Thank you to the author, publishers HarperCollins and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Will Trent and Sara Linton’s honeymoon turns into a murder investigation when they find the manager of the rural Georgia getaway they’re staying at stabbed and dying at the water’s edge.

Karin Slaughter somehow manages to write about the darkest and most disturbing traits of humanity while simultaneously writing the most heartwarming and hopeful, yet realistic, relationship between the two main protagonists. This is Why We Lied is another great example of this.

I guessed fairly early on at one aspect of the plot that isn’t confirmed until the end, but that was just the result of being a long-term reader of this author. I just thought of the darkest place this story could go and knew that if anyone would go there, and do it convincingly, it would be Karin. Still it managed to go darker than I’d even imagined and deliver a compelling read that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Loved this book. The characters of Will and Sara are fantastic and the plot of this book kept me on edge and puzzling to the end. Great twists and turns throughout and a fabulous ending. Quite gruesome in the manner of the murder and backstory of the characters but not so much that I didn’t want to read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara are finally married and have gone to a secluded mountain lodge for their honeymoon. Mercy McAlpine the manager of the lodge gets brutally murdered and Will and Sara get sucked into finding the killer. Every single family member of Mercy's gets benefitted with her out of the way and even few guests who are staying at the lodge have motive to kill her. Investigating the killer is not that straight forward when too many of them are guilty of something.
CW: Physical abuse, domestic abuse, rape, pedophilia, assault, grooming, alcohol & drug abuse, murder, trauma

This has got to be, by far, my most favourite installment of this series! Looking back I've more than likely said that for every book in the series BUT this one blew me away.

Talk about sucking you in! Right from the prologue I carried it around with me, reading at every chance possible until the very end.

I'll admit, 8m not usually a big fan of plots that have a large array of characters BUT the sheer amount of characters within this tale actually made the book. They were so impeccably written, each with their own strong characterisation and backstory, that you can't help but be fully invested in the story.

This book explores deep secrets within a rather unsettling, dysfunctional family.

Will Trent and his new bride Dr Sara Linton are on their honeymoon at a luxury mountain lodge retreat, run by the McAlp8ne family. The head of the family Papa is now cated for by his wife Bitty after a bad accident last year whilst the lodge is now being managed by their daughter Mercy with the help of her brother 'Fishtopher' and her son. To say the family are dysfunctional is an understatement. There is an awful lot of resentment, hatred and spite running through the whole family.

Mercy is a seriously strong character. Once a teenage mum with serious addiction and domestic abuse issues, she has battled through life to be able to bring up her son while the whole world, and town, are against her.

On the first night of their honeymoon, whilst enjoying some 'newlyweds' time, a scream echoes through the forest. Will and Sara split to try and locate where it came from. Will stumbles upon Mercy, stabbed repeatedly and left to die. Who killed her and why? Just a few hours before she had threatened to expose everyone's secrets so I could literally be anyone!

Whilst it's set in a truly isolated location (think escape room) it is far from predictable or repetitive. The close circle of characters are engaging, relatable and full of life. While not all likeable they were most definitely all readable in their own right.

A tale full to the brim of eerie tension, secrets and spins, twists and turns and an ending that I was not expecting.

HUGE thanks to Netgalley and Harpercollins UK for the ARC.

This book is mind blowing. The characters are complex. The setting is beautiful. Who doesn’t love a remote mountain getaway? So the characters has poignant past and terrible things happens with them. The truth is twisted and twists and turns will keep you on the edge. The book is suspenseful.

Mercy is found dead, she was still alive when Will Trent found her but he knew she is not going to make it. He tried to ask her about her killer but she didn’t reveal anything. Life has been unfair to her. She has such a touching past and the past is the key to solve the mystery of her murder. So Trent and Sara investigates the case. The last thing Mercy uttered was that she loves her son. The truth is twisted and there are lies, secrets and mystery. The mystery slowly unveils with past memories and layers of secrets and lies. Some characters were deceiving while some were mean. I liked the character of Will Trent. The ending was jaw dropping and heart wrenching. I loved the writing and shocking revelations at the end. I would highly recommend this book.

