
Member Reviews

*The Liar* is a gripping psychological thriller about the Abbott family, whose lives are turned upside down when a mysterious lodger named Luke moves in. As his interest in their personal lives grows, tension builds, especially when Mel, the mother, suddenly disappears. The story unfolds through different perspectives, keeping the mystery of Luke’s intentions alive while exploring the family's hidden secrets and struggles. With sharp pacing and emotional depth, this book will keep you hooked until the very end.

Wow what an absolute belter of a read. Totally gripping and had me biting my fingernails with what was going to happen next. I was shocked by the last chapter of the book and can safely say this is a highly recommended read.

I think I have whiplash from all the twists and turns in this book!
This domestic thriller has so many secrets and lies to uncover. It's hard to work out which character the title refers to because almost everyone in this book is lying or hiding something, and it makes for very entertaining reading.
There were a few jaw dropping reveals and the ending was very good. Definitely a far fetched story but an unputdownable page turner that has cemented Jensen as an auto buy author for me. As this is her 10th book she also has a nice juicy backlist for me to dive into!

n emotionally complex story with secrets, twists and turns. A little unbelievable at times, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.

#TheLiar #NetGalley
Breathtaking.
The Liar is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the fragile dynamics of trust, family, and the shadows of hidden truths. From the moment Luke, the mysterious lodger, enters the Abbott family’s lives, an atmosphere of unease takes hold. What begins as a seemingly innocent arrangement soon spirals into a tangled web of secrets, suspicion, and fear. The story centers around the Abbott family—Mum Mel, her husband, and their daughter Jen—each grappling with the unsettling presence of Luke. His curiosity about their family photos and personal belongings raises red flags, especially as Jen starts to feel watched. The tension escalates when Mel unexpectedly leaves, sending only a cryptic text before disappearing entirely. Her absence plunges the family into chaos, leaving them to confront the unsettling truths lurking within their home. Jensen’s skillful storytelling keeps readers on edge. The narrative alternates perspectives, revealing each character’s vulnerabilities and suspicions while masterfully maintaining the mystery of Luke’s intentions. The pacing is taut, with the plot unraveling in a way that keeps readers guessing. The exploration of family dynamics adds emotional depth to the story. Each member of the Abbott family is well-drawn, with their own secrets and struggles that complicate their relationships. Luke’s enigmatic presence serves as a catalyst, exposing cracks in their seemingly ordinary lives. The twists and turns in The Liar are unexpected and satisfying, building to a tense and shocking conclusion that ties together the story’s threads in a chillingly plausible way.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me an advance copy.

5 ⭐️
This jaw dropping thriller is going to keep you guessing throughout the whole book so give it a read.
Louise Jensen does it again!! I was absolutely thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this book thanks to Netgalley & HQStories and the book did not disappoint. There were so many secrets wrapped up in this book, some I guessed and some left me with my jaw hitting the floor! I couldn’t put it down, yet I didn’t want it to end. I’m a huge fan of Louise Jensen and I’ll be recommending this book to family and friends.

The Liar is another very good book by Louise Jensen. A gripping book right from the start with many twists and also sad in parts. The ending was shocking and not expected. I highly recommend this book and all of Louise Jensen's other books.

Jen and Amy's Mum, social worker Mel, disappears unexpectedly. The police are slow to react so the sisters try and track Mel down.
The story is told in the various characters flashbacks and in current time, and all the past secrets are revealed.
The story was really tense at the beginning and I was worried about where it was going, but there are lots of plot twists and revelations that change your perspective of what is happening. That is very cleverly done.
This is a dark book, and the ending is shocking.

The suspense was gripping and such a sad read as well. Very dark and surprising twists all the way through.

Absolutely gripping. Another amazing thriller. Never expected things to happen the way they did.
Thank you Louise Jensen, HQ and Netgalley for the ARC

I finished this in one sitting! A gripping, edge of your seat thriller that will keep you up all night! Another huge success for Louise Jensen! Highly recommended for anyone that loves a psychological thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

Firstly a big thank you to hq for my early access in exchange for a review.
I have read and reviewed a large number if not all of Louise’s thrillers … they do not disappoint!!
I binged this in one evening and to say it goes in unexpected directions would be an understatement.
This is the second thriller I’ve read recently where it’s a smaller family unit /single parent family and I love this representation .
Louise is a master storyteller who creates escapism for her readers even if it evokes some anxiety and tension .
A fantastic book which explores important themes that do get people talking .
Trust no one even those close to you .
A great exploration of the troubles females have at all stages of their life and what happens when long hidden secrets are revealed.
It’s a rollercoaster of events and incredibly unpredictable.
Packed with suspense as the pages keep turning you will be hooked …

A brilliantly gripping, intense and highly addictive page turner that kept me guessing until the end.
Loved it!
One of my favourite reads so far this year and I devoured this book in less than 24 hours!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

4/5 Stars: Gripping and Emotionally Charged
Louise Lensen’s The Liar is a tense and thought-provoking psychological thriller that delves deep into themes of trust, manipulation, and the blurred lines between truth and deception. From the very first chapter, Lensen crafts an atmosphere of unease, pulling readers into the tangled web of lies surrounding the protagonist. The book is a slow burn, but its steady buildup of tension is both gripping and rewarding.
The protagonist is a well-rounded and flawed character, making their journey compelling and relatable. Lensen does an excellent job of exploring their inner conflicts, as well as the impact of the lies they tell—or believe. The supporting cast is equally intriguing, with several characters offering surprises that enhance the twists and turns of the plot.
The pacing is strong, with short, impactful chapters that make it hard to put the book down. While some twists are predictable, others come as a complete shock, keeping the reader on edge until the final pages. The ending, while satisfying, leaves some threads slightly open, which may leave readers wanting more closure.
Overall, The Liar is an engaging thriller with emotional depth and clever plotting. It’s a must-read for fans of suspenseful, character-driven stories.

This was my first book by Louise Jenson and I found it to be enjoyable if a little unbelievable at times. There were plenty of twists and turns with a heartbreaking ending.

Louise is one of my favourite authors so I was thrilled to be given the chance to read this. I loved it from the start, full of secrets and lies, I didn't know who to believe! The plot is tight and pacy and I loved the twist. A really good read!

When I started reading this, based on the blurb, I thought it would be quite a different read to what is turned out to be however I mean this in a positive way.. I wasn’t initially convinced by the circumstances in which Luke became Mel, Jen and Amy’s lodger but his story is actually only an element of the first half of the book. There’s an awful amount of secrets and indeed liars in this book, some of which I anticipated but several I didn’t and I really enjoyed the twists and turns this took as so many people could have played a part in Mel’s disappearance. I enjoyed how this was told from different perspectives and with flashbacks helping fill in events leading up to Mel’s disappearance. After a hesitant start I found myself gripped by this twisty thriller which had a somewhat heartbreaking conclusion.

The Liar is told from several different points of view with a well paced plot covering seven days in the life of the Abbott family.
It is a complex story of secrets and lies with some good twists that will have you guessing where the story is going. I was so invested in the story I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down.
I really enjoyed it until about the 80% point when the plot became unbelievable and so I have dropped a star for that but it is still a book I would recommend.

For me this was an unpredictable read.
Luke is very inquisitive about the family he is lodging with, he wants to know everything about them while giving nothing away about himself.
I loved how each chapter told the story of each family member and the twists kept coming.
The ending was an OMG moment and I was excited and surprised.
A good interesting read..

3.5 ⭐
I read a lot of this type of book, so it wasn't too surprising (to me anyway) when I guessed where a lot of the plot lines were going.
It didn't spoil the book for me, I enjoyed the writing, and waiting to see if I was right, or wrong.
I liked the small family of five, how close they were, how Mason was their everything. Felt a lot of warmth there.
The final quarter (?) Of this book really elevated the book for me. I did not predict how it would go, and that's always fun.
Pace and action picked up nicely.
An enjoyable read.