What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lies We Tell
'Everything I love in a book' LISA JEWELL
'Leaves you asking – what would I do? Jane Corry's best yet' BA PARIS
Sarah always thought of herself and her husband, Tom, as good people. But that was before their son Freddy came home saying he'd done something terrible. Begging them not to tell the police.
Soon Sarah and Tom must find out just how far they are willing to push themselves, and their marriage, to protect their only child . . .
As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddy off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision . . .
Save her son . . . or save herself?
'Leaves you asking – what would I do? Jane Corry's best yet' BA PARIS
Sarah always thought of herself and her husband, Tom, as good people. But that was before their son Freddy came home saying he'd done something terrible. Begging them not to tell the police.
Soon Sarah and Tom must find out just how far they are willing to push themselves, and their marriage, to protect their only child . . .
As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddy off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision . . .
Save her son . . . or save herself?
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2021
About the author
Jane Corry
14 books1,481 followersJane Corry is a writer and journalist who has spent time working as the writer in residence of a high security prison for men - an experience that helped inspire her Sunday Times bestsellers 'My Husband's Wife' and 'Blood Sisters'. Jane runs regular writing workshops and speaks at literary festivals all over the world. Many of her ideas strike during morning dog-jogs along the beach followed by a dip in the sea - no matter how cold it is!
Jane's brand-new thriller 'The Dead Ex' is out now!
You can find Jane on Twitter at @JaneCorryAuthor and on Facebook at JaneCorryAuthor as well as Instagram.
Jane's brand-new thriller 'The Dead Ex' is out now!
You can find Jane on Twitter at @JaneCorryAuthor and on Facebook at JaneCorryAuthor as well as Instagram.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
November 4, 2021
Maybe my tastes have changed. But this one didn’t quite hit the same way as Jane Corry’s have done for me in the past 🙃
We dive straight in, Sarah and Tom have Ben married a long time, their teenage son Freddie comes home at 3am admitting that he has killed someone.
What do you do when your only child admits to murder?
Then we go right back to how Sarah and Tom met, how long it took for them to conceive Freddie and how they grew distant from one another when it comes to light how many secrets they’ve kept from one another.
To me, it’s too long. We didn’t need such focus on the background. It’s repetitive, the constant guilt Sarah feels
I wasn’t a massive fan of the characters either, Freddie is a brat - mainly due to Sarah’s constant pandering and lack of discipline. But equally Tom was annoying too.
Finally, there weren’t any real surprises in here. Jane Corry isn’t know for her major twists, but there is normally something to throw you. Everything was as expected, even at the end when we find out
I dunno, it wasn’t necessarily bad. I just hold Jane Corry to a higher standard and this one just didn’t do it for me. 🙃
***************************
At this point I will read anything Jane Corry writes without even looking at the synopsis.
We dive straight in, Sarah and Tom have Ben married a long time, their teenage son Freddie comes home at 3am admitting that he has killed someone.
What do you do when your only child admits to murder?
Then we go right back to how Sarah and Tom met, how long it took for them to conceive Freddie and how they grew distant from one another when it comes to light how many secrets they’ve kept from one another.
To me, it’s too long. We didn’t need such focus on the background. It’s repetitive, the constant guilt Sarah feels
I wasn’t a massive fan of the characters either, Freddie is a brat - mainly due to Sarah’s constant pandering and lack of discipline. But equally Tom was annoying too.
Finally, there weren’t any real surprises in here. Jane Corry isn’t know for her major twists, but there is normally something to throw you. Everything was as expected, even at the end when we find out
I dunno, it wasn’t necessarily bad. I just hold Jane Corry to a higher standard and this one just didn’t do it for me. 🙃
***************************
At this point I will read anything Jane Corry writes without even looking at the synopsis.
July 12, 2021
“Mum, he chokes, I’ve killed someone.”
The book opens with this confession.
Freddie’s Mum, Sarah wants to protect her son at any cost. But, his father, Tom, doesn’t think that anyone is above the law-including his own son.
PAUSE
The next 60% of the book now examines how two VERY different people have ended up married to each other, and why each will react differently to this confession.
A relationship will never work when you HIDE the truth of who you are, and try to be the person that you think your partner wants you to to be. Or when you marry because someone is offering what you NEED instead of what you may WANT.
Tom and Sarah have married for the wrong reasons- and each has come to the realization that they have married the wrong person.
And, while this is a PART of the story, it shouldn’t have been THE entire story for the first 60 % of the book! Yes! 60%!,
I wanted to get back to the CONFESSION!
Once we do, the book moves in a much more interesting direction.
We also get glimpses into the court proceedings and wonder if Sarah can watch someone else’s son get tried for the crime that her son committed.
The last 40% was GRIPPING!
But at 500 pages, it just took TOO LONG to get there!!
If Tom and Sarah’s relationship arc had been trimmed by at least 100 pages, we would’ve still understood their motivations but had a much more COMPELLING Story!
Because I did enjoy the second half!
3.5 ⭐️
I received a gifted copy from the Penguin via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Available now!
The book opens with this confession.
Freddie’s Mum, Sarah wants to protect her son at any cost. But, his father, Tom, doesn’t think that anyone is above the law-including his own son.
PAUSE
The next 60% of the book now examines how two VERY different people have ended up married to each other, and why each will react differently to this confession.
A relationship will never work when you HIDE the truth of who you are, and try to be the person that you think your partner wants you to to be. Or when you marry because someone is offering what you NEED instead of what you may WANT.
Tom and Sarah have married for the wrong reasons- and each has come to the realization that they have married the wrong person.
And, while this is a PART of the story, it shouldn’t have been THE entire story for the first 60 % of the book! Yes! 60%!,
I wanted to get back to the CONFESSION!
Once we do, the book moves in a much more interesting direction.
We also get glimpses into the court proceedings and wonder if Sarah can watch someone else’s son get tried for the crime that her son committed.
The last 40% was GRIPPING!
But at 500 pages, it just took TOO LONG to get there!!
If Tom and Sarah’s relationship arc had been trimmed by at least 100 pages, we would’ve still understood their motivations but had a much more COMPELLING Story!
Because I did enjoy the second half!
3.5 ⭐️
I received a gifted copy from the Penguin via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Available now!
February 15, 2021
This is the story of Tom and Sarah Wallace and their fifteen year old son Freddie. It examines the question of how far would you go for your child? Tom and Sarah tell their backstories which links well to the present day situation.
This book hooks you in from the start. One of the things I like best about it is the characterisation. Tom and Sarah are different in every possible way, they’re certainly from opposing planets but that’s what makes it so interesting. They’re like strangers each wearing a mask but we begin to peak behind this and start to see the real them. They both have interesting pasts that we learn piecemeal, some things are very surprising and you wouldn’t think they had it in them! When Freddie is born the family utterly changes and the author presents an intriguing look at their dynamics. The plot is strong and full of twists, we get little frissons of unease and a growing sense of impending disaster. As the storyline progresses we hear more of Sarah’s internal nightmare as her conscience troubles her and she’s torn between protecting and saving her son or facing up to the consequences. The moral dilemma she faces is very interesting and thought provoking. You can sense that she is understandably always on edge. Is Freddie a liar? Is Freddie a liar born of liars? I like the ending of the book even though it is perhaps a bit fortuitous but not beyond the realms of possibility. My one jarring reservation ..... an unsavoury character called Knuckles? Seriously?!!!
Overall, I really enjoyed this well written slow burner psychological thriller, it has a very good premise and plenty of plot twists to keep you invested to the end.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the much appreciated widget for an honest review.
This book hooks you in from the start. One of the things I like best about it is the characterisation. Tom and Sarah are different in every possible way, they’re certainly from opposing planets but that’s what makes it so interesting. They’re like strangers each wearing a mask but we begin to peak behind this and start to see the real them. They both have interesting pasts that we learn piecemeal, some things are very surprising and you wouldn’t think they had it in them! When Freddie is born the family utterly changes and the author presents an intriguing look at their dynamics. The plot is strong and full of twists, we get little frissons of unease and a growing sense of impending disaster. As the storyline progresses we hear more of Sarah’s internal nightmare as her conscience troubles her and she’s torn between protecting and saving her son or facing up to the consequences. The moral dilemma she faces is very interesting and thought provoking. You can sense that she is understandably always on edge. Is Freddie a liar? Is Freddie a liar born of liars? I like the ending of the book even though it is perhaps a bit fortuitous but not beyond the realms of possibility. My one jarring reservation ..... an unsavoury character called Knuckles? Seriously?!!!
Overall, I really enjoyed this well written slow burner psychological thriller, it has a very good premise and plenty of plot twists to keep you invested to the end.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the much appreciated widget for an honest review.
June 16, 2021
Tom and Sarah are a most unlikely couple. Tom is an actuary, a staid, conventional man who loves routine, listens to Mozart, owns his own home, doesn’t drink, is socially awkward and sexually inexperienced. Sarah was brought up in a commune until she was eight and then by a strict, childless aunt and uncle. She loves to dress in bohemian clothing, listens to Pearl Jam, lives in a messy rented apartment, enjoys sex and alcohol and has tried more than one or two drugs. When they meet at a life drawing class Sarah is teaching, Tom is attracted to her happy, outgoing nature, unlike anyone he has met before and to Sarah, Tom seems secure and dependable, something she’s never had in her life. But both of them have secrets they want to keep buried in the past.
Despite Tom’s stuffy friends Hugo and Olivia warning him that Sarah is a gold digger they marry and after several miscarriages Freddie is born. He’s an adorable baby and child and Tom is happy to leave much of his upbringing and disciplining to Sarah, while is away long hours at work and she works as an artist. However, by the time he is fifteen Freddie has become a rebellious, rude teenager, mixing with a bad crowd and flouting Sarah’s rues. One night, he comes home very late to tell them that something really bad has happened, although refuses to tell them any details. Tom wants to call the police immediately, while Sarah is determined to do everything she can to protect her son as long as possible.
This slow burning domestic drama is an emotional character driven mystery asking the question of how far a mother should be prepared to go to protect her child. The effects of prolonged lying in a relationship will be devastating and eventually blow this family apart. The narrative is told in two time lines, that of the past as well as the present time where a man is on trial for murder in Truro Crown Court. The novel is well paced and while it takes a little time to see how these two threads link up, both stories make for absorbing reading. The event that destroys the family will in the end prove to be transformative for all of them and during the course of the novel each of the characters, Tom, Sarah and Freddie, will not only learn to face their past mistakes but also to accept themselves and their flaws.
With thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for a copy to read. Original review first published in Mystery and suspense Magazine.
Despite Tom’s stuffy friends Hugo and Olivia warning him that Sarah is a gold digger they marry and after several miscarriages Freddie is born. He’s an adorable baby and child and Tom is happy to leave much of his upbringing and disciplining to Sarah, while is away long hours at work and she works as an artist. However, by the time he is fifteen Freddie has become a rebellious, rude teenager, mixing with a bad crowd and flouting Sarah’s rues. One night, he comes home very late to tell them that something really bad has happened, although refuses to tell them any details. Tom wants to call the police immediately, while Sarah is determined to do everything she can to protect her son as long as possible.
This slow burning domestic drama is an emotional character driven mystery asking the question of how far a mother should be prepared to go to protect her child. The effects of prolonged lying in a relationship will be devastating and eventually blow this family apart. The narrative is told in two time lines, that of the past as well as the present time where a man is on trial for murder in Truro Crown Court. The novel is well paced and while it takes a little time to see how these two threads link up, both stories make for absorbing reading. The event that destroys the family will in the end prove to be transformative for all of them and during the course of the novel each of the characters, Tom, Sarah and Freddie, will not only learn to face their past mistakes but also to accept themselves and their flaws.
With thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for a copy to read. Original review first published in Mystery and suspense Magazine.
January 31, 2021
I am a huge fan of Jane Corry’s books. She is my go to author, as I know I will be completely hooked from the first page and this book did not disappoint!!
When Tom and Sarah’s fifteen year old son Freddie comes home late and upset, they are distraught when he tells them he has done something terrible. This will put his parents in a quandary as Sarah wants to protect her son whilst Tom is all for calling the police. The couple will soon find out, how far they will go to protect their only child!!
We then rewind the story back to when Tom and Sarah first met, a very unlikely couple who come from different backgrounds. Can they make their relationship work when they are both hiding skeletons from their past!!
The story goes back to the present time and is told from Sarah’s point of view.
A book with a great moral dilemma that made me wonder what I would do if I was in Sarah’s shoes.
A must read author!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
When Tom and Sarah’s fifteen year old son Freddie comes home late and upset, they are distraught when he tells them he has done something terrible. This will put his parents in a quandary as Sarah wants to protect her son whilst Tom is all for calling the police. The couple will soon find out, how far they will go to protect their only child!!
We then rewind the story back to when Tom and Sarah first met, a very unlikely couple who come from different backgrounds. Can they make their relationship work when they are both hiding skeletons from their past!!
The story goes back to the present time and is told from Sarah’s point of view.
A book with a great moral dilemma that made me wonder what I would do if I was in Sarah’s shoes.
A must read author!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
May 26, 2021
This book was a domestic drama that looked at all the various repercussions of lying (even if only by omission). And of course the moral of the story is that lying never pays. Oh yeah, there’s also the small detail of how far you would go to protect your child.
Sarah and Tom seem like a rather mismatched couple but they are happy together at first. Sarah is desperate to have a child, to have a proper family, since her mother died when she was 8 and her father disappeared. Sarah was shunted off to an aunt who wasn’t very loving or kind. Tom had his own issues growing up. Their quest for a child though is riven with problems and miscarriages until finally the dream comes true. Sarah is captivated by her new son, Freddie, and is fiercely protective of him. Tom thinks she is too soft so they clash over how to discipline the boy. Sarah and Tom grow increasingly apart and some of the secrets they held onto are now out in the open and festering. As Freddie gets older, he gets more difficult to handle and causes his parents all sorts of problems until the biggie - he comes very late one night, distraught, saying he had killed someone but he won’t give any details.
In a moment of madness Sarah decides to go on the run with Tom. She can’t stand the idea of him possibly going to prison. They hide out in a remote corner of Cornwall but a few weeks later Freddie disappears. He later tells Sarah it is to protect her. Inevitably the whole edifice of secrets and lies comes tumbling down and Freddie and Sarah must face up to their crimes.
So it all sounds very interesting... but the first half of the book is all about Sarah and Tom and their relationship and, frankly, I found it quite tedious. I know it was setting the scene for the real story in the second half and I have to admit the second half was much better. But even so, what could have been dramatic and thought provoking ended up tied in too neat a bow. The word “fluffy” comes to mind. Ok that might be a bit harsh but I never really engaged with the story or the characters. Sarah was a pretty good character but Tom was cringeworthy and far too uptight. I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sarah and Tom seem like a rather mismatched couple but they are happy together at first. Sarah is desperate to have a child, to have a proper family, since her mother died when she was 8 and her father disappeared. Sarah was shunted off to an aunt who wasn’t very loving or kind. Tom had his own issues growing up. Their quest for a child though is riven with problems and miscarriages until finally the dream comes true. Sarah is captivated by her new son, Freddie, and is fiercely protective of him. Tom thinks she is too soft so they clash over how to discipline the boy. Sarah and Tom grow increasingly apart and some of the secrets they held onto are now out in the open and festering. As Freddie gets older, he gets more difficult to handle and causes his parents all sorts of problems until the biggie - he comes very late one night, distraught, saying he had killed someone but he won’t give any details.
