Behind Every Lie – Review – Ashes Books & Bobs

Many thanks to Gallery Books & Netgalley for an early copy of this novel.

I fell in love with Christina McDonald’s writing style when I read The Night Olivia Fell early in 2019. I appreciated her ability to weave emotional writing into her suspenseful storytelling. I’m thankful to see she hasn’t deviated from this unique style in Behind Every Lie. Her debut novel was a hit, but I have to say, I loved her sophomore novel even more!

BLURB:

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 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.

I love it when a novel starts out with plenty of questions but leaves me with a firm enough grasp on what’s happening in the story. I didn’t feel lost when I started reading, just eager to find out more. I especially loved the family dynamics in Behind Every Lie because they kept me guessing throughout the story. There were some truly unforeseen twists! I think these qualities made me enjoy it more than The Night Olivia Fell. It seems Christina McDonald has nailed down the suspenseful style that was slightly lacking in the last book.

I especially loved how the main character, Eva, had to prove herself throughout the story. As readers, we were wondering if she would turn out to be an unreliable narrator since she couldn’t even seem to trust herself. It was a great ride following along with her from Seattle to London on her quest to uncover her history.

My only issue with this book was the believability of the storyline. There were several coincidental moments and some downright far-fetched scenes which made the story feel a little too fictional.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoy Christina McDonald’s writing and will continue to read anything she writes in the future. She has a very specific knack for making me feel empathy for her characters and hope for the best, amidst stressful situations.

Preorder now or pick up your copy on February 4th!

Rating: 4 stars

Purchase on Amazon.