very bingeable!!! i enjoyed this plot and found myself coming back to read this book often. characters were well developed as well

Please Don't Lie was a quick, fast paced book that you can finish in a sitting if you have an afternoon free. It was twisty and keeps you guessing. There was an underlying suspicion with pretty much all of the characters and they all came across as a little shifty. The only person I didn't suspect at all was Hayley...everyone else was on the table! I did enjoy the ending and the way everything wrapped up. It wasn't the craziest thing I've ever read but it was an enjoyable book for sure!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you net galley for this ARC! unfortunately this one missed the mark for me, i had to DNF at 36% The characters all fell very flat and was honestly boring but everyone has their opinions i suppose! i had a lot of hope for this one but oh well

Secrets, Lies, and a Slow-Burn Thriller

This was such an engaging psychological thriller. From the start, I was pulled into the tension and the layers of secrets at play. The story had that mix of suspense and emotion I really enjoy—it wasn’t just about the twists, but also about how lies and hidden truths shape people’s lives. Some parts felt a little stretched out, but overall the pacing worked, and the ending delivered. The author's collaboration brought out strong characters and a story that kept me turning the pages. A solid 4-star read I’d recommend to anyone who likes character-driven thrillers.

I enjoyed this one while reading, but after finishing and thinking it through, I felt like it was ok. Had the "isolated house, away from everything you know" vibes. But I could just predict what was going to happen, and that kind of ruined it for me.

Hayley has moved to the Adirondacks with her new husband to escape from her tragic past that left her family dead. As they settle in her husband’s town, he becomes distant and volatile. While he knows of her past, she doesn’t know much of his.

This is a fast paced story that you can binge in one sitting. The end gets really exciting and there’s a few twists that keep coming and coming. You aren’t really sure who to trust until the last page.

“No matter how she tries to feel safe, she knows security is an illusion. A threat can come from anywhere, anytime.

Please Don’t Lie comes out 9/1.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
I found this book easy to read but it just wasn't the suspenseful thriller I was expecting. I read it quickly but I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters and it was a bit unrealistic but if you want an easy mystery read give this one a shot.

“Some people are going to destroy themselves no matter what. And there’s nothing anyone can do to stop them.”

4.5 stars! Holy hell this was a wild ride! A literal (like just last night) stay-up-past-your-bedtime-because-you-just-have-to-finish-it kind of book. This book had me suffering from whiplash with all of the twists and pivots in the story. Just when I thought I was on to the mystery BAM! I realized I, in fact, wasn’t.

“Old ghosts linger if you don’t face them.”

I was thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. I was creeped out by the remote, wooded, totally atmospheric setting. I was questioning everything everyone said because not a single character seemed honest and kept me guessing. I was frustrated with Hayley’s naïveté and yet I couldn’t figure out who to trust either. 😂

“‘The truth is important,’ Olivia says. ‘Even when it hurts.’”

Thank you to @mbc_books , @amazonpublishing, @anne_burt_writer, and @bakerkline for the gifted copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley, MB Communications, and Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer for my ARC copies of this thriller by the collaboration of Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Two years ago, Hayley Stone lost everything - her family died in a fire and her sister overdosed, leaving her the heir to the family fortune as well as part of a media circus. When she meets Brandon and he suggests a fresh start at his secluded mountain home in the Adironidacks, she's ready.
But the mountains hold darker secrets than she ever imagined.

First, since I live there, I loved the Adirondack setting. Obviously it was set in a more secluded area than mine, but the descriptions of the beauty and serenity are spot on. The atmosphere played a big part in this novel, as Hayley tries to adjust to being off the grid after living in NYC. She must depend solely on Brandon, but things feel off and she doesn't what to believe. The tension kept ramping up throughout the book and I just couldn't stop rooting for things to work out for Hayley. The best part? This is the first in a series set in Crystal River and I can't wait for more from this duo.

Please Don’t Lie definitely has all of the elements of a suspenseful story—from a remote house in the mountains to an eerie small town to a husband who’s clearly hiding something. But instead of making it a gripping thriller, it just makes it a story that feels all too familiar.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

After suffering an unbearable loss, Hayley Stone, and her new husband relocate to a small town in the Adirondack Mountains. As Hayley tries to settle into her new, secluded home, she feels as if her husband is pulling away when she asks about his family. When she meets Megan while shopping, they become instant friends. Her husband frowns upon the friendship and she begins to see cracks in the life she thought she was building.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced, twisty thriller! Some of my predictions turned out to be on target but others were twisted up in red herrings!


