"I spend hundreds of hours on observation and research. Profiling the different people in your life, finding the ones I can befriend, the one who will lead me to you. When I'm done, I know everything I possibly can about you, and most of the people around you. By the time your saying nice to meet you, I've already known you for months. Does this worry you? It should."

Meg Williams and her terminally ill mother were left homeless when her mother's boyfriend finagled his way on the deed of their house and then tossed them out on the street. The house that had been in her family for generations. This gives Meg an idea. An idea that started back in high school.

In high school Meg was the invisible girl with hand me down clothes and her nose in a book. Kirstin, a very popular girl in school was always kind to Meg. When anyone made fun of her Kristin was always quick to chime in for her defense. One day when Meg asked why she always stood up for her, the answer was quick and simple: "It's the Girl Code. We have to look out for each other because no one else will."

Her anger for their home being stolen along with Kristen's comment set in motion a grifting scheme so intricate your head will be spinning. Meg is simply sick and tired of men getting away with using and abusing women with out any repercussions in the end. Hardly even a slap on the wrist. With her keen intelligence, wit, and charm Meg knows that she can right the wrongs that so many women have faced.

Kat, a reporter, came across Meg a decade previous and she has never forgotten how Meg tricked her into an experience that has upended her life in various ways. She has made it her mission to find Meg and make her pay. Imagine her surprise when she see's her at at an elite party for an upcoming senate candidate. Let the games begin.

"The difference between lies and revenge is who's telling the story."

This books isn't a thriller or a mystery but an intricate web of lies and deceit. I was absolutely glued to the pages in awe of what a fine storyteller Julie Clark is. This lady is smart as a whip and I was marveling at how she interwove and connected the storylines. Meg, our grifter, I was rooting for from the beginning. Yes, she's a criminal but one that is focused on helping women while bringing down the men that wronged them and if she made a couple million here or there by swindling all their money then that was just the cherry on the sundae. My only niggle, which is a very personal one, was all the real estate talk but that isn't Ms. Clark's fault that my real estate knowledge is nil. All in all this was a page-turner for this reader and I was left genuinely impressed. I never managed to read her debut The Last Flight but I plan to rectify that soon. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy.

First of all, I loved this book. Second of all, this was not a thriller, but an addicting cat-and-mouse mystery, so if you're afraid of spooky stories, you can still read this. THE LIES I TELL follows a con-artist, Meg, and Kat, the journalist who has been trying unsuccessfully for years to oust her. As she gets closer to Meg, Kat starts to wonder if Meg is actually a villain or a vigilante.

I could not put this book down, and I found the story extremely satisfying. If you love strong females quietly kicking ass, this one is for you. I don't want to say too much else because I don't want to spoil the story, but this is a book that will stick with me for a long time (and will probably get a reread!) Please be advised, there are some major trigger warnings in this, which I will list below.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my advanced review copy! I can't wait to see what Julie Clark has in store for us next!

Trigger warnings: sexual assault, rape, drugging, gaslighting, gambling addition

I tried so hard to like this book. But I could just not get into this story. I am not fan of books told from different points of view. I found this book very confusing. It was hard for me to keep up with what was going on in the story. I am going to be honest I did not finish this because everytime I picked this book up I was lost. I am a huge fan of thrillers but this was just a thriller that was not for me.

Meg is a con artist who has used many aliases in the past. Now she is back in her home town for the ultimate con.

Kat is a reporter/writer who has been trying to track Meg for years. Kat was an indirect victim of one of Meg's previous cons.

Now they are tentative friends. Well maybe. Who is telling the truth? How much does each woman really know about the other? The book revolves around those questions.

Meg is intent on conning the one person who ruined her life years ago.
Kat is desperate for a great story that will revive the career she should have had.

The two main characters were great. Even though both women were not exactly honest, I found myself rooting for both of them at different times and sometimes at the same time.

This is my first book by Ms. Clark, but it won't be my last.

Thanks to netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc.

📖 THE LIES I TELL - REVIEW 📖

Julie Clark is back with another bingeworthy thriller!

