Lie To Me

By J.T. Ellison

Readers will devour this stunning page-turner about the disintegration of a marriage as grief, jealousy, betrayal and murder destroy the facade of the perfect literary couple. New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison takes her exceptional writing to a new level with this breakout novel.

They appeared to be the perfect couple…

Domestic noir at its best.

Readers will devour this stunning page–turner about the disintegration of a marriage as grief, jealousy, betrayal and murder destroy the facade of the perfect literary couple. New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison takes her exceptional writing to a new level with this breakout novel.

They built a life on lies...

Sutton and Ethan Montclair's idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.

Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.

'Ellison clearly belongs in the top echelon of thriller writers.' – Booklist, starred review, on What Lies Behind.

'Fans of Gone Girl will gobble up this thriller about a marriage from hell!' –Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of One Perfect Lie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Sep 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781489242082

J.T. Ellison

New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison writes dark psychological thrillers and pens the Brit in the FBI series with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in twenty-seven countries. She is also the Emmy Award–winning cohost of the premier literary television show A Word on Words. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens. Visit JTEllison.com for more information, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ThrillerChick or Facebook.com/JTEllison14.

Book preview

Domestic noir at its best. Readers will devour this stunning page-turner about the disintegration of a marriage as grief, jealousy, betrayal and murder destroy the facade of the perfect literary couple. New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison takes her exceptional writing to a new level with this breakout novel.

They built a life on lies

Sutton and Ethan Montclair’s idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.

Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.

Praise for the novels of

New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison

"Well-developed, multidimensional characters and an exceptionally strong plot power bestseller Ellison’s eighth Taylor Jackson novel...

The characters’ humanity and the gut-wrenching problems they face in life-and-death situations put Ellison in the top rank of suspense novelists."

—Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Field of Graves

Followers of this series will relish the revelations of how Ellison’s protagonists first connected. New readers of this page-turning, suspenseful thriller will want to catch up on the author’s other books.

—Library Journal on Field of Graves

As always when it comes to author J.T. Ellison, this book is a creation of fear, suspense, with even a little humor thrown in... Ellison shows a skill and talent that is more than exceptional at laying out a fresh path leading to a murderer that readers will not believe!

—Suspense Magazine on Field of Graves

Everyone should already be reading Ellison, but those unfamiliar with her work could start here.

—RT Book Reviews on Field of Graves

A genuine page-turner... Ellison clearly belongs in the top echelon of thriller writers. Don’t leave this one behind.

—Booklist, starred review, on What Lies Behind

Thriller fanatics craving an action-packed novel of intrigue will be abundantly rewarded!

—Library Journal on What Lies Behind

Fans of forensic mysteries, such as those by Patricia Cornwell, should immediately add this series to their A-lists.

—Booklist, starred review, on When Shadows Fall

A gripping page-turner...essential for suspense junkies.

—Library Journal on When Shadows Fall

LIE TO ME

J.T. Ellison

Har_Medicals_2012_Cab_Blk.ai

www.harlequinbooks.com.au

For Amy, who believed

And as always, for Randy

Contents

In Which Introductions Are Made

We Find a Body

Ethan

Something's Missing

Did She, or Didn't She?

There Are Cracks in Every Marriage

Beauty and the Beast

Discoveries Are Made

A Twist of the Knife

And Then They Were Three

The Friends Come A-Calling

Burn All the Lawyers

The Tangled Webs We Weave

Sids, or Not to Sids

The Strange Case of the Missing Wife

The Police Arrive

Glory Days

Tell Me Your Secrets

What's Really Going on Here?

The Investigation Begins

Read All About It

The First Break

In Which We Receive a Clue

Voices, I Hear Voices

Another Dawn Is Dawning

Life As We Know It Has Ended

Francophiles in Franklin

Stop the Madness

She Who Knew Her Best

An Unexpected Surprise

A Video Is Worth a Thousand Words

Good Timing, Officer

A Trail Emerges

I Hear You're Missing a Wife

A Corrosive Beast

Let's Go For a Drive

Take a Walk on the Wilde Side

The Ties That Bind

Blackmail, or How Does Your Garden Grow?

When All You Know Is False

A Change of Heart

I'm Coming Home, I'm Coming Home

The Man Is Lying Through His Teeth

A Cry, But Not For Help

The Green Grass Across the Way

A Challenge Is Given

The News, The Damning News

Not Everything Is As It Seems

Live From a Crime Scene

And Never the Twin Shall Meet

Now the World Knows

Now, Isn't That Odd?

Sutton

Memento Mori

Elle est Arrivée

Wife, Interrupted

A Bit of Backstory

The Ghost of Papa

We Meet a Friend

And So It Begins

Hello, My Name Is...

A Baby Is Born

Café au Lait in Bed

An Affair to Remember

Past Lives Revealed

Murder, She Wrote

Those Sacred Hearts

An Appointment Missed, A Disaster Avoided

Secrets and Monsters

American Woman

The Headlines Are Grabbing

Rise and Shine

When Things Go Sideways

An Arrest Is Made

Sometimes, You Get Exactly What You Want

Everyone

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

Admit It

Once a Juvie, Always a Juvie

Haze on the Seine

Through a Glass, Darkly

Poison Ivy

About...Face

Lean on Me

The Trinity

Leavin', on a Jet Plane

Shine a Bright Light in the Corners

Home Is Where They Have to Take You In

Truth Will Out

You Should Have Known

Admissions of Guilt

Be Shriven

The Reckoning

Death, and Rebirth

Just When You Think It's Over

Author Note

Acknowledgments

Excerpt from Field of Graves by J.T. Ellison

IN WHICH INTRODUCTIONS ARE MADE

You aren’t going to like me very much. Oh, maybe in your weaker moments, you’ll feel sorry for me, and use those feelings of warmth and compassion and insightful understanding to excuse my actions. You’ll say to yourself, Poor little girl. She couldn’t help herself. Or, Can you blame her? After all she’s been through? Perhaps you’ll even think, She was born to this. It is not her fault.

Of course it’s my fault. I chose this path. Yes, I feel as if I have no choice, that I’m driven to do it, that there are voices in my head that push me to the dark side.

But I also know right from wrong. I know good from evil. I may be compelled to ruin the lives in front of me, but I could walk away if I wanted.

