If you only read one thriller this year…“A great modern gothic. Ellison outdid herself— what an ending!” —Catherine Coulter, #1 NYT bestselling author of VORTEX.Fast-paced and brilliantly unpredictable, J.T. Ellison’s breathtaking new novel invites you to a wedding none will forget—and some won’t survive.Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic … survive.
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…
You won’t be able to guess what happens in the end!
more
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and it keep me up reading it. Claire is getting married to Jack whose family is one of the richest families in the world. The wedding is to take place on their private island off of the coast of Italy. Only someone wants to stop the wedding and enact revenge on the family. Everyone in this book is hiding some secrets. Once on the island there are severe storms, mysterious events and lots of deaths. The mystery is not really a mystery and it was easy to figure out who was doing what. There are a lot of similarities to Rebecca. One scene is almost an exact copy of a scene in Rebecca. Another problem with the book was that none of the characters are likable. They are all doing bad things for power and money and at the end they are still lying to each other. The book has some suspense and I kept reading to see how it was going end. This is a good book read during a stormy afternoon
What is there not to like about this book of international intrigue? Set on a romantic island in Italy, the well-developed characters in this story deliver twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end. I literally couldn’t put this book down and read it in two days!
Fast-paced thriller! I took this book with me on a mini-vacation hoping for a “what can possibly happen next” reading thrill ride, and that’s what I experienced!
Although a good plot and great characters, I found the back story to be repetitive.
First let me say, the story started out like another book I had read a few weeks ago. So I got confused thinking I had read it. I confirmed the story and characters were different as the story went on. The book was good until about half way through when it all became a bit unbelievable. Still, I had to finish it and find out who the perpetrator was and some of the mysteries behind the whodunit. The end was ok. All in all, it was entertaining but I wouldn’t say it was one of the best thrillers I’ve read lately.
A heart-thumping, atmospheric ride through an Italian island’s landscape and the heart’s abyss.
OOH! J.T. Ellison is a master at her craft!!
I love that she leaves you with questions and still questioning, even on the last page!
Woman marrying a millionaire when they get to there private island things start going weird
Love J.T., A super nice lady and an awesome author!!
Part Gothic, part suspense, part psychological thriller and all crazy this was one page-turner of a book. The haunting atmosphere was set in the prologue and the author did a great job of maintaining it throughout the entire twisty plot. I liked how the author emphasized Claire’s artist background in the narration, specifically giving names to the colors that she was seeing. It was done with an artist’s eye which was impactful and helped me get a better feeling for Claire. I do wish they had continued, but as the plot became more complicated, Claire’s descriptions became less embellished. I also liked how the author set the tone for how the Compton family dealt with things. I guessed early on what was really going on so there was no mystery there for me at all. Other readers may not make the connections. The author did have me second guessing a few times. The plot also took an Agatha Christie-like turn, where multiple people were under suspicion but just as quickly were proven to not be responsible. That last third of the book was pretty gonzo. I would certainly recommend this one. It’s an excellent brain break from reality and you’ll enjoy trying to figure out who is reliable and who isn’t. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Harlequin Books (MIRA) and NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book.
Another winner by JT Ellison! An Italian villa during a raging storm is the perfect backdrop for this story! So many twists and deaths throughout the story leaves you wondering who will survive! A fantastic read!
Pack your bags, and fasten your seatbelts… You are about to attend an unforgettable wedding in a cliff-top villa on a beautiful private island off the Italian coast. Smart, irresistible artist Claire Hunter is marrying her love, the charming and enormously wealthy Jack Compton. What could go wrong? J. T. grips us in Chapter 1 and doesn’t let go. Secrets, fireworks, crypts, all those secretive guests, and a huge storm bearing down on the island. And, oh yes, bodies. Everyone has a reason to lie – but there is one lie far darker than the others. Don’t miss this wedding, but trust no one.
