Maggie and Nina share a house. But they're not like your ordinary roommates. What makes them different is the fact that Maggie is not allowed outside of the house and the fact that she is locked upstairs. But even that could probably be explained somehow if it wasn't for the fact that Maggie is Nina's mother.

John Marrs is one of those authors whose books I either love or hate. I have read 4 of his books, 2 of which I loved while the other two weren't to my taste, so I was curious but skeptical when requesting What Lies Between Us.
Well, let me put it this way. This book turned out to be a huge WOW!
It had me gripped from the first page and didn't let go till the very last.
I always reserve 5 stars for books that can only be described as mindblowing, and to be honest, there aren't that many books that deliver on the promise offered in the opening pages, but this one achieved this and more.
Every time I thought it couldn't get any better, I was proved wrong.
The story is told from 2 perspectives, the mother's and the daughter's, and the author did a fantastic job in getting us to despise these two women while at the same time making us feel for them.
And don't even get me started on the twists and secrets that were revealed during the story. What an absolute rollercoaster of emotions it was. I couldn't read it fast enough.
It was spectacular, it was amazing, it is simply a masterpiece.
This is the best book I have read so far this year and I urge you to preorder it immediately.
Solid 5 stars.

John Marrs has done it again and given us a fantastic read.

Nina and Maggie are 2 very complicated characters and severe unreliable narrators. The story slowly unfolds itself, starting with Maggie imprisoned by her daughter. Page by page reveals the reasons as to why this happened and the results it has on both women, only to end in a huge climax.

Really, read this book. You will not regret this!

I'm a big John Marrs fan and this book did not disappoint! We meet Nina and Maggie and immediately wonder why Nina is keeping Maggie imprisoned and what could possible have happened in this house. Full of clever twists and turns, well developed and interesting characters, and an exciting and thrilling story, I couldn't put 'What Lies Between Us' down. I loved how it moved between the present and the past and it all came together really well. It shows how secrets can have such a big impact, but that things aren't always what they seem! While the book is a little different from John Marrs' other books, it is an original and gripping story and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Nina is Maggie’s only child and she will do anything to keep her safe no matter what the cost to herself. Nina, on the other hand, will never forgive Maggie for what she’s done. Nina is going to make Maggie pay back every year of Nina’s life, that she feels has been robbed from her and Nina will never let Maggie go. As Nina punishes Maggie, keeping her captive in their home, Maggie keeps the secrets of the past deep inside her, protecting them both from the truth.
This dark, depraved and deeply intense novel gives a whole new meaning to the relationship between mothers and daughters. The writer has taken the raw visceral need that mothers have to protect their children and intensified it to the point of obsession and madness. This book scared me, enthralled me, overwhelmed me and by the end I was still questioning whether mother or daughter was right or wrong.I could not put this book down, the pace and writing had me captured from the first pages.
John Marrs you have created yet another incredible novel to join all of your others.

I really enjoy John Marrs books and this is a good one. It tells the story of a mother and daughter and why one of them is locked up in the attic. It's goes back and forth and tells over years through both of there eyes. Twists and turns along the way. Would recommend anyone to read.

Wow, what a fantastic book! It’s fantastically dark with so many twists and turns that you won’t see coming.
I’ve loved all of John Marrs books so far and his writing seems to get better with each book he releases.
It’s a true page turner and will definitely be one of my favourite reads of the year.

All i can say is wow! Im a massive fan of John Marrs and have loved everything he has written. He tells amazing stories, filled with twists that actually take your breath away. I keep thinking the next book i read will be the one i do not like but its yet to happen and they actually keep getting better. I was super happy to be accepted to review this and ive sat up to 1am unable to put it down. The plot is so unique. The characters are developed so well and you literally can not put it down until you know whats going to happen. Id give this book and the author a million stars if i could.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, John Marrs and the publishers for letting me read this early.

Wow! This is a series of twists and turns that just won’t let the reader go. This is my first novel by Marr, but it certainly won’t be my last. Nina imprisons her mother Maggie because of all the things Maggie has taken from her, including Nina’s father. Nina wants justice and revenge, and will stop at nothing to get it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I am absolutely shocked by this book. I devoured it over the course of a few hours and was on the edge of my seat feeling slightly ill the whole time. It's my first John Marrs book, but I'll definitely check out some of his other work after reading this. Wow.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for an ARC!

John Marrs has done it again - a five star read all the way! This is the story of Maggie and Nina, mother and daughter, a terrifying and intriguing tale of the totally unexpected. This story yanks you in immediately and fills you with so many questions, the answers to which gradually emerge through the storytelling. Maggie is watching and waiting - but for what opportunity? Why is Nina hurting Maggie? The twisty, dark black story is told in alternating storylines by Maggie and Nina in the present day and backtracks to 25 years ago. This is where the origins are of the trauma that lies between them that evolves into the most dysfunctional relationship, if indeed you can call it that, as it’s more like the worst definition of the film Wars of the Roses.

The storytelling is fantastic. It’s like a game of malevolent tennis as each retaliates to the actions of the other. The tension between the main characters is palpable and you feel like you are treading on the most delicate of eggshells. The secrets that Maggie and Nina are hiding are jaw dropping, eye popping, brain numbing, mind blowing and breath taking in their magnitude. You are not sure whose perspective is the truth and who is the deluded liar but that become clearer towards the end where we see just how huge a maternal sacrifice Maggie has made. It is terrifying in its power and we learn that one character has anger that is so intense it goes beyond blind rage. There is mystery and intrigue throughout and we gradually learn the horrors of what has been covered up and the lengths that some people will go to to exact mistaken revenge. The story unfolds really well and is full of twists and as revelation piles on top of mountainous revelation you find yourself utterly incapable of putting the book down. The conclusion is excellent and you feel like you’ve been through the wringer with these characters but at least you can breathe again!!

Overall, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant and I think this will be in my top ten reads of 2020. John Marrs is incredibly talented and he is one of my favourite authors as I know he always delivers a terrific read. Highly recommended especially to fans of a twisty thriller.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC.

I think this is a difficult book to review because I don't want to give much away, but I've got to say something.No spoilers though.First of all I wasn't sure how this was going to work out, then I thought just read the book and stop trying to second guess it, there is no second guessing with this book, its far too twisty and unpredictable and I loved that about it.I was also impressed that although both lead characters were very unlikable I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to them.This is truly a unique book, not like anything I've ever read.I think John Marrs has the most deliciously twisted mind and it certainly shows in this book.I could see the book as a film I think it would be perfect.I found this book to be dark and twisty and I thought it was really great.,I enjoyed reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of What Lies Between Them!

Uhhhhh WTF did I just read???? I devoured this book and finished after three long reading sessions. I don’t even know where to begin... Nina and Maggie are mother and daughter, one of which is chained to her bedroom not permitted to leave, talk to other people, or have any type of freedom. Why??? That is the best part and I won’t spoil it! Everything you think you know will be wrong! There were so many times when I was like “oh I know exactly what’s going on here...” Nope, wrong! This book reveals what happens in a relationship when most of it is built on lies. Whether you are trying to protect someone else or yourself, all lies have consequences!

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this. After reading Passengers last year I devoured every book by John Marrs that I could. I was anxiously awaiting this one to appear for request. Because I am the type of person who cannot draw out things I am excited about and make them last longer, I settled in and read this straight thru. I literally could not put it down. My wife wasn't so happy since it was Valentine's Day when I decided to do this.

When I say holy woah will this book rock you, I mean it. This book is told between the two main characters POV Nina and Maggie, in the past and the present. It opens with figuring out that Maggie is being held hostage in her home, by Nina. We delve deeper into the reasons why she is, but the thing is, not everything is what it seems. There are secrets that Nina doesn't know....very dark secrets. Maggie isn't willing to give these secrets up, even with her being imprisoned. What could be so bad that she is willing to keep that up? Just keep reading and find out because the answers will shock you.

A dark and twisted ride through the lives of these two women and the shocking conclusion will have you shook.

Wow! So many twists and turns to this book which is a psychological head f**k!!!
Dark, shocking - my favourite John Marrs book yet! Such a good book, I truly didn’t know what was coming next. Brilliant!

There is nothing I like more than a John Marrs book. And this one surpassed all of his others put together. I was literally turning the pages as fast as I could. The twistiest turniest book I have ever read. Absolutely brilliant. Beyond brilliant. I plead with everyone to do yourself a favor and buy this book. Good lord it was thrilling. 20 Stars

Yet another amazing read from the spectacular John Marrs. He's by far one of my favourite authors so I jumped at the chance of getting this ARC. In true Marrs style this book is full of clever little twists with well developed dark and twisted characters. And as always with his books all is never what it seems. Without leaving any spoilers this book was a slight departure from Marrs previous modern Sci fi books, and he proves yet again that he can write pure enthralling magic, irrelevant of the genre.

This was something of a slow burner for me as it took a little while to get accustomed to going back in time in some chapters. It reminded me a little of whatever happened to baby Jane.

Good story of a warped family. Makes you wonder just what goes on behind closed doors!

Jayme C (Brunettes like books too!)'s Reviews > What Lies Between Us

What Lies Between Us
by John Marrs (Goodreads Author)

Jayme C (Brunettes like books too!)'s review
Feb 16, 2020 · edit


it was amazing




bookshelves: mystery-suspense, netgalley


Take a good look at that gorgeous book cover....

You can see a woman gazing out of the attic window-but you cannot see the chains which keep Maggie a prisoner there.

You can see Nina, downstairs...perhaps preparing one of the dinners that she and Maggie share, every other night, before she locks her up again.

Nina cannot forgive Maggie for the things she did. And, she can never let her leave...

Told from the alternating voices of Nina and Maggie, (past and present)- you will discover how and why this happened.

You won’t know which woman is reliable or who is more wicked....till the very end.

And, what an end it is....

It’s another book by John Marrs who has not disappointed me yet, and who will continue to be an auto-request author who makes me giddy when I see that he has a new book available!

Thank You to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer, and John Marrs for allowing me to read a digital ARC in exchange for a candid review!

Available May 15, 2020...pre-order now!!
And, read his other books until this is out, if you haven’t already done so!

Writing this review is challenging without any spoilers but let’s just say, John Marrs, as always, transports you effectively into the lives of Nina & her mum Maggie. I was hooked from the outset and grabbed any moment I could to devour this take.
The characters become real people and their lives intertwined which each, in their own way, trying to help the other (possibly) and the effects they cause in the people around them. The tale is told alternately from both their perspectives and also from both years ago and up to date. The pieces of the dark, twisted jigsaw begin to drop terrifying into place and you wonder where it will all end. A psychological read with secrets aplenty and a definite 5* recommend!!

Maggie has only ever wanted to protect her daughter, Nina, but doing so has cost so very much. And for all she has done, her daughter hates her. Nina keeps her mother locked up in the attic, with a chain attached to her ankle. She's punishing her mother for all that she has taken from her.

As we read the alternating views of Maggie and Nina, spreading over various timelines, it's hard to know who is the craziest, Maggie or Nina. This is one fiendish read and the more we know, the worse things get. I couldn't put this one down and it made for a fantastic buddy read. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for this ARC.