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Another fab read from this author! Like her previous book this was brilliantly gripping, intense, and had an unexpected twist!

A very small niggle I had was that it started to feel a tad confusing in parts with the amount of POV changes and the characters in the story. There were a lot of parts in the second half where a characters name was mentioned just as one line, and I couldn’t work out if it was a POV change or just added in?🙉😂 It was still a really enjoyable read though and I loved how fast paced the book felt.

Towards the end, the book became heart-stopping and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough 😍 There was a beautiful epilogue and satisfying ending too. Very nearly a 5 star but just something missing for me. If you enjoyed the intensity and addiction of The Intruders, then you’ll love this one! Not quite as dark twists but a great read nonetheless!

Highly recommend adding this one to your TBR! It’s out 24th April as e-book and paperback.

A huge thank you to @netgalley @hqstories for the advanced copy!

I chose to read a free eARC of The Liar but that has in no way influenced my review.

A new Louise Jensen book is a very exciting prospect indeed! I've been a fan of Jensen's writing since her debut, The Sister, published way back in 2016. Since then, I've read every thriller Louise has written. I love the family dynamic she creates. I love how she takes a fairly ordinary family and puts them, sometimes due to circumstances beyond their control, sometimes due to a family members' own selfishness or stupidity, into the most difficult and tense situations. There's a real feeling of 'yes, this could actually happen to you' about Jensen's books and I love that! This latest book, The Liar, is no different. Bad decisions, being far too trusting, and the most powerful emotion of all, fear, send a normal family, doing the best they can, into a real-life nightmare situation.

Mum Mel Abbott decides to take in a lodger to supplement the household income. Twenty-six-year-old daughter, Jen, really isn't too sure. She doesn't like the idea of a stranger living in their house. She wants to leave her underwear drying on the radiator without having to consider the lodger's feelings. Whereas younger daughter, Amy, takes her Mum's decision in her stride. When Luke, the lodger, arrives much later than expected to meet the sisters, Jen instantly finds him attractive and starts to come around to the idea. After all, it might be nice to have a man around the house. But Luke is secretive and seems a little on edge. When Mel sends a text telling her daughter she's going to be away for a few days, Jen is immediately thrown. It's unlike her mother to leave them in the lurch, especially with a stranger moving into their house. But Mel has done so much for their family, Jen wants to give her all the time she needs. Everyone needs a break now and then! But several days after Luke's arrival, no one has heard from Mel. Who is the stranger living in the Abbotts' house? Why is he so interested in the family's things? How much of a threat does he pose to Jen and Amy? And perhaps most importantly of all, where the heck is Mel...?

The Liar is another cracking family-based thriller from Louise Jensen. There is so much going on in this book. Secrets and lies, half-truths and poor, poor decisions. Catastrophic even. You think you have the measure of the family. You think you know the direction the plot is going to go in. But you don't. You don't even know the half of it! There are so many secrets to unpick. Why, at the very start of the book, does Mel receive a threatening note? Who is Andy? He keeps being mentioned by Jen but who is he and what connection does he have to the Abbotts? Why is Jen so nervous around the police? And who (worst nightmare for any parent) is thirteen-year-old Amy messaging online? But that's only the beginning. As the reader progresses through the book even more questions are raised. Everyone seems to have a devastating secret they would do anything to keep. And in amongst the chaos and upheaval, the lies and deceit, when her daughters are floundering and need the support of their mother, Mel is nowhere to be found.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Liar is a beautifully twisty, highly readable tale which I flew through. Promising myself 'just one more chapter', only to discover I had read half of the book! There are quite a few characters in the book, but it was easy to keep track of who everyone was. Alongside the family and lodger, Luke, there is also Jen's best friend Camilla and her four-year-old son, Mason. Mason really brings the cute-factor and adds moments of light humour, along with a Thomas the Tank Engine obsession (!), in amongst the overarching darkness of the novel. There is always something going on in the story and it doesn't really let up which means the reader is absorbed into the narrative and able to read, as in my case, half the book without really noticing. This is exactly what I want from a thriller. I want to be hooked. I want to be completely immersed, and I want to live the story alongside the characters. There are several threads running throughout - some the reader is aware of straight away, some are revealed as you progress through the book. Keeping a tight rein on all these subplots and how meticulously Jensen brings everything together is a masterclass in thriller writing. Marvellous! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading The Liar. Immensely readable with bucketloads of intrigue. Secrets and lies galore, chock-full of deceit and overflowing with suspense. Another cracking addition to this author's catalogue of work.  I remain a Louise Jensen fan, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us readers next! Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Liar. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Review will be published on 22nd April 2025]

