A twisty and fast paced closed circle thriller. There's a lot of secrets, there's a limited number of suspects and a couple of investigators on their honeymoon.
Will and Sarah are the MCs in this series and this is a very good one and kept surprising me till the last twist
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the latest instalment of the Sara Linton/Will Trent storyline. We see them newly married (at last!) and on their honeymoon at a very remote and beautiful mountain lodge, the McAlpine lodge. It is far from the stress of their GBI jobs in Atlanta, and Will has planned that it will be a few days of pure relaxation. This relaxation doesn’t last long when Mercy, daughter of the McAlpines blows up at dinner on the first night, and publicly declares that she will expose all the secrets and lies that the family has been hiding. Later that evening, when out for a late night swim in the lake, Will and Sara hear a commotion, and when they arrive, find Mercy, terribly injured. There is nothing Sara can do to save her. Their honeymoon has become a crime scene and murder investigation. Being so remote and cut off suddenly by bad weather, they have no back up, and no resources, so they have to rely on one another and their skills to try and figure out who did it.

Mercy’s public declaration means that nearly every family member had a motive, every staff member had motive and all of the guests seem to be hiding something. Nearly everyone had an opportunity. As they peel back the layers, secrets, lies and illegal activities are unveiled. All lead them closer to finding Mercy’s killer. They can’t forget for a moment that they are trapped on a mountain with a murder who could strike again at any moment.

This book had so many twists, that it was really hard to guess who the killer was. You would think you had it figured out and then something else would be unveiled and you would be off on another tangent. The way it was written, jumping back on the timeline to give character insights worked well, giving us context and building up more drama and tension between characters. Overall, a very exciting read, and we get more back story on our favourite characters too. Plenty of drama, tension, excitement, one you will struggle to put down once you start!

*I received this book for review from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Absolute cracking book but then it's a Karin Slaughter novel so of course it is! She is the absolute master of creating an evocative backdrop for a story and This Is Why We Lied absolute fulfills this brief.

This, the 12th in the Will Trent series, sees Will and Sara on honeymoon at the secluded McAlpine Lodge retreat. Time for some rest, relaxation and to switch off from all things GBI, police, death and being on duty. Except that of course they can't because that wouldn't be much of a book now would it!

Poor sweet Mercy McAlpine, my heart broke for her. She's the down trodden, relentlessly hardworking and under appreciated manager of the Lodge, and when she is brutally murdered and Will and Sara find themselves slap bang in the middle of the crime scene and surrounded by potential suspects, all sense of a honeymoon is left behind as they do their best to control the scene before help can arrive.

This book is perfectly paced, delivers a delicious sense of unease and offers up a plethora of potential scenarios, suspects and a whole family of characters that you'll love to hate.

I was completely engrossed - my thanks to the author, NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This Is Why We Lie by Karin Slaughter is a gripping thriller dealing with secrets, betrayal, and human relationships. I've received a copy from Harper Collins UK via Netgalley.

Slaughter's writing immerses us in the emotional turmoil of the main characters, Will and Sara. The plot unfolds with brilliantly timed twists, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Each character is well-developed, with their own motivations and flaws, making their struggles so much more real. Trust and deception are central to the this story and the combination of suspense with psychological depth makes this book a must read. To know more about this book, you should definitely read it yourselves.

Overall, if you're into psychological thrillers, you won't be disappointed with this one.

5/5⭐️

I didnt enjoy this book very much.
It was very long and thr story line was distressing at many points.
It's a story of a very broken family who own a business catering for tourists in the mountains.
When one of the main characters is brutally murdered, 2 of the guests are involved in working out who killed her.
Not for me

Wow! I am a fan of Karin Slaughter anyway but I think this is my favourite yet. It is tough read but so well written. The story talks of generational abuse and the impact of trauma on children and adults. It is so brilliantly written I cannot commend it highly enough.

That said you will need resilience to get through parts of it.

The characters are effective, the plot is gripping and twisty and the overarching theme are brilliantly executed.

Highly recommended

Will Trent and Sara Linton are on their honeymoon. As a surprise, Will has picked the small and remote mountain resort that he longed to go to during his days in the children’s home. There is privacy in the cabin, swimming in the lake and hiking on the many trails in the area. Meals are served family style in the McAlpine family home. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? What is underneath the surface here is dark, disturbing and evil. That’s exactly what to expect from the talented Karin Slaughter.

