Mel is a mother with 2 daughters, one is an adult (26) working in a school and the other is a teenager (13) who goes to her sisters school. Camilla and her 4 yr old son had lodged with mel and her daughters, and was treated like another daughter, however Camilla wanted to try living on her own. Then enters Luke, a new lodger that mel had arranged, only luke moves in while mel was supposedly out of town visiting her brother and her oldest daughter was unhappy to deal with it, then luke starts acting weird, looking at the younger sisters year book, then the older daughter finds out her mother has genuinely disappeared, and this is just the start of the book you haven't even gotten to any of the secrets or twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing read from this author. I really enjoyed it, I've just finished it and my heart was in my mouth for the last third.
It was so good, the build up was a good pace, so many different theories going on and none of them right- apart from my thoughts on the uncle (don't want to give spoilers).
I liked the characters, all of the different things going on, and the pace.
I also had a little tear at the end.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another excellent thriller written by Louise Jensen. I couldn’t put it down and her characters are so well written you can really feel immersed in the story.

I am a huge fan of this author, she knows how to write a great thriller! There is a lot going on in this book - all the characters are interconnected and as the story progresses we find out exactly what is going on. Plenty of surprises and actually was quite sad in places. Really well written.

What a journey this book took me on. I was struggling to put this book down. I couldn’t keep up! So many lies were revealed. I didn’t know what the truth was anymore, and was second guessing everyone in this book.

The book is told from different points of view with a dual timeline and I loved it!!

I was shocked at the ending. Literally didn’t even enter my mind. Then when we read the chapter with Lily. Wow. The author threw such a curveball in there.

This book was fun to read, whilst having me second guessing everyone and everything.

It didn’t take me long to read as the chapters kept ending on cliffhanger and I was constantly thinking “just one more chapter”.

I haven’t read much by this author but will definitely be picking more up from her back catalogue.

This one is highly recommended from me!

I think this is the seventh or eighth book by Louise Jensen I've read and I just love her style. She begins with a slow burn - but not in sluggish way that makes you lose interest or wonder when you are going to get to the point. More of a build up of atmosphere as each of her thrillers have been. Though this one had more of a domestic suspense feel to it rather than the atmospheric chill of previous thrillers. A tale of secrets and lies and whole load of drama that leads to even more secrets and lies.

The Abbott family are just your average family - loving and caring. Mel is a single mother of two - Jen (26) and Amy (13). She's a social worker and fights for the underdog and the misunderstood. When Jen was about sixteen, she took in her best friend Camilla after the foster system spat her out and loved her as her own. In fact, she became like another daughter. Then when Camilla gave birth to Mason, Mel and her family doted on him. So when Camilla and Mason move into their own flat, Mel's house seems that little bit empty. And so they decide to take in a lodger.

Mel loves her family, she loves her life. But many years ago, she did something which she fears has come back to haunt them. But as she keeps those fears to herself, when she goes missing no one is aware of those fears or what she did for them to come back to haunt her.

As the hours turn into days, Jen receives word from her mum that she needs some time out but will be home soon. And the lodger didn't turn up when he was meant to, instead showing up the day after looking at her somewhat blankly. Despite this, Jen and Amy decide if their mother checked him out and was happy with him then they are too. Until they find him rifling through things which don't concern him. What exactly is he doing here? And what does he want with them? Does he know what's happened to Mel?

This is a deftly woven tale that to say much more would give too much away. Suffice to say things get a little complicated before being made clear but Jensen weaves her tale through the multiple timelines and narratives with expertise. I devoured this in a day. I'm sure you will too.

I did note in the final lines of the book, I welled up somewhat as I felt it rather poignant and somewhat fitting considering Jensen's mother passed away just before the book published. When you read those final lines, you will know what I mean.

I would like to thank #LouiseJensen, #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheLiar in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Another hit from Jensen (I really need to catch up on her back catalogue). Picking up a read from this author, I know I am guaranteed a twisting narrative that keeps me gripped throughout. This one was no exception.

A lot of people’s pants should be on fire in this book, thanks to all of the deception! The title of this novel becomes more profound as the narrative develops, meaning that no one is innocent and all are deceiving those around them. I think this made the book so intense because you just don’t know who is the ‘ultimate liar’ and what will be the consequences. This story has several subplots and flashbacks that inform the present day narrative; you cannot help but wonder how they are all going to come together.

I really enjoyed how twisting and unpredictable the story becomes. Added with the fact that the story is told from several perspectives, readers don’t get the full version of events and this just creates a suspicion-heavy cast of characters. Jen and Amy are worried and bewildered when their mother abruptly takes off, gradually fearing that she is missing. Yet, events from the past start to indicate reasons why Mel might be missing in action and who is behind the threatening text that opens the book.

Despite the lack of honesty, I did develop sympathy for most of the characters. This book throws a seemingly normal family into a world of chaos and drama. There are some difficult topics addressed in the book but I think this added to the intensity of the developing story. Furthermore, I really appreciated how truths are gradually revealed in the story but this simply adds to how disorientating and unpredictable the novel is. It just made me race through the book even quicker!

I think my only criticism is that the novel’s cover emphasises an element of the plot that I didn’t feel was as significant. Not only that, I fear Jensen’s novels are starting to look too similar with the dark/yellow colour scheme. I think this was a bit of an oversight, although it definitely didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story.

If you have yet to sample Jensen’s reading, then don’t wait much more! This is a great example of Jensen’s thrilling writing and definitely worthy of your TBR.

With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As always with this author a book and story full of twists turns and then more twists and turns leading to a good finish

Loved the writing and how the story drew you in with its intrigue and various plots

Emotive in parts and more than readable all the way through

The Abbotts' family take in a lodger called Luke. Why is Luke asking questions? Why is Luke so interested in the family photos? Then Mum Mel goes away unexpectedly on her own, when she hasn't in the past. Why did she go away? All the sub plots come together for a dramatic conclusion.

Would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read awesome book

When you start a book by this author you know you are in for the ride of your life and this one was no exception

So many secrets how can they not come out

And is there really someone following and watching

Mel Jen and Amy are about to find their lives based on a lie will come out and the results for each will have ever lasting effects on all of them ….

What a ride

I look forward to the next book by this author

I make no secret of the fact that I am a big fan of this author, having devoured and loved every book she has written thus far. So it was a no brainer that I would probably love this one, and I did.
We start with a family. The Abbotts. Mother, Mel, and two daughters, Jen and Amy, just managing to make ends meet. The older daughter's friend, Camilla, and her young son, Mason, have just moved out to their own place so they have a spare room and decide to maybe bring in a lodger. But with Mel away "having a break" it falls to oldest daughter, Jen to make the final decision. Enter Luke who, on the face of things appears to be a nice young man, but who soon starts to ask questions of the family and its background...
But there are more secrets in the Abbotts' pasts. So many that are all interconnected and hinted at along the way, adding intrigue into the already quite busy present day shenanigans. Almost too many if truth be told, especially the one that I have to admit made me roll my eyes and shake my head. I am not sure how credible it is that ALL these things happen to this one family but, in the spirit of a fun packed cracking read, I am more than willing to take one for the team and suck it up!
It's hard to comment on the characterisation for all the reasons already stated above but within all the plots and subplots, the secrets and lies, the shenanigans and dysfunctional behaviour, they all work with what is thrown at them. I have to say I did especially like Amy and Mason cos they were way more straight forward!
It's told in the present day with flashbacks to Jen and Camilla's university days The two complementing each other and the past parts are injected in exactly the right places to progress and add colour and clarity to what is going on in the present.
We have several shocks and reveals along the way but it isn't until the end when it all really comes clear and the whole shocking truth is laid bare. With a bang! Leaving me wholly satisfied.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Before reading this I’d only heard great things about Louise’s writing, I can see why! The Liar is twist after turn after twist! I’ve seen reviews saying it’s a bit slow to start and I’m unsure if they were about the same book, I was hooked from the word go, I needed to know what was going on! I loved the multiple POV over the varied timelines, this was easy to follow, although my half a star loss comes from the constant change in narrative, this does work well though, just a personal preference of first person! The relationships between the characters developed well throughout, all the subplots merged together seamlessly to catapult you into a captivating conclusion! Adding all of Louise’s back catalogue to my tbr as we speak!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The story had many twists and turns, which kept you hooked. It was slow to start with, but slowly became hard to put down.

The complicated relationships that was between Amy, Camilla, Jen, was sad.

I highly recommend this book.

When Camilla and her young son move out of the Abbot’s family home, Mel Abbot advertises for a lodger.

New lodger Luke arrives at the same time as Mel decides she needs some time away from her two daughters and stressful job.

Oldest daughter Jen starts to worry about her mums welfare after she becomes suspicious of Luke and she has the feeling she is being followed.

There are several different stories that converge to bring the plot to an explosive ending. Everyone in this book is hiding something.

I really enjoyed how all the subplots came together and found this an easy and enjoyable read.

I’d like to thank H.Q and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Liar’ written by Louise Jensen in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Jen and Amy’s mother Mel says she’s taking time off from her job as a social worker to visit her brother Donald but she hasn’t returned home and they’ve had no connection with her by phone. Their new lodger, Luke, arrives and moves in with his belongings but as well as being concerned about the whereabouts of their mother, Jen and Amy sense there’s something not quite right about Luke after catching him going through their belongings.

‘The Liar’ is the involving story of a family and the secrets they’re keeping. From page one I’ve been gripped by the characters and their backgrounds and with an abundance of secrets, twists and turns the complex plot unravels to reveal the truth of what happened five years ago leading to the present time. As the story has progressed I’ve had to keep changing my opinion of the characters and it wasn’t until I reached the conclusion that I was in for a shock. I read this excellent thriller within twenty-four hours as it had me glued to my Kindle and unable to stop reading until I’d reached the final page.

This was such an addictive read, this book had fantastic twists and turns and it had me gripped all the way through.

A family of mother and two daughters, Amy and Jen, have decided to take in a lodger, called Luke to make ends meet. Their friend Camilla, and her young son Mason, used to stay with them, but now they have their own place, although Mason sometimes stays over. Amy and Jen's dad has left the family home some time ago and is now remarried.
Jen is a teacher at the local school where Amy is still a pupil and their mum is a social worker.

It's not long before they start to realise that something is not right with their lodger. Who exactly is he? Not only that but someone knows about what happened when Jen was at university, she and her friends were short of money and someone decided to do something to make money quickly, something to do with publishing photos. Are those photos still around now, all these years later on. Would it be something to do with Luke?
This book gets more and more sinister and creepy the more you read it, you don't know who to believe. It certainly is a good thriller and an unputdownable storyline which covers subjects that are more familiar these days than years ago. You will certainly ask yourself "who is the liar?" Or could it be more than one person?
As always a great read from Louise Jensen that I would certainly recommend. A five-star read from me.

#netgalley
#HQ
#HarperCollinsPublishersLtd
#LouiseJensen
#TheLiar

A dark and mystery domestic thriller about family secrets. Lots of twists and turns, although the story did not hook me in completely. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Another totally gripping psychological thriller from the excellent Louise Jensen. Everybody in this story has secrets, from the mum and two daughters to their new lodger. The plot is full of delicious revelations, stunning twists and satisfactory conclusions. A tremendous tale from start to finish.

“But life is full of broken promises, isn't it? Broken people.”

The Liar follows the Abbotts - a loving family, but a family full of secrets. When Mum Mel uncharacteristically texts the family to say she needs a break, but nobody hears from her, things begin to spiral. Is someone watching them? Is their new lodger who he says he is? What’s happened to Mel? They say people never tell the whole truth. They’re right.

I feel like I need some sort of compensation for the whiplash this book has given me! The Liar is a masterclass in pace and tension. I felt uneasy from the first page and that feeling did not let up until I had unraveled the web that Louise Jensen had so expertly crafted.

I really enjoyed the character dynamics, particularly between Jen and Amy. Being an older sister myself I really related to Jen, and their relationship development was written with such depth and emotion that they’re hard characters to not root for, or forget.

I have heard so many good things about Louise Jensen’s writing, and I can confirm that The Liar lives up to the hype and then some. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who loves a twisty, compelling read.

Thank you so much to Louise Jensen, HQ and Netgalley for sending me this advanced copy of The Liar to read and review. My opinions are my own.