Genre: Thriller
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.5/5 stars)
Goodreads rating: 4.35
PUB DATE: 6/21/22
💙Thank you @bookmarked & @netgalley for my eARC!💙

I read THE LAST FLIGHT last year and absolutely loved it- it was one of my 5 star thrillers in 2021! Ya girl is picky about her thrillers- so that's a big deal! As a result, TLIT was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022.

This one was a SUPER easy & quick read, coming in at well under 350 pages. I flew through this one.

🚨 GOOD NEWS - if you are interested in this one, like THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, this one is an option for June's BOOK OF THE MONTH! You can use the link in my bio to get your first box for $5, & snag a hard cover before this one even publishes! 😍 Check the highlight on my page titled “botm” for more info on your FAQs. 🚨

READ IF YOU LIKE:
💵 Con-artist plots
🕶 COVER STORY
👩🏻 INVENTING ANNA
💪🏼 Revenge stories
👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏻 Multiple POVs
⚡️ Fast pacing
🤫 Ulterior motives
🖤 Thrillers that are NOT violent/graphic
🐱 Games of cat & mouse
💋 Female MC vs. female MC
👏🏼 Plot AND character driven novels

In TLIT, we follow a con-artist named Meg that has been in the business for 10+ years. We also follow a second MC, named Kat, who is determined to bust Meg after her cons affect her personally. But as she gets closer to Meg, she discovers something different than expected.

I really enjoyed both characters' perspectives in this one. Oftentimes in multiple POV stories, I prefer one of the other(s), but I was equally fascinated with Meg & Kat. Both of their storylines are unique & interesting, & kept me wanting to know more.

I looooved the ending of this one! While quick & bingeworthy, I have to say, this one didn't really have many shocking moments for me... until the last couple sentences. That took this up from a 4 star to 4.5 for me!

THE LAST FLIGHT remains my fave Julie Clark novel, but I will read anything she publishes! Love her writing, & definitely recommend this one if you need something QUICK, & need a thriller that isn't dark or violent!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This book pulled me in from page one and was the ultimate page turner until the very last page. This was the first I've read from Julie Clark and I will definitely read more.
The characters were very well done, giving us just enough information to leave you questioning who was good vs. who was bad. I loved the dual POV and timeline. It was done very well, not leaving me confused, but rather quickly turning the pages to see what was happening next.
LOVED IT!

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is an astounding book. This book blew me away. It is so unique and unusual. It is about a woman who is serial con artist and another woman who is trying to catch her. Nothing is what you expect. What a great read. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for letting me read this one early. The Lies I Tell publishes on June 21.

Julie Clark, you’re one of my favorites now. I devoured The Last Flight and now this newest one is no different. I love these characters, the pacing is perfect and it kept me completely engaged the whole time. Congratulations on a slam dunk. I highly recommend this one.

Meg, Maggie, Melody, Meggie. They’re all the same person depending on where she is and what her con consists of. Nothing about her is real. But by the time you figure it out, you’ve already lost everything. Kat has been waiting ten years to find Meg and now that she finally had she’s determined to expose her. But will she also fall victim to her powers or persuasion?

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark was a page-turner! This revenge story game of cat and mouse had me hooked from the start.
Told in dual POV, it centers on Meg, a successful con artist, and Kat, a reporter who has been chasing Meg for years and has a score to settle with her.
I don't want to risk spoiling any part of this clever story, but I will say that these flawed and complex characters wove a web of deceit that kept me on my toes. The writing was crisp, and this was a fast-paced read. The antagonist as a lead was fascinating, and I loved being inside her mind as she set up her cons. I found this well-written with a fast-paced, engrossing story and a very satisfying ending. This was my first book by Julie Clark, but it will not be my last! It was so entertaining and a lot of fun! Perfect beach or poolside read! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I enjoyed the suspense in this novel. I had a feeling about what would end up happening but was pleasantly surprised with a little twist. Highly recommend reading this book

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This book drew me into the mystery of Meg Williams and how she influenced the life of Kat Roberts, someone she hadn't met until 10 years after the event that changed Kat's life. Although I had recently read a few other new stories featuring "con-women", THIS one did it PERFECTLY! It features an intricate storyline that lays the groundwork for the puzzle pieces to eventually fit perfectly together at the book's end, with a complete characters and satisfying conclusion! I haven't read this author's work before, but now will look to read more of her work in the future! I couldn't put this book down until I finished it! Would love this to be a TV series or movie!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark for approving my request for the ARC of this book.

