Emily Klein doesn’t know her husband is dead until the day of his funeral. She doesn’t know that she killed him. But as the car crash begins to resurface in her memory, Emily begins to suspect foul play. She just can’t remember whose…
But her husband’s death is only the beginning. Emily starts hearing noises, suspecting people are following her, breaking into her house… There’s just no evidence for it. Emily has a troubled past, including the emergence of an alter-ego to protect her from the horrors.
As events escalate, Emily is left wondering who she can trust. Including herself.
Author: Diane Jeffrey
Title: Those Who Lie
Publisher: HQ Digital
Date: 2017
Review
I was instantly intrigued by this book because the main character has no memory of killing her husband – this wasn’t going to be the familiar tale of trying to cover it up. But what starts off as investigating a death becomes much more – murder, stalking, harassing… There are no levels Those Who Lie doesn’t snoop to.
Emily is an unreliable narrator due to her memory loss. The narration switches between past and present events and just when you think you understand Emily’s past, a snippet of information slips through, hinting something else is going on. The reader is never given the big picture until the end, but just glimpses – you’re aware that you don’t know everything!
Emily is likeable enough for someone believing herself to be slipping into paranoia. She doesn’t mope around but tries to get on with her life after her husband’s death. There wasn’t a spark in her though – I never felt like I properly connected with her character.
Her brother, Matt, was the favourite for me. He has a sense of innocence about him that was needed to balance the other characters, but you also feel that there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his big sister.
The scattering of other characters – friends, siblings, lovers – are around from the beginning, but the reader doesn’t truly get to know them. Emily’s suspicions (sometimes founded, sometimes not) prevents the reader from connecting with these secondary characters. It also keeps you guessing as to who it is, as Emily’s clouded view distorts your own opinions.
I didn’t guess who was behind everything. Emily’s thoughts about those surrounding her presents themselves in such a way that it could be anyone – and I was surprised at who was the culprit. It’s been a while since this sort of thriller has literally left me guessing up until the end, which instantly scores it bonus points in my books!
Any book that made me nearly refuse to get off a train in order to find out what happened has done something right! It’s not the most thrilling or action packed reader, but I still enjoyed it.
Giveaway!
Want a chance to read this book yourself? Or just win some goodies? Have a look at the giveaway below!
1st prize: eBook of Those Who Lie
2nd prize: Teddy and chocolates
3rd prize: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland notebook & chocolates
Enter here: Rafflecopter
AUTHOR BIO
Diane Jeffrey grew up in North Devon. She lives in Lyon, France with her husband and their three children, black Labrador and kitten.
THOSE WHO LIE is her debut psychological thriller.
Diane is an English teacher. She hates marking and Mondays. When she’s not working or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays.
Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Readers can follow Diane on Twitter @dianefjeffrey
or on Facebook.com/dianejeffreyauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33785476-those-who-lie?ac=1&from_search=true
Author links:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dianefjeffrey
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