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Lie to Me
Three minutes. That’s all it takes for Meredith’s entire world to fall apart when she watches the videotape of her four-year-old self with Becca, the mother who abandoned her.
Meredith can’t believe what her eyes have seen. Yet what if her memory has locked away the painful reality of her childhood? Can there be any truth in the strange and dangerous story her mother forced her to tell on camera?
The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim?
To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own. The problem is, she’s not the only one looking…
A dark, compulsive psychological thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Louise Jensen.
Meredith can’t believe what her eyes have seen. Yet what if her memory has locked away the painful reality of her childhood? Can there be any truth in the strange and dangerous story her mother forced her to tell on camera?
The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim?
To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own. The problem is, she’s not the only one looking…
A dark, compulsive psychological thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Louise Jensen.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2017
About the author
Jess Ryder
11 books298 followersJess Ryder is a pseudonym of novelist/screenwriter/television producer, Jan Page
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 211 reviews
April 6, 2017
3.5 stars. Meredith Banks finds an old VCR tape hidden away in the bottom of a box in her fathers attic. Three minutes of footage was all it had taken for Meredith's world to fall apart. The video shows a 4 year old Meredith with her mother, Becca. Meredith can't believe what she has just watched. Desperate to find the answers, her search takes her to Darkwater Pool, where a murder had taken place 30 years ago. The chapters switch mostly from Meredith's being told in the present and Cara's from the past.
The story did drag a bit at times. There is some twists and turns to keep you guessing. I did find it a bit predictable. The start of the book is a little confusing but once you get past it it does turn out to be a decent debut novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Jess Ryder for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story did drag a bit at times. There is some twists and turns to keep you guessing. I did find it a bit predictable. The start of the book is a little confusing but once you get past it it does turn out to be a decent debut novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Jess Ryder for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for an electronic ARC of this novel, given in exchange for an honest review.
“Lie to Me” is the first novel from British author, Jess Ryder. In “Lie to Me”, a young woman named Meredith watches a video from her past, one where her long-absent mother is making strange accusations and encouraging a very young Meredith to say odd things on camera under the premise that it’ll “keep Mommy safe”. But as far as Meredith knew her mother gave up on her long ago, and may even be dead, after suffering from schizophrenia for years. However, Meredith begins to question the content of the video and the secrets of her mother’s past. Her quest leads her to Darkwater Pool, the location of a murder that took place over thirty years ago. What connection does her mother have to this place and who can Meredith trust to help her find answers?
Although this novel is identified as “psychological thriller” I see it as more of a crime drama. Being identified as a psychological thriller gave me the wrong impression going in and I immediately felt disappointed (psychological thrillers being my favourite genre by far). However, once I had re-connected with the novel in a different genre, I was able to enjoy this novel far more.
Meredith is a great character- she is full of chutzpah but is also a little self-effacing. Her father, Graeme, is charming and delightful and I love the relationship between the two; the constant “ups-and-downs yet always there for each other” kind of father-daughter love is endearing. When Isobel introduces Meredith to the idea of “hypnosis” I pleaded with Ms. Ryder to not go down that zany and desperate road (“please don’t tell me this is going to be some past-lives novel”). I am so glad she did not follow that to the ending, and merely glazed over it to add some definition to the plot.
This story is told from alternating viewpoints- that of Meredith, Cara (the murdered woman) and Jay (the boyfriend-turned-suspect). It was slightly confusing at first to follow the revolving viewpoints (considering they also covered different time periods) but as relationships with the characters grow and develop, the interlaced viewpoints add to the plot development.
The ending of this novel was a bit predictable actually, but it may not be so for everyone who is not extremely familiar with crime dramas. However, the novel did end in a comforting way and I was satisfied with the way all the loose ends were wrapped up.
Ryder has some developing writing chops, and I know that with experience and time she has the potential to develop into a prolific writer. “Lie to Me” is a great start and I look forward to seeing what else she produces.
“Lie to Me” is the first novel from British author, Jess Ryder. In “Lie to Me”, a young woman named Meredith watches a video from her past, one where her long-absent mother is making strange accusations and encouraging a very young Meredith to say odd things on camera under the premise that it’ll “keep Mommy safe”. But as far as Meredith knew her mother gave up on her long ago, and may even be dead, after suffering from schizophrenia for years. However, Meredith begins to question the content of the video and the secrets of her mother’s past. Her quest leads her to Darkwater Pool, the location of a murder that took place over thirty years ago. What connection does her mother have to this place and who can Meredith trust to help her find answers?
Although this novel is identified as “psychological thriller” I see it as more of a crime drama. Being identified as a psychological thriller gave me the wrong impression going in and I immediately felt disappointed (psychological thrillers being my favourite genre by far). However, once I had re-connected with the novel in a different genre, I was able to enjoy this novel far more.
Meredith is a great character- she is full of chutzpah but is also a little self-effacing. Her father, Graeme, is charming and delightful and I love the relationship between the two; the constant “ups-and-downs yet always there for each other” kind of father-daughter love is endearing. When Isobel introduces Meredith to the idea of “hypnosis” I pleaded with Ms. Ryder to not go down that zany and desperate road (“please don’t tell me this is going to be some past-lives novel”). I am so glad she did not follow that to the ending, and merely glazed over it to add some definition to the plot.
This story is told from alternating viewpoints- that of Meredith, Cara (the murdered woman) and Jay (the boyfriend-turned-suspect). It was slightly confusing at first to follow the revolving viewpoints (considering they also covered different time periods) but as relationships with the characters grow and develop, the interlaced viewpoints add to the plot development.
The ending of this novel was a bit predictable actually, but it may not be so for everyone who is not extremely familiar with crime dramas. However, the novel did end in a comforting way and I was satisfied with the way all the loose ends were wrapped up.
Ryder has some developing writing chops, and I know that with experience and time she has the potential to develop into a prolific writer. “Lie to Me” is a great start and I look forward to seeing what else she produces.
March 23, 2017
2.5 stars
This review is going to be short and sweet:
An okay mystery.
I wasn't a fan of the characters and it dragged on a bit too long as often happens when you don't connect with a book.
I thought the epilogue was going to tie up some lose ends and provide better closure, but that was a fail in my opinion.
Moving on....
ARC provided by NetGalley
This review is going to be short and sweet:
An okay mystery.
I wasn't a fan of the characters and it dragged on a bit too long as often happens when you don't connect with a book.
I thought the epilogue was going to tie up some lose ends and provide better closure, but that was a fail in my opinion.
Moving on....
ARC provided by NetGalley
April 18, 2017
Three minutes of footage on a innocent looking old vcr tape is all it takes to shatter Meredith Banks life and put doubt on everything that she thought she knew about her life so far.
Meredith is totally blown away by what she has just watched.Can there be any truth in the strange story that her mother had forced her to tell on camera.
The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool,the scene of the murder of Cara Travers thirty years ago.Could there possibly be a link between her mother and the victim.
To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own.The problem is,she is not the only one looking....
