Quick easy thriller read, first book from this author but I did enjoy it, I will be up for reading another one of his reads, it just went smoothly as a page turner.

I was so excited to get into this story...however I soon figured out the plotline and who did it...so I was just frustratingly making my way through to the end. The main character was extremely naive all the way through.

I have not read anything by Theo Baxter before so did not know what to expect. I was pleased with the writing style and will be on the lookout for more by this author!

The premise of this book and the how the beginning was written drew me in right away. However, things started to get quite repetitive and predictable early on. The main character, Elena, was almost unbearable in her naivety. It was hard to believe how she would trust everyone immediately even though she has past experience with untrustworthy and dangerous people. I appreciate the way anxiety and panic attacks were represented. I also enjoyed how things wrapped up in the end, but I wish there had been a bit more back story on the antagonist.

This thriller is an adrenaline-charged masterpiece, expertly balancing psychological depth with explosive plot twists. The suspense builds with surgical precision, each chapter more gripping than the last. Characters are unforgettable, their secrets unraveling in the most satisfying ways. A must-read for anyone who loves their thrillers smart, fast, and emotionally resonant.

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

Lie to Me by Theo Baxter is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps the tension simmering right to the final page. The twists are cleverly woven, some more surprising than others, but all contribute to a satisfying unraveling of the story.

While the pacing lags in a few spots, the emotional layers and well-drawn characters more than make up for it. A solid, suspenseful read that will appeal to fans of twisty, character-driven thrillers.

Elena, a bestselling author is struggling. The death of her assistant, Writers block. Mysterious happenings...husband cheating? Is the drama and trauma all in her head or is there a more sinister explanation?

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

First of all I have to say I’m becoming a fan of Theo Baxter. I really like the way he writes; his stories have excellent pacing and follows a style similar to that of other suspense/mystery writers I enjoy. I also like their length; so far they’ve not been too long, but were long enough for me to get engrossed in the story. That being said, let’s move on to the review of the book at hand, “Lie to Me”!

Elena, the protagonist, is a hard character to relate to. She’s like one of those friends who’s constantly making poor choices in life and putting themselves in terrible situations. No matter what you do or say, they’re always going to do this so ultimately you just have to throw up your hands, watch from afar, and be ready to embrace and help them recover once they’re ready and willing to accept the help. So many of the problems she went through would have been relatively easy to fix, though easier said than done as it is incredibly difficult breaking away from toxic relationships be they platonic or even harder romantic. She was also extremely naive, due to traumas and negative aspects of her childhood which led to many of the terrible things happening in her adult life.

The main plot twist was pretty easy to spot early on, but it was still a lot of fun reading the events leading up to it. As stated above, Theo Baxter writes well and easily entertains the reader with his storytelling, even if you know where you’re going it’s fun to go along for the ride. There are some things I would’ve liked to see in this title though. Firstly I wanted to see more of her relationship with her editor, Beatrice, as theirs was such a fun friendship and very positive. I also wanted to see more of her interactions and life with Jack. It would’ve been fun to read more of the drama with her and Candy as well, maybe a few scenes of it in the moment it happened. A chapter from Carlotta’s perspective would be an excellent addition too, to see the things from her point of view and understand her character further.

I will certainly continue reading Theo Baxter in the future as his work is becoming a favorite of mine. I scored “Lie to Me” 4.5 stars out of 5, which we will of course round up to 5. Great work, a lot of fun to read!

I unfortunately didn’t enjoy this book as I found I was wanting more depth and wasn’t getting the deliverance I needed

I received a free digital copy of “ Lie to Me” from Net Galley” to read and review.
To enjoy reading a novel, it helps to like the main character; I didn’t. . The main character, Elena Winthrop is an author of thrillers , apparently of the domestic , woman in danger genre. Elena is totally self- centered, vain and in need of constant re- assuarance. Although she has, apparently , many best sellers, she hit a blank wall with her new one.. Worse, her husband is cheating on her. The husband is a self- centered and cold to her. ( no sex, little caring love) Add to that her long- time personal assistant and only friend, committed suicide in Elena’s den. What else could go wrong? Well a lot.
Elena hires a new aide who seems perfect for the job. The woman has a great resume, , but Elena, who seems completely wary of everyone, never looses into it very deeply or asks why she left so many good jobs. Elena never considerers that it may not be a good idea to bring into the house an attractive young woman. So if something might go wrong, Elena leaves her life an unlocked door.
“Lie to Me “ Simply wasn’t a book that made it imperative that I keep reading. Maybe it just was not a novel aimed at male readership….
Remember , this is just one person’s opinion, so try it for yourself.

As mystery writer Morticia Rose, Elena Winthrop is accustomed to twists, but in her personal life she has become quite vulnerable due to certain circumstances. When the threats escalate from a crazed fan, Elena must face her greatest fears.

“Something was wrong with me, and having all these people tell me how awful I was clearly meant something. It was proof I deserved only the worst.”

Going into this book, I was intrigued by the aspect of Elena’s life replicating fiction and she certainly has had her share of trauma. As a character, I empathized with Elena at times, but her choices were challenging. While there was plenty of tense moments, the plot felt a little repetitive and that lessened the impact of the mystery for me. I was also able to identify the culprit very early in the story.

Lie to Me is about overcoming trauma and regaining control of one’s life. This book may appeal to those seeking a thriller.

2.5 stars. Psychological thriller is one of the genres that excited me the most, but Lie To Me felt flat. The twists are painfully predictable, making it hard to stay engaged. The characters lacked depth, and their decisions often felt contrived, undermining the tension the story was trying to build. The pacing dragged in places, with an underwhelming climax that didn’t deliver the payoff I hoped for. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity for a story that could have been gripping. Will try another Baxter, though. Maybe this one’s just not for me.

For author Elena Winthrop, her real life was becoming more dangerous than fiction. Still grieving the loss of her assistant and the breakdown of her marriage, she found herself the target of escalating threats from her most relentless haters. With the help of a private investigator, she must figure out who was the perpetrator before it was too late.

I thought the premise was interesting, offering a behind-the-scenes look at an author’s life and the challenges she faced. Unfortunately, the story was bland and lacked intrigue.

Despite being a mystery writer, Elena was clueless about her surroundings and seemed incapable of making effective decisions. I’m glad for the addition of Jack’s character, which made the story more interesting.

Lie to Me is a story of overcoming adversities. It might appeal to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.

Lie to Me by Theo Baxter is an engrossing psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. The suspense is well-crafted, and the twists are satisfying, even if a few feel a little predictable. While the pacing stumbles in places, the story’s emotional depth and compelling characters make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

Lie to me by Theo Baxter.
I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I did enjoy this book. I do love this author. This is the 9th book of his I've read. I did like Elana. I didn't like her husband David. Gripping read. I couldn't put it down. I read it in two sittings. I wasn't sure how I felt about Carlotta. There was something about her. I didn't trust her. I did like Jack. Especially how he was helping her. I certainly didn't see that coming. I was partly right though. I did like the ending. I would definitely recommend this book.

Great weekend cozy read. Very intriguing but predictable.
Decent characters and storyline
Quick read

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

#LieToMe #NetGalley
Best-selling mystery author Elena Winthrop has survived a difficult and traumatic past. Which may explain why she has become a virtual recluse who depends on her best friend and assistant Lila for almost everything. So when Lila dies suddenly, Elena is beyond devastated. But that’s just the start of her troubles. Forced to engage with the world, Elena discovers that her husband has been cheating on her. Then sinister gifts start to turn up on her doorstep. She gets taunting messages about what she’s wearing and doing. Is someone watching her, tracking her every move? Or, reeling from blow after blow, is she actually losing her mind? Doubting her own sanity, Elena enlists a private investigator and discovers it isn’t only her mental health at stake - it’s her life. Someone out there hates her and is determined to make her suffer. But who? And why? Can Elena find her anonymous tormentor before it’s too late?
It was a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubstor Books for giving me an advance copy.

I enjoyed this more than the box set of three I read. This solidified that I’d read others by this author. I wish it was easier to find audio books of his on Libby and hoopla so I could check a few more out.