The Dive by Sara Ochs BLOG TOUR #TheDive @OchsWrites @TransworldBooks @Bookish_Becky @RandomTTours

 

Escape to paradise.

Scuba diving instructor Cass leads her students out for their first dive off the beautiful coast of Koh Sang, Thailand's world-famous party island. It's supposed to be a life-changing experience, but things quickly spiral out of control...

Leave your secrets behind.

By the time she gets back to the shore, one of her students is dead, another badly injured, and she knows that her idyllic life is about to be smashed to pieces on the rocks.

But don't get lost for ever...

Because someone is making sure that backpackers never leave paradise - one murder at a time. And Cass has a feeling she might be next...

The Dive by Sara Ochs was published on 20 July 2023 by Bantam. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours blog tour.

Marketed as 'the debut thriller of 2023' by the publishers, and with a fabulous cover design, I was really looking forward to settling down to read The Dive.

It's the sort of book that you can really lose yourself in. One moment you are sitting in dreary England, with grey skies and constant drizzle, and the next you are transported to the white beaches and carefree lifestyle of Thailand. It is pure escapism, and also has a fast paced, tension thrilled plot filled with characters who are totally unreliable but who are also fascinating and so well created. 

Sara Ochs has clearly drawn on her experiences of travelling the world when reading this book. I have never been on a dive, I hate getting my face wet for one, and the thought of being underwater, feeling a little vulnerable just scares me witless.

The main protagonist of this novel, Cass, feels very differently. After fleeing her UK home and visiting Koh Sang, she takes a few diving lessons and finds that she loves it. After further training, she lands a job as an instructor and life is good. She's a member of a party loving ex-pat community and has found her soul mate in Logan. They've just got engaged and Cass thinks that she has shed her past. 

However, things change on the day that she takes out a group of students and one of them doesn't get back to the beach. Her body is found entwined in debris in the ocean and this is just the beginning of Cass's nightmare. Becoming paranoid, and certain that someone is following her, she finds messages that could only be meant for her. Messages that mean that she may have to admit to her past.

This is full of twists and turns in every chapter. Nothing is quite what it seems and there are characters that are not to be trusted. The reader is told the story through two voices; Cass and Brooke - a social media influencer whose online persona bears little resemblance to real life. 

A sinister and thought provoking story with a beautiful setting, brimming with suspense and mystery. From paradise to despair, from the perfect dream to the ultimate nightmare. Recommended by me. 

A self-admitted travel addict, Sara Ochs has built a life around visiting beautiful and
sometimes dangerous destinations. 

While learning to scuba dive on a remote island off the coast of Thailand, Sara heard that two backpackers had recently been murdered not far from her hotel. Horrified that something so terrible could happen in such an idyllic location, she knew she had found the inspiration for her debut novel, The Dive.

As well as being an author, Sara is an attorney and law professor, who splits her time between the United States and Sweden. 

You can find Sara on Instagram @saraochsauthor and on Twitter @OchsWrites.

The Polite Act of Drowning by Charleen Hurtubise BLOG TOUR #ThePoliteActofDrowning @CharliSolo @eriu_books @bonnierbooks_uk #BookReview

 

Michigan, 1985. The drowning of a teenage girl causes ripples in the small town of Kettle Lake, though for most the waters settle quickly. For sixteen-year-old Joanne Kennedy, however, the tragedy dredges up untold secrets and causes her mother to drift farther from reality and her family.

When troubled newcomer Lucinda arrives in town, she offers Joanne a chance of real friendship, and together the teenagers push against the boundaries of family, self-image, and their sexuality during the tension of a long, stifling summer. But the undercurrents of past harms continuously threaten to drag Joanne and those around her under...

The Polite Act of Drowning by Charleen Hurtubise was published by Eriu Books / Bonnier on 6 April 2023. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour. 

Kettle Lake is a small town in Michigan. It's 1985 and Joanne Kennedy is sixteen years of age. She lives with her fragile and unpredictable mother, her father who deals with life by ignoring a lot of it and drinking away the rest of it and her older sister who she has a love/hate relationship with. 

Kettle Lake is a town populated by families who've lived there for generations, but it is also shrouded in secrets. In the summer months, the town is thronged with outsiders who come to sit on the lake shore, and to swim in the waters. 

