Linwood Barclay serves up another great thriller that you won’t want to put down. I have many a Linwood book on my shelf and this is another great read to add to my collection.
A book of revenge and love, the story takes you in all sorts of directions. Interesting characters, a great story line and Linwood Barclay has given us another fantastic novel for 2023.

Wow is all I can say. This book is brilliant. I was pulled into the story on page one. The characters are so detailed and as you read the author gives you the connection with another character and it all makes a little more sense. This book gives and gives till the closing chapter. Loved it

Linwood Barclay has been a firm favourite of mine ever since I read his first novel. Having said that, I felt that the last couple of offerings had gone off the boil a bit, so I was unsure if I would like The Lie Maker. I’m happy to report that, for me, Barclay is back on top form with this intricately woven tale of murderous revenge. The plot may be a bit strained towards the end but, because it is done in the interests of a really good yarn, all is forgiven. I received an advance copy of this novel in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a decent, at times exciting, fast paced, enjoyable read. Jack is an author, rather down on his luck and who has a past. Then, he’s approached by a government agency to write back stories for people about to enter witness protection. This is a unique storyline written by an accomplished author and it romps along.
If you just want an easy read and don’t care too much about plot or repetitive elements, you’ll love it, It’s definitely not his best, but, it’s an easy, summer read.

I’m grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

I thoroughly enjoy anything by this author and “The Lie maker “ is no exception.
Gripping and fast paced , a real page turner.

#TheLieMaker is my first ever read of @linwoodbarclay‘s work and I’m in thrall! I’ve actually just bought #ElevatorPitch because I need another fix 🙈

So, The Lie maker has all the ingredients of a top thriller! Taut plot, changes of pace enabling both character development and compelling action scenes, and a twist I genuinely didn’t anticipate!

What an original premise! We’ve all heard of witness protection but view of us know the ins and outs of how it actually works. I was intrigued straight off the bat and really warmed to the character of Jack Givins.

We get snippets of young Jack when his father was taken into the programme, but the main plot line follows Jack as he’s hired to write backstories for the new identities of those going into the programme. I really enjoyed how this unfolded and the developments with him trying to track down his father.

The plot was believable and had changes of pace which meant there was both opportunity for character development (and all the characters were very solid and believable, and a few that were genuinely likeable) and compelling action scenes; I found these really exhilarating. There’s a brilliant twist which I genuinely didn’t see coming and thoroughly enjoyed.

I couldn't find even a minor fault with it, I highly recommend The Lie Maker to any thriller fans!

Linwood Barclay is one of my all time favourite authors and he has hit the mark yet again with another fantastic read!
Jack, left by his dad and always looking over his shoulder finds himself struggling to get his latest book published, being hit up for a loan by his well meaning but foolish stepfather and embroiled in a strange job opportunity for the witness protection services.
As the web of lies tangles around him Jack starts to let his past out into the open, hoping it will bring him peace but instead bringing a ton of trouble down on his shoulders.
Fast paced and full of twists this is un-put-downable!

Jack Givins' father, employed as a hit man, went into witness protection when he was young, and his wife refused to join him so he has been out of Jack's life for years. Jack, who is a struggling author, is recruited by the police to provide back stories for people going into witness protection, and he uses the opportunity to ask to re-connect with his father.

Meanwhile the family of the powerful man who his father put away are not content to let matters lie and decide to start wreaking revenge on those who convicted him. Suddenly Jack and those he knows are in jeopardy.

A twisty and exciting read, as we learn not to trust that anyone is telling the truth. Very enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was an easy to read novel, not really believable but then that’s fiction for you !!!
An interesting plot – so suspend disbelief and read.

It's what you'd expect from Linwood Barclay - a well-written thriller with plenty of twists. The plot is revealed bit by bit and there's a satisfying ending. Mr Barclay knows how to write a book.

Jack Givens is desperately short of money. He is a moderately successful author who needs other means to survive.

His third novel has generated no interest, he has just lost a low level job before he started, and his car has been lost to arson.

As things seem hopeless,his agent approaches him about a top secret assignment. All he has to do is hold onto a burner phone until the mystery person rings him.

This starts an adventure which twists and turns to an explosive finish.

A fast paced tale from Linwood Barclay that keeps you guessing to the end!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the chance to read and review this book.

Loved every page! The book had me hooked from the start and I had no idea who Gwen would turn out to be.
I found the storyline reeled me in and I really enjoyed it.
The only part that I wasn’t too sure on, is what happened with Kyle? It probably wasn’t worth mentioning him.

