Fragile Lies

by Laura Elliot

His name is Michael Carmody.
He is a writer and a father.
His son is lying in a coma, fighting for his life.

Her name is Lorraine Cheevers.
She is an artist and mother.
An illicit affair has destroyed her marriage.

Michael is desperate to find the couple who left his son for dead, a victim of a hit and run.

Lorraine is desperate to start a new life for her and her daughter.

Michael and Lorraine are about to cross paths – damaged souls, drawn to one another.

They don’t know that their lives are already connected.

They don’t know the web of lies surrounding them.

They are each searching for the truth. But when they find it, it could destroy them both.

Fragile Lies is a gripping tale of love and betrayal, which will entice fans of Liane Moriarty, Lucie Whitehouse and Jane Shemilt’s Daughter.

Note: previously published as ‘Deceptions.’

Read what everyone is saying about Fragile Lies


‘Fragile Lies has a little bit of everything, love, tragedy, infidelity, lies and secrets…The characters are quite complex and I think this added a real edge to the book; they felt very well thought out and I loved how the author weaved their separate stories together. Excellent plot, interesting characters and plenty of intrigue.’ dot-scribbles.blogspot.co.uk

‘The reader is immersed into a story that tells of decades of love, betrayal, deceit and frailty with a dark undertone, all of which makes for a truly riveting read…I can promise that it is a book that will not disappoint…I for one was hooked into it and savoured the delicious twists and ending with relish and satisfaction.’ 5/5
bookaddictedhousewife.blogspot.co.uk

‘A wonderful story incredibly well told, full of secrets, love and illusion, lies and revenge, which will keep you gripped well into the early hours…’ beingannereading.blogspot.co.uk

‘Dealing with passion, adultery, deception and tragedy, and how the past has a way of creeping up on you…a really intriguing page-turner with a surprising twist.’ Evening Echo

‘This page-turner is gripping, all the more because it presents the dilemmas of betrayal with brutal honesty.’ Irish Independent

‘This well-crafted and compelling story traces the deceits which begin unnoticed but end in the destruction of friendships and lives.’ The Irish Times

‘A gripping tale of adultery and illusion.’ Evening Herald

‘Gripping, heart-wrenching saga.’ Books Ireland

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Book Club, Suspense, Drama

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2012

About the author

Biography

Laura Elliot, is an internationally known writer of psychological thrillers. She has written ten novels, which are published by Bookouture and Sphere in the UK and Ireland, and by Grand Central Publishing in the US.

Her novels have been widely translated and include The Wife Before Me, The Thorn Girl, Guilty and her latest, After the Wedding.

AKA June Considine has written twelve books for children and young adults, and has collaborated on a number of high-profile, non-fiction books. Her short stories for teenage readers have been published in anthologies and broadcast on radio. She has also worked as a journalist and magazine editor.

She lives in Malahide, Co Dublin, Ireland.

Reviews

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so loved the sound of this book from the blurb. I expected a page turner with tautness and a plot that sucked me in from early pages.
Instead I found myself terribly bored, frustrated and annoyed at the slow pace of the book and seeming lack of well...anything. Bland. Vanilla. Meh.

See what I mean, just look:

His name is Michael Carmody. He is a writer and a father. His son is lying in a coma, fighting for his life. Her name is Lorraine Cheevers. She is an artist and mother. An illicit affair has destroyed her marriage.

Michael is desperate to find the couple who left his son for dead, a victim of a hit and run. Lorraine is desperate to start a new life for her and her daughter.

Michael and Lorraine are about to cross paths – damaged souls, drawn to one another. They don’t know that their lives are already connected.
They don’t know the web of lies surrounding them.

They are each searching for the truth. But when they find it, it could destroy them both.

Sometimes a book is TOO much of a slow burner and may fail indeed to entice the reader to want more, this is how this book was for me.

Sigh, look, possibly this book got amazing at the end but by 30% I was not even slightly drawn in and I have a lot of books to read and review. I found it more confusing than intriguing and mysterious and I put it down not to be picked up again. Just not for me maybe. I am sure others will like it.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is as honest I can be.

[Ashton Jade Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fragile Lies - Laura Elliot
Beauty, Books and Babble



★★★✩✩+

A huge thank you to Bookouture. They sent me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I gave this book 3.5 stars!

"Love and hate. Two sides of a damaged coin."

Fragile Lies is a story based around the love, betrayal and their consequences in relationships that occur behind closed doors.

When an illicit love affair tears apart Lorraine's marriage, she finds herself uprooting her teenage daughter and moving to different scenery. Swapping her bustling city centre town for a home in a seaside village, Lorraine finds herself struggling to forget the past, whilst her daughter gives her the cold shoulder for moving her to this foreign place.

