The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark - Book Review

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark

Publication Date: 02nd June 2022

Genre: Domestic Thriller, Psychological Suspense, Drama 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and interesting 

*****

Meg Williams has multiple personalities, depending on where she is and what she wants. She’s a con artist of the best kind, utterly convincing and charming her targets to be under her spell. She knows what people need to hear and gives them that to take away their money and disappear until she finds the next target. 

Meg is now back in action as a real estate agent in LA. She has old scores to settle, and this is her biggest act ever. The previous cases won’t mean a thing if she can’t pull this off. 

Kat Roberts has been waiting for a decade to meet Meg. Their path crossed for a split second all those years ago, and that instant changed Kat’s life forever. She persisted with the sole ambition of exposing Meg. 

As the two women meet and get to each other, Kat realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know. Meg is not who she is, but she isn’t a single-minded con artist either. As if things aren’t confusing enough, Kat has to deal with relationship issues that make her question everything she knows. 

Can the two women succeed in finding justice when it seems so elusive? What does it cost them to fight the world that’s not in their favor? 

My Observations: 

• There’s nothing better than a fast-paced thriller to keep the reader hooked. The pace is consistent from start to finish. It doesn’t even feel like a 320-page book. 

• The main characters are well-sketched without going into elaborate detail. We can understand their traits by following their thoughts and actions (and no ramblings). Neither of them is perfect. They are flawed but strong enough to deal with life’s twists and turns. 

• We know what Meg plans and intends for other characters, and it is fun to see them fall into her trap. This kind of narration is my favorite when done well. 

• There are enough twists and turns to keep the story going. I guessed most of them, but that didn’t diminish my interest in the least (I always like it when the plotline goes plausibly without any weird twists). 

• The climax felt a tad less impactful. It sure fits the overall plotline, but I expected a little drama or complexity. But this one just flowed by. It was seamless, which is good. However, it also means that the climax doesn’t stand out. 

• Yet, the ending makes up for it. It sorts the loose ends and leaves us with a smirk (or a chuckle). It could also lead to a sequel, though I’m not sure a second book would be necessary.  

To sum up, The Lies I Tell is a fast-paced, twisty thriller with an antagonist as the main lead. She is someone we’ll root for, and that makes the book a hit. 

This is my first by the author, but I’m going to pick her works and keep my eyes open for future ones. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheLiesITell