I knew I made the right decision when I requested this book on NetGalley. Karin Slaughter has a way of really making you uncomfortable and distressed with the narrative.

This is a continuation of the Will Trent series, which features the pov of Will, a GBI special agent, his wife Sarah Linton, a medical examiner at GBI, Mercy (more on her ahead!), and Will's partner, Faith.

This doesn't start like a typical murder mystery where you have the detective slowly interviewing everyone, finding the clues, then having a big reveal at the end. It starts with the murder and then takes us 12 hrs back to the pov of the murdered woman. This made sure that we formed a connection with Mercy McAlpine, the manager of the McAlpine lodge. We knew about her impending death right from the first chapter, so we become extra vigilant wrt the behaviour of the people around her. We try to understand who has the most dangerous secret. Meanwhile, Will and Sarah are guests at the lodge, enjoying their honeymoon, only to have it disrupted with a shriek. Then begins the tale of finding out who murdered Mercy.

It is very much a closed door mystery. The suspects include the family and the 8 guests. This made trying to find the motive easier (or so I thought!). Every possible theory that strikes one also strikes the detectives. They go down all paths, only to stumble upon something unthinkable and devastating. This was not just a book about a murder. It was also about domestic abuse, both from the partner and her own family. Mercy led a tough life but escaping seemed impossible. More so after she took over the reins and started managing everything at the lodge herself. Then she couldn't dream of leaving behind her family legacy.

I wouldn't want to delve deep into the trauma since if I went down that road, it would be a looooooooooong review. So instead, I'll talk about the aspects I liked.

● There are three letters that Mercy wrote for her son Jon over the years. They really shed a light on her. I understood her struggles more, along with her sorrowful tale. They tugged on my heartstrings.

● The post mortem was incredibly detailed. Since Will's wife Sara is an examiner, we got to understand the level of violence as they conducted the post mortem. We see the past and present wounds that really made me glum. Post mortem of this detail is often skipped in books but the author did her homework well. It also described all the procedures such a case goes through.

● I can't not talk about Dave, Mercy's ex-husband, abuser, adoptive brother(yes, you heard that right) and an overall terrible being. He was also Will's bully in their foster children group home. He went through severe trauma as a kid and as an adult and that made him really empty inside. Many times, the author tried to make us conflicted about him but then reminded us and reinforced that now, he is an abuser. Facing childhood trauma is no excuse for becoming somebody's trauma. It is unacceptable.

● The murder mystery is not the only aspect. The McAlpine family is riddled with secrets that we slowly unearth. These are some traumatizing secrets. At the beginning, I thought it was a regular run of the mill murder mystery. But then, it took a dark turn.

● I liked how realistic this book was in the aspect that literal wounds take time to heal and need to be protected from infection. Usually, the heroes may be bleeding through several wounds, showing no concern towards infection from open wounds. N then they miraculously heal. Here, the protagonist's hand is hurt and throughout the story, he feels the pain and considers how he would manage tasks with just one functional hand.

● I didn't expect that climax at all. It is unthinkable. I was both surprised and traumatized.

At the beginning I thought it would end up being a 3 star read but by the middle, I realized it's better than expected.
Therefore, 4 stars!

It is a dark story with a lot of triggers. So tread carefully! The author's brain went to dark places to write this one. A multilevelled mystery with webs of secrets.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Karin Slaughter for providing me an advanced digital copy of the book!

A new Karin Slaughter day is like Christmas. The Queen of crime thrillers. We bow down.

This Is Why We Lied is another outing for the Grant County series. The return of Will Trent and Sara Linton, this is a bottle story. Taking place in a single location over the course of 2 days.

This felt slightly different, A stronger focus on Sara and Will. The crime however is a usual masterclass in tricks, diversions and craft.

I was really excited to be able to read this, thanks to NetGalley and Karin Slaughter.

Firstly: If you’re considering this book and have not read the rest of the series I beg you to start at the beginning (Grant County series and the Will Trent series in order) although this and the others could be read as standalones, it’s really worth taking the time to get to know the characters and all of the history and details Karin Slaughter has created. Honestly, they just get better with every page!

