Tell Me No Lies by Lisa Hall

Tell Me No Lies by Lisa Hall
Buy Tell Me No Lies by Lisa Hall at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Thrillers
Reviewer: Zoe Morris
Summary: It’s a horrible feeling when people don’t believe you, as Steph is about to find out. Is everything as it seems, or is her mind playing tricks on her? It’s going to take a lot of digging, and a worrying turn of events, to find out.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 384	Date: October 2016
Publisher: Carina
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-0008205195
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Steph, husband Mark and son Henry have just moved into a new house. That always leads to a fresh start, but even more so here as there are a few dodgy incidents in the past they are trying to move on from. Fingers crossed it’s all going to work out well. As a freelancer, Steph doesn’t have regular colleagues, but the neighbours seem nice enough even if some of the other mums at the school gate are a little stand offish at first. With Mark away a lot with work it’s up to Steph to make the house a home and get Henry settled in the run up to Christmas.

There are lots of hints about what has gone on, but it takes a while for the full details to emerge. As they do, though, you can understand Steph’s point of view. She’s had something of a rough ride, both as a teenager and in her adult relationships, but she seems to be coping ok. And then it starts. Mysterious ‘gifts’ left on the doorstep, things moving around the house, confusions over what has been said to other people. They’re only little things but they happen more and more and Steph starts to doubt herself. Pregnant with number 2, is it just baby brain or is someone messing with her, and if so who and for what purpose?

This is a really easy read but a compelling one. I could sense the unease in Steph’s mind as things start happening, and although it may just be because I read a lot of books like this these days, I picked up on so many clues I quickly knew what was going on. It’s no use, though, when you can’t climb into the book and tell the characters, help save them from what will befall them in a few pages time. It was so delightfully frustrating as I kept hoping she would wise up and be able to side step the next catastrophe before it hit,

The story builds well, and there are enough characters in to keep it interesting (and keep you guessing) without you needing a list at the front of who’s who and how they fit in. The only part I slightly objected to was the ending. It featured a part of the health service I know particularly well (I run a national audit of all patients who pass through it each year) and just the last couple of pages did not ring true, no matter how manipulative the other people involved were. It was hard for me to believe that would happen anywhere, but it certainly wouldn’t in London given the plethora of specialist services the capital has. On the assumption that probably no one else who reads this (with the exception of one particular colleague!) will notice or care about this point, I’m not docking points. It in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the story, and as a whole I found it a satisfying read.

I’d like to thank the publishers for sending us a copy to review. We also have a review of The Party by Lisa Hall.

Set not too far away, Watching Edie by Camilla Way is also an excellent thriller that messes with your mind.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Tell Me No Lies by Lisa Hall at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Tell Me No Lies by Lisa Hall at Amazon.com.

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Frouwke Hubbard said:

Loved the book but hated the ending, felt very unfinished, hopefully there is a sequel to this !!