My Last Lie reminded me that murders and blood are accessories in a thriller. You don’t need dead corpse to send shivers down my spine if you know what your doing. And Ella Drummond pushed all my buttons, keeping me in a bubble made of tension and secrets until the very last page…

The opening is a scene you might have lived yourself. A husband and wife, a work event, one leaving early. Nothing could help me foresee what was going to happen, or even how easily I would turn those strangers into characters I deeply care about.

Forward one year later. Same couple. Only now they are battered, fighting to build something new from the ashes of a life that destroyed in the blink of an eye. Ella Drummond doesn’t need many words for you to understand her protagonists and when I’d found that previous couple cute, my heart instantly ached for them when we met again. One day, your life is perfect, you are about to start a family, and the next, this bliss is taken away and your world is dark, foreign, and painful. Never maudlin or overdoing it, the author perfectly captures the aftermath of grief. The kind of grief that never truly disappears. The kind of grief that make you retreat from everything and everyone or make stupid decisions. That we get to follow Theo and Pilar one year after the loss of their baby doesn’t alleviate the impact of the night that changed their lives. Still reeling, but still together, the couple makes a fresh start in a new town and a new house, naively thinking that putting distance between them and their old selves will help. Typical coping method that I could relate to, and probably why I reacted so strongly to their feelings. You think another place is going to make things easier, but the scars are in you. You might not see them, but your mind remembers, no matter how far you go. Yet, I thought them strong and was glad they’d made the move.

I was even more glad (thought the word makes me sound cruel and heartless!) when I realized the author was subtly and beautifully using all those emotions to give Pilar and Theo such depth that the reader can connect with ease and enter their grey world. A world they both intend on turning into something more colourful again. They have been through a lot, and as I turned the pages, I recognized signs, I sighed at the hardships they’d overcome, absolutely absorbed by those different personalities and the love they have for each other.

I found those foundations to be perfect for the powerful and taut psychological thriller I was beginning to discover. When life beats you up, your behavior changes and it feels as if your edges are so raw that the slightest change of wind can knock you off. Ella Drummond takes those edges and, with master hands, puts Pilar at the center of a big house. A dream house for an artist, for a woman, for a new future. But big houses can hold big secrets, and day after day, Pilar notes some things. Misplaced photos, hidden places, and most of all, the feeling of being watched… Taken separately, those small things can mean nothing, but we all know that gut feeling that tells us something is wrong.

My Last Lie made me think of an earthquake. One big seismic move had the world go mad, but no one felt the tiny tremors following Pilar and Theo after the fact. Those earth shakes become stronger as our protagonists try to rebuild their lives, and it puts their love to the test more than once. Instead of peaks of adrenaline and action, My Last Lie ratchets ups tension with every day life events carefully forging a snowball that threatens to sweep away all the efforts Pilar and Theo make to create a new normal. I couldn’t help but feel the grains of doubt in my mind as I wondered if Pilar was truly to be believed. I admired some of their decisions and actions, I disagreed with some, but most of all, I couldn’t take my eyes of the big ominous cloud above their head. Or rather a string of clouds forming the word ‘secrets’ in big white letters. Because secrets eats you alive, and while you know something doesn’t add up with their new life, unresolved issues from the past are also playing the game. Oh, I loved dancing with this feeling of anxiety, and I welcomed the trepidation that came with it. Slow-paced but wonderfully written, Ella Drummond explores many subjects such as denial, guilt, forgiveness, loss, and fear, with an exceptional keen eye for detail that make the difference and puts My Last Lie above the usual psychological thrillers. Character-driven, the reader is invited to get the chills from inside and outside threats while studying closely how tragedy affects us.

My Last Lie is a frightening and gripping tale of love and loss, and their consequences…

This book deals sensitively with the subject of mental breakdown and the reader bonds with Pilar as she takes one day at a time following a tragic event. It's the detail of her life, her worries, her hopes that endear her to us as well as a supporting cast of over-the-top friends. However, nothing is as it seems on the surface. Everyone seems to have a secret that they wish to hide, yet as events unfold at a rapid pace, nobody will be left unscathed. The ending is absolutely right yet left me gasping ' Whoa!' as it is so unexpected.

An eerie and engaging story that kept me riveted from first page to last!

This book was a slow burner that had me suspecting everybody. This is Ella Drummond’s debut and I think she did a marvelous job with Miss direction and twists. The characters were all very well drawn, even though most weren’t all that likable and one was downright despicable. A special shout out needs to go to Pilar’s mother, such a wonderful fascinating character that you will love to hate! A cast of interesting characters and a clever plot, makes for one unputdownable compulsive thriller!

Pilar and Theo have just suffered a terrible tragedy followed by a breakdown of both spirit and marriage. Theo surprises Pilar with a new start and a new home in Cornwall. However soon after moving into their new home strange things start happening, things are moved around, mysterious phone calls, just to name a few. Convinced that someone is messing with her as well as watching her, Pilar is compelled to figure out who knows the secrets that she is hiding. But Pilar is not the only one with things to hide.

Pilar was a sympathetic character. Not only has she suffered this terrible tragedy, but who hasn’t been convinced that somebody move something from where they are sure they left it? Throughout the story I was never quite sure if Pilar was completely sane or not? So many crazy twists and even though I was pretty convinced of the who, I had no idea of the why! And that last lie? Wow!

An addictive intriguing story that will completely draw you in! Recommend!

*** many thanks to Hera Books for my copy of this book ***

I found this one a bit of a slow burner at first, very secretive throughout. Keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what the big secret is about Pilars past. It does pick up drastically towards the end and the outcome is a jaw dropper. Unexpected. Sneaky. Twisted. Clever.

I found it an easy read with short chapters. Enjoyed reading this one. I did have my eye on Theo throughout suspecting him as a dodgy one… hmm. Kept me suspecting everyone in this story even Pilar herself. Trust noone. Lots of spooky, creepy incidents occuring throughout. I did feel sorry for poor Flo’s character and her mother.

I awarded a well deserved four stars. Highly recommend.

At the very start of the book we are introduced to a very happy and loved up couple, Theo and Pilar. I couldn't help but feel happy for the couple I had only just met - they were going to have a baby and their family was going to go from two, to three. So, when tragedy struck, I felt devastated for them both and the journey they were about to endure. How could they come back from the death of their child? How can ANYONE move on from that? Theo and Pilar tried their best to move forward by moving house and starting again, but, with the feeling of constantly looking over her shoulder weighing on Pilar's mind, the storyline of 'My Last Lie' didn't take long to turn sinister.


If you enjoy stories which contain a truck load of characters and a toppling mountain of red herrings, all wrapped up in highly suspenseful wrapping paper, then you will absolutely adore 'My Last Lie'. There is a lot going on throughout the book, and there are a lot of characters coming and going who do their own fair share of making the tension between Theo and Pilar mount. It's safe to say that poor Pilar hadn't gotten over their tragedy, nor has she managed to put her faith back in her husband after what he did. However I could see that she was trying - I really did feel for her, I must admit.

Ella Drummond's novel isn't one which screams 'ROLLERCOASTERRRRRR' from the onset, it's more of a story which drip feeds readers snippets of information, upping the level of suspense with each new chapter. Yes, it is a slow burner but given the nature of the storyline and the main characters lives, I don't think it would have worked if it was anything but. I'm not saying that the story doesn't pick up speed as it progresses, because it does, but it's very subtle and cleverly done which, in all honesty, knocked me sideways as I wasn't expecting it to happen.

I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of things mucking with my head and being unsure of whom to believe in the storyline, and I adored just how engaging Ella Drummond's storytelling was - this author certainly knows how to set the scene and get her readers on side. Well, we're led to believe that!

A gritty, psychologically twisted novel which left me trusting nobody, not even myself. I cannot WAIT to read more from this author if this 'debut' is anything to go by. Such a cracking read.

My Last Lie starts with a shocking and rather distressing prologue which would test any couple not matter how strong their relationship. Fast forward twelve months (and what a year that was by the sound of it) and Pilar and Theo are starting afresh.

Throughout I had a constant niggle that the author was hiding something from me; what it was, I just didn’t know. I had to suspect everyone. Who was out to disrupt Pilar and Theo’s new life in Cornwall? Is it someone in this idyllic Cornish village terrorising this damaged couple or has a ghost from the past followed them to their new home?! Given Pilar’s turbulent past year, it could be easy to think it was all in her mind but as things escalate, I was left with no doubt there was a third party involved.

This engrossing domestic noir had me hooked, whizzing through the pages in two evenings and keeping me up past midnight to get to the climactic end. This is the first I’ve read from Ella Drummond and based on My Last Lie, it won’t be the last!

​My Last Lie definitely lives up to its billing as a psychological thriller in that it absolutely messes with your mind. Theo and Pilar move to Cornwall from London in a bid to escape their past. This immediately raises lots of questions: what happened to them? What secrets are they hiding? Are they being truthful to each other? This intrigued me, and from the beginning, I wanted to know the answers and it is this that kept me reading. As the novel develops, other things start to happen which are unsettling not only for Theo and Pilar, but for us as well. I am glad I was not alone in the house whilst I was reading!
Throughout the novel, I was constantly wondering who was terrorising Theo and Pilar. As Theo and Pilar struggle to settle into their new home. The village in which they live is quite close knit, but not knowing anyone well, Theo and Pilar have to treat people with suspicion - and so did I! I was always looking for signs that someone might not be all that they seem and have ulterior motives.
My Last Lie is something of a slow burner, and whilst this will not suit everybody, once it bursts into life, the plot becomes incredibly frantic. As the novel reached its climax, I was breathless, wondering if anyone would be hurt.

After a devastating tragedy and a long road to recovery for Pilar, she and her husband Theo move to Cornwall for a fresh start. But you can’t leave the past behind when someone knows all your secrets.

Pilar starts to notice odd things around their new house. Items that have been slightly moved or suddenly end up in a place where she’s sure she didn’t leave them, that horrible feeling of being watched and odd noises from time to time. Is she just forgetful? Imagining things? Losing it? Or is it Theo playing games with her? Can he be trusted?

My Last Lie is one heck of a slow-burner and admittedly, I prefer my psychological thrillers with a bit more “thrill” and tension to them. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but get utterly invested in the lives of Theo and Pilar although I never quite warmed to either one of them. Then again, I thought the stand-out character was Pilar’s mother; quite a vile and toxic woman who spits venom everywhere. She intrigued me no end. I’m not entirely sure what says that about me.

As to the character who knows all of Pilar’s secrets, with a move to another part of the country come new friends and acquaintances and not all of them are particularly likeable. Pretty much every single one of them seems to have something to hide or act in a rather suspicious way. That said, I quite quickly zeroed in on a “suspect”, even though I was left guessing at their motives for it all. Nor did I have any clue as to what that big last lie could be and I just had to keep reading to find out what it was.

All in all, My Last Lie is an enjoyable debut by Ella Drummond which, I’m sure, has added quite a few frown lines to my forehead. I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

This book really packs a punch - I was a little shell-shocked after I finished it!

What I love about this book is the “is she or isn’t she” element, which questions the author’s sanity. She has a history of some mental health issues, but something does seem “off” throughout the book. It’s subtle, just a creepy thing hanging over the story like a cloud, and I loved it!

Plus there were some great twists in there that I did not see coming. The “who” in “whodunnit,” I had some suspicions about - but I did not guess the “why,” and that was quite a great reveal. Like I said, everything seemed to come with a nice little twist that threw a wrench in what I thought was going on.

I really felt for the main character, Pilar, and I liked her as a narrator. The tension surrounding her was palpable and it really created a great atmosphere - plus the parts with her parents would make anyone feel for her. Seriously.

This book is a great drama/mystery for anyone looking for a quick read to keep them turning pages late into the night. I know I was!

A tense and well written novel.

The moment I read the blurb I knew this was something that I really wanted to read. The story itself is well executed and the characters are interesting and full of life.
I would recommend this for sure!

This book had me gripped from the first page, it went straight into the background as to why we started the first chapter where we did. I was a bit hesitant to read it but I'm so so glad I did.
The characters were fantastic and I was still trying to guess towards the end with a twist and a turn and lots of different bits in between.
Theo and Pilar made this book for me. Pilar is always questioning Theo's motives and his loyalties but the more you read the more you notice that he really does love her more than anything and would genuinely do anything for her.
They are probably the strongest characters I've read about for a long time. They had to endure so much to get where they are now.
This has probably reawakened my love for psychological thrillers! Although I read them on occasion, none have sucked me in and pulled me under quite like this one. I don't think I'll be able to recommend this one enough. It's definitely a must read and probably my book of the year so far!
This book does come with a trigger warning for the loss of a child.

When the front cover of a book promises me a completely gripping psychological thriller then it really does need to impress me! But thankfully within the first few pages of My Last Lie I was entirely engrossed in this compelling storyline and knew that I would have to keep reading it until the very end! And a couple of hours later, I had! It frustrated me, it thrilled me but most importantly of all, it kept all its secrets from me until the very last unexpected moment.

Theo and Pilar are the sort of couple we all love to hate! So there was no surprise that they seemed to have attracted some negativity from others. Gorgeous, wealthy and devoted to each other but behind closed doors they are mourning the loss of their baby son and that devastating bereavement has caused cracks to appear in their relationship. In search of a fresh start, they move to Cornwall and a beautiful Art Deco mansion where Pilar can start painting again. But as they settle into village life, strange things start to happen that make Pilar realise that someone knows more about their past than they should and is out to ruin their second chance at happiness.

This book had me hopping backwards and forwards with my theories so much that I had no idea where I was going to end up! There was a large cast of strangely intriguing characters who all seemed to be hiding something behind their outwardly friendly exteriors so it could have been any one of them behind the campaign of intimidation against Pilar and Theo. And to be honest, not even the people who were supposed to be their most supportive allies were above suspicion! This poor couple had been through such a terrible ordeal but it looked like someone thought that they hadn’t suffered quite enough yet! And I honestly had no idea who or why as I rode the rollercoaster of reasoning to try and work it out!

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut by Ella Drummond and it did exactly what it said on the tin! Gripping with a nice little sting in its tail!

My Last Lie by Ella Drummond is published by Hera Books and is out on 20th February.

My first read by this author but certainly not my last as I thought this was a great read.

I thought this was slow to,start but when I got into the story I couldn’t put it down.

Theo and Pilar sold up and moved to Cornwall. They needed a fresh start after losing their baby in a car accident. When strange things start happening Pilar starts to doubt herself. Who knows their secrets and why is this happening?

I thought this was a great read. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This was a bit slow to start with but once it got going was a fairly good read but there was a lot repeating that I found really frustrating. Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher

My Last Lie is an engaging story from Ella Drummond. The blurb and the cover caught my eye when I first saw this book mentioned and I couldn’t wait to start it.

We meet Pilar and Theo who are making a fresh start in Cornwall after suffering a devastating trauma from losing their baby. Pilar begins to make friends in the local community and sets up an art class at her home. For a while everything appears to be going perfect in their lives, they are living in their dream home, and they seem to be getting on with the rest of their lives. But someone is on the outskirts watching, waiting for their moment to strike and they are determined to make sure Pilar suffers for the secrets she is hiding.

I think what I enjoyed most about this book was Ella’s writing. It is engaging, and I grew interested in the lives of the characters on the page. Ella did keep me thinking that something dangerous was about to happen and I did feel on tenterhooks as I kept expecting something to happen to Pilar or Theo, especially when strange things start to occur in their home.

This is a story that does take time to build. It isn’t fast paced, but there is an edgy feeling to the plot which does create a sinister tone, and there are definitely some scenes that got my heart racing as I began to wonder what secrets were going to be revealed. And I have to say that Ella Drummond did turn the tension up a notch in the final chapters when we finally get to learn the truth about what happened in Ella’s past, which she managed to keep under wraps. There was a sinister ending which is making me wonder what is happening to the characters beyond the final page.

This is an engaging debut that will draw you into the lives of its characters. I will definitely be looking out for more from Ella Drummond.

My Last Lie by Ella Drummond had a bit of a slow start but once it going it was a fantastic book. I did find that a lot of things were repeated throughout the book and I did guess the who but not the why early on. Other than that I really enjoyed it and read it quite quickly. I look forward to seeing what Ella has up next for us.

Theo and Pilar are the golden couple, they have a fabulous life. Or they did until a year ago when Pilar was involved in a car accident and they lost their baby. Needing a new start they sell up and move to a beautiful home in Cornwall. They keep their secret from their new neighbours, but Pilar is also keeping another secret from her husband. But somebody in town seems to know and is targeting her, scaring her and making her life miserable. There are a lot of twists and interesting characters in this book, not all of them pleasant!

Thanks to Hera Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

# My last Lie # Netgalley
Wow tihis as twists and turns throughout the book, After Theo and Pilar suddenly suffer the loss of a child, they decided to move away to make a fresh start. At first everything seems ok yet someone knows their secret. Now enjoying the book so far, my interest really peaks. The first thing I thought of they lost a child, so what do either of them have to have a secret about losing a child. More and more intriguing by the minute, ok it’s not something you go around shouting about,,yet WHY IS IT SUCH A SECRET. Unless, they didn’t just lose a child. Perhaps one of them or both are responsible in someway. Loved the book, it kept peaking my interest more and more as I got further into the book, I would recommend this book, you will have to read this, I am not a person to give away spoilers, never have been, you will be shocked at the ending I know I was. Truthfully I thought it was going to be a predictable ending. How wrong was I this is a must read

Pilar was very heavily pregnant when she had an accident and lost her baby. Her husband Theo although very supportive chose this time to have a short lived affair. Pilar ended up in therapy. We know she had a secret at the time but don’t know what it is. A year or so later Theo surprises her by taking her to a new house, their new start. She knew they were going to move but not where. She had always wanted a house by the coast and although this one is a short distance it is her perfect house and even has a studio for her to do her art work. On arrival odd things begin to happen to Pilar, silent phone calls, pictures altered around, things she can’t quite account for. As she is now pregnant again she puts it down to baby brain but knows that something is amiss- just not quite what. Her new friend Natalie is very taken by Theo and when she finds her at his office she wonders if things are beginning all over again. I loved this. I took to Pilar her situation of being in recovery from a breakdown whilst knowing something eerie was going on. Theo I didn’t quite trust somehow , rightly or wrongly. I guessed who the perpetrator was but this is no way marred the book as there were so many unanswered questions. (that got answered by the end - hence the 5*- if they weren’t I would have deducted at least one star) The excellent standard of writing bringing them both vividly to life. Pilar’s mother and her toxic voice and how Pilar does her very best to acquiesce when she visits. A compelling read that I didn’t want to put down (real life hindrance). A very enjoyable read 5*
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I really enjoyed this book overall. The pace was high throughout the book with lots of suspicious events and people to suspect as you read on. I found the ending a bit disappointing as perhaps I was expecting more of a twist but I would still recommend this as a good psychological thriller to read.

My last lie by Ella Drummond.
Theo and Pilar have it all but when Pilar has a car crash and loses her baby they are nearly torn apart. But when Theo finds the perfect house can they rebuild their marriage? But someone knows their secrets. Who are they?
This was a very enjoyable read. I liked Pilar and Theo. Wasnt sure about Natalie. Didn't trust her. Wasnt sure about Anna. I had my theory who it was though. It was who I thought it was but not for the reason I thought it was. 5*.