I stayed up half the night to finish this one, it
was a whodunit like no other! With all the elements you would expect of a locked room mystery- an abusive ex husband, cold and distant family members, strangers who have something to hide, and our favourite newly married couple who were supposed to be enjoying a blissful honeymoon are of course there to figure out the mystery. In true Karin Slaughter style, everything will be far darker and more shocking than you can imagine.

I can’t wait for the next instalment, I’m hoping we can spend a bit more time with some of the other wonderful characters (Faith and Jeremy perhaps?) although of course Will will be forever my favourite!

This Is Why We Lied is another excellent episode in the Will Trent series. Will and Sara are finally married. For their honeymoon, Will books an idyllic sounding retreat on a Georgia mountain. But, of course, it doesn't go to plan.

McApline Lodge has been in the family for generations. But the family is hiding more dark secrets than Will and Sara could imagine. And then there's a murder.

Will is the only cop within miles, apart from the local sheriff, who is so close to the family that there's no way he will investigate fairly. The question isn't who is lying - because they are all lying. There are so many suspects in what is essentially a variant on a locked room murder.

As the secrets start to be revealed the case gets even more complex. It's a dark and, in places, difficult read. But, as always, an excellent read that draws the reader into the story.

I love Karin Slaughter books. Full of tension and suspense and keep you turning the page. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Another excellent episode in this series. Will and Sara are on their honeymoon. I have to admit that I have really bought into them as a couple over the years and I’m pleased that the author doesn’t make them split up or cheat in each other or anything else that sometimes happens to ‘keep the story interesting’. What does happen to them is a new murder to investigate. They are staying at a remote group of lodges which should be a luxury break but turns into a locked room mystery with an extraordinarily dysfunctional and abusive group of characters. Mercy is found dead right at the beginning and then the story flashes back to events leading up to her death. There are twists, turns and revelations but this book is not for the faint hearted. The abuse described is at times hard to read about and this really pulls in your heart strings. If you haven’t read this book, you could read it as a stand alone but I would definitely recommend going back to the beginning. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

Everyone here is a liar, but only one of us is a killer…
Will Trent and Sara Linton are finally getting away for their honeymoon, to McAlpine Lodge, a remote mountain getaway.

Except not everything is smooth sailing at the lodge and the family are embroiled in a battle when they arrive. Then Mercy McAlpine is found dead. What was meant to be a peaceful honeymoon, turns into an investigation for the pair and tension is high.

This was such a fast paced and suspenseful novel and it had the shock value that you always expect from KS novels. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted review copy.

A great whodunnit that keeps you guessing and constantly questioning everything that you think you know, if you’ve read Karin Slaughter books before then you know what a great you are in for; if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!

I was thrilled to receive this ARC of This is Why We lie which is book 12 in the Will Trent series from Karin Slaughter via #NetGalley. This series and it's wonderful main charaxters holds a special place in my heart, despite its violence and gore. Even though Karin puts my beloved characters through the wringer, I still adore this universe. While I appreciate that Karin allowed them to have their wedding without any hitches, their honeymoon couldn't escape drama. The introduction of the vile McAlpine family interrupted their bliss, particularly Mercy, who has made mistakes in the past but was trying to do the right thing by her son and herself. She was stuck in a endless inescapable cycle of abuse. If only her Aunt Delilah had not been more forgiving. As with all of Karin Slaughter's books, this one should come with a trigger warning. Just when you think it can't get any darker, Karin delivers an ending that you couldn't predict. Surprisingly, I figured out who the killer was early on, but the reasons behind it caught me off guard. Regardless, this is another dark and twisted addition to Karin Slaughter's repertoire. Highly recommedned!!!!

I'm obsessed with Karin Slaughter and the will and Sara series is one of the best series I've ever come across so I can't even explain how excited a new installment made me!! Its sheer genius. This story is actually a locked room mystery which I usually hate but of course the author made it as amazing as you'd expect. There are layers upon layers upon layers. The characters are pretty familiar by this point but they're still well written and fleshed out for anyone who hasn't met them before. Any relevant backstory is also included but not to the extent it feels like a recap of previous books. It's so well plotted out and paced, there is constantly something happening, the new characters are original and just as intriguing as the familiar ones. The entire book is just sheer perfection! I took the day off work to read this!!!! And I have no regrets. I can't recommend it highly enough. An absolute masterpiece