We know from the first pages that Mercy McAlpine has been murdered. There are many suspects.Mercy herself believes that everyone on the mountain wants her dead. Isolated even more by a storm that has cut access to the resort, Will and Sara reveal their professional identities, identities they had kept hidden to avoid notoriety. As they slowly work toward identifying the killer, another body is found. A deception is uncovered but the real horror is saved for the final pages.

This is Why We Lied is a taut, smartly plotted thriller with a sad, twisted conclusion. Karin Slaughter makes you care about her characters, especially Will, Sara, Faith and Amanda. Her gift is to make you care about the unlikeable ones. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Karin Slaughter for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Karin Slaughter for ARC of this book!
Another fabulous book by Karin Slaughter following the lives of Sara Linton and Will Trent…even on their honeymoon things don’t run smoothly!
As always keeps you guessing until the end!!
Would highly recommend if you love thrillers.
Cant wait for the next!

Everything you would expect from a Karin Slaughter novel and so much more. Interesting, well developed characters lend depth to an intriguing plot.

Love Karin Slaughter and I think she just gets better and better. Fab read and would highly recommend. Love her books and can't wait for future books. It has been some time since I have read her books however I now have the bug again. I just wish she could write as quick as I can read.

Sara Linton and Will Trent, Medical Examiner and Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, respectively, are on their honeymoon to the McAlpine Lodge, a remote resort in a pristine setting – an experience sure to soothe the scars both have suffered, especially Will, who has never experienced such prolonged happiness. But their idyll is interrupted on the very first night when Mercy McAlpine, the manager of the family-run resort, is stabbed viciously to her death. Literally every person on the property – owners, staff, and guests alike – except Will and Sara seems to have a motive to hurt Mercy, especially her ex-husband Dave, an unsavoury character Will had grown up with in an orphanage. Will and Sara take it upon themselves to find the killer – for the sake of Mercy’s son, Jon, and the ordeals Mercy seems to have undergone – despite their boss, Amanda Wagner’s insistence that they leave the matter to other GBI agents and enjoy their honeymoon. With limited connectivity to the outside world, the case becomes a closed-room mystery, and the investigation brings to light far too many crimes – some years old and some going on for years – than the pair had expected to find. Soon, another person dies – deepening the mystery – and solving it will take all of the GBI investigators’ resourcefulness.

As with her other novels that I have read, Slaughter has filled this one with several messed up characters, most of whom are unspeakably malevolent. Starkly contrasted with all the nastiness is the bliss Will and Sara experience being hopelessly in love, though Slaughter goes a bit over-the-top with this at times. Meeting Will, Sara, Faith, and Amanda again is a pleasure, and their interactions are amusing as always. Slaughter’s knack for portraying the darkness of people is on display once again. Each of the nasty characters looks like a suspect, thanks to the backstories Slaughter provides, and the revelation of the killer, though hazily predictable, is well done. Slaughter admirably merges all the different threads, never letting the reader lose track of the narrative. Each character, including the minor ones, is crisply rendered. The resort, with its forest, lake, waterfall, and other features, feels like a character. Precisely when I was starting to miss the dark humour of Faith Mitchell, she appears and does what she does best. Slaughter puts Faith in precarious situations where her predicaments and reactions are refreshingly hilarious. Amanda, as usual, takes the reins the moment she appears but defers to Will’s will, albeit grudgingly. Though it dragged a bit at times due to the descriptions of the resort and the mushy romance of the newlyweds, this stark, intense, and emotional tale is another deserving addition to the much-loved series.

I am thankful to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the advance copy of This is Why We Lied through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HaperFiction for a review copy of This is Why We Lied, the twelfth novel to feature Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

I enjoyed This is Why We Lie, which has the winning combination of a gripping storyline and familiar characters. The novel has a split timeline of the current investigation and various key points prior to the murder with old letters from the victim added to give the reader (if not Will) further background. This means that it is jam packed with information and permutations to keep the reader fully engrossed. I admit to guessing the perpetrator’s identity but the motive totally eluded me and came as a real shock when revealed.

It should be noted that this is not a cosy novel in any shape, manner or form as it involves an extremely dysfunctional family where abuse is the norm rather than the exception. It can be difficult to read, although not at all difficult to understand with the character flaws of each individual examined if not excused. There is an element of compare and contrast in this.

I like the way the novel unfolds with secrets and motives gradually coming to light as Will pursues his investigation, ably assisted by Sara. I even liked the misdirection which fooled me more than once.

This is Why We Lied is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I usually love Karin Slaughter's books but I struggled with this one. It was dragged out and took a very log time to read and the end was definitely not for me. A disappointing read.

