Struggling writer Jack Givins is approached by the US Marshall Service to create back stories for criminals entering the witness protection scheme. At the same time, there are a number of unexplained deaths in the city. Is there a connection to Jack's background?

I remember reading and enjoying some of Linwood Barclay's early novels. I've no idea why I stopped reading them. I'm pleased to say that The Lie Maker has put this author firmly back on my radar.

Jack Givins is a struggling author. He's had two books published, although they didn't set the best-seller chart alight. Unfortunately, his third novel was turned down by publishers. To make ends meet he works as a journalist. Turning up for the first day of his new job, he learns that the position no longer exists. To make matters even worse, his car bursts into flames. When his agent approaches him with a mystery job offer, Jack is skeptical. The job offer is to work for the US Marshall Service writing new backgrounds for the individuals entering the witness protection scheme and pays very well.

I loved the irony here as early on we are given a glimpse of Jack's childhood, when his father abandoned the family to enter witness protection. Although the Marshall Service did a background check on him, this was obviously something they missed, either because they didn't go back far enough or because he changed his surname when his mother re-married. Jack doesn't see any reason to enlighten them, particularly when he's in dire need of the money they offer.

As Jack is starting his new job there are a couple of unexplained deaths. Apart from the manner of the deaths, there seems to be no connection between the two people. Jack's girlfriend, Lana, is a journalist and decides to delve deeper into the deaths, convinced there is a connection.

The more involved Jack becomes, and the deeper Lana digs, we slowly realise that everything is connected to Jack and his father. We are given a glimpse into what led to Jack's father entering witness protection. Deciding to be honest with his boss at the US Marshall Service, he hopes that they will be able to put him in touch with his father. However, his father has disappeared.

We see a race against time to track down Jack's father and danger from an unexpected source. I enjoyed the way in which all of the different elements of the plot came together in the end.

Linwood Barclay creates mysteries with depth, with layers and with these amazing characters who are simply ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and this is exactly that.
Jack is a struggling writer in desperate need of a regular income. His childhood was traumatic, not only because his father left him behind to enter Witness Protection. When Jack gets offered a job that puts him in a position to uncover the truth of his past, what he unravels is far more than he could have expected and Jack's past and present collide in a situation fraught with danger both to himself and his loved ones.
I can read Linwood Barclay's books all day long, he has me on the edge of my seat throughout and he never goes too far - stories are grounded and characters are relatable, nothing is so far fetched as to break the spell of the novel.

I have read, and enjoyed a number of books by Linwood Barclay, this one was no exception. A very cleverly thought out novel that involves witness protection, the mafia and murders. There are a number of sub-plots, many red herrings and great twists to the story that keep you guessing to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the advance copy of this book.

Another great book by Linwood Barclay.

Jack is an author trying to get his 3rd book published but instead receives an interesting offer to write backstories for people going into the Witness Protection Programme. Jack is sworn to secrecy, even from his reporter girlfriend, Lana.

Jack soon asks for a favour, to be put in contact with his father who was placed into WITSEC when Jack was 9 years old.

Is all as it seems and why are people suddenly drowning in the river? Will Jack see his father again?

Linwood Barclay kept me up all night again with another suspense filled thriller. Every time I thought I had it sussed I hadn’t! Barclay is one of my favourite authors and yet again he did not disappoint!

I have read every single one of Linwood Barclays books and can safely say he is my favourite thriller author of all time. His new book “The Lie Maker” predominantly follows Jack, who at 9 years old had his father taken away and placed into the witness protection program after working for a top crime boss. After Jack’s mother refuses to go with him, she starts a new life where she meets Jack’s step-father Earl. Jack has always missed his father and wanted to see him again after he left, never giving up hope they may be reunited. This hope of being reunited ends up leading Jack down a dark path where not only may he never see his father again, but it may result in death.

This book was a very thrilling read with lots of exciting plot twists and gasp-worthy moments! The end of the book was a rollercoaster of emotions, meaning it was impossible to put down! I finished this book in 24 hours!

The characters are well-flushed out and well established. You’d find it difficult not to sympathise with Jack throughout his journey and you’re constantly hoping he achieves his goals. He has a great partner in his girlfriend Lana, who’s a reporter for a popular newspaper. The villain of the novel has a fantastic back-story, which all wraps up well at the end of the book.

After finished the book I immediately pre-ordered the hardback version and cannot wait to recommend it to all my reader friends and family! It will take pride on my shelf along with all my other Linwood Barclay novels! A fantastic read, especially for the holiday season if you want something that’ll keep your attention!

When you come across a book from Linwood Barclay then you tend to expect great things from the start and this did not disappoint! It's amazingly well written, the story unfolds at such a good pace and the plot is always moving forwards. There are twists and turns, the plot is original and not like anything you've read before. It's cleverly written and just feels so vivid and real! Even though it's about the mafia and witness protection, it still sucks you in and has you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what's going to happen and just feels..... real! I couldnt put it down and loved every second

Linwood Barclay never disappoints and this book is no exception. Twisting thriller with tension and pace both building in the haste to resolution. Sharply depicted characters bring a sense of realism as the reader attempts to untangle the plot against an unsettling sense that time is running out.

It pains me to give a Linwood Barclay book such a low score. Especially as one of his previous books Never Saw It Coming is one of my favourite ever books!

In The Lie Maker we meet Jack Givins, a lesser known author who is offered a role as the person who writes the back stories for people in witness protection.

In a little twisty, life mirrors life, side bar, it is revealed that Jack's father went into protection leaving Jack and his mum behind (as his mum refused to go with him).

Overall it was a bit of slow burn for me but I can see from reviews that others have loved it so if you are a fan of Mr Barclay then I would say give it a go a decide for yourself.

I’m a fan of Linwood Barclay so looked forward to this new addition.
A well written tense thriller with the enticing subjects of witness protection, mafia, and redemption amongst others as the main themes.
This book has a great pace, keeps you on edge without going off on a tangent as many books do nowadays.
You won’t be disappointed.

A father, involved in a criminal organisation disappears in mysterious circumstances. The son is left to build a new life, although never fully reconciled with the sense of abandonment and loss. Fast forward two decades, now a struggling author he is offered the opportunity to write back life stories for individuals due to enter the witness protection scheme by a female operative of the government. With few other life choices remaining this is perceived as the answer to his serious cash flow problem and an opportunity to enter more equally into a burgeoning relationship with a successful journalist. If an opportunity sounds too good to be true it normally is. However our unassuming and gullible protagonist embarks on a new secret career simultaneously involving numerous incidents and coincidences that should have set off alarm bells that all was not as it seemed. But that would have prevented the ongoing rollercoaster of a search for his father, seemingly unrelated fatalities , and his total naivety that he was endangering everyone within in his inner circle. The pace for answers increases in direct relationship with the degree of danger to everyone he loves towards the ultimate violent conclusion. An unusual premise from an author always seeking to produce innovative and unexpected themes for each new book. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I always enjoy Linwood Barclay books and his new book ‘The Lie Maker’ lived up to my expectations.
Jack is looking for his father who was taken into the witness protection program when Jack was nine years old. He has reason to believe that his father is in danger because someone is out to take their revenge.
A thriller with some great characters that kept me on the edge of my seat, the tension growing chapter by chapter.
I’m really looking forward to the next book by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

In his latest book, The Lie Maker, Linwood Barclay delivers another fast-paced thriller with an intriguing plot and twists along the way.
Jack, a struggling author, is recruited by the U.S. Marshals to write cover stories for people in the witness protection programme - but all is not what it seems. Jack's own father was taken into witness protection years before and Jack sees an opportunity to track him down.
Linwood Barclay is a master storyteller, making this book a joy to read. It kept me enthralled from the first page to the last.
Highly recommended for fans of the mystery/thriller genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

