I understand the message this book wants to send, but it would be clearer if a lot of 'flab' was removed. The central character shines off every page, making the other characters insignificant in comparison. Heavy editing would ramp up the tension without losing any of the plot. I'm sure there is a good book in there somewhere, but its unremittingly dreary. I must say though, it shows promise for a debut novelist.

Well I loved the premise of this book. Leslie is trying to find her sister so she can access the money their Dad left them but instead she finds her sister dead. So she enlists the help of a wannabe actress to take the role of her sister in order to get hold of the cash. The story is told from the perspective of Leslie, her sister and the actress playing her sister.
This book has lots of twists and turns which I didn’t see coming and I really enjoyed that. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable so didn’t necessarily feel that invested in them but actually the authors note at the end of the book gave a different perspective that I hadn’t considered.
Overall an enjoyable read...I would definitely recommend it

To begin I was really gripped by this novel, and enjoyed Ms Jones' writing style, but I found myself gradually becoming less interested in the characters and the twists that the plot threw up. I thought it was good for a debut novel and applaud the writer's reasons for writing it, and, as ever feel inordinately grateful for the NHS. Hopefully the editions in countries other than the US will include telephone numbers appropriate for their readers.
Thank you to netgalley and Random house for an advance copy of this book.

The Better Liar follows Leslie Flores, who's father has just died and shocked her with the stipulation that she wouldn't receive her inheritance unless her estranged sister, Robin, was present. When she finally finds Robin, she was hours dead and things seem hopeless for Leslie. However, as fate would have it, a chance meeting in a restaurant car park introduces her to Mary, an aspiring actress who, in the right light, looks incredibly like her dead sister. Cue Leslie teaming up with Mary to access the inheritance she desperately needs. But everyone - Mary, Robin, Leslie - has secrets.

I really enjoyed Tanen's writing style. The voices of each point of view character were interesting, shining new light on the murky past that seemed to determine to catch up with them. The mystery itself was interesting - I had my theories but in the end, I didn't get them right at all. The plot twist in this book was definitely surprising.

This book does have reference to suicide, postpartum depression, abusive relationships both familial and romantic - so if you're interested in this book, please be aware. Personally, I don't think the idea of suicide or the abusive relationships were dealt with too well, but the depression seemed to be handled with care.

I liked the first half of this book but began to get a bit irritated with the characters. Completely put me off. So sorry

Disappointed in this book, had a good premise for a story in the blurb about it but I found the storyline didn’t work and was actually quite ridiculous and I didn’t find any of the three main female characters very engaging at all. Found the whole thing pretty boring to be honest.

This was a solid propulsive novel. I wish I'd realised earlier what the novel was really about but maybe that's my fault, and I missed some queues. There were some things that didn't seem to track but on a reread perhaps they would. I'm not sure how effective I thought the twist was, and it's timing and I found the ending a bit anticlimactic, but that might just be me.

Perhaps not the most memorable novel but a pleasant enough diversion. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

think that the quote from 'Entertainment Weekly' really sums up the book for me; it sets itself up as a thriller, but with more nuanced characters driving the story rather than a dramatic plot.

Splitting the narrative between three voices creates a slow drip of information about each character; her motivations, inner thoughts, desires and emotions. This adds to the somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere between Leslie, Mary and Robin. It is never clear who is telling the truth, or who is misremembering details or who is willfully ignoring facts for their own gain.

There are some really uncomfortable family moments that had me cringing in sympathy as I read them, but I was never entirely sure who I felt sympathetic towards. Even with the final twists I still couldn't tell you who I sided with. Perhaps because the women were all damaged by their childhood family dynamic and the resultant unreconciled emotions so that much of their life became about survival and keeping secrets.

It is intriguing and clever, although with a slightly rushed ending that I didn't feel did the build-up to this point the credit it deserved.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This book is dark in a truly seductive way. The early chapters with the description of the bright lights and darker sides of Vegas really pull you in. What follows is a complex, thrilling story, that keeps you guessing and wondering who to believe. A great read.

It is hard to review this story without giving the plot away. There are plenty of twists and turns when 2 sisters must reunite after a 10 year estrangement to claim their inheritance. Things do not go to plan when one sister turns up dead before the money can be claimed. The surprises keep coming right to the end. You will be hooked!

Deliciously sinister - or so I thought!

