Carina Press Tell Me No Lies

So I discovered this incredible author only a few months ago when I read her debut novel between you and me . This book blew me away and as soon as I finished it I pre ordered her second book which was published last week.Just like her first book I read this within record time and am now desperate for more.But what I’m more desperate for are some bloody answers!!!Yes this book ends in such a cliffhanger that you will want to personally get hold of Lisa and shout in her face … no just me??Lisa is a exceptional writer ,maybe somewhat insane as she is clearly tormenting the reader!!You are hooked instantly into her writing and her charactars .This book had a real claustrophobic aura to it and several times I was on the edge of my seat..I actually was as I was on a bus …The tension and drama builds up quickly leaving you feeling unsafe and unsure of everyone .I have experience of mental illness and I thank Lisa for writing with sensitivity but also showing the darker side of it.This had a real feel of a story that could easily be turned into tv or film and would leave both viewers and readers alike screaming for more.Lisa is at the top of her writing game and I cannot wait to read more from her…quickly.Incredibly disturbing and chilling this will easily be in readers top 10 psychological thrillers of the year.I urge you to read both of her books .. mind blowing and scary but only because these are real dangers that could happen to anyone .Jaw dropping and compelling this makes for addictive reading .

I really enjoyed Between You and Me and got 'into' this story quickly.Steph and Mark have recently moved house and it is their new beginning. Steph had a tough time as a teenager and her husband let her down. She doesn't know whom to trust due to her own vulnerabilities and because of circumstance.Steph is pregnant and they have a young son. The intensity that wraps you up is the normality of Steph's life and how she gets to know the new people around her. The community. But are they all the people she thought they were.The fact that Mark doesn't believe Steph and the lack of support across the path can be frustrating but I could appreciate the story's result. But more could have come of the annoying PTA mum, broken friendships could have been fixed. A few frustrations have been left incomplete.But...... Between You and Me had a really clever ending. I would have enjoyed a witty result more here. The story was predictable and I was waiting for some cleverness from Steph and it didn't happen. I don't always want a happy ending, but the story was disturbing and I would like to have seen something that took me further and left me thinking more.I really hope Lisa is writing a follow-up to this..... a Part 2 that releases the magical ending! There is a lot more that could be said about Laurence, Lila, Mark & Steph. PLEASE let there be a conclusion that satisfies the creativity me!

Steph and Mark Gordon are settling into a new home in an attempt to rebuild their marriage after he had an affair. Steph has had her problems, a traumatic event in her teens, post-natal depression, the affair and her best friend now lives in America.Mark works away a lot of the time and she becomes good friends with two neighbours Lila and Lawrence. But she is under pressure, Mark is away in the build up to Christmas, she is pregnant and being hassled by a very unlikeable woman to join the PTA. And then more worryingly, items start to appear on her doorstep, personal items disappear and she has a general feeling that somebody has been in her house.I loved Lisa’s first novel so jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of her follow up. I found it very gripping and at times felt extremely edgy. I thought I could see what was happening but when more was revealed about Steph’s problems in the past I became more uncertain. I had a lot of sympathy for her, it must be an awful situation to be in. Events were happening that she couldn’t explain and nobody including her husband, mother and friends believed her.The ending was totally unexpected. Everything I thought would happen didn’t and I felt bewildered and flabbergasted by how events turned out even though it was believable. I found myself tapping the kindle to turn over the page, thinking NO this can’t be happening!!Its very intimidating, scary and made me feel quite paranoid.

This is Lisa Hall's second book and after absolutely loving and raving about her first, I was nervous that this one wouldn't be as good and I would be left feeling disappointed. I most definitely was not disappointed!Because of Steph's previous history of depression, amnesia and paranoia nobody believes her when she says someone is watching her and terrorising her. I couldn't help but feel her frustration and sympathise with her when everyone finds another explanation for everything that's happening.As other people have said, it was obvious who the protagonist was, but I really think that was the intention and the reason for that becomes clear at the end. I read the whole books wondering 'what next?' And when I reached the end my immediate reaction was 'holy sh*t! WTF?!'As with Between You and Me this book is like no other psychological thriller you have ever read.

I really wanted to enjoy this book after reading her first but for me, sadly, it fell a bit flat. There is no doubt that Lisa Hall is a great writer and she has a real talent for creating dislikeble characters who really get under your skin, there is one character in this book called Jasmine, who was that character, but her latest book failed to grip me as her first one did. Perhaps I did set the bar too high after reading Between You And Me as that book really was exceptional. There wasn't a character in this book who I felt I could get behind and I did manage to guess the twist early on. I also felt that there were a few loose ends that weren't tied up and I was expecting there to be more from the ending. Although I didn't enjoy this one it doesn't mean that I won't give her next book a go, I do enjoy Lisa's writing so I'll be interested to see what she comes up with next.