This was my first Will Trent book *immediately adds the entire series to my TBR.*
I’m already a huge fan of Karin Slaughter & this one did not disappoint. Yes, it’s a long one but Karin has this amazing way of making 400+ pages feel like 200; nothing drags, every chapter brings the intensity & I was hooked the whole way through. Even though it’s part of a series, I had no trouble following along, it works perfectly as a standalone but that said, I can’t wait to dive into the rest properly!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the audiobook version of This Is Why We Lied & I’d 100% recommend it, the narrator absolutely nailed the tension and kept me totally absorbed.

★★★½ ROUNDED UP ⬆️⭐️

Wow—what a ride. This Is Why We Lied is Karin Slaughter at her absolute best: sharp, tense, emotionally layered, and utterly impossible to put down. I picked it up expecting a good thriller, but what I got was a masterclass in suspense and storytelling.

The characters are complex and real, especially the central figure whose past and present unravel in such a compelling way. Slaughter doesn’t shy away from the dark corners of human nature, and she weaves trauma, justice, and loyalty into a narrative that keeps you guessing until the final page. Just when I thought I had it figured out—bam—another twist.

I also loved how the setting added to the atmosphere. It was haunting, claustrophobic at times, and felt like a character in itself. The pacing was pitch-perfect, the writing taut and vivid, and the emotional punches? Brutal in the best way.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with real depth, this one is a must-read.

Okay, I’m just gonna say it upfront: I cannot be objective here. Karin Slaughter is one of my all-time favourite authors, and honestly, she could write a shopping list and I’d probably give it five stars. That being said… This is Why We Lied? Absolutely delivered.

The twists, the tension, the characters that feel like real people (real people who are maybe lying, maybe dangerous, maybe both?) it’s everything I love about her writing, but with that extra punch that makes the audiobook version so addictive. The narration is top-notch — the kind where you plan to listen to just one chapter and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. and you’re inventing errands just to keep your headphones in.

It’s dark, smart, and totally gripping. Classic Slaughter. If you’re already a fan, you’re in for a treat. If you’re new to her books… well, buckle up. This one’s a ride.

Highly recommend with full admission that I’m 100% biased and loving every second of it.

I contacted NetGalley support as this audio book would not load to their app.
I have read the book and was looking forward to hearing it as audio.

This is why we lied is a gripping and claustrophobic psychological thriller set in a luxury mountain retreat run by an incredibly dysfunctional family. When one of the family is violently murdered there are many possible suspects with a variety of motives. Two of the guests, Will, a police officer and his wife Sara help to investigate and solve the crime but not before many twists and red herrings are thrown into the plot. It is a huge novel but the author thoroughly describes each character’s backstory to encourage the reader to invest in the narrative until the culprit is revealed.

A brilliant story which I could imagine becoming a tv drama or film. A few plot twist and turns which keeps you hooked until the end..even though it may be a little predictable, the ACTUAL truth will take you by surprise

I absolutely love this book and was hooked from the beginning to the end, so many characters who could’ve been the murderer and I changed my mind so many times. There were so many twists and turns and I was completely invested. The family from hell is definitely one way to word And I was rooting for Trent.

Would definitely read more of these books and would definitely recommend.

One toxic family. Eight suspicious guests. Everyone is guilty. But who is a killer?
Grippingly unpredictable. Be prepared to put your life on hold! Taut and tense from the first page to the closing paragraphs……loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The luxurious secluded mountain getaway McAlpine Lodge is run by the McAlpine family, where everyone is lying. Mercy McAlpine - until now the good daughter - threatens to expose everybody’s secrets. That night, she’s dead. Will Trent and Sara Linton - investigator and medical examiner for the GBI - are here on their honeymoon. And now, with the killer poised to strike again, the holiday of a lifetime becomes a race against the clock…

I don’t usually jump into a series midway through, but I had been wanting to get into Karin’s Will Trent series for a while, and the synopsis of this one really pulled me in. I’m glad I did, because I ended up really enjoying this book, even though I hadn’t read any of the prequels.

My heart broke for Mercy - despite of her sacrifices, her own family wanted her gone. As we went through each suspect’s potential motive, I was hooked completely. I loved all the twists and turns, and I couldn’t guess where it was going.

The audiobook narration was perfect, and now I understand all the hypes around Will Trent (and Sara Linton). I will go back to the first book and read from the beginning.

I think sometime you have to be in the right mood for a book and i think that's the reason I just couldn't get into it and enjoy it. That's not to say it's not a good book, just not for me at this time. I can see many others have rated it very highly

A big thanks for the opportunity to listen to this book.

There is a lot going on in this book. The characters are all so damaged and have been through so much. It’s hard to read at times, bad how the abused react is portrayed in fine detail in this book. You can’t help feeling sorry for the victims.

As my first introduction to the Will Trent series, I found that it stood perfectly well on its own. The narrative is engaging, and at times, I was so captivated that I couldn’t bring myself to stop listening, eager to see how the story would unfold. While I had some initial suspicions about the plot, there were several surprising twists that kept me on my toes.

The story is set against a backdrop of a complicated web of family secrets and a shared company. Adding to this mix are unresolved issues from a children’s home and the narrow-mindedness of small-town thinking, creating a recipe for a cover-up and an untimely death. While the storyline and plot are decent, it’s the intricate dialogues and the meticulous police investigation that truly stand out and give the narrative its depth.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to exploring more of the Will Trent series.