Many Thanks to the Publisher and Author.

Welcome to Will Trent & Sara Lintons honeymoon, it’s taken a while to get there but Will has finally got the girl if his dreams and he’s booked an idyllic honeymoon retreat but straight from the first page Karin Slaughter deftly throws the reader into a murder scene and manages to get the title in. She really is an accomplished writer who makes each and every character believable and the love that Will & Sara has jumps from the page and pretty much all the way through I had an idea who might be the killer but Karin Slaughter is better than that. As always when I come to the end I always feel a little sad at saying goodbye but at least there is always the promise of the next book.

You’ve no idea how excited I was to get an advance reader copy of ‘This is why we lied’!! I loved every minute of this book, happy to be back with Sara and Will, Amanda and Faith. As Sara and Will try to switch off during their honeymoon they get more than they bargained for and more murders than they care for. So much going on as the story unfolds, it was impossible to put it down and for once I was in no hurry to get to the end. Thank you Netgalley for making my day!

Sara and Will are great characters and the stumbling into a murder on honeymoon is right on brand for the pair!
This is an incredibly clever plot- a locked room mystery by virtue of the wilderness setting and one with a cast of secret keeping folk who are not quite as they seem!
The book moves at a good pace, enough detail to bring out the armchair detective theories and not so much that the perpetrator can be guessed from the get go- the perfect mix!

It's been a while since I've read a book by the author and am now going to go back and reread and find news ones. I enjoy her writing and she captures her characters so well and you feel empathy/sympathy/apathy as needed.

The story of who killed Mercy unfolds over a short time period but you feel it's longer (in a good way). The plot twists and turns and with so many possible perpetrators I was not sure who will have done the deed. The book keeps you enthralled as just when you think you've worked it out another twist occurs.

Another great book from the author.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I was expecting more of a domestic thriller. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Twisty multi layered plot with terrifying consequences. Will and Sarah are on their honeymoon and soon investigating a murder. The new characters in this book were ones that I disliked as the plot got more complex the more I began to disdain them. It's immersive and compelling writing kept me reading!

Will Trent is back! While on his honeymoon, will runs into an old foe and falls headfirst into a case that reawakens old demons .

Will is on his honeymoon at a much touted remote resort when a body turns up. Unfortunately Will feels a personal connection, sharing moments with the victim and feeling empathy with her due to one her of her tormentors, a blast from his past.

It was great when Faith turned up and added a little humor to otherwise very serious situations. I hope to see their colleague Kevin again. As always, Amanda wields her power, but also shows her concern for Will, even if it is in an "Amanda" way.

The perpetrator was pretty easy to figure out, but it was interesting to go through all the twists and turns with the other characters. The past is revisited for several people, and it was hard to find a "likeable" character in the group.

I love revisiting these characters, however, would like to see more of Faith's story incorporated into the the storylines, and see Faith and Will working more as a team. We also learn a little more about Will and his past.

Karin is good at laying out a mystery and I highly recommend this as another installment of Will Trent. I look forward to another one!

This is a real twisty murder mystery thriller which touches so many bases, child abuse, drugs and alcohol related crimes and general corruption in a small mountain village. This is part of a series about Will Trent and Sara and in this book they have just got married and are on their honeymoon when a murder happens. The isolation of the mountain campsite adds great atmosphere to the story which develops into being snow locked in as well. The scene setting before Mercy was murdered added the necessary background to the story which was compelling. Having read this I do not think that I would like to go away to a retreat in such issolation just in case anyhing bad happens, it has been so realistically written.
The ending was certainly unexpected as I had been deciding on the murderer throughout and each time it suddenly appeared that I was wrong.
Great book from a great author.

