#TheLiesWeTold by Camilla Way #BookReview @CamilliaLWay @HarperCollinsUK #MustReads

Today I’m reviewing another of my most anticipated reads of 2018, The Lies We Told by Camilla Way. Did  it live up to Watching Edie? Read on for my thoughts

Book description 

Beth has always known there was something strange about her daughter, Hannah. The lack of emotion, the disturbing behaviour, the apparent delight in hurting others… sometimes Beth is scared of her, and what she could be capable of.

A SON

Luke comes from the perfect family, with the perfect parents. But one day, he disappears without trace, and his girlfriend Clara is left desperate to discover what has happened to him.

A LIFE BUILT ON LIES

As Clara digs into the past, she realises that no family is truly perfect, and uncovers a link between Luke’s long-lost sister and a strange girl named Hannah. Now Luke’s life is in danger because of the lies once told and the secrets once kept. Can she find him before it’s too late?

What a deliciously twisted psychological thriller The Lies We Told turned out to be. I raved about Watching Edie when I read it, but this one is even better. The author draws the reader in with a spine chilling opening and from that moment on I read on in horrified fascination. I was so engrossed in this twisted tale before I knew it I was half way through the book. Told in two halves The Lies We Told begins with the disappearance of Luke, the big question is why? As girlfriend Clara digs into his past looking for answers, she  find things that maybe best staying hidden. Then you have Beth troubled by the behaviour of her young daughter Hannah, how or what connect the two? 

I do love a troubled character in a psychological thriller and they don’t come much more troubled than Hannah, psychopath alert! she’s one twisted and complex character. The thing I found chilling was Hannah’s mum Beth sharing childhood memories of a very troubled and disturbed child. As the reader you see the warning signs, hells bells even Beth can see them, as I read these chapters I felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding that made my stomach churn. The rest of the characters are a mixed bunch and most of them are pretty unlikeable for various reasons which I’m not going to go into as I would be entering spoiler territory. Needless to say they all bring something To The Lies We Told and although I never liked them I was fascinated by their story. 

The thing I loved about The Lies We Told is the way the author seemingly presents the reader with two different stories, each intriguing in their own right, but then when you least expect it Camilla Way brings both stories together in the most shocking way. My mind went into over drive as I tried to work out how the two connected, but like any good author Camilla Way plays her cards close to her chest, never giving to much away, at times I found this made the tension unbearable and I did have one of those “shall I take a quick peek at the ending?” moments to put me out my misery. I’m so glad I didn’t as the surprises and twists lurking in this well told story were definitely worth the wait.  Compelling and addictive I would highly recommend The Lies We Told if you are looking for a very twisted psychological thriller.

Print Length: 336 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (3 May 2018)

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077CZ2NLT/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1  🇬🇧

https://www.amazon.com/Lies-We-Told-Camilla-Way/dp/1101989521 🇺🇸

 

Unwrapping the #BookPost with the book review café

I have received some fabulous book post lately and although I post photos of the books I receive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram I thought they deserved their own post. I’m always eternally grateful to the publishers and authors who send me ARC’s even though I’m a book blogger it’s one thing I never take for granted or expect.

There is nothing more satisfying on hearing the sound of book post landing on my door mat, I’m like a child at Christmas wondering what delights await me.

So I thought I would start a new feature called Unwrapping my #BookPost not highly original I know but I thought the title explains the post 😂. So here are a few of the fabulous books I’ve received over the last month or so…..

Keeper by Johana Gustawsson

 

Book description

Whitechapel, 1888: London is bowed under Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror.
London, 2015: actress Julianne Bell is abducted in a case similar to the terrible Tower Hamlets murders of some ten years earlier, and harking back to the Ripper killings of a century before.
Falkenberg, Sweden, 2015: a woman’s body is found mutilated in a forest, her wounds identical to those of the Tower Hamlets victims. With the man arrested for the Tower Hamlets crimes already locked up, do the new killings mean he has a dangerous accomplice, or is a copy-cat serial killer on the loose?
Profiler Emily Roy and true-crime writer Alexis Castells again find themselves drawn into an intriguing case, with personal links that turn their world upside down. Following the highly acclaimed Block 46 and guaranteed to disturb and enthral, Keeper is a breathless thriller from the new queen of French Noir.

published 15th February 2018

Dead Girls by Abigail Tarttelin

Book description

When her best friend Billie is found murdered, eleven-year-old Thera – fearless and forthright – considers it her duty to find the killer.

