From the acclaimed author of Her Every Fear and The Kind Worth Killing comes a diabolically clever tale of obsession, revenge, and cold-blooded murder—a sly and brilliant guessing game of a novel in the vein of Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, and Patricia Highsmith.Harry Ackerson has always considered his stepmother Alice to be sexy and beautiful, in an “otherworldly” way. She has always been kind and … and beautiful, in an “otherworldly” way. She has always been kind and attentive, if a little aloof in the last few years.
Days before his college graduation, Alice calls with shocking news. His father is dead and the police think it’s suicide. Devastated, Harry returns to his father’s home in Maine. There, he and Alice will help each other pick up of the pieces of their lives and uncover what happened to his father.
Shortly after he arrives, Harry meets a mysterious young woman named Grace McGowan. Though she claims to be new to the area, Harry begins to suspect that Grace may not be a complete stranger to his family. But she isn’t the only attractive woman taking an interest in Harry. The sensual Alice is also growing closer, coming on to him in an enticing, clearly sexual way.
Mesmerized by these two women, Harry finds himself falling deeper under their spell. Yet the closer he gets to them, the more isolated he feels, disoriented by a growing fear that both women are hiding dangerous—even deadly—secrets . . . and that neither one is telling the truth.
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah –
Told from multiple perspectives across more than twenty years, this is an intense, mind bending thriller. In the present, Harry finds himself caught up in his father’s murder investigation. In the past, we get moments in time from the perspectives of a few different characters. Like all good psychological thrillers, readers are able to piece together each of the seemingly discordant scenes to find the killer before the final revelation.
I’m always in two minds about books with unreliable or unlikeable narrators. This story has both and while I enjoyed the moral ambiguity, I’m not sure I wanted to get so far into the minds of a couple of the narrators. Harry himself is too bland for readers to either like or dislike and it is impossible to view any of the other characters without suspicion. The result is a tense and often ugly search for truth.
I don’t want to give anything away, but something about the ending felt both too easy and slightly unsatisfying. However, I’m not sure any ending would be completely satisfying because this is a story that prompts far more questions than it could ever answer. I’m not sure I enjoyed the book but I loved the puzzle and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
Avid Reader –
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Murder
Harry has a mystery on his hands. With the death of his father, he comes home and now has a mystery to solve. His stepmom is hiding something, his family friend is hiding something, and there is a new person hanging around who is trying to solve the same mystery as Harry, but for a very different reason.
This has a great mystery. While I wish that Harry had more personality, his flashbacks were helpful in figuring out part of the mystery. I really liked his friend, and wished he was more part of the story since he gave off more personality and flare than Harry.
Without giving away the mystery, you could see it play out slowly and like a train wreck you can’t look away from, despite the predictability, it was still entertaining.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson to read and review.
Just on the cusp of college graduation Harry Ackerson receives word from home that his father has suddenly passed away, so rather than stick around for graduation, he heads home to bury his father and get some answers. Once he arrives home, he starts to dig into his father’s death, and also starts to help his step-mother settle some things and learn how to adjust to being on her own. But somewhere along the way, lines start to get crossed, seductions take place, and Harry finds himself sharing a bed with his gorgeous step-mother.
And if that isn’t enough to deal with, then he meets a beautiful girl name Grace, initially she seems like the perfect woman for him, but then things take an interesting turn, and he starts to have doubts. As much as he likes her, there is something telling him to be wary of her, she says she is new to town, but things just aren’t adding up… and he is starting to think she maybe involved in his father’s past.
All The Beautiful Lies is a thrilling literary escapade riddled with obsession, revenge, secrets, and murder! The instant you crack the cover on this one you will be mesmerized by Mr. Swanson’s crafty words, and mind twisting plot… it was downright addictive!! This is my first read by this author and I have to say he gained a new fan with this one, I will definitely be checking out more of his books in the very near future! If you are a lover of twisted thrillers, then this one will be right up your alley… my advice, be prepared to hang out on the edge of your seat the whole way through!! Highly Recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from Edelweiss, and voluntarily read and reviewed.
Henry Ackerson is about to graduate from college when he learns of the shocking death of his father. He returns to Maine and finds out from his stepmother that the police think it’s a suicide. Henry is not sure what to believe, but he does know he wants answers. He becomes closer to his stepmother and then a mysterious girl arrives in town- does she have information to help Harry find the truth? The truth is both women have secrets that could end up with causing deadly consequences. I always enjoy Peter Swanson’s books! Great fast paced thrillers!
All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson reminded me a little bit of another book I’ve read, but that first tinge of familiarity is all I got. This is another incredibly unique read from Swanson, and even though I have only read two books by him now, I love how different they have both been. This book is chock-full of inappropriate relationships and murder, and it will definitely be too disturbing and uncomfortable for some readers. There isn’t anyone particularly likeable in this novel either, but I completely devoured it and was very satisfied by the twists and end.
This book has such a dark plot and I can see that Swanson likes to explore topics that some authors wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot-pole. This is one of the things I love about his books and I also love how he sets the mood with his writing. The setting of Maine by the ocean could be quite ominous and I haven’t read many books set here so it was a nice change of pace as well. Another thing I really enjoyed about All the Beautiful Lies was the time period changes (then and now), and the viewpoint changes. Both of these things together made the book read very quickly and I felt like I was done in no time. I listened to the audio and was very impressed with Sarah Mollo-Christensen’s narration of the book. I loved listening to her, and I thought she did a great job with it, so I would recommend the audiobook if you listen to them.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via Edelweiss. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
All his books are great!
I was a little disappointed in this book. I had been anxiously awaiting its release after reading “The Kind Worth Killing”, a terrific psychological thriller. However, this novel had promise, but I just didn’t think it delivered.
