Someone wants Georgie Brennan dead. And the more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.
Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.
… questioning everything she thought she knew.
With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next secretary of defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a web of political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains.
Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too. And the people closest to her might be the most dangerous of all.
Praise for State of Lies:
“A voice you’ll want to curl up with, and a plot that won’t let you sleep.” —Tim Tigner, international bestselling author of Twist and Turn
“Don’t miss this thrilling ride.” —Kelly Irvin, author of Over the Line
“Siri Mitchell has created a story that will suck you in and not let go. With twists and turns, international intrigue, and danger galore, this book reads like a psychological thriller mixed with healthy doses of suspense.” —Cara Putman, author of the Hidden Justice series
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: State Of Lies
: Siri Mitchell
: 350
: Psychological Thriller
: 08/13/2019
: (4 stars)
This is the first book I have read from this author. The cover is really cool depicting a woman in Washington DC during a rainstorm.
This book starts with physicist Georgie Brennan months after her husband is killed by a hit-and-run driver, as she learns secrets about where he was going that day. I thought this was a great thriller that contained secrets that made the plot complex, but very enjoyable. The writing of Siri is quite unique, as she has a way of plotting a story with subtle points that really make you think while you are reading. I can’t wait to read more from this author. If you are a thriller reader wanting a psychological thriller with a complex plot and a multitude of characters, this might be the book for you!!!!
A masterfully written domestic suspense novel!
I love the main character! Georgia Brennan is totally bombarded with heart stopping, terrifying information. I don’t know how she managed to hold it all together. As the story progresses and each tidbit is revealed it only brings up more questions about what is true, and who can be trusted.
I was completely sucked in and stayed up way later than I should have for two nights in a row. I don’t know how much of this book should be considered suspense and how much is psychological thriller. It is completely filled with incredibly well crafted twists and turns.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Excellent read. Definitely a page turner with unexpected twists of events.
State of Lies by Siri Mitchell is a political thriller. Our protagonist, Georgia Brennan is a physicist who works on contracts for the government. She is also a wife and mother. Her husband, Sean works for the Department of Defense as a historian. One day, Sean goes out to pick up a part for their leaky faucet and never returns. He was killed in a hit-and-run accident which devastates Georgia. When she realizes Sean told her lie, Georgia begins searching for answers. I thought it contained good writing with twists and surprising revelations. I did feel it was a little bit of a slow starter, but the pace soon picks up as Georgia begins looking into her husband’s death. She begins to hear noises around her home at night. There are some slow sections in the middle with the pace increasing later in the story. The mystery is intriguing with its complexity. It dives into military operations and political figures. Georgia is not sure who she can trust. She wants the truth, but Georgia needs to keep her son safe as well as their beloved dog. There is violence and some gory details. It can be solved depending upon the number of mysteries you have read. While State of Lies if put out by a Christian publisher, it is not a Christian story. I did find the sections on Georgia’s work to be a little dull with their detailed explanations. State of Lies is a suspenseful novel with one woman searching for the truth amid political conspiracies, mistrust, riddles, falsehoods, and espionage.
4.5 stars
“The only way out was through.”
Georgie Brennan’s life is completely upended by the tragic death of her husband, leaving her to maneuver through incessant waves of grief while continuing to raise their young son. Months pass before subtle oddities begin to catch her attention; what was Sean really doing the night of the hit-and-run accident, why are the flowers in the front yard not the ones they planted, and is she just imagining the noises beneath the floors at night?
Unfortunately, as Georgie begins to actively search for answers to these questions, it becomes increasingly clear that she has become entangled in a complicated web of deceit; with her four star general father approaching confirmation as the next secretary of defense and her deceased husband a decorated veteran, the repercussions could not only turn life threatening, but undermine America’s national security. Is there anyone she can trust?
“The key to unlocking the mysteries had to be things we’d seen a million times and always managed to overlook.”
What an outstanding story! “State of Lies” has every essential element needed for spiraling out-of- control intrigue, not to mention a sweet little boy and his repetitive wormholes!
Wow! I had read one of Ms. Mitchell’s contemporary romances and enjoyed it, but State of Lies blew me away. It was dramatic without being unbelievable. There was enough character tension and action to keep me on the edge of my seat and enough mystery to keep me guessing throughout the story. There were unexpected twists and turns along the way that I definitely didn’t see coming. I look forward to reading more suspense novels by Ms. Mitchell.
I received a complimentary issue of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is the first book by Siri Mitchell I have read and I am completely blown away! I’ve heard great things about her historical fiction and was quite curious about her venture into the world of suspense. For fans of contemporary suspense, this book is not to be missed!
The book flows seamlessly from Georgie’s first person point of view as the young physicist finds herself suddenly widowed. In the midst of her grief, she finds strange clues into her deceased husband’s work life as a historian at the Pentagon and personal life prior to their meeting, courtship, and marriage. Georgie’s father, a four-star army general, is on the brink of being appointed the Secretary of Defense as Georgie and her son’s lives get turned upside down once again as Georgie follows these clues to something unknown but certainly sinister. The plot has plenty of twists and turns in a nail-biting kind of atmosphere that will suck you right into Georgie’s world.
I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.
With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next Secretary of Defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains. Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too.
The more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.
Not her friends.
Not her parents.
Maybe not even herself.
This was an intriguing book. There were twists and turns just about every page. Georgie and her son are running for their lives. She doesn’t know who she can trust. She’s beginning to see that her entire life has been a lie. The only things that was a little boring was the explanation of her work. I wouldn’t describe this as Christian book. But it was clean and there was no foul language. I would recommend this book for those who like a good mystery.
I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
What would you do if your whole world was built on lies? Georgia’s life was everything she dreamed of. A loving, handsome husband, Sean and their son Sam. But then one day Sean doesn’t come home from the store. The next thing she knows is she is a widow! All over a leaking faucet! She does the best she can for eight months. Sam, of course, is hurt deeply that daddy isn’t coming home. Then strange things start happening around her house. Things that don’t add up. She decides to look into it and low and behold she finds Sean isn’t dead….he is in hiding! He found something out he wasn’t supposed to and it has something to do with her father’s Department of Defense nomination!! What is going on? Georgia looks into things herself, the more dangerous things become for her and Sam. Sean is not able to help her. As she questions those who were in the war with her father, the war hero, they are killed. How and why is this happening? Her father isn’t a traitor, he is an honorable man. You will be surprised how things come to a dangerous ending for Georgia, Sam and Alice the dog. Enjoy this thriller! I know I did!!!
Everywhere to Hide has a lot to offer readers in the way of intrigue. Whitney Garrison is a law student trying to make ends meet. She works at a coffeeshop and tutors kids on the side. She witnesses a murder. The murderer sees her, but Whitney suffers from a disorder called “face blindness” where she can’t recognize faces. Everyone is a stranger to her, and she can’t remember what people look like. So she becomes a target and the problem is: the killer could be right in front of her and she wouldn’t know it.
The premise is intriguing and builds a lot of suspense. Whitney tries to recall as much detail as she can, but with her disorder, she winds up trying to hide. While I did like the story, I had a hard time relating to the main character. Whitney seems self-absorbed at times, but she never really changes throughout the story. She dispenses great advice to her students about text anxiety but can’t seem to apply that same wisdom to her own life. She seems to be lost yet is brilliant at the same time. She’s an expert in cryptocurrency but works at a coffee shop. The whole cryptocurrency thing to me seemed incongruous as she learned it as an intern yet had more knowledge about it than the FBI at times.
But it’s an interesting story line with some suspenseful moments that I didn’t see coming.
Overall Rating:
3 stars (good story, maybe not my favorite but an enjoyable read)
Suspense Rating:
3 stars (some suspenseful moments)
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
If you want a high intensity (in the best way) novel, this is one for you! It was full of mystery of what happened and will keep you guessing until the end. Totally shocked at the ending, and there are lots of surprises along the way! I definitely understand wormholes better now.
It was a great book and hard to put down. Only gave 4 stars because I like brief inspiration throughout books instead of just at the end.
What a great read! Could hardly put it down! Thank you!
This is my first time reading anything by this author and I was not disappointed with this book. It’s fast-paced and drew me in from the get-go refusing to let go till the very end. I enjoyed the plot and the attention to detail. The characters are well rounded and believable along with believable dialogue. A great read and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
This is the first novel I have read by Siri Mitchell and it won’t be the last. I hope she continues to write some suspenseful thrillers like this one. I am not usually one to get drawn into novels with a political theme, but this one definitely kept my attention. Just when I thought I was starting to figure out what was going on, a huge plot twist happened. I can honestly say I never saw that ending coming!! If you are in the mood for some page-turning action and suspense with a completely surprise ending, check out State of Lies.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Another great book of suspense and surprises by Mitchell……After her husband’s death, Georgia finds out her husband had lied to her about where he was going that fatal evening, Then she finds out other strange and untrue happening concerning him. Was her whole marriage filled with lies and untruths? What about her young son who still spoke of his daddy in the present, as he was not dead but in a “worm hole.” So she begins searching for answers and finds her life is in danger. Who was this person she was married to and what /how had he deceived her? What a book that will keep you turning the pages, eager to know the answers to this intriguing mystery……I was given a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and I am very pleased to leave a review.
