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.

I love John Marrs.. Was so excited to see he had a new book out.
Sadly i didn't love this one as much as some of his others.
The going back and forth so much in timelines I found frustrating. Chemo brain here so hard to keep track of timelines sometimes.
I usually devour his books this I had to make myself keep picking it up.
Solid 4 as the ending was great! Can't wait for his next book!!

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a early release if this book.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! I don’t know even how to describe this book, the storyline is so unique. I’ve become so bored by endless books about missing children or husbands with a secret; this book smashed all those repetitive storylines into pieces! I gasped so many times, I didn’t see any of the twists coming. I will be recommending this book to everyone. I’d rate this book 10 stars if Netgalley would let me!

Wow what a book kept me hooked start to finish I couldn’t put it down and did not expect the ending! The first book that’s kept me gripped in a while!

Another smash hit from John Marrs. This author is in my top three authors of all time and I get so excited when he has a new release. This book is amazing and dark and even a bit surreal at times. Loved it. Go into this book blind and you will be shocked and blindsided at every turn. An absolutely fantastic and intelligent psychological thriller. Or perhaps it’s better named as a psychological nightmare. Five stars xxxxx

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this John Marrs you've done it again. Chilling, twisted and totally gripping. Absolutely loved this unputdownable book from one of my favourite authors..

John Marrs has done it again!

Holy cow, has he done it again.

Maggie and Nina are co-dependent, co-habitating and co-existing but the hatred between them throbs like a pulse. What terrible history has led Nina to chain Maggie up in her attic??

More twisted than my hair in the morning, this book is SO good that I simply could not adult until I had finished it. This book is all anyone will be talking about in May!!

Thank you to John Marrs, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Lies Between Us by John Marrs is an electrifying, insane, chilling, shocking, unpredictable and totally riveting physiological thriller. Will be hard to forget Nina and Maggie. Mr. Marrs' books keep getting better and better. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

First, I have to say that I am a big fan of this author's books. Everyone is different with such unique characters and plots. In my experience, I receive one of his books, then put everything off, can't you see I'm reading a John Marrs book, and I wouldn't trade the time I spent reading for work or chores or social interaction. That being said, I never know whether an author can write another phenomenal, page flipper, but, What Lies Between Us is proof that it can happen again and again.
I went back and reread the book description. It tells very little, and that is the perfect way to enjoy all the twists and turns to come. I never read reviews until after I have written mine. Why? Spoilers, yes some people think nothing of sharing spoilers, but I don't want my read to be ruined. I could tell you how Nina and Maggie are connected but read the description. Nope, it isn't there and that is because I believe part of the enjoyment is letting the author guide the pace of the reveals. What I can say is that you will discover quite a bit about these two women, and be prepared for more than one what did I just read moment.
I think my Kindle might have been smoking by the time I read the last page! Short chapters, alternating narratives, and a fast-paced plot add up to another I stayed up all night reading book. If you haven't, might I suggest you read one or all of the author's other books? I doubt you will be disappointed!

John Marrs is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I read three of his books last year and could not put them down, easily 5 star reads. And he’s done it again!
This is very different to two books I’ve read of his previously (The One and The Passengers) as those dealt with topics you’d likely find at the centre of a Black Mirror episode. Instead this was a twisty turny thriller with domestic, mystery and psychological elements and I loved it. This is more similar to The Good Samaritan in topic and in thrills. He writes amazing and believable characters that you have no idea how you should really feel about them. He’s had me feeling sorry for a woman locking up a family member, a man who murders his dates, a woman who ‘mercy’ kills depressed people who call her for help and a man who claimed innocence while orchestrating an elaborate plan to overthrow technology developments. This guy is a winner and I won’t hear a bad word said about his books, I won’t!
John Marrs has a talent and I will never say no to one of his books.
Thank you to Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book - much appreciated and much loved!

Wow.... John Marrs you have completely excelled!!!! I’ve enjoyed all of this authors books, this one is on a different level.

Completely hooked from the first page and I’ve read in one sitting! Totally unexpected story, shocking, disturbing so many more words I could use.

