Review: The Lie by C.L. Taylor

Jane's life is something of a lie. She is genuine in what she feels and thinks, but not who she really is. Of course if you were worried about being in the public eye, you might change your name and where you lived as well.

Five years earlier, Emma and her friends had taken a trip to Nepal to help Al get her mind off of her recent breakup among other reasons. Someone among them really had ulterior motives. Motives that don't become clear for a while.

Things don't really go as planned. At first that's okay, but things get weirder and weirder. There are secrets and lies both in the past and the present. Some of these are deadly.

We find out early on that while 4 of them go to Nepal, only 2 return. It takes a while for the events to unfold to this point. The book alternates between the present Jane Hughes life and 5 years ago - the lives of Emma, Leeanne, Al, and Daisy.

Becoming aware of what happened in the past ratchets up the tension in the present. Who besides Al knew what happened back then? Who else was alive to tell the tale? Why won't they leave Jane alone? In fact, they really seem to have it in for her.

The book moves along swiftly. There is more going on in the past than in the present. It becomes quite the page turner as the book progresses. I found that it was really hard to put down.

Jane isn't initially as fleshed out as I would have liked, but you come to care what would happen to her early on between her bonds to the animals at the sanctuary and the bonds she has with her boyfriend Will and his daughter Chloe.

The book manages the jump between the present and five years ago really well as it alternates. If you like suspense fiction, then this would be a good choice for you. I gave this book 4 stars out of 5 because it really did keep me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

The Lie was released in June 2016 by Sourcebooks Landmark.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.