I have been familiar with the author’s historical romance novels so I was a bit surprised to find her latest one a psychological/political suspense. I do love suspense novels so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read State of Lies.
Almost from the beginning when Georgie’s husband is killed in an accident, the story takes on a mysterious twist as she discovers inconsistencies about his death and strange things begin to occur at her home. As she attempts to discover what is going on it becomes evident that someone wants her dead also.
I enjoyed the book with its convoluted twists and unusual agenda. Several surprises were in store, especially the ending.
Warning: Readers who expect their Christian fiction to have a strong message of faith will be disappointed and others will find the inclusion of more than one sensual but non-explicit scene to be objectionable.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Amazon Vine. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel by Siri Mitchell. Her first novels were contemporary Christian romance, and I enjoyed the writing and the humour. She then moved into Christian historical romance. I read a couple and enjoyed Flirtation Walk, but didn’t enjoy the other—I didn’t like the characters, and found the language bloated when compared with her contemporary reads. However, after reading the other reviews, I see mine was a minority opinion.
I then read and enjoyed The Miracle Thief, the first of two general market historical novels released under the pen name of Iris Anthony. I thought it was a wonderful story, and was pleasantly surprised to find it actually had more Christian content than many of the Christian novels I read (and I’m not sure what it says about the publishing industry that the Christian publishers weren’t prepared to publish a novel featuring miracles, but a general market publisher was).
And now Siri Michell is back, and writing in a fourth genre: romantic suspense.
State of Lies is published by Thomas Nelson, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and is like many current Thomas Nelson books: well-written with a great plot and characters, but no overt Christian content. Despite that, it’s a great read.
Georgia Brennan is a physicist in Washington, DC. She’s married to Sean, a historian, is the mother of six-year-old Sam, and the daughter of a US Army general who might just be the next secretary of defence. Life is great.
Sean is killed in a car accident on his way to pick up a part he needed to fix the kitchen sink.
Months later, when Georgie goes to fix the sink, she realises Sean was lying. That starts Georgie following a trail of lies and leaves her questioning everything she knows to be true.
The novel is Georgie’s story, written in first person point of view. She is an intelligent woman, which is something I always like to see in fiction. She is a strong character with a strong voice, a voice which drives the narration forward without slowing the pace.
State of Lies is a brilliant thriller, with political and military links as befits the Washington DC setting. It’s well-written, with excellent characterisation, and just the right balance between red herrings and genuine clues … along with plenty of surprises. I like to be able to figure some things out when I read a thriller or suspense novel, but I also like to be wrong occasionally.
I hope this is the first of many suspense novels from Siri Mitchell. Recommended for fans of the Criss Cross series by CC Warrens, and the If I Run trilogy by Terri Blackstock.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Wow! I have just read one of the best espionage, suspenseful books ever. We here all the time about spies, people taking bribes and secrets being passed along enemy lines. It isn’t every day that I come across a book that is so good, I wish I had a contact in Hollywood. What a wonderful movie this book would make. I even pictured who would be good as each character.
Georgia is a great character with brains and attention to detail. When her husband is killed in a car accident, she starts to suspects something is wrong. Could it be that she sees cars following her, or that her house is broken into that brings her to look over her shoulder? Her husband was involved with the FBI somehow, but he kept his assignments secret, which makes Georgia grow uncomfortable when she finds something suspicious hidden in the house.
The story takes us to the desert over seas during a time when our soldiers were fighting to preserve our freedom. Something happened out there that causes chaos and turns high ranking officials into deceitful people who commit the ultimate act of treason. There were times I thought I had the story figured out, but the author put twists in and I had to rethink my guess. The characters are strong and there is a good amount of information about the different branches in the government.
Georgia had a very hard time trusting anyone and at times wasn’t sure if she should even stay around her neighborhood. Get ready for some explosive surprises and unexpected suspects in this very intriguing book. I did wonder why this is classified as a Christian book because there was no mention of God, scriptures or faith that I remember throughout the story. At the beginning of the book is a scene about intimacy between a married couple. I didn’t find it offensive, but some readers may so I wanted to mention it in my review.
I did enjoy the story very much and it was a non stop action filled book with plenty of secrets that could take down very important leaders. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed but overall the book was intriguing enough to keep my interest.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Georgie husband was killed by a hit and run driver. She discovers that there is lot more to it. Who can she trust? Not her friends and especially not her parents.
This book kept my attention. I read most of it in one sitting. This was my first book by the author. It will not be my last one. I look forward to reading more books from the author.
I loved having a little boy in the book. I think he knew some things his mom didn’t. I also enjoyed having the dog in the book named Alice.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This review is my own opinion.