The Lies I Tell

Last year I read Julie's debut novel The Flight and enjoyed it very much. The Lies I Tell is if anything even better. Once again we have two principal female characters, Meg and Kat and the narrative is split between the two. Meg is a con artist and highly successful at it. In her sights is an aspiring politician. She has it all worked out what she has to do. But she hasn't reckoned on Kat. Kat is not at all successful. Her journalistic career ground to a halt after a traumatic event and she's stuck writing banal copy. Her hopes lie in a story she's been working on for a few years, that of Meg the con artist and she's determined to get it right this time.

This is such a clever novel with all the scam details worked out and two different female protagonists who you really begin to root for. The character development especially of Kat is done very well and the plot is also nicely worked out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

After reading The Flight, I was so excited for this authors newest book. And I wasn’t disappointed. I enjoyed it, the characters and their motivations were compelling, I didn’t know where to turn or who to trust and I found myself unable to put the book down! Amazing work.

I was highly anticipating this book after reading this authors first book. I love Julie Clark's writing. Her characters are always done so well. This book did not disappoint. I read this in pretty much in one sitting. I just had to know what was going on. I would highly recommend this book if you loved this authors first book. So good!

The lives of two women, a con artist and her unintended victim, collide 10 years later in this amazing character-driven novel.

This has been one of this year's most awaited books and I loved every minute of it. Meg Williams is the con artist and Kat Roberts is the one trying to expose her. The two characters dance around each other, each trying to deceive the other while other events unfold in their life.

I couldn't pick a side because I loved them both. This is definitely going to be one of my favourite books of the year.

Julie Clark has done and incredible job. I'm looking forward to reading more from her including her debut novel "The Last Flight".

THE LIES I TELL blew me away in a very slow-burn manner. I like my mystery novels to be quiet and character driven and that's exactly what I got in JULIE CLARK's latest novel.

I didn't read anything about this book, before getting into it. I didn't read the author's debut novel last year, so I decided to pick this one up. I'm happy I did. The story is about Meg, a con artist and Kat, a journalist on the trail of aforementioned con artist.

That's all I will say, because that's all you need to know to get into it, let the rest of the story wash over you while you read it. The back story of both ladies is revealed little by little as we follow them along in present day and in the past.

I started out skeptical, not liking either of them but that quickly changed. By the end I was fully invested.

I've been wrecking my brain trying to think of things I was missing in this book, or things I didn't really like. There's nothing. The writing is pleasant and easy to get into, the plot is executed well, the characters are interesting, the sense of urgency and problems are clear. Highly recommended!

The Flight was my favourite book of last year and I gifted it to several people, so I was excited for Julie Clark's new book.

I was right to be!! Another extraordinarily compelling, intelligent and riveting novel, the characters are superb, so much depth and you are rooting for them even when they are stitching up people beautfully (who totally deserve it)

A book about karma, absolutely beautiful payback, but also about friendship and about how women are perceived and treated, but also how they triumph.

I absolutely loved every page of this brilliant book and again will be gifting copies at Christmas, Julie Clark is fast becoming one of my favourite writers.

Read it. And love it!!

The lies I tell by Julie Clark, and it is the first book from the author I have read, and I have heard great things about her previous novel that I had to request a copy of this. I found this to be a cleverly written intriguing novel and liked it so much I virtually read it in one sitting.
Meg and her mother were evicted from her home and ended up living in her car until her mother died. She has drifted to place to place. Ten years later Meg is a con artist. Planning her way through life seeking revenge of all the wrong doings in her life.
Kat is a struggling journalist and ten years ago was on a fast track to be something good, but something happened with a tip she got from Meg that went out of control. So, when Kat discovers that Meg is in town. What better is to reveal Meg as a con artist and get revenge from what happened all of them years ago.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for a copy The lies you tell. I found this to an interesting read of two women becoming friends but each having an ulterior motive to get what they want out of life. Meg manipulating men to do her bidding and con men out of money that she thinks that she is owed with the way her life turned out and Kat seeking revenge on Mia and trying to get own life back on track. I liked the way the story pans out it was like a competition between the two, who can out do it other. But as the saying goes ‘you can’t kid a kidder’. This is fabulous read 5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