I was hooked in from the very first page of this gripping,fast paced story of secrets,relationships and betrayals.The story flips back and forth between Meredith`s story which is set in the present day and Cara`s which is set back in 1984.There is also a number of present day chapters throughout the book that are told from the point of view of Christopher Jay who was Cara`s boyfriend.Although the story is told from the point of view of more than one character the chapters are named and the story is easy to follow.The characters are realistic and believable,I really liked Meredith,poor mixed up Cara,I even felt sympathy for Christopher Jay at times even though some of his actions were unforgivable.I was worried at one point that the story was going to go in a direction that would have spoiled the story for me but fortunately that plot device was only used in one chapter and then discarded.
The mystery of who killed Cara is intriguing and kept me guessing until the final surprising reveal,although I did figure out one of the twists there was other twists that I definitely didn't see coming.I really enjoyed this thrilling debut and would have given it more than five stars if I could.I look forward to reading more book by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Meredith is totally blown away by what she has just watched.Can there be any truth in the strange story that her mother had forced her to tell on camera.
The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool,the scene of the murder of Cara Travers thirty years ago.Could there possibly be a link between her mother and the victim.
To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own.The problem is,she is not the only one looking....
I was hooked in from the very first page of this gripping,fast paced story of secrets,relationships and betrayals.The story flips back and forth between Meredith`s story which is set in the present day and Cara`s which is set back in 1984.There is also a number of present day chapters throughout the book that are told from the point of view of Christopher Jay who was Cara`s boyfriend.Although the story is told from the point of view of more than one character the chapters are named and the story is easy to follow.The characters are realistic and believable,I really liked Meredith,poor mixed up Cara,I even felt sympathy for Christopher Jay at times even though some of his actions were unforgivable.I was worried at one point that the story was going to go in a direction that would have spoiled the story for me but fortunately that plot device was only used in one chapter and then discarded.
The mystery of who killed Cara is intriguing and kept me guessing until the final surprising reveal,although I did figure out one of the twists there was other twists that I definitely didn't see coming.I really enjoyed this thrilling debut and would have given it more than five stars if I could.I look forward to reading more book by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
April 10, 2017
Meredith Banks hasn't seen her mother Becca since she was four when her schizophrenic mother was admitted to a psychiatric home. She's enjoyed a happy upbringing with her father and has returned home to help him pack up the house ready for a move to a smaller place in the country. In the attic she finds an old video tape made by Becca featuring her four year old self. It opens a whole can of worms and causes Meredith to look into the events surrounding the death of Cara Travers, whose body was found by Becca thirty years ago.
This is a debut novel by Jess Ryder and was in parts very good. The characters were interesting - young naive and mousy Cara dazzled by the more vibrant Isobel who went on to be a great director and Jay Christopher, disgruntled, disenfranchised local boy who wants to be an actor. The plot had some nice twists and turns in the second half but could have been tightened up in the earlier chapters where it was a little slow to get going. The story was told from different points of view in the past and the present but were were labelled so this was never confusing. Overall an enjoyable read from a promising new author.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital copy to read and review
This is a debut novel by Jess Ryder and was in parts very good. The characters were interesting - young naive and mousy Cara dazzled by the more vibrant Isobel who went on to be a great director and Jay Christopher, disgruntled, disenfranchised local boy who wants to be an actor. The plot had some nice twists and turns in the second half but could have been tightened up in the earlier chapters where it was a little slow to get going. The story was told from different points of view in the past and the present but were were labelled so this was never confusing. Overall an enjoyable read from a promising new author.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital copy to read and review
April 12, 2017
Meredith grew up being raised by her father when her mother left them while Meredith was very young and now she remembers very little about the mother she barely knew. When cleaning out her father's place before a move Meredith comes across an old VHS tape that is obvious it has something to do with her mother. Meredith's father objects to Meredith watching the tape but she is determined to find out more about her past.
After viewing the tape Meredith is more confused than ever about what happened to her mother. It seemed that she really had psychological problems but her mother had mentioned a murder that may or may not have happened thirty years ago so Meredith decides to look into the matter and find out once and for all what happened in the past.
Lie to Me by Jess Ryder is a mystery/thriller that is told from alternating time lines and points of view throughout the story. Part of the book is flashing back to a character named Cara who was killed before Meredith was ever born that Meredith's mother somehow had something to do with. Then the other story is following Meredith's as she digs through the past trying to find out just what had happened.
For me this book ran hot and cold throughout reading as I found myself enjoying Meredith and her quest for the truth about the past but then with the chapters glimpsing back into Cara and her life I found myself a bit disconnected with her character. I really couldn't put my finger on why I would become bored with Cara's story, perhaps knowing she had been murdered there just wasn't an intensity to dragging out the buildup to the murder or she just wasn't a favorite character of mine overall. In the end though I struggled with rating the story since parts of it I had completely enjoyed but felt others drag on so I decided to rate right down the middle with three stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
After viewing the tape Meredith is more confused than ever about what happened to her mother. It seemed that she really had psychological problems but her mother had mentioned a murder that may or may not have happened thirty years ago so Meredith decides to look into the matter and find out once and for all what happened in the past.
Lie to Me by Jess Ryder is a mystery/thriller that is told from alternating time lines and points of view throughout the story. Part of the book is flashing back to a character named Cara who was killed before Meredith was ever born that Meredith's mother somehow had something to do with. Then the other story is following Meredith's as she digs through the past trying to find out just what had happened.
For me this book ran hot and cold throughout reading as I found myself enjoying Meredith and her quest for the truth about the past but then with the chapters glimpsing back into Cara and her life I found myself a bit disconnected with her character. I really couldn't put my finger on why I would become bored with Cara's story, perhaps knowing she had been murdered there just wasn't an intensity to dragging out the buildup to the murder or she just wasn't a favorite character of mine overall. In the end though I struggled with rating the story since parts of it I had completely enjoyed but felt others drag on so I decided to rate right down the middle with three stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 20, 2017
LIE TO ME is a debut psychological thriller by author Jess Ryder.
This book focuses around Meredith, an only child and now a grown woman and her search to find out the truth behind a short three minute VHS tape of her long lost possibly dead mother. Her mother absent for most of her life, was schizophrenic and was never a part of Meredith’s life.
“We’re going to tell our story and then it will all stop and Mummy will be safe. You want Mummy to be safe, don’t you?”
During those three minutes…Meredith’s entire world seems to fall apart when she watches the videotape of her four-year-old self with Becca, the mother she’s never known.
Meredith can’t believe what she has seen. Is this a story that she has locked away in her childhood, to painful to deal with? Is it even true?
“The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim?”
I found this was a short book to read, with much promise to deliver, but for me fell a little flat, by slowing down in sections, and losing my interest. This is probably because my favourite genre is psychological thrillers, and I must connect with the characters while the tension and suspense escalates to the grand finale. For me, it needed more Wow and less description.
For this reason, I must rate this novel as three, but will definitely be interested in reading future novels by this author.
I would like to thank Jess Ryder, Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC.
This book focuses around Meredith, an only child and now a grown woman and her search to find out the truth behind a short three minute VHS tape of her long lost possibly dead mother. Her mother absent for most of her life, was schizophrenic and was never a part of Meredith’s life.
“We’re going to tell our story and then it will all stop and Mummy will be safe. You want Mummy to be safe, don’t you?”
During those three minutes…Meredith’s entire world seems to fall apart when she watches the videotape of her four-year-old self with Becca, the mother she’s never known.
Meredith can’t believe what she has seen. Is this a story that she has locked away in her childhood, to painful to deal with? Is it even true?
“The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim?”