Introduction:
"This Is Why We Lied" marks another captivating installment in the Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter. As someone who recently embarked on this journey from Book 9, I can personally vouch for the sheer brilliance of Slaughter's storytelling. This latest addition presents a heart-wrenching, intense closed-room mystery that beautifully showcases Slaughter's masterful writing and the complexity of her characters. Despite initially joining the series from Book 9, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the narrative, proving that readers need not have read the earlier installments to appreciate the gripping tale that unfolds within these pages. So, whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, "This Is Why We Lied" is an absolute must-read.

Plot:
The story unfolds at McAlpine Lodge, a secluded mountain retreat where every guest harbors a secret. When Mercy McAlpine, the lodge manager, is murdered after threatening to expose these secrets, Will Trent and Sara Linton find themselves entangled in a complex web of lies and deceit. Slaughter weaves a tale of domestic abuse, child cruelty, and addiction against the backdrop of an isolated location, intensifying the tension and suspense with each turn of the page.

Characters:
Will Trent and Sara Linton shine as the protagonists, their personal journeys adding layers of depth to the narrative. Will's newfound peace and love with Sara provide a touching contrast to the darkness surrounding Mercy's murder. The supporting cast, including Amanda, Faith, and Mercy's dysfunctional family, further enrich the story, each character contributing to the intricate web of betrayals and secrets.

Themes:
Slaughter fearlessly delves into dark themes, confronting issues such as drug addiction, domestic abuse, and manipulation head-on. Mercy's tragic life and the callousness of her family serve as poignant reminders of the horrors that lurk beneath the surface of seemingly idyllic settings. "This Is Why We Lied" is a testament to Slaughter's ability to explore the depths of human depravity while keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, "This Is Why We Lied" is a masterpiece of crime fiction, showcasing Karin Slaughter at the peak of her storytelling prowess. With its relentless suspense, jaw-dropping twists, and compelling characters, this novel is a must-read for fans of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a dark, multilayered thriller that will leave them breathless.

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a Review Copy.

Brilliant but disturbing. The end.
Thank you so much to netgalley and Harpercollins for the chance to read this Arc.

Will Trent and Sara Linton are newly married and are honeymooning at the McAlpine Lodge run by Mercy McAlpine. Taking a romantic midnight swim, they suddenly hear a scream. Quickly dressing and the running to see the cause, they hear pleas for help. Going off in different directions Will finds Mercy has been repeatedly stabbed and in floating at the edge of the lake. Will desperately tries to save her and badly injured his hand in the process. Mercy’s dying words urge Will to tell her son, Jon, she loves him. Now the suspense begins and dark, twisted secrets are revealed. I enjoy Karen Slaughter’s Will Trent series. I will recommend this book.

Sara and Will are back. They are off on honeymoon to a remote campsite in the mountains. It's a pretty luxury camp - there are lodges and activities and swimming etc etc. Concealing their occupations, so they can be as free as possible on this trip, they encounter a murder almost as soon as they've unpacked their bags. Of course.

Mercy is disliked by pretty much every single one of her family. Her son, her ex-husband, her brother, her parents.... they are all horrible! I didn't like one of these characters, not even Mercy really. And then she goes and gets herself killed, and Sara and Will must find out who did it.

I really like Faith as a character and I'm so glad she is Will's partner. He needs her as much as she needs him really. They've grown so much since the start of their journey. The dynamic works really well - she's tough, no nonsense, but underneath vulnerable and needy, and Will is clumsy and looks tough, but couldn't do his job with Faith's help concerning his dyslexia etc.

The relationship between Sara and Will is lovey dovey almost to the point of sickliness :) but they are newlyweds so we will let them off for this book.

Overall I loved it, I would recommend it to life long fans of Slaughter, like myself, and also to anyone new to her books. But be warned, they are gory and gruesome and gritty - all the best books are :)

I have loved Karin Slaughters books since I read Blindsighted approx. 17-18 years ago, I caught up quickly and have eagerly awaited the next instalment, ever since. I was so excited when, I got the email to say I had been given access to this title. She never disappoints, the Will Trent/Sara Linton stories are always brutal, and graphic depicting the violence of the work they do but encompass the sweet tenderness between them. This one is no different, but has a bit of the Agatha Christie, locked room mystery thrown in.

