From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Do No Harm and The Night Olivia Fell—an “emotionally charged mystery” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author)—comes a thrilling new suspense novel about the insidious nature of family secrets…and their deadly potential.If you can’t remember it, how do you prove you didn’t do it? Eva Hansen wakes in the hospital after being struck by lightning and … do it?
Eva Hansen wakes in the hospital after being struck by lightning and discovers her mother, Kat, has been murdered. Eva was found unconscious down the street. She can’t remember what happened but the police are highly suspicious of her.
Determined to clear her name, Eva heads from Seattle to London—Kat’s former home—for answers. But as she unravels her mother’s carefully held secrets, Eva soon realizes that someone doesn’t want her to know the truth. And with violent memories beginning to emerge, Eva doesn’t know who to trust. Least of all herself.
Told in alternating perspectives from Eva’s search for answers and Kat’s mysterious past, Christina McDonald has crafted another “complex, emotionally intense” (Publishers Weekly) domestic thriller. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell’s I Found You and Karin Slaughter’s Pieces of Her, Behind Every Lie explores the complicated nature of mother-daughter relationships, family trauma, and the danger behind long-held secrets.
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A riveting collision of motherhood and memory–where a sinister and inescapable past haunts those struggling to make sense of their lives and protect their children. What’s BEHIND EVERY LIE is a shocking truth–and for readers, a jaw-dropping page-turning whirlwind of a thriller. Instantly captivating, and endlessly surprising! Christina McDonald is a star.
I loved this book from the first page. It had me hooked and I read it in one day. Thrilling and heartbreaking at the same time.
With the publication of The Night Olivia Fell, Christina McDonald became a best-selling author. Behind Every Lie is a spectacular successor that she accurately describes as “twisty. Emotional. Empowering.”
Behind Every Lie, inspired by the case of Emily Doe, the woman who was sexually assaulted at Stanford University by Brock Turner, is an intense, atmospheric story told at a relentless pace. Once again, McDonald mines a timeless and endlessly fascinating topic: the complex relationship between a mother and daughter. As the story opens, Eva’s memory has been impacted as a result of being struck by lightning. Ironically, that occurred on the very night her mother was brutally murdered. Now Eva can’t remember the time leading up to the murder. And because the police suspect her, she initially doubts herself, actually wondering if she was capable of such a violent, abhorrent act. She is deeply frustrated by her inability to remember.
McDonald sets the story in two locales, Seattle, her home, and her adopted home city of London, and employs two narratives. Eva’s first-person, present-day narration alternates with that of Kat, set twenty-five years earlier. Kat notes at the outset, “A memory is no more reliable than the weather, broken, warped by the teller’s view.” McDonald deftly shows that Kat is going to explain how that opening scene in a park was “the beginning of the end,” pulling readers into a unique and cleverly-plotted mystery. Eva and Kat are the centerpieces of the tale, but McDonald includes a colorful cast of supporting characters, among them Liam, Eva’s live-in boyfriend, a successful property developer with offices in Seattle and on isolated Whidbey Island. Eva has kept a secret from Liam, and worries that if he finds out what happened four years ago, she will lose him. Because of that, Eva has isolated herself and catered to Liam’s whims, always being pliable and compliant, allowing him to dictate the terms of their relationship. Vulnerable and scarred by the events she has never revealed to him, Eva has always viewed him as a “nurturer,” believing that he is better at taking care of things than she is. There’s also Andrew, Eva’s brother, and the intriguing Lilly, Kat’s best friend. The two women grew up in England, and Lilly has been like a second mother to Eva and Andrew.
It quickly becomes clear that Eva can trust no one. Can she dare trust herself to uncover the truth?
As the story progresses, everything Eva has always believed about her life and the people around her is called into question. Text messages reveal why Eva was at her mother’s home on the night she died, and a letter from her mother explains some of the truth, and the fact that Kat kept secrets from her in order to protect her.
In order to prove that she is not a murderer, she knows she must learn the truth, no matter how destructive or painful it might be. In the midst of the murder investigation, Eva flees to London in search of answers, determined not to take the blame for something that she did not do.
Through a series of shocking revelations, McDonald challenges readers to consider what sacrifices a mother will make to protect her child, the lengths to which a mother will go in the name of putting the child’s needs ahead of her own. She examines how several women respond to unimaginable circumstances, making choices that they will be required to live with for decades to come. And explores the impact of those choices on those whose lives are impacted. Is forgiveness too much to ask? Is it possible to move on after discovering devastating truths about your family members and their actions . . . and learn to rely upon your own power?
Behind Every Lie is a fast-moving, engrossing mystery about a woman who needs answers about who she really is not only to prove that she is not a murderer, but also to forge a future for herself, free from her family’s secrets about the past. It is entertaining and compelling, full of expertly-timed plot twists and surprises guided by McDonald’s evident compassion for Eva, her protagonist. At the beginning of the story, Eva is a heartbroken young woman who is very much lost, mired in mystery, memory loss, and desperately in need of information about her and her family that has been kept hidden from her for years. Her journey to the truth, and the empowerment and belief in her own worthiness it engenders, is poignant and compelling.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
“I received a review copy from NetGalley and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review.”
So I read The Night Olivia Fell by this author and it didn’t work for me. I decided to give this book a chance because the blurb sounded good. With that being said I really enjoyed this book a lot better. The writing was solid. The story line sucked me in and I finished this book in one day. It was told in dual points of view from the past and present. I loved how it all came together in the end. There was a twist that I didn’t see coming at all. I had my own theories but I wasn’t expecting that bombshell at all. If you are looking for a suspenseful story that will have you hooked from start to finish look no further.
This was a wonderful story.
A young girl who ends up in a whole nother family because her life has become in danger, her Nanny’s little girl ends up dying and the nanny’s father is out for Revenge.. but there’s so much more to this book as Eve grows up.. she goes through so many things that one could not imagine, this was a story that I absolutely loved I think this author did an amazing job I think this is a fabulous book I would give it 10 Stars if I could I don’t want to give any of the story away I would love for everyone to read this book it is really that good I will actually read this book again. The story has so many twists turns and a wonderful plot you would never believe the ending how it all worked out but truly a wonderful story… one I truly recommend for everyone thank you for letting me read this book Early Netgally. And Thank you Christina McDonald.
What a great thriller!This book is told in 2 different points of view, Eva’s now and Eva’s mom Kat in the past. Eva wakes up in the hospital after being struck by lightning. She also finds out she was found close to her mom’s house and inside the house, the police find Kat’s murdered body. Eva is determined to find out what happened to her mom and clear her name. As Eva finds out about her mom’s past, she realizes not everything is as it seems. This story has so many twists and turns and you are kept reading in well past your bedtime as you can not put the book down.
Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald is a domestic thriller at its best. Without giving away any spoilers, Eva is hit by lightning and wakes up in the hospital and learns her mother has been murdered. This was a page-turning, nail-biting story filled with suspense, surprises and twists and turns. I thought it was so ingenious and genius the way the author wrote the story from two different perspectives as Eva searches for answers and her mother, Kat’s mysterious past starts to come to the surface. Readers will be shocked at the surprise ending. The author included all the elements of a really good thriller and I loved it. I rated it a five, but it really deserves a 10 plus.
This is the latest from the author of “The Night Olivia Fell.” In many ways the books are similar with lots of twists and turns. The story is told in flashback, is about Eva, a young artist suspected of murdering her mother. The night of the murder Eva is struck by lightening near her mother’s house, leaving her with no memory. As the story weaves from past to present we also learn the story of her mother, Kat, who has escaped an abusive marriage, and Rose, who Kat worked for an who committed suicide. Eva’s spotty memory returns in pieces, and she begins to find clues about her own past. Other major players in the drama are her fiancé, Liam, her friend Jacob, and her brother Andrew. I do admit that while I did not guess all the twists, I did suspect several of them, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. If you like suspense and mystery in the style of Gone Girl, you will like Behind Every Lie. Enjoy!
Let me start by saying, this book was a trip. There were so many twists, and it shows how much secrets/lies were told and kept and throughout the story, and as it began to unfold it was very interesting. If you get bored during thrillers this one will keep you on edge, it was very fast-paced and told between two timelines/perspectives of a mother and daughter and it keeps you hooked. There were a few twists I was able to predict, but there were a few that I was surprised about. It was a twisty, suspenseful thriller that keeps you hooked up until the last line. I didn’t read her first novel, but after this one, I definitely want to pick it up. One of the best books I have probably read this month! Thank you bookishfirst / Gallery Books for providing me a review copy!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book.
If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. This is a fabulous book.
Eva Hansen is the main character of this book. Eva wakes up in the hospital after being struck by lightning. She finds out her mother’s been murdered and she’s the main suspect. She doesn’t think she could kill her mother, but she doesn’t remember anything from the night. She decides to go to London (where her mom used to live) to see if she can find answers. She discovers some deeply held secrets her mom had and begins to wonder who she can trust to find out the truth.
Told in alternating perspectives of Eva’s search for answers and her mom’s mysterious past, the story is carefully woven together and ends with a definite twist.
This book comes at you like a freight train and doesn’t stop. Eva Hansen is struck by lightning on the same night her mother is brutally murdered, and Eva thinks that she may have done it. How’s that for a powerful entry into a story? What follows is Eva’s journey to learn the truth which is hindered by her fleeting memory resulting from the accident. If you are looking to be riveted to your seat, to give up meals and sleep, then climb on board Christina McDonald’s express and enter a world saturated with hidden secrets and unforeseen surprises.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for a copy of Behind Every Lie in exchange for an honest review.
Cheese and rice, but poor Eva suffers everything but a house falling on her head in this thriller that seems to feel compelled to heap every possible tragedy on the characters. From the opening pages, I struggled with this one. It just felt like too much – too much drama, tragedy, misdirection, uncertain menace, questionable decision-making and coincidental and disbelief-suspending detail. And if you think that list is long, wait until you get a load of the parade of horribles that comprise the story!
I really liked The Night Olivia Fell – it was a moving and complex story about the relationship between a mother and daughter, as well as a psychological thriller, and it’s precisely that complexity that intrigued and hooked me. I was delighted when I saw that McDonald had a new book. True, from the beginning it seemed a little overly-similar to other amnesia books of recent vintage, but I was willing to overlook that – until I realized that the characters were utterly unlikeable, in nearly all their forms, and that the torturous circumstances of all of their lives felt like a soap-opera melodrama…
This book felt like it was trying *REALLY HARD* to be everything possible in a thriller of its type. There were just so many things going on – past, present, and future – that it was overwhelming to read them all. On top of that, Eva and Kat are, frankly, difficult characters to relate to or feel empathy for – despite all of their sufferings, and hating to sound like I’m victim-blaming, it was difficult to gin up any sympathy because they made so many poor decisions and/or were so wishy-washy so often. It meant I was annoyed when something else horrific happened, rather than concerned or worried – and that made the read tough for me because I simply could not find myself falling into their point of view. And in a book that alternates POV between two characters, both of whom I dislike, the resultant read for me is rough-going…
This one just felt like it was trying too hard. It got much better in the end – there were a couple of revelations I did not see coming, and the pacing evened out a lot. That, coupled with a handful of decisions (and explanations for decisions) that felt like they finally made sense, meant that the pages flew by and the story became more enjoyable. It wasn’t enough to drive me to four stars, because it felt like too little, too late, but it did help. If the first 3/4 of the book had followed that tone/pacing, this would have been a phenomenal read. As it was, I can only go with three stars. I’d still try McDonald’s next offering – she’s a strong writer and compelling relater of complex relationships when she’s in her stride…
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
“They say that behind every lie is a person and a reason”.
This new emotionally charged thrilling suspense novel about lies, family secrets and the lengths of how far a mother would go to protect their child is amazing! I loved The Night Olivia Fell and I loved Behind Every Lie even more.
The story is told in alternating point of views between Kat whose story began 25 years ago in London and of Eva Hansen whose story is currently in Seattle tracing back what happened to her murdered mother. The story merges together to one mind blowing conclusion – that is the writing genius of Macdonald that I come to enjoy in her writing!
I know you will love it and this book is available now.
Christina McDonald’s Behind Every Lie is every bit as exceptional as her debut novel, The Night Olivia Fell (2019). McDonald’s ability to tangle together a chilling psychological thriller while weaving together multiple themes including the complicated, unconditional love between mother and daughter is truly incredible. Dynamic ,thought provoking, and wrought with tragedy Behind Every Lie is the electrifying story of Eva Hansen whose life suddenly shatters into pieces when she is found, struck by lightning, unconscious and covered in blood not far from where her mother has been murdered.
Struggling to regain her memory of what happened that night, she begins to gather pieces of the past and fill in the missing holes of her memory. Who can you trust when you aren’t even sure you can trust yourself. Behind Every Lie is a must add to your TBR list. Phenomenal…Blown Away…Unputdownable… totally worth the book hangover.
Behind Every Lie is a deep, suspenseful novel packed with family secrets. Christina McDonald has a true gift for creating characters that are so well-developed, it feels like you know them. An outstanding achievement!
This book drew me in and held me delightfully-captive from beginning to end. The palpable tension held me in thrall. The plot kept me guessing. The characters were realistic, likable and identifiable. And, every setting was described in such a way as to make me feel like I was an actual bystander in that scene. Once I started reading this story, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down!
#BehindEveryLie #AuthorChristinaMcDonald #NetGalley
In Behind Every Lie, Christina McDonald brilliantly intertwines page-turning suspense with jaw-dropping family secrets. An emotionally-charged domestic thriller that is sure to please!
The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. —Ernest Hemingway
Eva Hansen lives near Seattle with her fiance. She makes, paints and sells clay pottery. And she has secrets.
One night she is struck by lightning and, though she lives, she’s lost her memory. In the hospital, she finds out her mother was murdered the same night.
This is a mystery, a thriller, a tale of psychological suspense and also a tale of relationships – between mother and daughter, with brothers, with old friends, and with the people you love.
This was a twisty tale and surprised me on different levels and I enjoyed it.
I received this book from Gallery Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
“They say that behind every lie is a person and a reason.”
Eva wakes up in a hospital with only bits and pieces of memory of how she got there (she was struck by lightning), only to find out her mother was brutally murdered. Is Eva the prime suspect in her mom’s murder?
In most thrillers, there’s a few small twists leading up to the big twist near the end, but Behind Every Lie is filled with lies (of course), secrets and shocking revelations that had me turning the pages as fast as I could and rereading some parts more than once to make sure it said what I thought it did.
If you haven’t read the author’s debut novel, The Night Olivia Fell, I highly recommend it also. It is a different type of thriller than BEL that evoked more of an emotional response with the heartbreaking yet heartwarming ending.
“Darling, I’m not entirely certain one can ever become unbroken, but I do know we can be strong and brave and broken and whole all at the same time. It’s called being human.”
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy won in a BookishFirst giveaway.
Would I normally want to read a book that’s based on lie after lie after lie? Of course I am when it’s a book by Christina McDonald! I read her first novel, “The Night Olivia Fell” and loved it. I was very excited to open the cover of this book and be taken into the pages of this psychological thriller of “who’s lying and who’s not?”. Who do you believe? Is there anyone who tells the truth?
The story began with a nice, light, happy feeling until little pieces of secrets begin to drop at a celebratory lunch with Eva, Kat (her mom) and Lily (her mom’s best friend). The story is set up. The next thing, Eva wakes up in a hospital with no memory of what happened and how she got there. She has to start piecing together flickers of memory, huge weights of self doubt and anxiety ridden bouts of paranoia that are not like her at all. She has become a broken vessel and desperately wants to become whole. To remember. How hard it was to remember. This passage is one her mom has tenderly expressed to her: “I’m not entirely certain one can ever become unbroken, but I do know we can be strong and brave and broken and whole all at the same time. It’s called being human.” Eva has so many unanswered questions and who does she trust?
This story is written in two different POVs. One is Eva’s and the other is her mother, Kat’s. Eva’s is in current time and Kat’s is 25 years earlier. Ms. McDonald meticulously and suspensefully drew the story out in perfect timing. The character’s stories building and connecting as the pieces started to fit together. I love the way she did this using the art form of “Kintsugi….It’s a Japanese art. The artist fixes broken pottery by filling the cracks with gold.” This is an interesting concept in that what seems an irreparable, broken piece is remade into an imperfect masterpiece of artwork. Taking something that is in pieces and putting it all back together into a new object. This is how the story played out for me. It was full of thrilling suspense, unexpected twists and turns, and surprises I said, “Wait! What?” Just when I thought a piece was going to fit, it doesn’t. Just when I think I have it figured out, I don’t. I kept reading to find how it was all going to play out….until the pieces became a whole.
Ms. McDonald writes very descriptive scenes in which I could picture in my mind without any trouble. From the characters to the settings, each is vividly and realistically written as images I could easily see. From the emotions to the impressions of what the characters had of the others, I felt that, too. All from the talented mind of an author whose previous work I have enjoyed.
The epigraph Ms. McDonald has at the beginning of the book is so perfect for the pages that follow. I appreciated that so very much. It fits perfectly with the theme throughout the book. Even the broken can be put back together and made strong.
I want to thank Netgalley and especially Christina McDonald for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of her thrilling and suspenseful novel. All opinions and thoughts are my heartfelt own. It’s a five star, unputdownable book for me.