I found this was a short book to read, with much promise to deliver, but for me fell a little flat, by slowing down in sections, and losing my interest. This is probably because my favourite genre is psychological thrillers, and I must connect with the characters while the tension and suspense escalates to the grand finale. For me, it needed more Wow and less description.
For this reason, I must rate this novel as three, but will definitely be interested in reading future novels by this author.
I would like to thank Jess Ryder, Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC.
April 26, 2017
4☆ Intriguing story of Secrets and Lies.
Lie to me is a story of lies, secrets and betrayal. It was exciting and gripping.
The first few pages had me intrigued and once I started I was hooked!
The story starts with Meredith.
She's in the attic sorting though old things when she finds a Video tape labled her name on it.
She is so curious, and gutted she has just threw out her old video player, She takes the video to show her Father who is in the garden. Looking for answers!
Her father is tending to the bonfire when she approached him with the tape.
He's reaction to the video alarms Meredith as he tries to snatch the video away from her to burn it.
She clings on tight refusing to let go.
This only adds fuel to the fire as she is now even more determined to view the video.
What is so bad he doesn't want her to see?
He gives her a warning & She runs off very upset!
Meredith and her father have a close relationship so when he acts this way, Meredith is not only angry with him she's also hurt and upset she acted this way towards her father.
The video is of Meredith and her mother Becca.
At 4 years old, Becca appears to be making her say some odd things on camera in order to keep Becca safe.
Things don't seem to add up and her father refuses to answer any of her questions.
As far as Meredith knew, her mother had left along time ago.
She decides to embark on a journey to discover the truth about her mother and the video tape.
Her journey leads her to Darkwater Pool.
However what she's about to discover is the murder of a young lady called Cara. Which happened 30 years ago.
What she doesn't understand is what the link between her mother and Cara is.
Meredith needs answers and goes in search to discover the connection between Becca and Cara. No matter what the danger is
The story was gripping and cleverly written, i liked the fact it was written between past and present as the reader built up a picture of events leading to Cara's death. The past is told by Cara and the present by Meredith.
It has a strong message that lies do catch up with you in the end!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable and there was a few twists that kept the reader intrigued and guessing.
I didn't find it to be too predictable which made a nice change.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes mystery, thrillers embroiled with secrets and lies with some great twists to keep the reader guessing.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
Lie to me is a story of lies, secrets and betrayal. It was exciting and gripping.
The first few pages had me intrigued and once I started I was hooked!
The story starts with Meredith.
She's in the attic sorting though old things when she finds a Video tape labled her name on it.
She is so curious, and gutted she has just threw out her old video player, She takes the video to show her Father who is in the garden. Looking for answers!
Her father is tending to the bonfire when she approached him with the tape.
He's reaction to the video alarms Meredith as he tries to snatch the video away from her to burn it.
She clings on tight refusing to let go.
This only adds fuel to the fire as she is now even more determined to view the video.
What is so bad he doesn't want her to see?
He gives her a warning & She runs off very upset!
Meredith and her father have a close relationship so when he acts this way, Meredith is not only angry with him she's also hurt and upset she acted this way towards her father.
The video is of Meredith and her mother Becca.
At 4 years old, Becca appears to be making her say some odd things on camera in order to keep Becca safe.
Things don't seem to add up and her father refuses to answer any of her questions.
As far as Meredith knew, her mother had left along time ago.
She decides to embark on a journey to discover the truth about her mother and the video tape.
Her journey leads her to Darkwater Pool.
However what she's about to discover is the murder of a young lady called Cara. Which happened 30 years ago.
What she doesn't understand is what the link between her mother and Cara is.
Meredith needs answers and goes in search to discover the connection between Becca and Cara. No matter what the danger is
The story was gripping and cleverly written, i liked the fact it was written between past and present as the reader built up a picture of events leading to Cara's death. The past is told by Cara and the present by Meredith.
It has a strong message that lies do catch up with you in the end!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable and there was a few twists that kept the reader intrigued and guessing.
I didn't find it to be too predictable which made a nice change.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes mystery, thrillers embroiled with secrets and lies with some great twists to keep the reader guessing.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
April 23, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
This is the type of book that I would call a slow burner, one where there’s a sense of underlying tension that’s waiting to rise to the surface. When it begins, Meri has come across an old VHS tape with her mothers handwriting on the label. This is significant to her as her mom, Becca left when she was a toddler and she hasn’t heard from her since. When she asks her father about the tape she is stunned by his strong, angry reaction and knows that whatever is on the tape means something for her, but she’s unaware that this discovery will set off a chain of events with shocking outcomes.
This is told in two timelines, the first is Meri in the present day, and then it jumps back to 1984 and is told from Cara’s perspective. There are also some chapters told from a man named Jay’s point of view in the present day as well. At first I was a bit confused about how a cold murder case (Cara) would link to Meri but it all became clear when it’s revealed that Becca is the one who found Cara’s body and Jay was in a relationship with Cara. That may seem like a slight spoiler, but if you pick this one up I don’t want you to get discouraged as Ryder links all the plot threads together in a very interesting way.
This had a steady pace throughout that gradually intensified as it neared the conclusion and towards the last quarter of the book, there was a twist that knocked me off balance. It was a bit different than what I had anticipated as it didn’t focus so much on the murder case or any particular crimes but rather the characters and how they all had secrets hiding in the shadows and how these lies affected them personally. It still had a tricky plot and kept me gripped the whole time and the epilogue was really strong as was Ryder’s writing style. I’m looking forward to reading what she comes up with next!
This is the type of book that I would call a slow burner, one where there’s a sense of underlying tension that’s waiting to rise to the surface. When it begins, Meri has come across an old VHS tape with her mothers handwriting on the label. This is significant to her as her mom, Becca left when she was a toddler and she hasn’t heard from her since. When she asks her father about the tape she is stunned by his strong, angry reaction and knows that whatever is on the tape means something for her, but she’s unaware that this discovery will set off a chain of events with shocking outcomes.
This is told in two timelines, the first is Meri in the present day, and then it jumps back to 1984 and is told from Cara’s perspective. There are also some chapters told from a man named Jay’s point of view in the present day as well. At first I was a bit confused about how a cold murder case (Cara) would link to Meri but it all became clear when it’s revealed that Becca is the one who found Cara’s body and Jay was in a relationship with Cara. That may seem like a slight spoiler, but if you pick this one up I don’t want you to get discouraged as Ryder links all the plot threads together in a very interesting way.
This had a steady pace throughout that gradually intensified as it neared the conclusion and towards the last quarter of the book, there was a twist that knocked me off balance. It was a bit different than what I had anticipated as it didn’t focus so much on the murder case or any particular crimes but rather the characters and how they all had secrets hiding in the shadows and how these lies affected them personally. It still had a tricky plot and kept me gripped the whole time and the epilogue was really strong as was Ryder’s writing style. I’m looking forward to reading what she comes up with next!
April 26, 2017
An ok debut that promised much but ultimately failed to deliver.
Lie To Me tells the story of Meredith, an only child now a grown woman, the story begins with her clearing out her fathers loft as he prepares for a move.
In there she finds an old box with a VHS tape with her name written on it.
She eventually watches the tape which is of her as a small child, with her estranged mother, a woman who left when she was very young. A woman with severe physiological problems. In the tape it appears that she's trying to tell Meredith about the "bad man" and getting Meredith to re-enact stabbing someone.