Ive never been disappointed by anything Linwood writes. Another good story.

Yet another great read from this author. The plot centers around a criminal who turns evidence for witness protection and the impact it has on those around him. Well worth reading.

i was looking forward too this book as i like linwood barclay as an author and have enjoyed his others and this plot seemed interesting

however i really struggled too get into it i fealt like i couldnt engage with the characters as much as i wanted too and though it did pick up in the middle the ending fealt rushed and i was a little dissapointed.

definately not one of my favourites but maybe my fault as not long finished look both ways which was quote fast paced so maybe was expecting the same from this and you shouldnt compare really.

The Lie Maker is a solid thriller with a decent plot, interesting characters, a few clever twists and a pleasing ending with all loose ends nicely tied up. Linwood Barclay is a new author to me but one I will look out for in the future.

A different storyline subject that I was looking forward to getting stuck into but I found the beginning a slow burner and it didn't make me rush to read as I usually do with this author's books.
Picking up a bit better as it continued with an ending that seemed rushed,so an up and down read for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ publishers for the ARC.

Linwood Barclay's latest thriller is entertaining, with the twists he can be relied upon to provide, and set in Boston, Massachusetts, featuring a 34 year old Jack Givins who has 2 books published, but his agent, Harry Breedlove, has failed to secure a publisher for his latest. When he was 9 years old, Jack's father, Michael, a man who admitted to him he had killed, is arrested, joining the witness security programme after agreeing to give evidence against his former boss. His mother refused to go with him, and Jack had to stay with her, but he missed his father terribly, running away from home several times to try and find him. He acquired a stepfather in Earl, a man who had his own issues, but they stayed in touch when his mother died.

Facing financial troubles, his car set on fire, Jack is both intrigued and needs to accept a job offer from the US Marshalls service, one he cannot tell anyone about. He becomes the lie maker, employed for his writing skills, creating believable backgrounds for those in WITSEC trying to build a new life somewhere unfamiliar, without giving themselves away. Jack's girlfriend, journalist Lana Wilshire, can't help herself as she tries to find out what he is doing, at the same time she has suspicions about 2 similar recent deaths that she takes to Detective Florence Knight. Jack is desperate to have the opportunity to talk to his father, asking the Marshall service to make this happen, only to discover his father has recently disappeared, and could be in trouble, having destroyed lives, he has enemies. Can Jack help find his father first to warn him?

It takes a little while before the pacing of this thriller starts to pick up with the added tension and suspense, but it is an enjoyable ride. It does require some suspension of disbelief, but that is so often true of thrillers of this type. This might not be my favourite Barclay novel, but I think many of his fans will appreciate it, Jack makes for an appealing protagonist, although perhaps he does not question the situations he finds himself in enough. There are some great twists and I particularly liked the resourceful Lana and she is incredible in the exciting finale. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I have read and loved all of Linwood Barclay’s books and this is no exception! I was very pleased to be able to read this one before the release date. Fairly fast paced with lots of plot twists that made me think I knew what was going to happen, but I didn’t! I really enjoyed the premised of this book and what the ‘Lie Maker’ had to do. I liked the main character and was hooked from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Linwood Barclay, those who enjoy this genre and anyone who wants to read a good book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

A brilliant read with some really rich characters.
If I reflect on the plot, sure, maybe some of it was arguably not that believable, but that didn’t cross my mind whilst engrossed in this fast-paced thriller.

All round a great read.

Linwood Barclay is a ‘must buy’ author for me so I was super excited to read The Lie Maker and delighted to receive this copy!

This book starts off with quite a lot of names and characters which was a little confusing until I understood the plot better. I used a notepad to note names and summarise who they were until about halfway through (I found the short snippets with the judge and the doctor confusing) but once I grasped who was who and what role they played in the plot, this was very easy to follow.

I found the first half to be very slow and kept setting the book down but once I reached the twist, I was HOOKED! I would’ve loved a twist of some kind earlier in the plot to hook me earlier but, on the whole, the twist at the end was strong enough for me to really enjoy and recommend this book.

The character development was great - I ‘connected’ with the characters and felt invested in their stories and their lives. I suspected Lana of somehow being involved for the majority of the book and was pleasantly surprised when she turned out to be innocent. I did not suspect the real villain at all.

Thanks again for the opportunity to read this book!