The Last Lie tells the story of Claire and Alfie, a married couple who, on the outside, seem to have it all. They adore one another, have a lovely home and plenty of money for holidays and the good things in life – but their life is built fully on lies. Alfie does not love Claire despite the fantastic act he puts on for her and for all to see. Nor does he want the family she so desperately craves. In fact, Alex hates Claire but he loves her money, her status and will do anything to have them for himself.

That is where I still stop plot-wise, if I say anything further it could mar your enjoyment of the story which is the last thing I would want to do. What I will say is that this is a book that left me somewhat conflicted, it’s well written and I mostly enjoyed it, it just has a few points that frustrated me about it a little. Adam is a nasty character and that comes across brilliantly. I just found his inability to grasp what was happening at some points in the plot rather hard to believe, especially for one so manipulative. This in turn, for me, made the plot feel a little flimsy and somewhat tenuous. All of that said, I still really enjoyed reading this novel – it was an easy but compelling read, as long as you can suspend your disbelief sufficiently, and one that I lapped happily up in just a few sessions.

Thank you to #Netalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of #TheLastLie in return for an honest review.

A gripping thriller. A marriage built on lies and deceit, how far will Alex go! It had me hooked from the very beginning, I inhaled this one..

I started reading this book without any great expectations. But halfway through I realised it was a good book, and it got better and better.
Claire is a wealthy woman, and she marries Alfie, a liar band a nasty piece of work. Claire is desperate to have a baby but Alfie has had a vasectomy without Claire’s knowledge. He wants out of the marriage, but wants her money. He thinks up a story to get rid of her, but she turns the tables onto him, and then the story gets really good.
Thanks netgalley for letting me read this book, I enjoyed it. Very much.

A compelling read and worthy of Alex Lake. With very believable characters the story is quick to read and yet keeps you guessing about what is really happening. A perfect twist at the end that leaves you cheering for the good guy and booing and hissing the bad!

I really enjoyed this sorry, good pace and kept me turning the pages long into the night. Thank you for the chance to review this advance copy.

What a fantastic book! Alfie is truly despicable, he has charmed Claire and married her for her money, however, he has no intention of settling down to a life of domestic bliss with her. While Alfie plots and schemes, the mysterious Henry Bryant makes an appearance and throws everyone off balance!
Very cleverly written with a lot of black humour which I really like, this is a book not to be taken too seriously, but one which is extremely enjoyable.

Alfie meets Claire at a party and after realising that she has a rich father decides that he would like that lifestyle and marries her. Claire thinks her marriage is perfect as she loves Alfie and believes that Alfie loves her but it is all lies on his part. He is actually at the point of hating her and realises that he must dispose of her. I don’t want to reveal much more as I don’t want to spoil it but it is a fantastic psychological thriller, totally addictive and had me hooked from the first pages. A really enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

It seems like any time I sit down with an Alex Lake book, I know I need to shut out the world for a few hours and read it non stop. The Last Lie was no exception, I have no idea what was going on around me for the past 3 hours while I was completely hooked on Alfie and Claire's story. Although looking around I appear to be safe and sound at home, so probably didn't miss much in the real world!

Although due to the level of intensity I felt with the story, I do feel slightly discombobulated as I feel as though I as alongside Claire and Alfie every step of the way. At times I had my own theories as to what the main outcome was, and I was frustratingly close to being able to guess, but outcome and the finer points and motivations still were outside my reach.

Having read most of this authors books, this has the sort of themes I have come to expect but with a whole new story and excellent writing that grasps you by the throat and won't let you go until you have reached the end.

Alex Lake is incredibly talented, and I was completely absorbed by the story - which was written in three main parts.

The first part and only one I'm commenting on, had us seeing Claire and Alfie's marriage from both of their points of view, and as a result were aware of all sorts of information that acted as hooks, but also key points for later in the book.

On paper they look like a couple incredibly happy and in love, but as fans of psychological thrillers especially know, its what happens in private that can be fascinating, and discovering you don't know your partner as well as you think you do is always rather enlightening.

The Last Lie is an addictive and compulsive read that had me hooked early on and that I utterly enjoyed. every second of.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Really enjoyed reading The Last Lie.
Claire appears to have the perfect marriage to Alfie, who panders to her every whim. The only thing she needs to make her life complete is a child. Little does she know that her marriage is built on lies. Alfie resents her and has no intention of giving her what she wants, he has a secret life that allows him to be someone he cannot be with his wife.
Claire has her heart set on having a child, and decides they should find out why she isn’t able to conceive, and discovers that Alfie has been deceiving her. . As Alfie’s life begins to unravel he tries to cover up his lies leading to very dark consequences.
Good read and wee twist at the end

The Last Lie by Alex Lake

Claire Daniels could hardly be happier. She’s wealthy, living in a beautiful home and she’s married to a man she fell in love with at first sight and Alfie is still the man of her dreams. And she is the centre of his world. Claire needs only one thing more for her life to be complete – a child. Despite lots of fun trying, the results have all been negative and so it’s time now to seek medical advice. Alfie couldn’t be more supportive if he tried and Claire knows they’ll succeed.

If only Alfie didn’t hate Claire with every fibre of his being… Of course, Alfie has to hide this. He doesn’t want to lose access to her cash, after all. But he’s determined there will be no child. There can be no child. And so Alfie decides at last that he’s got to do something about it. Alfie is making plans for Claire.

I’m such a big fan of Alex Lake’s novels and, even though I’m not generally a lover of psychological novels, I am drawn to these books. He writes so well and knows how to fill his thrillers with page turning twists but, most of all, he creates people that I’m fascinated by – sometimes in a good way (as with Claire) but often in a deliciously bad way (as with Alfie). These people have such interesting and tortured lives, facing almost unbelievable situations, and we’re drawn into the uncertain tension of it all, longing to know how it will work out as secret upon secret, lie upon lie emerges.

Alex Lake’s books are page turners and The Last Lie is perhaps the biggest page turner of them all. In fact I read it in one sitting, staying with it until late into the night. The narrative moves between the perspectives of Claire and Alfie, their stories both complementing and conflicting with the other. It’s so well done and you can’t help getting all fired up as Claire fails to see what’s in front of her face. And Alfie is so arrogant and confident in his cruelty. His audacity is incredible to watch while we worry for Claire. Alfie digs us deeper and deeper into his dark mind. It’s a horrifying place to spend time but it’s also irresistible.

I loved the story at the heart of The Last Lie. There are elements that remind me of certain other best-known psychological thrillers (I’m not saying which on purpose) and, as a result, I did have a good idea how it was all going to develop. This didn’t mar my enjoyment one little bit as I really liked the ways in which it all comes together. It’s such a fun read.

The Last Lie is one of those rare books that compels you to finish it in one greedy gulp. I could not put it down. So, yet again, Alex Lake has shown me that I shouldn’t give up entirely on psychological thrillers. Now and again really excellent ones come along and, for me, The Last Lie is most definitely one of those.

Other reviews and feature
After Anna
Killing Kate
Copycat
An interview

I have read a few books from this author and really enjoyed them.

The main characters Claire and Alfie seem a perfect couple on the outside. Claire is keen to start a family but Alfie doesn't want children and doesn't want Claire - he only wants her money. He is horrible and manipulative. A pretty good read but a bit predictable.

Oh My.

Alfie is really not a very nice person, now is he?

I enjoyed previous books by Alex Lake so I was very eager to start this one.
We start the story with Claire, who is married to Alfie. Claire is very eager to have children. Alfie, not so much. You see, Alfie has big plans for Claire and a child does not fit into that.

What follows is a glimpse into the mind of Alfie, who is really just a complete asshole.

The book was very well written and highly enjoyable.

Claire Daniels has everything she wants. A loving husband, a fantastic career, great friends and family. All she needs to complete her perfect life is a baby.

Alfie Daniels’ life is a world away from his wife Claire’s. True. He has everything that a man could possibly want. A beautiful wife, a lovely home..

Expect that he doesn’t... want it. Any of it.

Alfie hates his life, it is all built on lies. An ex jobbing musician, who fell only for his wife’s wealth, Alfie is desperate to end his marriage in any way that he can, without losing everything.

After all, he’s worked hard to get where he is.

Alfie thinks that he has it all worked out, the perfect plan to fix all of his problems and allow him to start enjoying his life again. As with most things in Alfie’s life, this plan is dependant on a little stretching of the truth.

The problem with lies is, that they complicate everything, and very often take on a life of their own, and signal the beginning of the end.

The Last Lie is a novel that will probably leave you infuriated at and cheering on both of its main protagonists at some point, whilst wanting to pull your hair out and shout at them... a great read.

This book has a bit of everything ....... lies, deceit, betrayal, affairs, and so much more.

To everyone Claire and Alfie have the perfect marriage. Claire is besotted with Alfie and couldn’t be any happier but Alfie hates his wife and is finding it harder to tolerate her day in day out. After all the lies what will be the last lie ? Will Claire find out what her loving husband is really like ?

If you love domestic thrillers you will enjoy this. Although I have to admit that i guessed what was happeneing but in all honesty it didn’t take away from the book, maybe it was just a lucky guess !!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Excellent read... loved it from start to finish! What great characters too! Finished this book in two sittings and wish I could read it again !

Another fabulous read from this excellent writer,

Claire and Alfie appear to have the perfect marriage, but, Alfie may not be all he seems. This book had me hooked from beginning to end as it wove a tale of secrets, lies, indiscretion and murder and it kept me guessing throughout.

Thanks so much to Netgalley, Harper Collins publishers and Alex Lake for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent!

This starts with a really intriguing prologue. I must admit the storyline is quite convoluted but I found myself racing through the book to find out what happens in the end

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Having enjoyed reading "After Anna" and "Killing Kate", I was keen to make this the next book on my list. Wow, I can safely say it did not disappoint. I carried my kindle around with me and read a chapter in every spare minute I could find.
I was hooked in from the start, and jaw droppingly captivated through to the end.
Although I had an inkling how the story would probably pan out, it did not stop my enjoyment one bit. I couldn't be sure my thoughts were right, and I had to keep on reading to see exactly how it all transpired.
The very ending made me smile, as that wasn't quite what I had assumed ;-)

Absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. To be honest I didn't want it to end. Fantastic story! Highly recommended. A great read

Excellent book! Loved the characters and it was a great storyline. I would highly recommend this book.