Will and Sara are on their honeymoon, in what should be an idyllic break away from civilisation so, of course, nothing goes smoothly with this pair. They stumble upon a tragic murder, whilst enjoying a midnight swim in the lake. The deeper they investigate the more they uncover evidence of paedophilia, domestic abuse, child cruelty, alcoholism, drug addiction and incels. One of the most shocking parts of the story is that the family, don’t seem to care who murdered their relative. It seems that everyone has a motive, but who did it?

The story is told in a series of flashback chapters that work well, giving the reader most of the info that Will and Sarah, together with Faith must try and piece together. Another masterpiece of Crime writing. If I must pick a fault, it’s that the chapters are too long for me personally. It detracts from the pace a little. But that said another easy 5 star read.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC of This is Why We Lied in exchange for an honest and independent review.

This is the 12th installment of the Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter. While I have read the works of Karin Slaughter before, I have never dabbled in the Will Trent series. Normally, I wouldn't want to take up a series starting with the 12th book, however, the previous books really have no baring on this storyline, which was a huge breath of fresh air for me. While I'm sure there are mentions to activities that took place in prior books, I was not at a disadvantage having not read them (thank you SO much, Karin)! However, I must say that after reading this one, I really want to free up my next month in order to go back and binge this series because this murder mystery had me turning the pages so quickly it defied logic.

Will Trent (GBI investigator) and his new wife, Sara Linton (medical examiner) are on their honeymoon to a secluded mountainside resort, the McAlpine Lodge. The lodge offers the perfect combination of seclusion and relaxation in the depths of nature. That is until a blood curdling scream rips through the air on their first night at camp. Within minutes Will stumbles upon the mutilated body of the camp manager, Mercy McAlpine. Just barley clinging to life, she imparts her last words on Will, which sends both he and Sara on the honeymoon of a lifetime trying to track down her killer. Will and Sara will need to wade through the lies and deception to get to the bottom of this tragedy and in quick fashion too. Not your typical way to spend your honeymoon, but it's somehow rather fitting for Will and Sara (who honestly seem like the most balanced and realistic couple you could ask for).

I really do love a good murder mystery, but this one was quite honestly next level. The attention to detail in the characters and the lies they weave was beyond impressive. I felt like every little detail could be a clue and the storyline was so well thought out. This was one of the few mysteries that evoked real emotion from me and that main emotion was pure hatred for the McAlpine family. I spent most of this book flying through it angry and seeking justice for Mercy. Karin's character development was outstanding and it really allowed you to form your own opinions about each character through their viewpoints and faults. I enjoyed that this storyline wasn't just a first person narrative as I feel that gave the book a profound sense of depth. It was also fun to piece together viewpoints as this entire story really only happens over the course of 24-48 hours.

Another truly great read from Karin Slaughter. I'm already a huge fan and I think she's outdone herself with this one. I can't wait to go back and dive into this series from the beginning as I already know I will love it. Check this one out when it hits shelves June 20th!

Yet another page turner from Karin Slaughter. I have read all the books in her Will Trent series (and Grant County series before this), so I am very familiar with the characters and was eager to join them on yet another journey. I know I said it was a page turner and my goodness was it a hard book to put down but I didn't want it to end! So, I had to force myself to take breaks and savor it rather than read it in one sitting and be left yearning for more. And yet, here I am, the book finished and me once again impatiently waiting for the next one.

This Is Why We Lied follows Will and Sarah on their honeymoon where, against all odds, somebody gets murdered. It is a classic locked room mystery and this time with a Karin Slaughter twist. There is grit, pain, abuse and unimaginable hurts, but there is also love, trust and forgiveness.

If you like your mystery and thrillers a bit darker than usual, this is for you. An absolute must read!