It also dragged for awhile, but once the action picked up I was hooked!

A group of kids on their way to a theater contest decide to spend the night at a creepy hotel because of an impending blizzard. This motel is old school with metal keys to open the door. Nell and her group of friends meet another stranded group of kids from another school. There is no cell service at the motel so Knox suggests they all play a game, two truths and a lie.

Nell draws a paper with unrecognizable handwriting. It says “I like to watch people die”. “I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve killed”. To make matters worse, the group discovers the horrendous history of the motel. One by one the guests begin disappearing and they realize that a murderer is on the loose.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I literally finished this book in two settings. Admittedly, it is not very big and I could have used a lot more story.

This book has everything I ADORE in a thriller. Snowstorm, rundown motel, plenty of teens and a whodunit that had me guessing.

All of these pieces fit perfectly into an engrossing plot. Loved how creepy the whole thing felt, although I will admit, the author could have described the snowstorm and the wind a bit more, especially at the beginning of the book.

Still, we find young adults that find themselves in the same motel - all stranded with nowhere to go and only a few adults to supervise. Things quickly fall a part when someone suggests pulling out that Ouija Board. That part freaked me out because I sort of believe in the power of the Ouija Board (I know, I am silly)and refuse to even have it in my house. Certainly never played it with my friends, who were equally suspicious of its power.

As it turns out, nothing supernatural what happening at the motel and through many, many clues, Nell and Adam, the two leads end up having to deal with very real things such as gas leaks, people getting attacked by cougars and a huge surprise in the back of Brian's truck, parked in the parking lot of the hotel.

I did go through several "oh, I know who did it" only to realize that I did not. Plot is well paced and crafted and all of the loose ends get tied off by the end.

Writing is on point and doesn't drag the story down with too many useless details.

Two points. As mentioned above, I could have used more description about the weather, making it even more creepy. Also, there are A LOT of characters in this story and had to keep going back to figure out who was who - especially in the beginning of the book.

Bunch of theater and so called geeky kids stranded during blizzard in a haunted hotel where two unsolved brutal murders have taken place and probably one of them is a killer who plays mind games with them during their “ Two Truths- A lie” game!

Firstly this one is quick, gripping, riveting read!

Secondly, the first half of the book seemed like full of cliches: combination of everything what horror movies consist: claustrophobic vibes of being trapped in a place reminds of us Overlook Hotel (even the room number is closer Shining’s number 237) without bathing naked scary lady and Grady twins ( and Jack Torrence chases you with an axe), references of Christie novels including Mousetrap, Ouija board help the characters connect with spirits, a haunted murder story, bad boy reminds us of Edward Cullen flirting with our main shy, smart, handy, blonde character Nell and bad girl Maeve at the same time.

I have to admit: I was planning to give this book three stars when I’m reading the first half which looked like teen parody but after the twist which was well played, the second half picked up the pace and give us more logical, action packed chapters.

I hated most of the characters, especially second group of pretentious kids who think they are way too much cool, insist they’re preparing for state robotic competitions. At the second half team Adam and Nell are most likable and tougher kids than the other characters who are mostly self absorbed, irritating ones!

The conclusion of the story which also is a tribute to another Agatha Christie book was satisfying enough!

It’s fast, interesting, claustrophobic popcorn read which made me round up 3.5 stars to 4!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

*** four and a half stars

Stage set: A Howling wind, a raging blizzard. Somewhere in the depths of the US Midwest, one days travel out of Chicago.

Our cast: Five teens, led by our narrator and main protagonist, Nell, are enroute to a state theatre championship, along with their drama teacher, when they are forced to take refuge in a remote and round-down motel.

And what a motel! Like something out of an old movie set, this huge and reconstructed “time-warp mausoleum” features an ill-conceived conference center, a giant common room disturbingly sporting dozens of weird and creepy knick-knacks on the walls, blankets of dust, a strangely vibrant Hawaiian-style tiki hut, a unwelcoming lagoon-style pool, and the oddest assortment of motel staff, caretakers, and creepy guests you are likely to meet between the pages.

This engaging teen/YA murder mystery reads like classic whodunit theater - with a crazy atmospheric buildup of suspense, a killer who may or may not be planning to murder the entire group, and a location so bone-chillingly stained by crime that evil may not only lurk nearby, but is likely doing the backstroke in the frigid waters of the motel pool.

When the blizzard forces another group of teens and their teacher to take refuge along with our heroes, the stage is now set for Act Two - a sort of murder-mystery-party-like atmosphere as the teens circle each other, hormones alerted, before the inevitable games begin. Games that include a sudden and terrifying revelation in “Two Truths and a Lie”, (one that must be after all, be a “truth”, and if so, is unthinkable).

“I like to watch people die
My least favorite food is mushrooms
I've lost count of how many people I've killed”.

Loads of fun, this smart, snappy book has wonderfully authentic teen protagonists, oodles of fear and suspense, blood and daggers, and twists and turns that will keep you reading long into the night.

Highly recommended for Teen/YA lovers of murder mysteries, drama, and suspense, I thoroughly enjoyed this and will have to read more from this wonderful author.


A great big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by April Henry in exchange for my honest review.***

Trapped in a blizzard at a run down hotel, a group of high school thespians encounter a group of Robotic competitors from another school and settle in for a game of TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE.

Filled with a diverse cast of characters, I devoured April Henry’s latest ya thriller in one sitting during an ice storm, the perfect backdrop for the story. I liked that TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE included a group of friends and a group of strangers, which added to the mystery of who narrator Nell could trust as well as opened the possibility of new flirtations.

I guessed one bad guy right away, but there were enough other twists that I still had some surprises.

Mystery and thriller lovers will enjoy TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE.