As a book lover, any stories about authors immediately grab my attention. And even though the protagonist is a writer, the narration felt choppy and underdeveloped. It starts with so much dialogue describing the action that the plot almost got a little buried. Multiple *big* things happen in the first few pages, but without knowing anything about the characters or their motivations, it was hard to buy into caring about what happened.

Lie to me was a spine chilling thriller.
Elena is a best selling author and is trying to write her best book yet, but weird things start happening. Is someone trying to make her think she’s crazy or is she starting to lose her mind? Being famous means having fans, but stalkers are a whole other story in this nail biting story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It kept me on tender hooks, never knowing what exactly was going to happen and if events were happening or not. You really feel the spiral Elena goes through. And although I guessed a bit of the ending it was definitely worth the read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the arc!!

I really enjoyed that this book had lots of twists and turns. I was able to guess the ending, but still enjoyed the story and writing. If you’re looking for a quick thriller, this book will definitely do. I look forward to reading more from this author.

4/5 stars! As someone that works in the mental health field, I love a good psychological thriller, and this one checked a lot of boxes. However, there was one fatal flaw that kept me from staying engaged across the course of the story. For a character that writes mystery books, our FMC was implausibly naive about the clues surrounding her. For some readers, this may make her more relatable, but it left me annoyed. That said, I appreciated the twists and turns in the book and it was still a solid read.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Lie To Me by Theo Baxter, Elena Winthrop is an author with agoraphobia and writers block. She is under a lot of stress with stalkers, her cheating husband David and the death of her assistant, who was also her best friend. Life does become more manageable when she hires the new assistant Carlotta. It seems every issue Elena has Carlotta has a remedy for it,. The only thing that gives Elena pause is when Carlotta starts insinuating her opinion on her writing and when she goes to hang out with her agent, she is struck dumb by Carlotta’s outrageous reaction to it. Alayna, however, can’t focus on that because David she believes is cheating again in strange things are happening around her home, including dead animals showing up on the porch. her agent even hires, a private detective Jack to try and get to the bottom of it, but when Elena finds out who has been plaguing her life, the danger is already too close. Will Elena‘s fans love her to death or is it her beloved husband? Will this make all her problems worse or will she even live long enough to be bothered by it? I really really really enjoyed this book. I find Theo Baxter has really written a well developed story, with great characters, likable situations that are intense, awkward, and uncomfortable. All the things you love in a great thriller. He is really upping his game and I am loving all of it!

This book had an intriguing premise that drew me in. It kept me entertained and had an unexpected twist near the end. It wasn’t my favorite but I enjoyed it enough to pass the time on a lazy Sunday.

I Really enjoyed the pace of this. I felt that a majority of this kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to know how things ended up how they did.

Although I did guess early on who was behind the harressment campaign, I didn't guess the identity twist in the final chapters of this novel.

I really enjoyed Elena's development and found the ending perfect.

Book Review: Lie to Me by Theo Baxter

Theo Baxter’s Lie to Me is a taut, psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing until its final, jaw-dropping reveal. Packed with suspense, deception, and unexpected twists, this novel masterfully delves into the fragility of trust and the terrifying notion that danger can come from those closest to us.

Elena Winthrop, a successful but reclusive mystery author, is a captivating protagonist. Having endured a traumatic past, her fragile world begins to unravel when her trusted assistant and best friend, Lila, dies unexpectedly. Baxter expertly captures Elena’s descent into paranoia as she struggles to cope with her loss while confronting unsettling discoveries: her husband’s infidelity, disturbing gifts left on her doorstep, and the eerie sense that someone is watching her every move.

The novel’s strength lies in its exploration of Elena’s mental state. As the threats mount, readers are left questioning whether her tormentor is real or a manifestation of her unraveling psyche. Baxter skillfully blurs the line between perception and reality, creating a suffocating atmosphere of dread and uncertainty.

The supporting characters are equally compelling, each with secrets that make them potential suspects. From her deceitful husband to the enigmatic private investigator Elena hires, everyone has something to hide, adding layers to the mystery. The pacing is relentless, with every revelation raising the stakes and every twist pushing Elena closer to the edge.

Baxter’s writing is vivid and immersive, drawing readers into Elena’s isolated world and her mounting terror. The suspense is expertly crafted, with ominous clues and red herrings that keep readers guessing. When the truth is finally unveiled, it’s both shocking and satisfying, tying together the threads of Elena’s unraveling life with chilling precision.

Lie to Me is a gripping thriller that will appeal to fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl. It’s a story about betrayal, obsession, and the devastating effects of lies—both those told by others and the ones we tell ourselves. A must-read for anyone who loves psychological suspense with an emotional punch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Twisty and atmospheric but with room for improvement.

Lie to Me by Theo Baxter offers a gripping psychological thriller with plenty of suspense and some truly chilling moments. The premise of an isolated protagonist, Elena, being pushed to her mental and emotional limits is compelling. The twists were well-timed, and the sense of paranoia built steadily, keeping me intrigued about who could be behind the torment she faces.

However, while the setup was strong, parts of the story felt predictable, and the characters, especially the supporting cast, could have used more depth. Elena's decisions sometimes felt repetitive, which slowed the pacing in places.

That said, the book delivered an engaging read overall, with an ending that was satisfying enough to tie things together. If you love psychological thrillers with a dark, claustrophobic atmosphere, it’s worth checking out!

I asked for more from this author after reading his box set, and he didn't disappoint! Theo Baxter is becoming a favorite of mine. If you love a good thriller check out Lie to Me, and all of Baxter's works!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

A super cool premise that fell a bit short in my opinion, I enjoyed this one, but it had quite a slow walk to get where it was going. Good but not great.

Lie to Me is my first Theo Baxter book. It will not be my last. Elena is overly trusting of everyone but herself. Which makes it really easy for everyone in her life to gaslight her. I did figure out the villain pretty early but I think it was written so that everyone but Elena knew there was something wrong. It was a nice way to spend a snowy Saturday. Easy to read and easy to enjoy. There are obvious good guys and bad guys and it's fun to see the bad guys get what is coming to them. It's a little sappy, but I enjoyed even the sappy.

Spoiler alert.

I really thought the husband was secretly sleeping with the assistant and trying to drive the wife crazy.

So boy was I surprised by the twist.

But lord, if she didn't get rid of that worthless husband already.

A twisty thriller featuring a writer and her troubled life. A mixture of characters,easy to suss who the culprit was.

3.5 stars
Poor Elena is having a rough time. Her assistant/best friend suddenly dies and and she finds out her husband is having an affair. In the midst of her personal turmoil, she starts getting threatening messages and "gifts". Facing all these challenges, Elena struggles to figure out who is targeting her and make it stop.

I thought some of the moments with Carlotta were pretty heavy handed and it was fairly obvious she was behind everything.

As always, just a sheer delight to read. I was hooked form the start and loved the original premise that felt unlike anything else I'd read. Well written characters, good storytelling and fabulous twists. Another winner!

I really love books about authors. Don’t ask me why but I do 😂 so this immediately sucked me in and it does keep your attention the entire time. I wanted to know what happened and who it was. I did guess the bad guy but did not guess the connection or who they actually were.

This book was an amazing, hard to put down fast read. I loved everything about it! This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be reading more.

As always Theo Baxter books are so gripping, immediately I felt hooked by the building danger and suspense.

Lie To Me by Theo Baxter is a recommended psychological thriller following a mystery author who may be slowly losing her mind.

Author Elena Winthrop survived a difficult childhood, the death of her assistant Lila, and putting up with a cheating, lazy husband. She's getting her anxiety under control and manages to hire a new assistant, Carlotta, who quickly becomes a great help to her. Then her house is broken into, the hate mail and calls begin to increase, she's getting messages from a man who is watching her, and ominous gifts begin to show up at her house. Thank goodness for her friend and editor, Beatrice, who recommends Elena hire a PI to help.

This is a tension-packed psychological thriller due to everything that is happening in Elena's life. The intense and repetitive events that seem to be threatening her sanity sometimes make it difficult to connect with Elena as a sympathetic character. It isn't always clear if she is too trustworthy or too naive. Her thoughts also tend to be repetitive, which does serve to magnify her fears, but can be aggravating. It makes you wonder why she didn't turn to Beatrice, a welcomed, strong character, for help more often. The PI, Jack, is also a welcomed addition to the novel.

The drawback to Lie To Me is that it is easy to figure out what is going on early on. It is a fast read and there is a further twist at the end, however, that will be a big surprise. Thanks to Inkubator Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.