She proceeds to look further into this and to names mentioned in the tape, which lead her to an old murder as she tries to find out the meaning of the tape and what happened to her mother and where she might be.
The story starts with a bit of intrigue. The tape is very mysterious and the mother of Meredith, Becca, shows promise to be a really interesting character. She seems to suffer with schizophrenia and having been missing for years and with the strange tape turning up, you are sort of hoping she will be a central role on the story and more and more will be revealed about her.
Unfortunately it doesn't play out that way as Meredith begins her own investigation into the murder related to the tape.
The isn't a particularly long book but it did drag at times, with seemingly endless descriptive passages that did little to add to the atmosphere of the story and certainly didn't help the pacing.
It's an ok story. The characters are all a little wooden and don't really hold your interest. Even Meredith the central character is mildly annoying at times. The story just about held my interest but it did feel a bit of a chore to finish the book. Even the epilogue felt unfulfilling. A lot of words in it without much being said.
It certainly wasn't terrible and there's the making of a good story in there but it was all a little meh for me unfortunately.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Jess Ryder for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lie To Me tells the story of Meredith, an only child now a grown woman, the story begins with her clearing out her fathers loft as he prepares for a move.
In there she finds an old box with a VHS tape with her name written on it.
She eventually watches the tape which is of her as a small child, with her estranged mother, a woman who left when she was very young. A woman with severe physiological problems. In the tape it appears that she's trying to tell Meredith about the "bad man" and getting Meredith to re-enact stabbing someone.
She proceeds to look further into this and to names mentioned in the tape, which lead her to an old murder as she tries to find out the meaning of the tape and what happened to her mother and where she might be.
The story starts with a bit of intrigue. The tape is very mysterious and the mother of Meredith, Becca, shows promise to be a really interesting character. She seems to suffer with schizophrenia and having been missing for years and with the strange tape turning up, you are sort of hoping she will be a central role on the story and more and more will be revealed about her.
Unfortunately it doesn't play out that way as Meredith begins her own investigation into the murder related to the tape.
The isn't a particularly long book but it did drag at times, with seemingly endless descriptive passages that did little to add to the atmosphere of the story and certainly didn't help the pacing.
It's an ok story. The characters are all a little wooden and don't really hold your interest. Even Meredith the central character is mildly annoying at times. The story just about held my interest but it did feel a bit of a chore to finish the book. Even the epilogue felt unfulfilling. A lot of words in it without much being said.
It certainly wasn't terrible and there's the making of a good story in there but it was all a little meh for me unfortunately.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Jess Ryder for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2017
Meredith thinks she is the reincarnation of Cara, a young woman murdered 30 years ago. It's her belief because that is what her mother believed before she walked out of the mental hospital and disappeared a very long time ago. Her mother, Becca, was so convinced she videotaped her young daughter.
So what was the tie between Becca and Cara .. and now Meredith? Is it true ..or just the ramblings of her mentally ill mother?
To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own. The problem is, she’s not the only one looking…
This is a debut novel, very well written. Characters are fully defined and unforgettable. The story is told from several view points. Chapters alternate from 30 years ago and the people involved in that time period to today with Meredith searching for the truth.
Twists and turns will keep the reader turning the pages. The ending was quite a surprise! This is definitely a psychological thriller worth reading ... and an author to watch.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy to read. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 20, 2017
I do love a book where there is a mystery to solve in the present that has its roots in the past and when Meredith finds an old video tape in the loft she is drawn into an unsolved murder case that she has never heard of before. But as she watches her four year old self on the old VCR, she is shocked by the story her mother has coerced her into telling on camera and becomes determined to uncover the truth.
I loved the way I became very quickly wrapped up in this book. Jess Ryder has a wonderfully warm and engrossing writing style that just grabs you from the start. Just as you are fully invested in Merediths story thougb, the plot flips back in time where we meet Cara. We are aware that Cara is eventually murdered so it was very creepy watching the events that would gradually lead to her death. But who is telling the truth and why can’t Meredith remember more about her childhood with her mother?
I have to admit I much preferred the “Me” chapters where Meredith became obsessed with investigating Cara’s murder and how her relationships with her father and her ex Eliot were explored. I found those to be just as intriguing as the relationship she doesn’t have – the one with her mother who is no longer part of her life. I didn’t particularly like any of the cast of characters from the “Cara” chapters though. They all seemed to exist in a bubble, detached from real life and rather self obsessed so it was difficult to maintain much sympathy for them when things started to fall apart.
There were plenty of plot twists here to keep my interest and I stayed up late into the night desperate to find out what secrets were about to be uncovered. Some I guessed and others came as more of a surprise but I enjoyed discovering every one of them. And I would definitely read more by Jess Ryder based my reaction to Lie to Me.
I loved the way I became very quickly wrapped up in this book. Jess Ryder has a wonderfully warm and engrossing writing style that just grabs you from the start. Just as you are fully invested in Merediths story thougb, the plot flips back in time where we meet Cara. We are aware that Cara is eventually murdered so it was very creepy watching the events that would gradually lead to her death. But who is telling the truth and why can’t Meredith remember more about her childhood with her mother?
I have to admit I much preferred the “Me” chapters where Meredith became obsessed with investigating Cara’s murder and how her relationships with her father and her ex Eliot were explored. I found those to be just as intriguing as the relationship she doesn’t have – the one with her mother who is no longer part of her life. I didn’t particularly like any of the cast of characters from the “Cara” chapters though. They all seemed to exist in a bubble, detached from real life and rather self obsessed so it was difficult to maintain much sympathy for them when things started to fall apart.
There were plenty of plot twists here to keep my interest and I stayed up late into the night desperate to find out what secrets were about to be uncovered. Some I guessed and others came as more of a surprise but I enjoyed discovering every one of them. And I would definitely read more by Jess Ryder based my reaction to Lie to Me.
May 14, 2017
3.5 stars
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Setting: London, England
POVs:
Meredith Banks grew up only knowing her father as her primary caretaker. While he gave her his undivided attention and tended to all of her needs throughout childhood and into adulthood, all questions surrounding her mother's whereabouts were always quickly halted by him, so she learned to quench those nagging thoughts and kept them to herself. While cleaning her father's attic one Sunday afternoon, Meri stumbles onto a videotape labeled with her name across it. She immediately thinks of her mother and has this persistent feeling that this tape may hold some important insight or link to the woman she never really knew. Meri never anticipates her father's response when she presents the videotape to him. Meri doesn't even recognize her own actions when she physically battles against him in order to retrieve the tape. The eerie footage of a toddler takes the center stage of this twisty story!
This book didn't waste time with a lengthy prologue and Chapter One dove right into the meat of the story! I loved that! There were some flashback scenes to 1984 peppered throughout the book but it was well spaced. Meredith was a likable character for the most part, but there were a few scenes where I just wanted to shout at her for getting into all sorts of foolish predicaments...
The epilogue was by far my favorite part because it finally gave the reader that one perspective that was wholly absent for 98% of the book. Parts of this story dragged, though, and one of the twists in this story was too predictable. Overall, this was a very likable book.
