I’m a big S.E. Lynes fan and think this is her best yet! One night, Carol has finally had enough and, trembling with fear, leaves her abusive husband in the dead of night with her two young children. Having plucked up the courage to leave, she now needs to start over, reliant on the charity of others, and build a new life for herself and her children. The abuse and the leaving inevitably have a long-term impact on them all.
So realistic are the characters, the story and the dialogue that I was really invested in this story. In fact, I was sold from the very beginning. The story opens with a nostalgic scene set in a Blackpool fairground in 1968 which the author describes so brilliantly that I was instantly transported right back to the sounds, sights and smells of those long-ago rides. Throughout, the author kept all my senses involved, so that I could perfectly imagine what was happening, whether it was Carol’s fear or Richard’s experiences inside prison.
She also uses unusual devices, such as little asides which would momentarily take me out of the story for a few seconds as she explains something: how Nicola got her nickname, what passersby would have seen…
S.E. Lynes writes fabulous dialogue with never a false note. I particularly loved the humous banter between Carol and her best friend and guardian angel, Pauline.
The author tells us that the story was inspired by an interview she did many years ago at a refuge for women who had been abused by their husbands. The stories these women told always stayed with her – and The Lies We Hide is the result. As the author points out in her letter to her readers, we tend to think that leaving is the end for these women – they’ve got away. But in fact, it is only “another terrifying beginning.”

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free, electronic ARC of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: December 4, 2019
“The Lies We Hide” by S.E Lynes is a little bit women’s fiction mixed with a little bit of suspense, with some family drama to wash it all down.
Thirty years ago, Carol woke up her sleeping children and packed up their lives, leaving her abusive husband behind. Now, Nicola is a lawyer trying to seek justice, and her brother Graham is trying to rebuild his life after years behind bars. When Carol passes away, the siblings begin to share their feelings of guilt and loss, and when a deeply kept secret comes to light, both Graham and Nicola are forced to look at their mother, and themselves, in a new light.
This story is told in multiple pieces, from multiple points of view. Each chapter of the story is told from the perspective of Nicola, Carol, or Richard <i> (the prison chaplain- who tells his own story but also adds Graham’s points of view) </i> and each shares their version of events from before, when Carol leave with her children in the middle of the night, to after, when Graham is being released from jail. The suspense builds throughout the novel as the crime, and its motivations, are slowly revealed.
The characters in this novel are so brave and flawed, and their honesty shines through. I related to Richard, with his strong desire to want to have appropriate conversations with people but being unable to find the right words, but there is empathy to be had for all of Lynes’ characters. In this case, I was able to predict most of the ending, but that did not stop me from enjoying this novel.
Well-told, with just the right amount of suspense-fueled drama, this novel brings to light the heartbreaking truth of escaping an abusive relationship, the rebuilding that comes after great loss, and the powerful love of a Mother.

An intriguing story

I found this book a treat to read. It was intriguing and had some wonderful twists at the end but the ending felt……it just didn’t click fully with the rest as beautifully written as it is. I truly loved this book it had everything I look for.
It had amazing strong characters, its plot hold close to my heart for reason I’ll leave unsaid. Its fast paced compared to some books I have read.
This book shows me that no matter how much you think you know some or the situation that unless everyone involved is one hundred percent truthful (Which we all know we don’t do for our own reasons, not wanting to hurt someone or simply because it paints you in a bad light) we never truly know anything in this world but if you have the courage and strength.
No matter what the world throws at you, if you have the two you can handle anything and everything.

# The Lies We Hide # Netgally
A really gripping book of Physical Abuse. Carol finally tells the children to pack some stuff as they where leaving. I was holding my breath for fear of the getting caught. Finally they are free. When they get to the women's refuge. Carol starts to panic thinking perhaps she should go home. Thank God she doesnt . Eventually given a house on a estate that we wouldn't walk alone at night, all to often estates like that are becoming more frequent. You have to wonder if taking your children from a nice home is worth where they put you. How can you actually build a new life in estates like this God I am not saying stay with a abusive partner. Yet what real good does anyone have in places !like this. Where children as young as 8 become drug dealers or thrives , people rough and ready. It's demoralising. However Carol tries to build a nice home. Circumstances, arise that Carol and her children return to the family home. Given a second chance. However is a second chance to late. Going back is never really a good idea Things will never be the same again. Also the damage has already been done. This is a story of Abuse, Fear, social housing, trying to rebuild lives of people who are already damaged. It's also book about love. It's a well written book with a brilliant realistic storyline that I think everyone should read There's the old saying there by the grace of God go i. This book could relate to anyone of us in reality it's not just a novel. It could actually be based on truth in many cases. This is a gripping read one you will not want to put down, I do like his it keeps going back to the last and comes back to present. So that for you see how easy it begins and later takes a darker then with a second chance to build their lives with a real twist in its TAIL. Which I definitely didn't see coming wow Was one read I really feel I will remember or parts of it through life.

#THELIESWEHIDE#NETGALLEY.
My first time reading anything by S. E. Lynes and what a book to start with, I was gripped from page one and how quickly life turned awful for Carol and her children. It's not all depressing with the inclusion of Jim and Pauline who provide a little bit of humour here and there. I usually don't like talking about the ending of any story but I definitely didn't see that one coming and that's what I liked most. S. E has a new fan here and I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased

30years on Nicola Watson lived with her brother and parents
Her brother had a stammer when his father walked around
His mother Carol woke them up and took them both out of the house and until they got away from unknown

Excellent, excellent, excellent. So you might guess that I thought that this was a great read – correct! I cannot recommend it enough. Domestic Abuse is a tough subject but this was handled brilliantly. Oh the things one does for family – how tragic, how true!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Took me a while to get into this book, just didn't grab me but I cannot really pinpoint what I didn't really like.

Overall I found the book slightly depressing and heavy going and I was glad when I had got to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A really well written psychological thriller that made me think and feel. The characters were well drawn and some of them drew quite a bit of sympathy.

The Lies We Hide was a pretty fast paced book, a little depressing at times. I liked the ending, it tied everything together. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Utterly brilliant.

Most novels about domestic violence end with the escape. In The Lies We Hide, this is where the story begins. Every character is affected and the impact it has on their lives is presented honestly and compassionately. I have no personal experience of this, but I felt as if I left this novel with a far greater understanding of the life shattering effects of a violent home.

The structure of the novel - different points of view, different time lines - ensured my complete involvement with each of the individual characters. Carol, Nicola, Graham and Richard all broke my heart in different ways. The cast of supporting characters were no less deftly drawn. Pauline, in particular, was absolutely wonderful.

Yet again, Lynes produces a masterclass in combining beautiful literary prose with a compelling plot. Having read - and loved - all her psychological thrillers, I was prepared for this to be something different. What I wasn’t prepared for, was how deeply it would affect me. This book will stay with me for a long long time.

Very meaningful book based on abusive relationships and how it affects the family during and after . It can be hard but there is light at the end of the tunnel in some cases .It’s a shame I’d guessed the end but it’s still well worth a read .

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC.
Wow, what a good book, I really loved it! It's the second book by S.E. Lynes I've read and it certainly won't be the last.
Carol, pregnant and madly in love, accepts the wedding proposal from her love, the dashing Elvis lookalike and cannot believe the nightmare her life becomes. After a particularly nasty incident, fearing for her life, she escapes with her two children for an attempt at starting a new life, one without fearing for her life.
We start the book with her grown daughter, Nickie, mourning the death of Carol. She is reliving her childhood memories, utterly devastated by her loss.
We also have the history of Carol's life after leaving her husband, the dire consequences of that act and the effect that has on her and her children. Her son Graham going off the rails is hell for her and we get his p.o.v. as well.
The ending is both a shock and uplifting, although I was sad it was over. So, so good! Highly recommended.