Meanwhile, Michael is reluctant to forgive after his son has been the victim of a hit and run accident, leaving him lying comatose in a hospital. Driven by guilt and remorse, Michael is determined to discover the identity of the driver who left his son to die.

As the separate lives they lead become familiar, both Lorraine and Michael discover that they were already connected in more ways than they anticipated as they untangle the web of lies surrounding them.

"In a splintering world, how easily we are aroused by the unimportant issues."

For me, this book started with intrigue and a bang. In the prologue we witness an anonymous couple in the latest of their line of overnight hotel affairs. The possibility of getting discovered together means the couple are forced to cut their night short, and as their panic leads them from one thing to another, they run down a man on the road. Terrified at the thought of their hidden romance becoming exposed, they drive off into the night, leaving the man on the road where he fell.

I loved how this prologue was written. The whole scene formed before my eyes as I read, and I could really vision the hotel and felt I was truly witnessing the panic of the characters. The explosive events drew me in as they carried on and I was excited for the consequences of the night unravel.



From here, this anonymous couple are pushed to one side and we flashback through the lives of Lorraine and the people surrounding her. Unfortunately, I found the story to have a slow pace from here, and despite the fabulous writing, I wasn't too invested. I'm not one to give up though, and I'm so glad I didn't. After passing the 50% mark, I was hooked. I needed to see how things were going to turn out, and I began to really appreciate the characters.

Each character was realistic, complex and relatable, and I found they all evoked an emotion, whether it was love, dislike or hope. In particular, I loved Lorraine's character. Despite being knocked down and vulnerable, she is actually a strong and likeable character, and I found myself wanting her to find the strength to move forward in her life.

I found myself losing track of some secondary characters along the way, but it didn't affect my following of the story, and definitely didn't take away from my enjoyment.

Laura Elliot's writing style was wonderful and she clearly has talent in using words effectively to create scenes and personalities. One tiny nitpick I had was that on a couple of occasions when there was a scene or time change, I would have liked a double line spacing to make it clear. A couple of times I found myself back tracking a little to make sure I didn't miss something, but maybe that's just me being silly. ツ

The book didn't quite make it to 4 stars, but it was definitely more than a 3 and so I rated this book with 3.5 stars (though it was possibly more around 3.75 for me, but if I start getting more accurate I probably will never stop and end up with ratings at about 10 decimal places!).

Fantastically written and full of love, hope, lies and deceit, Fragile Lies follows a tale of relationships, untruths and life, and everything that comes with it. I would be more than happy to read more of Laura Elliot's work and recommend this to my fellow bookworms.

"Love only has substance when it's freely given."

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Laura Elliot that I have read and it definitely will not be the last. This story absorbed me completely, so that, by the middle of the book I was living this tale, lost to the real world. The writing is so beautiful that I will reread this book just so I can celebrate every exquisitely constructed sentence. And what a story! It grabs hold of you from the first page, not letting go until the last. Forgiveness and betrayal, love and loss, courage and cowardice, a wide spectrum of human emotions are failings are covered in this fabulous book. The writing sparkles and shimmers like the lost bracelet, it burrows its way right into your heart. A beautiful story, written with heart. I will be recommending it to everyone.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gorgeous story in a lot of ways, great psychological depth to it, some terrifically drawn and compelling relationships and absolutely beautifully written.

I loved the way this was constructed, following an interlinked set of people, some of whom do not realise that they are held together often by a lie being told, the intricacies of the plotting make this a really terrific and heartfelt family drama with a dark heart.

I adored Lorraine – she was a very real person with whom I felt a connection, going through a huge upheavel, trying to find happiness whilst protecting her daughter and finding a life balance that she can live with. The relationship between mother and daughter is elegantly done, one of the strengths of the story for sure. Then we have Michael, who I often did not sympathise with as much, facing a crisis head on and struggling with some emotional issues. Both apart and together they will discover some haunting truths.

The story ebbs and flows perfectly, giving a focus to what is happening now and then showing you the events that lead up to tragedy – it is an often haunting and sad story yet with flashes of hope and happiness – an imaginative and authentic look at life, love, relationships and deceit. Not everything is straightforward, there are some twists and turns along the way, some very topical issues examined, overall it really was a wonderful read.

Highly Recommended.

Happy Reading Folks!

[Icy-Cobwebs-In-Space · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: FRAGILE LIES by Laura Elliott

A touching literary gem with the resonances and deep motivating power of Lesley Glaister's AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO, but set in Dublin and Trabawn, Ireland rather than extreme rural Australia. Like a stone tossed at a pond, one illicit situation leads to deceit and deception, lies and concealment, and teeters on a precipice at the moment of a tragic yet avoidable accident. Morality and integrity fall away in the face of narcissistic self-interest, and eight lives are irrevocably altered. Only some will mature from adversity, and for others, life will hang in the balance.