Couldn’t I?

Never mind that. Back to you.

Truly, deep down, you are going to despise me. I am the rot that lives in the floorboards of your house. I am the spider that scuttles away when you shine a light in my corner, ever watching, ever waiting. I am the shard of glass that slits the skin of your bare foot. I am all the bad things that happen to you.

I steal things.

I kill things.

I leave a trail of destruction in my wake that is a sight to behold, wave after wave of hate that will overwhelm you until you sink to the bottom of my miserable little ocean, and once you’ve drowned I will feed on your flesh and turn your bones to dust.

You’re mine now. You are powerless against me. So don’t bother fighting it.

I hope you enjoy the show.

WE FIND A BODY

The body was in the woods off a meandering state road that led into a busy, charming, historical downtown. It was completely obscured from view, deeply hidden, under several pine boughs and a thick layer of nature’s detritus. Synthetic clothing was melted to the flesh, making it difficult to tell race or gender at a glance. Closer inspection would show hair that was long and a curious shade: not blond, not red, possibly chemically treated. The left hand held evidence of rings, a wedding set, and the body would eventually be determined as female.

The shroud of melt and bough had not stopped the forever daisy-chain progression of decay. Instar maggots and adult flies delighted in their found treat. A genus party started soon after. Diptera and coleoptera were evident three days in, paving the way for the coming colonization of Calliphoridae. Though the body was burned beyond ready recognition, the insects didn’t seem to mind; it was simply a barbecue feast to them.

Outside of this natural progression, the body lay undisturbed for two days. Birds of prey flew in long, lazy circles overhead. Cars drove past less than fifty yards away, drivers unknowing, uncaring, that one of their own lay rotting nearby.

Three Days Gone, a severe thunderstorm knocked free several of the funereal branches, allowing the body to be exposed, pelted by hail breaking through the leafy canopy. The heavy rains saturated the ground and the body sank deeper into the muck, where it canted on its side.

Four Days Gone, the body was ravaged by a starving coyote, forty-two razor teeth shredding everything available.

Five Days Gone, the body disarticulated, the fire and the heat and the wet and the insects and the coyote and the natural progression of things breaking it down quickly and without thought to the effects this would have on the loved ones. The idea of a nonintact body was sometimes more than people could take.

Six Days Gone, they found her.

ETHAN

Chaos is a name for any order that produces confusion in our minds.

—George Santayana

SOMETHING’S MISSING

Franklin, Tennessee

Now

Ethan found the note ten minutes after he rolled out of bed that Tuesday, the Tuesday that would change everything. He came downstairs, yawning, scratching his chest, to...nothing. Empty space, devoid of wife.

Sutton always began her morning at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal, a piece of fruit, and a cup of tea. She read the paper, scoffing at the innumerable typos—the paper was going under; paying for decent copyediting was the least of their worries. A bowl full of cereal, a glass of milk, and a spoon would be laid out for him, the sports page folded neatly by his seat. Always. Always.

But this morning, there was no evidence Sutton had been in the kitchen. No newspaper, no bowl. No wife.

He called for her. There was no response. He searched through the house. Her bag was in her office, her cell phone, her laptop. Her license was stashed in her small wallet, all her credit cards present and accounted for, a twenty folded in half shoved behind them.

She must have gone for a run.

He felt a spark of pleasure at the thought. Sutton, once, had been a health nut. She’d run or walked or done yoga every day, something physical, something to keep her body moving and in shape. And what a shape—when he’d met her, the woman was a knockout, willowy and lithe, strong legs and delicate ankles, tendons tight and gleaming like a Thoroughbred. A body she sculpted to match his own, to fit with him.

Ethan Montclair couldn’t have a dog for a wife, no. He needed someone he could trot out at cocktail parties who looked smashing in a little black dress. And not only looked good, but sounded good. He needed a partner on all levels—physical and intellectual. Maybe it was shallow of him, but he was a good-looking man, drew a lot of attention, and not only did he want his wife to be stunning, he wanted her to be smart, too. And Sutton fit the bill.

He knew they made a powerful, attractive couple. Looks and brains and success, so much success. That was their thing.

After Dashiell, she’d bounced back into shape like the champion racehorse she was; though later, when their world collapsed, she’d become tired and bloated and swollen with medications and depression, and she no longer took any interest in being beautiful and fit.

That she’d decided to start running again gave him hope. So much hope.

Spirits lifted, he went back to the sunny, happy kitchen and got his own bowl, his own cereal. Made a pot of tea, whistling. Went for the stevia—no sugar for the health-conscious Montclairs, no, never.

That was when he saw it. Small. White. Lined. Torn from a spiral-bound notebook, a Clairefontaine, Sutton’s favorite for the smooth, lovely paper.

This...thing...was incongruous with the rest of their spotless kitchen. Sutton was above all things a pathological neatnik. She’d never just leave something lying about.

All the happiness fled. He knew. He’d been all wrong. She hadn’t gone running.

He picked up the note.

Dear Ethan,

I’m sorry to do this to you, but I need some time away. I’ve been unhappy, you know that. This shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Forgive me for being a coward. Forgive me, for so many things.

Don’t look for me.

S

She was gone.

He felt something squeezing in his chest, a pain of sorts, and realized that his heart had just broken. He’d always thought that a stupid, silly term, but now he knew. It could happen, it was happening. He was being torn in two, torn to shreds. No wonder there were rites warning against this—what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

God was ripping him apart in punishment, and he deserved it. He deserved it all.

He didn’t cry. There were no tears left for either of them to shed.

He put the note down carefully, as if it were a bomb that might go off with the wrong touch. Went to their bedroom. Nothing seemed out of place. Her brush, her makeup case, her toothbrush, all lined up carefully on the marble. Her suitcase was in the closet.

He went back downstairs to her office, at the back of the house. Double-checked.

Her laptop was on her desk.

Her cell phone was in the charger.

Her purse was on the floor next to her chair.

Her wallet inside, the smiling DMV photo that made her look like a model.

Like a zombie, he moved back to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and got out the milk. Poured cereal in the bowl. Dropped the stevia into his tea. Sat at the empty table, stared at the spot where his wife’s head should have been.

