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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Superb! Has me wondering what in the world is going on. I couldn’t put it down.
Thriller, mystery and a bit of love is what you’ll find while reading this book.
Crazy how Eva was struck by lightening and couldn’t remember a thing, then it takes a major storm to bring it all back. Liam was quite a character. Such a master manipulator and it was eerie how he knew where Eva was.
You will need a few tissues because at the end, it seems Eva’s life comes full circle. Loved it
I surely thought maybe Andrew had something to do with his mother. When I learned of Rose, my jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe Kat had pulled off what she did. Right when she was comfortable in her life, tragedy happens again.
First I’d like to say this is the first book I have read by this author. I definitely look forward to more though. This one was great. It was perfect. It had it all.
There are a few things here that really made this book great. Here are a few that touched me.
“For so long I’d been trying to move past it, around it. But it hadn’t worked. It was always there, tearing me up, breaking me to pieces.
Only now did I see-it didn’t matter how far I went; I couldn’t outrun myself.” (That is powerful in my opinion)
“Answers, I know, are rarely absolute. We each intend to do the right thing, and yet we are all helpless in the face of fate. We make a choice and must then move forward with the consequences.” (Another powerful quote from this story)
“We can be strong and brave and broken and whole all at the same time.”
“We aren’t defined by our tragedies, by our history, by our mistakes, but by pieces of love and sadness and happiness, and the whole range of human emotions we feel.” (That is so true. If only we could see that when we truly need too.)
This book is told from alternating POVs. Eva and Kat. Kat’s is from 25 years before. Eva’s is in the now. Both end up exactly where they should. Both take you on a ride you will both love and hurt over. It’s a very touching story of the love of a mother. The abuse of a wife. The losses some go through and the things that lead up to murder….
The who did what to whom will make you not want to put this book down. You’ll read each timeline wanting more and more. You’ll hurt for mother’s who are only trying to do their best. To get by and protect what belongs to them. From running away to protect themselves and their child. Going to a whole new world and starting over. Life is not always easy. We sometimes do things that we would never dare when it comes to living or dying.
This is a very good story. It has a lot of things that will make your heart hurt. Make it break. But ultimately it will have you rooting for the one person to find out she’s worthy of life. Of being herself. The choices she makes are not perfect but they make her who she is and that is what counts. That is true about all three of the women in this story when you finish and have time to reflect back on this story.
It if filled with very likable characters. Except Seb. I detested him immensely. But he was part of this story and it had to go the way it did to make it the wonderful book that I believe it is. The character development is perfect also as is the descriptions. You’ll feel like you are right there in the story. From some of the pain inflicted at times you will actually find yourself flinching. Parts will make you cry so much and parts will have your mouth dropping with a big “why didn’t I see that coming”. I throughly enjoyed reading this book. From start to beautiful ending. It was tied up just right. I can’t think of anything that was left out or needed to be said.
I have to thank #NetGally, #GalleryBooks and #ChristinaMcDonald for the eARC of this book. This is my own unbiased review.
I had to give it a 5 star rating and also a hug recommendation to everyone I know that loves a good mystery/thriller. It’s absolutely wonderful.
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Behind Every Lie” by Christina McDonald, Gallery Books, February 4, 2020
Christina McDonald, author of “Behind Every Lie” has written a chilling, intriguing, intense and captivating novel. The Genres for this Novel are Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, and Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters. The author describes her dramatic cast of characters as complex, complicated, strange, and suspect. The story is narrated by Eva and alternates with her mother Kat.
Can you imagine being hit by lightning, and waking up in a hospital remembering nothing, but being told that your mother has been murdered? Eva Hansen wakes up in a hospital, with very few memories of what happened the night before. Eva does have certain visions and realizes that the detective involved with the case seems to consider her a suspect. This novel reminds me of certain Alfred Hitchcock movies, and other movies with gaslighting. Many of the characters in this story seem suspicious.
There are deep dark secrets and terrible lies that can cause major changes. There are twists and turns, and this novel had me sitting at the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this chilling thriller for readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers.
A very excellent book. Fast read couldn’t put this one down . shows how one lie leads to another and the truth will come out eventually. lots of twists throughout the whole book really keeps you on edge waiting to see what happens. well worth reading
Behind Every Lie is a captivating story filled with secrets and lies. The interesting storyline kept me turning pages & the many twists and turns had me guessing til the end. This is the first book that I’ve read by Christina McDonald, and I really like her writing style.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley.
Wow, just wow ! I loved this book ! It was AMAZING ! So many secrets and lies. So many twists and turns. You think you know what’s going on and who the enemies are but let me assure you, you have it all wrong ! When this book is over you are going to have a WTH moment ! Lies for the right reasons, lies for the wrong reasons. You have a sexual assault and multiple murders along with an accidental death. Seriously how it all unfolds will blow your mind. Excellent from the first word on the first page. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this exceptional novel.