The Liar started off as a bit of a slow burn for me, but I really enjoyed how the characters were developed and how their dynamics unfolded. That careful buildup made the second half even more gripping—I flew through it in one night. And that twist? Completely blindsided me. I never saw it coming, and I loved it.

The Liar Louise Jensen

5 stars

Louise Jensen is one of my 'must read' authors. Her style is so easy to read and really brings you into the lives of her characters. Her plots are full of twists and turns and always with various shocks along the way.

Mel Abbott, a social worker, is living alone with her 2 daughters, Jen, a 26 year old teacher and Amy, 13 who is at the school where Jen teaches.

Money is tight as Camilla and her 4 year old son, Mason, has just moved out Camilla has always been like another daughter to Mel and a sister to Jen and Amy but has decided to try and live on her own. Mel therefore arranges for a lodger, Luke, to move in with them but when he arrives, Mel is away visiting her brother and sister-in-law. Jen is not happy dealing with this on her own but becomes even more concerned when she catches Luke looking at her sister's school yearbook. She then discovers that her mother had left her brother's house a few days before but cannot be found.

Everyone in this story has huge secrets and I cannot really go into any detail about them as they will spoil the book for those still to read it. Suffice it to say that the secrets keep on coming and we discover that a lot of the current problems stem from 5 years before when the scene is set for what is to come. The book switches from the present to the past as we gradually learn about what has happened to all the main characters in the book.

I loved this book and read it in a couple of days, I managed to guess fairly quickly one of the twists but had to keep on reading to see what happens. Louise Jensen only seems to be getting better as a writer of this type of book, long may she continue writing!

Karen Deborah
Netgalley

I flew through this! As addictive as all Louise's other books. I really enjoyed the characters in this one, and I thought the plot was really well layered.

Amazing book, everything you want from a thriller! I wasn’t expecting this book to make me emotional but it really did make me feel every emotion possible! Always love a Louise Jensen book, 100% recommend.

Okay. So this book is hard to review without giving away some of its secrets, but I will try my best. This is a fabulous psychological thriller with secrets at its heart. In fact, it feels like there isn't anybody who isn't keeping a secret from the other people in their life. Whether is it Mum, Mel, who receives a threatening message that leave her preoccupied and nervous, eldest daughter, Jen, who is very clearly nursing some secret from her past that leaves her permanently on edge, especially when she thinks she spies someone from earlier in her life. Even youngest child, Amy, has a secret that she doesn't want to share, something that feels clandestine and altogether quite worrying given what we know about modern life. Add in brand new lodger, Luke, who seems quite cagey and certainly not all he appears to be, and it all means that Louise Jensen has us, as readers, permanently on edge, wondering just what might happen.

And that, really, is the question. When Mel takes off on a 'break' it immediately set my ind whirring., Given everything that had occured in the few short chapters prior, that edginess and sense of impending danger and, dare I say it, doom, that the author creates, you know that this is no ordinary episode of 'going to find myself'. I was completely intrigued. I wanted, or perhaps needed, to know the whats whys and wherefores of it all. And with some of the revelations that occur quite early on, it just made me all the more curious. It is certainly a story where the tension never lets up, and where the strange behaviour of the characters left me with more questions than answers for quite some time.