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, UK for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter for an honest review due to be published June 20, 2024.
I have read all the Will Trent and Grant County series, so I was thrilled to get the newest edition to the series.
McAlpine Lodge has been in the family for generations. It is so remote you must hike to get there. Everyone in the lodge has a lie they are hiding, and when Mercy McAlpine threatens to expose everyone, she ends up dead. Will and Sara, on their honeymoon, are also trying to hide what they do for a living. Will they be able to with Mercy’s murder and maybe another one coming?
As I read the Will Trent series, I always pictured him in a certain way. I was a little disappointed when I watched the series on TV, but now when I read the books, I picture the “TV” Will Trent as I am reading!
This was another good one with lots of suspects – Mercy’s abusing ex-husband, her horrible father and mother, her conniving aunt, her son, and even some of the lodge visitors! This is Why We Lied kept me interested the entire book until the ending. Very few people can hold my interest of 400 pages to solve a murder – Karin Slaughter can!
If you’re looking for a great series to read, you should start this one. Can’t wait for the next one to be published!
#NetGalley #KarinSlaughter #HarperCollinsUK #ThisIsWhyWeLied

This Is Why we Lied is the next book in the Will Trent and Sara Linton series which just gets better and better. There is such depths to these two whose personal journeys I have followed and loved, as a crime thriller the action, excitement, jaw dropping moments and ‘who the heck did it’ are relentless.
I particularly loved how Will has finally found peace and pure love with Sara which glows off the pages. That said this is a hard hitting story of domestic abuse, child cruelty, alcoholism and drug addiction.
Now on their honeymoon Will has booked an isolated mountain guest retreat in a beautiful area for them to explore and be together. They are met by Mercy whose family owns the retreat and she manages it and looks after the guests. After only being there one night Mercy is murdered and Will and Sara are plunged straight into the investigation. There are also chapters where we go back hours before the murder and learn about Mercy’s life and the lead up to the murder which really sets the scene well.
All manner of secrets are slowly revealed, lies corruption and illegal activities are exposed. I really thought I had it all wrapped up and had worked out who the the murderer was but my goodness I was way off. The reveal when it came is shocking, so much so I had to read the ending three times to believe it.
In my opinion this is a masterpiece of a crime thriller with a brilliant plot line and a cast of characters whose depth have your total investment in the story.
My thanks to netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Another fab read from Karin Slaughter.
Well written characters and a storyline which kept me reading well into the night.
The only negative for me was having to keep going back to look at the map.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Karin Slaughter always delivers and I have been a fan of her books for a very very long time!

Will and Sara are finally on their honeymoon, having just got married. Unfortunately, a murder takes place and Will and Sara quickly discover not everything is as it seems.

If you are familiar with the series, this is a must read! If you are not familiar, please go back and read the first Will Trent book, you will fall in love!

I stayed until late reading this, it was such a page turner. The author, Karin Slaughter, has written a number of novels and this is up to her usual high standard. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

I’ve really enjoy previous Karin Slaughter novels however I found this harder to get through and I’m not honestly sure if it was the book or just real life distracting me tbh. I loved the continuation of Will and Sara’s story however I found the location of this felt like a lot of going round in circles on woodland paths that I’m struggling to envision mentally (in fairness there is a map at the start of the book however I’m reading this on kindle so can’t be bothered going back and forth to it) The characters at the lodge were also very difficult to like which I think I struggled with, there was a lot of negativity and plenty suspects and I also figured the murderer pretty early on however that’s not to say the motive was expected as it was an horrific twist. This takes place over a short time frame but doesn’t feel especially fast paced however it’s very descriptive of the location, the characters and their flaws so you can really get into the situation in depth. There’s plenty of twists and I loved the locked room style element of it. Whilst this wasn’t my favourite Karin Slaughter I’ll definitely be reading the next to see how it continues as the team are a fantastic bunch of characters. 7/10

My Rating: 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am deep in this series, and I love it… but I had some issues!!!

Will and Sara have finally tied the knot, and are about to embark on their honeymoon. It is not a surprise that while they are there something gruesome happens and they stumble upon the recently murdered Mercy McAlpine.

Mercy is their host at the scenic lodge/cabins they are staying at for their honeymoon and Sara and Will are shocked to learn no one in particular seems bothered by Mercy’s brutal demise and everyone has a reason to want her dead.

