Behind Every Lie
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From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Do No Harm and The Night Olivia Fell—an “emotionally charged mystery” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author)—comes a thrilling new suspense novel about the insidious nature of family secrets…and their deadly potential. If you can’t remember it, how do you prove you didn’t do it? Eva Hansen wakes in the hospital after being struck by lightning and discovers her mother, Kat, has been murdered. Eva was found unconscious down the street. She can’t remember what happened but the police are highly suspicious of her. Determined to clear her name, Eva heads from Seattle to London—Kat’s former home—for answers. But as she unravels her mother’s carefully held secrets, Eva soon realizes that someone doesn’t want her to know the truth. And with violent memories beginning to emerge, Eva doesn’t know who to trust. Least of all herself. Told in alternating perspectives from Eva’s search for answers and Kat’s mysterious past, Christina McDonald has crafted another “complex, emotionally intense” (Publishers Weekly) domestic thriller. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell’s I Found You and Karin Slaughter’s Pieces of Her, Behind Every Lie explores the complicated nature of mother-daughter relationships, family trauma, and the danger behind long-held secrets.
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In her follow up to The Night Olivia Fell, Christina McDonald crafts an intricate, engaging mystery/thriller centered around an unreliable narrator. Eva wakes up in a hospital after getting struck by lightning and cannot remember what happened the night before. She is informed that her mother was murdered, and she is the main suspect in the crime. Her journey to find the truth about that night takes her to another country and leads to some shocking discoveries.
The plot of this book is interesting, but sometimes overdone. There are many characters and subplots that feel unnecessary to the main plot. I found myself frustrated sometimes by the introduction of character or event that I couldn't really connect to the mystery of the night Eva cannot remember. My experience was not all frustrating, though. I like the fact that I was never quite sure about Eva's guilt or innocence. McDonald kept me guessing and doubting my judgments, which is a necessity for me in a mystery/thriller.
In terms of characters, I found Eva to be a bit annoying at times. It is difficult to sympathize with her dependence on her fiance and her paranoia. I found myself rolling my eyes at some of her decisions. On the other hand, I really like the character of Kat. She seems like a cold person, but when you see beyond the surface there is so much more to her.
Overall, I rate this book a 3.5 out 5 stars. I enjoyed reading it, but I probably won't remember much about it after a while.
Could you imagine waking up in the hospital having been struck by lightening only to be told you're suspected of murdering your own mother? And with no memory of what happened?
Christina McDonald has once again created another thrilling story based around a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Determined to clear her name, Eva Hanson starts digging for answers. The deeper she digs, the more unbelievable her own story becomes. A fabulous book - full of family secrets, a mother's love, and huge regrets.
A must-read author for me and I'll surely be back for more!!