There are pages and pages of the book that made me think "The Better Liar" is a great sinister story, where you really cannot guess what is going on, who is the villain and who is the victim, who is the tricked one and who is the better lier. There were so many twists and turns that could have taken the narrative elsewhere. And, while the point of view of one of the liars was explained to me - really explained, down to the traumatic childhood, all the intricacies cleared and all the relevant facts described, it is still not clear to me what was the final trick of the book about (possibly, the trick of the actual villain of the story - your guess is as good as mine!). I was left wondering whether it was an act of love or revenge. Or was one of the heroines just plain crazy and there is no real reason behind her actions? Would love to know what my fellow readers think!

What I think is that the book was is great and gave me a few moments of pure reader's pleasure. The building up, the twists, the red herrings, watching the story unfold.

Also, kudos to the author for reminding us the readers that mental health is important at all stages of life. Fragile and important (although the whole mental health line did feel a bit laboured, excuse the pun).

Overall - enjoyed.

Right up my street
Two characters both with mystery and intrigue ,both with controll issues and both u are suspicious of
U may guess the ending if u have read a lot of psychological mystery thrillers but it’s still refreshing and has its own feel.
Loved how we follow Mary and try to dig deep as to why on Earth leslie is so desperate
Good message also on a subject that can be ignored unexplored and misunderstood and only lately is it becoming more accepted and acknowledged as serious with people needing time support no judgement and empathy
Enjoyed the background story’s ,both characters are flawed and there’s a real sense of foreboding at times
Then u think can I trust them ?then u bk to nope I can’t!
Ty for this advanced read to netgalley and the publishers
I will look this author up again to see where she goes next

Leslie has to find her sister, Robin if they are to inherit their father's money. When she does find her, she is dead but she bumps into a waitress, Mary who conveniently looks like Robin and persuades her to impersonate Robin. Together they go back to the small town where Leslie has a husband and baby waiting for her and gradually Mary sees that Leslie is hiding something.

I found this a difficult book to warm to. Both main characters were unsympathetic and I didn't warm to either of them. There is an obvious twist towards the end of the book which I suppose is believable but then there are further revelations which are not so believable.

The author explains her rationale for writing the book at the end . Her reasons are laudable and it is a very important issue but unfortunately I did not feel that she did the subject justice. I think the complicated narrative drew attention away from what is a very important subject. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Any fans of the unreliable narrator books like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train taught us to love will really enjoy this novel, where we have not one but three narrators, none of whom are telling the whole truth. The book centres around Leslie, who has come in search of her estranged sister Robin following their father's death, wanting her to come home and complete the necessary paperwork to release their inheritance, which Leslie desperately needs. She arrives at her sister's home to find her dead of a drug overdose. Soon after, Leslie meets Mary, a young woman of about her sister's age who looks enough like the sister she remembers to make Leslie take a huge risk. She invites Mary to impersonate Robin in order to release the inheritance, promising her Robin's half.

As the story unfolds, we hear from Leslie, Robin and Mary, and as their stories interweave, it becomes clear that there is a lot more going on underneath the surface.

It's one of those thrillers that does ask the reader to take suspend belief a little every now and again, but it's a cleverly thought out plot with plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

This was very original and I liked it. The plot, in hindsight, was somewhat predictable and it took a while for the story to gain momentum. Nevertheless, this was a fun read - especially during a ten hour flight! It kept me entertained and wanting to find out more about the main character’s hidden plans and intentional. On the whole, very readable and fun.

The best kind of thriller- one that you can’t guess the ending leaving you rushing to the next page !

Very different, and very difficult to review without spoilers- just read it, you will appreciate it

This book hooked me in from the off. I’m a sucker for a dual point of view narrative, and this one kept me guessing and page turning.
#NoSpoilers so it’s difficult to say too much about plot, but the characters are well drawn, complex, but still easy to engage with.
I loved this book. The ending was unexpected and has stayed with me.
Highly recommend giving Tanen Jones: The Better Liar, a read.

I enjoyed the first quarter or so of the book but after that it just didn’t hold my interest. I found myself speed reading just to get to the end. Not one for me I’m afraid.

This was so much more than I was expecting. I started off thinking it would be quite a light hearted sort of thriller but it is very dark and gripping, definitely one to read if you loved gone girl and this would also make a great screen adaptation. The story is old from 3 points of view and as a reader I just had no idea what was the truth and I didn't expect the ending at all. A great debut and I cant wait to read more by this author. Thankyou so much Netgalley for this advanced copy.

The reader starts to follow Leslie as she tries to find her sister so that they can get the inheritance from their father estate. She believes that the woman she found overdosed was her sister, without her she cannot claim her bequest. Leslie asks a stranger who looks similar to her sister to impersonate her. This Mary does although she wants to intervene in Leslie life, she is curious about her. A few twists and turns make this a very thought provoking book. How well do you really know anyone or your own life?