Ok, so I will start with a bit of a disclaimer - this is Karin Slaughter so its brutal, there are TWs of all shapes and sizes and if you read her books then really its actually not too bad… but… if you don’t regularly read her books then be warned. I will also say this is the 12th book in the series and if you are the kind of person to go … Karly I don’t give a shit I am jumping in at 12 then go for it…but you might find some of the long lasting storyline hard to follow.

With that said… here we go. So I am a big fan of this series and its predecessor the Grant County Series as well I have read every book with these characters and I am not ashamed to say that I think I am so deep in now I have to see where its going…. However I was a bit let down by this one. It wasn’t baaad it just wasn’t up to Slaughters usual standard IN MY OPINION… don’t shoot me if you disagree.

As per usual it is a long novel and KS does take a year and a half to get to the point BUT she always does this… its totally on brand and I guess by this point I am expecting it. I did find that there were quite a few too many descriptions of the scenery (this is one of my least fave things to read about in thrillers unless you are building ambiance… but scenery for the sake of it… lets get on with the story please) and I think there was some unnecessary recapping and meandering as I said above, its book 12 if you are jumping in at this point then thats on you as a reader, for us old fans we don’t need to be reminded of the bleeding obvious… but again it didn’t ruin it.

I will start by saying what I did really like though, I really like Faith, I think she is fast becoming my fave character of the series, shes funny and has grit and a lot of personality. I can imagine her in my minds eye and I want to meet her. I like how Slaughter writes her character and I like how she’s not perfect but shes loyal AF!

I am glad that Sara and Will finally got their shit together and got married the will they won’t they was killing me… and the Angie storyline has been done to death if you ask me. So that was a really good point for me.

I liked the flash back letters, that was one of my favourite parts of the book, they were by no means easy to read but thats what they were intended for and I liked that Mercy wrote to her son every year on the same day to give him an update… good or bad.

For me some of the things that annoyed me or irked me were the sickly over the top way Sara and Will carry on with each other. I get it they are super mad in love AND on their honeymoon but Sara calling Will my love in every other sentence was too much…. I realise this is part of their story and how they are with each other… but Will is so puppy dogged by Sara and Sara is so hyper aware that she love Will but has this power over him she shouldn’t use to her advantage… It just doesn’t feel natural. I still love them together but it felt a bit wooden in this story for me. Maybe its a me issue…

I didn’t realise when I picked this up (and it still wouldn’t have stopped me reading it) that it was a “locked room” mystery style book. I have found out two things about myself this year… I don’t like locked room mystery style books much and I really don’t like books that compare themselves to Agatha Christie, this book doesn’t do the second thing but I thought I would put it out there anyway. But the constant was it this person… was it that person… no this person has a secret they definitely killed her BUT WAIT its got to be that person… and it was a circular calamity of events to finally get to the big twist … I GET IT this is part of the charm… and red herrings about, I do get it… but KS took that too the next level with this one. It was just all a bit too many things, too many secrets and too much of everything… just chill please.

My other main gripe with this book was the sheer amount of mentions of the trails at the lodge… lets take the rope trail, no we will take widows whatever trail, or that trail etc etc… again it was a circular round and round of trails. I was sick and tired of hearing about the lodge. I get that it was supposed to be one of the main characters in and of itself but I wanted to hear more about the people and the murder and the baddies…. This is where Faith and I are besties… I ALSO hate nature like she does… so reading about mud, and stink and mosquitoes and horses… well I was over it.

I did like the book but I didn’t love it… it definitely wasn’t the strongest in the series by a long shot and while I would still recommend to fans of the series I was a bit let down. It was under 500 pages which is a wow factor for KS but it still felt like it was 800 and I still think it was 100 too long… thats just my opinion. I am sure those of you who love this series will love this one too and I am sure you will all do a bit raspberry in my direction and honestly I hope you do love it… maybe the locked room style was what did me in…

I am going to go into minor spoilers so don’t read further if the TWs I am going to mention will spoil the story for you…










I am also a bit disturbed by the amount of incest that KS puts in her books, this is a common thread and maybe its that part of the country and its actually wide spread or maybe its a shock factor thing… but I honestly am super grossed out by it. Again I realise this is the point of putting it in a thriller but it was jammed in there alongside every other shocking thing and I just don’t think it was necessary OR if you think it was then it needed to be alluded to along the way… so we can prepare… there wasn’t enough warning for this…

Again, the amount of r@pe in these books is horrendous and I realise its a very real very horrific issue that absolutely has a place in thrillers, but I felt that in this book they were thrown in for shock value as well. When we get to Gabbie’s storyline I was open mouthed at the BAM THIS HAPPENED and we wont mention it again… there was no real lead in… and then it was THIS HAPPENED, THIS IS HOW IT WAS DEALT WITH and then nothing… without completely spoiling the book I can’t say more… and maybe its just me but I feel like while these things are definitely part of thrillers it can be handled a little more tactfully in places… and if its not then there has to be more to the story than just shock. I do not think I have read a single KS book without r@pe and usually multiples… I am not saying we shouldn’t put it in thrillers it just seem really over the top in these novels.



Minor spoilers over…

Either way for all my ranting I am glad I read it… I liked it…didn’t love it and I look forward to the next one.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Karin Slaughter and NetGalley for an advanced copy for my honest review.

When I got the email to say I had been given access to this title I literally jumped for joy. I have been a Karin Slaughter fan since lockdown and have devoured the sarah/jeffery and then the Will/Sarah stories. I often think about what makes me love them and in essence it is the characters that Karin has built with all the flaws and the humanity of them that makes them so believable and relatable. Amanda, Faith, Will and Sarah are some of my favourite ever characters and thry absolutely don't have happy, easy going relationships but it works and you can depend on them. My favourite quote from this book sums up what makes Will a great hero character, despite his flaws and his hangups "Will was always going to stand up when everyone else stayed seated"
To the story....interestingly this one begins the prologue with Will and Sarah on their honeymoon in a remote estate in the mountains talking about the people they had met at dinner and doing a bit of late night lake swimming. And that is where the nice part ends. Soon Will and Sarah try to save the live of Mercy who has been viciously murdered. Cue the flashback chapters which work well to give the reader more or less the same information that Will and Sarah get and you are desperately trying to piece together what happened alongside them. Bring in Faith, straight talking Amanda, a wild storm, flooding and they are trapped in a locked room mystery where everyone has secrets on top of secrets. Add in some characters with ulterior motives to being there, overheard conversations, paedophilia, incels and a family who don't seem to care that Mercy is dead and you think you have it all. But no...one of the key characters is the same person who gave Will his nickname when they were in a children's home appears too...a man so badly abused (like Will) and mistreated that he has become like that himself. This character really serves to show what love can do and Will could have ended up like him but for the guidance and love from Amanda (don't tell her I used the L word!)
I eked this reading out over 4 days as I was desperate to keep reading, but also I wanted to savour it. A triumph again for Will and Sarah. Keep them coming!!

I love the dichotomy in the Will Trent/Sara Linton stories - the brutal, graphic violence of the work they do and the sweet tenderness they share between them are what makes these books what they are and why I devour them so rapidly. This is one of the best, with a bit of Agatha Christie thrown in and a proper who dunnit mystery.
Will and Sara are on their honeymoon, looking forward to an idyllic break away from civilisation so, of course, a tragic murder occurs and everyone has a motive - it's the solving of the murder that keeps you hooked and the deeply personal and heart wrenching details that come to light throughout.
Flawless storytelling as always.

As usual, another excellent book from Karin Slaughter. I've read them all and particularly enjoy the books featuring Will and Sara.

This is Why We Lied is different to the other Trent books in that it's set on their honeymoon at a lodge. What happens becomes, as his partner Faith says, a mix of Agatha Christie and... I won't name the other author as it gives the plot away. Let's just say the family who run the lodge are a disturbing bunch of people.

When the daughter, Mercy is killed by brutal multiple stabbings, the family's coldness and secretive natures increases.

The honeymoon is over for Sara and Will as they question and suspect guests and the family alike. Another death occurs and no one seems safe.

Karin Slaughter once again shows how brilliantly she creates characters, their back stories, and how their lives entwine.

The plot has some difficult issues that are addressed with compassion. Karin Slaughter never shies away from life's harsh realities.

I loved this book!