This book plus the characters Nina and Maggie will stay with me for a very very long time..... 6 stars plus if I could rate that high

Two women, Maggie and Nina live in the same house. But Maggie lives chained up in the attic, where she spends all day, every day, except for the short time she spends down stairs having dinner with Nina after Nina unlocks her chains. After dinner, it’s straight back up to the attic. where Maggie is once again locked up. Nina believes she has every right and reason to keep Maggie a prisoner, but there’s more to the story than Nina knows and if she should uncover the truth, things might get even worse. The is definitely different than the usual thriller that pits a man against a woman in a domestic situation and made me think of that creepy old movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane

WHAT THE HELL I JUST READ!??HOLY COW(that’s me!) What a breath taking, captivating, pitch black dark, dazzling, devious and intense, soul crushing mother and daughter story!

I haven’t read something so scary, disturbing for so long! The growing tension from the beginning, those sick and shocking twists and revelation you find out at each chapter and that epic ending made me get an urgent appointment from hospital. My grey cells burned after over usage so I need an urgent transplant now! Yes, Mr. Marrs, my chin dropped! My eyes popped out of my sockets, my hands are shaky, actually my entire body was shaky and everybody is taking I’m the worse break-dancer. And something smells so bad! No, it’s coming from me. Oh no! Nooooo!!!It can’t be! What have I done!!!

OMG! In the middle of my reading I found myself acting like Regan from Exorcist making spider walk, climbing backwards from the stairs and my head spinning. (Thankfully my vomit color is not green. Not yet! I hate kale and spinach!)

That was true expression and quiet real reflection of my feelings: I was terrified! And you know what I’m not easily scared of anything instead of my image in the morning and my husband’s snoring sound louder than cumulative ten T-rex screaming! But let me tell you something, when I reach the end, my spine was already tingling and there were at least 15 teeth bites on my arm (nope, my dogs are innocent, I did to myself because
I have no longer nails which is more disgusting image you may ever imagine.) I was so close to scream for help but I also lost my voice (Yes, in the beginning of the book I already used my right to screaming louder till my sister in-law shoved a sock into my mouth (And it was my husband dirty sock! So yes there are things in the world scarier than waterboarding.)

Without giving too much spoilers I may only say this book’s story is definition of borderline personality disorder and unfortunately Maggie (mother) who is chained at the attic of her own house to pay for her sins and things she’s done to her daughter. (As Chris Isaak sings baby did a bad bad thing! Oh actually she did too many bad things! But I have to stop there not to ruin the surprises and bombs the author leaves into our laps and runs away!) And sweet Nina, at the end of her thirties, librarian is guardian and judge of her own mother’s slow punishment and execution.

Do you want to know why they built this sick relationship? Why Nina’s father leave without saying goodbye? Why Nina is so fragile around little children? Is Maggie innocent victim or pure evil needs to be behind the bars? Can she escape and save herself from captivation?

There are so many twists, so many revelations you cannot foresee their coming! You feel like punching several times from supernatural forces and crying like a baby to make it stop! Sorry our author is evil genius and he keeps sending more bombs and destroys your safe space.

Overall: Sometimes I felt suffocated from tension so I cut only half star but it is still 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars reading for me. I adore this author’s riveting, captivating style. He never ever disappoints me! Salute!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for sharing this special ARC for me in exchange my honest review.

<u>Rating:</u> <b>4.7 / 5</b>

**ARC review from Netgalley for advance copy.

At first, you may innocently be going into this and think that the setup is something akin to <i>Whatever Happened to Baby Jane</i>.

I mean, it's a similar setup: two women living in the same house, one of them unable to get out and is thus reliant on the other, but puts up with everything due to a handicapping secret that cannot be revealed at all costs. So...Jane and Blanche much?

But you'd be wrong. Oh no, my dears, it's worse. <i>Much worse.</i>

This book goes from bad to worse on the scale of how messed up it is, in that no matter how far you read and think, "okay, this is it--it can't get any worse than this", the book will find a way of proving you wrong. There's no rivalry, no jealousy, no logical understanding at the heart of this whole confinement situation. Both Nina and Maggie have their side of the story, and fortunately the author doesn't hesitate to take us through both of them in tantalizing (and tantalizingly but deliciously slow) detail. It all just brings "disturbing" on a whole new level that will leave you in need of a bath to wash the grime off. And it is grimy, my friends--that it is.

I don't know what to say without giving it away, but all I can advise readers is not to expect anything pleasant, not to expect closure, not to expect logic or justification for either character. Some things are the wrong things done for the right reasons whereas other things are just out of control--in either case, you end up hesitating to point fingers and by the end will just throw up your hands in the air and give up trying.

Read it if you have the stomach for it, I say. But categorize this outside the realm of the ordinary, if you will--nothing feels short of insane in this one.

Loved this book!!! One of the best stories I have read in a long time. Every time I thought I figured it out, I was wrong. Makes one reevaluate living with someone you may hate and the things one can do to another to make them stay and suffer. I love John Marrs books! I really think he has grown as a writer. I can not wait to read his next book.
I am recommending this to everyone who thinks they have read about every type of thriller book!

What Lies Beneath Us had me hooked me the beginning. I actually read this in one sitting. No way I was putting this page turner down!

Nina and Maggie live in the same house. There’s bad blood between them. Nina can’t forgive Maggie for something. But what?

I wasn’t expecting this to be so shocking. There were moments when all I could do was let the “wow” slowly fall out of my mouth and give myself a moment to let my brain catch up with the horrors I was reading.
What Lies Beneath Us is dark, it’s chilling and I’ll be talking about this story for a long time. Already planning on buying a copy for family to read as well as check out John Marrs other books for myself!

You will not regret reading this book.

Another unputdownable book by John Marrs.
I always get excited when I see that John Marrs has written a new book and I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of What Lies Between Us.
I devoured this book in two sittings, it had me hooked from the first page.
Maggie and Nina share a house. Nina looks after Maggie’s every need but they don’t get on very well because of secrets they share that cause bitter resentments.
Secrets that need to kept hidden from the word outside.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 - Another fantastic offering from John Marrs!
I really enjoyed this and couldn't put it down. I read it within 24 hours!
A few of the reveals were slightly predictable but I totally forgave it because the tension and the mood was so brilliantly crafted throughout.
I recommend this to fans of atmospheric psychological thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my Honest review.

This book is intense, scarily real and totally addictive, This book is chilling, you will not be able to read the book without being a bit shocked, a tad ruffled.
Maggie has her whole life controlled by Nina who she lives with, in ways you can't even imagine.
this book kept me guessing and when the turns come hold on tight.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my Honest review.

Just when you think you know it all, everything will get flipped over. I read this in one day and know you will too! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

There is no secret that John Marrs is one of my favourite authors, every book is guaranteed to be very different and a major ‘talking point’ with readers

This book is chilling, you will not be able to read the book without being a bit shocked, a tad ruffled and majorly wowed by this story

Nina lives with Maggie, Maggie is older so Nina cooks for her and ‘keeps house’, she virtually controls her life, in fact she 100% controls every aspect of it....and when you find out how, where and why you will, like me be in for one of those ‘book shock’ moments that when they hit,they hit hard ,in fact I had to re read to make sure I had it right.....

But why is Nina doing this? What could Maggie have done in the past to warrant such behaviour and how can Nina continue a ‘normal’ life knowing what is happening at her home?,and more to the point how on earth does Maggie cope with it, the indignity, the worry and the punishments she randomly faces?

This book is intense, scarily real and totally addictive, flawless story telling and though a term easily used it really was ‘unputdownable’, John Marrs always manages to shock and surprise in his books and this does both, over and over!

Superb

10/10
5 Stars

It was an intriguing set-up and it certainly kept me reading. However, I can't say that I really enjoyed it. The two main characters were deeply unpleasant. Also, the ending was too slight for me.

Blimey! Yet another read from John Marrs that is impossible to put down!
I’m not going to discuss the plot in too much detail as there were so many twists and turns that I could very easily trip myself up and spoil the story for you, but simply Nina and Maggie live in the same house, but while Nina works and is able to leave the house, Maggie isn’t. I genuinely couldn’t read this book fast enough.
Ok, if I’m being brutally honest, there were a couple of instances where I asked myself “Really? Could that really happen?” The answer was “Yes. It really could”. Scary stuff
I loved this, thank you to John Marrs, Netgalley and the publisher’s for letting me read an ARC

QUICK TAKE: great premise, not sure Marrs nailed the execution. Both women are extremely unlikable and difficult to root for and I kept expecting a big twist and reveal and was left wanting more at the end. I was hoping for WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE but it never really lived up to that. Easy, quick thriller if you need a palette cleanser.