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A complex and ever-twisting plot with many interconnected storylines, Laura Elliot has created a book that forces the reader to sit down, reread and carefully follow twisted threads. Life is messy and rarely proceeds in a straight line: this story mimics those odd coincidences and strange congruent factors that place people into the course for a collision.

While I appreciated the stories, and found that overwhelmingly the characters were well conceived and easy to relate to, there were several moments that were confusing and didn’t seem to follow a logical path. Then in the later section of the book the author provides information and back story that was meant to help tie some loose ends, although it broke the flow of the tension in the story. This whole section felt awkward, better served earlier and working to the end climaxes, it often felt as if the challenges were being heaped upon the characters, as if the author was rethinking her earlier actions and working to provide justification for the extremes and bad behavior.

Underlying it all is deception and secrets, that will lead to revenge for lives affected in the past. What is most disturbing is the effort expended to get ‘retribution’, which only serves, in my view, to create a further series of disappointments. While sadly far more accurate to human nature than is comfortable, the author has managed to capture people at their worst, in sadness and disappointment, revenge and fear, and deceptions that will ultimately create a life filled with despair and sadness.

Laura Elliot has written a story that shows her ability to conceive and detail the worst in human nature, while managing to make the characters sympathetic. While there were moments of over-eager storytelling and a few resolutions that seemed to serve no purpose, the writing was solid and the story was gripping. A strong editing hand and clear lines in the plotting stage to make every action serve a purpose for the story would be my suggestion, but for a story that is different and unique, you won’t go wrong with this book.

I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions were my own responsibility.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Elliot - do you know, I thought that name was familiar! I've just checked my kindle and her two earlier novels, Stolen Child and The Prodigal Sister, caught my eye a while ago, and are both sitting there, awaiting my attention. But now, new book, new publisher - Laura Elliot is now with Bookouture, Fragile Lies is published in trade paperback and for kindle on 13th February, and what an exciting partnership this is going to be. I've been totally engrossed in this book for the last couple of days - anyone who likes the same books and writing as I do is just going to love it.

The book starts intriguingly and explosively. An un-named couple are having the latest in a line of illicit overnight stays in an out-of-the-way hotel when the possibility of discovery forces them to flee. The night goes from bad to worse when, following a break-in at their car, they run down the apparent vagrant who stole their goods and leave him where he falls.

The book then changes direction a little, and picks up the story of Lorraine. A successful artist, her life has been blown apart by the breakdown of her marriage, and her grief is palpable as we follow her to her new home in Trebawn, where she spent her childhood summers. Initially unable to do much more than stare out of the window or walk on the beach, boxes still cluttering the house, we watch as she starts to rebuild a life for herself and her daughter, supported by the wonderful community around her. We hear about her childhood - when arguments could be forgotten with a knock on the caravan window the following morning - and about her growing up, with close and fierce friendships and the passion of youth.

Lorraine's story is interspersed with the thoughts of the distraught father, Michael, sitting at the bedside of his son, waiting - perhaps in vain - for him to come out of the coma in which he was left on the night of the hit-and-run accident. Again, we hear some background to his life - a son used as a pawn by his mother, lives falling apart every bit as painfully. And we feel his desperation to find out who did this dreadful thing to his son.

This is a wonderful character driven story, with the most vividly drawn characters both major and minor. Lorraine hooked me in from the very first encounter, through her efforts to build the relationship with her daughter, equally damaged by the break-up and a typically complex teenager. The author allows us into her head, and we share in her thoughts and emotions. I loved her early story too - her childhood and adult friendships, with Virginia, Razor/Ralph and Adrian at their centre. The author has a real gift for characterisation - Virginia transforms quite perfectly from the "vampire bitch" of her youth into the serene and highly competent business woman, Ralph from singer with a punk band with his edge of dangerousness into the driving force of the advertising agency he runs with Adrian.

But above all, this is a wonderful story incredibly well told, full of secrets, love and illusion, lies and revenge, which will keep you gripped well into the early hours - well, that's what it did to me anyway! The writing is wonderful - superb descriptions of the settings, dialogue that flows beautifully and realistically, with emotions you feel with all your being, exceptionally well drawn characters, twists and turns and revelations, and an ending that is absolutely perfect.

I'm always wary of "if you liked" comparisons, but I found real parallels with the writing of Liane Moriarty, Lucie Whitehouse and Zoe Heller. The story - although developed in a totally different style and direction - also recalled Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities. But comparisons really aren't appropriate or necessary, other than in encouraging you to read it - Laura Elliot is a wonderfully talented writer. I'll most certainly be going back to read her two earlier novels, and am looking forward keenly to seeing what she comes up with next.