The lake is central to the story line, it is always there, the scene of many tragedies over the years and especially this year. Joanne watches a group of beautiful young girls swimming in the lake, she notices that the lifeguard is more interested in chatting to the girls than protecting them. 

When Joanne discovers, along with the rest of the town that one girl has drowned, she is filled with a complexity of emotion. She feels such guilt, wondering if she was the last person to see her alive, and if she could have done something to stop it happening. 

Lucinda is around the same age as Joanne, but couldn't be more different. When she arrives in town to live with a foster mother, she befriends Joanne and shows her a way of life that is totally alien to her. However, Joanne is a trusting soul and Lucinda can be unreliable and unpredictable and her 'friendship' is questionable. Joanne also has to deal with her mother's sudden decline, and how that affects the rest of the family, and indeed, other people in the town.

This is a beautifully written, evocative, coming of age story. The author has created a sense of place that thrusts the reader right into the heart of the town of Kettle Lake. You can almost become one of the community, getting to know the residents, exploring the forests and the lake and uncovering the long hidden secrets that have created so many of the characters.

This author doesn't shy away from some very dark and often emotional issues, but deals with them with empathy and compassion. The characters bare their souls and the reader is right there with them, every step of the way. 

This is an assured novel that covers a wealth of emotions, from grief to hope and all in between. I look forward to reading more from this author. 

Charleen Hurtubise has lived in Dublin, Ireland for over 25 years, having moved from Michigan, USA. 

She is a teacher and artist as well as a writer, and her short fiction, essays and poetry have appeared in various publications. 

She holds an MFA Creative Writing from University College Dublin (UCD) where she has also facilitated creative writing modules.

www.charlenhurtubise.com

Twitter @CharliSolo

Instagram @charleen_hurtubise

You Can't See Me by Eva Björg Ægisdottir BLOG TOUR #YouCantSeeMe @evaaegisdottir @OrendaBooks #IcelandNoir #BookReview

 

The wealthy, powerful Snæberg clan has gathered for a family reunion at a futuristic hotel set amongst the dark lava flows of Iceland's remote  peninsula.

 Petra Snæberg, a successful interior designer, is anxious about the event, and her troubled teenage daughter, Lea, whose social-media presence has attracted the wrong kind of followers. Ageing carpenter Tryggvi is an outsider, only tolerated because he's the boyfriend of Petra's aunt, but he's struggling to avoid alcohol because he knows what happens when he drinks … Humble hotel employee, Irma, is excited to meet this rich and famous family and observe them at close quarters … perhaps too close…

 As the weather deteriorates and the alcohol flows, one of the guests disappears, and it becomes clear that there is a prowler lurking in the dark.

But is the real danger inside … within the family itself?

 Masterfully cranking up the suspense, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir draws us into an isolated, frozen setting, where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted, as the dark secrets and painful pasts of the Snæberg family are uncovered … and the shocking truth revealed.

 Succession meets And Then There Were None … A Golden Age mystery for the 21st Century, with a shocking twist.

You Can't See Me by Eva Björg Ægisdottir was published in paperback on 6 July 2023 by Orenda Books and is the prequel story to the Forbidden Iceland series. It was translated by Victoria Cribb. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

I can't think of many things that are more satisfying than discovering a new author and loving their work.
Eva Björg Ægisdottir's Forbidden Iceland hooked me from the amazing first book The Creak on the Stairs, I have eagerly awaited each new instalment ever since. 

You Can't See Me is a prequel to the series. It is set just before Elma, the lead character from the series joins the Arkanes police force, and does feature two of her colleagues.

Whilst this is a crime novel, with a death and a police investigation, it could also be classed as a delightful and impressively constructed piece of domestic noir. Focussing on one of Iceland's most influential, wealthy and well known families, the Snæbergs.

This is a large family whose wealth was created by a man who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in the coming weeks. To acknowledge him, the family have booked out a high class, ultra modern hotel on the Snæfellsnes peninsular.

The reader is introduced to each character at the beginning of the story (there is also a handy family tree illustration included, for reference). There are four main voices in the narration, and each of those are unique and distinct. 

Irma is the only one of those voices who is not part of the family. She's a hotel employee who has become obsessed with following the family on social media. She's excited at the thought of being amongst them for a few days. 

