Never Lie: From the Sunday Times Bestselling Author of The Housemaid Paperback – 5 Dec. 2023

Great plot lots of twists and turns. Kept me interested and not wanting to put the book down. Loved it

Freida McFadden's novel, "Never Lie," opens with the newlyweds Tricia and Ethan embarking on a journey to view a house in the midst of a snowstorm. The house, once owned by a murdered psychiatrist, becomes the setting for an unexpected night of revelations as they find themselves snowed in without cell phone service. Exploring the house, Tricia stumbles upon a secret room filled with cassette tapes, setting off a chain of discoveries that expose a web of lies.Having read a few novels from Freida McFadden, after "The Housemaid", I moved through her work relatively quickly. "Never Lie" characterized by its entertainment value and swift pacing, held my attention, and I completed it within a short time. The narrative unfolds through two perspectives—Tricia and Dr. Adrienne Hale—alternating between past and present seamlessly.While the storytelling is adept, I found it challenging to connect with Tricia, whose thought processes often seemed more akin to a teenager than someone in their mid-twenties. Her romanticized views of her husband's care and dinner preparations felt obsessive and immature. Conversely, Ethan's character resonated with me, portraying maturity and level-headedness. Dr. Adrienne Hale, despite her mature demeanor, appeared somewhat peculiar, making it difficult for me to warm up to her. Ultimately, by the end of the book, I found myself disliking all the characters except one.The novel's strength lies in its masterful planting of red herrings, keeping readers guessing about the motive and identity of the killer. Twists and turns abound, and while my predictions were off base, I correctly identified a patient's deception about their life.In summary, "Never Lie" by Freida McFadden is an enjoyable read, deserving of four out of five stars.

This was a great read, one that got me hooked from the beginning, a very interesting twist to the ending so please keep up the good work 👏

While I couldn’t put Never Lie down, the writing felt absurd. The narrative has undeniable pull, and I finished it in a day, but it ultimately collapses under scrutiny. The protagonist, revealed as the killer, acts in her own thoughts as if she’s unfamiliar with the house, the painting she gifted, and her husband’s past - despite knowing all of it.The red herrings are shoved down the reader’s throat, the writing is repetitive, and the “twist” isn’t a twist at all - it blatantly contradicts earlier parts of the story. These inconsistencies aren’t clever misdirection; they’re lazy writing. The author prioritizes shocking twists over logical storytelling, and the plot holes ruin the experience. I gave it three stars because it was engaging, and I enjoyed the short chapters and transcription format, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

A must read, twist and turns all the way through. At one stage I thought I'd guess what was going to happen, but I was totally wrong.

Well written characters and a plot with a twist I didn't see coming!Definitely an author I'll read storybook of

Absolutely brilliant. Loads of twists. I was glued to it. It is definitely a must read!!!!! I thought I knew what was going to happen but I had it all wrong.

Great book. I'm nearly reading all her other books. I read these books so quickly and are so easy to get into.