The unreliable narrator is a fascinating literary device; following such characters through a story of their own telling is nerve-wracking, frustrating, and not always fulfilling. Frances Vick brings the reader along every twist and turn in her upcoming novel, Liars.

During a freezing winter night, Jenny Holloway’s mother perishes in the snow. Sal was the town drunk and Jenny her doting caretaker, having quit school to move back into her mother’s house after Sal had a stroke. Now that her mother is dead, Jenny finds her life uprooted as she struggles to move on from the role of a carer and find her place in the world independent of her mother’s illness. Her best friend and supporter, Freddie, offers his help along the way until Jenny meets David, a handsome boy from the right side of town. The two are an unlikely couple, and David is strange. Freddie begins to grow suspicious of David’s intentions with Jenny, and it isn’t long before the three of them find themselves embroiled in a plot of mistrust, lies, and murder.

There is something unsettling about this book from the first page. Maybe it is the haunting atmosphere Ms Vick paints of the small village covered in snow, devoid of life and color before we are thrust into the unrelenting grief Jenny experiences in the wake of her mother’s unexpected death. The narrative quality itself flows well, and Ms Vick beautifully illustrates the village setting in a way that is rich and yet bleak. I felt immediately put off by all the characters, on guard with the way they vaguely talked in circles and danced around each other. Early on, that kind of quality could be mistaken for a flaw in the writing itself, although as the plot develops, it becomes a clear narrative choice.

The book is written in limited third person, moving between Jenny, Freddie, and David. Ms Vick does not overuse the POV shifts, allowing the reader to grow accustomed to being close to one character before we move onto another and allowing her, as the author, the freedom to unveil information when it suits the narrative. This makes the pacing feel slow at times, and I often found myself a little frustrated in knowing that something was off but not having enough of the story to put the pieces together. There is an aspect of mystery to the book but the story largely revolves around the exploration of the psychological mindsets of the characters, which is appropriate as Jenny is studying to be a therapist.

Because the psychological factor in Liars brings the reader so close to the characters, the reader’s relationship with the characters becomes just as important as the characters’ relationships to each other. We’re kept in the dark about many of their past experiences and motivations until any given character is forced to unveil them, and the reader’s judgments, experience, and suspicion will largely inform their reaction to the story in a manner that creates a unique reading experience. Ms Vick creates a chilling web of deceit through complex characters, fostering a sense of distrust between reader and character: Freddie is selfless and bull-headed, acting like he is the main player in an episode of SVU, David is generous yet smarmy, and a little too invested in his relationship, and Jenny is gentle, guarded, and unpredictable. While the characters are sympathetic, there is something that constantly isn’t quite right about them. A turning point in the narrative is when Jenny and Freddie meet to clear the air regarding some issues with David, and Jenny notes haughtily, “I seem to be the only honest person I know.” After being caught in a lie only a few pages later, Jenny argues, “It wasn’t really a lie […] I just didn’t tell you the whole truth,” to which Freddie responds, “What’s the difference?”

That passage reveals much of the motive behind the book itself. Liars isn’t just about the lies people tell, but the ripple effect those fantasies create. All of it culminates into a somewhat contrived but chilling resolution – which I won’t spoil here. But I will say, while I found myself going back and forth about how I felt about this book while reading it, the final line tipped me into understanding the universe Ms Vick created for these characters and the gut-wrenching reality of the devastation their choices left in their wake.

Liars is better appreciated as a complete piece of work rather than the bits and pieces that bring it together. While it can be a bit slow at times and the pacing isn’t always solid or consistent, it offers beautiful descriptions, complex characters, and will leave you feeling haunted and uncomfortable by the end. It will make you think about what it means. You may even feel a little angry and misled by an author who created such an unreliable narrative. That is, oddly, part of the enjoyment and artistry of this book; the author goes as far as to make the reader one of the victims of deceit, taking the reader on a journey that is bound to make you feel angry, guilty, judgmental, vindicated, and sad. The summary of the book does it no justice to its depth; it is a book about obsession, deceit, betrayal, and the lengths broken people will go to feel whole again – no matter the cost.

Liars will be released January 26th, 2018 by Bookouture. I was given an advanced copy of Liars via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent story line and great main characters. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend.

I started this last night and I’m hooked. Frances Vick’s book Liars is being praised for being “nerve-rattling” and “disturbing” so if thats how you like your books then I strongly recommend it! I absolutely love thrillers that keep me guessing and offer twists and turns in every chapter.