Karin does it again! What a novel!
This book had me in surprise from beginning to the very end!
Twists, turns, ups and downs- it was a rollercoaster!
I was fortunate to have an advanced audio copy and the narrator was amazing! 🤩
Will and Sarah finally get married! Whoo hoo!
McAlpine lodge was the setting of the story and with its many characters up this mountain- you suspected everyone when there was a murder!
Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This thriller is one of the most intense and emotionally charged books I've read in a long time. The narrative pulls you in with its dark, intricate plot and relentless suspense, leaving you on the edge of your seat. The characters are deeply developed, each adding to the overall tension and emotional weight of the story.

The audiobook version enhances the experience significantly, with a performance that perfectly captures the book's chilling atmosphere and complex emotions. It’s rare for a thriller to resonate so profoundly, making this read both compelling and haunting. If you’re looking for a thriller that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it, this one is highly recommended.

I got about 20% through this audiobook before I figured out why I kept getting myself confused...it was the narrator! She wasn't doing anything wrong, it was jsut that she is distinctive that her voice had stuck in my head and I had not long ago listened to another murder mystery that she narrated and kept expecting those characters to pop up!
The narration is great though and has the perfect voice for our victimand the vibe of this story.
Will and Sarah Trent, are finally married and on their honeymoon and for what seems to make perfect sense for Will is to book a honeymoon based upon his past. The characters of this mystery were really interesting and the whole concept gave almost an old school agatha christie type murder mystery. There's only so many suspects due to the location and it turn sout almost everyone has a secret and more than most have a reason for murder.
For a change I felt the murdered was blatantly obvious...then I started to doubt myself. The book has plenty of twists and turns and the usual characters still make their appearances along with the evolving growing relationship of Will and Sarah.

I received this audiobook as an ARC and provide my honest review.

I’ve been a fan of the Will Trent books for years, and this latest one was no exception.

This is Why We Lied is almost, but not quite, a locked room style murder mystery, where all the characters are suspects and Will and co have to muddle out what happened.

The twists and turns were intriguing, and the way that the characters motives and lives threaded together was so intricate. All of the characters felt rounded in themselves, but also mixed into the mystery in such clever ways.

I absolutely loved This is Why We Lied and can’t wait for the next Will Trent book.

Newlyweds Will amd Sarah, head on their honeymoon. Will has booked a lodge in ,mountain range, with lots of outdoor activities for them to enjoy.
After a hike to the main house, they meet the owners and the rest of the guests.
Enjoying a secluded midnight swim in the nearby lake they suddenly hear screams of distress. Upon investigation Will discovers the owner Mercy, has been violently stabbed and assaulted. She dies in his arms.

What follows is the investigation into her murder.

This is my 1st Will Trent book, but it didn’t matter that I haven’t read any others. The story works as a stand-alone

I enjoyed listening to this and at times didn’t want to stop listening as I was intrigued as to how things would pan out. I had my suspicions and although I suspected some bits, others were a surprising twist.

I am looking forward to reading more involving Will and his wife Sarah


Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title

I nearly gave up on this one but got through to the end. Complicated tangle of family secrets and a shared company is the backdrop too the story. Mix in unfinished business from a children's home and small town thinking and you have the recipe for a cover up and an untimely death. The story & plot are ok it's the elated conversations and a complicated police investigation that takes its time, maybe I wasn't in the mood for it.
Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to read.

Will Trent, GBI investigator is back in book number 12, at long last he is married to Sarah Linton, medical examiner and they go on their honeymoon to McAlpine Lodge- not the honeymoon location of Sarah’s dreams but she’s willing to do anything to make Will happy.

On their first night, they hear a bone chilling scream and find the lodges manager and the owners daughter Mercy McAlpine dead. Will is convinced it has to be David, Mercy’s ex, the father to Mercy’s son John and Will ex friend come enemy from the boys home they grew up in years ago. But there are a lot of dark secrets and lies to uncover before they can find out who the murderer is.

Although this book number 12 in a series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone book. I found it really hard to decide who the killer was and when it finally was revealed, I was slightly in shock because I did think it could be that person but not for the reason they were.

Really looking forward to reading more of Karin Slaughters books!

This is only the second book I’ve read from Karen Slaughter and is part of the Will Trent series. This is why we lied is actually number 12 in the series and it can be read as a standalone but having enjoyed it so much I’m on a mission to read the earlier books to get to know Will and Sara more.

Full of twists and turns this book begins as Will and Sarah begin their honeymoon to a remote lodge, run by the McAlpine family,, They expect to find peace and relaxation but within hours of their arrival a murder takes place, leaving them no option but to become involved in the investigation.

The characters in the book are plotted and portrayed with skill , each one with their own backstory and their own possible motives.

Harrowing and shocking in places this book explores many difficult issues including domestic violence, toxic families, child abandonment and substance abuse.

Throughout the book I had my own theories but as the plot unfolded the ending definitely was entirely unexpected for me, the dual storyline added to my understanding but still left me shocked and astonished.

I listened to this book on audiobook narrated by Kathleen Early and whilst initially struggling with the amount of characters (probably my brain) I found her characterisation helpful .

Overall a brilliant read one which will keep you guessing right to the end !!