Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

First of all I have to say I’m becoming a fan of Theo Baxter. I really like the way he writes; his stories have excellent pacing and follows a style similar to that of other suspense/mystery writers I enjoy. I also like their length; so far they’ve not been too long, but were long enough for me to get engrossed in the story. That being said, let’s move on to the review of the book at hand, “Lie to Me”!

Elena, the protagonist, is a hard character to relate to. She’s like one of those friends who’s constantly making poor choices in life and putting themselves in terrible situations. No matter what you do or say, they’re always going to do this so ultimately you just have to throw up your hands, watch from afar, and be ready to embrace and help them recover once they’re ready and willing to accept the help. So many of the problems she went through would have been relatively easy to fix, though easier said than done as it is incredibly difficult breaking away from toxic relationships be they platonic or even harder romantic. She was also extremely naive, due to traumas and negative aspects of her childhood which led to many of the terrible things happening in her adult life.

The main plot twist was pretty easy to spot early on, but it was still a lot of fun reading the events leading up to it. As stated above, Theo Baxter writes well and easily entertains the reader with his storytelling, even if you know where you’re going it’s fun to go along for the ride. There are some things I would’ve liked to see in this title though. Firstly I wanted to see more of her relationship with her editor, Beatrice, as theirs was such a fun friendship and very positive. I also wanted to see more of her interactions and life with Jack. It would’ve been fun to read more of the drama with her and Candy as well, maybe a few scenes of it in the moment it happened. A chapter from Carlotta’s perspective would be an excellent addition too, to see the things from her point of view and understand her character further.

I will certainly continue reading Theo Baxter in the future as his work is becoming a favorite of mine. I scored “Lie to Me” 4.5 stars out of 5, which we will of course round up to 5. Great work, a lot of fun to read!

I unfortunately didn’t enjoy this book as I found I was wanting more depth and wasn’t getting the deliverance I needed

I received a free digital copy of “ Lie to Me” from Net Galley” to read and review.
To enjoy reading a novel, it helps to like the main character; I didn’t. . The main character, Elena Winthrop is an author of thrillers , apparently of the domestic , woman in danger genre. Elena is totally self- centered, vain and in need of constant re- assuarance. Although she has, apparently , many best sellers, she hit a blank wall with her new one.. Worse, her husband is cheating on her. The husband is a self- centered and cold to her. ( no sex, little caring love) Add to that her long- time personal assistant and only friend, committed suicide in Elena’s den. What else could go wrong? Well a lot.
Elena hires a new aide who seems perfect for the job. The woman has a great resume, , but Elena, who seems completely wary of everyone, never looses into it very deeply or asks why she left so many good jobs. Elena never considerers that it may not be a good idea to bring into the house an attractive young woman. So if something might go wrong, Elena leaves her life an unlocked door.
“Lie to Me “ Simply wasn’t a book that made it imperative that I keep reading. Maybe it just was not a novel aimed at male readership….
Remember , this is just one person’s opinion, so try it for yourself.

As mystery writer Morticia Rose, Elena Winthrop is accustomed to twists, but in her personal life she has become quite vulnerable due to certain circumstances. When the threats escalate from a crazed fan, Elena must face her greatest fears.

“Something was wrong with me, and having all these people tell me how awful I was clearly meant something. It was proof I deserved only the worst.”

Going into this book, I was intrigued by the aspect of Elena’s life replicating fiction and she certainly has had her share of trauma. As a character, I empathized with Elena at times, but her choices were challenging. While there was plenty of tense moments, the plot felt a little repetitive and that lessened the impact of the mystery for me. I was also able to identify the culprit very early in the story.

Lie to Me is about overcoming trauma and regaining control of one’s life. This book may appeal to those seeking a thriller.

2.5 stars. Psychological thriller is one of the genres that excited me the most, but Lie To Me felt flat. The twists are painfully predictable, making it hard to stay engaged. The characters lacked depth, and their decisions often felt contrived, undermining the tension the story was trying to build. The pacing dragged in places, with an underwhelming climax that didn’t deliver the payoff I hoped for. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity for a story that could have been gripping. Will try another Baxter, though. Maybe this one’s just not for me.

For author Elena Winthrop, her real life was becoming more dangerous than fiction. Still grieving the loss of her assistant and the breakdown of her marriage, she found herself the target of escalating threats from her most relentless haters. With the help of a private investigator, she must figure out who was the perpetrator before it was too late.

I thought the premise was interesting, offering a behind-the-scenes look at an author’s life and the challenges she faced. Unfortunately, the story was bland and lacked intrigue.

Despite being a mystery writer, Elena was clueless about her surroundings and seemed incapable of making effective decisions. I’m glad for the addition of Jack’s character, which made the story more interesting.

Lie to Me is a story of overcoming adversities. It might appeal to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.

Lie to Me by Theo Baxter is an engrossing psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. The suspense is well-crafted, and the twists are satisfying, even if a few feel a little predictable. While the pacing stumbles in places, the story’s emotional depth and compelling characters make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

Lie to me by Theo Baxter.
I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I did enjoy this book. I do love this author. This is the 9th book of his I've read. I did like Elana. I didn't like her husband David. Gripping read. I couldn't put it down. I read it in two sittings. I wasn't sure how I felt about Carlotta. There was something about her. I didn't trust her. I did like Jack. Especially how he was helping her. I certainly didn't see that coming. I was partly right though. I did like the ending. I would definitely recommend this book.

Great weekend cozy read. Very intriguing but predictable.
Decent characters and storyline
Quick read

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

#LieToMe #NetGalley
Best-selling mystery author Elena Winthrop has survived a difficult and traumatic past. Which may explain why she has become a virtual recluse who depends on her best friend and assistant Lila for almost everything. So when Lila dies suddenly, Elena is beyond devastated. But that’s just the start of her troubles. Forced to engage with the world, Elena discovers that her husband has been cheating on her. Then sinister gifts start to turn up on her doorstep. She gets taunting messages about what she’s wearing and doing. Is someone watching her, tracking her every move? Or, reeling from blow after blow, is she actually losing her mind? Doubting her own sanity, Elena enlists a private investigator and discovers it isn’t only her mental health at stake - it’s her life. Someone out there hates her and is determined to make her suffer. But who? And why? Can Elena find her anonymous tormentor before it’s too late?
It was a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubstor Books for giving me an advance copy.

I enjoyed this more than the box set of three I read. This solidified that I’d read others by this author. I wish it was easier to find audio books of his on Libby and hoopla so I could check a few more out.

As a book lover, any stories about authors immediately grab my attention. And even though the protagonist is a writer, the narration felt choppy and underdeveloped. It starts with so much dialogue describing the action that the plot almost got a little buried. Multiple *big* things happen in the first few pages, but without knowing anything about the characters or their motivations, it was hard to buy into caring about what happened.

Lie to me was a spine chilling thriller.
Elena is a best selling author and is trying to write her best book yet, but weird things start happening. Is someone trying to make her think she’s crazy or is she starting to lose her mind? Being famous means having fans, but stalkers are a whole other story in this nail biting story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It kept me on tender hooks, never knowing what exactly was going to happen and if events were happening or not. You really feel the spiral Elena goes through. And although I guessed a bit of the ending it was definitely worth the read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the arc!!

I really enjoyed that this book had lots of twists and turns. I was able to guess the ending, but still enjoyed the story and writing. If you’re looking for a quick thriller, this book will definitely do. I look forward to reading more from this author.

4/5 stars! As someone that works in the mental health field, I love a good psychological thriller, and this one checked a lot of boxes. However, there was one fatal flaw that kept me from staying engaged across the course of the story. For a character that writes mystery books, our FMC was implausibly naive about the clues surrounding her. For some readers, this may make her more relatable, but it left me annoyed. That said, I appreciated the twists and turns in the book and it was still a solid read.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Lie To Me by Theo Baxter, Elena Winthrop is an author with agoraphobia and writers block. She is under a lot of stress with stalkers, her cheating husband David and the death of her assistant, who was also her best friend. Life does become more manageable when she hires the new assistant Carlotta. It seems every issue Elena has Carlotta has a remedy for it,. The only thing that gives Elena pause is when Carlotta starts insinuating her opinion on her writing and when she goes to hang out with her agent, she is struck dumb by Carlotta’s outrageous reaction to it. Alayna, however, can’t focus on that because David she believes is cheating again in strange things are happening around her home, including dead animals showing up on the porch. her agent even hires, a private detective Jack to try and get to the bottom of it, but when Elena finds out who has been plaguing her life, the danger is already too close. Will Elena‘s fans love her to death or is it her beloved husband? Will this make all her problems worse or will she even live long enough to be bothered by it? I really really really enjoyed this book. I find Theo Baxter has really written a well developed story, with great characters, likable situations that are intense, awkward, and uncomfortable. All the things you love in a great thriller. He is really upping his game and I am loving all of it!

This book had an intriguing premise that drew me in. It kept me entertained and had an unexpected twist near the end. It wasn’t my favorite but I enjoyed it enough to pass the time on a lazy Sunday.

I Really enjoyed the pace of this. I felt that a majority of this kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to know how things ended up how they did.

Although I did guess early on who was behind the harressment campaign, I didn't guess the identity twist in the final chapters of this novel.

I really enjoyed Elena's development and found the ending perfect.

Book Review: Lie to Me by Theo Baxter

Theo Baxter’s Lie to Me is a taut, psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing until its final, jaw-dropping reveal. Packed with suspense, deception, and unexpected twists, this novel masterfully delves into the fragility of trust and the terrifying notion that danger can come from those closest to us.

Elena Winthrop, a successful but reclusive mystery author, is a captivating protagonist. Having endured a traumatic past, her fragile world begins to unravel when her trusted assistant and best friend, Lila, dies unexpectedly. Baxter expertly captures Elena’s descent into paranoia as she struggles to cope with her loss while confronting unsettling discoveries: her husband’s infidelity, disturbing gifts left on her doorstep, and the eerie sense that someone is watching her every move.

The novel’s strength lies in its exploration of Elena’s mental state. As the threats mount, readers are left questioning whether her tormentor is real or a manifestation of her unraveling psyche. Baxter skillfully blurs the line between perception and reality, creating a suffocating atmosphere of dread and uncertainty.

The supporting characters are equally compelling, each with secrets that make them potential suspects. From her deceitful husband to the enigmatic private investigator Elena hires, everyone has something to hide, adding layers to the mystery. The pacing is relentless, with every revelation raising the stakes and every twist pushing Elena closer to the edge.

Baxter’s writing is vivid and immersive, drawing readers into Elena’s isolated world and her mounting terror. The suspense is expertly crafted, with ominous clues and red herrings that keep readers guessing. When the truth is finally unveiled, it’s both shocking and satisfying, tying together the threads of Elena’s unraveling life with chilling precision.

Lie to Me is a gripping thriller that will appeal to fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl. It’s a story about betrayal, obsession, and the devastating effects of lies—both those told by others and the ones we tell ourselves. A must-read for anyone who loves psychological suspense with an emotional punch.