In this book we meet Meg, who has had a really tough time growing up, with her mum dying when she was still in school, and also losing her home. She’s changed her life to get as far as possible, but not everything she does is full of truth. We also meet Kat, who is a struggling journalist. An incident happened 10 years earlier which links her to Meg, and Kat has spent those ten years looking for Meg, whilst living a slow life with fiancé, Scott.

I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed Kat and her character, she was relatable, yet brave and determined. Meg, although you could see why she was doing what she was doing, was also highly unlikable. The writing flowed really well, making this story really easy to read. We also read between different time perspectives so we can see what happened to Meg and Kat that has made them be who they are today. I wasn’t sure where this would end up, but the ending was satisfying. A great read that’s different from the usual stories I read! Would recommend!

I was so excited when the ARC of this book got approved!! I have always wanted to read Julie Clark's books as I have heard many raving reviews about her previous book Last Flight, which I haven't read yet. But this book, was disappointing at all and I actually enjoyed devouring this book in one go!

Meg Varnum, Maggie Littleton, Meg Upton...all these different name belong to the same person--a woman who is actually a con artist by getting herself into a relationship with men with money and eventually and slowly withdrawing their money from their accounts with excuses of payments or some sort. Kat is a journalist who goes as an undercover to expose this Meg. She has a fiance, named Scott who is addicted to gambling. While Kat is trying to expose her, Meg knows what Kat is really up to.

The story is told from the perspectives of both Meg and Kat. The author has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story and I was literally hooked into the story from start to finish and couldn't simply put the book down. The story itself is fast paced, which is one of the main things I like about a thriller with some twists and turns along the way that will keep you guessing what the ending is going to turn out like. I felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book and overall, I actually enjoyed reading this book! The ending was gripping and shocking and not to give too much spoilers...let's just say, Meg is the female version of Robin Hood. I really did like the ending actually. I do like the feminist vibe in the book as well that portray the women as strong, courageous and ambitious and would do anything to get what they want.

I would most certainly read more books from this author and I couldn't wait to read more from Julie Clark !

If you like a gripping fast paced thriller that will make you feel like you are watching a thriller movie on the screen with ambitious women as main characters, and if you like women as con artists as a main topic in the story, then this book is one for you--worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Meg Williams is a grifter with several successful long cons, Kat Roberts is a journalist with more than a story on her mind. Revenge and/or justice? Manipulation or integrity? Making amends? Survivor or a villain? Lies versus truth? Who is the cat (Kat? Maybe, maybe not)? Who is the mouse? Will Kat get the scoop of the year/decade or will Meg succeed? Two clever women with their own agendas, engaging in a battle or game of wits and who you root for changes so many times which absolutely keeps you invested in learning the unpredictable outcome.

One of my favourite programs from several years ago was “Hustle“ so Julie Clark has me intrigued from the very beginning. Like their marks in the TV programme there’s always a reason and this emerges organically in this well written, multilayered and tense psychological thriller. The dual perspectives work brilliantly, seamlessly knitted together so the storyline flows. The characterisation is outstanding and all are well portrayed. The plot is clever, the pace is brisk, it’s completely immersive and it’s hard to put down as you get to understand the patience, trust and clever plans to determine who can outwit who. In places it shocks, you applaud some actions, there are surprises and I love the end. Although I don’t entirely understand some of the American legalese involved it actually doesn’t matter as it’s what it achieves that counts.

Overall, this is such a clever book. I loved ‘The Flight’ and I love this one equally. I can’t wait to see what brilliance Julie Clark comes up with next. Highly recommended and a very easy five star rating!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

“Unlike most con artists, Meg wasn’t a sociopath. She was just another woman exhausted by the way the system seems to always fail us.”