The reader becomes a guest at the hotel party too. Privy to the drinking, the tension, the barbed remarks. We can see so much more of the characters, we know their weaknesses, their vulnerabilities and their problems. We are aware of so much more than even the characters that are close to one another. 

And then, a body is found. We are unaware of who the victim is, we have no idea who the murderer could be, or even if it was criminal, maybe it was an accident?  It is the job of police officers Sævar and Hörður to determine the facts of the death, and to ensure that any wrongdoing is uncovered. 

Once again, this magical author has transported me to the desolate Icelandic landscape and served up a story that is addictive, unexpected and utterly compelling. He ability to create characters so well is superb, and whilst the reader may not like all of them, they will certainly find them totally real.

An author who seems to get better with every book that she produces. Her grasp on plot and structure is undeniably precise, with nothing added that doesn't need to be there. 

Chilling and unforgettable, the author has earned her place amongst the best nordic noir crime writers.

Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva moved to Trondheim, Norway to study her MSc in Globalisation when she was 25. 

After moving back home having completed her MSc, she knew it was time to start working on her novel. 

Eva has wanted to write books since she was 15 years old, having won a short story contest in Iceland. 

Eva worked as a stewardess to make ends meet while she wrote her first novel, The Creak on the Stairs. 

The book went on to win the CWA Debut Dagger, the Blackbird Award, was shortlisted (twice) for the Capital Crime Readers' Awards, and became a number one bestseller in Iceland. 

The critically acclaimed Girls Who Lie (book two in the Forbidden Iceland series) soon followed, with Night Shadows (book three) following suit in July 2022. 

Eva lives with her husband and three children in Reykjavík.

Twitter @evaaegisdottir
Instagram @evabjorg88

The Beach Party by Nikki Smith BLOG TOUR #TheBeachParty @Mrssmithmunday @PenguinUKBooks @VikingBooksUK @EllieeHud #BookReview

 

Six friends.

The holiday of their dreams.

One night that changed it all . . .

1989: The tunes are loud and the clothes are louder when a group of friends arrives in Mallorca for a post-graduation holiday of decadence and debauchery at a luxury villa.

A beach party marks the pinnacle of their fun, until it isn't fun any longer. Because amidst the wild partying - sand flying from dancing feet and revellers leaping from yachts - an accident happens. Suddenly, the night of a lifetime becomes a living nightmare.

Now: The truth about that summer has been collectively buried. But someone knows what happened that night.

And they want the friends to pay for what they did.

The Beach Party by Nikki Smith was published in paperback by Penguin on 20 July 2023. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour. 

This book ticked many of my boxes for an enjoyable read. I have to comment on that incredible cover, this is certainly one that will stand out in a bookshop. It is vibrant and totally relevant to the pages inside. 

There have been multiple 'friends on holiday' psychological thrillers over the past few years, and I've read a lot of them. What I especially liked about The Beach Party was the 1980s era setting. The author has cleverly included lots of things, including music, fashion and gadgets from those times throughout the story, it certainly brought back some great memories for me. A Spotify music list to accompany the book would be great. 

After mysterious prologue, the reader is introduced to Nina in the present day. A wonderfully created, obnoxious, selfish character who is intriguing. Can anyone be quite that vile?

We are then taken back to 1989. Six twenty-something friends head off to Mallorca to stay in Nina's parents luxury villa. The characters come from varying backgrounds with plenty of issues of their own packed away in their holiday luggage. Nina is the self-appointed leader of the group, it's her villa, her rules, all the way. 

As the group settle at the villa, we learn more about each of them, we also realise that there are many things that are left unsaid, some shared history between all of them. Some of them are hiding their biggest personal challenges and none of them are really being themselves. 

The beach party of the title is where everything gets very messy, and from then on, the tension and pace of the story increases ten-fold. It's a massive race to ensure that a terrible tragedy is covered up, at any cost. 

During this narrative, the reader is also aware of what is happening in the present day. Anonymous emails are received which frighten the recipients. We learn how each of the characters have fared in life and the author cleverly conceals some startling revelations until the end of the book.