It must be difficult to be an author. You’re often compared to your last work regardless of what you put out. I try not to be a reviewer that compares work to work as each individual novel stands on its own.
However, I do tend to go into a story half expecting a similar outcome or a similar story and theme. The story was so much more than I expected.
Written with short chapters that flash between past and present, mother and daughter, we piece together the truth or what we expect is the truth as the story goes along.
This is a type of psychological thriller that offers so many possibilities as to how the story could go that you easily get completely caught up. Everyone seems suspect and it’s tough to determine what the real story is and what is the lie.
And when those lies start coming to a head, several of them will catch you by surprise.
McDonald killed it with Behind Every Lie. Intense, intriguing, and highly illuminating when it comes to what people will do for love. Murder, mind tricks, gaslighting, secrets, trust, strength, and healing. Complex layers of emotion wraps you up tight and does not let up until the end.
Fabulous story with so many surprises along the way!
Eva wakes up in the hospital after being struck by lightning. There she learns that her mother has been murdered and she’s the number one suspect. But she could never have murdered her mother, could she? If only she could remember the events leading up to when she was struck, she could clear her name. As she starts trying to figure out the missing pieces, secrets start to come to light, secrets her mother has kept long buried, and she could be in danger.
While the book was told in alternating viewpoints from Eva in the present, and Kat, her mother, in the past, Eva’s story takes precedence. But Kat’s past is Eva’s past, and that part of the story is every bit important. There were quite a few twists in this book, and I think that some of them did feel a bit forced in that the revelations, just when we thought things couldn’t get worse, there was still more. I felt their backstories were enough of a shock without piling on more.
There were a few minor inconsistencies, but this isn’t out yet, so there’s still plenty of time to fix them. IE: Eva left the hospital in leggings, but when she gets home, the cat claws up her jeans. Or when Kat is trying to help Rose, she says “When she saw me she grabbed Eva’s hand…”, when she was still Laura at the time. Lastly, I found it very bizarre that as she’s releasing ashes, and how the goodbye is painful she says “Like she’d slipped through my fingers.” Which, I get what McDonald was trying to say, but perhaps not the best time as she’s releasing ashes.
It was refreshing to watch Eva find her backbone because even though Liam wasn’t physically abusive, she let him run the show, on everything. She was also insecure in herself and her talents. This is a fast-paced read, and even though it occasionally steps into crazy town, you find yourself not wanting to put it down. Overall a pretty fun read. Thank you Gallery Books for sending this along.
Wow. I loved the way this book unfolds. It is hard to leave a review because so much of the book is a map to the final end. Which by the way is scary great. I will say I had not read anything else written by Christina before but I will! The book is written so that Eva his telling her part of the story in the time frame of today. Kat her Mom gives more a history from up to 25 years earlier. When you weave them together you get this amazing web of lies that turn into truths. I can see this book being picked up and made into a film. You must give it a try.
Christina McDonald follows up her smashing debut The Night Olivia Fell with another winner. McDonald starts with a bang, then builds the action steadily, a gradual unfolding of secrets and lies that will have you constantly switching alliances. Read it like I did, in one sitting and straight through to The End, because you won’t want to put this one down.
Could you imagine waking up in the hospital having been struck by lightening only to be told you’re suspected of murdering your own mother? And with no memory of what happened?
Christina McDonald has once again created another thrilling story based around a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Determined to clear her name, Eva Hanson starts digging for answers. The deeper she digs, the more unbelievable her own story becomes. A fabulous book – full of family secrets, a mother’s love, and huge regrets.
A must-read author for me and I’ll surely be back for more!!
Christina McDonald has followed up her debut novel, The Night Olivia Fell, with another fabulous book.
Christina has taken psychological suspense to a whole new level with Behind Every Lie. The story was riveting and shocking, with scenes that had me catching my breath, my heart racing. There were lies upon lies, startling revelations, intricate details that kept me turning pages.
But there was so much more to this book than a compelling story—there is a depth and beauty to this story that was astonishing. Part of me wanted to read quickly to reach the end, but I’d slow down to appreciate the raw emotion that embodies the story and its broken, complex characters.
I slowed down to savor so many beautiful lines, sentences I read several times to etch the feelings in my heart.
“We can be strong and brave and broken and whole all at the same time.”
5 Stars across the board!
If I could pick the best thriller of the year, Christina McDonald would definitely win with Behind Every Lie!
Anyone looking for a intense, gripping and just a mind blowing story, then this is the book for you! Christina’s book is full of so many twists and turns that I was on the edge of my seat with every page I turned.
Backstory Eva Hansen wakes up in the hospital and she has no idea how she there. All she knows is what the police are telling her and that is that she was found unconscious down the road from her Mother’s home. Her mother has been murdered and she is the number one suspect! Eva doesn’t know who to trust, can she even trust herself? This is written in past and present POV’S and it is perfect for this storyline. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, I really believe that this book is not just for thriller and suspense lovers. Anyone will get caught up in Christina McDonald’s writing style. It is so beautifully written and the characters are so well done!
I won’t be forgetting this book anytime soon and it will definitely be a re-read!
Thank you Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and Christina McDonald for this ARC.
I’m so excited to see what Christina does next!
Check out Behind Every Lie February 2020
I will most definitely be buying the hardcover for my collection!
Eva can’t remember what happened the night her mother died – her memories are all jumbled. Did she kill her mother? Why can’t she remember.
This book is told in several voices — Eva and Kat. Kat’s story is mainly told 25 years earlier, but then comes to present day. Eva has had a trauma in her recent past, and due to her shame, she is untrusting and fearful.
As Eva delves into the mystery of her mother’s death, many lies come to the surface, and Eva questions who she is and what is real and what isn’t. She wonders if she is in danger.
I enjoyed this book, but I thought it was obvious in what was going to happen, and who the people were that were a danger. There were a few surprises, but for the most part, I was correct in my assumptions.
A well done thriller, but a bit formulaic, as it was very obvious as to what the outcome would be.
#BehindEveryLie #ChristinaMcDonald
A clever and compelling story about a young woman who wakes up in the hospital and discovers she’s been struck by lightning. Then she’s told the devastating news that her mother was murdered the same evening and the evidence points directly at her. Only she can’t remember. With a detective in hot pursuit and a boyfriend convincing her that her emotional state is shaky, she sets out to discover the truth. With little more than a confusing letter from her mother that contains an address, what she digs up is beyond her wildest imagination and turns her life and everything she thought was true upside down. This was a fresh, satisfying read, and a good wrap-up at the end after a couple great twists.
The exciting start grabbed my attention immediately!
And the setting of Whidbey Island brought back wonderful memories of one of my favorite vacations. That area is gorgeous.
I thought the book was a bit predictable, but I love Christina’s writing style. I receive her newsletter and she’s the most generous, thoughtful and engaging author I know of. She’s wonderful at interacting with her readers.
Thank you to NetGalley / Gallery Books / the Author for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 3.5 ’s (rounding up)
Published: February 4th 2020 by Gallery Books
Pages: 336
Recommended: Yes
#NetGalley #BehindEveryLie
@Christinamac79
My review can be found on: Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, BN.com, Pinterest and BookBub.
This story was twisty and I didn’t want to put it down. Eva woke up in the hospital after being hit by lightening only to learn her mother has been murdered and she is a suspect. Now she has to piece together memories of that night and unravel the truth about her past.
There were so many turns to this story. I had so many theories on who the killer was that I literally changed my mind 10 times about the final outcome. I did see a few of the twists coming pretty early on, but the book was still very enjoyable. I like seeing a story unravel and try to see if I picked up on all of the Easter egg clues that were left by the author. The reader doesn’t know if Eva is crazy or if the killer is framing her and making her think she is crazy. No one in the story is particularly reliable and those are my favorites. Everyone was a suspect
Kind of bad.
This is a book I wanted to stop reading several times, but I was so hoping the writing would improve, so I pushed through. Gotta tell you, this book makes me wonder how some good writers have trouble finding a publisher.
The plot is basic, and that’s okay, but ordinary plot and ordinary writing make for a tepid book.
Slight spoiler: The mother in the story was English. Occasionally she would say things like kerb and cuppa just to keep the thread going. But one time she just came out and said, Blimey, and I couldn’t stop laughing.
I don’t know, you may love it. I thought it wasn’t great, that’s all.
“We can be strong and brave and broken and whole all at the same time.”
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It has been a long time since a suspense read has completely devoured me and had me guessing until the bitter end so I had to give this a 5/5! This was such a fast-paced, high suspense story and I loved every minute of it! Not only was the storyline, with all the many twists and turns, beautifully written but I found the ending to be thoughtfully and completely wrapped up in a rather realistic conclusion which I’m so grateful for! I find a lot of suspense novels to have rushed/hurried endings which can ruin an entire book for me, not this one! I really enjoyed @christinamac79 first novel, THE NIGHT OLIVIA FELL, and so excited to see that her second book is even better! Can’t wait for a third by McDonald! This would be a great bookclub read and I will be recommending to everyone who wants a fast and satisfying suspense book to devour!
this was one the best thriller’s i had read in a while and i liked the mystery the story had, how you had to keep reading to find out about Kat’s mysterious past why Eva was in danger also how you had to kept guessing about who actually killed Kat.
The main character Eva,is in the hospital after being struck by lighting a few blocks away from her mom’s house where she was murdered and she later learns that she is the number one suspect the problem is she can’t remember anything after being struck by lighting, Eva travels to London her mom’s home town for answers about her death and later finds out there is more than meets the eye
i enjoyed the alternate pov’s of kat and eva and thought it was interesting to learn about kat’s past