In a moment of madness Sarah decides to go on the run with Tom. She can’t stand the idea of him possibly going to prison. They hide out in a remote corner of Cornwall but a few weeks later Freddie disappears. He later tells Sarah it is to protect her. Inevitably the whole edifice of secrets and lies comes tumbling down and Freddie and Sarah must face up to their crimes.
So it all sounds very interesting... but the first half of the book is all about Sarah and Tom and their relationship and, frankly, I found it quite tedious. I know it was setting the scene for the real story in the second half and I have to admit the second half was much better. But even so, what could have been dramatic and thought provoking ended up tied in too neat a bow. The word “fluffy” comes to mind. Ok that might be a bit harsh but I never really engaged with the story or the characters. Sarah was a pretty good character but Tom was cringeworthy and far too uptight. I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 19, 2021
I have probably just one another book by Jane Corry that is to be read, so that definitely shows how much of a fan I am of her writing skills.
She does it again! The domestic thriller that is The Lies We tell takes its time to grab you but once it does, there’s not a moment to be lost.
Sarah and Tom are as unlike a pair as chalk and cheese. They come together at a time when they both are at their lowest, Sarah needing solidity and steady life, while Tom is lonely and wants to feel loved and share his life with someone. Both of them have past baggage and in Sarah’s case, more than one past secret effectively waiting to pop out of a Chinese puzzle box. It is the birth of Freddie that forces them to continue to work at their marriage even when it becomes clear that once the trust is lost, there’s no way it can be rekindled again.
There’s an in-depth and detailed look into a mother’s psyche as Sarah struggles to give birth, losing babies one after another, and finally the exultant joy in holding Freddie in her hands and the smothering love that binds them both, how it becomes so much focussed that she loses sight of the drift in the relationship with her husband, how Tom effectively hands over the upbringing of the child into Sarah’s hands. It is only when the 15-year-old Freddie commits a crime that the rift becomes one of the gargantuan proportions and all the further decision just adds on to the chaos.
The story unravels at a steady pace alternating between the present in Truro Crown Court and the past of Sarah’s and Tom’s life, it is definitely not an intense gasp for breath ride, but as the court proceedings are kept as vague as possible, the reader is compelled to continue reading with tension mounting up as the two timelines merge and the truth is finally out.
What I absolutely loved is the thought-provoking theme of how far a mother can go to protect one’s child especially when faced with a situation that you have already endured.
Emotional!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Penguin Group, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
She does it again! The domestic thriller that is The Lies We tell takes its time to grab you but once it does, there’s not a moment to be lost.
Sarah and Tom are as unlike a pair as chalk and cheese. They come together at a time when they both are at their lowest, Sarah needing solidity and steady life, while Tom is lonely and wants to feel loved and share his life with someone. Both of them have past baggage and in Sarah’s case, more than one past secret effectively waiting to pop out of a Chinese puzzle box. It is the birth of Freddie that forces them to continue to work at their marriage even when it becomes clear that once the trust is lost, there’s no way it can be rekindled again.
There’s an in-depth and detailed look into a mother’s psyche as Sarah struggles to give birth, losing babies one after another, and finally the exultant joy in holding Freddie in her hands and the smothering love that binds them both, how it becomes so much focussed that she loses sight of the drift in the relationship with her husband, how Tom effectively hands over the upbringing of the child into Sarah’s hands. It is only when the 15-year-old Freddie commits a crime that the rift becomes one of the gargantuan proportions and all the further decision just adds on to the chaos.
The story unravels at a steady pace alternating between the present in Truro Crown Court and the past of Sarah’s and Tom’s life, it is definitely not an intense gasp for breath ride, but as the court proceedings are kept as vague as possible, the reader is compelled to continue reading with tension mounting up as the two timelines merge and the truth is finally out.
What I absolutely loved is the thought-provoking theme of how far a mother can go to protect one’s child especially when faced with a situation that you have already endured.
Emotional!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Penguin Group, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
January 22, 2021
This is another excellent Jane Corry novel that will keep the reader frantically turning the pages wanting to know what happens next.
When son Freddy comes home and admits he has done something terrible, Sarah and husband Tom are in a difficult position. Do they tell the police or try to cover it up to protect their son. Faced with a dilemma that could not only threaten the happiness of the family but also their marriage.
Interesting characters and an intriguing thought provoking dilemma. This is a page turner that I read from start to finish in one sitting.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When son Freddy comes home and admits he has done something terrible, Sarah and husband Tom are in a difficult position. Do they tell the police or try to cover it up to protect their son. Faced with a dilemma that could not only threaten the happiness of the family but also their marriage.
Interesting characters and an intriguing thought provoking dilemma. This is a page turner that I read from start to finish in one sitting.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2021
Freddie a fifteen year old boy comes home in the early hours of the morning and confesses to his parents that he has just killed someone.
Sarah his mother wants to protect him, Tom his father wants to inform the police.
The story then jumps back to how the parents met and their relationship.
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the authors previous books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah his mother wants to protect him, Tom his father wants to inform the police.
The story then jumps back to how the parents met and their relationship.
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the authors previous books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2021
Corry does it again. I thoroughly enjoyed this well thought out, considered and complicated plot. All about the consequences of one’s actions, deceit and lies. So many secrets.
A moral dilemma. Imagine, as a mother, your son came home and told you he had killed someone, what would you do?
Sarah and Tom are poles apart, so different, with not a lot in common. However they got together and if they had only communicated with each other and been honest from the start, things may have been quite different.
Being so different, they both struggled to keep it together, Tom started working later and befriended a lady at work, Hilary, who listened and was a lot more his type. Hugo, Tom’s best friend, thought that Tom was Sarah’s meal ticket, all of the time they needed to make an effort to rise above the objections outside the marriage as well as within.
Sarah desperately wanted children and when Freddie came along after a few miscarriages, you can imagine how she felt towards him.
Did his parents’ relationship and how they behaved have a negative effect on their son. The reason why he behaved like he did? Sarah didn’t set boundaries for Freddie, she didn’t discipline his obnoxious behaviour. She let him get away with a lot, in particular his disrespect. And when she did she didn’t do it well.
As long as Freddie loved her, Sarah wasn’t too concerned, she felt that teenagers test their parents, all part of finding their independence, erm, yes, right!
Freddie had quite a few behavioural and developmental problems and challenges. This led him to make unwise choices, mixing with the wrong crowd, doing things to be liked and included, with serious results.
This was his downfall. But was he a murderer?
How Corry brings this together is impressive and it all comes out in the end to a brilliant conclusion. All of the characters were well developed, and I loved Steve. Sarah’s time in Cornwall is heartfelt.
Thank you Penguin Random House UK, Viking, NetGalley and Jane Corry for this ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review.
A moral dilemma. Imagine, as a mother, your son came home and told you he had killed someone, what would you do?
Sarah and Tom are poles apart, so different, with not a lot in common. However they got together and if they had only communicated with each other and been honest from the start, things may have been quite different.
Being so different, they both struggled to keep it together, Tom started working later and befriended a lady at work, Hilary, who listened and was a lot more his type. Hugo, Tom’s best friend, thought that Tom was Sarah’s meal ticket, all of the time they needed to make an effort to rise above the objections outside the marriage as well as within.
Sarah desperately wanted children and when Freddie came along after a few miscarriages, you can imagine how she felt towards him.
Did his parents’ relationship and how they behaved have a negative effect on their son. The reason why he behaved like he did? Sarah didn’t set boundaries for Freddie, she didn’t discipline his obnoxious behaviour. She let him get away with a lot, in particular his disrespect. And when she did she didn’t do it well.
As long as Freddie loved her, Sarah wasn’t too concerned, she felt that teenagers test their parents, all part of finding their independence, erm, yes, right!
Freddie had quite a few behavioural and developmental problems and challenges. This led him to make unwise choices, mixing with the wrong crowd, doing things to be liked and included, with serious results.