Aided by a Ouija board, Billie’s ghost, and the spirits of four other dead girls, she’s determined to succeed. The trouble with Thera, though, is that she doesn’t always know when to stop – and sometimes there’s a fine line between doing the right thing and doing something very, very bad indeed.

Tense, visceral and thought-provoking, Dead Girls is the new novel from Abigail Tarttelin, the critically acclaimed author of Golden Boy.

published 3rd May 2018

The Retreat by Mark Edwards

 

Book description

Two years ago, Julia lost her family in a tragic accident. Her husband drowned trying to save their daughter, Lily, in the river near their rural home. But the little girl’s body was never found—and Julia believes Lily is somehow still alive.

Alone and broke, Julia opens her house as a writers’ retreat. One of the first guests is Lucas, a horror novelist, who becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Lily. But within days of his arrival, the peace of the retreat is shattered by a series of eerie events.

When Lucas’s investigation leads him and Julia into the woods, they discover a dark secret—a secret that someone will do anything to protect…

What really happened that day by the river? Why was Lily never found? And who, or what, is haunting the retreat?

From the bestselling author of Follow You Home and The Magpies comes his most terrifying novel yet.

published 10th May 2018

The Lies We Told by Camilla Way

Book description

DO YOU PROMISE NOT TO TELL?

A DAUGHTER
Beth has always known there was something strange about her daughter, Hannah. The lack of emotion, the disturbing behaviour, the apparent delight in hurting others… sometimes Beth is scared of her, and what she could be capable of.

A SON
Luke comes from the perfect family, with the perfect parents. But one day, he disappears without trace, and his girlfriend Clara is left desperate to discover what has happened to him.

A LIFE BUILT ON LIES
As Clara digs into the past, she realizes that no family is truly perfect, and uncovers a link between Luke’s long-lost sister and a strange girl named Hannah. Now Luke’s life is in danger because of the lies once told and the secrets once kept. Can she find him before it’s too late?

published 3rd May 2018

The Liar’s Room by Simon Lelic

Book description

THE NEXT SPINE-TINGLING THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE HOUSE

Susanna Fenton has a secret. Fourteen years ago she left her identity behind, reinventing herself as a counsellor and starting a new life. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe.

But everything changes when Adam Geraghty walks into her office. She’s never met this young man before – so why does she feel like she knows him?

Adam starts to tell her about a girl. A girl he wants to hurt. And that’s when Susanna realises she was wrong.

She doesn’t know him.
He knows her.
And the girl he plans to hurt is her daughter.

Published 9th August 2018

Ghost by Helen Grant

Book description

Langlands House is haunted, but not by the ghost you think.

Augusta McAndrew lives on a remote Scottish estate with her grandmother, Rose. For her own safety, she hides from outsiders, as she has done her entire life. Visitors are few and far between – everyone knows that Langlands House is haunted.

One day Rose goes out and never returns, leaving Augusta utterly alone. Then Tom McAllister arrives – good-looking and fascinating, but dangerous. What he has to tell her could tear her whole world apart.

As Tom and Augusta become ever closer, they must face the question: is love enough to overcome the ghosts of the past?

In the end, Langlands House and its inhabitants hold more secrets than they did in the beginning…

published 19th February 2018

My thanks to Joanne at Portobello Book Blog for this one which I won in a giveaway.

My Mother’s Secret by Sanjida Kay

Book description

Lizzie Bradshaw. A student from the Lake District, forced to work away from home, who witnesses a terrible crime. But who will ultimately pay the price?

Emma Taylor. A mother, a wife, and a woman with a dangerous secret. Can she keep her beloved family safely together?

Stella Taylor. A disaffected teenager, determined to discover what her mother is hiding. But how far will she go to uncover the truth?