Thank you @mbc_books for the finished copy of this book!

Please Don't Lie tells the story of Hayley Stone as she tries to rebuild her life. She moves to a remove town with her husband, where gossip and dark stories about him surface leaving with a choice: can she trust her husband?

This was a fantastic read, it was incredibly visual, I felt like I was right there watching everything unfold as I was reading it. The character development was sogood, I loved how strong Hayley was and how muh grit and determination she showed throughout the story.

Superb!

This domestic suspense story had a lot of potential but didn't quite get there for me. The plot hangs on a main character who makes impulsive and bad decisions and there were intriguing aspects of the story that weren't explored enough.

Newlywed Hayley is trying to escape her tragic past and excited to help her new husband Brandon renovate a home he inherited in the Adirondacks. But doubts start to creep in when the locals tell disturbing stories about him. Is he a creeper? Did he marry her for her money? She meets a new friend, Megan, in town and invites her and her boyfriend to move into the cottage on their property.

For me, the book started off feeling a little mechanical, with a lot of crisply efficient info-dumping to make Hayley seem vulnerable, a crucial part of a domestic suspense story. The story did improve for me as it went on but the elements of the story I found most intriguing, like Hayley's parents' deaths and a sinister podcaster, were neglected in favor of the odd relationship between Hayley and Brandon.

Please Don’t Lie by Christina Bake Kline and Anne Burt is promoted as a psychological thriller. The promise of anonymity in the isolated mountain town of Crystal River, New York sounds like the fresh start Hayler Stone needs. She lost her parents to a devastating fire followed by the death of her sister soon after that. When her new husband, Brandon Stone, inherits his childhood home after the death of his estranged father, it seems like the right move.

However, Brandon grows distant and volatile. A neighbor clearly doesn’t like Brandon and is vaguely accusatory. Even new friends who are living on the property can’t help Hayley keep away the sense that something is off and there are dark secrets to be uncovered.

Considering the media circus following the deaths of her family, Hayley seems trusting and gullible. With the isolation and the desire for a close friend while Brandon seems volatile at times, Hayley is a character you can root for and hope she succeeds in finding a happily ever after.

The prologue starts off plenty of action and the story is chilling at times, but it is somewhat slow in the middle of the book. While the premise was great, this story lacked action until the end. Additionally, the protagonist felt weak to me. While the antagonists are relatively easy to discern, there are a few twists and surprises along the way. Themes include deception, friendship, safety, the prospects of the future, the secrets of the past, guilt, betrayal, trust, hope, and much more.
Overall, this is an entertaining read with great worldbuilding. Those who enjoy psychological thrillers and domestic suspense may want to consider this book.

Thomas and Mercer, Christina Baker Kline, and Anne Burt provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 01, 2025.

A Fast-Paced, Twisty Thriller You Won’t Be Able to Put Down. From the very first page, this mystery thriller had me completely hooked. The pacing is relentless—in the best way—and I found myself flying through the chapters, eager to uncover every twist and turn.

The authors have crafted a richly atmospheric setting and populated it with well-developed, compelling characters. Each twist genuinely surprised me, and the tension never let up. It’s the kind of story that keeps you thinking long after you’ve finished it.

This was my first read from Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt, and I was thoroughly impressed by their sharp, clever writing style. It’s dynamic, immersive, and leads to a satisfying conclusion that I truly didn’t see coming.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing, MBC Books, and the authors for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review. I’m already looking forward to reading more from this talented duo.

Highly recommend.

Please Don’t Lie
By: Christina Baker Kline, Anne Burt
Oh, what a wicked one this was. Imaging losing your family and needing a fresh start. Hayley is newly married and her husband provides a home in the Adirondacks, where they are both socially isolated.
Soon his personality changes and he become aloof. The town seems to be warning Hayley! She should have listened!

“Please Don’t Lie” is a cleverly constructed mystery with well developed characters.
The main character, Hayley Stone, attempts to overcome her traumatic past.
This book’s pacing will keep you guessing at every turn.