The Review
What a fantastic thriller! From the book’s opening chapter the author establishes a haunting tale of murder, revenge, and family like no other. The vibrant setting and upbeat festivities of the protagonist’s wedding make for a fantastically stark contrast to the dark themes of family secrets, greed, and power all taking over as the rich family the protagonist is marrying into holds sway and inadvertently causes a catastrophe no one could have seen coming.
It is the author’s ability to really draw out and delve deeply into the character growth of the narrative that makes this novel shine brightly. From protagonist Claire and her haunted past and present to the Compton family and their ruthless behavior that would make anyone kill to keep a secret, the identity of the killer and their need for revenge makes for a masterful story that draws the reader in time and time again.
The Verdict
A beautifully mesmerizing, haunting, and heart-pounding mystery and thriller, author J.T. Ellison’s “Her Dark Lies” is a must-read narrative. The twists and turns the author creates make for a gripping tale, and by the book’s end no one in the story will be safe, and no one will be totally innocent either. It’s a marvelous read you won’t want to miss, so be sure to grab your copy today!
With a tagline that reads “At the wedding of the year, a killer needs no invitation” master thriller writer J. T. Ellison launches a Gothic spine chiller of a story featuring international billionaires and a mysterious first wife. Does that sound familiar? It should do because it’s a re-telling of Daphne du Maurier’s classic page-turner, Rebecca.
Manderley of the original is replaced by a majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, where up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends and a host of dark secrets.
But from the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains are unearthed. Do they belong to Jack’s first wife, who mysteriously disappeared off the Californian coast several years ago? And if so, how did they turn up in Italy?. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. Jack and Clare’s relationship, which begins convincingly bonded, frays at the edges as Clare’s doubts about his directness and honesty in confronting the issues grow.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…
A brilliantly paced story which convincingly traces the gradual “awakening” of a young woman so dreamily captivated by her husband-to-be she is reluctant to see what is unfolding around her.
J T Ellison talks about her work on The Joys of Binge Reading podcast.
Artist Claire Hunter is about to marry wealthy Jack Compton at his family’s private villa on secluded Isle Isola. A few days before they leave for Italy, someone breaks into their home. Who and why? And who killed the intruder—Claire or one of the Compton bodyguards? And why is Jack insistent on it being the latter.
Things go from bad to worse. Upon arriving on the island, restoration workers discover a woman’s bones. A severe storm alters the wedding plans. There is a security breach. Someone ruins Claire’s wedding dress. That’s not the worst of it. Murder is afoul. And the big question—is Jack’s first wife still alive?
I’ve read J. T. Ellison’s books before, but this one is probably my favorite. There are enough plot twists to keep the story interesting. It’s told from multiple points of view. While I guessed the killer’s identity, I didn’t figure out the accomplice. The author kept me guessing until near the end.
I would give this book five stars if not for the last couple of chapters. The events are a little murky and even after reading them a second time, I’m still not sure. I like things nice and neat, and this book kept me wondering.
My first J.T. Ellison book!!!
I love it, everyone has secrets, everyone is lying. Family affairs that full of secrets and lies. It’s a first person point of view book, but from many characters, even from the killer too, so it’s pretty entertaining and exciting. The suspense and mystery was superb. The setting is in a private island in italy, although the details sometimes a bit dragging for me, I still enjoyed it.
A page-turner story, great characters, wonderful setting, yup totally recommended.
This book starts out with a bang and continues until the very end. You won’t know who is the bad guy/girl and who is innocent. The problem is…. you can’t believe anyone. Everyone is lying about something. So many hidden truths. So much is happening. But it’s easy to follow if you love a good thriller. If you are use to reading thrillers that keep you going and on the edge then you will enjoy this one for sure. Even though I figured out a few things, mainly the who was doing it, it was still an excellent book.