This is such a moving story and one I would highly recommend. In fact, thanks to the author, I stayed awake far longer than was sensible in order to keep reading and today passed on going to the gym just to finish it. So now I’m tired and unfit!! It’s hard to sum up what this story is about as it covers so many things but let’s say that it starts with the horror of domestic abuse but then shows that does not have to define you. That with love there is hope, that with a strong sense of family there is redemption, that with unburdening there is forgiveness and with taking responsibility there is healing.

This is the story of Carol who marries Ted in 1968 after she learns she is pregnant. Ted is abusive and utterly vile, he makes Carol’s life a misery and that of their children Graham and Nicola. In 1984 at a wedding, Carol meets Jim and the connection is immediate. What unfolds is told mostly by Carol and Nicola and is a deeply moving story at times. There are several revelations that made me gasp out loud as I most definitely didn’t see those coming. There are some truly wonderful characters that we meet along this life journey. Nicola and Carol ,who I root for throughout, whose determination to rise above everything is commendable and her love for her children and desire to protect them, is overwhelming. Jim who is one of the kindest people you could wish to meet and Pauline and Tommy the next door neighbours who are always there for Carol. Graham is the most damaged by Ted and for a long time he is off the rails but through chaplain Richard Crown (another wonderful character) he learns to unburden himself and live again and goes on to lead a fulfilling life. Throughout it all, Carol and Graham want Nicola to be the one to fly and that she does by becoming a barrister.

There is so much I like about this book. There are some lovely descriptions and you get a real sense of how the characters are feeling. There is menace oozing out of Ted’s pores which leads to Carol living in a state of fear and with a permanent feeling of anxiety as a consequence of his evil. There is occasional humour usually coming from lovely Jim, there are heartbreaking situations and self destruction but the overall message you get is love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this fantastic ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have read quite a few of S.E. Lynes's books now and they never disappoint. Told from multiple people and from different decades, she still manages to interweave both different characters and plot lines seamlessly making the story into one, and this one is no exception. I found myself breezing through it needing to know how it ended, can't wait to read the next one!

Another fantastic book by one of my favourite authors, she never fails to fulfill. This was written in such a compassionate way, without all the gory details of domestic abuse and it’s repercussions that I was able to read without experiencing painful bitter memories. The storyline was utterly plausible with some likeable characters, others not. A superb well written winner. Thanks to Bookouture and netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Another fantastic yet different book from S E Lynes. A family with a turbulent life under the hands of a father/husband who ruled with an iron fist. I couldn't help myself but love Graham who deep down has the biggest heart and loves his mum and sister deeply. A family who will do what they need to to protect each other.
A fantastic 5 star read

Just WOW! Totally unputdownable. The characters that leapt from the pages were people that I cared about, felt I had a bond with and believed in. This was an everyday story, about not very everyday people, set against a beautifully prepared time related backdrop that was both embracing and revelatory, Not the pyschological thriller that SE Lynes has produced successfully in the past......... scarily subtle it unravels in an entirely different way. Loved it.

Thank you Net Galley, Bookouture and S.E.Lynes for the opportunity to read this amazing book. I’m not sure I can do it justice with a review. It was spellbinding and pulled me in immediately. The characters were wonderfully real and I loved each of them. The author has a way a describing these characters and the locations with only a few words, yet you cam picture them vividly. Each of the main characters has a secret they have kept that is interwoven to create this magnificent book. It is a story of family, abuse, love, determination and forgiveness. Carol is the mother that loves her children Graham and Nicola more than anything and escapes an abusive marriage to save them. What follows is a story so deep and heartbreaking with so many twists you won’t be able to put it down. I would give this book more stars if I could. Loved it and will be definitely recommending this to all my friends.

Wow, what a book. It grabbed me from the first page and I’m gutted that I’ve finished it.
I’ve loved this author’s other books, however this is definitely my favourite so far. The characters are well developed and I was desperate to find out what would happen to them throughout the book.
It’s a standout book of the year and one that I would strongly recommend.