First off, I LOVED The Last Flight. It was one of the first books I ever read in 1-2 days. So when I saw Julie Clark had a new release I crossed my fingers so hard for this ARC. I was not disappointed.

Her writing style is PHENOMENAL. I am never bored. The beginning of the book always takes off running and keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The way the plot twists and turns is so unique. I loved all the elements, the cleverness and intelligence it takes to think of how intricately every detail is woven together, and all the characters arcs and developments.. I loved the ending and how everything turned out. I LOVED how I didn’t even guess the ending.
I will read anything by Julie Clark in the future and hope to receive more ARCs by her!

Hands down, the best psychological thriller I have read this year. It kept me guessing right down to the epilogue. Kat and Meg may be flawed characters, but both are highly intelligent, crafty, strong women who will not stop until they get what they want. Don't stand in their way. Just sit back and enjoy this wild ride. Highly recommend!

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookmarked for this advanced copy.

Meg is many people or at least has pretended to be many people as she seeks to get revenge on the man who stole her mom's house from her when she was young and her mom was dying. She spends 10 years perfecting her method before she has the chance to try her con on him, but in the meantime she has learned a lot and gained a lot... of other people's money, homes, etc.
Kat is a journalist who worked covering the story of one of Meg's cons and suffered for it. She is out for the story of a lifetime so she befriends Meg in a sort of a con on a con. Well told in a way that kept me wondering who would succeed and how many would be taken down by either of them.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Lies I Tell was a fast read - just like I like my thrillers. I found myself rooting for the con artist, Meg. There are really no surprises because you get the perspectives of both Meg and Kat and boy are they juicy. If you enjoy fast pace thrillers, then you'll like this one!

I absolutely loved this The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark. A story about two smart women, one playing the long con and the other trying to unravel her story. I really enjoyed how the book revealed previous cons that Meg had executed. This isn't a fast paced thriller, but I think I liked the build up and reveals throughout the book. Plus, both main characters were so likeable. I also read The Last Flight by Clark and now she's definitely on my list of must-read authors.

The Lies I Tell was a nighttime kindle read last month and made me lose a night of sleep…because I could not stop reading! Julie Clark’s debut novel, The Last Flight was one of my favorite and most recommended books of 2020. I’m thrilled to say that this new novel was another 5 ⭐️ winner! A complex, dynamic tale of a con artist and the journalist determined to expose her. Without giving anything away, what I loved:

Dual POV
Revenge and vigilante justice
Cat and mouse dynamic
Smart, savvy female MCs
Steadily building intrigue

The Lies I Tell is a great summer read - full of twists that will leave you debating which characters deserve your empathy. Meg Williams seems to be a classic grifter - always on the make, true friend to none. Kat Roberts feels she was Meg’s victim and plots her revenge. But who is scamming whom here? This would be perfect for a long plane ride or a trip to the beach - sit back, read, and ignore the world!

4.5 STARS!

This is Julie Clark's third novel and with each book, she gets better and better! The Lies I Tell was a captivating cat and mouse game from start to finish, holding my attention every bit of the way. Told in shifting perspectives and timelines, I could not put this one down from the moment I opened it until the very last page - cover to cover in under 24 hours!

Thank you to Sourcebooks for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

3.75

Thank you to Sourcebooks landmark and Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review! This was a more tame type of thriller than I'm used to reading, but I still really enjoyed the concept. I liked the idea of Meg and Kat playing off of each other to get what they want. The alternating pov's were easy to follow and kept me on my toes. I feel like I would enjoyed more of a twist though because I felt like the villains were pretty predictable. Overall, this was a different thriller and enjoyed reading it.