*ARC provided from NetGalley via Bookouture.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Setting: London, England
POVs:
Meredith Banks grew up only knowing her father as her primary caretaker. While he gave her his undivided attention and tended to all of her needs throughout childhood and into adulthood, all questions surrounding her mother's whereabouts were always quickly halted by him, so she learned to quench those nagging thoughts and kept them to herself. While cleaning her father's attic one Sunday afternoon, Meri stumbles onto a videotape labeled with her name across it. She immediately thinks of her mother and has this persistent feeling that this tape may hold some important insight or link to the woman she never really knew. Meri never anticipates her father's response when she presents the videotape to him. Meri doesn't even recognize her own actions when she physically battles against him in order to retrieve the tape. The eerie footage of a toddler takes the center stage of this twisty story!
This book didn't waste time with a lengthy prologue and Chapter One dove right into the meat of the story! I loved that! There were some flashback scenes to 1984 peppered throughout the book but it was well spaced. Meredith was a likable character for the most part, but there were a few scenes where I just wanted to shout at her for getting into all sorts of foolish predicaments...
The epilogue was by far my favorite part because it finally gave the reader that one perspective that was wholly absent for 98% of the book. Parts of this story dragged, though, and one of the twists in this story was too predictable. Overall, this was a very likable book.
*ARC provided from NetGalley via Bookouture.
March 19, 2017
Wow! What an amazing debut! Loved it from start to finish. I did not want it to end even as I was turning the pages to find out what had happened, what the truth was. A multi-layered, masterful story from a very skillful storyteller. I loved every word. Intriguing and thrilling, packed with twists and turns that I did not see coming. I am so glad to have discovered this author and will be looking forward to more from her. Highly recommend this amazing book to everyone.
April 25, 2017
I've rounded the star rating up to 4* but for me, this book falls somewhere between 3.5 and 4.
The accidental discovery of a videotape forms the basis of this story and, as befitting the title, there are plenty of lies and so much deceit in this debut thriller by Jess Ryder.
Meredith Banks hasn’t seen her mother Rebecca for many years, having been bought up by her father. Her father makes it clear that he doesn’t want to discuss her mother but after watching the video which specifically refers to two people, Cara Travers being one of them, Meredith is both shocked and intrigued and wants to find out more, especially if it will give any clues as to what happened to her mother. She shows the video to her ex-partner Eliot, a policeman, who then finds himself involved in a cold case investigation reviewing a 30 year old murder. Against advice, Meredith herself starts digging for information however the old saying ‘be careful what you wish for’ could come back to haunt her as revelations slowly come to light as to what really happened over 30 years earlier.
The story is told by three voices – Meredith, Jay and Cara (in a mixture of first and third person), flipping between 1984 and the present time. Although the historic part of the novel is essential to the plot as it slowly reveals the lead up to Cara’s death, I did think that this had a slower pace and have to admit that I found the present day investigations more intriguing than Cara’s story. As a peripheral character, I didn’t find Cara that interesting and I found myself wanting to hurry back to Meredith’s narrative; I was more interested in finding out what had happened to Rebecca and how she fitted into the story.
This was an enjoyable thriller, which I read fairly quickly as it is one of those addictive books that you want to keep going back to. There were twists that I didn’t anticipate leading to a fast paced and dramatic conclusion. I thought that I had guessed part of the ‘whodunit’ early on but I wasn’t completely right and the conclusion, when it came, made me realise that I should have been paying more attention – that’ll teach me! Jess Ryder writes very well with both the plot and the characters being strong enough to move the story along for me. With its underlying theme of obsession and hatred clearly coming through the pages, this is definitely one to be considered for your reading pile. At the time of writing this review, Lie to Me can be downloaded from Amazon UK for just 99p.
The accidental discovery of a videotape forms the basis of this story and, as befitting the title, there are plenty of lies and so much deceit in this debut thriller by Jess Ryder.
Meredith Banks hasn’t seen her mother Rebecca for many years, having been bought up by her father. Her father makes it clear that he doesn’t want to discuss her mother but after watching the video which specifically refers to two people, Cara Travers being one of them, Meredith is both shocked and intrigued and wants to find out more, especially if it will give any clues as to what happened to her mother. She shows the video to her ex-partner Eliot, a policeman, who then finds himself involved in a cold case investigation reviewing a 30 year old murder. Against advice, Meredith herself starts digging for information however the old saying ‘be careful what you wish for’ could come back to haunt her as revelations slowly come to light as to what really happened over 30 years earlier.
The story is told by three voices – Meredith, Jay and Cara (in a mixture of first and third person), flipping between 1984 and the present time. Although the historic part of the novel is essential to the plot as it slowly reveals the lead up to Cara’s death, I did think that this had a slower pace and have to admit that I found the present day investigations more intriguing than Cara’s story. As a peripheral character, I didn’t find Cara that interesting and I found myself wanting to hurry back to Meredith’s narrative; I was more interested in finding out what had happened to Rebecca and how she fitted into the story.
This was an enjoyable thriller, which I read fairly quickly as it is one of those addictive books that you want to keep going back to. There were twists that I didn’t anticipate leading to a fast paced and dramatic conclusion. I thought that I had guessed part of the ‘whodunit’ early on but I wasn’t completely right and the conclusion, when it came, made me realise that I should have been paying more attention – that’ll teach me! Jess Ryder writes very well with both the plot and the characters being strong enough to move the story along for me. With its underlying theme of obsession and hatred clearly coming through the pages, this is definitely one to be considered for your reading pile. At the time of writing this review, Lie to Me can be downloaded from Amazon UK for just 99p.
April 21, 2017
*3.75
For a debut this was a decent thriller. After Meredith watches 3 minutes of a long ago video, her life changes. What she thought she knew about her mother, Becca, also changes. Raised by her father, she never knew her mother nor did her father ever talk about her. Through Becca, Meredith will be on a search to find out what happened years ago with a woman named Cara. The book alternates between Meredith and Cara. This will have some twists and turns to keep you reading and wanting to find answers along with Meredith. I did enjoy this and Jess Ryder will be someone that I watch out for what she writes next. The only reason this didn't get a full 4 stars from me, was the ending. I was left a little let down....I guess I was expecting more.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For a debut this was a decent thriller. After Meredith watches 3 minutes of a long ago video, her life changes. What she thought she knew about her mother, Becca, also changes. Raised by her father, she never knew her mother nor did her father ever talk about her. Through Becca, Meredith will be on a search to find out what happened years ago with a woman named Cara. The book alternates between Meredith and Cara. This will have some twists and turns to keep you reading and wanting to find answers along with Meredith. I did enjoy this and Jess Ryder will be someone that I watch out for what she writes next. The only reason this didn't get a full 4 stars from me, was the ending. I was left a little let down....I guess I was expecting more.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2017
When Meredith (Meri) finds an old home movie of her and her mother, she is surprised when her father doesn’t want her to watch it. She had never known her mother, Becca. After watching the video, Meri is conflicted. Is this video truly the rambling of a woman with mental health issues, as she has always been told, or could there be any truth in this strange and dangerous story her mother ranted about and forced her to tell on camera?
Lie to Me by Jess Ryder was completely different than what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t find this one particularly dark or twisty, but I did find it intriguing in its exploration of past lives and family secrets.
The novel opens with Meri uncovering a video depicting her mother and herself (aged 4) in the yard of their family home. Her mother is ranting about needing safety and needing Meri to let people know who she really is. This leaves Meri, understandably, confused and sets her on a path to find answers bringing her to the gothic Darkwater Pool, an old estate and the scene of the murder of a young woman, thirty years prior.
The characters in this novel are fairly simple and easily digested, as is the plot. The novel is made up of a mixture of some really, amazing fast-paced moments and the rest feels sort of like filler. There are not any huge WOW moments, but more of a bunch of small moments that made me think, “okay, that’s random”. Ryder did a great job at throwing things I wasn’t necessarily expecting, but mostly because I felt like they didn’t truly fit together.
Overall, I felt like this was an okay read and reminded me a little bit of The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy. I gave this one a 3/5 stars.
Lie to Me by Jess Ryder was completely different than what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t find this one particularly dark or twisty, but I did find it intriguing in its exploration of past lives and family secrets.
The novel opens with Meri uncovering a video depicting her mother and herself (aged 4) in the yard of their family home. Her mother is ranting about needing safety and needing Meri to let people know who she really is. This leaves Meri, understandably, confused and sets her on a path to find answers bringing her to the gothic Darkwater Pool, an old estate and the scene of the murder of a young woman, thirty years prior.
The characters in this novel are fairly simple and easily digested, as is the plot. The novel is made up of a mixture of some really, amazing fast-paced moments and the rest feels sort of like filler. There are not any huge WOW moments, but more of a bunch of small moments that made me think, “okay, that’s random”. Ryder did a great job at throwing things I wasn’t necessarily expecting, but mostly because I felt like they didn’t truly fit together.
Overall, I felt like this was an okay read and reminded me a little bit of The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy. I gave this one a 3/5 stars.
April 16, 2017
Reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
I really enjoyed this fun, fast-paced mystery. Lie To Me is different to how I'd expected it to be - it's not really about the crime itself, as such (even though that is the basis of the book), but more about the ripple effect that this incident has had across those involved and their family and children, and how it affects their lives.
Though Meredith's ex-boyfriend is investigating the cold case, that's the only real police work included. There is the odd interview with other detectives, but we mainly see the story from two 'civilians': from Meredith's point of view as she tries to work out what happened, and from Cara's as the events leading up to her death unfold. The characters themselves are quite simple and though I didn't feel like I hugely cared a lot about them, I was still very intrigued as to who played what part in Cara's death.
Some parts are slower than others, and there wasn't really a huge tension or drama with Cara's murder like I thought there would be. It just didn't feel very menacing or threatening - maybe because it happened years ago, but as the reader you're still seeing what happens to Cara, so I expected to feel a bit more threat. However I liked that the book presented everything from a non-police angle; it made a change from the many police procedurals and detective novels I've read recently and was a breath of fresh air in that sense!
I really liked how the story focused on the characters who were involved and slowly reveals more about what their lives were like before and after the crime. I was interested to find out what actually happened to Meredith's mother, and how she linked in with the story. Some parts I could sort of guess but there were still some surprises along the way and it kept me reading on - I finished it very quickly!
Overall I feel that this is an entertaining novel that's well worth a read, and I would definitely try future novels by Jess Ryder - Lie To Me is fun, easy to read which kept me interested.
[3.5 stars bumped to 4]
Many thanks to Bookouture who provided a copy of this novel, on which I chose to write an unbiased and honest review.
I really enjoyed this fun, fast-paced mystery. Lie To Me is different to how I'd expected it to be - it's not really about the crime itself, as such (even though that is the basis of the book), but more about the ripple effect that this incident has had across those involved and their family and children, and how it affects their lives.
Though Meredith's ex-boyfriend is investigating the cold case, that's the only real police work included. There is the odd interview with other detectives, but we mainly see the story from two 'civilians': from Meredith's point of view as she tries to work out what happened, and from Cara's as the events leading up to her death unfold. The characters themselves are quite simple and though I didn't feel like I hugely cared a lot about them, I was still very intrigued as to who played what part in Cara's death.
Some parts are slower than others, and there wasn't really a huge tension or drama with Cara's murder like I thought there would be. It just didn't feel very menacing or threatening - maybe because it happened years ago, but as the reader you're still seeing what happens to Cara, so I expected to feel a bit more threat. However I liked that the book presented everything from a non-police angle; it made a change from the many police procedurals and detective novels I've read recently and was a breath of fresh air in that sense!
I really liked how the story focused on the characters who were involved and slowly reveals more about what their lives were like before and after the crime. I was interested to find out what actually happened to Meredith's mother, and how she linked in with the story. Some parts I could sort of guess but there were still some surprises along the way and it kept me reading on - I finished it very quickly!
Overall I feel that this is an entertaining novel that's well worth a read, and I would definitely try future novels by Jess Ryder - Lie To Me is fun, easy to read which kept me interested.
[3.5 stars bumped to 4]
Many thanks to Bookouture who provided a copy of this novel, on which I chose to write an unbiased and honest review.
July 23, 2017
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Lie to Me has been written by Jess Ryder which is a pen name for Jan Page
Meredith Banks has been brought up by her devoted father after her mum (Becca) left when she 4 years old. Becca was diagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to a mental hospital after trying to commit suicide. Not long after being admitted to hospital she escaped and was presumed dead.
Meredith finds an old video tape when emptying her dad's loft. The tape is labelled Meredith 1990, when Meredith shows it to her Dad he begs her not to watch it. The video is of Meredith, with Becca is in the background telling her to say she is Cara Travers and she was murdered by Christopher Jay.
But who is Cara Travers and Christopher Jay? Meredith contacts her policeman and ex boyfriend Elliot who discovers that Cara Travers was murdered in 1984, after a trial her murderer was found not guilty.
Lie to Me was divided into chapters Me, Cara and Jay. I was instantly drawn into this story from the first page. I liked theatre producer Isobel who was Cara's best friend at Uni. As the story developed I felt sorry for Christopher Jay.
Although I worked out who murdered Cara the ending still surprised me. This book is definitely worth a read, I look forward to Jess's next book The Good Sister.
Lie to Me has been written by Jess Ryder which is a pen name for Jan Page
Meredith Banks has been brought up by her devoted father after her mum (Becca) left when she 4 years old. Becca was diagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to a mental hospital after trying to commit suicide. Not long after being admitted to hospital she escaped and was presumed dead.
Meredith finds an old video tape when emptying her dad's loft. The tape is labelled Meredith 1990, when Meredith shows it to her Dad he begs her not to watch it. The video is of Meredith, with Becca is in the background telling her to say she is Cara Travers and she was murdered by Christopher Jay.
But who is Cara Travers and Christopher Jay? Meredith contacts her policeman and ex boyfriend Elliot who discovers that Cara Travers was murdered in 1984, after a trial her murderer was found not guilty.
Lie to Me was divided into chapters Me, Cara and Jay. I was instantly drawn into this story from the first page. I liked theatre producer Isobel who was Cara's best friend at Uni. As the story developed I felt sorry for Christopher Jay.
Although I worked out who murdered Cara the ending still surprised me. This book is definitely worth a read, I look forward to Jess's next book The Good Sister.
July 31, 2017
This was an enjoyable read, good plot, characters you could identify with and a storyline that kept me engrossed throughout. Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2017
First I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, Bookouture, and the very talented author, Jess Ryder for my ARC copy for a fair and honest review.
