This was such a fun, quick and suspenseful read. I’m a big Julie Clark fan, and she’s now a definite addition to my auto buy list.

Here’s my quick take review…

What I Loved🌿

✨The fast pace and the easy flow between the past and present timelines

✨The character-driven narrative with authentically flawed yet relatable characters

✨The cat and mouse scheming that was exquisitely cunning and melodramatic in all the best ways

✨The suspense that kept me on my toes

This was a really great read, and I could not put it down. You’re definitely going to want to add it to your TBR.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before its June 21 publication date.

Kat Roberts is a journalist on the trail of the story of a lifetime. She also has been waiting for ten years to repay the person who destroyed her life. When con artist Meg Williams (or sometimes known as Maggie or Melody) comes into the public eye posed to pull her latest con, Kat is waiting. Kat has the opportunity to not only expose this con artist for who she really is, but to repay her for putting her in harm's way and possibly get an amazing story at the same time.

But no story is simple and the story of her latest con artist is no exception. Kat goes undercover as a member of Meg's real estate team. The closer Kat tries to get to the truth the more cloudy she realizes that the truth is. Kat realizes that both women understand the shame that comes with having someone you trust betray you, and losing the life that you thought that you would always have. Both women seem to be trying to rewrite the past and creating their future in a new way. But it may not be easy....

I enjoyed this book of cat and mouse, twisted with a con artist who may actually have some heart. I enjoyed the characters--particularly how Meg's story and character came about. There was a complexity to Meg and her motives that was a refreshing take on the perspective you would normally have of a con artist. The book kept me guessing until the end. Definitely worth the read!

Behind this rather generic title and cover is a rock solid mystery novel about two women who have been damaged by men and have carried on for better or worse.

Meg’s world was ripped apart when her mother was scammed out of their home. Kat has never felt safe since she was drugged and raped by a man she had gone to interview for her newspaper. Their link? Meg was the one who phoned in the tip that led to Kat’s rapist.

Ten years later, they meet again but only Kat knows who Meg is. And Meg is a con artist, scamming her way into property and money and now she seems to have her eye set on the man who stole her mother’s home. For Kat, it’s the opportunity for a great story that could get her out of writing clickbait fodder and back into mainstream journalism.

It’s a great set up and the plot takes us back and forward in time so we can track each of the women’s paths from when their lives took a downward turn to where they are today. Kat sets out to bring Meg down and to do that she wants to get inside the con. But who is conning whom?

The author wrote an excellent airplane thriller which got a little bit lost because a flight attendant published a similarly themed one at the same time and got all the buzz. She has a great talent for creating sympathetic but ambiguous characters: both Meg and Kat keep their secrets close to their chest and aren’t afraid of trampling over people to get what they want but at the same time I couldn’t help rooting for them as they took on the patriarchy.

I have a slight grumble about the blame that’s laid at the feet of their mothers. Meg’s was too weak and trusting, Kat’s is too self-absorbed and pushy. Couldn’t it be the fault of the fathers for once?

Nonetheless, this slipped down very easily, is tightly plotted, and takes several shots at the different way the world treats men and women. But Kat and Meg, in particular, are grown up enough to know that’s the way it crumbles, cookie-wise, and use it to their advantage. The novel ended exactly the way I wanted it to, despite a couple of wobbles along the way, and I closed the metaphorical cover with a very satisfied smile.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

“The difference between justice and revenge comes down to who’s telling the story.”

Meg’s mother falls for the wrong man, who talks her into a deal that just too good to be true and ultimately ends up losing her family home. Terminally ill and homeless, she and Meg live in her minivan until she dies.

Ten years ago, alone and vulnerable, Meg finds herself using dating sites to provide her with enough dinners to keep her from starving when she recognizes the face of a man that could be her savior. When she uncovers some darkness in his past, she builds an elaborate plan to expose him and flee.

Ten years ago, Kat was working as a fact-checker under a senior journalist covering the story when she gets an anonymous tip that turns Kat’s life upside down and cast long dark shadows over all she hopes to be. Kat was paying attention and knows the anonymous tipster was Meg and she will never forgive her.

Today Kat is jolted back to that day when a 10 year old Google alert lets her know that Meg is back in town. Kat thinks this is the perfect opportunity to expose Meg.

Today Meg is back in town with 10 years of experience behind her, ready to take revenge on the man that hurt her mother and took her family home.

As Kat inserts herself into Meg’s path, their lies and motives become tangled and blurred, at times leaving Kat unsure as to what is happening in her own life.

This book had great pacing, very readable and enjoyable. The female protagonists were portrayed as intelligent, skilled, thoughtful and at times ruthless women, no mention of tear stained cheeks and running into a lovers arms for comfort.

4 stars.

I received an ARC of, The Lies I Tell, by Julie Clark. This was an interesting book. It was well written, I just dont like con men or women.

I had really high expectations for this book because I loved The Last Flight so much but unfortunately this one didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed the characters and the plot but there were no big twists or surprises. It felt more like a drama than a thriller. If you love dramas and slow burns then definitely give this one a try.

I loved Julie Clark's last book, The Last Flight, so I was excited to pick up her new book. This one features a con artist and a reporter who is trying to find out her secrets. Everyone in the story was more than they seemed at first glance and the depth of the characters lead to a more interesting plot than your typical thriller. I really enjoyed The Lies I Tell and will keep reading whatever Julie Clark writes!

4 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the premise of this book. The first half or so really intrigued me and kept me guessing what was going to unfold. There was a point where I thought things started to drag a bit because there was a bit too much going back and forth between different timelines and I just wanted things to happen. Yet, I did enjoy this book. I think it will be fun for many readers.

Kat Roberts, a journalist struggling to pay her bills, has been looking for Meg Williams for years. She always figured she'd run into the woman again somehow. So when she sees the woman at a political event, she knows she needs to follow the story. After all, Kat ruined her life a decade earlier.

Meg doesn't know Kat is on to her. Though Meg grew up in this town, she was gone for a long tie, only returning to settle down as a real estate agent and get closer to her roots. Or so she says.

Kat knows Meg is lying - about her past, her name, her career, pretty much everything. But she finds herself drawn to the mysterious woman, so she lies about herself too. Fake past, fake name, fake career. She's only lying so that she can expose the truth - a noble cause. But when you're surrounded by lies, who even knows what the truth is anymore?

I found myself rooting for both women even though they were both lying constantly. The ending was brilliant, and I never would have expected it. Though I loved the author's first novel, "The Last Flight," I enjoyed this one even more.

After watching the documentary on Anna "Delvey" Sorokin, the description of this book was really intriguing. I had heard such great things about Julie Clark's last book (which is patiently waiting to be read on my Kindle), so I had to read her next one after reading a few reviews, and I'm so happy I did.

The book is a fast-paced thriller about a conartist, Meg Williams, who is out to seek revenge and journalist Kat Roberts, whose life mission is to find Meg Williams and expose her for what she is. The story is written exceptionally well, with Kat's findings about Meg weaved into Meg's truth. Clark kept me guessing and there was a twist mixed in that left me shocked. I wasn't sure how it was all going to play out in the end, but I thought it had the perfect ending!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

A twisty, constantly fascinating cat-and-mouse game which delivers one juicy surprise after another. Wonderfully crafted characters and a sizzling premise--THE LIES I TELL is first-class suspense. Many thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the read.

This was so good! It was interesting reading this story of a con artist after watching Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna. The difference with Meg is that she is more of a vigilante taking money from morally corrupt men, instead of taking advantage of innocent people. You are rooting for her. I liked Kat as well and wanted her to succeed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Love love love this book! Even better than her previous book the last flight, I just couldn't put it down!

I was smiling as I read the last page of this book. Julie Clark really has a gift of writing in a way that keeps you guessing and going along on a ride you weren’t expecting.

Meg is mostly homeless, a grifter, and a talented conwoman. Her targets aren’t random, she focuses on righting wrongs. She’s smart, like-able, manipulative, patient and full of vengeance.

Kat is a young journalist that gets entangled with Meg and spends years waiting for her to resurface so she can settle her own score with Meg.

I loved this mystery/thriller book and couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance readers copy of this book. Pub date is June 21, 2022.

I really really liked this one! I find con men-or women-and their stories fascinating. The motivations, the rationales, and the mechanics of The Confidence Game are absolutely intriguing to me. And Julie Clark's writing and characterization really added a depth and breadth to that intrigue that made this one a delight for me from start to finish. She is definitely on my watchlist from now on!

The Plot: Meg Williams is a con artist. She moves from place to place, changing her name and conning the people she gets close to out of everything they have. Kat Roberts is a journalist, and she blames Meg for turning her life upside down ten years ago. Now, she'll try to con the con artist to get the story of her career.

Tiffany's Take: This was my first read by Julie Clark, and I was thoroughly entertained. As I was getting to know Meg, I didn't know if I should be rooting for or against her. I think she ends up showing us things aren't always what they seem from the outside looking in.

Ratings and Recs: I give The Lies I Tell a good 4.5 stars. I would recommend it for those who like a good plot driven story with strong female characters. I will definitely be moving Clark's The Last Flight up on my TBR. Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Julie Clark and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC of The Lies I Tell. This is my personal review.
The story of two women and revenge was the thing they both wanted the most in life.
Meg and Kat are two women that know what the want and then go after it.
This book is so expertly written that kept me guessing the next step Meg or Kat was going to take. The level of suspense and mystery was perfect.
This was the first book I have read by Julie Clark, and she is now on my list of authors to read when I want a book that are out of my comfort zone.

The Lies I Tell – Julie Clark

Meg Williams is, for all intents and purposes, a con artist – a grifter. She carefully screens her targets, learning all there is to know, subtly inserts herself into their lives, where she quickly makes herself invaluable. She slowly and skillfully manipulates the situation as she has so carefully planned – then quietly disappears leaving carnage behind for her victims.

It’s been a long ten years for Kat, a journalist, as she’s waited for some sign - any kind of news - of the elusive Meg Williams. Finally receiving a hit on a preset Internet search, she learns that Meg has returned to California, this time posing as a real estate agent. Kat has her own agenda – one innocent interaction with Meg all those years ago created chaos - completely changing her life, and Kat holds Meg responsible.

As Kat begins to stalk Meg, she provokes a meeting with her and slowly, a friendship of sorts evolves. She is somewhat surprised to discover how likable Meg is, yet she remains determined to expose her escapades for all to see. Meg, on the other hand, knows deception when she sees it, and finds herself wondering what exactly Meg may be hiding with her less than truthful persona.

Told in alternating viewpoints of both Meg and Kat, the reader gradually learns the motivations of both women, as each shares the events that have culminated in the ‘chance’ encounter that opens this book and draws you in. I very quickly found myself deeply engrossed in the lives of these characters, the circumstances that shaped who they became – and their individual strengths. The ending caught me a bit by surprise – that’s a good thing – and in retrospect – it was perfect!

This was my first novel by author Julie Clark, but it will not be my last! It grabbed me tight on the first page, and I just had to keep going - I read it in one sitting – just couldn’t put it down! Awesome read!!


Available from your favorite bookseller on June 21st!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is a mesmerizing story about getting revenge, but with some morals. It had twists and turns I was not expecting and I came to really like the characters in the book. It was thought-provoking and made me contemplate whether this type of con artist was really all that bad. I enjoyed reading and had a hard time stepping away because i always was wondering what was going to happen next. The thread of friendships and love, and justice were all aspects that made me love this book.

“‘Men will always show you who they are.’ Her voice is quiet, and she gestures toward the television screen. ‘Doesn’t it ever just exhaust you?’”

The Lies I Tell was awesome; one of the best I’ve read so far this year. And I’m stoked that so many of my recent reads have featured such incredibly strong, persevering women.

I loved watching cat and mouse play out between Kat and Meg, and the dual POVs as each woman tried to get what they wanted from one other and from those who had done them wrong.

Clark did a great job of developing Kat and Meg’s characters and making me care - I became so invested in them getting their revenge and seeing justice served.