Claire and Jack both have so many secrets. Will they ever be able to come clean with each other and have the kind of life they want. Will family secrets pull them apart or make them even closer? With people dying or getting hurt all around them. With the wedding being sabotaged over and over. With all that is going on, will this couple ever find the happiness they want. Will they be together or go their separate ways. Who is behind all the horrors that are happening on this Italian island. Who can be trusted. How many skeletons are there and haw many more will there be.
Who hates Claire so much that they are willing to go to such depths to see her punished. Or unhappy. Or possibly dead. Who hates Jack the same. Could it be one of them or some other sinister person who wants revenge. Will Claire ever forgive herself for things that happened when she was such a young girl. It seems you can’t trust anyone. Not even a sister. Or a brother.
This book certainly does have a lot going on. A lot of twists and turns. A lot of dying and attempted murder. A lot of things happening to stop a wedding. A lot of revenge. But through it all the most important is…. family. We protect family first and foremost. No matter what!
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Harlequin, #JTEllison for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book!
5/5 huge stars. I highly recommend this one.
***I received an ebook copy from the publisher at no cost***
This was definitely an interesting read. There’s plenty of suspense, made even more intense by the twists and turns throughout the story. The first chapter hooked me right in and got my brain churning out ideas of what I could expect from the story.
Claire and Jack are set for a romantic wedding on a remote Italian island. As soon as they arrive, things start happening. A skeleton is uncovered. Claire begins to have strange experiences and encounters. People start dying. What’s supposed to be a time of love and romance turns into a bit of psychological terror.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The story was solid and the writing is superb. Ellison kept me on the edge of my seat and pulled the rug out from under me on more than one occasion. I wasn’t expecting things to go they way they did at the end. I loved the gothic atmosphere of this one as well. The island has a rich history and so many secrets within its walls, soil, and seas, and Ellison really brought that to life.
I wasn’t big on the way the book was narrated. The combo of first person and third person was a bit confusing. I also wasn’t a big fan of the characters but, that was more due to their personalities. The character development was good. I don’t think the characters were necessarily supposed to be the most likeable, so I think the author hit the mark in that respect.
If you like mystery stories, and thrillers, this is a good one to grab.
Four stars to this novel!
Her Dark Lies had an interesting premise. The story centers around Claire and her fiancé Jackson. They’re polar opposites but feel extremely lucky to have found each other. Jackson is rich beyond words and Claire, an artist, but in some ways, struggling is looking forward to their dream wedding on Jackson’s family villa. The villa is on a secluded island and the perfect backdrop for a wedding.
However, there’s one shadow that Claire can’t seem to shake. Jackson has been married before and is now a widower. His wife’s body was never found. A part of Morgan’s body was found at one point in the story, but Claire learns that there’s more to her death than the family is letting on. Between Jackson’s mother, brothers and father, it seems like everyone is hiding something or has something to lose.
Before Claire and Jackson can leave for the villa, strange things start happening. A man breaks into their home shattering their pre-wedding happiness. Claire tries to banish the incident from her mind and focus on the wedding, but when they leave for the villa and finally arrive, more strange things happen. I won’t ruin it all for you, but suffice to say, it looks like someone on the villa is out to ruin Claire’s happiness. And what about the intruder back at home? There are a lot of questions.
So, why this all sounded mysterious and intriguing, it was so obvious to me who was behind it all from the very beginning. I kept at it thinking the author may pull out some twist at the end, but it never came. Also, in my opinion only, there wasn’t really one likeable character in this book. I read some reviews where some fans of this author were saying that they had problems believing this was the same author as prior books. I don’t know but this is one I didn’t really enjoy.
Claire Hunter is set to marry Jack Compton on the Italian coast surrounded by family and friends. It will be a lavish wedding in the most beautiful locale! But as soon as Claire arrives, bad things begin happening! Someone doesn’t want the wedding to take place & soon secrets from Claire’s past and circumstances surrounding the death of Jack’s first wife comes out! This is a slow build, but stick with it because it gets twisty and suspenseful!