4.5 stars*** This book was dark, twisted, and creepy. This is my second John Marrs book and I’m loving his writing style. It took a little bit for me to get into the book and the characters. But wow, this had so many twists and turns! Both the narrators are unreliable and it’s hard to keep up with who is telling the truth. In the beginning, Maggie is painted as the innocent one and then that plot twist was insane.
The ending dragged a little bit but it came full circle in the epilogue and I’m glad to see Maggie get revenge.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Omg .. how does this man do it. Every book he writes is so different
i think this has been my favourite book of his so far. So many twists and turns and he's damn good at writing about deranged females.
but why.. why did he end it that way....

A dark, twisty tale of two women with secrets and a very complicated relationship!

Why is Nina keeping her mother in the attic?
Why does she hate her so much?

Gosh this book was dark! Maybe a little too dark for me? John Marrs you have a twisted mind 😂

Filled with unlikeable, dysfunctional characters, secrets, lies and disturbing choices, 'What Lies Between Us' had a malevolent feel to it, which chilled me. The characters, with their co-dependency, got under my skin, and left me feeling anxious and quite sad.

Told from two character's pov, Maggie, and her daughter Nina in flashbacks over the last 25 years, and in the present, this story was so addictive, I just couldn't look away!

I was a little disappointed that I predicted some of the major plot twists, they felt a bit obvious to me?! I also had some issues with the police or lack of.. But the writing was strong enough to make me read on, to see if was correct!

I definitely prefer John Marrs's more sci-fi books like 'The One' and 'The Passengers' but this book undoubtedly had me on edge! Also the cover is hauntingly good!

Recommended if you want a dark, crazy read! I now need a light fluffy book and a hug please!

Oh what a tangled web we weave....... What a twisted book! I love twisted! This is my first book by this author and I am wow'd! Is that a word? John Marrs you are now on my radar!

Nina and Maggie, Maggie and Nina, which side will you be on ? This was a crazy fun ride! Told in alternative points of view from Maggie to Nina, from past to present, with secrets revealed throughout that will leave you shocked. I believe my jaw dropped several times. This was a fast paced, addictive read that kept me gripped from start to finish. I highly recommend for anyone that loves twisty thrillers! I don't think I will be forgetting this book anytime soon! Now excuse me while I go search for John Marrs other books!

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Maggie has always tried hard to protect her daughter Nina, ever since her husband left her when Nina was just a teenager.
Nina went off the rails and fell for local band member Jon Hunter after becoming pregnant for the second time at 14 and what Maggie had told Nina that the baby was born stillborn and that she couldn't have any more children due to a medical condition.
Into adulthood they both live together in the family home just the two of them, Nina discovers shocking secrets that Maggie had kept from her.
Being outraged Nina wants revenge and locks her mother in the attic room only allowing her to come and have dinner with her every two days after two years of being locked away from the outside world something begins to change and in a house full of secrets that can't be a good thing.

I found this thriller really hard to read - as the lies between Nina and Maggie were exposed I alternated between who I sympathised with in a situation where no decision seemed ‘right’. You had a mother desperately trying to protect her child but in so doing causing her further harm. This was a very dark read exploring the intensity of feelings between two co-dependent individuals drawn together by past secrets.

Not for the faint hearted - a compelling read.

Wow. Just wow. That was a ride!

Nina and Maggie live in the same house, eat dinner together every other night, but Maggie is kept prisoner by Nina, her ankle chained to the floor. The story is told alternating between Maggie and Nina narrating. You will have so many questions that will be answered bit by bit as you read.

I absolutely loved this book! The plot kept me reading and I finished it in almost one sitting. I think this book will be talked about a lot once published in May. Definitely plan to read it if you are a psychological thriller fan. I had never read a book by John Marrs, but now I’m eager to read his others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest exchange.

Another great book by John Marrs, he does not disappoint! I did not want this book to end. The relationship between Maggie and Nina was fascinating and the alternating chapters told in both their voices kept me flipping the pages well into the night. Dysfunctional family drama coupled with murder and mystery makes for such a great story. I cant wait for his next book!

I am a huge fan of John Marrs and have read all of his previous books therefore I was very excited to receive an advanced copy of What Lies Between Us.
A very dark and twisty story surrounding Maggie and her daughter Nina and the story surrounding their relationship.
I enjoyed reading the mother and daughters different perspectives and a real rollercoaster of changing my feelings on one character to the next.
Lots of twists and turn which certainly kept me on the edge of my chair.

This is me shouting “WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ???” from the rooftops! This book is very disturbing. I give it 10 stars, actually. I couldn't put it down!

What Lies between Us is structured with alternating POVs from the two main characters: Maggie (the mother chained by her daughter in the attic) and Nina (the daughter with a massive resentment towards Maggie). One of the things I loved about this novel was the anticipation of when these two POVs would finally collide and the story will finally makes sense (and will let me breathe because the last 13 hours of reading this book was an uncomfortable pleasure. It gives me anxiety! Hahaha). It was incredibly interesting to see things from both Maggie and Nina’s perspective and with any mystery/thriller, I was left wondering which one was the unreliable narrator or if both of them were to be trusted. And to be honest, ever since I read this book, I started to doubt my own sanity. Every cliffhanger at the end of every chapter makes me want to know what happens next. It’s like I’m losing my mind. I was like “WTF?” “OMG!” the whole time. This book is highly recommended!

Oh and huge thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC.

I’ve been a huge fan of John Marr’s books for some time and his latest offering certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Maggie and her daughter Nina have a very unusual and strained relationship. Each chapter is written from the perspective of each character and as you learn about their reasons and mindset you begin to take sides.
I was totally immersed in this book from the first page. I found myself gravitating from each character with a heightened sense of love and hate in equal measures.
Twisty and absolutely nerve wrecking in equal measures! Highly recommended

Everybody hop aboard the crazy train! First stop: Dysfunction Junction!

Oh my, I'm not sure what to say about this one. This book is so bonkers and so entertaining that it was hard to look away from my kindle. I'm not going to discuss the plot because there is a minefield of spoilers to tip toe around if I do.

I loved The Good Samaritan by this author but Her Last Move was a DNF for me and Passengers I didn't bother to request because I just knew it wasn't my jam. But this one! Oh yes, this one is on par with The Good Samaritan and a reminder as to why I love these twisty psych thrillers. Well done! 4 *You can't pick your family* Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

John marrs ...I love his books ..rare to find such consistency but book after book is gripping .
This soooooo reminded me of Liz Nugent in terms of dynamics and unlikable characters .There are mainly two female characters and with every chapter u think how on earth did they get here and then a revelation and u think ahhh and then bam 💥 u see why .
The need to controll through the anxiety to protect can lead to serious danger and damage
There is a case for one being more dangerous than the other but if the other hadn't tried to fiercely protect her and controll her dysfunctionally and at times selfishly I suspect then they may have got help ,been kept safe and therefore others also protected .
I felt so sad though also other characters and am always reading one more chapter pre bed with John marrs .
Ty again netflicks and publishers I liked it alot .John never dissapointed and even an average read from him is good .
He doesnt really do formula ,u are always intrigued and always delivers a good set up between his characters .
I giving a four as his is a cut above the average ,bit more creative with his thinking and how people cd end up like this ..I also liked the ending
This appeals to my love for dark dynamics ,secrets and what we do when we panic ,lose controll or are overly protected .

Yet again John Marrs delivers, I absolutely devoured this book. Another twisted and wicked tale from the mind of one of my favourite authors. John Marrs has a talent for writing characters to despise and making you want to unlock their awful secrets.
This book drags you in from the very beginning and spits you out at it’s terrible conclusion.
I can not wait to read whatever he comes up with next!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

John Marrs has done it again!

Why is Nina keeping her mother, Maggie, locked (and chained) to a top floor room?

This story takes the reader back to where Nina's and Maggie's "falling out" began - 25 years ago - and, of course, to the present time.

Why does Nina hate her mother SO much? What happened in their past for Maggie to deserve being so severely punished?

A superb read that continues to build as we are captivated and kept guessing.

A wonderful story - HIGHLY Recommend!