My thanks to netgalley and publishers Bookouture for my advance reading e-copy.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Posted originally http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...

I love the synopsis for Fragile Lies. It’s simple, powerful and effective. It really drew my attention to the book and I was looking forward to reading a book full of suspense and twists but sadly, I really struggled to get into it. Fragile Lies was such a slow-burner of a novel, but I don’t even think slow-burner is the right word because it never seemed to get going for me. I struggled to keep myself interested in the novel and if it wasn’t for those little hints of intrigue and all the strong themes Laura Elliot has woven into this story, I would not have finished it as quickly as I did. I wanted to love this novel and I’d heard so many great things about this author before Fragile Lies, so much so I already had her previous books waiting on my Kindle. But this book wasn’t for me.

The prologue was thought-provoking and hinted at some of the themes Fragile Lies was about to explore, from adultery to lies and ill health. It sets the tone for the rest of the book and they were all weaved together well to create this story. My issue was with the characters. Michael is in a bad way after his son Killian is involved in an accident, leaving him in a coma. Lorraine is beginning a new chapter in her life, along with daughter Emily, after the breakup of her marriage. It’s not that I expected to love the characters, I don’t need to like the characters to like a book but I just didn’t even care about them or what was happening. I sympathised with Michael occasionally over his desperation at his son’s accident but that was it. There were more characters introduced but everyone just whined about their problems and I wasn’t bothered. I didn’t care about the affair or the other emotions explored. I was in anticipation of the connection between Michael and Lorraine but then was left disillusioned.

I liked the short chapters when Michael is talking to Killian and we really get to learn about the mentality of both characters and see some of Michael’s motives. I enjoyed it when the chapters were short and more to the point because there were moments when things dragged a little bit and the short chapters gave enough detail and kept the intrigue going too. Intrigue is the main thing which kept me going throughout Fragile Lies – I felt there was surely the promise that things might go too far, thing might kick off and that would get interesting. I’m not normally put off with a slower writing style but here… it was so frustrating because the story would have something that would grab me and I’d think this was the moment things were going to step up but then it faded. Nothing stole my attention and I carried on reading to get to the resolution but the ending felt like it had something missing too. If I’m honest, I found the book to be quite dull overall.

Fragile Lies is ultimately something a little different from a lot of books out there at the moment. It’s an intricate tale of choices and the consequences that come with them. There’s the odd tense moment and it’s a compelling concept, even though it didn’t really work out for me. Fragile Lies is a very character driven story and well, if you don’t like the characters, you’re not going to get much out of the book and unfortunately this was the way it went for me.


*Book received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Twobchelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really hard time getting into the heart of this novel but once it clicked I was hooked. Lies take on a life of their own and can spiral out of control causing revenge and much resentment. It was an interesting journey through it all.

[Clorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 betrayal Stars
Book Club gave it 2.67

This was a good story the premise was interesting but not great execution. I was interested in the characters and had questions and wanted to know what was going to happen. Hated the transitions and had to go back to make sure I didn’t miss anything. So this would have been way better if it was shorter several things didn’t add to the story.

I hadn’t read a story like this and enjoyed the sort of revenge and ending.

Probably wouldn’t read more from this author.

[Katharine. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book that uses 6 degrees of separation at its base. A married woman and a married man have had an affair for years. One night they are on a deserted loading dock in Dublin, in the dark, outside of the car, beginning to make love, when they hear the car being broken into. It scares them and they leave in a hurry and hit the young man. He lies in a coma. His father and mother, although not married, sit a vigil by his bedside, day after day, month after month. Everyone assumes he will stay in a vegetative state or die. The man and the woman leave him at the scene thinking he is dead. Slowly, oh so slowly, things fall apart. His marriage. Her marriage. The old saying “ what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive” runs throughout this book. The two betrayed spouses unbeknownst to each other begin to put the story together. It was a difficult book to get into. In fact I tried twice before I actually decided to stick with it. I am so glad I did because it is a very well written, extremely tangled story, with a little love in it, that holds your interest.
There are no fragile lies here. The lies told for years pull three families into turmoil, anger and revenge. This is definitely General Fiction genre.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ecopy of this book by Laura Elliot's publisher Bookouture in exchange for an honest review which I'm more than happy to give.

The story begins with a couple, who have checked into a hotel, who are clearly having an affair. They have to leave the hotel suddenly after catching sight of another couple know to them. This starts a spiral of events that eventually un-ravel a tale, the depth of which nobody could even begin to guess at. Taking the reader on a journey that covers some hard hitting subjects - Including drugs, alcoholism, homelessness, single parenthood, violence, accidents, ill health, love, hate, depression and obsessions, culminating with hope and happiness. At this stage we have no idea who the couple are.

This is a dark, psychological thriller told both in the present and back to the late teenage years of the main characters. The author drip feeding us the history which gradually allows the reader to understand who the characters really are and why they behave and react as they do as the story unfolds.

Without question each of the characters evoked a reaction - love them or hate them - I guarantee you'll feel something. The story revolves around Lorraine, her estranged husband Adrian, cousin and best friend Virginia and Michael whose son is in a coma after an accident. I particularly felt for Lorraine, her marriage has ended, she's fled London with her teenage daughter Emily back to a remote village in Cornwall that has happy childhood memories, yet it doesn't seem to have brought the peace she expected to allow her to move forward.

I didn't really warm to either Adrian or Virginia. Adrian was a player - he knew how to pull Lorraine's strings saying the right thing at the right time to gain favour for himself - his ego and self importance made me want to shake Lorraine and shout 'wake-up' repeatedly. As for Virginia she really was an out and out cow. Selfish and self centred from childhood right through to adulthood. Abusing Lorraine's friendship and lack of confidence time and time again - Lorraine, repeatedly going back for more.

Michael was mainly likeable, vulnerable yet strong despite existing in a living nightmare. His son was in a coma having been left for dead in a hit and run accident. There are many more peripheral characters that balance the story and add depth.

I personally don't think it's a problem to dislike characters in a novel, sometimes that's the authors intention - for me I have to feel something, they have to evoke emotions either good or bad.

If I'm honest I did find the first third of this book quite slow going, I didn't dislike the story but wasn't gripped as quickly as I normally am when reading books of a similar genre. For a time two stories run side by side, that of Lorraine and her estranged family and that of Michael and his. The turning point for me was when Michael becomes more involved in the story and is given a wake-up call about his teenage son by his ex, Jean. Until this point the triangle that was Michael, Jean and Killian their son was quite stereotypical of many estranged families - the child playing one parent off the other.

The whole novel is crafted on tiny lies, each bound together like a spiders web. As each lie is revealed, the characters have nowhere to hide and a domino like, chain of events unfolds that is both shocking and traumatic, yet at the same time, uplifting and hopeful. I'm glad I persevered with the story and would encourage everyone to do the same - it's a story that starts on simmer, gradually coming to an energetic boil. It will grow on you, the more you read. For me it ended up a good novel, that I ended up enjoying far more than I initially thought I would. I'll be looking to read my next Laura Elliot novel very soon.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A passionate love affair that has spanned the decades devastates three families’ lives when the romancing couple are involved in a hit-and-run accident.
As Killian lies in a coma, watched over by his devoted family, Lorraine Cheevers leaves her Dublin home with daughter Emily, her marriage to Adrian in ruins and feeling likes she has lost everything she was once knew. As she settles despondently into her new country home in a small village with Emily hating everything about it, Lorraine feels nothing will ever be the same. For Michael, Killian’s father, his life will never be same without the son he loves so much but who he feels he let down; motivated by regrets, guilt and anger he is determined to find the person who mowed down his son and left him to die; and so, the lives of Lorraine and Michael become entwined, leading to discoveries and a lot of heart searching.
I really do not want to give more than this away because this is an extremely strong and well-written story full of surprises which slowly unfold and make the plot that much more intriguing.
The five main characters, Lorraine, Michael, Adrian, Virginia and Ralph are very intricate characters with layers of complex emotions and I enjoyed how they developed throughout the book and how that development made me change my mind about each of them as I continued to read.
As for the plot, with background stories of the characters and clues slowly revealed the reader is immersed into a story that tells of decades of love, betrayal, deceit and frailty with a dark undertone, all of which makes for a truly riveting read. There is a sting in the tail for one character who thoroughly deserves the punishment they are dealt and the promise of a lasting reward for others but I am giving no clues because although the truth becomes clear soon enough it is so much better to be able to read the book and discover the nuances which lead to the truth yourself. I think I can promise that it is a book that will not disappoint with its fabulous and novel depiction of love and betrayal; I for one was hooked into it and savoured the delicious twists and ending with relish and satisfaction.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fragile Lies by Laura Elliot is an intriguing book. It starts out in Dublin with two people who are having an affair. One night they are out having illicit sex (not in the car but nearby). When they come back to the car it has been robbed. As they are leaving someone jumps in front of the car and they hit Killian. Because they are having an affair and do not want anyone to know, they leave the scene of the accident. But who were they?

Lorraine Cheevers is an artist and her life is changing. She is divorcing her husband, Adrian Strong of sixteen years and taking her daughter, Emily to Trabawn (near Kerry). Lorraine used to spend her childhood summers in Trabawn. Lorraine is grieving over her marriage. The only thing she wants to do is stay in bed. Lorraine has to find a way to move on and get back to her art.

Michael Carmody is a screen writer. His son, Killian is in a coma at the hospital. He was the victim of the accident. Michael is determined to find out who hurt is son. He has found a witness to the accident (not the most reliable witness) and based on that information, he thinks he has found the person who hurt his son. But what will Michael do when he finds them?

Virginia is Lorraine's cousin. They spent every summer together in Trabawn. Virginia grew up to be very wild, independent, and headstrong. She fell in love with Razor (Ralph) Blade. He was in a punk rock band until the movement ended. He is now in advertising. Virginia runs a public relations firm. Virginia was reluctant to marry Razor, but she did. Can she every be happy or will she always want more (someone else)?

The book takes us back through their lives and then leads us to who hurt Killian. This book was very long, but interesting. It was not until I was halfway through the book that I got really interested. Once I was hooked, I just kept reading. It is a good story. Very well-written. Do not assume who the two people having the affair were (based on the first half of the book) because you will end up being wrong! I ended up enjoying the book, but I was disappointed by the ending. I give Fragile Lies 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tanja · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, but...no. The characters were unsmypathetic, the "timejumps" during some scenes just way too confusing, and more than once, I felt like I missed about 5 mins of a chapter because things changed so quickly without explanation that it didn't make sense. I just dragged myself through this book, without ever enjoying it. I'm sorry for saying it so bluntly, because the last book my Laura Elliot, "Guilty", was SO good. I hope the next one I'll read will be more my kind of thing.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mature contemporary novel that pulls you in and makes you care. What I mean by mature is not in the explicit terms, but in the construction and development of complexity. This is a read to pick up when you want to slow down. Sometimes a person can grow tired of fast-paced, or what I term, 'bam, bam, bam' reads that come at you like tennis balls out of a machine. Don't mistake my use of 'slow-paced' as boring. Nope, not at all. This is a book with complicated events mixed into complicated lives, all entangled and messy. There is always something melancholy that comes through in Irish writings, that underlying understanding that lingers beneath a shade of gray reality. Deceptions will not disappoint on this aspect of cultural influence with a splash of sainthood. There is an honest hope, not one tied up with a bright bow, but with a personal realization and growth that warms the heart and saddens it at the same time. Given all that happens in the book, you'd think the reader would be depressed, but Elliot has a way of never letting the reader get over-burdened, but manages to stroke the worst with a glimmer of optimism. Lorraine is a strong lead character that is stripped down and vulnerable. She has moments, regrets, flaws, insecurities, but also a strength that is reassuring. I'm glad she never turns pathetic, even though many a character might in her situation. On the flip side, she isn't cold, callous or bitter either, which makes her likable. Unlike her daughter, who I found to be the most annoying character. Ooh, how I wanted to slap that girl! Coupled with the sociopathic best friend, I'm shocked she was able to maintain her sanity! A lesser women would be wearing an orange jumpsuit with a prison number stitched across her chest. This book will grow on you as it deepens, if you give it a chance!

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I think I have never had that before, but I’m really torn. On one hand I really liked parts of the story, where the connections between the characters were shown. On the other hand I had difficulties getting into it and finding a connection. That’s also why I give 3 stars, it’s something in the middle. Let me explain why.

It took me quite a while to properly dive into the story and unfortunately I never really got there. The chapters changed perspectives and I had to get used to that first. I also felt that there was no proper connection of the chapters in the writing, which made the storyline not clear enough. The characters not lined out detailed enough, which made it hard for me to understand them. I felt the emotions, but as soon as we got there, the perspective changed again.

There is nothing wrong in changing points of views and in this case it also made sense. Michael and Lorraine crossing paths, having chemistry and the big mystery surrounding everything. It was dramatic and secretive, which was great. The story has it all: Betrayal, lies, love, tragedy, sadness, family etc. A wonderful mixture, which came across in the emotional scenes, where the connections between the characters shone out.

The lies in this book certainly build up the tension and I think that's also part of the reason that kept me in the story, I wanted to know the truth!!!

There were scenes, which seemed boring and long for me though, which is a pity, because I really like the idea behind it all. There was something important missing for me. I can’t properly describe what, but the spark just wasn’t there.

[Jeanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fragile lies are anything but fragile. Lies are damaging to our fragile humanity. As you get deeper in the lives of our protagonist, all you see are the lives that are destroyed. Infidelity destroys the soul. Lorraine, Adrian, Virginia and Razor are friends until infidelity comes between them. In the middle of this infidelity, a terrible tragedy has happened where a father Michael Carmody seeks justice for his son. In the quest for justice, Michael pursues Lorraine under false pretense and as the fragile lies unfold, he and Lorraine must find their way to the truth or any future for them is destroyed.

The narration is witty and creative and having the “creative” type of protagonists you are swept away in a different world. Going from present to past to present, the background of each protagonist will either put you in a love or hate relationship.

The author has a love of words which is very evident and I enjoyed that with Lorraine’s daughter. She actually was my favorite character. The pain that she was going through and adapting to the changes in her life and her relationship with her parents was engaging.

A little crass in some areas but not distracting to the plot and I think it more of a European take. It is always fun to say arse in an Irish brogue.

A special thank you Bookouture, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Dianne Ascroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second novel I’ve read by Laura Elliot. A couple years ago I thoroughly enjoyed her novel The Prodigal Sister so I was delighted when I received a request to review this latest novel. In Fragile Lies, with clever storytelling, the author weaves together the lives and relationships of several characters into a page-turning story. These characters are brought together by a life-changing event for each of them: a hit and run accident that leaves a teenager in a coma. The victim and his family, and the unidentified couple who injure him, together with their families, all find their lives changed by the accident. As the plot unfolds, the reader searches for clues to the identity of the perpetrators, not only to lay blame but also to figure out who might be in danger of reprisal for their actions. Suspicion is cast on several people, creating mounting tension and suspense. Each character has complex motivations for their actions and the decisions they make are not always predictable, creating surprising turns in the plot. I found the story gripping and I couldn’t have guessed how everything would turn out before I reached the last page. I found Fragile Lies an entertaining and thought provoking read.
Note: I received a free copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read way too many books involving serial killers and so every so often I need a break and a book like this is just the thing I need. A wonderful relationship and family drama that makes you wipe away a tear when you have to leave such memorable characters behind when the story ends.
Affairs can have devastating effects on relationships but this affair leads to much worse-the couple involved run over a young man. Fearful of their secret being exposed they telephone an ambulance but then drive off.
We then meet Lorraine and her daughter Emily who are starting a new life after a bitter separation and Michael who's son Killian lies in a coma. Told in flashback form we find out more about their past relationships where secrets and lies hide betrayals that can not be forgiven easily.
I got into this book straight away. The mother-teenage daughter relationship is true to life and beautifully accurate and can I just say, I loved the tea lady!! I am now off to download Stolen Child for my next "serial killer" interlude.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an honest review so many thanks to Bookouture the publisher for the opportunity to read this. Loved it.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lorraine has left the big city of Dublin for the coast after the collapse of her marriage following an affair. Michael's son Killian is in a coma after a hit and run. How are their messy lives connected? Only time will tell.

This is the second book I've read by Laura Elliot and it is written in a similar way to The Betrayal. Alternating chapters between Killian and Lorraine tell the story of Michael's hunt for the couple who left his son to die and the story of Lorraine coming to terms with the destruction of her marriage, relocation to the coast and dealing with her teenage daughter.

The writing took me to the Irish coast and the bright lights of Dublin, I could picture the farmhouse Lorraine has bought and the coastal countryside surrounding her.

I personally preferred The Betrayal as a book but saying that, Fragile Lies was an enjoyable read. 3.5*

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me this book to read and review.

[Nenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

To like or not to like...I've decided to like based on the overall plot and message. My reservation is stemming from my confusion over the myriad of characters. It was difficult to pinpoint who was who when everybody knows everybody.

The story, though it mainly centered on a hit and run for which there was really no closure, also touched on the life stories of the different characters. Virginia, who remained unrelenting to the end, I don't think she found her happiness. Lorraine was better off because she was true to herself, but it wasn't easy for her mostly. There's hope for her, as well as for Michael. Ralph got his revenge on Virginia; he didn't really owe anybody anything if one thinks about it. There were the Donaldsons and the Sheratons; whoever is the happier is very obvious; money really can only provide so much.

It was a fascinating read, one that evoked thoughts. It was exasperating at times, but it was worth the time.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a bit of everything, this book has it in abundance. We have betrayal, love, infidelity, secrets, lies and different peoples lives that are entwined, but they just don't know it.........yet.


This is a heartfelt family drama where you find people are held together by lies, sticky tape that's soon to come off........then the BOOM that follows.

We have cowards who hide behind lies, hide behind other people.

I got a bit lost in the beginning because of the complexity of the book. There are so many people I had to get them fitted together in my head before I could move on, so all I need say is, when you start it, go to a quiet part of the house to get the gist or you could be like me, re reading to get the sense of it.


It was well worth sticking with though.

Its a beautiful read.


Let me thank Bookouture via Net Galley for my copy

[Fiona Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read as it had it all! Adultery, deception, tragedy, love and betrayal.
The prologue sets the whole story up so well I was instantly drawn into it, desperate to know who had been involved and the story behind it. The author very quickly sets up the two sides of the story allowing the reader a deeper insight into the backgrounds of those involved. The way the lives of these people became entwined was written extremely well. Even though we realise very quickly that the belief of one of the characters is wrong, the author still keeps us interested in the story and where it is going. There are twists and turns galore in this book and I loved every one of them!

[Christina McDonald]

A literary story centered around themes of love, betrayal and their consequences. The writing is exquisitely beautiful.

[Steve Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a slow burn, slow enough to risk losing the reader's interest, but the characters are well-developed and believable. Lorraine, an artist, leaves the city and moves to a rural area along the coast after her marriage fails. She takes her daughter, Emily, with her. Emily misses the city and her friends but eventually adjusts to rural life. Lorraine meets Michael, a writer, who is searching for a hit-and-run driver, who injured his son, Killian, and left him for dead. Killian is hospitalized in a coma, fighting for his life. Lorraine and Michael develop feelings for one another but they are already connected in ways they don't realize. The book begins with an intriguing prologue, which features a cheating couple and an accident, which they choose to cover up. From there, the plot drags. The sections where Michael talks to his comatose son are creative and interesting. One part I didn't understand is why Lorraine wasn't more upset when one of her paintings was destroyed. I think any true artist would be devastated by the destruction of their work. The plot drags toward the middle because there isn't enough suspense and danger to keep it going. The reader roots for Killian to recover. There are also secrets waiting to be revealed. But at times, the reader may struggle to care enough about the characters to keep going. The ending seems a bit flat and leaves the reader wishing that more loose ends could have been resolved.

[Adri266 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dvojica milencov sa stretne v hoteli, avsak zrazu tam pride niekto, kto ich moze spoznat. Odidu prec na odlahle miesto, ale tam ich znovu niekto vyrusi - vykradne ich auto. Ked sa teda rozhodnu odist, stane sa nestastie, zrazia mladeho muza a utecu z miesta cinu.
Hlavnou hrdinkou je Lorraine, v rozvodovom konani odide prec z mesta s dospievajucou dcerou, ktora jej nevie odpustit, ze odisli prec. Lorraine je artistkou, teraz vsak nema naladu na malovanie.
Michael je otec zrazeneho chalana. Chce najst tych, ktori ho skoro zabili a chce sa pomstit. Vypatra Lorraine.
Dalej nebudem prezradzat . Kniha je skvela, davam jej 4 +1/2 *. Je pisana z pohladu Lorraine, dalej su tam monology Michaela, ked je pri synovi v nemocnici a su tam tiez kratke vety z pohladu syna, ktory lezi v kome. Je to nieco na styl Liane Moriarty, takze ziadna romantika, ale rozne vztahy, ktore su vselijako poprepletane. Od autorky si este nieco urcite precitam.

[Janice Spina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fragile Lies is an unusual book that covers many emotions - love, hate, deceit, adultery, murder. There are many facets to the characters who commit crimes of passion and throw away lives like they are nothing.

The two main protagonists are Lorraine, an artist, and Michael, a writer. Due to their prospective occupations their paths cross. Each is holding onto a traumatic event that draws them toward one another in inexplicable ways. Will they share their heartbreaks with each other? Will they forgive those who have nearly destroyed them? Will their share their secrets without losing themselves completely?

This was a complicated story that was long in the tooth at times traveling back and forth between characters that made it a little confusing and at times - overwhelming. Each time I thought it was going to end - it didn’t. The ending was ... I’m not sure what to say about that. Read this book and find out. It is intriguing.

[Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a mystery. It is not a romance. It is about people committing a terrible sin…lying.

There are two couples who are friends. It sounds familiar. Young girls, their boy friends, begin life with two of them lying. The other two never suspect.

What happens in the beginning of the book is a hit and run that wrecks two marriages and nearly kills the young man who was hit. From there you get the back story of why those people were where they were when it all fell apart.

I always think about how no one gets “do overs”, and there was not enough paint in the world to cover what two people did to others who loved them.

I recommend this book based on the very real way the author shows how a very long lie corrodes the soul.

There is an ending that promises a better future for four people.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on my Kindle because my library is closed due to the virus; it was an inexpensive purchase so expected a typical beach-read chic-lit novel. It is not. The writing is just lyrical and lovely; beautiful imagery of the Dublin setting. Characters have quite a bit of depth and it deals with question many people have to confront: if you’ve done something terrible and gotten away with it, what will that do to the rest of your life as you struggle to hide it? In this case, it tears a couple of the characters apart and destroys relationships. It’s engrossing, thought provoking and I stopped many times just to enjoy the imagery (crows in the branches like old women wrapped in black shawls, chattering).