I really enjoyed this novel. Nikki Smith writes with a flair and imagination that makes what could have been just another holiday thriller into something a bit special. The 1980s touches and the characterisation really stood out for me. Recommended 

Nikki Smith studied English Literature at Birmingham University before pursuing a
career in finance. 

Following a 'now or never' moment, she applied for a Curtis Brown Creative writing course where she started writing her first novel. 

She lives near Guildford with her husband, two teenage daughters and a cat who thinks she's a dog. 

Nikki is the author of All In Her Head and Look What You Made Me Do, both of which have been optioned for TV. 

The Beach Party is her third novel.

Twitter @Mrssmithmunday

Instagram @nikkismith_author

Evergreens by Liam Brown BLOG TOUR #Evergreens @LiamBrownWriter @Legend_Times_ #BookReview

 

What if you could stay young forever?

What if you never had to grow old?

Ben has no qualms about signing up for the Evergreens project, a controversial new trial. But are the promises of life without ageing too good to be true?

Sophie has no doubt that they are. And sixty-five years down the line, she gets the chance to find out.

With Ben in hospital, unresponsive and ageing rapidly before her very eyes, can Sophie uncover the dark secret at the heart of the Evergreens project – and save Ben’s life in the process?

Evergreens by Liam Brown was published on 15 June 2023 by Legend Press. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour

Many years ago I read and reviewed Liam Brown's second novel, Wild Life. I really enjoyed his style of writing, it felt fresh and exciting. I'm not sure why I've not read his later novels and will aim to rectify that very soon! 

Evergreens has such an unusual premise. I was intrigued to read the blurb which really ticks all of the boxes that I want in a novel. However, it wasn't what I expected at all. That's not a criticism, or a negative in any way though, because this is such a poignant, and a times heart shredding story that not only entertains, but also contains a wonderful message about being human. 

The story begins in the year 2070 with elderly Sophie sitting by the hospital bed of Ben. Sophie and Ben met as teenagers, but Ben is still young, whilst Sophie has aged normally. This introduction sets the scene for the chapters set in the future, explaining the new ways and how difficult it can be to decide if the person you are speaking to is actually a human being, or a hologram. 

The reader is then swept back to 2005 where Sophie and Ben meet for the very first time, their story continues through the years, culminating in Ben's decision to take part in a controversial trial called the Evergreens Project. Those who take part are promised that they will never get old, they will stay young forever. 

This is a love story, combined with gentle science-fiction set in a dystopian future. I loved the structure of the novel, I'm a fan of multiple time lines and I find it fascinating how the characters are developed throughout the years. Both Ben and Sophie are beautifully created, they have very different backgrounds and their outlooks are often very different, but their relationship is wonderfully done. The reader may not always like Ben, he seems to enjoy wasting his time, pondering instead of doing, yet there is something compulsive about him too. 

The heart of this novel is the message about immortality, and how something that can be marketed as a wonderful thing often hides dangerous and darker things. One of the most obvious, and frightening things about this story is the relevance to things that are already happening in our world today. As technology takes huge leaps and bounds we are seeing things on a daily basis that most of us could never have imagined. And whilst a lot of this is great, there are definitely things that need to slow down before huge damage is caused. 

Liam Brown is a gifted author, with a great imagination and the ability to snare his readers with perfectly formed, if often flawed, characters. 

A book to savour and to think about for a long time after closing the final page. 

Liam Brown is the author of five novels, Real Monsters (2015), Wild Life (2016),
Broadcast (2017), Skin (2019) and Evergreens (2023). 

His work has been published internationally, translated into several languages and optioned by a major Hollywood studio. 

He lives in Birmingham, England, with his wife and two children.

Twitter @LiamBrownWriter

Instagram @liambrownwriter

Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman #OhSister @jodiechapman @MichaelJBooks @Ells85 #BookReview

Meet Isobel, Jen and Zelda.

Three women whose bodies and minds are not their own.

They belong to the Church.

Life and death decisions are taken by others on their behalf.

Who they might marry.

Whether they start a family.

Isobel and Jen know nothing of the world.

But when Isobel's husband leaves her and Jen challenges those in charge, the Church turns its back on them.

Zelda - never one for doing what is expected - dares to find hope on the outside.

Meet Isobel, Jen and Zelda.

Three women desperate to find a life to call their own . . .

