Lie to Me
The Synopsis:
How can you tell the truth... if all you've ever known is a lie? Three minutes. That’s all it takes for Meredith’s entire world to fall apart when she watches the videotape of her four-year-old self with Becca, the mother who abandoned her. Meredith can’t believe what her eyes have seen. Yet what if her memory has locked away the painful reality of her childhood? Can there be any truth in the strange and dangerous story her mother forced her to tell on camera? The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim? To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own. The problem is, she’s not the only one looking… A dark, compulsive psychological thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Louise Jensen.
My Thoughts:
As lie to me is the debut novel by Jess Ryder, i obviously didn't know what to expect when i picked it up. I liked the cover, the synopsis drew me in and i was intrigued so i did go into it with a certain level of eagerness.
We begin with Merideth (a.k.a. Meri) , on her hands and knees in the attic of her Dads house as he's getting ready to move. What unfolds from this seemingly innocent start is a psychological thriller that will pull you in and keep you up at night with a tale that will have you absorbed and engaged until the end.
Meri finds an old VCR with writing on the front, that she assumes is Beccas'. Her mother whom she hasn't seen since she was a child. As she's gotten older she understands that her mother was a schizophrenic and disappeared from the hospital many years before and is now presumed dead.
What Meri finds on the VCR is not what you'd expect. Meri tells herself at the age of 4 about a murder. Both the victims name and that of the murderer. Who is this Cara? Was it even a real murder? Did it happen and if so, what if anything did it have to do with her mother? All good questions and all ones she wants to know the answers too.
Meri turns to her ex partner, Eliot. A police officer with ambition and connections. After some digging, the cold case murder of Cara Travers is re-opened.
The story is told with chapters switching between the past and present, now and then. The present is told as "Me", Merideth, in the first person and is focused around what turns into something of a fixation for her around the murder and subsequent investigation into Caras' death. In these chapters we the reader are given a profound insight into, Caras relationship with her father and ex Eliot.
The past is told in such a way that it felt like i was watching a show play out in front of me. This made it harder to connect to the characters themselves, but didn't detract from the story.
I found this book to be all encompassing, right from the start my interest was piqued. The story quickly escalated from the finding of the video and thanks to the brilliance of the authors writing the energy and momentum carries you forward to a fantastic climax. It's no surprise when i say OMG a shocking plot twist, but seriously...OMG, What a shocking plot twist! Wow!
To be honest, i wouldn't have realised this was a debut novel if i hadn't already been told. It has the feel of someone with at least of couple of releases under their belt, it really is that good! I am already eagerly awaiting more from this author, after this one, i have high hopes.
About the author
Jess Ryder is the pseudonym of Jan Page, author, screenwriter, playwright and award-winning television producer. After many years working in children's media, she has recently embarked on a life of crime. Writing, that is. So she's very excited about the publication of her debut thriller Lie to Me. Her other big love is making pots.