The Lies I Tell was my introduction to Julie Clark and, let me just say, I’m impressed! I immediately purchased her other book The Last Flight after finishing this one. Thriller is my genre of choice and this was a fantastic suspenseful story of revenge.. I’m a huge fan of dual POV and reading the perspectives of a con-artist named Meg and the investigative journalist named Kat who has been chasing Meg’s story for years just played out beautifully. I love books where the sides are not black and white, but many shades of grey. It makes for such dynamic, interesting characters. Despite Meg being a criminal, I really found myself rooting for her. The way that Kat’s, Meg’s, and the supporting character’s motives played out was well executed. I enjoyed the pacing of this one and at no point ever felt bored. On top of alternating POV, I really liked how it alternated between different timelines. Sometimes I find that can take away from a story or add to confusion, but it really worked here. If you’re a fan of thrillers, revenge stories, and dual POV then this is simply one you cannot miss. Bravo, Julie Clark!

A compelling book which grabs you from the beginning and stay with you throughout. Well written. Excellent.

Oh my word! This hero is one big cinnamon roll hero. He is so freaking cute, sincere, shy and genuine. I loved this story! I loved how mature they both were in the way they communicated their fears and obstacles, how he showed how much he liked her without any abandon and how they let themselves fall in love.

The author’s writing style lends itself perfectly to the genre. She knows exactly when to end a scene and mount suspense. The characters are well-drawn and believable. The plot is perfectly paced, holds your interest, and keeps you guessing!

Julie Clark has become one of my auto read authors. I enjoyed her last book so much and this was another high tension read.

Meg is a con artist, moving around cities, using different names and backgrounds, depending upon the man she wants to con. She thinks of herself as a righter of wrongs and it gave me a little Robin Hood vibe. While not stealing, she manipulates men to give her money and gifts, until she finally settles on her ultimate target.

Kat Roberts is a reporter and she has been investigating Meg for years, after Meg caused her life to implode. Kat wants to expose her and she will do anything to achieve her goal. But as an unlikely friendship forms, Kat begins to question her assumptions. Is she being conned, or was she wrong about Meg all along?

The author really knows how to build suspense and the lies and deception kept me turning the pages. While I did see parts coming, there were also a couple of unexpected twists, leading to a satisfying ending. Another one I recommend and I look forward to more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this gifted advance review copy.

Kat waited ten years for the reappearance of con artist Meg Williams. Kat was then a young aspiring journalist and helped covering the story of a teacher who preyed on his students. Kat figured out that Meg had something to with exposing him and run away with his money. But she made a mistake while making her own investigations and she holds Meg responsible for what happened to her then. Kat thinks that Meg led her run into a situation without caring if she gets hurt. So she set a google alert with her name. When Meg turns up as a real estate agent Kat knows that she is up to perform her next scam. And she is determined to expose her.

Last year I read Clark’s “The Last Flight” and loved it. I was surprised how complex and multilayered the story was. So my expectations for her next book were high. I was not disappointed. Quite the opposite. I loved it and after reading so many mediocre books lately I devoured it almost in one sitting. Here we have two strong female characters and I equally enjoyed their alternating chapters. I have a thing for con artists at the moment so this book was right up my alley and Clark’s writing kept me glued to the pages. I think I have a new favorite author.

I received in advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

What a deranged wild ride - the ending made absolutely no sense but the book was so crazy it worked. One of the more gonzo psychological thrillers. You either like that or you don’t. 3.5 rounded up

#TheLiesITell #NetGalley
Wow!!! A must read.
Meg Williams. Maggie Littleton. Melody Wilde. Different names for the same person, depending on the town, depending on the job. She's a con artist who erases herself to become whoever you need her to be—a college student. A life coach. A real estate agent. Nothing about her is real. She slides alongside you and tells you exactly what you need to hear, and by the time she's done, you've likely lost everything. Kat Roberts has been waiting ten years for the woman who upended her life to return. And now that she has, Kat is determined to be the one to expose her. But as the two women grow closer, Kat's long-held assumptions begin to crumble, leaving Kat to wonder who Meg's true target is.
This was a very gripping tale. I enjoyed it so so much. Julie Clark is an amazing author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder Straughten for giving me an advance copy.