As a child Jack Givin watched as his father left to start a new life in witness protection. As he left his father told him
‘Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son.
Now an adult Jack is a writer. He’s already had two books published. Then he is offered a new job. He is approached by the secret service. They want him to write the cover stories for those in their protection. This is a way for Jack to understand more about the program but also he hope to discover what has happened to his father over the missing years. He soon discovers that his dad has dropped out the program and might be at risk. Can Jack use his talents to discover where his dad is.
One again Linwood Barclay has delivered a fast paced enthralling read. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC

Loved this book. It's a fast paced thriller, with murders, mafia and witness protection. It's full of several sub plots, all thought out in great detail, that twist and turn like a twisty turny thing. Lots of red herrings to keep you guessing, some easier to spot than others and past stories that add context. Well worth your money and a few hours of your time to read it. Invest in the book and it'll cause you to stop, think and thoroughly enjoy it.

I've aways been a big fan of Linwood Barclay and this latest story didn't disappoint.

Following Jack, who is a washed up writer, now creating witness protection back ground stories, which turns out to be a difficult gig, as his own dad was put into witness protection when be was a young boy.

Jack decides to take advantage of his new role and see if he can find his dad after so many years apart. What ensues is action Packed, with twists and turns that kept me glued.

A 'popcorn' thriller if there ever was one! Awesome!

Linwood Barclay's "The Lie Maker" is a heart-pounding crime thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. With its twisty plot and cleverly connected strands, this book is a rollercoaster ride of suspense and deception. Barclay's skillful storytelling creates an atmosphere of tension and intrigue, making it impossible to put the book down.
The protagonist, Jack Givins, is a relatable and compelling character. His quest to find his father, who disappeared into witness protection, is filled with emotional depth and a sense of urgency. As Jack delves deeper into his search, he becomes entangled in a web of lies and faces the threat of his father's deadly enemies. The suspenseful moments, plot misdirection, and well-placed red herrings kept me guessing until the very end.
While some suspension of disbelief is required, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. In fact, it added to the entertainment value and made the journey even more thrilling. The dramatic ending was satisfying and left me wanting more.
I highly recommend "The Lie Maker" to any fan of thrillers. Linwood Barclay's masterful storytelling and intricate plot make this book a must-read for anyone craving a gripping and suspenseful tale.

Thanks to Linwood and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book before the publication date.
Unfortunately the ARC version was distorted by the publisher’s rights statements being shown in the middle of sentences, which broke the flow of the storyline and is possibly why I gave it a lower rating.
I normally look forward to Linwood’s books, but this one did not match the twisty thriller description.
The backstory takes place in the 1990s when the Frohm crime family was at its peak, managing their empire with violence. When Michael Donohue was arrested for murdering a man who knew too much about the Frohm’s business, he chose to give evidence against the head of the family before going into the Witness Protection scheme.
Jump forward to the present day and Michael’s son, Jack Givin, a struggling author, is offered a job with the U.S. Marshalls, creating fictional CVs for people entering the WitSec program. Jack sees this as an opportunity to contact his father.
Is it too good to be true?
It was an easy read with plenty of bad guys for the reader to hate and a few who showed they had some redeeming features, yet there was a lack of character development.

A new Linwood Barclay book is always a pleasure to read. This is no exception. A struggling author, Jack Givins is the son of a murderer, who was put into witness protection. When Jack is recruited to write back stories for people in people like his father, he sees this as a chance to find him.. Unfortunately his father has dropped out of sight.

This is a fast paced read, one that I stayed up late into the night to finish. Jacks character builds nicely as the story goes on, painting a picture of a man totally shaped by the traumatic day his father left. We learn that his father, Michael, hadn’t been born bad but moulded into who he became by a man he thought of as his mentor. The story is strong, and believable, with twists that are truly unexpected. Enjoyable, if slightly scary read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Oh wow! Linwood Barclay does not disappoint in this new novel 'The Lie Machine.' I was totally gripped by the story from the beginning and could not put my book down. Great story, well rounded characters and so many twists and turns in the plot- this kept me guessing until the very end! The inclusion of the very secretive Witness Protection Scheme really added depth to the story as the true picture unfolded. Highly recommended!

Complex mystery with more twists than a helter skelter! Good characters and an unusual storyline.. A good read.