Here’s the premise:

Jenny hasn’t had an easy life – no job and no money, with a sick mother and an abusive ex-stepfather. Not that anybody cares, she’s from the wrong side of town. David has taken care of Jenny ever since they were at school together. He knows how special she is, how much she needs his support. David has a lot of love to give.

Jenny and David aren’t in a relationship. They aren’t even friends. Jenny thinks she’s free to do what she wants, see who she likes. What does David think? Well, you’ll have to find out.

Psychological thriller narrated by 3 different people -- all of them liars and mostly thouroughly unlikeable. The synopsis provided on the book information page is misleading and inaccurate.

Jenny, David, and Freddie -- all have their own perspectives or perceptions of their interactions with each other and their tales of what their past lives were like. It's hard to sift through the exaggerations and interpretations of events to get at the truth. All are self serving. None are who they pretend to be and their motivations to be involved with each other are warped. People connected with the three keep dying -- who is responsile for that? Jenny's mom, Jenny's stepfather (who she claims had abused her). Is someone Jenny's protector and savior -- or is it something entirely different? No one is who they seem.

Frankly, I didn't like any of the characters and got tired of the convoluted way the layers were revealed so that the reader could try to put the pieces together to form some answers. Although I didn't like the ending, it was realistic considering the nature of Jenny, and entirely anticipated. The twists were expected since the reader knew everyone -- particularly David and Jenny -- had some seriously flawed personalities.

Did I like this? It was a little slow and I guess I prefer a more linear story with characters I can actually respect or understand. NO SPOILERS, but I do like it when good guys win. Or when there is a "good guy" to root for.

I read the ARC of this titled THE GOOD LIAR. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-galley to review. I would read another by this author.

A MUST READ for anyone who loves a good plot with no end of twists and turns. This has been one of THE BEST books I've read in quite a while.

This book started out a little slow for me, but once it picked up a bit I couldn’t put it down. The twist of it all had me shocked!

Good Liars Frances Vick

Not all books, like not all films, need to be full of blood and gore, or shock and horror, to get me gripped.

This book is like one of those films that have you squirming in anticipation of the horror that is about to unfold, without it ever actually getting too gruesome.

Good Liar is the story of suppressed feelings. Jenny Holloway has been looking after her alcoholic mother, Sal, since she suffered a stroke. That is until Sal is found dead in the snow during a cold winter morning. But did Jenny love her mother as much as the locals think she did, or was there a hidden loathing for the woman who has caused her life to be so miserable

Nobody ever actually accuses Sal of killing her mom, but the mist of innuendo lies throughout the book.

Jenny is a bit of a wall flower. Living in her mom’s shadow, her best friend is a lad she used to go to school with. Does she feel safe with him because he’s gay and why is she so introvert.

There are secrets. Sal was once a vibrant, young, single mother who lived her life happily with the young Jenny. Then she met Marc, and things changed.

Marc and Sals relationship hovers over this story casting a shadow that is more alluded to thank recounted. It’s obvious Marc is a bad influence on Sal but what influence did he have over Jenny.

After Sal’s death friends and family start to gather around Jenny. Are they all doing what’s best for her. In fact is Jenny as white-as-the-driven-snow that her mother was found in.

From the start of the book I had my doubts about Jenny. I often I felt sympathy for her. Other times something went through her mind that made me wonder if she was actually responsible for her mothers death, and maybe for other crimes that had taken place around her and her mother.

This is one of those books that slowly unravels a deeper story than the one you think you are first reading.

Its good, it’s not a cracker jack page turner, but it did grip me to the point where there was no way I was not going to finish it.

Pages: 188
Publisher: Bookouture
Publishing date UK: 26th January 2018.

Initially I thought this book would be "just another thriller" and I read A LOT of those; but I was pleasantly (well, shockingly) surprised that this novel had so many twists I didn't see coming! I never really trust the blurbs and they sometimes give away too much, but in this case there is no way you can really tell who is lying and where the truth lies until the very last page. Jenny, David, Freddie...friends? Accomplices? Saviors? Four deaths...how many are murders and which are accidents? This novel seriously has your head spinning with possibilities as almost everyone is an unreliable narrator with flawed personalities and issues of abuse. Be prepared to read in one sitting!

The Good Liar by Frances Vick is exactly what it says on the cover.A story full of twists and turns that had me turning the pages to the very brilliant and unexpected end.The book centres around Jenny and David and goes back and forth from childhood to present day,Jenny is not aware that David has been stalking her since childhood and as she grows up Jenny has to deal with her ill mother and a step dad who makes life difficult for her at every turn.When best friend Freddie starts to suspect David is wrong for her events start to unravel for Jenny and all is eventually revealed in a shocking ending ! An excellent psychological thriller which will keep you gripped to the very end,a 5 star read without a doubt.

4.5 stars !!

Oh Well !! That was disturbing !! The book kept me guessing who was lying after every scene !! Damn !

So, the story revolves around 3 people Jenny, David and Freddie. Jenny has just lost her mother in a freak accident, and David (a supposedly perfect stranger, just at the right place and at the right time) provides the police an alibi for Jenny to clear any suspicions. Freddie is Jenny's best friend, supporting her in all circumstances. But Freddie thinks there's something fishy with David. He sets out to find David's secrets (finds a whole bunch of them) and convince Jenny to come out of the relationship. But who is real and who is fake ? Who is lying ? Who is controlling the twists ??

Jenny has had a abusive childhood, she lives for her blogs ( and they contain fake stories as well) and she's calculative. She wants attention and seeks control on everyone. Manipulative ! Though we don't see this part in the beginning.

David, I don't know how to judge him.He's smart, he keeps his calm even in the most mind numbing circumstances, has OCD and is also very calculative.

Freddie a sweet guy and Jenny's best friend. He's open, free and easily likeable. He worries that his friend might be in an abusive relationship, and is truly one sane character in this entire book.

The plot ! Oh my ! It is one mind-f*ucking plot, this one.

Nothing is as it seems !!
So many lies that you don't know which one is the truth !!
So many manipulations that you don't know which ones are genuine !!
So many secrets that you cannot separate it from reality !!

And the twist to the plot ?? Oh wow ! I kind of had an idea that both Jenny and David are a little cra-cra. But this ! Super creepy..

What disturbed me the most, that these characters were all young adults. So much hatred, so many plans, so many manipulation !! Everyone thought they were getting away with their secrets. But things have a way of catching up !!

The only drawback for me, was it got a little stretchy in the middle. But, I can accommodate that since it sets up the scene for the twist !!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for generously sharing the ARC with me in exchange for my honest review

Well... that was one hell of a twist there..... so many unlikeable people and so hard to review without giving too much away. Let's just say that this book had it all... and then some. The twists had twists! A very fast paced story for multiple points of views and timelines... if you like shock in a story this one is for you.

Thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honesty opinions.

This is my second book by Frances Vick and fast becoming a fan! I loved her first book "Bad Little Girl", if you haven't read it yet, you should!

This book starts with a woman's body found in the woods. We are soon introduced to Jenny, the main character, who is just informed of her mother's death. Details about Jenny are slowly revealed. She was abused as a child by her mother's boyfriend and has issues she needs to deal with. She sees a therapist and is studying to become one herself. Then she meets David. She thinks he is perfect for her but her best friend Freddie sees things differently. May I interrupt here to say I LOVED Freddie!? Freddie soon starts to discover disturbing things about David and the more he digs, the more scared for Jenny he is. What exactly is David hiding and why doe he seem to be so controlling?

I very much enjoyed this book and am eager for her next! Some nice twists and turns throughout that took me a bit by surprise! I will be patiently awaiting this author's third book!

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

The Good Liar is a fantastic, creepy psychological thriller, revolving around three main characters who are all manipulative to some degree or another. They also tell lies, which impacts on the reader's view of what is going on as they all take a turn with the narrative. I thoroughly enjoy this type of structure, where we are in different people's heads, trying to work out what's really going on.

The story is about Jenny, her gay friend Freddie and her stalker/boyfriend David and what happens after Jenny's mother dies in what appears to be an accident. I can't say much about the story without giving spoilers, suffice to say, there are quite a few twists and turns as we go along and secrets are revealed, lies uncovered.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The characters are so well created, especially David, who I became very fond of, and sorry for, despite the fact that he is clearly a psychopath. There are lots of little clues dropped along the way as the story fluctuates between narrators and we pick up on their lies and I thought the author executed this with great skill and craftiness.

The structure of the book was unusual, as it went backwards and forwards in time, going over old incidents, but from the perspective of three different narrators plus Jenny's blog posts. For me, this made some bits feel slightly repetitive, especially if you'd guessed the truth, although we learnt something new, and usually devastating each time and I don't think it was possible to guess the whole truth at any point.

My only gripe with this book is that after a mid-point, which felt like a climax, things slowed down, rather than built. That's not to say it was boring, because gaps in knowledge were filled in. Eventually, it really sped up and hurtled the reader to a great ending, which was worth waiting for.

The writing flowed well and the book was very absorbing and readable. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Lots of twists and turns. It was interesting to see how the two main characters used each other to fulfill their own crazy plans. A good read!

Difficult to describe and review this book.... It's a darkly terrifying story of incredibly disturbed people that leaves the reader reeling

From the beginning the first chapter had me hooked, intrigued and gripped. My first impression of Jenny was she was a very confused woman and I felt unsure about her character, which remained with me until the end. I really liked Freddies character he had my support from the start. Who is David really? David’s character was very shifty in my eyes and not to be trusted!

The Good Liar is a long story and it took me a while to get to the good bit but well worth the read and wait. This story is creepy, mysterious and will mess with your head. I loved how some chapters were Jenny’s blog posts, a good lay out for this story. I awarded four stars and would highly recommend to you all. If you enjoyed Gone Girl this is a book you will enjoy.

*Please note this is the review I will be using on my blog tour date the 26th of Jan 2018.*

Francis Vick pieced together a well-written narrative framed with nerve-rattling desperation. The rhythm of the scenes were crafted at just the right tempo. Carried me along for a bumpy ride down the Psychotic Highway. As the momentum built, it haunted me with a far-reaching storyline. Luckily for me every seat has an edge for that's where I found myself perched throughout the entire book. The main characters were defined to a tee. So much so that I began to form a love-hate relationship after introductions. And we had only just met.

Jenny Holloway learned that her mother Sal, had been discovered lying face down, dead, in a mound of snow. Distraught, she felt partly responsible for not being there in her time of need. Maybe she could have prevented it. Probably not. What kind of daughter was she, she asked herself. At this hour of grief, little did she know that this single event would be the catalyst of a journey with a one-way ticket to the kingdom of Hades.

During the funeral, she met David Crane. An acquaintance she'd hardly known years ago back in school. It turned out, lucky for her, he provided her with just the right alibi at the time of her mother's death. Everyone's a suspect. He claimed to have seen her walking at a removed location at the time in question. Made a report to the police. Fortunate for her. Fortunate for him. He had his own motives built upon many years in the making. Before long, they started dating. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Jenny had no idea where this relationship would lead her. At first, It had shown itself laced with feelings of need and desire. Yet an overwhelming dread of hatred and deception lurked in the background leaving my stomach in knots. Doomed from the start. Destined for tragedy with many shocking twists and turns that rushed at me with a roar. With shattered nerves, it was all I could do to hang on to a wild finish I could not predict.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book started fast and kept me guessing until the end, a thriller thats not only creepy but so engaging you need to find out what happens in the end, making it hard to put down.
Jenny hasn't had the best upbringing, she wants the world to see her through her own eyes but she soon learns some of the people around her wont allow this. The story jumps right into Jenny losing her mum and a male from her past David, coming to her rescue. Is he all she ever wanted? Will her best friend Freddie like him? She sees David's life being similar to her, but is it?
A web of lies surrounds many of the characters and this is what give this book a brilliant plot that you don't see coming. The three main characters are well developed and brilliantly written about which makes the reader like them one minute and then rethink the next.
This book gives a brilliant start to the thriller books for 2018.

I tried to love this novel, I really did! It just fell short for me... I liked the characters and the plot was good but something was missing. It's probably just me, not the book. I was a bit distracted with holidays and other things. I should probably give this one another try at another time.
The one thing I didn't understand is how Jenny could not see David for what he was. There were enough clues but she just didn't see it, not even when her best friend tried to convince her. I understand that she was emotionally damaged from her childhood, but she is taking psychology classes at college, so she should have seen the signs. Maybe I missed something...
I really like this author, so I'll put this one down as a miss and look forward to the next one...

4.5 Stars!!!



Frances Vick has done it again!! When I heard she was coming out with a new novel, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! The Good Liar was everything I had hoped it would be (and much, much more)! I love a thriller/suspense novel that keeps me on my toes and this novel definitely did that— the well timed clues had me creating several conspiracy theories that all ended up to be wrong! The flow was perfect and I found myself reading way past my bedtime because I couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to touch on the plot because the blinder you go into this read the better, but I will say you will most certainly not be disappointed. If you are in the mood for a fantastic thriller that will knock your socks off, than this is the book for you!