I liked the way in which Louise Jensen has framed the narrative of this story. Whilst the majority of it is told in the present day, it is necessary to delve into the past to varying degrees, be it days or years, to understand the full context of what is happening. Scenes from Jen's university days come to inform the current narrative in surprising ways, and make some of the events all the more tragic in the way they unfold. It really is a book that screams out the old adage 'honesty is the best policy' and, for a family so undeniably close, I was left thinking about how different things could have been if only they had been more open with each other.

The story does contain themes of abuse, and not just as a result of Mel's career as a social worker. There is a sadness so some of the characters and their stories, a melancholy that underpins the suspenseful nature of Mel's disappearance from her family's life. the pacing of the book is just write, the author getting the balance between then need to drive the narrative on and still be able to share their backstory spot on. And she introduces a few bends in the road to supplement the detours to the past, leaving me a little surprised at times by what came to pass. Ultimately this story is a kind of tragedy, one that tugs at the heartstrings at times but which still manages to finish with a small amount of hope too. Fans of the author will eat it up. Recommended.

The Intruders was one of my favourite books from last year so when the arc popped up for this I couldn’t wait! I read this over a few hours on a Saturday couldn’t put it down! The story revolves around social worker Mel, her two daughters teenager Amy and teacher Jess and surrogate daughter Camilla. When new lodger Luke moves into the family home he appears to be asking more questions than he should, starts snooping in rooms and Jess can’t shake the feeling that there’s something off about him. She’s had the feeling that she’s being watched and when mum Mel suddenly texts to say that she needs some time away and a break Jess knows that’s there’s something wrong. The Abbots house is full of secrets and one by one they all come tumbling out.

A real page turner I couldn’t put down. It looks at how decisions can span the years in ways you could never expect and have consequences that no one would have wanted. A great who done what thriller.

This book by Louise Jenson will have you engrossed and wondering what twist in the tale is going to happen next. The Abbot family, including Mel, Jen and Amy, plus close friend Camilla and her son Mason, appear to be a normal happy family, however when Mel goes missing secrets from the past start coming to the fore. Secrets that have shaped their lives and can unravel them oh so easily. The twists and turns gather pace the further into the book you get but the author very clearly explains them in different points of view and timelines.
I give this book 4 stars in my review as I feel it tapered away right at the very end but wholly understand why. It's still a must read

I have read all Louise’s books and was thrilled to be given an advance copy of this book - many thanks! I find Louise’s style of writing easy to read and very descriptive meaning you can actually put yourself in their position and feel an integral part of the story. This book really kept me gripped and I admit I jumped to a few wrong conclusions before the ending! I would recommend this to anyone who likes a twisty, turning thriller with characters you can really relate to. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for the next book!

This is a gripping physiological thriller with alot of deception. I love the authors writing style and it pulls in the reader and also does a fast paced plot and builds up tension making the book hard to put down. This one is perfect for thriller lovers and especially if you like character driven books with a good few unexpected twists along the way. Would highly recommend this one. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

Wow this is a thrilling rollercoaster of a book. Great cast of characters, hugely intricate and devious plot and gasps at the end with oh my god moments as the pages turn.

The Abbots are a close family who have moved due to events in their past that they needed to get away from. Mum Mel is a huge part of the family at home and as a social worker out doing her best to protect the vulnerable. When she disappears and a lodger arrives on the same day, could the two be connected? Photos from the past threaten to come back to life and family secrets aplenty rise to the surface leading to a tumultuous ending which was so well written I read long into the night to finish it.