Many Thanks to Amazon Publishing, UK and NetGalley for a "can't put down" book.

An adult woman is keeping her elderly mother chained up in the attic. How did things come to this pass? The story cleverly unfolds with flashbacks and present day sections and I have to say I was engrossed throughout. Things were not as I first thought them. A mother’s love can be distorted. We would do anything for our children, but should we? It certainly makes you wonder what your nice neighbours are really like! I haven’t read a John Marrs novel I haven’t loved and this one’s no exception. Totally a five star read.

When I initially began reading this book I couldn't help but help but feel this has been done before, resembling other books of this genre I'd read, and so I was hesitant at first whether this book was going to grip me. Whilst I read this pretty much in one sitting and did enjoy reading it and finding out what happens, there were some parts which for me let it down. We are first introduced to one of our main characters, Maggie, who is being held captive in her own home. Whilst we are yet to find out why she came about these circumstances, our first encounter with her is of her observing neighbours and events in her street from the window of the bedroom she is being held in confinement in. This opening chapter of the book initially reminded me of 'Rear Window' (which is in fact referenced in the text) or even the extremely similar plot 'The Woman in the window'. We are then introduced to our other main character, Nina, who we find out shares the same house as Maggie and provides her with food and basic needs whilst keeping her chained up. The story is told through the eyes of these two characters, with events being narrated in the present day and also jumps back in time, as the plot gradually unfolds, and we begin to find out who these characters are and why they have ended up living in such circumstances.. As the plot unravels in this way, you do begin to question which of these characters is the more candid of the two, and as you begin to learn of further events, I found myself debating which of these characters has more credibility in their moral choices. Such a plot and relationship between two characters reminded me somewhat of Stephanie Wrobel's novel 'The Recovery of Rose Gold'. Whilst the story is well written, has a good pace and keeps you interested, I did in fact guess many of the twists in the plot. Maybe I've read too many psychological thrillers, but as the character of Maggie actually reflects herself in the book with her opinion of reading novels, states, 'I'm hard to please though. If I guess the culprit correctly, I'll be disappointed at how predictable the story is. If I get it wrong, I'll be annoyed at myself for not spotting it earlier'. Whilst there is no doubt John Marrs creates well written and carefully thought out plots with often believable characters, I'm afraid it was the former of this statement by Maggie (and created by Marrs himself) that prevented me from giving this book a full five stars, as I just felt it lacked originality somewhat. If you're a John Marrs fan and have enjoyed his previous books, I'm sure you'll enjoy this, but maybe you will/won't guess the plot. My thanks go out to netgalley and Amazon publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this.

I wanted to read What Lies Between Us because of how much I enjoyed the experience of reading The One. And holy F did this not disappoint!

Nina and Maggie have a complicated relationship (to say the least). Regardless about how I feel about either character (hint: not great!!), there is something so smoothly compelling about John Marrs' writing, that I legit could not look away.

So many twists.
So many questions.
So many jaw drops.

Like The One, I devoured this book in 1 day (2 sittings) and do not regret ignoring friends/other hobbies and staying up past my bedtime to do so. Albeit dark and at times disturbing, this book is a phenomenal thriller and turned out to be the perfect "pallet cleanser" I was searching for.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Highly recommend the train wreck of a story that is this book and can't wait for its release in May so my friends can read it and so we can discuss over cocktails!

John Marrs is one of the leading thriller authors and he has done it again! If you start reading this book be prepared to put your life on hold because you may not stop until you are finished. It truly is "unputdownable"I read it in one sitting and found myself holding my breath until it was finished.
It is the unsettling shocking story of a mother and daughter with such an unpredictable and totally enthralling storyline. The characters and the plot are portrayed in such a way that I found myself sympathizing for one or the other in different parts of the book. It is a very compelling and addictive novel and there is lots to like about this book!

Whoa! I need to cuddle a kitten...or call my mom after this one! I love John Marrs and was eager to read this one. I went into this somewhat blind and had not read any spoilers so I wasn't sure who the two women were and their relationship. I will try not to spoil this, but this was tense story about the dynamic between family. It was a little of a slow burn at first, and wow that was not a pun at all, but really got going the second half. Another win for Mr. Marrs Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc.