Source: Free review copy received from publisher
Five words from the blurb: truth, friendship, island, murder, memory
Lie With Me is the best thriller I’ve read in years! It was so compelling and clever that I’ll be pushing it into the hands of every friend who asks me for a book recommendation this year. Follow birrongsurialpacas for more reviews or recommendations.
The story begins with Paul, a struggling author, meeting an old friend in a bookshop. They arrange to meet at a party and Paul decides to re-integrate himself with this successful friendship group in order to gain enough favours to solve his spiralling financial problems. Paul lies about his success to impress everyone at the party, embellishing details about his life. His plan appears to work when he finds himself being invited on a holiday to a small Greek island, but unfortunately everything goes wrong when the group gets caught up in the investigation of a murder that took place on the island many years ago.
Paul was a fantastic character. He was cruel and manipulative, but it was easy to see why he acted in this way. By the end of the book I even had some sympathy for him – I love books that can make me feel that way about such an evil character.
‘It’s hard, isn’t it, living with privilege? She gestured to the flat, the art work, the items of mid-century furniture, the shelves of books. ‘Do you ever feel guilty at how easy it all is, how much people like us have been given on a plate by our parents?’
I felt another tight spasm in my chest, a need to tell her how it wasn’t, what a struggle it had been not to lead the life of my parents, how I had always hated the smallness of their ambition, their willingness to settle with meekness and mediocrity.
The plot was very well structured. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but I was impressed by the layers of detail and way everything escalated. By the last third I was so engrossed I couldn’t put it down, finishing it in one late night sitting.
This book isn’t perfect, but the clever plotting and beautifully flawed characters make up for any deficiencies. I’ll be thinking about the issues raised in this book for a long time.
If you’re after a gripping thriller to read on holiday this year, I highly recommend Lie With Me.
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sounds like an interesting read, but I think it will be too charming for me and so I won’t be reading it. 0
ever since I first heard about it on 
sounded interesting and so I attempted to read a few weeks ago. Unfortunately the writing style grated on me so I gave up very quickly. 
is another book that I’m interested in reading. I have a copy here, but it hasn’t quite made it to the top of the pile yet. 
is the only book that I hadn’t heard of when the list was announced. I still know very little about it, but for now I’ll take that as a positive. 
to my wishlist. This is a book I plan to try before the TV series begins.
, but it is an original debut so I’m happy to see it on this list. 
is a book I hadn’t heard of before this list was revealed. That is what shows like this are supposed to do.
doesn’t look like a very original book, but I haven’t read it so will give it the benefit of the doubt. 0
is a book in translation – I can’t possibly complain about that! 
seems like a fairly typical thriller, but I have always wanted to read some Lehane. I probably wont read this one, but I don’t feel I can deduct a point for its selection. 0
won the Pulitzer prize, but it hasn’t received that much attention here in the UK. It will divide opinion, but I think that will make a very interesting discussion on the show. 
captured my attention from the moment I read the title. I don’t know anything else about it, but I do know I want to read it. 
I have now read them all and I was very disappointed.