One to recommend and enjoy. I will definitely be passing this on to friends as a must read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one is so addictive! A jaw dropper of a thriller with so many twists and turns.
I loved how fast paced the storyline was and the short chapters made it impossible to put down.
I’m a sucker for a multi POV book and it’s done very well here

The book started off well, with lots of mystery surrounding the secret as to why Mel and her 2 dsughters had moved and were hiding from someone. It's quite a slow paced thriller though and i found it didn't quite hold my attention, especially as when the secrets were revealed it didn't quite live up to .my expectations. I found it got a bit bogged down in the storyline and by halfway I struggled to keep going. Skipped pages to get to the end (sorry) and felt a bit disappointed from what was a promising start

The Liar by Louise Jensen is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story follows the Abbott family, who take in a mysterious lodger named Luke. Though he hasn't shared much about himself, his curious behaviour—asking about their family photos and going through their personal belongings—soon raises suspicions. When their daughter Jen starts to feel like someone is watching her, the tension escalates.

Things take an even darker turn when Mel, the mother of the family, suddenly texts them to say she needs a break. This is completely out of character for her, and as the days go by with no word from her, the family becomes increasingly alarmed. The Abbott household is soon filled with secrets, lies, and unanswered questions.

Jensen masterfully weaves a web of twists, turns, and red herrings that leave readers second-guessing everything. The story’s pacing is spot on, keeping the suspense high throughout, and the unpredictable ending will leave you hooked. If you enjoy thrillers with plenty of surprises, The Liar will not disappoint. It’s a solid read, with plenty of suspense, mystery, and intrigue that makes it Louise Jensen’s best book to date.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A good suspenseful read . Plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Everyone seems to be lying at some point. A bit slow to get going but the second half of the story makes up for that.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Who is the liar in this book? The answer is everyone! So many secrets and lies and twists and revelations that I was not expecting and was completely blown away. This book was impossible to put down with the nice short chapters that made me keep saying just one more until I finished it. Yes, there are multiple viewpoints but that just made it more wonderfully twisty, especially the creepy I am watching you parts!

No family is perfect and the Abbotts have many secrets that are exposed in this book in a delightfully written suspenseful novel, starting with Mel going missing, a new lodger showing up shortly after, and ending with murder, mistakes, accidents, and dark deeds galore! It is thrilling, dark, tragic, and I loved it all! This is one great twisty suspense filled ride that I highly recommend. I definitely will be looking up the other books by this author for more fun reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to dive into this twisty thriller!

Another good psychological thriller by Louise Jensen that kept me turning the pages. An atmospheric novel with family secrets, paranoia and full of suspense.

The Abbott family take in a mysterious lodger, Luke. All appears well but Luke seems to have an obsession with their family photos and belongings. The Abbotts teenage daughter Jen senses that she is being watched which leaves her with an eerie feeling. Jen’s mother, Mel suddenly goes missing and only sends a text saying she “needs a break.” Days pass but Mel doesn’t return.

The story is full of deception and the tension builds as we learn that the Abbotts house is full of hidden truths. There are lots of twists and it is difficult to know who to trust and who is lying. The Liar is well written and I found it to be a genuine page turner.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and HQ for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book by Louise! Dual POVs, plenty of twists and turns and a great ending! Amy annoyed me, I felt sorry for Camilla, Jen is a bit naive and Mel is the type of Social Worker you’d want in your corner! I didn’t feel gripped until 60% in but after that, I couldn’t put this book down! I felt we learned so much about the characters as the book progressed and I would definitely recommend this to others!

I have been reading Louise Jensen books since the beginning and she is absolutely an auto read author for me. She has a way of taking her seemingly innocent and normal characters and throwing them into a world of chaos and drama, with short chapters that leave you wanting more, this is a tough book to stop reading.

The Abbott family seems from the outside to be your average family, very loving and caring. But when Mel, the mother goes missing, their lives become as series of confessions or secrets. At the same time the lodger they had arranged arrives and the girls, Jen and Amy start to think that he knows more than he is letting on about their mother’s disappearance.

Now there is much more to the story than that and it does get a bit complicated. I was never confused though, as the author is so clever with her multiple points of view and timelines. There are so many unexpected twists and turns that you won’t be able to out this book down until you know what on earth is happening, and why. So well done.

Thanks so much to HQ for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get it on your TBR, out on April 24th.