And one man, powerful, manipulative and cunning, who controls all their destinies.

published 3rd May 2018

I hope you have enjoyed this post and as you can see I have a diverse selection of #BookPost the only problem I have now is deciding which one to read first. I would love to know what book post you’ve recieved, please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

The Fear by C.L. Taylor #BookReview #Mustreads2018 @AvonBooksUK @callytaylor

If you are looking for a dark and twisted thriller, I may just have the book for you. The Fear by C.L.Taylor was published by Avon on the 22nd March 2018, read on for my thoughts…

Book description

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

There are a handful of authors books I would happily pick up without reading the book description and C.L. Taylor is one of them, she has the ability to turn a well used subject in fiction and turn it into the most twisted and extraordinary tale. The Fear is no different, Shocking, compelling, fraught with tension and guaranteed to keep you turning the pages as if your life depended on it.

Anyone who is a parent with a teenage girl will immediately be struck by a sense of unease when they pick up this book as it deals with the uncomfortable subject of a grooming, although it’s very much part of the plot it never felt unjustified and the author shows a great deal of sympathy and understanding towards the victims. Told from three POV Lou, teenager Chloe and the mysterious Wendy the author has an uncanny knack of breathing life into her characters so much so you feel their emotions and their pain but most importantly they are very credible. Lou and Chloe both take the same path, and “fall in love” with a predator, they are each at different points in their life, and yet they still share so many of the same emotions guilt, hatred and fear to name but a few.

Another character who deserves a mention is Mike how I detested him, he literally made my skin crawl. Poor Lou and Chloe both starved of affection and desperate for attention as children made them the perfect “victims” for Mike. It makes you realise how driven and manipulating pedophiles are in their pursuit of their prey, and how vulnerable girls are drawn into harmful relationships. What made this book an original read were the different characters perspectives of their relationship with Mike and the exploration of the after-mass of such damaging relationships and the complex emotions involved.

The second half of the book takes an ominous turn and I’m sure some readers may find this part of the book “far fetched” I just thought “who knows what we would do if we found ourself in a similar dilemma” so I was happy to go along with the direction C.L. Taylor took The Fear. The telling of Lou and Chloe’s story is imaginative, compelling and shocking, it’s a story that those who enjoy a book with moral dilemmas will find thought provoking, but at the same time a highly engrossing read. Highly recommended.

Buying link:   Amazon UK 🇬🇧

Print Length: 400 pages

Publisher: Avon (22 Mar. 2018)

 

 

**My Book Of The Month** July 2016

Now we are in August it’s time to reveal my book of the month for July 2016. This month I found myself in a real quandary as there were two books that covered ever aspect of what I look for in a good read, fantastic plot, great characters and a storyline that drew me in from the first page and kept me in its grip until I reached the very last page. So which one did I choose? Well I’m afraid I just couldn’t decide which one to choose as I loved both books for very different reasons and so my award is going to be shared

so without further ado my book(s) of the month for July 2016 are……..

Watching Edie by Camilla Way

You can read my review here……….
https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/26/watching-edie-by-camilla-way/

I See You by Claire Mackintosh

You can read my review here……
https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/29/i-see-you-by-clare-mackintosh-review/

 

Watching Edie by Camilla Way #Review

Book Description

THERE ARE SOME FRIENDS YOU’LL NEVER FORGET … NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY

BEFORE
Edie is the friend that Heather has always craved. But one night, it goes terrifyingly wrong. And what started as an innocent friendship ends in two lives being destroyed.

AFTER
Sixteen years later, Edie is still rebuilding her life. But Heather isn’t ready to let her forget so easily. It’s no coincidence that she shows up when Edie needs her most.

NOW
Edie or Heather?
Heather or Edie?

Someone has to pay for what happened, but who will it be?

Oh My God! Watching Edie has simply left me speechless, I found it to be utterly gripping from the first page to the last. I’ve read a huge number of psychological thrillers some of them have been good, others mediocre but Watching Edie is in a class all on its own this has to be one of the best books I’ve read this year. It comes with the tag line….. The most unsettling psychological thriller you’ll read this year, and it certainly deserves to use this line, but I would also add “characters who seriously mess with your head”. Edie and Heather have a shared past, something happened that turned an innocent friendship into one full of obsession,anger, guilt and shame, and that’s all I’m going to say about the plot, as I want everyone to enjoy it and feel the emotions I had reading a book I knew very little about.

The book is delivered in Before and After chapters, which certainly added a sense of darkness to a very twisted tale. My feelings regarding the two main protagonist (Edie and Heather), changed from chapter to chapter, as the secrets surrounding their friendship were revealed layer by layer. I would begin to feel some empathy for one character and then boom the next chapter would sway me another way, completely messing with my head, which in my humble opinion is what a really good psychological thriller should do. The tension and sense of foreboding that permeated each page made this a very difficult book to put down, as I really wasn’t sure where the plot was heading, and found myself second guessing how it would pan out (I’m glad to say I was wrong every time). I found myself becoming more and more anxious as Watching Edie reached its highly charged conclusion .

You may have noticed I haven’t gone into detail regarding the characters, but that’s because I don’t want to give anything away that will spoil the read for others. Suffice to say watching Edie explores the issues of friendship, obsession and betrayal in the most chilling way. Full of malice and intrigue Watching Edie is delivered in short snappy chapters which certainly add to “I must read one my chapter” scenario, I read this book in just over one day, it was that gripping! I found it be a dark,creepy and very sinister read, personally it’s one of the best and most compelling psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. Camilla Way certainly knows how to write, with a tight plot and characters who came alive for me this book will most definitely be one of my top reads of 2016.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Print Length: 304 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (28 July 2016)

Kindle     Hardcover

***Weekly Wrap Up***

One of my less impressive weeks for reading this week, I’ve managed to read 2 books

He’s Gone by Alex Clare

This is a book I’ve read for the He’s Gone blog tour and you can read my review on Monday 1st August

The Forgotten Woman by Angela Marsons

This book is so different to Angela Marson’s crime books, but I did enjoy it and my review will be on my blog soon.

Book post I received this week

I received a signed copy of Silent Scream from the lovely Angela Marsons

I also won a signed copy of Cruel Justice by M.A Comley

I also received a signed copy of He’s Gone by Alex Clare, which I think maybe a Giveaway for the blog tour (as there was just the book, no note with it, so watch this space)

Arc’s I’ve received this week

Well the NetGalley ban has gone out the window thanks to one of my favourite publisher Bookouture, they have just re-released two of my favourite authors (Angela Marsons) books, they sound very different to her usual books, so naturally I just had to get them!

The Forgotten Woman by Angela Marsons

Dear Mother by Angela Marsons

Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land

Last week on The Book Review Café

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/15/blogtour-all-is-not-forgotten-by-wendy-walker/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/14/topfivethursday-with-tracy-shephard-bookblogger/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/13/extract-melody-bittersweet-and-the-girls-ghostbusting-agency-by-kitty-french/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/12/unravelled-by-anna-scanlon/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/11/guest-post-linda-huber-author-of-chosen-child/

Next week on The Book Review Café

Guest Post from Netta NewBound author of Prima Facie

#TopFiveThursday with the fabulous Sharon Bairden of https://chapterinmylife.wordpress.com/

Watching Edie by Camellia Way Review

The Opticians Wife by Betsy Reavley Review

Blogging news from The Book Review Café

I’m really excited to share some HUGE news with you……..I’m finally the owner of book case! up until now my books have been all over the house, so now thanks to my other half Andy (who put my bookcase before he started his late shift, and Andy if you are reading this you’re one in a million😘) I have all my signed and TBR books in one place. It’s still a work in progress as I keep finding books left, right and centre, but I’m getting there. I also donated a huge bag of books to a local charity, it was hard letting them go, but on the upside more room for NEW books 😀😀😀😀

My new weekly feature #TopFiveThursday has taken off really well and I have had lots of positive comments about it. There are loads of bloggers lined up for this feature, but I’m always happy to add more. So if you are interested drop me a line (my email address can be found on my contact page), or leave a comment and I will get back to you.

When I get part of my quote featured on a book banner, I still get really excited (and I mean literally jumping around, and showing everyone a screen shot of my quote), when I started blogging I never dreamt my reviews would be read by anyone, let alone used in the promotion of a book. In case you are slightly interested it’s for The Stepmother by Claire Seeber, which I found to be an absolute gripping read.

**Weekly Wrap Up**

Panic over after struggling to read one book last week I have redeemed myself and read FOUR books this week, and I’m giving myself the biggest pat on the back because I exactly managed to read three of the books that were off my TBR pile

The Opticians Wife By Betsy Reavley

Watching Edie By Camilla Way

Unravelled Anna Scallon

Dead To Me by Lesley Pearce

Book post I received this week

The Moment She Left by Susan Lewis.

After Isabella by Rosie Fiore

Blood Wedding by Pierre Lemaitre

Arc’s I’ve received this week

I know I put myself on a NetGalley ban and I did managed a WHOLE WEEK, before I requested any more books!

The Last One by Alexandra Oliva

The book description reminded me of The Hunger Games, which I loved, and thought it would make a change from my usual reads.

I also got sent a widget from author Mark Edwards for his new book, which I can’t wait to read

The Devil’s Work by Mark Edwards

 

Books I bought this week

I bought three books this week

The Paradise Trees by Linda Huber

For The Last Time by Janet Kelly, I bought this book after reading Anne’s review over on
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com/ the book description and Anne’s review intrigued me

The Game You Played by Anni Taylor

Last week on The Book Review Café

**Blog Tour** Outside Looking In by Michael Wood You can see my review here

**Guest Post** by Dane Cobain author of Former.ly The Rise And Fall Of A Social Network

You can read Dane’s Guest Post here

**Blog Tour** Made To Be Broken by Rebecca Bradley You can read my review here

Next week on the book review café

It’s going to be a really busy week with plenty going on

Blog Tour All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

Blog Tour The Stepmother by Claire Seeber

#TopFiveThursday with #BookBlogger Tracy Shephard

The Opticians Wife by Betsy Reavley, review

Unravelled by Anne Scanlon, review

Guest Post from Linda Huber author of Chosen Child

Blogging news from The Book Review Café

I’ve been trying think of a new feature I could run on my blog, and eventually I came up with #TopFiveThursday featuring bloggers (everyone loves to know more about blogger’s right? Well I do anyway) basically I ask the following questions & bloggers give me their answers simple eh? I’m not sure how often it will run, I’m hoping it will be a weekly post, and run for as long as I have bloggers to feature, so If you would like to take part please answer the following questions and send your answers to……..lorrugs@btinternet.com

Top 5 books this year (so far)?

Top 5 authors you think everyone should read?

Top 5 books you want to read before the end of 2016?

Top 5 blogging tips that you would give to new bloggers?

Top 5 book blogs you follow? (not that you are likely to….. but don’t include me in your 5 top blogs 😂😂, as I want to help promote as many bloggers as possible)

It would be great if you could send a small bio about yourself and a photo, and also a link to your blog and any other social media links you would like me to include.

**Weekly Wrap Up**

Well this week I have only read 3 Books, and I’m half way through the fourth, my weeks holiday is over and now I’m back to work full time, so I don’t get to read as much as I would like, but I managed to read the following books

Deadly focus by RC Bridgestock

I’m on the blog tour next month for RC Bridgestock’s latest book When The Killing Starts, so I wanted to get a feel for the series and I have to say I really enjoyed Deadly Focus.

When He Fell by Kate Hewitt

Again this is a blog tour book I found this book to be really emotive and compelling, you can see my review on Sunday 12th June

The Madam by Jamie Raven

This week in case you haven’t noticed it’s all blog tour books and you can see my review for The Madam on Sunday 22nd May

The Safe Word by Karen Long

Another blog tour read I’m about half way through The Safe Word and so far so good, but you can catch my review on Thursday 2nd June

Book post I received this week

I received the following books in the post this week

How To Find Your (First) Husband by Rosie Blake 

Chosen Child by Linda Huber

Solomon Creed by Simon Toyne

Stalker by Lars Kepler

Watching Edie by Camilla Way 

Next week on the book review cafe

Dead Focus by RC Bridgestock review

Interview with Sanjida Kay author of Bone By Bone 

Last To Die by Arlene Hunt review

Something Old Something New by Darcie Boleyn blog tour Friday 20th May