This was his downfall. But was he a murderer?
How Corry brings this together is impressive and it all comes out in the end to a brilliant conclusion. All of the characters were well developed, and I loved Steve. Sarah’s time in Cornwall is heartfelt.
Thank you Penguin Random House UK, Viking, NetGalley and Jane Corry for this ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review.
February 24, 2022
It's a testament on how much I tend to enjoy a Jane Corry psychological thriller that I found this one didn't quite reach her usual high standards.
I was still interested to know what happened, but somehow it didn't quite hit the mark.
The opening really draws you in as Sarah and Tom's son Freddy comes home confessing that he's killed someone.
With both parents reacting differently, it raises the moral question of how far would you go to protect your son.
The bulk of the novel flashbacks to Sarah and Tim first dating and explores both of their pasts which helps explain why each reacted in the manner that they did.
In truth I found this section to be the strongest and most enjoyable.
The final third the fallout of Freddy's actions and whilst I appreciated Sarah's actions the whole section felt slightly rushed.
An odd framing device gave this book a disjointed feel, though everything was neatly wrapped up in the conclusion.
I was still interested to know what happened, but somehow it didn't quite hit the mark.
The opening really draws you in as Sarah and Tom's son Freddy comes home confessing that he's killed someone.
With both parents reacting differently, it raises the moral question of how far would you go to protect your son.
The bulk of the novel flashbacks to Sarah and Tim first dating and explores both of their pasts which helps explain why each reacted in the manner that they did.
In truth I found this section to be the strongest and most enjoyable.
The final third the fallout of Freddy's actions and whilst I appreciated Sarah's actions the whole section felt slightly rushed.
An odd framing device gave this book a disjointed feel, though everything was neatly wrapped up in the conclusion.
June 17, 2021
The Lies We Tell is a domestic drama that centres around the question of: if a person commits a terrible crime but has endured a terrible living situation while growing up is what drove them to do the deed due to nature or nurture? It's a chilly March evening and married couple Tom and Sarah’s depressed 16-year-old son, Freddie, heads out. They tell him to be back no later than midnight but it's now almost 3 AM and he still isn't home nor have they heard a peep from him via text and Sarah’s attempts to check in with an Are U OK? text are rebuffed. To make matters worse the family are supposed to be moving home for a fresh start later that morning. Finally, chocolate Labrador, Jasper, begins to bark downstairs marking the return of their wayward son. He's soaking wet and in clothes that don't belong to him. Tears are streaming down his face. He is shaking in huge convulsions. And he utters the dreaded words: ”Mum, I’ve killed someone”. He won't divulge any further detail but both Tom and Sarah want to protect Freddie the way they deem fit and as always they both have completely opposing ideas of what protection means. Tom wants to contact the police while Sarah believes it to be an accident and wants to protect him from the law; 2 very different ways of parenting. The twisting narrative then takes us back 20 years, to when Sarah and Tom first fell in love, and while we learn of Sarah’s own shady past, it’s hard not to take her side against her cold, pragmatic husband.
Jane Corry is one of the best domestic drama writers because she examines the lives of the family with scalpel-like precision revealing the dysfunctional relationships and festering resentments simmering just below the surface and the trauma and impact this can cause years later. It's an unsettling read from an author who knows about the dark side of life, having worked at a high-security prison for men, and as the slow-burning emotional mystery unravels it makes for compelling and compulsive reading. Highlighting the impact of fraught parental relationships and the effect blatant and continual lies have on a child born into that environment is not to be underestimated. Told through a past narrative starting with Sarah and Tom’s meeting and relationship evolution and present where Freddie is on trial for his crime at Truro Crown Court, you really start to wonder if the couple’s behaviour is what has led to their son’s instability and mental issues. It's a suspenseful domestic drama that provides so much food for thought, and I found the way the two threads, past and present, converge to create the explosive conclusion was clever and woven extremely well. Corry illustrates more than in any other family thriller I've read lately just how secrets, lies and betrayals give way to hatred and acting out eventually leading to an event such as this horrific crime that'll devastate the family unit once and for all. A riveting, tension-filled drama. Highly recommended.
Jane Corry is one of the best domestic drama writers because she examines the lives of the family with scalpel-like precision revealing the dysfunctional relationships and festering resentments simmering just below the surface and the trauma and impact this can cause years later. It's an unsettling read from an author who knows about the dark side of life, having worked at a high-security prison for men, and as the slow-burning emotional mystery unravels it makes for compelling and compulsive reading. Highlighting the impact of fraught parental relationships and the effect blatant and continual lies have on a child born into that environment is not to be underestimated. Told through a past narrative starting with Sarah and Tom’s meeting and relationship evolution and present where Freddie is on trial for his crime at Truro Crown Court, you really start to wonder if the couple’s behaviour is what has led to their son’s instability and mental issues. It's a suspenseful domestic drama that provides so much food for thought, and I found the way the two threads, past and present, converge to create the explosive conclusion was clever and woven extremely well. Corry illustrates more than in any other family thriller I've read lately just how secrets, lies and betrayals give way to hatred and acting out eventually leading to an event such as this horrific crime that'll devastate the family unit once and for all. A riveting, tension-filled drama. Highly recommended.
June 11, 2021
After reading the synopsis, I was so excited to read The Lies We Tell, however it just wasn’t what I was expecting at all. The novel is sold as husband and wife Sarah and Tom, who start to worry when their teenage son Freddy doesn’t come home one night. When he finally arrives back in the early hours of the morning, he confesses to his mother that he’s just killed someone. What will his parents do?
I thought Jane Corry was going to deliver a corker of a novel. However, it was anything but.
Once Freddy makes his confession, Corry takes us back in time to tell us all about how Tom and Sarah meet. In great length, and in great detail; and it’s boring. I honestly had no interest in their pasts, and how they were ‘so wrong’ for each other but ‘stayed together for their child.’
They’re not likeable characters, and because of this, I struggled to care about what happened to them. Both of them behave in ways that is annoying and infuriating, and I couldn’t take sides because they both had too many faults. They weren’t flawed characters, they were just irritants.
For most of the novel we have a duel narrative from both Sarah and Tom, then Corry stops writing Tom’s point of view. I thought this was a strange thing to do, and I found it very jarring when we’d previously been given both points of view. If it was to imply his opinion didn’t matter anymore, I couldn’t care for Sarah’s either and wish she stopped writing hers as well.
The novel was too long, incredibly waffly and very repetitive; it just didn’t hold enough interesting elements to keep a reader engaged. I’ve read some slow paced books in my time, but this one wasn’t a slow burner, it was a nonstarter. Then she tried to throw in some character revelations to spice it up and it was just honestly mind numbing.
I think if it was marketed differently, it wouldn’t have been such a disappointment. It definitely doesn’t deliver.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I thought Jane Corry was going to deliver a corker of a novel. However, it was anything but.
Once Freddy makes his confession, Corry takes us back in time to tell us all about how Tom and Sarah meet. In great length, and in great detail; and it’s boring. I honestly had no interest in their pasts, and how they were ‘so wrong’ for each other but ‘stayed together for their child.’
They’re not likeable characters, and because of this, I struggled to care about what happened to them. Both of them behave in ways that is annoying and infuriating, and I couldn’t take sides because they both had too many faults. They weren’t flawed characters, they were just irritants.
For most of the novel we have a duel narrative from both Sarah and Tom, then Corry stops writing Tom’s point of view. I thought this was a strange thing to do, and I found it very jarring when we’d previously been given both points of view. If it was to imply his opinion didn’t matter anymore, I couldn’t care for Sarah’s either and wish she stopped writing hers as well.
The novel was too long, incredibly waffly and very repetitive; it just didn’t hold enough interesting elements to keep a reader engaged. I’ve read some slow paced books in my time, but this one wasn’t a slow burner, it was a nonstarter. Then she tried to throw in some character revelations to spice it up and it was just honestly mind numbing.