This is a novel about what it is like to live inside a prison of the mind and how to break out of it - if you can.

Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman was published on 13 April 2023 by Michael Joseph. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I read Oh, Sister whilst I was on holiday on Kefalonia in June. I read it in a couple of sittings and was so impressed by the author's characterisation, and her insight into the world controlled religion. I know that she used her own personal experiences when writing this novel, and the story seems so authentic. It also induces anger and frustration as the reader discovers how women are treated within this Church. 

The Disciples of the Lost Days is a religion run by men. Women are expected to be submissive, always doing as their husband dictates. There are many rules that they must follow. 

Isobel, Jen and Zelda were all members of this religion. They are very different in their outlook but have one thing in common, they have all been disfellowed. Cast out because of their behaviour, and their so-called sins. Ignored by former friends, they each have to make their own way through life. 

The reader doesn't have to like these women, but my goodness, they will empathise with them. Each one of them is individually crafted with care, exposing their innermost thoughts, their flaws and their grief. It feels like a bereavement to all three of them as they struggle with a new life, one that is alien to them, without the man who has always led them. It's a fascinating process to read about, and incredibly well structured. 

This is a story that is resonating and touching, raising issues that will make the reader think and ponder on for a long time afterwards.

It's a novel that portrays power. The power that organised religion can have, the power that men can wield over the women in their lives and most importantly, the power that women can obtain, through friendships and through personal experiences. 

Born and raised in England, Jodie spent a decade as a photographer before returning to her first love of
writing.

She lives in Kent with her husband and three sons. 

Instagram: @jodiechapman

Twitter: @jodiechapman

One by Eve Smith BLOG TOUR #One @evecsmith @OrendaBooks #climateemergency #thriller #BookReview

One law. One child. Seven million crimes…

 A cataclysmic climate emergency has spawned a one-child policy in the UK, ruthlessly enforced by a totalitarian regime. Compulsory abortion of 'excess' pregnancies and mandatory contraceptive implants are now the norm, and families must adhere to strict consumption quotas as the world descends into chaos.

 Kai is a 25-year-old 'baby reaper', working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. If any of her assigned families attempt to exceed their child quota, she ensures they pay the price.

 Until, one morning, she discovers that an illegal sibling on her Ministry hit-list is hers. And to protect her parents from severe penalties, she must secretly investigate before anyone else finds out.

 Kai's hunt for her forbidden sister unearths much more than a dark family secret. As she stumbles across a series of heinous crimes perpetrated by the people she trusted most, she makes a catastrophic discovery that could bring down the government … and tear her family apart.

One by Eve Smith is published on 20 July 2023 by Orenda. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

I am a huge fan of speculative / dystopian fiction. The Handmaid's Tale has been my favourite book for over 30 years, and what I love most about novels such as these is that as time moves on, and the world changes, these books become more and more believable. 

Eve Smith's third novel is another story to both educate and horrify the reader. It is set around 60 years on from the present day and the UK has been ruled by the ONE Party for the last fifty years. The ONE party has core ethics that, on paper, appear to be sensible and caring toward mankind, and the planet. On closer inspection we find that what they've really done is to impose cruel and often misery making policies on the population. 

Each person has a resource quota, and the party can see exactly how this has been used. They know when and where people travel to and how much they eat, and what energy is used in their homes. Technology has advanced and bots are the norm; working alongside humans, and there are even bots that can be kept as household pets. 

The biggest and most important policy is the one-child policy. We know that this is not a new thing, we know that countries have done this in the past (look how that worked out!), but the UK have taken this a mighty leap further. First babies are welcomed, but a second pregnancy will be aborted .. these abortions are often forced and traumatic. There's also a mandatory contraceptive implant that all women are expected to endure. 

This is where lead character Kai fits in. She works for the Ministry of Populations and Family Planning. She is dedicated to her job, she is totally loyal to the ONE party. She spends her working hours tracking down second pregnancies and ensuring that they are terminated. 

Until the day that she recognises one of the DNA profiles assigned to her, and realises that she has a sister. Her parents must be arrested for the crime that they've hidden for over twenty years, and Kai must come to terms with the fact that her Mum and Dad are not who she's always thought they were. 

This leads to a tension filled, superbly written thriller that will chill the reader to their bones. As Kai discovers more about her family, and realises that her sister Senka is considered to be state enemy number one, her world unravels around her. She has always been dedicated to the Government and their policies, but there are things that she uncovers that prove that she, and millions of others have been lied to, for years. 

Whilst this is speculative fiction, it feels so very relevant. Eve Smith's knowledge of climate change is extraordinary and her ability to weave this into such a fine piece of fiction is brilliant.  It's not only about the damage done to the planet itself, there's the issue of migration and how the ONE Party treat migrants. The terrible conditions that they are kept in, the lack of basic human rights, the determination to send the boats back, or to send those people to other lands  ..... sound familiar?  Yes, I thought so. 

I live in Lincolnshire, not far from the coast, and we know that in years to come this area will not exist, it will be part of the sea. Some of this story is set here, and to read the stunning and terrifying descriptions of places that I know so well, such as Horncastle, Gunby and of course Skegness is horrifying .. they are no longer thriving towns and villages, they are just memories. Drowned by the sea, and all because of what we have done. 

This would be the perfect book for a book group discussion. I feel as though I want to say so much more about it, but I try not to write long reviews and the author has written such a gripping and authentic story. It is not my place to go into every detail ... but please anyone who has read it, do contact me, we need to talk! 

A powerful, masterful and incredibly important novel that should be read by everyone. Packed with characters that you can empathise with, even if you don't actually like them.  Eve Smith is a visionary story teller, her book is addictive and chilling. Highly recommended by me. 

Eve Smith writes speculative thrillers, mainly about the things that scare her. 

Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as ‘an exciting new voice in crime fiction’, Eve’s debut novel, The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was a Book of the Month in the Guardian, who compared her writing to Michael Crichton’s. 

It was followed by Off-Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children is routine. 

Eve’s previous job at an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. 

She lives in Oxfordshire with her family.

www.evesmithauthor.com

Twitter @evecsmith

Instagram @evesmithauthor

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena BLOG TOUR #EveryoneHereIsLying @sharilapena @TransworldBooks @ThomasssHill @RandomTTours #BookReview

 

Welcome to Stanhope - a safe neighbourhood. A place for families.

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he's been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter Avery unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.

Hours later, Avery's family declares her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn't feel so safe. And William isn't the only one on his street who's hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery's neighbours become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Nothing will prepare you for the truth.

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena was published by Bantam / Transworld on 6 July 2023. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy to review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour

Shari Lapena never fails to impress me. She constantly delivers stories full of mystery, suspense, tension and devilish twists. Everyone Here Is Lying is another fabulous read from this author.

The small town of Stanhope may not be bustling and busy, but it holds many secrets and these are gradually revealed to the reader throughout the story. 

Nine-year-old Avery is a difficult child. She is demanding, and often rude and oppositional. Avery's behaviour during choir practice is so bad that the teacher sends her out. Instead of waiting to walk home with her older brother, she goes home on her own, finding the door key under the mat. When her father, William also unexpectedly arrives home that afternoon, he is not happy to find Avery there. They argue and William loses his temper before storming out of the house. 

Later that evening, Avery is reported missing by her family. 

Everyone Here Is Lying is a very apt title for this book. Almost all of the characters have something to hide and they are determined that their weaknesses will not be uncovered, not by the police, or by their family and neighbours. 

Some of the families on the street are far more than just neighbours, it's just that other people don't know. However, there are residents who see a lot, and are angry, and will do anything to get back at those people that they dislike. 

As the search for Avery continues, the reader is thrown many a clue ... or are we?  We learn a lot, we learn things that are unexpected and shocking, as do the characters. 

This is a well structured novel that kept me reading until late into the night. It is absolutely addictive. A dramatic, tense and very satisfying read. Recommended by me. 

Shari Lapena is one of the best-known thriller writers working today. 

Every one of her thrillers has been a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. 

She has spent a total of 76 weeks in the top 10 and has sold over 7 million copies across all titles and formats worldwide. 

Her debut, The Couple Next Door, was the overall bestselling fiction title in the UK in its year of publication and has been optioned for TV by Paramount. 

For more information about Shari and her books, you can visit Shari’s website here: https://sharilapena.com/

Twitter @sharilapena
Instagram @sharilapena