This multi-layered tale of deceit will have you intrigued quickly and turning page after page to devour every tidbit. Highly addictive and satisfying!

Marisa Stockton is haunted by the death of her twin sister 14 years ago and after years of self-sabotage is ready to devote her life to finding the answers she has needed all of these years. She's a complex character with faults galore, but she's sincere and truly needs closure. I really enjoyed watching her grow and figure out her footing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a mystery filled with compelling characters who lead you down a path you're not sure is right or not, but it's easy to believe until the next character takes you down another rabbit hole.

I received this ARC from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an opening chapter this story has!

I’ve not read such a good one in a while.

This story is told from lots of different view points but my favourites are Him & Marisa.

Him is obviously the perpetrator, every chapter of his gave me the creeps because he was so sinister and you actually believed that he was stalking you in real life!.

Marisa is still coming to terms with her twin Clare’s death 13 years ago, she’s 365 days sober and its 2 months after a car accident she can’t remember much about, but she can remember that someone was trying to kill her and cause the accident or is that a just a nightmare? .

Marisa decides to start investigating Clare’s death again now she’s sober and the lead detective is weeks away from retirement and she’s doesn’t want the case to go cold.

I was completely hooked on this story from the first page, I thought every man that Marisa met was Clare’s killer! I also had an idea about something and I was intrigued to find out if I was right or wrong.

If you enjoy a fast & pacy thriller dripping in mystery you need to read this book.

It took me forever to get through and I almost DNF it a few times. It dragged at parts and I’m honestly surprised I finished it. The main character was irritating and by the end I didn’t care if she solved the mystery or not.

Claire and Marissa are identical twins. Unfortunately, fourteen years ago Claire was murdered. They never found who did it. Marissa did not know how to cope so she turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain.

Fast forward a few years and Marissa, with the help of her sister Brit and her bf, is trying to turn over a new leaf. She is clean and sober. There’s only one more thing on her mind, to solve her sister’s murder, especially before the detective on the case retires. Of course she ultimately put herself in danger by playing detective.

The Lies I Told is available August 2,2022

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake Publishing for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Fourteen years after her twin sister's tragic death, Marisa Stockton is still focused on finding Clare's killer. After succumbing to the numbing effects of alcohol, Marisa is finally sober and again focused on Clare's murder. Her older sister hovers, ready to pick up the pieces when Marisa falls again, but she's adamant that Marisa should put what happened in the past and move on with her life.

Marisa's friends aren’t happy with her dredging up the past, but the more Marisa looks for answers, the more questions she has as secrets from fourteen years ago come to light. Now the deadline for solving the murder looms as the detective who originally handled the case is set to retire soon. As Marisa uncovers new leads, it looks like it may be a case of mistaken identity and the killer actually thought Clare was Marisa.

Marisa's story is told through multiple POVs, with past and present timelines and a compelling cast of characters. The story drew me in and I stayed up way too late reading into the night because I absolutely had to find out how it ended. With twists and turns and shocking surprises, this riveting, hypnotic thriller will leave you gasping for breath, so don’t miss it!

I really struggled to get into this one. It starts off with a bang, but then fizzled out for awhile. It gained my attention halfway through again but lost it towards the end. The characters were flat and typical for this genre- another unreliable female narrator with an alcohol problem. Sigh. But, the writing was good as always from Burton and the conclusion well done. Overall, not my favorite of hers but I look forward to the next book from her.

Thank you to #NetGalley and#Montlake for my advance copy of #TheLiesITold by MaryBurton
Marisa Stockton was 12 when her mother committed suicide and 16 when her identical twin sister Clare was murdered.
Struggling for years with addiction problems that helped her cope with her losses, Marissa has finally got her life back on track, sober and with her business growing, but she can’t rest until her sisters murderer is caught.
As she fights to find the truth, is she making herself the killers next target ?

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this compelling book

marissa and clare are identical twin sisters and are very difficult to tell apart
britt is their eldest sister

the girls family life falls apart when their mothers dies from an overdose...

britt becomes the surrogate mother
marissa goes down the path of drugs and alcohol

and poor clare gets murdered one night at a party

14 years later marissa is still trying to get her life together and being sober helps, but after her accident and losing some of her memory doesnt help and why does she feel that night she was being chased but everyone else was saying she had fallen off the wagon and was drunk...which she denied...

it all doesnt add up... and with the advent of the detective in charge of clare case retiring, marissa is on his case again trying to keep clare case active knowing that as soon as he retires her sisters case will become a cold case

but trouble looms round the corner for marissa

loads of red herrings galore and the shocks keep coming with this one....couldnt put it down at all

Surprisingly I had not come across this author before despite the fact that she has written over forty books in one of my favourite genres.

The title of this book is appropriate since just about everyone in it is lying either straight out or by omission. Marisa's twin sister Clare was murdered at the age of sixteen and fourteen years later Marisa is still trying to find out who did it. Added to this she is recovering from a serious car crash, some loss of memory and alcoholism.

The book is written in six points of view which does slow down its progress and tension. One of the POVs is labelled 'Him' which gives the reader lots of fun trying to identify who he is. There are heaps of male characters floating around which means lots of red herrings.

I did not dislike the book but I found it long drawn out and occasionally irritating. A couple of the characters are really reprehensible and the ending was nowhere near as conclusive as I wanted it to be. However from reviews I see many people liked it a lot more than I did.

This is an engrossing and moving psychological thriller and family drama about a woman who lost her twin sister many years earlier. Another wonderfully twisty page turner from the brilliant Mary Burton.

This book is an intricately woven suspense/murder mystery that is centered around a family with a lot of problems. Marisa’s twin sister Clare was murdered when she was sixteen. As a result, Marisa has a problem with alcohol abuse and the inability to close that chapter of her life since Clare’s killer was never caught. Brit, her older sister, is a control freak who is a successful lawyer who generally gets her way about everything. The cast of characters is as numerous as the possible suspects and at times, it was difficult to discern the red herrings from the real clues. The story was so well-woven and intricately designed to keep me interested and guessing. There are friends who were around when Clare was killed, new friends, a police detective about to retire and unhappy that he hasn’t been able to close the case. I loved how the author developed the plot like a spiral…start from the outside with a lot of different things that could be true and work towards the middle to what is actually true. This was an edge-of-my-seat and talk-to-the-characters kind of book for me. I didn’t want to see Marisa hurt, even though she showed her weaknesses at times and allowed herself to be manipulated. In fact, this is a book about manipulation, trust issues, addiction and anger issues that was hard to put down. The plot was believable and the details so realistic that at times I felt as though I were reading a news report. The characters were not so much likable as easy to get to know and feel sympathy for them. The book is told with several POVs including Richards, the detective, Brit, Jo-Jo (a good friend) and Marisa, with Marisa’s story being the majority of the narration. The pieces of the mystery fit together like a good puzzle once the climax was reached and what had really happened to Clare was laid out clearly. Then, the part after the climax was amazingly well done, with a little nudge to make me think about what would happen to these characters whom I had befriended after I finished the book. What a great book for fans of mystery and suspense who like to play Sherlock Holmes as they read!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I found "The Lies I Told" by Mary Burton to be an addictive, interesting, suspenseful & well written story that pulled me in & didn't let me go until its final page.
This was the 1st book that I have read by Ms. Burton but it won't be my last.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Lies I Told by Mary Burton is a domestic thriller with plenty of twists and reveals. The story revolves around Marisa, whose identical twin sister Clare was found dead when they were 16. Marisa is 30 now, and was recently involved in a car crash, leading her to forget everything that happened in the 10 days leading up to the car crash. Was her car crash really an accident or was it attempted murder? Can it be related to her twin sister's death 14 years ago? Can Marisa remember before the killer tries to kill her again?

Here is a chilling excerpt from Chapter 1, which is from an unnamed point of view:

"Your gaze held me, reached out, and the longer I studied the ironic humor swimming in those sapphire eyes, the more I remembered our intimate history and shared losses.
A rational mind wouldn't be lured by the dead or revisit a dangerous past. Turn, leave, and slam the door shut on yesterday.
But this pull between us transcends life and death. And this time I was not going to repeat old mistakes. THe past doesn't have to equal the future. Eyes forward."

Overall, The Lies I Told is a domestic thriller that will appeal to fans of Netflix's You series. One highlight of this book is how well-written the narration and prose are. I also enjoyed how the ending made sense and was very satisfying. I did take off 1 star because I felt there were too many characters and it was hard to keep track of what was happening. I took off another star, because I felt that there were too many thriller cliches - dead twin sisters, two timelines, missing memories, suicidal mothers, cheating, etc. It's like the author tried to fit every single reveal that she could into one book, and it became too cliched. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers, you can check out this book when it comes out in August.

My first Mary Burton read! Honestly, this is a tough one for me to rate. Overall, I really enjoyed the plot, the writing, and the different POVs/timelines. It’s tough to shift around timelines and POVS without getting confusing for the reader but Burton really handled it masterfully. My absolute fave POV was the stalker/killer. It gave me such ‘You’ vibes (another book I really love)! I love a thriller with an untrustworthy group of friends where everyone seems to have a motive and it made for a fun read. The only issue is I read a lot of thrillers and felt that the culprit was just way too obvious, despite the many red herrings. Had the ending been more dramatic and explosive, I think I would’ve enjoyed it more but I found that everything wrapped up way too quickly and it was underwhelming. Still enjoyable nonetheless and I look forward to checking out her other books.

3.5 ⭐️

WOW! I don't know what else to say. But this story was completely gripping and unexpected in the best possible way.

As The Lies I Told is an intriguing tale that tells Marisa and her twin sister Clare's story from multiple points of view and in a way that is compelling and utterly engaging to read.

As Clare was murdered fourteen years ago and since then Marisa's life has fallen apart and she's spent every day trying to forget that the face in the mirror also belongs to a dead person and that those closest to her believe Clare was mistaken for her that night.

But was she really?

And as Marisa once again resolves to solve Clares case, she also has to deal with her sobriety, the aftermath of a car crash she can't remeber and a sister who thinks she should just move on.

Yet Marisa won't give up and soon learns truths that shock her to the core and make her realise everyone lies, even those closest to you.

And with great pacing, riveting characters and plenty of twists. This genuinely was a story I couldn't put down and its one I would definitely recommend to others.

Marisa doesn't know what happened to her twin Clare when they were 16 and she doesn't know what happened to her in her car accident now, 14 years later. She's sober for the first time in a long time but no one believes that. This is a dual time line mystery/thriller told from multiple POVs (perhaps too many) and it unwinds slowly at first and then very quickly. A dysfunctional family loom large. Not a spoiler but keep your eye on oldest sister Brit. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fast read for a hot summer day.

I have read almost all of Mary Burton's books because I love the way she writes romantic suspense. This was a lot different than her other books, and I loved it! I wouldn't categorize it as a romance, but trying to solve the mystery of the book kept my interest very well! I really enjoyed this one and will continue to read Mary Burton's books...especially if they're like this one. The only annoying thing was every male character's distraction with the main character's breasts, but nothing is perfect. Highly recommend this one!

Three sisters, twins and an older sister are all lying in The Lies I Told. How do you find out what the truth is? A detective that is investigating the murder of Clare, one of the twins, can tell which people are lying, but not what the truth is behind the lies. Marisa, the other twin, is dedicated to finding out who killed her sister. I wouldn't call this a romance, it is more of a thriller/mystery. The author has put together a story that kept me interested for the entire book and I had to keep reading too late toward the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for this ARC. This review is my opinion.

This was my first Mary Burton book and I really enjoyed it and got through it very quickly. Marisa Stockton’s identical twin sister Clare was brutally murdered when she was 16 years old. Fourteen years later, Marisa is turning 30 and the case still hasn’t been solved. After Marisa crashes her car into a pole and loses 10:days of memories, she doesn’t believe it was really an accident. She’s more determined than ever to get to the bottom of this and find justice for Clare. The incredibly high level of dysfunction in the Stockton family (this is one of the most messed-up families ever) leads to Marisa’s long battle with substance abuse. This affects Marisa’s credibility as she tries to help with the murder investigation. I think this would be a really good summer/beach read and I recommend it. I will also read more of Mary Burton’s books. Thanks to #netgalley #montlake and #maryburton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The accomplished multi-talented NYT bestselling author of a whopping 37 published novels (and 5 novellas) as Mary Burton and 9 works of contemporary fiction as Mary Ellen Taylor —is back with her latest in-depth psychological mystery thriller.

THE LIES I TOLD, is a thriller about the dark secrets that emerge 14 years after a woman's identical twin sister is murdered— with Burton's signature style: intense, gripping, taut, disturbing, moving, and brilliant prose.

LIES AND SECRETS ABOUND! This is one 'messed up' family, group of friends, and killer. Often the ones we fear most are the ones right in front of us all along.

Dual Timelines:
THEN 2007-2008 death of Clare Stockton (twin) age 16.
NOW 2022 Marisa (twin) age 30 determined to find answers.
Two months earlier: Marisa was involved in a car accident after her art show.

Marisa has no idea how she got in her car from the show, and why there were drugs. Her memory was wiped. Was she drugged? She had been sober and drug-free, and now everyone thinks she slipped back into her own ways and waiting for her to screw up again.

How are the timelines and events connected?

Written from the following POVs:
Him (psycho, stalker, creepy, mysterious evil man)
Marisa (twin) protagonist
Brit (older sister) manipulative
John Richards (detective)
Jo-Jo (former BFF of Clare)
Jack (bad boy, drug dealer, bar owner, family friend)

PS Many of these characters are/were friends of Clare, Brit, and Marisa. Small town, each connected to one another more intimately (sexually and apparently, they all dated the same people). Jo Jo is currently married to Jack. Brit is now dating David (from college). Kurt was dating Clare when she died. He was not charged after the investigation. These close-knit characters make the novel even more INTENSE because you cannot TRUST anyone!

Set in Virginia, twin sisters Marisa and Clare Stockton were sixteen when Clare's body was found in Virginia's James River. No arrests were made.

2020: It is Marisa's 30th birthday (ready to inherit her trust fund, and Clare's portion will go to her). Her older sister, Brit is still playing mind games (very manipulative). Marisa is a talented professional photographer and every day fights to maintain her sobriety (around people and family who do not support her).

They are reopening her sister's cold case (same Detective Richards) and Marisa begins making photos at the river where Clare's body was found and trying to put together the missing pieces of the murder and her recent accident. There are many unanswered questions. Are they related?

The three Stockton sisters had a tragic, troubled childhood and were part of a highly dysfunctional family, starting with their sickness as children, their mom's mental illness, their dad's betrayal, and mom's death.

On the night of Clare's death, she discovered something (this key point ties all together-no spoilers here) about their family's betrayal and a dark secret. Upset, Clare goes to a New Year's Eve party at JoJo's house, dressed like Marisa. She was to meet up with Marissa later to tell her what she had uncovered. But she never got the chance.

What happened to Clare when she left the party and the five blocks home? Was it someone she knew? She wound up murdered and thrown in the river. Marisa was to go to the party too, but something happened to her, and she did not make it. How is the sister's murder connected? Did the killer think Clare was Marisa?

Is the killer after her now? The closer she and the detective get to uncovering the truth, the more she is in harm's way. Everyone has too many dangerous dark hidden secrets.

Due to their childhood traumas, the twin developed addictions: Marisa turned to alcohol and drugs. Clare turned to acting out, dressing like her sister, and having casual sex. Brit is the wild card (she is no angel, a control freak, and everyone thinks she is the mother hen) after their mom died, putting herself in charge. But did/does she have their best interest at heart?

Richards was also the detective on the case when Marisa's mom died. He investigated Frank, the dad, the twins, and Brit. Now, and when Clare was murdered.

Everyone is lying and keeping secrets. The town seems to want to let sleeping dogs lie, and Marisa is the only one who wants to solve the murder except for Detective Richards, who was on the case fourteen years ago and now. He is close to retirement (two weeks) and under much pressure to solve the case. Marisa knows they must find the murderer before he moves to Florida.

So many suspects and so many bad guys. Who is the real killer?

Burton dazzles in her latest —equal parts murder mystery and psychological thriller, a deftly plotted page-turner that explores the power of family secrets, sibling rivalry, toxic friendships, and broken ties.

MIND-BENDING!
Multi-layered with heart-pounding twists and turns. The author dives deep into the mind of a serial killer and many others which are disturbingly connected in many ways. I loved Detective Richards, Marisa, and Alan, but all the others, NOT so much. I could not wait for her to get away from these evil toxic people.

THE LIES I TOLD is a little different than Burton's past books. Her earlier books from way back (I have been a fan for many years) were more romantic suspense (like Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown) to cop procedurals and later heavier on the forensics, FBI, and crime thrillers (like Lisa Gardner-a favorite).

In my opinion, this one is less cop procedural, forensics, and more of a deeper dive into the mind of a killer, his friends, family, and all those connected. Character-driven with highly flawed and dysfunctional family members with mental health, addictions, etc.

True psychological mystery suspense (whodunit) murder thriller. A cross between gritty and dark (Karin Slaughter/Lisa Unger) and domestic suspense/family dramas with highly-charged topics (D. J Palmer/Jodi Picoult/Mary Kubica) and the Burton signature style.

Dark, gritty, intense! You will root for Marisa until the satisfying conclusion.

Highly charged topics: Munchausen's syndrome, child abuse, addiction, alcoholism, mental health, drugs, family dysfunction, sexual assault, drugging, toxic friendships, murder, lust, revenge, greed, lies, deceit, manipulation, secrets, betrayal, pregnancy, voyeurism, and suicide.

A long-time fan of the author both Mary Burton and Mary Ellen Taylor and highly recommend all her books.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Stay tuned for my #AuthorElevatorSeries Interview with Mary coming pub day (8/2) where we go behind the book and the author.

You can sign up for my newsletter to have it delivered to your inbox on Aug 2! Do not miss this one. Don't you just love devious "twin" thrillers? I have been reading quite a few lately.

Also out now THE BRIGHTER THE LIGHT by Mary Ellen Taylor (she writes under two names). It is also a five-star winner. Check it out.

A special thank you to #Montake the author and #Netgalley for a digital ARC to read, review, and enjoy.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Aug 2, 2022

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.