Where to begin on this one? I guess lets start at the beginning. Meredith finds an old video in which her mother is coaching her to "tell the truth" of being the reincarnated victim of a murder.
This short video is all it takes to throw Meredith's life into utter chaos. Is what her schizophrenic mother saying true? This is what Meredith sets out to find out, and sends her into a frenzy. Is she losing her mind? Is she following in her mothers footprints? These are the questions she is asking herself through this wonderful novel.
The characters are well developed and wonderfully flawed. Right from Meredith, her ex boyfriend Eliot, and Isobel Dalliday, the best friend of the murder victim.
The story is told from multiple view points and flows relatively smooth. I did figure out the killer earlier on but, I did second guess myself a few times. The ending left me a little disappointed though. The author tried tidying up all the loose ends, but to me it felt a little forced.
Otherwise, an excellent first novel that I really enjoyed, and I am looking forward to reading more by the author.
Where to begin on this one? I guess lets start at the beginning. Meredith finds an old video in which her mother is coaching her to "tell the truth" of being the reincarnated victim of a murder.
This short video is all it takes to throw Meredith's life into utter chaos. Is what her schizophrenic mother saying true? This is what Meredith sets out to find out, and sends her into a frenzy. Is she losing her mind? Is she following in her mothers footprints? These are the questions she is asking herself through this wonderful novel.
The characters are well developed and wonderfully flawed. Right from Meredith, her ex boyfriend Eliot, and Isobel Dalliday, the best friend of the murder victim.
The story is told from multiple view points and flows relatively smooth. I did figure out the killer earlier on but, I did second guess myself a few times. The ending left me a little disappointed though. The author tried tidying up all the loose ends, but to me it felt a little forced.
Otherwise, an excellent first novel that I really enjoyed, and I am looking forward to reading more by the author.
May 2, 2017
The blurb of this book grabbed my attention straight away and that tagline, how can you tell the truth if all you’ve ever known is a lie…I just love it! I was excited to make a start on this intriguing psychological thriller. And the verdict? I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Meredith, the main character in the book is instantly likeable. You join her as she sorts through the contents of her father’s attic where she makes an unexpected discovery. A videotape with her name written on it in her mother’s handwriting. Against her father’s advice she enthusiastically watches the tape hoping for answers about her estranged mother, Becca. But what she gets is a whole lot more twisted and life will never be the same again for Meredith.
I flew through the pages of this book. It grabbed my attention and kept pulling me back, time and time again. So much so that I finished it in two short days (that’s quick for me). The author’s writing style was very much to my taste and I wouldn’t hesitate to read another book by Jess Ryder.
Each chapter is told from one of three points of view; you have Meredith the lead character, Cara before her death in the mid-1980s and Jay, the man accused but found innocent of Cara’s murder. Cara is also a very likeable character and I felt a little sad knowing that all the future held for her was a terrifying death. The chapters told from Jay’s point of view make it very clear that he is man living on the edge and doing everything he can to escape his past.
You discover that the only reason Jay was found innocent of Cara’s murder was because of Becca’s testimony which confused the court and led to Jay being released. The impact had by Becca’s testimony on the case instantly drags Meredith into a cold case investigation, alongside her detective ex-boyfriend Eliot. Eliot’s only focus is his career and he refuses to share certain findings with Meredith. Which only frustrates Meri and makes her even more determined to work out who killed Cara all those years ago. Surely it wasn’t her own mother, only to be driven mad by the guilt?
For me, the story of Meredith’s quest, her desire to find out what happened to her mother and the slightly odd bunch of characters she meets along the way made this book for me. All of the characters add something to the story, and the character of Isobel will stay with me for a long time to come. There are shocks and surprises along the way, none of which I saw coming so full marks to the author.
A tale of family secrets, lies and betrayal which I found hard to put down. In all honestly I preferred the main body of the book to the ending but it’s still a great read which I would recommend to fans of the genre without hesitation. I’m looking forward to reading more from Jess Ryder.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Lie to Me. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Meredith, the main character in the book is instantly likeable. You join her as she sorts through the contents of her father’s attic where she makes an unexpected discovery. A videotape with her name written on it in her mother’s handwriting. Against her father’s advice she enthusiastically watches the tape hoping for answers about her estranged mother, Becca. But what she gets is a whole lot more twisted and life will never be the same again for Meredith.
I flew through the pages of this book. It grabbed my attention and kept pulling me back, time and time again. So much so that I finished it in two short days (that’s quick for me). The author’s writing style was very much to my taste and I wouldn’t hesitate to read another book by Jess Ryder.
Each chapter is told from one of three points of view; you have Meredith the lead character, Cara before her death in the mid-1980s and Jay, the man accused but found innocent of Cara’s murder. Cara is also a very likeable character and I felt a little sad knowing that all the future held for her was a terrifying death. The chapters told from Jay’s point of view make it very clear that he is man living on the edge and doing everything he can to escape his past.
You discover that the only reason Jay was found innocent of Cara’s murder was because of Becca’s testimony which confused the court and led to Jay being released. The impact had by Becca’s testimony on the case instantly drags Meredith into a cold case investigation, alongside her detective ex-boyfriend Eliot. Eliot’s only focus is his career and he refuses to share certain findings with Meredith. Which only frustrates Meri and makes her even more determined to work out who killed Cara all those years ago. Surely it wasn’t her own mother, only to be driven mad by the guilt?
For me, the story of Meredith’s quest, her desire to find out what happened to her mother and the slightly odd bunch of characters she meets along the way made this book for me. All of the characters add something to the story, and the character of Isobel will stay with me for a long time to come. There are shocks and surprises along the way, none of which I saw coming so full marks to the author.
A tale of family secrets, lies and betrayal which I found hard to put down. In all honestly I preferred the main body of the book to the ending but it’s still a great read which I would recommend to fans of the genre without hesitation. I’m looking forward to reading more from Jess Ryder.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Lie to Me. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 22, 2017
A crime/physiological thriller with some great twists. A story of a missing mother, a disturbing video, a loving, loyal father Meredith who starts the process of putting the pieces together. A good narration of three characters with a murder connecting them, A satisfying whodunnit. A great debut novel.
April 6, 2017
All of my reviews can be found at: http://jacob-reviews-books.blogspot.c...
Lie to Me is a new psychological thriller by debut author Jess Ryder.
When Meredith finds an old video tape whilst clearing out her father’s attic, she is curious to see what it shows. Her father’s reaction to the discovery of the tape is shocking and he urges her to throw it on the fire. But Meredith is determined to see it and to find out what secrets it contains. What Meredith discovers changes her life completely and she embarks on a dangerous journey to find out the truth. Who is the girl her mother refers to in the tape? And what happened to her mother when she disappeared all those years ago?
I did enjoy this story, but I have to admit that I struggled to get into it for the first quarter of the book after the first couple of chapters. I did think that there were some places where it did go on for a little bit and I found myself skim reading a little. There were places when I would have liked for there to have been a little more dialogue. But I did find Meredith’s voice engaging which stopped me putting the book down. The second half of the book was however much more gripping, particularly when the cold case investigation of a murdered girl and Meredith’s quest for answers about what happened to her mother steps up a pace and when Isabel Dalliday, a celebrity in the theatre world appears on the scene.