The Lies I Tell was a novel i read in one go!

Absolutely loved both Meg and Kat! Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a strong female narrator

This was a fascinating thriller about revenge and deceit featuring Meg, a grifter with many aliases and someone journalist Kat has been trying to track down for ten years due to the impact Meg caused on her life a decade ago. Meg herself has been waiting over ten years to exact retribution against the man who ruined hers and her mothers lives. Told from both perspectives it was interesting to see how Meg operated and to an extend you could appreciate just what she was doing and why, Kat’s trust issues with both her boyfriend and Meg added a good dimension to the story. I didn’t understand some of the American systems which made some elements of the scam harder to follow although it’s easy to enough to get the overall gist, for me this was a good slow burner made all the more interesting by the twisted relationships and morals. 7/10

I really enjoyed this book, it gripped me right from the start and didnt let me go. I highly recommend reading this book.

I absolutely loved Julie Clark's previous novel The Flight so was hugely excited to get the opportunity to read The Lies I Tell. Meg is a grifter who moves from place to place with various aliases and back stories , now in LA to take revenge on the man who she believes stole her family home many years before. Kat is a journalist who has been attempting to track down Meg and write a story on her after a traumatic incident in her own life 10 years previously. Julie Clark writes a gripping revenge thriller full of twists and turns from the dual perspectives of Meg and Kat. I found it to be a compelling read that delivered surprises and and a satisfying ending. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Blisteringly Perfect….
Julie Clark has knocked it of out of the park with this blisteringly perfect portrayal of revenge. The female lead is so credibly drawn that the reader will feel every nuance and in every action she takes the reader will be behind her all the way. The cast is solid and relatable, the plotline perfection and the writing fluid and realistic. You will find yourself rooting for Meg to succeed and ultimately thinking about this book long after you have finished reading. Brava!

After loving The Flight, I was delighted to be approved by NetGalley for Julie’s newest book, The Lies I Tell.
Meg is an enigma, known around the USA by numerous different names and is now returning to her original home and name. But why now and what for?
Journalist Kat has been on Meg’s, admittedly little known, trail for a number of years following a chance encounter where she gave Kat some advice that led to a horrific and life defining experience for Kat. Now Meg is back and only Kat knows some of the truth of Meg’s life and existence.
Kat knows about Meg but will Meg find out about Kat? Who is who in a game of cat and mouse? And just what is Meg’s real reason for returning home, in name and place, after so long?
This book kept me gripped and guessing throughout. Telling the story from both narrators helped to drip feed the reader just the right amount of clues. Would recommend.

Investigative journalist Kat is surprised when Meg Williams returns to town after ten years. Kat is convinced that Meg is a con artist and the person responsible for a shocking event in her past, an event that has affected the rest of her life. Kat is now determined to get close to Meg so that she can find out what she is up to and reveal to the world who she is.

The opening chapter, set in current times, gives an air of mystery. Who is Meg Williams? Why has she returned to her childhood home? What is she planning to do? The story then jumps back ten years. At this point in the novel I was a little sceptical that the story was going to hold my interest. I'm so glad I persevered as I was totally gripped by the end.

Initially Meg is the more interesting of the two main characters. As a result of circumstance she becomes a con artist, it's a means of surviving. As the story progresses you then start to wonder if the "cons" are for survival, greed or a means of seeking revenge. Kat comes across as simply somone trying to do her job as a journalist. She's desperate to make her mark and tries to strike out on her own, this has horrifying consequences.

