I've had The Lies I Tell sitting on my Netgalley shelf for so long and I'm kicking myself because I loved this book. It takes a lot for me to love a domestic thriller and everything about this one worked for me. I loved the dual perspective and multiple timelines. Meg Williams is a con woman who is back in her hometown of Los Angeles to finally get revenge on the man who wronged her as a teenager. Kat is a reporter who had a brief interaction with Meg ten years ago that had a devastating effect on her life and she has been waiting to expose her. The interactions between the two of them gave a cat and mouse feel and Clark really played with reliability and who to trust. I enjoyed the past timelines that we got for each protagonist because we could clearly see their motivations and got to develop a bond with them. I also appreciated how Clark tells a "Me Too" story about how terrible men always get away with it in a way that is light handed enough that it adds to the story but doesn't take it over. This story is firmly about women and how powerful they can be.

4.5 rounded up!

This was such a clever thriller. After reading the last chapter I was really in awe of how well this story was put together. On another note, I couldn’t put it down and finished this in three or four sittings! This was extremely addicted and I’m bummed it was sitting on my shelf for so long!

If you need a book to get you out of a slump, this is for you. If the con artist storyline is an interest of yours, this is for you. If you like books about women outsmarting the men around her, this is for you.

I won’t lie though, I had no idea where this novel was going to take me. It spanned over the past and present day, mixing in so many storylines that you wouldn’t think could come together so nicely. I was pleasantly surprised with how nicely this thriller was wrapped up with a bow, and boy did it make sense.

This satisfying cat and mouse game will have you on your seat, with two women wanting revenge to take back their lives. You’ll get sucked in, and maybe give you the idea to put all your social media accounts on private.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!

Content warnings: sexual assault, adult/minor relationship, addiction, death, gaslighting

THE LIES I TELL by Julie Clark
Published: June 21, 2022
By: Sourcebooks Landmark Publishers


A high stakes mystery thriller pitting two women against each other… Is it revenge or justice? Meg Williams returns to L.A. under the guise of real estate agent. Her goal to seek retribution from a despicable man who destroyed her life as a teenager. She has learned the craft of con artist since she and her mother were swindled at the worst time of their lives. Con-man Ron Ashton convinced her terminally-ill mother to sign their house over to him. Without a second thought he kicked both to the curb. They spent the mother’s last few months of life in a sordid van … leaving Meg with grief and rage …. and an introduction in the art of the con.
Meg has perfected her craft over the ensuing years under many guises…. leaving many marks in her path of destruction. She has assumed many identities during her education as a grifter. She’s now ready to implement the ultimate con on shady politician Ron Ashton.
The second woman, Kate Roberts was one of the many victims of Meg. Kate had hoped to be a reporter, and while chasing a story was duped by Meg and sent on a wild goose chase. Instead of finding the elusive best story of her life, she was assaulted … ruining her life and career. She has used her skills in research and is aware of Meg’s appearance in L.A. Their paths collide at a political party for Ron Ashton. Meg is spying on Ashton, while Kate has honed in on Meg. Nothing will be the same, as two immovable forces meet …. Who will obtain their pound of flesh?
Julie Clark weaves a masterful tale weaving the perspectives of Meg and Kate into a page-turner brimming with intrigue, suspense and escalating tension. Clark spins a web that is character driven, fraught with empathy and sympathy for the both characters that escalates into a twisted and explosive denouement. It was difficult to not read this tale in one seating. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishers for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

It was a wild ride and I'm not 100% that I loved it. It was interesting to see the characters and how different they were. Meg is a con woman and Kat is a struggling author. It wasn't a book that I wasn't able to put down but I did get through it.

This book was hard to put down. Great story! Lots of twists. The characters are very believable and interesting.
Meg Williams is a con artist and Kat Roberts has been searching for her for 10 years.
I loved how the two main characters are women and they are plotting against each other.

It's great when an author you've enjoyed in the past, writes something that surpasses books they've previous written. I'm sure it's not easy to up your game but that's exactly what Clark has done. Very good book.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is a 2022 Sourcebooks Landmark publication.

Kat Robert’s life and journalism career was derailed and she’s now writing junk articles to pay the bills. For ten years she has held one woman responsible for the events that upended her life… and now that the woman has finally resurfaced, it’s time for a little payback.

Meg is a con-artist, a grifter- and her newest target is an old nemesis – the man responsible for making her a homeless teenager. When Kat suddenly infiltrates her life, Meg is not at all fooled. She knows Kat has an agenda- and that agenda is her…

This is a whip-smart thriller with several well-played elements going at one time. Clever schemes, revenge, and unreliable characters made this a highly entertaining page-turner!! I can’t wait to see what Clark will comes up with next!!

4 + stars

My only regret is that it took me so long to get to this one. Meg is a con artist and Kat finally has the chance to expose the woman who ruined her life. However, as is the way, not everything is as it appears. Read this.

Julie Clark is a very talented writer. I had read The Last Flight and was excited to read The Lies I Tell. The story begins with Kat Roberts finally tracking down Meg Williams, a con artist, that she feels ruined her career 10 years before. Kat, an investigative reporter, wants to get revenge against Meg. There is much more to the story though. Meg can be considered a con artist but she is also seeking revenge against the man who ruined her life years before.

These are both strong female characters and the story is told in flashbacks from each of their perspectives. I found sympathy for each of them at various parts of the story.

I enjoyed this book and found that I would not put it down. I don't want to give away any of the plot, it needs to be read and savored.

I really enjoyed this one.

Meg grew up with a single mom living in her grandparent's home until her mother lost everything to a con man and died soon after. Meg had to endure being homeless when she decides to get her revenge. She becomes a con woman and her last con will be making Ron Ashton pay for what he did to her mother. Kat is a journalist but she lost her job after she follows a tip sent in anonymously by Meg and she is raped. She vows to get her revenge on Meg. They finally come together 10 years later and as Meg works her con Kat is trying to con her. There was a gambling addict boyfriend and lots of twists and turns with a very satisfying ending.

I found both of the characters pretty well developed and really wished they could have opened up to each other but that's not how it works. The real estate transactions were a bit over my head but it didn't take away from the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with a digital copy.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

This book was a slow burn but it was worth it! Following along as the lives of Meg and Kat collide in this tale of revenge. Each woman different, but alike in so many ways. Unable to see that they want similar outcomes until the very end. This book had more of the psychological aspect to it rather than the thriller aspect, but it is definitely one to remember. I kept coming back to this book, not wanting to put it down for too long.

I want to than Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book.

Another winner by Julie Clark. I flew through this one, and I love when you start to like the antagonist a little. I would highly recommend this book, kept me guessing and intrigued

Great read, such an intriguing topic and characters. Julie Clark is a wonderful author and I definitely enjoyed this read.

Julie Clark did it again! I loved The Last Flight with it‘s twisted story line but who knew that this could be topped? The Lies I Tell is a psychological thriller that has you at the edge of your seat and not wanted to put the book down. Add in two of the best female characters I have so far come across with and you have an instant bestseller. Well done, Julie!!

I loved this book! I loved everything about it. One of the best thrillers I read in 2022. I did not expect the twist and thoroughly enjoyed every single page.

4.5/5 (rounded up)

I absolutely adore Julie Clark and The Lies I Tell is just another example of how incredibly talented she is. At face value, this might not seem like too complex of a story, a con artist and someone out for revenge, but I am here to tell you that it really is! I loved the twists and turns, and the end gave me chills which is something I can never get enough of. For being a domestic thriller, I thought this was also a great cat-and-mouse story and I loved how Meg was always one step ahead of everyone. And speaking of those twists, I actually thought I had this one figured out, and come to find out I had absolutely nothing figured out at all. The idea of the con artist sent me back to Pretty Things by Janelle Brown which is another book I loved, and while this is a bit different, it was just as good especially when we get down to the why.

I ended up using a credit on Audible to listen to the audiobook for The Lies I Tell and I was very happy I did because Anna Caputo and Amanda Dolan were both fantastic. I loved having a different narrator for both Meg and Kat and honestly having a different voice for each felt like a necessity to me. Caputo and Dolan definitely gave me that and brought these two women to life in the best possible way. This was such a clever story and it helped that Clark made both MCs likable which I can’t assume is an easy feat, especially when one is out to con people. Clark is one of my favorite authors by far now, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for her!

Beautiful Karma!



This is the first book I read by Julie Clark and I was not disappointed. I have had The Last flight on my kindle for at least a year. After reading this I will for sure be moving it up on my reading list.. It’s a little bit different than a typical thriller which is a nice change.

We have two main characters Kat, a journalist, and Meg, or Melodie, or Maggie… she has more than a few aliases. Each is a strong woman in her own right and they both have a goal and I would not even try to stop them. Sometimes Karma is needed and beautiful.
Kat believes that Meg is a con artist and wants to expose her. While Meg definitely is not what she appears to be on the surface, her reasons go far beyond anything Kat could have imagined. Meg has returned because she has someone that she actually wants to expose. At a glance, it appears that the two women have become friends but you know what they say about keeping your friends close, but your enemies closer. Julie Clark’s writing style sucked me in immediately. As the story develops, the reader discovers why Kat is so obsessed with Meg’s story and that there is much more to Meg’s story than Kat initially believed. Interesting storyline flashing back to some of Meg’s previous cons and trying to guess how she will get back at corrupt politician, Ron Ashton. Who I did not like as a character but I thought he was a beautifully written Villain. I adored this to the point of obsession. I can not wait to see what comes next.

Spectacular!! Julie Clark’s work is amazing, and I look forward to more novels from her.

10 years ago, a women upended Katz’s life. After picking up the pieces and moving on, Kat has the opportunity for revenge. But as Kat learns more about Megan, perhaps revenge isn’t in her best interests and the two can work together.

Love this book and couldn’t put it down!! Thanks for the early copy!!

The Lies I Tell is the first book I read by Clark, and it most certainly will not be my last. I Could not put this one down. I was able to binge it in a couple sittings, and was perfect in every single way.