I really liked the characters in this book and I thought that they were well developed. I thought that Meredith’s growing relationship with Isabel was a great source of tension.
The novel is told over two time periods, focusing on Meredith’s and the police investigation in the present day and in the 1980s before the murder of a girl named Cara Travers. I also really enjoyed the scenes when the story flashed back in time; Isabel and Cara were great characters.
The ending scenes in which Jess pulled all the strands together was really well done and I thought the idea behind this was quite original. Jess racked up the tension in these scenes and I wasn’t expecting that final twist.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.
Lie to Me is a new psychological thriller by debut author Jess Ryder.
When Meredith finds an old video tape whilst clearing out her father’s attic, she is curious to see what it shows. Her father’s reaction to the discovery of the tape is shocking and he urges her to throw it on the fire. But Meredith is determined to see it and to find out what secrets it contains. What Meredith discovers changes her life completely and she embarks on a dangerous journey to find out the truth. Who is the girl her mother refers to in the tape? And what happened to her mother when she disappeared all those years ago?
I did enjoy this story, but I have to admit that I struggled to get into it for the first quarter of the book after the first couple of chapters. I did think that there were some places where it did go on for a little bit and I found myself skim reading a little. There were places when I would have liked for there to have been a little more dialogue. But I did find Meredith’s voice engaging which stopped me putting the book down. The second half of the book was however much more gripping, particularly when the cold case investigation of a murdered girl and Meredith’s quest for answers about what happened to her mother steps up a pace and when Isabel Dalliday, a celebrity in the theatre world appears on the scene.
I really liked the characters in this book and I thought that they were well developed. I thought that Meredith’s growing relationship with Isabel was a great source of tension.
The novel is told over two time periods, focusing on Meredith’s and the police investigation in the present day and in the 1980s before the murder of a girl named Cara Travers. I also really enjoyed the scenes when the story flashed back in time; Isabel and Cara were great characters.
The ending scenes in which Jess pulled all the strands together was really well done and I thought the idea behind this was quite original. Jess racked up the tension in these scenes and I wasn’t expecting that final twist.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.
June 4, 2017
Lie to Me
Jess Ryder
A Gripping Psychological Thriller is what caught my eye and made me want to read this book. I really enjoy reading books with a twisted ending especially if I'm unable to figure out who the killer is.
Jess Ryder did a good job with her ending. I hadn't figured it out by the end so that made me happy. Although I wasn't able to really connect with any of her characters. There wasn't much suspense in this story with the exception of wanting to know who the killer was. I didn't get much background for Cara to where I would normally grow attached to the victim and feel sadness when she died.
I would only rate this as 3.5 stars because I didn't become engrossed while reading and was easily distracted and only wanted to finish it to find out who the killer was.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Jess Ryder
A Gripping Psychological Thriller is what caught my eye and made me want to read this book. I really enjoy reading books with a twisted ending especially if I'm unable to figure out who the killer is.
Jess Ryder did a good job with her ending. I hadn't figured it out by the end so that made me happy. Although I wasn't able to really connect with any of her characters. There wasn't much suspense in this story with the exception of wanting to know who the killer was. I didn't get much background for Cara to where I would normally grow attached to the victim and feel sadness when she died.
I would only rate this as 3.5 stars because I didn't become engrossed while reading and was easily distracted and only wanted to finish it to find out who the killer was.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 26, 2017
Lie to Me is unpredictable and addictive. Meri finds an old videotape of her four-year-old self telling a strange story while her mom coaches her. Her mom disappeared shortly afterward and Meri needs to find out if what's on the tape is true or not. If only she would have listened to her dad, who asked her forcefully to burn the tape... but, once she tries to stop the events that she set in motion, it is too late and Meri's life will never be the same. All the supporting characters are well built and their actions are perfectly reasonable based on their personality. They all seem to be hiding something. But is it an innocent secret, a darker mystery or murder? A few of the characters are really unlikeable - and they have their reasons, maybe if they had all had normal lives, they would have been the nicest people. Other characters are endearing, even if they may be up to no good. At the center: four women at the heart of the mystery. Flawed, damaged, irresponsible but mostly trying to do their best. Well written and entertaining, Lie to Me is an excellent and suspenseful read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Bookouture!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Bookouture!
March 19, 2017
Meredith hasn't seen her mother for decades. For all she knows, her mother could very well be dead. When she finds a videotape hidden away at the bottom of a box, it raises a lot of questions. Three minutes is all it takes for Meredith's life to be turned upside down. Why is her mother acting so weird? Why is she asking her daughter to say these strange things on camera. What is her father hiding? And who are Cara and Christopher?
Meredith is desperate to find the answers and her search leads her to Darkwater Pool, the scene of a murder some thirty years ago. The chapters switch between Meredith in the present and Cara in the past. This book is quite an interesting character study on how lies can affect people decades down the road.
While I enjoyed this story most of the time, it seemed to drag on a bit sometimes. I felt quite a few things were highly predictable and there's a part I thought was completely unnecessary as it didn't really help move the plot along. I worried that was the direction the story was heading in but luckily it was left behind and soon forgotten. As a whole, I didn't find it as gripping as the cover promises but the character development is fascinating. There is a twist, yes, but when you read a lot of books in this genre, it wasn't all that hard to figure out.
However, I do see the potential in Jess Ryder's writing and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy which I chose to review.
Lie To Me will be published as an ebook on April 19th.
Meredith is desperate to find the answers and her search leads her to Darkwater Pool, the scene of a murder some thirty years ago. The chapters switch between Meredith in the present and Cara in the past. This book is quite an interesting character study on how lies can affect people decades down the road.
While I enjoyed this story most of the time, it seemed to drag on a bit sometimes. I felt quite a few things were highly predictable and there's a part I thought was completely unnecessary as it didn't really help move the plot along. I worried that was the direction the story was heading in but luckily it was left behind and soon forgotten. As a whole, I didn't find it as gripping as the cover promises but the character development is fascinating. There is a twist, yes, but when you read a lot of books in this genre, it wasn't all that hard to figure out.
However, I do see the potential in Jess Ryder's writing and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy which I chose to review.
Lie To Me will be published as an ebook on April 19th.
May 6, 2017
This is not a psychological thriller, it's just an average murder mystery. I couldn't have cared less who killed Cara, and it was too easy to guess early on who did it because . I was mostly curious about the explanation for the odd VCR tape, which most people didn't take seriously because Becca was mentally ill. Well, disappointed there again because . I wonder why the father hadn't been honest with Meredith from the beginning, so the falling out (literally!) over the tape would never have happened and Meredith would never have tried to .
Even though I listened to the audio version and was busy with crochet at the same time, I twice had to stop the player to have a short nap as the book was very slow-paced and boring, taking too much time to dwell on uninteresting stuff.
So it's only one star from me and I'll not be reading any more so-called psychological thrillers (hah!) from this author.
Even though I listened to the audio version and was busy with crochet at the same time, I twice had to stop the player to have a short nap as the book was very slow-paced and boring, taking too much time to dwell on uninteresting stuff.
So it's only one star from me and I'll not be reading any more so-called psychological thrillers (hah!) from this author.
January 9, 2018
Really wish I had more answers by the end this, but nope... why, why, why, is what I was left with. Maybe there will be a sequel, maybe we'll get answers later, maybe, maybe, maybe... but doubtful. Sorry 😒
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