As the story then moves to our current time frame Kat tries to befriend Meg. Kat blames Meg for what happened to her and wants to uncover the truth so that she can finally publish the big exclusive story she feels she deserves. In trying to get closer to Meg Kat has to develop her own "con" and it's at this point you realise that con artist and journalist are the same - deceiving people to get what they want. You begin to question if Kat's methods are entirely ethical, particularly as you discover more about Meg and her reasoning.

Social media and the internet play a big role in the con. Living our lives online, sharing details of our day to day existence and those silly quizzes that ask for your "drag queen" name (your first pet's name and the street you lived on as a child). This story explains terrifyingly well how someone could trawl through all that information and use it very effectively to get closer to you.

As the conclusion draws near you feel Kat's rising sense of panic, she doesn't know who she can trust, and you begin to root for Meg as she points out that lies can be useful in "tipping karma in the right direction". I was actually sad when I finished the book. Whilst Kat's story reached a natural conclusion I feel sure Meg has lots more to offer.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this wonderful book.

I LOVED this story. For me, it was a very easy read and I finished the story in a matter of hours. It is unputdownable. I enjoyed learning more about the characters who were complex and interesting. I felt the plot was incredibly intriguing, and fast paced evolving in a brilliant manner.

I highly recommend this book - probably one of my top 10 books of 2022.

The Lies I Tell is a brilliant domestic thriller told in alternating and intersecting POVs of two strong, independent, and resourceful female characters. (Finally a domestic thriller that doesn’t rely on a crazy unreliable female narrator) Meg, a woman of many names and talents, is a cunning con-artist who is on a mission to right the wrongs that have been done to her. Kat is a struggling writer who has been hunting Meg for the last ten years after a phone call from then-stranger Meg upends her life by placing her in harm’s way. Now that Kat has found Meg, she is determined to carry out the perfect revenge by exposing the con. However, as Kat gets to know Meg, she begins to second-guess Meg’s motives and wonder who is the real swindler in the story. A cleverly written and perfectly-paced domestic thriller with two strong females dedicated to upholding girl code and taking back the power, The Lies I Tell will no doubt be the favorite beach read of summer 2022.

Oh my word !!!!!! What a brilliant read , I raced through this in one morning and seriously could not put it down
When Kat who is a reporter stumbles on Meg at a party , she realises that she can hold Meg accountable for something that happened in her past that changed her forever , she blames Meg and starts to investigate her whilst befriending her , the more she investigates the more she realises that the things Meg has done are a lot more complicated than initially thought . It was great to have a book with 2 strong female characters at the centre and I was invested in both of them . This would be a fabulous holiday read and I really can't recommend it highly enough

I've previously read The Last Flight, and didn't honestly think this could be better. But, it is! I loved it! A super fast read - mainly because I just couldn't put it down. I loved both Meg and Kat. Both flawed characters, but with good hearts. I could never have guessed the ending.

A fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.

I received a free review copy from the publisher, via Netgalley - thank you!

I enjoyed Last Flight so much that I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read The Lies I Tell and I wasn't disappointed .The story is clever and complex, the characters very interesting, two women seeking revenge ! A gripping fast paced read ,one of those books that is hard to put down and I especially liked the surprise ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

AH I'm screaming, crying and throwing up.
This is everything I want a good thriller to be and I enjoyed every second of it.
Now I can't wait to read THE FLIGHT, because I already have a feeling, it will easily become my favorite too!
Highly highly highly recommend this book to ALLLLLL thriller fans.

I LOVED this book! A brilliant read. I really enjoyed this tale of balanced vengeance, a woman who decides to lean into 'girl code' and take revenge on men who have manipulated and wronged women in a variety of horrible ways.

A modern 'robin hood' with a female lead. Wonderful!

I really enjoyed Ms Clark's previous book and was pleased to find this one was equally as good. It was a well written twisty thriller that managed to wrongfoot me ( and Kat) at every turn, and I loved it. I have to admit that at first I wasn't convinced by Kat's motives for pursuing Meg, but was relieved to see her change of mind by the end.
Thank you to netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advance copy of this book