I think if it was marketed differently, it wouldn’t have been such a disappointment. It definitely doesn’t deliver.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2021
The Lies we tell follows the life of a family Sarah, Tom and their son Freddie. They are forced to find out how far they will go for their son when he tells them he killed someone.
I enjoyed this book. We are taken on a journey to find put how Sarah and Tom ended up together and more importantly why Freddie is so previous to them. Its interesting as we go from Sarah's pov to Tom's. They both ser the world so differently but both sre holding secrets.
I found I was more sympathise towards Sarah's story she clearly is a troubled woman. Her pregnancy stories were heart wrenching and I understood her later struggle with Freddie's confession. Tom on the other hand although had a sad back story I just lost any sympathy towards him but his history is heartbreaking also.
We basically get a look into a relationship based on lies. But what happens when you've told one lie and another and another until you can't stop. It's interesting and I suppose the focus of the story wasn't as I expected but its better. I actually held of reading this book because it sounded to similar to another thriller I read last year, but this is so totally different and actually better
Freddie on the otherhand is a very interesting character. I suppose we don't get to learn to much about him until we get further into his story with Sarah's history. He's not a very nice guy and it's like the author write him as a bad character to make us as the readers question whether or not we would protect him. Honestly I do not know. He is arty and out going like his mum and so different to his dad . It's depicted so well.
All in all I enjoyed this book. I would recommend. It's not really really thriller but it's a great mystery what did she do He do they do, not going to lie there was a lot and a lot of guilt but worth a read. It's basically every parents worse nightmare. The author is very talented and makes some hard to read subjects bearable such as sexual abuse , drugs, suicide and death. Be prepared.
4 🌟
Thanks to netgalley, penguin publishers and the author Jane Corry for the digital advanced copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.
I enjoyed this book. We are taken on a journey to find put how Sarah and Tom ended up together and more importantly why Freddie is so previous to them. Its interesting as we go from Sarah's pov to Tom's. They both ser the world so differently but both sre holding secrets.
I found I was more sympathise towards Sarah's story she clearly is a troubled woman. Her pregnancy stories were heart wrenching and I understood her later struggle with Freddie's confession. Tom on the other hand although had a sad back story I just lost any sympathy towards him but his history is heartbreaking also.
We basically get a look into a relationship based on lies. But what happens when you've told one lie and another and another until you can't stop. It's interesting and I suppose the focus of the story wasn't as I expected but its better. I actually held of reading this book because it sounded to similar to another thriller I read last year, but this is so totally different and actually better
Freddie on the otherhand is a very interesting character. I suppose we don't get to learn to much about him until we get further into his story with Sarah's history. He's not a very nice guy and it's like the author write him as a bad character to make us as the readers question whether or not we would protect him. Honestly I do not know. He is arty and out going like his mum and so different to his dad . It's depicted so well.
All in all I enjoyed this book. I would recommend. It's not really really thriller but it's a great mystery what did she do He do they do, not going to lie there was a lot and a lot of guilt but worth a read. It's basically every parents worse nightmare. The author is very talented and makes some hard to read subjects bearable such as sexual abuse , drugs, suicide and death. Be prepared.
4 🌟
Thanks to netgalley, penguin publishers and the author Jane Corry for the digital advanced copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.
June 17, 2021
*thank you to Netgalley, Penguin UK and Jane Corry for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This book had a lot of things happening and was definitely interesting.
The majority of the storyline was going back and forth between past and present. I wasn't expecting that but it it turned out to be really well done and kept my attention.
The characters themselves made me even more glad that I'm single and plan to stay that way forever. The lies and deceitfulness of the two main characters who were husband and wife was really off putting and hard to read.
While I did enjoy this, it wasn't amazing for me. It's one I'm glad I got to read but wouldnt re read, though I would pass it along to a friend.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This book had a lot of things happening and was definitely interesting.
The majority of the storyline was going back and forth between past and present. I wasn't expecting that but it it turned out to be really well done and kept my attention.
The characters themselves made me even more glad that I'm single and plan to stay that way forever. The lies and deceitfulness of the two main characters who were husband and wife was really off putting and hard to read.
While I did enjoy this, it wasn't amazing for me. It's one I'm glad I got to read but wouldnt re read, though I would pass it along to a friend.
May 6, 2022
Jane Corry knygos visada mane labai įtraukia. Ir ši naujausia knyga "Mūsų melas" labai patiko. Labai aktuali tema apie šeimą, santuoką, santykius, vaiko auginimas ir begalinė mamos meilė vieninteliam vaikui. Bandžiau galvoti ką daryčiau būdama vietoj Saros. Ir tikrai nežinau ką daryčiau...
Tikrai verčianti susimąstyti knygą. Rekomenduoju 🙂👌
Tikrai verčianti susimąstyti knygą. Rekomenduoju 🙂👌
April 18, 2021
Rating: 2.3/5
This is the first book by Jane Corry that I have read.. From the accompanying blurb I had been anticipating a suspenseful thriller, but that really isn't an accurate description of this novel. It is far more of a domestic / family drama dealing with moral dilemmas. As such, it poses some thought-provoking questions along the way, but I couldn't help feeling that it ultimately shied away from fully addressing some of the darker aspects in favour of a cosier emphasis.
The story is divided into two parts. I found "Part One" quite engaging. A shocking announcement by teenager, Freddie, leads to an extended and enlightening flashback looking at the personal histories of his parents, Sarah & Tom. Although this direction was not something I had been expecting, I found myself drawn into the background stories of this unlikely married couple.
At this stage, it would already have been fair to describe "The Lies We Tell" as a slow-burner, but it was, nonetheless, holding my attention. However, during "Part Two" the storyline lost momentum and meandered around somewhat aimlessly at times. This was a disappointing development after a promising foundation had been established, but it was the latter stages of the novel, when a series of cathartic revelations emerged, that it all became a bit too much! It was almost getting to the point where I expected Jasper, the chocolate labrador, to develop the power of speech and confess that he, too, had done things in his puppyhood that he deeply regretted.
On the whole, I liked the premise and felt that the first half of the book had a lot going for it, but ultimately it didn't really deliver on its potential.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
This is the first book by Jane Corry that I have read.. From the accompanying blurb I had been anticipating a suspenseful thriller, but that really isn't an accurate description of this novel. It is far more of a domestic / family drama dealing with moral dilemmas. As such, it poses some thought-provoking questions along the way, but I couldn't help feeling that it ultimately shied away from fully addressing some of the darker aspects in favour of a cosier emphasis.
The story is divided into two parts. I found "Part One" quite engaging. A shocking announcement by teenager, Freddie, leads to an extended and enlightening flashback looking at the personal histories of his parents, Sarah & Tom. Although this direction was not something I had been expecting, I found myself drawn into the background stories of this unlikely married couple.
At this stage, it would already have been fair to describe "The Lies We Tell" as a slow-burner, but it was, nonetheless, holding my attention. However, during "Part Two" the storyline lost momentum and meandered around somewhat aimlessly at times. This was a disappointing development after a promising foundation had been established, but it was the latter stages of the novel, when a series of cathartic revelations emerged, that it all became a bit too much! It was almost getting to the point where I expected Jasper, the chocolate labrador, to develop the power of speech and confess that he, too, had done things in his puppyhood that he deeply regretted.