The story begins when Harry receives a call that his father Bill has died accidentally. When he returns to Maine, he finds his stepmother distraught over the death. Harry can’t understand it when the accidental death is changed to be a suspicious death / homicide. We then find out the backstory of Alice, Harry’s stepmother, who has a very dark past.
I really felt that the story collapsed in the last few chapters, almost as if the writer was racing to finish the book and tie up all the loose ends.
Very good story and characters
Alice Moss has always been different. When her husband, Bill, dies, she has to arrange herself again. Harry, Bill’s son and Alice’s stepson, returns for his father’s funeral, dumbstruck. Peter Swanson’s All the Beautiful Lies is a dark, atmospheric read that takes place on the coast of Maine. The story alternates from Harry’s POV now and Alice’s POV then. We soon discover that Bill’s death on a cliff path was not an accident. Swanson is one of the best when it comes to mystery/thrillers. His stories are always original, fast-paced, and compulsively readable.
Wow! Blew through this in three days. Awesome read!
Another GREAT book by Peter Swanson! I’m huge fan of this author.
OH MY GOD!
This is an incredible, fast-paced thriller!
It moves with the determination and energy of a Great White zeroing in on its prey. It grabs you, sinks its teeth in and doesn’t let go. Racing to a climax that will leave you breathless!
SO well-structured with superb plotting. Chapters alternating between “now” and “then”.
I read it in one go. I know it’s said all the time, but I literally could not put it down.
This is destined to become a bestseller. Mr. Swanson has done it again! Brilliant. (less)
Peter Swanson is the master of what I like to call “everyday psychopath stories”. The everyday psychopath is that person, perhaps one in every hundred or so, who can mimic normalcy, blend into everyday life with everyday people, doing all the things normal people do –they have relationships, get jobs, have children even. They may or may not be ambitious, Type A, or downright ruthless, but most often, they are not. They’re … ordinary. Almost. And for the most part, they seem to function as most people do. Except just beneath the surface is a core of disconnectedness from normal human emotions, and an inability to recognize the importance or significance of much else beyond their own selfish desires.
This book (and all the others by him that I’ve read) execute this concept really, really well. He is especially good at showing how, when two such damaged souls encounter each other, mayhem can ensue. I recommend this book if you like psychological thrillers.
Audiobook Note: Listed on Audible, and as is often the case, it took a few chapters to get used to the narrator’s style. At first she sounded like a newscaster–stilted and strangely dispassionate. But she either got much better, or I got used to her. By the time it was done, she had grown on me.
Harry Ackerson is on the cusp of his graduation from college when he receives the devastating news of his father’s death from an accidental fall during his morning walk. He returns home to his grieving stepmother, Alice, who looks to him for support. They soon discover that Bill Ackerson’s death was no accident.
According to Sharon Packer, author of Movies and the Modern Psyche, “A distinguishing characteristic of a psychological thriller is it emphasizes the mental states of its characters: their perceptions, thoughts, distortions, and general struggle to grasp reality.” It’s a perfect description of this story.
Harry and Alice represent the two points of view throughout, transitioning between “then” and “now” to provide context for their actions, behaviors and mindsets in the present. Backstories of a few other secondary characters are also presented because of their relationships to Harry and/or Alice. The content is often disturbing as it deals with sexual themes of a predatory nature so be forewarned.
I read the book blurb when deciding to add this to my shelf but didn’t read it before I started listening. I highly recommend this as I was able to allow the story to unfold on a blank slate, which enhanced my enjoyment. The narrator is just excellent with her perfect pacing, inflections and style. Her distinctions were fine but it’s her storytelling skills that worked for me.
That’s all I’ll share about the story details because you deserve to read or hear it firsthand like I did. What I will share is that there is a recurring theme with the characters who inflict themselves upon society. Alice is a complex character and you can judge for yourself if her history matters in explaining the decisions she makes as an adult. Thought provoking with a provocative ending, this story enthralls you from the onset.
Instantly engaged, the first half of the book was gripping and intriguing. The writing and character development was right on, and I was gearing for a brilliant conclusion. Then the creativity declined and the ideas from there seemed haphazardly pulled from thin air. Disappointing when a book works into such great potential, then crashes. Certainly no rival for “Her Every Fear.”
Put aside your day or night because this is a one-day book. Harry Ackerson loses his mother to cancer in high school but when he leaves for college his father meets Alice and remarries. Harry’s step-mother Alice is not the evil step-mother of fairy tales she is kind and attentive without being clingy and then Harry’s father dies. Told from different character perspectives both in the past and present this book will really have you going from page to page. The combination of introducing new characters from former times and also the present adds to the storyline in such a way that you are truly wrapped up in the mystery of who is the one plotting against whom. Has anyone told the truth? A great thriller with suspense that keeps you on edge.
This is my first book by this author, but definitely not the last!!! I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put this one down. Crazy characters and a storyline that might not appeal to all readers. I found it intriguing from the get go and read it very quickly! Wow, a great read for sure.
I did not know what to expect from this book as I was totally unfamiliar with this author. I was very, very pleasantly surprised because often I’ve just selected a book on a whim and been disappointed. Not this time! The author creates a very believable story line which weaves back and forth from past to present. The characters are believable, skillfully develpoed and help move the action along swiftly. The ending was a little too neat which is why I gave it four stars. However, this is a great beach or pool read, or for when you want to just relax a few minutes before turning in. Try it… you won’t be disappointed.
Swanson is one of the best writers out there.
I almost gave up reading this book about half way through because it became tedious. I then reminded myself that I had enjoyed another book by this author and decided to persevere. I was rewarded as the pace quickly revived and in the end was a great read.
A story in search of a good ending.