What was he supposed to do now? Where could she be? He ran through the possibilities, the places she loved, rejecting one after another. Surely he was wrong in his thinking. Surely she’d simply run away, to one of her friends. That’s where she’d gone. Should he give her some time and space, like she asked?

She left without her things, Ethan. Sutton’s lifelines are her laptop and phone. They are her office, her world.

A dawning realization. Sutton hadn’t shaken the depression, not completely. She was still prone to fits of melancholy. She might have done something stupid, crazy. She’d tried once before, after... Oh, God. Her words. Perhaps she was telling him exactly what she’d done.

I’m a coward. Forgive me. Don’t look for me.

He threw the bowl of cereal across the room.

Bloody fucking hell. You selfish, heartless bitch.

DID SHE, OR DIDN’T SHE?

Don’t look for me.

Those were the last words she’d used to him.

And so he didn’t. Not right away, at least. He sat and wrapped his mind around the situation. Then he searched through everything of hers he could find, looking for something, anything, that might give answers.

Nothing. It was like she’d gone to take a shower and disappeared through the water into another land.

He went into deep, irreversible denial. She is fine, he told himself. She’s taking a break. The self-talk worked. His morbid thoughts fled. He knew, deep in his heart, Sutton would never be that selfish.

He gave her three hours to come back, three long, quiet as the bone hours, and then, when the idea that she might actually be in some sort of trouble started to eat at him, began calling round. Of course he did. He wasn’t a total asshole, despite what most people thought. It was the success—people automatically assumed because he was a man and he didn’t like to give interviews and held people at arm’s length at signings and he kept himself off social media and focused on his work, he was a dick. Maybe he was.

He called her friends—there weren’t many, but the ones she had were close, bosom buddies, BFFs.

Rachel hadn’t seen her and was brusque, late for work. Out of character for her; a yoga teacher, she was generally the most calm and friendly of Sutton’s friends.

Ellen, the head of library sciences at Vanderbilt University, didn’t answer her mobile; he left an innocuous Hey, call me, message.

Filly—Phyllis, really, but she hated to be called by her given name—answered her landline on the first ring, no doubt assuming it was Sutton calling. Even at Ethan’s voice, her greeting was cheery and excited. When Ethan asked if she’d seen Sutton, she seemed genuinely concerned, but claimed they hadn’t talked for a few days because Sutton had been so busy. He couldn’t help it, Filly’s concern was so genuine and helpful he immediately suspected she knew something, but when pressed, she reassured him Sutton was probably just out for a run and told him to call her when Sutton showed up, then got off the phone with a lame excuse about her baby crying. Way to twist the knife, Filly.

Ivy was out of town on business, or he’d have called her first. Ivy was friends with them both. She was Sutton’s closest friend and confidante, a true part of their lives. Had been for three years now. He glanced at his watch, hesitated for a minute, then sent a text. A self-employed stockbroker, she was good about keeping her phone on her. She’d get back when she was able, she always did.

He sat at the table, head in his hands. Jumped a mile when the phone rang. He didn’t bother looking at the caller ID, answered with a breathless, Sutton?

It’s Siobhan. What’s wrong?

Oh, bloody retching hell. Sutton’s mother was the last person he wanted to involve in this. To put it mildly, Siobhan and Sutton weren’t close, and Sutton would be furious with him if she knew he’d spoken to her at all.

Deflect, and get her off the phone.

Good morning, Siobhan. How are you?

Has something happened to Sutton?

No, no. Everything is fine.

Let me guess. She stormed off and won’t return your calls.

Something like that. Have you heard from her?

I haven’t seen or spoken to my daughter in weeks. By the way, thank you for the cruise. The Adriatic was amazing. You should take her sometime.

The sudden urge to confess, to shake this venal woman from her self-absorbed life, was overwhelming, and the words spilled from his mouth.

She’s gone, Siobhan. She left a note and walked out on me. I’m worried about her. She didn’t take her things—her phone, her computer, her wallet are all here. As if that would explain it all.

And it did, enough at least that his mother-in-law reacted. I’m on my way over, she said, and hung up on him.

Oh, bollocks. All he needed was Siobhan wandering the house looking for clues. Looking in the corners, at the dust and secrets.

You’re an idiot, Ethan. Whyever did you tell her? That desperate, are we?

He poured himself a fresh cup of tea, looked around. Fuck cleaning up. So the place wasn’t pristine. Who cared? Siobhan would find a flaw, a fault, no matter what. They could scour the place top to bottom, have it Architectural Digest photo-shoot ready, and she’d still want to move a vase or find a small part of the counter with a smear.

Siobhan Healy—Shiv-awn, for the uninitiated, which she delighted in sharing, loudly—took pride in being different. Her friends, and some of her enemies, Sutton included, called her Shiv for short. She was Sutton’s opposite in every way. Looks: small and dark, Black Irish with her ebony hair liberally streaked with gray, and cobalt eyes, face pinched and mean. Temperament: brash and extroverted; Siobhan adored attention, good or bad. Speech: lowbrow; though she didn’t have an accent, she claimed she was from a Dublin slum and never hesitated to share the story of her continually upward journey.

She’d come to the United States and married a succession of men, each wealthier than the last. She was on husband four now, a meek-mannered man named Alan, who liked to make jokes, corny jokes—hey, we should go into business together, call ourselves...Ethan Alan. Ha, ha, ha, ha, get it? Ethan Alan—when he drank too much.

Ethan wasn’t sure how this woman could have created her daughter, often wondered about their storied past, but Siobhan and Sutton both refused to ever talk about her childhood, or the one-night stand sperm donor who was her father. He wasn’t, as Sutton said, one of the husbands. He was anonymous. Never around. Sutton had never met him.

Ethan found that wretchedly sad. His own parents had been kind, generous people, though he hadn’t understood them well, nor they him. They were both gone now. They’d died quietly and unobtrusively four months apart when he was twenty-two. He’d been quite upset, but not devastated. They’d sent him off to Mount St. Mary’s as a boarder when he was a wee lad, and he’d only seen them at breaks. Ethan had always been bookish; it was the school he attended that shaped his personality: cocky and wildly creative. It was a fine way to grow up, but Ethan wanted something different for his life. He’d always dreamed of a close-knit, exuberant household for his own family one day. Children running in the backyard, dogs playing and barking, a knockout wife, madly in love. Safe and stable.

The American Dream. That’s one reason he’d moved to America, after all.

Safe and stable. He’d tried. Lord knew, he’d tried.

A text dinged. Ivy.

I haven’t seen her or talked to her since I left on my trip. We chatted Thursday and she seemed fine. Do I need to come home? Do you need help?

Ivy, always the one willing to lend a hand, pitch in, make their lives easier.

He texted back. No, I’m sure she’s just gone off to upset us all.

Ivy sent back an emoji that he took to mean eye roll. He didn’t understand emojis. Or text abbreviations. LOL. BRB. For God’s sake, when had it become so difficult to actually use words anymore?

The doorbell sounded, impatient, as if it were being stabbed repeatedly with a thick finger—which of course it was. He opened the door for his mother-in-law, who sailed through like the Queen Mary, then turned on him. So what did you do to upset my daughter now?

Her dyed black hair was shoved under a dingy Nashville Sounds baseball cap; she was unkempt and smelled like stale liquor. She and the mister must have been hitting the bottle hard the night before. They liked to party, liked to hang out at their country club with other well-soused individuals, eating good food and drinking good wine and lamenting their fates. Such a lovely couple.

I didn’t do anything. I woke up this morning and she was gone. She left me a note.

Show me.

Biting back the response he wanted to give, he instead led her into the kitchen and handed her the paper. She read it three times, lips moving as she did, and he wondered again how this dull, crass woman had created the glorious Titan he’d married.

Though during Sutton’s bad times, the breakdowns, he saw bits of Siobhan in her.

Siobhan set the note down and crossed her arms on her chest. Where do you think she’s gone? Her voice was curiously dispassionate, missing its usual aggression toward him.

He shook his head. I was hoping you’d have an idea. I’ve called her girlfriends. They say they haven’t heard from her.

Did you tell them about the note?

I mentioned it to Filly and Ivy. I got the sense Filly might know something but wasn’t willing to say.

She waved a hand. Filly has always loved Sutton’s drama, and is hoping it will rub off on her. She’s a sad little woman living through everyone around her. She doesn’t know anything, or she’d already be here, glorying. Siobhan played with the edge of the paper, sat down at the table.

Sutton’s been in bad shape since the baby, Ethan offered, almost unwilling to open that door. But he needed help, damn it.

Siobhan nodded, surprisingly grave. Can you blame her?

Of course not. But I kept hoping... Siobhan, is there something else I should know? Did she tell you she was leaving me? You don’t seem terribly surprised by this.

She gave a windy sigh that smelled suspiciously like dirty martinis. Sit down.

Ethan wasn’t used to taking orders in his own house, especially from a woman he wasn’t fond of, but he perched on a stool and set his hands on his knees. Siobhan watched him for a moment.

When we spoke last, a few months ago, Sutton told me she was very unhappy. It wasn’t like her to confide in me. You know we don’t always see eye to eye about her choices.

If you mean how you suggested she leave me last year after Dashiell...I know. She told me all about it.

Do you blame me, Ethan? That strange, dispassionate tone again. Almost as if they were confidants here, not enemies. You treated her badly. You handled things poorly. She was in bad shape and you were too busy with your little fling to notice.

His little fling. His stomach clenched. No one could know the truth there. It would destroy them all, Sutton especially.

I made a mistake. I came clean, I apologized. We were getting things back on track. We’d talked about... We talked about moving, maybe, getting away from all the bad memories. Starting over.

Moving? Where?

Back to London.

I see. And Sutton was happy to do that?

We hadn’t made any concrete decisions. We were talking. Planning. The future... Bloody hell, Siobhan, at least she was talking to me again. You have no idea what the past year has been like, not really, for either one of us. It’s been torture. Oh, yes, we’ve put on a brave front. But once the door closed and the people disappeared, once the funeral was over and the neighborhood stopped tiptoeing around, we were left alone to try and muddle through. It was hell.

I can imagine, she said, and she sounded almost like she cared. He knew she didn’t, not really. She was in it for the money. Siobhan and Sutton had a weird, twisted relationship, more like catty girlfriends who despised one another than mother and daughter. But despite all his advice, Sutton refused to cut her out completely. Ethan would never understand.

I don’t care what Sutton told you, or didn’t. She’s been on edge lately, secretive. Something has definitely been going on with her. Do you know what she’s been planning?

Sutton’s mother suddenly looked gray and old. No. But her note doesn’t sound like someone who’s gone gaily off to do the Lord’s work. Why don’t you call the police? If you have nothing to hide...

Give me a break, Siobhan. I didn’t hurt her. It’s not like she’s a missing person, either. She left a note, after all. Besides, they won’t even take a missing persons report for seventy-two hours on an adult.

How do you know if you haven’t talked to them?

I do research my work, Siobhan.

For your books. Yes, of course.

Oh, the disdain in her tone. Ethan tried not to place his very large hands around his mother-in-law’s neck. Siobhan had never understood the creative gene that he and Sutton shared. Sutton said Siobhan wanted her only child to find a rich man to marry, one who would allow her to play tennis at the club and host fabulous backyard garden parties. His temperament was optional. What were a few black eyes and broken ribs in the face of never-ending wealth and comfort?

They’d never told Siobhan how much Ethan was worth, how much he made on his novels. It was none of her business.

The uncomfortable silence grew between them. Finally, Siobhan stood.

I’m sure she’s simply run off. She is always very dramatic when she gets upset.

And if she isn’t being dramatic?

You’re worried. I understand. You asked my advice, and here it is: Sutton’s been unhappy, and she probably doesn’t want to be found. But if you’re not content with that answer, call the police. Let them look for her.

You don’t seem very upset by the news that your daughter is missing. Or that she could have been harmed somehow.

Because I don’t think she’s missing. I think my daughter finally left you. Something she should have done long ago.

Thanks a lot, Siobhan.

You’re welcome. Now, my check? It was due today. If Sutton’s not here, perhaps you should see to it.

And there it was. She didn’t give a flying fuck about Sutton, just wanted to get the money she wrenched out of them. That’s why she’d called, and then come over. Not to help. To take her cut.

Sutton generally handled the quarterly allowance she stubbornly insisted on paying her mother. It was a sore spot between them; having Siobhan standing with her greasy paw out all the time nearly sent him over the edge.

You must be joking.

I’m leaving town this evening. We have a trip to Canada. I’d like to deposit it before I go. And who knows when Sutton will resurface.

You are a seriously cold woman, Siobhan.

You have no idea.

Ethan went to his office, pulled out the checkbook. He filled in the check, dated it, and stormed back to the kitchen.

Here. If only I could lace it with rat poison and watch you die, you miserable, uncaring witch.

Thank you. Keep me apprised if she shows up, will you?

Why would I? You’ve made it quite clear you don’t care about Sutton, or about me. All you care about is your precious money.

I care more than you realize, Ethan. But you’re her husband. You do what you think is right.

I will. Trust me.

As the door closed on her, she turned. Ethan? Even after all these years, I don’t think you know my daughter at all.

THERE ARE CRACKS IN EVERY MARRIAGE

Ethan shut the door on Siobhan, proud of himself for not slamming it. He went into his office and poured a crystal lowball half-full of Scotch. He had a nice mirrored bar cart set up in the corner; it felt very Fitzgerald to him, and he’d always taken pride in it.

Now it looked like failure. He’d been drinking too much this year. Understandable, of course, but he’d been using it as a barrier against Sutton.

It was early to get pissed, he knew this, but he downed the Scotch and poured another. If it was good enough for Fitzgerald and Hemingway, it was good enough for him.

He sat at his desk, glanced at the picture of the three of them placed discreetly in the corner, between the drooping spider plant and the phone. He’d never had the heart to put it away. He liked the photo. They were all happy. Smiling. They’d been at the beach, noses sunburned, the baby wearing a silly sun hat, a breeze blowing Sutton’s gorgeous red hair around. Toothy smiles and hugs and goodwill. Their lives, captured, a moment in time that could never be re-created.

He reached out and touched the silver gilt frame, then drew his fingers back as if burned.

He’d thought having a baby would fix things.

It was a stupid thought. Barmy. He should have been committed for thinking a baby would make things perfect again. But at the time, he hadn’t thought it through. He’d been driven by his own emotions.

Yes, that was it. His emotions had led him astray. Men weren’t supposed to have such deep feelings. It was the artist in him. He wanted things from this life—a career writing, a wife to love him, a home to call his own. Heirs were simply part of things, a fact unstated and understood.

Still, the baby. He didn’t think the concept was terribly complex. Sutton was a woman. All women wanted babies. Right? She said she didn’t, that her life was perfect the way it was, and really, how would they write with a tyke underfoot, but more than once, he’d caught her looking after women with prams with such bald yearning on her face

Reviews for Lie To Me

[amalieturner · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really liked the first half of this book but it started to slow down for me towards the end. I didn't love the writing style and the characters didn't feel totally real to me.

[flourgirl49 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

OK psychological thriller - that's about all I can say. The main characters, except for cop Holly Graham, are kind of annoying. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible.

[bookhermit90 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Seriously, where do I start with this book. This book had more twits than a Twizzler! I LOVE IT!! Bonus points that it takes place in my home state of Tennessee and Franklin is my favorite place to visit! Back to the book. :) I think I loved and hated each and every character in this book at different times. I don't want to give anything away but basically this book is about how well do you REALLY know someone or THINK you know someone. I give this one a BIG 5 STARS!! Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for allowing me to read and advanced copy for my honest review.

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a domestic thriller, that bounces between 3 and 4 stars. When I first started to realize a bit of what was going on in this story, I thought, this is just like Gone Girl. Well, there are some similarities, but with the final twists and turns, truths coming out and the various story lines pulled together, it was no Gone Girl. There were some slow parts in the middle of the book, which dragged it down a bit, but the ending made up for this.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and at times, I had to go back and listen to something again. There were subtle pieces of information that I had to make sure I understood. The first half of the story is told from Ethan’s point of view, then the second half switches to Sutton’s perspective. While these two both had compelling stories and strong voices the addition of a third unknown narrator added something downright menacing to the story. This person speaks directly to the reader in a bitter, cruel voice that sent chills up my spine. The chapters were brief, I kept saying I will just listen to one more. I actually stayed up late into the night to finish this book. Most of the story is told in the present but there are times when it flips back to various times in Sutton and Ethan’s relationship that helped to shed light on how they came to be at the awful point they’re at today.

Sutton and Ethan are both writers who have had their ups and downs. Unfortunately, that is one os the things that caused their relationship to have difficulties. They were both competitive and jealous and Ethan did not think much of Sutton's type of book. When they were having difficulty in their marriage, Ethan decides that they should have a baby. Sutton did not want a child, but once he was born, she loved him very much. When he tragically dies from SIDS, she falls apart and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. When Sutton disappears, her friends accuse Ethan of doing something to her. Besides this, I am not going to give away anymore of the plot.

J.T. Ellison does a wonderful job of taking her readers for a ride. Just when you think you have something figured out, something happens to take you in a different direction. This was an entertaining, dramatic story. It is intelligently crafted and delivered twists and turns right up until the final pages. I am ready to pick up J.T. Ellison's newest book to go on another roller-coaster ride.

[simplykelina · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I did not love this as much as I was hoping. It was a little slow in places. There were times I was on the edge of my seat and others I was ready to DNF.

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first half of LIE TO ME is Ethan’s side of the story, the second half is mostly Sutton’s. They’re a married couple, both writers, well known, especially him. But she has a secret past.Consequently, when Sutton disappears, mysteries abound: Is she dead or alive? If dead, at her own hand or murder? If murder, who did it? Of course, Ethan is the first suspect. Is he guilty or is he being set up? If he’s being set up, by whom and why? That’s the first half.The second half is less mystery than answers. Therefore, the first half is more absorbing. But there certainly are some attention-grabbing answers.I enjoyed LIE TO ME but found the end somewhat perplexing. Therefore, it rates 3.5 stars more than it does 4.

[bookwormteri · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The first half of this book is so much like Gone Girl that I almost put it down. Wife goes missing, husband looks suspicious, unreliable narrator....the second half of the book changes it up. Yes, the wife is alive, but someone is setting both halves of the couple up for a huge fall. Good read, but not completely original.

[sarahstenhouse · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Readable, but not especially memorable.

[hotcha-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW, What a intriguing story, but readers expect this from Ms. Ellison! I really felt for Ethan when the lies that he and Sutton spun to the public began to unravel! Now. Sutton is dead and everyone thinks he is guilty! Be care as sometimes lies can turn around and bite you in the butt.

[jfe16 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ethan and Sutton Montclair, both successful authors, are married . . . and keeping secrets from each other. Their love/hate relationship comes under fierce scrutiny when Sutton suddenly disappears and Ethan finds himself inundated by speculation that he is somehow responsible for her disappearance.But the truth is something far more sinister than either of them could ever have suspected . . . .Well-developed, realistic characters populate this unputdownable narrative that, with its complex plot, continually delivers gut-wrenching, disturbing twists and unexpected revelations. Readers are likely to find themselves on the edge of their seats, breathlessly page-turning until they reach the end of this mesmerizing, impossible-to-set-aside tale.Highly recommended.

[carolesrandomlife · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book but not as much as I had hoped that I would. I decided to read this book after seeing a few really good reviews. I love a good thriller so I decided to give it a try. I decided to take a peek at the first few pages of this book late one night and ended up putting other books aside so that I could focus on this one. Unfortunately, the book became much easier to set aside the further I read. I love a good thriller with a lot of twists and turns. This book takes some pretty ambitious twists that could have been really exciting if I had been even a little surprised. All of the big twists in this story were fairly easy for me to predict and ended up being quite disappointing. I had the urge to set the book aside for a bit whenever there was a bit reveal in the story which was unfortunate.I didn't have any really strong feelings about the characters in this story. I don't think that took anything away from the story though. I think that this is the kind of book that being unsure of the characters actually works well. Ethan and Sutton both had characteristics that were hard to like but understandable because of the things they have been through.This was a very easy book to read. I think that it had a nice overall flow and I found myself reading big sections of the book in a single sitting. I liked the short chapters that kept the pace of the book feeling quite rapid. I thought that alternate perspectives were worked into the story exactly when they were most effective. My biggest issue was the fact that I was really let down with every twist that proved to be very predictable. These usually happened just as the focus of the book shifted and I found myself setting the book aside a little easier.I do think that many readers will enjoy this book a bit more than I did. It is a fast paced story that has quite a few exciting moments. I would definitely pick up more of J.T. Ellison's work in the future.I received an advance reader edition of this book from HQ Digital via NetGalley.

[katherinegregg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If you liked Gone Girl and Girl on a Train, you will probably like Lie to Me. It's a fast paced and suspenseful read. Sutton and Ethan Montclair appear to be a happy, glamorous couple until Sutton goes missing. Sutton's friends and mother suspect that Ethan has something to do with it based on the stories that Sutton has told them. As the investigation unfolds, the lies that both Sutton and Ethan have lived and the untruths that they have told gradually surface. There are twists and turns along the way and the ending is not predictable. I would say the story line is a bit over the top and not terribly believable but very entertaining.

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a wonderful book that kept me reading on into the night. I had a clue early in the book of the person responsible but was I ever wrong! This book has more twists and turns than you can imagine and just when you get a clue, it turns out to be false and replaced by an even bigger twist to the story. You are going to read comparisons to 'Gone Girl' in many reviews but this book is so much better and more interesting. When you start this book make sure that you can clear you calendar because you won't want to put it down.As the novel begins, Ethan finds a note from his wife that says she's left and not to try to look for her. Ethan is shocked to find that her wallet, laptop and phone are still in her home office so immediately thinks that someone has abducted her. As he thinks back on their lives together and their love for each other, the reader can tell that he is leaving out crucial information but we don't know what it all has to do with her being gone. Once he calls the police, they immediately decide that he is responsible for his wife's disappearance and possible death. Because Ethan and Sutton are both well known authors, the media arrives on his front door and camps out and the search for Sutton becomes an international story. And when Sutton's friends are interviewed by the police, a totally different story about their lives together emerges. Have their lives been a perfect love story as Ethan would have the world believe or are there secrets that both have kept from the world and from each other. Read this perfectly done suspense thriller for the answer and be prepared to be kept guessing until almost the end.This is my first book by JT Ellison and I think it's time to go back and read some of her earlier books. To me, this was psychological suspense at its best!Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[debkrenzer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The lies are definitely all over this story. I couldn't tell who was lying and who wasn't between this couple. Then there is someone who you don't know doing some background narration and saying all kinds of things. It was cray, cray. Then when the author lets you in on the narrator of the background . . . YOWZA!! I didn't see that coming.Cray, cray with lots of action and lots of twists, I definitely enjoyed this one.Thanks to Harlequin and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sutton and Ethan have the perfect life. They are both successful writers, they are in love and they have an infant son. However, perfection never lasts, and things start going wrong, very wrong. Ethan has a one-night stand, Sutton can't handle it, their son dies, his writing stops, life becomes a nightmare. Making it worse is Sutton walking out. When it looks like Sutton might be dead, Ethan becomes the prime suspect in her murder. There are many, many twists in this page turner. I loved this book!

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lie to Me is New York Time best selling author J.T. Ellison's newest novel. This was a first read of this author for me.The publisher's blurbs describe Lie to Me as domestic noir and I think that's a pretty apt description.Ethan and Sutton are 'the' beautiful couple. Both have successfully published books, they own a gorgeous home and live the lifestyle they both want. And up front, that's what people see and believe. But, a series of tragedies and unfortunate events befall the couple - their young son dies, the words dry up for Ethan, Sutton is attacked online through social media, their finances take a dive and life behind closed doors takes a violent turn. Sutton decides enough is enough. She leaves a note for Ethan asking him not to look for her - and disappears. But has she voluntarily left or has Ethan killed her?Lie to Me opens with a puzzling prologue from an unknown author. It more than hints at dark deeds and destruction. This person appears in italicized entries throughout the book. I was sure I knew who was 'speaking', but was proven wrong.The first part of the book is from Ethan's viewpoint after Sutton goes missing. I have to say - he's a bit of an ***. More than a bit. His actions, thoughts and dialogue all made me dislike him intensely. Is it any wonder Sutton left? But Ellison toys with the reader. She planted enough alternatives and doubts in mind that I really had no idea if Sutton was gone or dead.Ellison employs one of my favourite writing devices, telling the story through a now and then technique. It was the 'then' chapters that had me believing I would know what was actually the truth. And......I was wrong.Part two belongs to Sutton's voice. Her take on things is very different from Ethan's. And my thoughts and conclusions changed again. There was no way to predict where the novel would go. IMO, the 'whodunit' must be taken with a few grains of salt, as I found it a bit far fetched. But, it was inventive and unpredictable and kept me guessing.I really liked the young female cop who investigates Sutton's disappearance. I wonder if Ellison would consider bringing her back in another book? Lie to Me was a fun porch read for me.

[fhudnell-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Yet another missing wife book. It's slick, twisty, cheesy and totally implausible. There was a lot of eye rolling at the big reveal. If you liked "Gone Girl" you'll probably buy into this one too. If you want to read an actually good missing wife book, read "A Suspension of Mercy" by Patricia Highsmith.

[marcejewels · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From my blogAnother great one by my favourite author. The Dr. Samantha Owens series books are my #1 favourite but I enjoyed this standalone also. Nothing is as it seems but this goes with the title Lie to Me. One lie continuous into life and death consequences. What is the lie - you will never figure it all out and the little part you do, HA, nothing to do with what it really is, this was executed well.The ending is shocking but I really don't think believable but the ultimate retaliation plan gone wrong on so many levels. Betrayal, murder, lies, marriage, friends, relationships and more lies.Sutton and Ethan are successful writers, but there a marital problems, deciding to have a baby, possibly some abuse and it all becomes to much. Does Sutton leave, get murdered or did she commit suicide? She leaves a note saying do not look for me but Ethan knows something is wrong. The police are unsure who to believe.Ethan calls his mother in law and all the best friends with worry only to be accused by many on hurting Sutton. There are so many lies and you want to blame someone, but who is to blame. Another exciting part of the book is you hear from a voice, but whose, who are unsure."But I also know right from wrong. I know good from evil. I may be compelled to ruin the lives in front of me., but I could walk away if I want. Couldn't I" Kindle 1%When it comes to lies, everything you read is a clue. Sutton reads this."Life is full of confusion. Confusion of love, passion, and romance. Confusion of family and friends. Confusion with life itself. What path we take, what turns we make. How we roll our dice." Kindle 54%This is the perfect, who did it book for those that love a good psychological read. There is so much going on something that pulls at your heart, I'm sure you won't figure it all out.This has been the year of marriage, dark, disturbing relationship reads. I have enjoyed them. Which one was your favourite?

[beckymmoe_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh, goodness. This book has so many twists and turns and pivots I'm not even sure how much I can say about it. Yes, I liked it. No, I couldn't put it down, especially once I got past the 50% mark and things really picked up. No, I wasn't a huge fan of most of the characters (except poor little Dashiell, and probably Holly...) but I also didn't want the antagonist's plans to succeed, because OMG no one deserved the crazy-a$$ plan that individual had in store for them. Yes, I figured out whodunit pretty early on (okay, okay, so I was guessing--but it turned out to be right!), but no, I didn't have a clue what the motivation was or how it was all being put together.Did I mention twists and turns and pivots? So. Many.There were a few bits toward the end that gave me pause, and at least one question from earlier that isn't quite answered to my satisfaction--hence the four stars instead of five--but overall this was one heck of a read. My first book from Ms. Ellison, but definitely not my last!Rating: 4 stars / A-I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[purple_pisces22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Story hooked me. Hard to put down. Not a totally new plot, but some fresh ideas.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow! A real psychological thriller. It is initially reminiscent of Gone Girl, but turns even more sinister. Ethan and Sutton seem like the perfect couple, but there are definitely undertones and secrets in their marriage. Holly Graham is the detective assigned to the case of finding a missing Sutton. Many twists and turns.

[dawnlovesbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

it was just ok to me. does resemble gone girl a little. I did not have it figured out but i did consider quitting a few times.

[johnfishlock · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this. Pretty good, but not as good as her others. 3.75

[tlvz721 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’ve just closed the covers on the world of Ethan and Sutton Montclair, the idyllic couple whose story is the thing of nightmares. Cracks appear in the perfect marriage, the wife disappears, the husband is suspect #1. Cut and dry. Oh, how little I knew as the pages turned. You will condemn every character as the culprit and be wrong every time. Even if you do have an inkling, you will have no idea the truth behind it. Shocking, intriguing, difficult subject matter to plow through at times, and ultimately satisfying. This easily settles into the top three books I’ve read this year. If domestic noir is your wheelhouse, this is your next great read. Enjoy. I certainly have.

[leopolds-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sutton Montclair’s marriage to Ethan is teetering on the edge. They constantly argue about prior infidelities while their financial problems continue to grow. It also doesn't help that they are both authors with competitive streaks. Sutton has not been herself since the death of their infant from SIDS. She is afraid to go out on her own, and often finds herself unloading her problems to friends. Ethan awakes one morning to find Sutton gone. She has left a note note explaining that she needs time alone and that he shouldn't look for her. Ethan is worried because her personal items such as her pocketbook, laptop and phone are still in the house. It seems unlikely that his wife would leave so suddenly and he is worried about her safety. After the disappearance is reported, their friends are quick to blame Ethan. They have listened to Sutton complain about their volatile marriage along with Ethan's poor behavior. With fingers being pointed in every direction, the lies and secrets unfold when the police begin to investigate.This novel by J.T. Ellison is a fast paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns. The perspective switches from husband to wife about half way through the story creating a unique way to reveal all the clues.

[jess_reads_books · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sutton and Ethan Montclair live the perfect life. They’re both successful authors, own a stunning home, and have an abundance of everything you could need in life. As authors, they have built the perfect story, but what’s truly hidden behind their façade is a couple consumed with regret and betrayal. The truth begins to seep out when one morning Ethan awakens to find a note from Sutton saying she has left him and not to come looking for her. Ethan is lost and confused by the note, or so he would have their closest friends believe. When he finally turns to the police to report Sutton missing, Ethan has a lawyer in tow. Despite coming off as the loving husband, the police immediately name Ethan suspect number one in Sutton’s disappearance. One of the investigators on the case doesn’t agree with the mounting evidence leading her and her team to Ethan and a sinister plot, but will her hunch save an innocent man or free a possible killer? What really happened to the baby the Montclair’s recently lost? And where has Sutton gone?Ellison lays the story of the Montclair’s out to the reader in short, gripping chapters. The novel is broken in to three parts: Ethan, Sutton, and Everyone. As the reader flies through Ethan’s portion they are lead more and more to believe he must be behind Sutton’s disappearance. The character of Holly, lead investigator, serves the role of devil’s advocate to what appears to so clearly be the truth and fights to prove Ethan is an innocent man being set up. In order to not give away any spoilers, I won’t delve in to the Sutton and Everyone sections LIE TO ME, but I will simply say Ellison has a gift for making the reader change opinions on the main characters effortlessly through a series of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. This was my first book by Ellison and I was blown away by her writing style. While I was successful in guessing whodunit, I was not prepared for the path that brought me to the truth. In a literary world where domestic thrillers have become abundant, LIE TO ME is a standout piece with depth, deception, and good old fashioned revenge.

[carol420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“You aren’t going to like me very much”...that is the opening sentence. Intriguing so lets's find out who and why that is referring to. Problem is that we never really defined that character. Also at the start we meet Ethan who seems to have been blindsided by the death of his son and his wife’s disappearance. Every time I convinced myself he was completely innocent, something else came to light that made me question myself. There are multiple points of view in this story and each one just adds to the mystery. This is an engrossing physiological thriller that had so many twists and turns. I had no idea how this would end but I have to admit I was amazed with the jaw dropping conclusion. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good domestic mystery or has read and enjoyed Shari Lapena's [The Couple Next Door].

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lie to Me by J.T. Ellison is a 2017 Mira Books publication. The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places-Earnest HemingwaySutton and Ethan, both authors, marry after a whirlwind romance. But, the marriage hits the skids after a string of disappointments and tragedy. However, the couple was slowly working things out, according to Ethan. But, one morning he wakes up and discovers that Sutton has simply vanished. She left a note, apologizing and asking that he not try to find her. But, she’s left behind all her belongings, her identification, and purse, which sets off massive alarm bells for Ethan.Once the police get involved, they begin digging into Sutton and Ethan’s personal life, their finances and the state of their marriage, which reveals a myriad of juxtapositions, half-truths, outright lies, and many, many secrets.Before long, Ethan has become the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance. Had Sutton simply walked away from her life to get away from Ethan? Or has something far more nefarious occurred? ‘Life is full of confusion. Confusion of love, passion, and romance. Confusion of family and friends. Confusion with life itself. What path we take,What turns we make. How we roll our dice.’Matthew UnderwoodAs is typical with J.T Ellison, nothing is as it appears, and to let your guard down for a nanosecond is ill advised. This is a very convoluted, mind bender which begins on one path, but veers off onto another, then another, then another. The characters are morally bankrupt, making it impossible to drum up any compassion for them, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it makes them seem more suspect and not even a little bit trustworthy. As a brief side note- I got a kick out of the sub-plot involving the book reviewer and the blogger, and ‘authors behaving badly’. I’ve really seen it happen on several occasions and everyone involved ends up looking bad. Not that I haven’t put in my two cents worth on FB when an author literally copies and pastes a critical review and then has their colleagues and fans dissect it or start flame wars, which is pretty much the point Ellison was getting at, I think. It was so true and darkly humorous. But, I digress…I love a thriller with well-timed, mind blowing twists and turns. So, you could say I got my wish with this novel- but in this case it might be a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’. Plot twists are fun, especially when you don’t know they are coming. I promise you won’t see them coming in advance, with this novel, even if you have figured out the plot, or know who the enemy is, because there are just too many of them. The initial buildup takes a little time, but when the narrative switches gears, which was a bit jarring, at that point it is just one big surprise after another. As everyone knows, I can be jaded, but tolerant, when it comes to thrillers. I can often pinpoint who the killer is early on, which I did in this case, right off the bat, and more seasoned readers of crime fiction will spot those tell- tale signs, too. I also figured out where the plot was headed, but I must admit, this roller coaster ride was a little fun, because I never could rest back on my laurels and ponder what might be coming next. The big reveals, once they got rolling, came at me at rapid fire pacing, so that I couldn’t digest one, before I had to deal with yet another wild and crazy dilemma. While this can be a nice challenge on occasion, in some cases, it can backfire. I either end up feeling exhausted or the big twists lose their shock and awe effect quickly and I become desensitized to them. It’s almost like eating an entire bag of candy all at once, instead of enjoying only one or two pieces at a time, which normally doesn’t end well. It was just a little too much of a good thing, and it spiraled out of control, in my opinion. The nice build up completely unraveled in the second part of the book, disrupting the carefully constructed flow, leaving everything a bit uneven. But, I did appreciate the defiance of convention, and no one could ever accuse this book of being boring, that’s for sure. This author definitely has a vivid imagination, and knows how to keep readers interested and engaged, if even when things go wonky, defies logic, or offends my ability to suspend belief. While I really do like J.T. Ellison, and I did enjoy some aspects of this novel and found it to be entertaining on many fronts, it was just too over the top for my taste.

[sboren-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I checked out this book from the local library to participate in discussions with @saltwaterreads! I was so excited. I had read with them before and enjoyed it immensely so when I saw they chose this book to read I jumped at the chance! All opinions are my own.????? Lie To Me by J T Ellison (@jt_thrillerchick) was an amazing read. Even at 400+ pages I was able to finish it in less than 2 days. Sutton and Ethan are the perfect power couple, the nice house, expensive cars, both writers and health nuts, until one day Sutton goes missing. He calls friends and family frantically searching but they all turn on him. As he searches to prove to everyone he is innocent he finds more and more things that a husband should just know about his wife. His writing career is in shambles. His world turned upside down. Then plot twist. And wait another and wait again! Then oh my gosh could that even be really happening? It is a definite twisted tale that you must read. Review posted on Instagram @jasonnstacie, Goodreads/StacieBoren, and my blog at readsbystacie.com.