On the whole, I liked the premise and felt that the first half of the book had a lot going for it, but ultimately it didn't really deliver on its potential.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
December 23, 2023
Sarah ist krank vor Sorge als ihr Sohn eines Nachts in völliger Schockstarre nach Hause kommt und ihr einen Mord gesteht. Mehr ist aus dem Jungen nicht heraus zu bekommen und so entscheidet Sarah, dass sie alles tun wird, um ihren Sohn schützen. Denn auch Sarah hat in ihrer Vergangenheit Fehler gemacht und weiß, dass diese einen ein Leben lang verfolgen können…
Entgegen des ersten Eindrucks, rollen wir die Geschichte quasi von hinten auf. Zwar wissen wir gleich zu Beginn, dass Freddy offensichtlich jemanden umgebracht hat, doch dann werden wir abwechselnd durch Sarah und Tom durch die Vergangenheit geführt. Wir erfahren wie die beiden sich kennen gelernt haben und warum die Beziehung heute nicht mehr so gefühlvoll erscheint. Der Rückblick ist sehr lang und bevor wir wieder in die Gegenwart eintauchen, ist das halbe Buch durch. Mir hat dadurch die Spannung gefehlt. Ist man dann endlich wieder in der Echtzeit angelangt, nähern wir uns leider immer noch nicht der Lösung des Ganzen.
Der Klappentext verrät nicht mal ansatzweise was für ein wilder Ritt diese Geschichte war. Zwar war die Story durchaus unterhaltsam, aber eben auch stellenweise sehr absurd und unrealistisch. Wie man sich permanent durch seine Entscheidungen in absolut unnötige Lagen bringen kann, ist mir wirklich ein Rätsel. Angefangen von zwei Menschen, die offensichtlich so gar nicht zusammen passen, bis hin zu irrwitzigen Handlungen und unrealistischen Fügungen, um dann am Ende noch einen drauf zu setzen. Ich hatte das Gefühl, dass die Autorin im letzten Drittel nochmal besonders viel unterbringen wollte, nachdem über die Hälfte des Buches für die Kennenlernstory von Sarah und Tom drauf ging.
Ich bin etwas hin- und hergerissen, weil das Buch eben durch seine absurden Momente durchaus unterhaltsam war, jedoch war der Spannungsbogen eben sehr ungleich aufgebaut. Wer eine ruhige Heranführung mag und generell nicht auf der Suche nach viel Action ist, der könnte Gefallen an “The Lies We tell” finden.
Entgegen des ersten Eindrucks, rollen wir die Geschichte quasi von hinten auf. Zwar wissen wir gleich zu Beginn, dass Freddy offensichtlich jemanden umgebracht hat, doch dann werden wir abwechselnd durch Sarah und Tom durch die Vergangenheit geführt. Wir erfahren wie die beiden sich kennen gelernt haben und warum die Beziehung heute nicht mehr so gefühlvoll erscheint. Der Rückblick ist sehr lang und bevor wir wieder in die Gegenwart eintauchen, ist das halbe Buch durch. Mir hat dadurch die Spannung gefehlt. Ist man dann endlich wieder in der Echtzeit angelangt, nähern wir uns leider immer noch nicht der Lösung des Ganzen.
Der Klappentext verrät nicht mal ansatzweise was für ein wilder Ritt diese Geschichte war. Zwar war die Story durchaus unterhaltsam, aber eben auch stellenweise sehr absurd und unrealistisch. Wie man sich permanent durch seine Entscheidungen in absolut unnötige Lagen bringen kann, ist mir wirklich ein Rätsel. Angefangen von zwei Menschen, die offensichtlich so gar nicht zusammen passen, bis hin zu irrwitzigen Handlungen und unrealistischen Fügungen, um dann am Ende noch einen drauf zu setzen. Ich hatte das Gefühl, dass die Autorin im letzten Drittel nochmal besonders viel unterbringen wollte, nachdem über die Hälfte des Buches für die Kennenlernstory von Sarah und Tom drauf ging.
Ich bin etwas hin- und hergerissen, weil das Buch eben durch seine absurden Momente durchaus unterhaltsam war, jedoch war der Spannungsbogen eben sehr ungleich aufgebaut. Wer eine ruhige Heranführung mag und generell nicht auf der Suche nach viel Action ist, der könnte Gefallen an “The Lies We tell” finden.
August 24, 2022
I have to say this is not up there with my favourite Jane Corry books just because it really wasn't a thriller.
This book was more domestic than thriller, where it portrays two characters Tom and Sarah and ask the question of what would you do? How far would you go for your child? If your child murdered someone how far would you go to save them, or would you hand them in? As a whole the book was really good, but because I am used to such a well done thrilling, gripping story from Corry this let me down slightly. With multiple p.o.v's we follow Tom and Sarah's back story, how they met etc, present day when they are in court, and the day when Freddie- their son- came home saying he murdered someone. It deals with heavy themes and it does keep you gripped, but I would have to say this is more of a women's fiction/domestic type rather than thriller.
Quotes/
'But be true to yourself, Sarah. If there's nothing else I've learned in life, it's that.'
'It's only when we're older, I realised, that we understand how past relationships defined us. How they pointed us down a certain path even when the signpost ordered us to take anothr r route.'
This book was more domestic than thriller, where it portrays two characters Tom and Sarah and ask the question of what would you do? How far would you go for your child? If your child murdered someone how far would you go to save them, or would you hand them in? As a whole the book was really good, but because I am used to such a well done thrilling, gripping story from Corry this let me down slightly. With multiple p.o.v's we follow Tom and Sarah's back story, how they met etc, present day when they are in court, and the day when Freddie- their son- came home saying he murdered someone. It deals with heavy themes and it does keep you gripped, but I would have to say this is more of a women's fiction/domestic type rather than thriller.
Quotes/
'But be true to yourself, Sarah. If there's nothing else I've learned in life, it's that.'
'It's only when we're older, I realised, that we understand how past relationships defined us. How they pointed us down a certain path even when the signpost ordered us to take anothr r route.'
April 11, 2022
Dar viena puiki Corry knyga, nuo kurios neįmanoma buvo atsitraukti.
June 18, 2021
Tom and Sarah are an unlikely pairing, and their marriage has always raised a few eyebrows due to how different they are from one another in appearance, experiences and even parenting styles. One evening, their rebellious 15-year-old son Freddie is the reason for another argument between the two. After flouting their rules, breaking curfew and mixing with the wrong crowd, Freddie returns home late in distress. He admits that he has killed someone but won't give further details. Tom wants to tell the police, whilst Sarah wants to protect her son at any cost, so there are high stakes from the offset on what will happen next - will he get arrested? Will he go on the run? Following his confession, the story switches to the alternating perspectives of Tom and Sarah, charting from the past (including their first meet) to the present day in Truro Crown Court.
The Lies We Tell is a slow-burn of a domestic drama that features Jane Corry's signature style of multiple perspectives and dual-timelines allowing you to piece together tidbits ready for a simmering reveal of information when you learn how the two timelines link together. The characterisation is immaculate and learning about Tom and Sarah's past is both insightful and at times unsettling, especially when darker aspects are revealed. There are some more lighthearted idyllic descriptions of Cornwall, and the dysfunctional family aspect of a mother and son vs a father really reminded me of David Nicholls' Us but with a more severe undertone.
Aptly named, this story looks at the lies we tell and the repercussions of them, even if the lie was small to start with. The troublesome marriage between Tom and Sarah including several miscarriages, omissions of their own personal histories and staggering differences in their moral character leads to a complicated look at how this might have affected their child and ultimately whether they are responsible for his omission and ill-behaviour. I really liked the prospect of the moral dilemma facing the parents about protecting their son or following the law, and I think Corry handles this in thought-provoking means. One downfall that usually faces psychological thrillers of this kind is the pacing, but within this, I never felt like the onslaught of info about Tom and Sarah was too much or irrelevant. Instead, my only qualm with this one is that I do feel as though the ending is a tad too neat and tied up for my liking, it almost feels too conclusive and unrealistic, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping slow-burn
3.5 stars
*Huge thanks to Penguin for my gifted copy!
The Lies We Tell is a slow-burn of a domestic drama that features Jane Corry's signature style of multiple perspectives and dual-timelines allowing you to piece together tidbits ready for a simmering reveal of information when you learn how the two timelines link together. The characterisation is immaculate and learning about Tom and Sarah's past is both insightful and at times unsettling, especially when darker aspects are revealed. There are some more lighthearted idyllic descriptions of Cornwall, and the dysfunctional family aspect of a mother and son vs a father really reminded me of David Nicholls' Us but with a more severe undertone.
Aptly named, this story looks at the lies we tell and the repercussions of them, even if the lie was small to start with. The troublesome marriage between Tom and Sarah including several miscarriages, omissions of their own personal histories and staggering differences in their moral character leads to a complicated look at how this might have affected their child and ultimately whether they are responsible for his omission and ill-behaviour. I really liked the prospect of the moral dilemma facing the parents about protecting their son or following the law, and I think Corry handles this in thought-provoking means. One downfall that usually faces psychological thrillers of this kind is the pacing, but within this, I never felt like the onslaught of info about Tom and Sarah was too much or irrelevant. Instead, my only qualm with this one is that I do feel as though the ending is a tad too neat and tied up for my liking, it almost feels too conclusive and unrealistic, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping slow-burn
3.5 stars
*Huge thanks to Penguin for my gifted copy!
June 26, 2021
When Sarah and Tom’s son, fifteen-year-old Freddy, hadn’t returned home, at the time they said he had to be in, his dad wasn’t surprised, and his mum was worried. Freddy wasn’t an easy child, he had another side to him. When he got home, he was covered in blood, not his own. He had killed someone. Tom wanted to call the police, but Sarah had other ideas. The story drops back to when Tom and Sarah met.
Tom and Sarah could not have been more different. Tom had been educated at boarding school, and lived by routines and tidiness and was never impulsive. Sarah on the other hand, had been born in a commune and lived in chaos and clutter. He felt compelled to care for her, and once he had kissed her, she saw stars like never before. They asked each other about their pasts, and the lies began. Of course, they married. They didn’t know better.
Now we aren’t talking little lies, these were life-changing events, but by the time they knew about each other, it was too late. It wasn’t just them that would be affected.
The story has some mighty powerful themes running through it about the consequences, that come from the actions and choices that we make. The opening chapters certainly grabbed my attention. I could only think of one worse situation. I liked how the story took on the two scenarios of opposite reactions and how they panned out.
I never knew what was coming on the next page of this story, which kept me guessing about how it would end. It felt realistic and made me question what I would do if that had been me. There are some surprises which I had not seen coming.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Tom and Sarah could not have been more different. Tom had been educated at boarding school, and lived by routines and tidiness and was never impulsive. Sarah on the other hand, had been born in a commune and lived in chaos and clutter. He felt compelled to care for her, and once he had kissed her, she saw stars like never before. They asked each other about their pasts, and the lies began. Of course, they married. They didn’t know better.
Now we aren’t talking little lies, these were life-changing events, but by the time they knew about each other, it was too late. It wasn’t just them that would be affected.
The story has some mighty powerful themes running through it about the consequences, that come from the actions and choices that we make. The opening chapters certainly grabbed my attention. I could only think of one worse situation. I liked how the story took on the two scenarios of opposite reactions and how they panned out.
I never knew what was coming on the next page of this story, which kept me guessing about how it would end. It felt realistic and made me question what I would do if that had been me. There are some surprises which I had not seen coming.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
April 20, 2021
Thanks to Net Galley for an advance copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I am so confused.
Having read another book by Jane Corry, I was expecting something good but 'The Lies We Tell' read like a completely different author. Honestly, it was like an 11 year old wrote their first novel.
I don't understand why. Both the main characters were unlikeable - Tom a little more than Sarah - but unlikeable characters isn't a problem. It was the writing. The sentences were weird; a lot of the time, it was quite jerky and didn't flow well. There was an unnecessary amount of exposition as well - it's always better to SHOW an event happening rather than just TELL us about it, and for the most part, the memories of Tom and Sarah were shown rather than just talked about, but it still read like a pretty boring account of 'What I Did Before We Got Together'. Just ... dull.
Several characters had major inconsistencies. Hilary - supposedly Tom's moral compass - has zero hesitations about jumping into an affair. Olivia - the best character - wasn't seen enough, so everytime we hear from her there's a huge rundown of what she's been up to.
There were a couple of flaws in the story itself. The two that I noticed particularly were:
1. When talking about Freddie going to school, he is referred to as 'Tom' for one sentence.
2. When Sarah visits Freddie in prison, she talks about how he sits behind glass, and they both put a hand up to it to "touch". In the next sentence, however, they're hugging.
But the biggest flaw was Tom. DEEPLY unlikeable. So staid and formal (his surprise at Hilary wearing jeans is actually quite shocking) and although he and Sarah constantly mention that they are very different people, it's hard to believe that they stayed together for as long as they did. The behaviour after Freddie's birth was just weird. He's your son, Tom. If you want to see him, make a scene about it. Don't just meekly accept that your wife's friend (not even your wife!) has asked you to leave and is apparently calling all the shots now. For God's sake, Tom (and also Sarah, in this bit at least) - grow some balls.
Finally, the unveil of secret after secret after secret at the end ... No. Unbelievable and like a tacked on ending, as though the author realises that particular character hasn't had any closure.
I am so confused.
Having read another book by Jane Corry, I was expecting something good but 'The Lies We Tell' read like a completely different author. Honestly, it was like an 11 year old wrote their first novel.
I don't understand why. Both the main characters were unlikeable - Tom a little more than Sarah - but unlikeable characters isn't a problem. It was the writing. The sentences were weird; a lot of the time, it was quite jerky and didn't flow well. There was an unnecessary amount of exposition as well - it's always better to SHOW an event happening rather than just TELL us about it, and for the most part, the memories of Tom and Sarah were shown rather than just talked about, but it still read like a pretty boring account of 'What I Did Before We Got Together'. Just ... dull.
Several characters had major inconsistencies. Hilary - supposedly Tom's moral compass - has zero hesitations about jumping into an affair. Olivia - the best character - wasn't seen enough, so everytime we hear from her there's a huge rundown of what she's been up to.
There were a couple of flaws in the story itself. The two that I noticed particularly were:
1. When talking about Freddie going to school, he is referred to as 'Tom' for one sentence.
2. When Sarah visits Freddie in prison, she talks about how he sits behind glass, and they both put a hand up to it to "touch". In the next sentence, however, they're hugging.
But the biggest flaw was Tom. DEEPLY unlikeable. So staid and formal (his surprise at Hilary wearing jeans is actually quite shocking) and although he and Sarah constantly mention that they are very different people, it's hard to believe that they stayed together for as long as they did. The behaviour after Freddie's birth was just weird. He's your son, Tom. If you want to see him, make a scene about it. Don't just meekly accept that your wife's friend (not even your wife!) has asked you to leave and is apparently calling all the shots now. For God's sake, Tom (and also Sarah, in this bit at least) - grow some balls.
Finally, the unveil of secret after secret after secret at the end ... No. Unbelievable and like a tacked on ending, as though the author realises that particular character hasn't had any closure.
March 24, 2021
My head is absolutely reeling from this. I did not see well the majority of the end section coming, while at the same time it all made complete sense.
I perhaps should have guessed from the title that the book may be filled with lies, secrets, revelations, but I also went into it blindly not having looked at the blurb at all, just knowing I love Jane Corry's books and would be in safe hands.
And well it only took a few chapters to be hooked, and I have spent most of the day basically ignoring the fact that it was a week day when I was reading this, with a mountain of work that should almost certainly have had my intention, and instead I just couldn't tear myself away from the story.
It raises all sorts of questions, and if I was a mother myself maybe I'd have an answer to the main question that is raises, which is just what would you do to protect your child, even if they have said that they had done the worst thing possible.
In the first half of the book we get a great feel for Tom and Sarah's life from both their perspectives from their first meeting, to the present day. We see Freddy growing up, and we learn about things that both of them hidden from each other from their own pasts.
