Member Reviews
On her prom night, Jess Tidy accuses her teacher Mark Winters of rape and as she leaves to start a new life in London, he is given a prison sentence. Ten years later, when her mother dies, Jess is forced to come back to her childhood home where Mark has already been released and is also trying to start a new life. But what is the actual truth about that night – who is lying?
Lying to You is a book told from 2 perspectives; Jess Tidy, a troubled girl from a disadvantaged family and Karen Winters, the wife of teacher Mark who has always stood by him and gets through most of her life on a pill-induced haze. Although the narrative switches between them at just the right moments to keep the plot flowing, I didn’t really empathise or care for the characters very much. Although they were both victims of horrible circumstances, the choices they made either in flash-backs or present day made it tricky to sympathise with them. As the main part of the plot was to find out who was lying, there were a lot of scenes that could have played out either way so that you didn’t guess too easily and it could be argued that the ending wasn’t really one definitive answer or the other – both parties were in some way to blame for their decisions.
I did enjoy the premise of Lying to You - I thought the subject matter was interesting and the portrayal of the disadvantaged families living in the village was well described. I think the books main failing was that there was only ever going to be 2 outcomes - Mark has been lying to his wife or Jess has been lying to everyone. As the book makes you flip so often between believing one or the other you are sort of prepared for either version by the end which makes the conclusion a lot less hard-hitting than it should have been. There are a few extra twists hidden in the ending, but these felt a little tacked-on and actually brought up more questions than they answered. The mix of flash-backs, written memoirs and present day action was nicely balanced but it did feel a bit too stretched out in places.
Overall Lying to You has a good premise and well balanced narrative but is let down by unrelatable characters and a conclusion with no real stakes. Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As all readers know,when you start reading the second book by a author who's first book was absolutely brilliant there is always that fear in the back of your mind that their second book won't be as good.Well I can honestly say that I enjoyed reading Lying To You just as much as Close To Me
The death of her mother has forced Jess Tidy to return to the small village where she grew up.Ten years ago Jess had made a accusation that resulted in her teacher Mark Winter,despite his claims of being innocent being convicted and sent to prison for three years.Mark and his devoted wife Karen still live in the village and Jess`s sudden return will result in secrets and lies being uncovered and the truth of what happened on that night finally being revealed.
This riveting story is narrated by Jess,Mark and Karen through different mediums.The events before,during and after the funeral are narrated in chapters that alternate between Jess and Karen.Interspersed throughout the book are chapters where Jess is talking about her life to a councillor.Mark tells his version of the events leading up to and on that terrible night in the form of a book.I thought it was ingenious how the author used this book within a book method as a way for the reader to learn Mark`s version of events through the eyes of Karen as she covertly read her husband's writing.The characters in this story are vivid and realistic,Jess,Karen and Mark where deeply flawed characters who`s lives and the lives of the people around them had been torn apart by whatever happened in the past.The narratives where very unreliable,you were not sure who`s version of events you should believe until the truth was revealed in the very last chapter.
This is a gripping,well written,page turner that had me hooked in from beginning to end.Actually,i was enjoying this book so much,i wanted to stay up and finish it last night but my poor old eyes had other ideas.Well worth more than five stars,this is definitely going to be one of my favourite books of this year.
Jess's mother's death has brought her back to the village where she grew up, and where Mark Winter, the man she accused and subsequently had sent to prison, still lives with his wife. Will the truth about that night ten years ago which nearly destroyed them both finally come out?
Often when I'm reading, and luckily usually towards the end of the book my Fiance asks"what ya reading? whats it about?" Lying to you made this a tangled web of answers that I think confused and enticed him all at once!
** Spoiler Alert**
I described the booked to him as being having four main narratives, telling us a combination of the then, now and retrospectively.
The narratives are:
Jess Tidy, a mess in high school who may or may not have had inappropriate relations with her teacher/mentor. Shes left the small town for London to escape it all but the death of her mother drags her back to where it all went wrong.
Mark Winter, The teacher, and recently released from prison for his actions with Jess. His marriage is strained and for a main character he has a surprisingly small narrative which is told via the retrospective diaried events read by his wife.
Karen Winter, Marks Wife, who has always supported him, and struggled without her medication. Her and her daughter Frey have been impacted by the accusation more than anyone, but Karen has a secret. Shes having an affair with Jess's brother.
Jess' supervisor. Forgive me, she was likely given a name but i have no idea what it was. We hear from her as a supervisor in a counselling role, as transcripts of her sessions with Jess.
Jess' brother has a big part in this too although he hasnt earned his place to have a Point of View in the story. Baby Daddy to Jess' ex best friend from school, an affair with the woman married to his sisters accused rapist, but all we learn of him is the way the two women in his life see him.
The 'now' in the book spans little more than a week, but the history that has been built around it now becomes the big picture and takes up the bulk of the book. The chapters are short and its easy to flick between characters, with little chance of forgetting who's voice/opinion your reading.
Great, thrilling tale. This may be my new favourite author.
Excellent book with a brilliant storyline and great main characters. I would recommend this book.
A gritty psychological thriller. Well written and tastefully covering a difficult topic from an alternative aspect.
Perfect combination of twisty and gripping, didn't let go from one page to the next. A must read for any psychological fiction fan.