The newest novel in the Will Trent series starts off with Will and Sarah recently tying the knock and soon to embark on their honeymoon. Having planned a relaxing break in the mountains, the couple were not expecting to stumble in to the family drama of the resort owners nor a murder.
Mercy, the person in charge of the resort, is brutally murdered, with a range of suspects – family members and guests a like, Will, Sarah and the team try to uncover what really happened in a locked room murder environment.

With all the suspects trapped due to a storm, each person is desperately trying to keep their secrets hidden. It becomes clear, Mercy had a traumatic life littered with abuse, and many individuals holding a grudge and a motive to kill.

There are so many twists and layers to this novel, it is nigh on impossible to keep track on who the murderer actually is as it seems to ever change throughout the book which is credit to author.

A thrilling and gripping read, that springs surprise after surprise. Not least the unveiling of the perpetrator, bringing a shocking and unpredictable ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for a advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

I love Karin Slaughter books and will always pick it up if I see her name on the front. I particularly love Will Trent series and this one didn't disappoint as always.

I have never read any books by Karin Slaughter before, but you can’t walk past or into a book shop without seeing the cover of her most recent thriller centre of the display. I now find after reading this story of exactly why she is so popular! This is a fascinating storyline written by an accomplished writer and this is apparent from the very first chapter. As all reviews shown will say she is an expert in the twisty, dark mystery. But I am pleased to see the characters are so well written that I am saddened when the victim is discovered, such a waste of a life. This is the skill shown by a very clever wordsmith.
I won’t discuss the plot as it really is a story meant to be revealed by the author as the reader inhabits the reality she has drawn.
Thank you Netgalley and all for the ARC.

Another brilliant installment of the Will Trent series from one of my favourite authors Karin Slaughter.

In 'This is Why We Lied' we follow Will and Sara Trent on their honeymoon where of course they end up right in the middle of a murder centered around a tight-knit group who share a very big secret from the past.
This is a classic whodunnit with a great cast of characters, Slaughter does a great job of weaving between past & present and slowly unraveling the secrets and truth about the past.

As always with this author this is an extremely well written book with a great premise, Slaughter just gets better every time.

This was a clever take on the ‘locked room’ style of murder mystery, with lots of colourful characters and twists and turns. It is well written and I enjoyed it.

This is Why We Lied is another gripping, suspense-filled thriller from Karin Slaughter that will keep you on edge until the very last page. Known for her dark, twisty plots and compelling characters, Slaughter once again delivers a story filled with secrets, betrayal, and shocking revelations.

The novel revolves around a tightly-knit group of friends who share a deadly secret from their past. As the story unfolds, we are taken on a rollercoaster ride of lies, manipulation, and the consequences of choices made long ago. Slaughter does a fantastic job of weaving together multiple timelines, giving us a glimpse into both the past and present of these characters, while slowly unraveling the mystery at the heart of the novel.

What stands out most in this book is the complexity of the characters. Each one is flawed in their own way, and Slaughter doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker sides of human nature. The protagonist is particularly well-drawn, with her vulnerability and determination making her both relatable and compelling. The group dynamic and the psychological tension between them adds depth to the story, making it more than just a straightforward mystery.

While the pacing is mostly tight, there are moments where the plot slows down a bit, but this serves to build suspense. When the twists come, they hit hard, and as always with Slaughter, they are unpredictable and satisfying.

Fans of psychological thrillers and dark mysteries will find This is Why We Lied an absorbing, emotional read that explores how far people will go to protect themselves—and each other—from the truth.

I dip in and out of Karin Slaughter novels so I tend to recognise some of the characters without really being fully familiar with them.

In this one, police investigator Will and his new wife, Sarah, the medical examiner are taking their honeymoon at an isolated off-grid ranch in the countryside. The last thing Will expected was to run into a guy who he knew in his childhood in the care system, a bullying boy who has clearly grown up to be a bullying man.

When a very damaged woman, Mercy, if murdered early in their holiday, Will and Sarah can't stop themselves getting involved in trying to find out who did it - and why.

It soon emerges that just about everybody at the ranch had reasons to kill her - not unlike an old Agatha Christie novel.

Writing this review a good few weeks after I read it, I initially struggled to remember WHO did do it and then it came back to me - it was exactly the person I suspected within a few pages of the actual killing.

So, in terms of mystery, I didn't think it was particularly well hidden, but this book was much more of a journey than a destination. And along the way, multiple layers of lying and double-crossing come into play. It'll keep you reading right to the end.

Recommended - 4 stars