There is just so much to get your head around in this, that all I can really say is this is Jane Corry at her twisty, compulsive best. I just loved this book so much, it was wonderful, and I always appreciate a book that makes me forget about real life for a few hours, and transports me into it's pages.
I can't help but think this will be playing on my mind a lot for at least the next few days, and if this is anything like some of the psychological suspense sorts of books I've read recently, may give me some rather weird and vivid dreams too!
Thank you to Viking Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
I perhaps should have guessed from the title that the book may be filled with lies, secrets, revelations, but I also went into it blindly not having looked at the blurb at all, just knowing I love Jane Corry's books and would be in safe hands.
And well it only took a few chapters to be hooked, and I have spent most of the day basically ignoring the fact that it was a week day when I was reading this, with a mountain of work that should almost certainly have had my intention, and instead I just couldn't tear myself away from the story.
It raises all sorts of questions, and if I was a mother myself maybe I'd have an answer to the main question that is raises, which is just what would you do to protect your child, even if they have said that they had done the worst thing possible.
In the first half of the book we get a great feel for Tom and Sarah's life from both their perspectives from their first meeting, to the present day. We see Freddy growing up, and we learn about things that both of them hidden from each other from their own pasts.
There is just so much to get your head around in this, that all I can really say is this is Jane Corry at her twisty, compulsive best. I just loved this book so much, it was wonderful, and I always appreciate a book that makes me forget about real life for a few hours, and transports me into it's pages.
I can't help but think this will be playing on my mind a lot for at least the next few days, and if this is anything like some of the psychological suspense sorts of books I've read recently, may give me some rather weird and vivid dreams too!
Thank you to Viking Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
December 22, 2021
Publication Date: 17 June 2021
From the synopsis I expected a suspenseful thriller where Sarah and Tom have to find the best solution for their moral dilemmas, but what I got was boring and rambling novel. I don't know why the flashbacks had to be so long and detailed. I started to loose interest and skim a lot. Storyline also felt disjointed with those flashbacks and alternating POVs. At some point I realised that I no longer care what happen to any of the characters. Never a good sign while reading a thriller!
Jane Corry usually grab me with her writing and characters but this story didn't work for me. It was okay but instead of being thrilled I was more like...
From the synopsis I expected a suspenseful thriller where Sarah and Tom have to find the best solution for their moral dilemmas, but what I got was boring and rambling novel. I don't know why the flashbacks had to be so long and detailed. I started to loose interest and skim a lot. Storyline also felt disjointed with those flashbacks and alternating POVs. At some point I realised that I no longer care what happen to any of the characters. Never a good sign while reading a thriller!
Jane Corry usually grab me with her writing and characters but this story didn't work for me. It was okay but instead of being thrilled I was more like...
April 25, 2021
The Lies We Tell by Jane Corry
I give this book 4 stars
Sarah and Toms son Freddy came home saying he'd done something terrible. Begging them not to tell the police.
As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddy off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision . . .
Save her son . . . or save herself
An enjoyable thriller about relationships and hidden secrets,a mother’s love and the impact shocking revelations can have on one families life. Told between past and present day by the parents,it has an interesting storyline and well rounded characters,not all likeable. This is an author l like and would recommend.
With thanks to Netgalley,Jane Corry and Penguin General UK for the chance to read and review this book.
I give this book 4 stars
Sarah and Toms son Freddy came home saying he'd done something terrible. Begging them not to tell the police.
As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddy off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision . . .
Save her son . . . or save herself
An enjoyable thriller about relationships and hidden secrets,a mother’s love and the impact shocking revelations can have on one families life. Told between past and present day by the parents,it has an interesting storyline and well rounded characters,not all likeable. This is an author l like and would recommend.
With thanks to Netgalley,Jane Corry and Penguin General UK for the chance to read and review this book.
April 4, 2023
Couldn’t put it down even in Milan
August 10, 2022
"Sarah always thought of herself and her husband, Tom, as good people. But that was before their son Freddy came home saying he'd done something terrible. Begging them not to tell the police.
Soon Sarah and Tom must find out just how far they are willing to push themselves, and their marriage, to protect their only child . . .
As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddy off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision . . .
Save her son . . . or save herself?"
There is a lot of content in this book to try to understand and sort out in your head, but once you do then I was hooked and was totally immersed in what a mother would do to protect her son. I enjoyed the moral dilemma of the book, and hearing both sides of the story, but at times the jump in timelines was a bit confusing. The ending letting it down a bit for me, too.
Soon Sarah and Tom must find out just how far they are willing to push themselves, and their marriage, to protect their only child . . .
As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddy off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision . . .
Save her son . . . or save herself?"
There is a lot of content in this book to try to understand and sort out in your head, but once you do then I was hooked and was totally immersed in what a mother would do to protect her son. I enjoyed the moral dilemma of the book, and hearing both sides of the story, but at times the jump in timelines was a bit confusing. The ending letting it down a bit for me, too.
August 15, 2021
Really enjoyed this one. It had plenty of twists to keep me interested and definitely would recommend.
January 19, 2024
OMG, jakie to było NUDNE. Zaczęło się mocnym wyznaniem i miałam wysokie nadzieje, ale zostałam boleśnie rozczarowana. Im dalej w las, tym było gorzej i skończyłam chyba tylko dlatego, że czekałam, aż w końcu wybuchnie, ale się nie doczekałam, a te zwroty akcji, które zapowiadali... Nie wiem, dla mnie zero napięcia.
Już pominę kwestię, że po wielkim wyznaniu cofamy się kilkanaście lat wstecz, dostajemy baaaaardzo rozległy opis staranie się o dziecko i tegoż dziecka dorastania. Trwa to tak długo, że w pewnym momencie skapnęłam się, że w ogóle nie pamiętam, o czym jest ta książka i dokąd to zmierza. Jaki to miało cel? Nie wiem, bez sensu strasznie.
Żadnej z postaci nie da się lubić. Ta powieść to w skrócie: nałogowy kłamca poślubił nałogowego kłamca i spłodzili... nałogowego kłamcę. Nikogo nie da się lubić, każdy z nich zachowuje się jak drama queen, a ich motywacje... Szkoda gadać, bo logika umarła gdzieś po drodze. Nie pamiętam, kiedy ostatnio jakiś thriller aż tak mnie rozczarował i wynudził, bo tu (poza samym początkiem) nie mam ani grama napięcia. Zastanawiałam się przez chwilę, czy to na pewno jest materiał na jedną gwiazdkę, ale jakakolwiek wyższa ocena, nawet 1.5 byłoby wbrew mojemu sumieniu. Straszna szkoda czasu.
Już pominę kwestię, że po wielkim wyznaniu cofamy się kilkanaście lat wstecz, dostajemy baaaaardzo rozległy opis staranie się o dziecko i tegoż dziecka dorastania. Trwa to tak długo, że w pewnym momencie skapnęłam się, że w ogóle nie pamiętam, o czym jest ta książka i dokąd to zmierza. Jaki to miało cel? Nie wiem, bez sensu strasznie.
Żadnej z postaci nie da się lubić. Ta powieść to w skrócie: nałogowy kłamca poślubił nałogowego kłamca i spłodzili... nałogowego kłamcę. Nikogo nie da się lubić, każdy z nich zachowuje się jak drama queen, a ich motywacje... Szkoda gadać, bo logika umarła gdzieś po drodze. Nie pamiętam, kiedy ostatnio jakiś thriller aż tak mnie rozczarował i wynudził, bo tu (poza samym początkiem) nie mam ani grama napięcia. Zastanawiałam się przez chwilę, czy to na pewno jest materiał na jedną gwiazdkę, ale jakakolwiek wyższa ocena, nawet 1.5 byłoby wbrew mojemu sumieniu. Straszna szkoda czasu.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews