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Lie With Me
It starts with a lie. The kind we've all told - to a former acquaintance we can't quite place but still, for some reason, feel the need to impress. The story of our life, embellished for the benefit of the happily married lawyer with the kids and the lovely home.
And the next thing you know, you're having dinner at their house, and accepting an invitation to join them on holiday - swept up in their perfect life, the kind you always dreamed of...
Which turns out to be less than perfect. But by the time you're trapped and sweating in the relentless Greek sun, burning to escape the tension all around you - by the time you start to realise that, however painful the truth might be, it's the lies that cause the real damage...
... well, by then, it could just be too late.
Longlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year
Shortlisted for the British Book Awards Crime Novel of the Year
293 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2016
602 people are currently reading
9952 people want to read
About the author
Sabine Durrant
20 books591 followersSabine Durrant lives in London, England, with her three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,119 reviews
April 29, 2020
"Death throws you, even if you didn't know the person well. You sense your own mortality, feel the devil's own breath on your own cheek."
Well this was a surprise! I was expecting an enjoyable, but not overly shocking thriller, but what I got completely threw me for a loop.
It begins quite slowly, Paul is a bit of an asshole. In his forties, living off of his mates, and not committing to any of his relationships. Unable to date anyone over the age of 30, Paul is creepily attracted to younger girls. I immediately didn't like him - which worried me for the protagonist of a book, but disliking him is absolutely part of the plot.
When Paul's friend, whose house he has been living in, returns to reclaim his home. Paul is forced out, with no money and no prospects. He ends up moving home with his mother.
Then he bumps into old acquaintance Andrew, a man's whose sister Paul had a fling with back in uni. From there he is invited to Andrew's house and meets Alice. Professional, successful, emotional Alice. Paul sees his chance to form a new relationship and potentially a new living situation too.
It turns out Paul and Alice have met previously. Though alcohol seems to have deeply affected his ability to remember people and events. 10 years ago, in Greece, while on holiday Paul bumped into Alice and Andrew while hideously drunk. Switch back to the present and Alice and co. are returning to Greece for a final holiday, on the 10 year anniversary of the disappearance of a young girl. A girl whose parents Alice has been close to ever since.
Paul goes with them, seeing an opportunity to further woo Alice and cement their relationship. I can't go on anymore without spoilers but let me just say, what happens to them in Greece, and the ideas you might have are nothing compared to the final reveal! An absolutely fantastic twist - proving that some people never really let go, and even those you trust might screw you over.
"Long lasting damage can be caused by casual cruelty."
Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
***************************************************************
OMG!!! This was absolutely mental.
Well this was a surprise! I was expecting an enjoyable, but not overly shocking thriller, but what I got completely threw me for a loop.
It begins quite slowly, Paul is a bit of an asshole. In his forties, living off of his mates, and not committing to any of his relationships. Unable to date anyone over the age of 30, Paul is creepily attracted to younger girls. I immediately didn't like him - which worried me for the protagonist of a book, but disliking him is absolutely part of the plot.
When Paul's friend, whose house he has been living in, returns to reclaim his home. Paul is forced out, with no money and no prospects. He ends up moving home with his mother.
Then he bumps into old acquaintance Andrew, a man's whose sister Paul had a fling with back in uni. From there he is invited to Andrew's house and meets Alice. Professional, successful, emotional Alice. Paul sees his chance to form a new relationship and potentially a new living situation too.
It turns out Paul and Alice have met previously. Though alcohol seems to have deeply affected his ability to remember people and events. 10 years ago, in Greece, while on holiday Paul bumped into Alice and Andrew while hideously drunk. Switch back to the present and Alice and co. are returning to Greece for a final holiday, on the 10 year anniversary of the disappearance of a young girl. A girl whose parents Alice has been close to ever since.
Paul goes with them, seeing an opportunity to further woo Alice and cement their relationship. I can't go on anymore without spoilers but let me just say, what happens to them in Greece, and the ideas you might have are nothing compared to the final reveal! An absolutely fantastic twist - proving that some people never really let go, and even those you trust might screw you over.
"Long lasting damage can be caused by casual cruelty."
Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
***************************************************************
OMG!!! This was absolutely mental.
January 12, 2017
I have been holding on to this book for nearly 6 months and have no clue why I put it off for so long. Being swamped with arcs has really put a damper on my “reading for fun” stack, but I’m glad that I made a goal this year to incorporate more of my fun pile regardless of deadlines and requests. Though it took longer than I would have liked to get to it, this book was a gripping read that held my attention from beginning to end. I read my friend Jo’s review and was worried I might not connect with the book, as the main character is so unlikable, but she assured me it was all part of the story and I’m very glad I trusted her. The book is under 300 pages and the pacing is quick and suspenseful; that gorgeous cover really drew me in and just added bonus points to how much I loved this book.
There is a reason that the plot description is so vague and slim; you really just want to read it without knowing anything prior. This was a traditional psychological thriller, with a slow building sense of dread, like a spider building a web around it’s prey and then, by the time the victim is aware of the plan, it’s far too late to escape. While I haven’t read her second thriller, I read the first titled Under Your Skin and, while it was a bit predictable, found it an enjoyable read with fleshed out characters. Once again, Durrant shows that her writing is high quality due to her excellent development of a character driven plot. We get to know these friends well, without loads of boring details included just to fluff up the page count. Many aspects of the ending surprised me, and I felt like the author did a fantastic job of setting everything up so that it connected well in the end and made sense.
I’d highly recommend this thriller to readers who enjoy a British setting (with a bit of Greece thrown in as well); those who enjoy a building sense of dread in lieu of action packed scenes will thoroughly become engrossed in this read. This is the type of book that makes me grateful for the people in my life that I know I can trust (or can I?). It’s the type of read you can blow through easily in a single sitting; I found myself at the end of the book flipping back through to the beginning checking a few details; I love it when a book causes me to do that! Whether you bring it to the beach or a cabin by the fire, this is the perfect read to take along on a vacation as it’s easy to get lost in.
There is a reason that the plot description is so vague and slim; you really just want to read it without knowing anything prior. This was a traditional psychological thriller, with a slow building sense of dread, like a spider building a web around it’s prey and then, by the time the victim is aware of the plan, it’s far too late to escape. While I haven’t read her second thriller, I read the first titled Under Your Skin and, while it was a bit predictable, found it an enjoyable read with fleshed out characters. Once again, Durrant shows that her writing is high quality due to her excellent development of a character driven plot. We get to know these friends well, without loads of boring details included just to fluff up the page count. Many aspects of the ending surprised me, and I felt like the author did a fantastic job of setting everything up so that it connected well in the end and made sense.
I’d highly recommend this thriller to readers who enjoy a British setting (with a bit of Greece thrown in as well); those who enjoy a building sense of dread in lieu of action packed scenes will thoroughly become engrossed in this read. This is the type of book that makes me grateful for the people in my life that I know I can trust (or can I?). It’s the type of read you can blow through easily in a single sitting; I found myself at the end of the book flipping back through to the beginning checking a few details; I love it when a book causes me to do that! Whether you bring it to the beach or a cabin by the fire, this is the perfect read to take along on a vacation as it’s easy to get lost in.
March 9, 2018
I think 2018 is shaping up to be the year of the “Liar/Lie” in novels. This one falls directly into the middle of the pack. And unfortunately there is nothing concrete to set it off from the others.
Paul has always searched for the easy life. He wants the most beautiful women and of course, if they have money...well, that’s just icing on the cake. As you can imagine, Paul is not a very likable character! When Paul meets Alice he lets a little lie slip in order to step into her world. Of course, he can’t stop at just one lie. He quickly finds himself neck-deep in his deceptions.
Even though this is a short book it’s also very slow paced. It’s not until the final 25% that the plot finally takes off, leading to some major fireworks at the end. Unfortunately, after such a long drawn-out journey it just wasn’t enough to save this book for me. I never felt enough of a connection to the characters throughout.
A traveling sister read with Brenda and Susanne!🤗
Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Sabine Durrant for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Paul has always searched for the easy life. He wants the most beautiful women and of course, if they have money...well, that’s just icing on the cake. As you can imagine, Paul is not a very likable character! When Paul meets Alice he lets a little lie slip in order to step into her world. Of course, he can’t stop at just one lie. He quickly finds himself neck-deep in his deceptions.
Even though this is a short book it’s also very slow paced. It’s not until the final 25% that the plot finally takes off, leading to some major fireworks at the end. Unfortunately, after such a long drawn-out journey it just wasn’t enough to save this book for me. I never felt enough of a connection to the characters throughout.
A traveling sister read with Brenda and Susanne!🤗
Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Sabine Durrant for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2017
A few little lies never hurt anyone. Right?
I quite enjoyed "Lie With Me" - what I would call a traditional character driven psychological thriller. A slow burner, this took quite a while to reach its goal but when it did everything just fit perfectly and I enjoyed the ride to get there. I didn't have a clue as to what the storyline was going to be about, having not quite delved into the blurb much, but I found it strangely intriguing as to where the story was going and liked how the story was set in both England and Greece. Although the main character Paul, isn't someone you're drawn to (in fact I don't think I liked any of the characters) I still felt a sense of injustice for him even though a lot of his downfall was very much his own selfish undoing. We know very early on that something has gone seriously wrong in his life and I was curious as to what that actually was.
Well written, easy to follow and an intriguing plot, I'd easily read another book by the author Sabine Durrant and I would happily recommend this book.
Thank you to fellow reviewer and friend Rachel Hall for my copy of this book.
4 stars.
I quite enjoyed "Lie With Me" - what I would call a traditional character driven psychological thriller. A slow burner, this took quite a while to reach its goal but when it did everything just fit perfectly and I enjoyed the ride to get there. I didn't have a clue as to what the storyline was going to be about, having not quite delved into the blurb much, but I found it strangely intriguing as to where the story was going and liked how the story was set in both England and Greece. Although the main character Paul, isn't someone you're drawn to (in fact I don't think I liked any of the characters) I still felt a sense of injustice for him even though a lot of his downfall was very much his own selfish undoing. We know very early on that something has gone seriously wrong in his life and I was curious as to what that actually was.
Well written, easy to follow and an intriguing plot, I'd easily read another book by the author Sabine Durrant and I would happily recommend this book.
Thank you to fellow reviewer and friend Rachel Hall for my copy of this book.
4 stars.
January 22, 2018
Wow... talk about a SLOWWWWW read. Surprise Surprise.... I am in the minority again on this book.
Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant sounded like a compelling and addicting read that I had to get my hands on. Well.. my hands were greedy and not pleased to say the least. Honestly, I feel like this is going to be a book that you love or completely hate. I, unfortunately am in the dislike category.
Paul, our main character... yikes. What a womanizer and an ass wipe! Can we say... Paul I'm not exactly sure what came out of your mouth that wasn't a lie. But, props to the author because I think this was her intention for the readers to hate the main character.
Paul is introduced the story and he runs into an "old friend". The old friend invites him to a get together and Paul ends up meeting another fellow lady at the get together. Paul, selfishly invites himself on a road trip with this group and lies his way into everything. I was asking myself.. seriously what the point is this?!
After the final reveal at the end... I just wasn't having it. It felt extremely rushed at the end with the amount of boredom in 85 percent of the book. :(.
2 stars for me on this one.
I think if you have the patience and are a fan of slow-building thrillers then this may be the book for you. Overall, I cannot recommend this one and it was just not for me.
This is solely my opinion. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 1/11/18.
Posted to GR: 1/21/18
Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant sounded like a compelling and addicting read that I had to get my hands on. Well.. my hands were greedy and not pleased to say the least. Honestly, I feel like this is going to be a book that you love or completely hate. I, unfortunately am in the dislike category.
Paul, our main character... yikes. What a womanizer and an ass wipe! Can we say... Paul I'm not exactly sure what came out of your mouth that wasn't a lie. But, props to the author because I think this was her intention for the readers to hate the main character.
Paul is introduced the story and he runs into an "old friend". The old friend invites him to a get together and Paul ends up meeting another fellow lady at the get together. Paul, selfishly invites himself on a road trip with this group and lies his way into everything. I was asking myself.. seriously what the point is this?!
After the final reveal at the end... I just wasn't having it. It felt extremely rushed at the end with the amount of boredom in 85 percent of the book. :(.
2 stars for me on this one.
I think if you have the patience and are a fan of slow-building thrillers then this may be the book for you. Overall, I cannot recommend this one and it was just not for me.
This is solely my opinion. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 1/11/18.
Posted to GR: 1/21/18
December 27, 2017
REALLY slow build up. So slow I almost gave up on this. But as I neared the last hundred pages, the light bulb came on and I began to understand why all the early 'chatter' was necessary. Then I started thinking back, finding the clues that I thought were just back story. And like pieces to a puzzle, everything clicked.
You're not going to like the narrator of the story, Paul Morris. You're not supposed to. He's self-absorbed, arrogant, boarish, and a first rate snob. But he's also washed up, financially broke, and lonely.
This is his story to tell.
It might take a while to get to the point, but it's worth the wait.
ARC provided by NetGalley
You're not going to like the narrator of the story, Paul Morris. You're not supposed to. He's self-absorbed, arrogant, boarish, and a first rate snob. But he's also washed up, financially broke, and lonely.
This is his story to tell.
It might take a while to get to the point, but it's worth the wait.
ARC provided by NetGalley
January 16, 2018
This book is the definition of a slow burn. Though it was meandering along, it kept my attention because I needed to know exactly where it was going. While not my usual kind of book, I'm glad I read it... mostly because of that ending, which was unexpected. My armchair detective skills fail me again! I'd definitely recommend considering the pace of this book before you pick it up. It's more of a character study than a thriller, and it won't keep you on the edge of your seat... but it is interesting. It features a large and unique cast of characters. I often read stories with a female protagonist who is damaged but likeable, so reading a story with a middle-aged male character who is very hard to appreciate was something new. He made me literally shake my head sometimes. He's pervy, manipulative, and seems to be a bit of a pathological liar. Will you root for him? Probably not.
If you listen to Paul Morris, you'll assume a lot of things... because he'll tell you. He's successful, well-off, a celebrated author, good-looking, intelligent, sexy. While his looks have granted him some luck with the ladies in his life, he's not successful and is in fact between places to stay as a middle-aged man. He gets by with help from friends, and when that fails, manipulating new ones. He almost seems to have no conscience... seducing a widow for a place to stay and creature comforts while admiring the body of her seventeen year old daughter. What a skeez!
It's not long before he manipulates his latest conquest into giving him an invitation to vacation in Greece with her family and friends, and lie piles on top of lie. He's basically making things up as he goes along, making it hard to keep track of who he's told what. This vacation isn't a normal one, however. It's the ten year anniversary of the disappearance of a teenage girl. The group was there when it happened, and widow Alice has made it a personal crusade to find out what happened to young Jasmine and who is responsible. Tensions are high, and this is bound to be a "vacation" no one in the group will forget.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Mulholland Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
If you listen to Paul Morris, you'll assume a lot of things... because he'll tell you. He's successful, well-off, a celebrated author, good-looking, intelligent, sexy. While his looks have granted him some luck with the ladies in his life, he's not successful and is in fact between places to stay as a middle-aged man. He gets by with help from friends, and when that fails, manipulating new ones. He almost seems to have no conscience... seducing a widow for a place to stay and creature comforts while admiring the body of her seventeen year old daughter. What a skeez!
It's not long before he manipulates his latest conquest into giving him an invitation to vacation in Greece with her family and friends, and lie piles on top of lie. He's basically making things up as he goes along, making it hard to keep track of who he's told what. This vacation isn't a normal one, however. It's the ten year anniversary of the disappearance of a teenage girl. The group was there when it happened, and widow Alice has made it a personal crusade to find out what happened to young Jasmine and who is responsible. Tensions are high, and this is bound to be a "vacation" no one in the group will forget.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Mulholland Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
February 23, 2017
This is definitely one of those reads this year you shouldn't miss.
Once again this authors talent shines out in not only the plot, the story but also the way the characters are built within your minds eye.
Paul is the main character, a truly not nice person who you constantly question his demon, his life and his morals.
You go beyound questioning what aides his descisions on things.
There isn't a lot being given away in the blurb, that's a good thing. It allows the reader more unexpected surprises and acts as a reading learning curve along the way, it did for me anyhow.
Lie with me.
I always pick up on the title then wonder as I read it why the title was chosen. I found out in this book.
Although there are a few characters within the folds of these pages, as you would expect from this author Sabine Durrant, she doesn't use unnecessary words just to make the story more enhanced. All of the pages are vital to the story.
I've become a stalker (in a nice way) of this author, waiting in anticipation for each book she writes now.
My thanks to Hodder for sending me an advanced copy. And special thanks to Veronique Norton.
Once again this authors talent shines out in not only the plot, the story but also the way the characters are built within your minds eye.
Paul is the main character, a truly not nice person who you constantly question his demon, his life and his morals.
You go beyound questioning what aides his descisions on things.
There isn't a lot being given away in the blurb, that's a good thing. It allows the reader more unexpected surprises and acts as a reading learning curve along the way, it did for me anyhow.
Lie with me.
I always pick up on the title then wonder as I read it why the title was chosen. I found out in this book.
Although there are a few characters within the folds of these pages, as you would expect from this author Sabine Durrant, she doesn't use unnecessary words just to make the story more enhanced. All of the pages are vital to the story.
I've become a stalker (in a nice way) of this author, waiting in anticipation for each book she writes now.
My thanks to Hodder for sending me an advanced copy. And special thanks to Veronique Norton.
December 21, 2017
Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant is a thriller that upon first glance sounded like it would be one of those completely compelling reads. However for me it just never grabbed me at all so I seem to be in the minority for this one being one that didn’t really care for it.
We start off with meeting Paul whom I would probably best describe as a freeloading womanizer that is also a compulsive liar. Strike one for me personally since I just didn’t care for him at all right from the beginning but I believe this is one of those books where you are not meant to fall in love with the main character so the author certainly succeeded there.
After getting to know Paul we find that he has a run in with an old “friend” (or someone he doesn’t really remember really). This leads to him attending a get together and meeting a lady friend whom he thinks he’s way too good for but sees anyway. This leads to inviting himself along on a trip with this group he’s lied his way into.
So we have some things happen here and there. We have Paul lying through his teeth at every chance he gets to interact with anyone it seems. And we have myself wondering what in the heck is the point to the book by this point. So we’ll definitely say this is one that is a sloooooowwww burner which most that read my reviews know I usually have very little patience with so that on top of disliking the main character and not finding any other to connect with either really didn’t help my opinion.
But, after all that is said I will say when eventually the entire idea of the book comes to focus to tie up the story at the end I actually kind of enjoyed it. But when it took probably 90%+ to get to that section it was a tad too little too late to raise my rating and to be honest the wrap up felt a little rushed after the slowness of the rest of the story. So this one just wasn’t for me but others have enjoyed it so if a fan of a extremely slow building psychological thriller you may still want to give this one a shot.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
We start off with meeting Paul whom I would probably best describe as a freeloading womanizer that is also a compulsive liar. Strike one for me personally since I just didn’t care for him at all right from the beginning but I believe this is one of those books where you are not meant to fall in love with the main character so the author certainly succeeded there.
After getting to know Paul we find that he has a run in with an old “friend” (or someone he doesn’t really remember really). This leads to him attending a get together and meeting a lady friend whom he thinks he’s way too good for but sees anyway. This leads to inviting himself along on a trip with this group he’s lied his way into.
So we have some things happen here and there. We have Paul lying through his teeth at every chance he gets to interact with anyone it seems. And we have myself wondering what in the heck is the point to the book by this point. So we’ll definitely say this is one that is a sloooooowwww burner which most that read my reviews know I usually have very little patience with so that on top of disliking the main character and not finding any other to connect with either really didn’t help my opinion.
But, after all that is said I will say when eventually the entire idea of the book comes to focus to tie up the story at the end I actually kind of enjoyed it. But when it took probably 90%+ to get to that section it was a tad too little too late to raise my rating and to be honest the wrap up felt a little rushed after the slowness of the rest of the story. So this one just wasn’t for me but others have enjoyed it so if a fan of a extremely slow building psychological thriller you may still want to give this one a shot.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
February 19, 2017
Lie With Me is a real page turner of a psychological thriller, certainly for me the best one from Sabine Durrant I have read with its cool (or hot if you like) setting and taut, clever prose that just drags you right into the story and holds you there.
The story is told by Paul, a really divisive fellow, you sure are not meant to like him and I did not, who leeches off the people around him based on one successful novel years earlier. His latest provider is Alice, a widow, who when they start a relationship invites him on holiday to Greece with the family. Never one to turn down a freebie, off he goes. But maybe this time he is not the one with the nefarious motivations…
It really is quite clever this novel because to be honest nobody in it is particularly lovely. The plot bubbles with untold secrets, every conversation, every action is layered with insinuation, as the story unfolds it is totally gripping and best of all you really are not sure where it is going. Rather than a Game of Thrones “Everybody Dies” vibe instead you have “Everybody Lies” – true in real life as in this book, but Sabine Durrant plays with that so beautifully, leaving the reader with an off kilter, slightly disturbed feeling throughout.
Lie with Me is a slow slow burn of a tale, the character interactions are loaded with the promise of future revelations, which when they arrive illicit a truly emotional response – despite really hating Paul at times I did feel vaguely sorry for him. The group dynamic once they all reach Greece is intelligently woven into the wider plot involving a missing girl and a long ago crime, the mystery elements are perfectly in harmony with the intense character studies. The end, when it comes, is brilliantly placed and hugely satisfying – basically this book simmers, comes to the boil, then goes BOOM.
I really loved this one. It was clever, immersive and totally unsettling. Beautifully done.
The story is told by Paul, a really divisive fellow, you sure are not meant to like him and I did not, who leeches off the people around him based on one successful novel years earlier. His latest provider is Alice, a widow, who when they start a relationship invites him on holiday to Greece with the family. Never one to turn down a freebie, off he goes. But maybe this time he is not the one with the nefarious motivations…
It really is quite clever this novel because to be honest nobody in it is particularly lovely. The plot bubbles with untold secrets, every conversation, every action is layered with insinuation, as the story unfolds it is totally gripping and best of all you really are not sure where it is going. Rather than a Game of Thrones “Everybody Dies” vibe instead you have “Everybody Lies” – true in real life as in this book, but Sabine Durrant plays with that so beautifully, leaving the reader with an off kilter, slightly disturbed feeling throughout.
Lie with Me is a slow slow burn of a tale, the character interactions are loaded with the promise of future revelations, which when they arrive illicit a truly emotional response – despite really hating Paul at times I did feel vaguely sorry for him. The group dynamic once they all reach Greece is intelligently woven into the wider plot involving a missing girl and a long ago crime, the mystery elements are perfectly in harmony with the intense character studies. The end, when it comes, is brilliantly placed and hugely satisfying – basically this book simmers, comes to the boil, then goes BOOM.
I really loved this one. It was clever, immersive and totally unsettling. Beautifully done.
March 10, 2018
3 Stars.
Paul thinks he’s gods gift to women: he’s a handsome, successful, published author. He can convince himself of almost anything, even though he’s a has been who hasn’t published a book in years, and is living in his friend’s apartment because he doesn’t have two dimes to rub together. So what does he do when he meets Alice at a dinner party? He embellishes and then seduces her. Paul is sleazy and without a conscience. Everything he has told Alice about himself and his life is a lie and once he starts, it’s impossible to stop. Alice falls for it. Let the manipulation begin.
“Lie With Me” is an extremely slow burn, so slow that the novel only took off at the 85% mark, which was unfortunate. That being said, the characters were quite well developed - I say this because I despised the character of Paul: his sleaziness is what kept me turning the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton / Mulholland Books and Sabine Durrant for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 3.10.18.
Paul thinks he’s gods gift to women: he’s a handsome, successful, published author. He can convince himself of almost anything, even though he’s a has been who hasn’t published a book in years, and is living in his friend’s apartment because he doesn’t have two dimes to rub together. So what does he do when he meets Alice at a dinner party? He embellishes and then seduces her. Paul is sleazy and without a conscience. Everything he has told Alice about himself and his life is a lie and once he starts, it’s impossible to stop. Alice falls for it. Let the manipulation begin.
“Lie With Me” is an extremely slow burn, so slow that the novel only took off at the 85% mark, which was unfortunate. That being said, the characters were quite well developed - I say this because I despised the character of Paul: his sleaziness is what kept me turning the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton / Mulholland Books and Sabine Durrant for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 3.10.18.
September 12, 2016
Paul Morris, who narrates the story, is forty-two, but behaves like man a good twenty years younger. He is a selfish braggart, a womaniser, free-loader and thoroughly unlikeable chap who actually makes my skin crawl. He has gone through life living on other peoples' largess, always looking for the next opportunity to inveigle himself into someone's life. An apparently chance encounter does just that.
That chance encounter, with someone he met briefly ten years previously, leads him to Alice, a young widow with two sulky children. She's a highly strung control freak, hell bent on finding Jasmine, a teenage girl who went missing in Greece ten years earlier. Alice is part of a social circle of wealthy middle-class toffee-nosed snobs who include bombastic, domineering Andrew and his timid wife Tina. Every summer the delectable Alice leases the same house in Greece, but this year will be the last as developers have bought the land and are enthusiastically digging it up in preparation for new buildings. Paul eventually manages to elicit an invitation to join them, and so the fun begins.
There are so much stuffing and padding in this book it was like being suffocated under a duvet – in fact the book is described as “claustrophobic” and yes it is, but not for the reasons the publicity people would like. Every action is described in minute detail, nothing is left to the imagination, for example: “....The label was in Greek, but showed a skull and crossbones – the international sign for poison”. When talking about opening the bonnet of the car we get “...It popped quite easily, and I secured it open with the metal support”. And again “...It opened – not fully, because of the wall, but just wide enough for me to wriggle through and up on to the seat”. There are paragraphs and sentences that don't make any sense at all, several inconsistencies, clunky writing and some very strange references such as when Paul is sneaking around in the girls' room he sees “...underwear, and a couple of the plastic gusset-protectors they put in new bikini bottoms”. Why do we need to know this? Oh, and would someone please tell the author that a spanner does not have a hinge! Various characters tend to stand about with their “legs apart”, but apparently, if a woman does this it is an indication of how good she is in bed...
“......Her face was wrinkled, and over-tanned, but there was a looseness in her movements, in the way she stood with her legs apart, that suggested she might be rather good in bed”.
!!!!! Really? Is that true? I must remember not to stand that way in certain company....
The novel is inhabited by unpleasant, self-absorbed people and the whole plot is so far-fetched and outlandish it's actually quite funny.
Once again we have a novel that has been described as a “must-read” for fans of, yes you've guessed it: “Gone Girl” and “Girl on a Train”. Nope, not even close. This is the first Sabine Durrant novel I've read; it will be the last.
Thanks to Amazon for providing me with a complimentary copy to review.
That chance encounter, with someone he met briefly ten years previously, leads him to Alice, a young widow with two sulky children. She's a highly strung control freak, hell bent on finding Jasmine, a teenage girl who went missing in Greece ten years earlier. Alice is part of a social circle of wealthy middle-class toffee-nosed snobs who include bombastic, domineering Andrew and his timid wife Tina. Every summer the delectable Alice leases the same house in Greece, but this year will be the last as developers have bought the land and are enthusiastically digging it up in preparation for new buildings. Paul eventually manages to elicit an invitation to join them, and so the fun begins.
There are so much stuffing and padding in this book it was like being suffocated under a duvet – in fact the book is described as “claustrophobic” and yes it is, but not for the reasons the publicity people would like. Every action is described in minute detail, nothing is left to the imagination, for example: “....The label was in Greek, but showed a skull and crossbones – the international sign for poison”. When talking about opening the bonnet of the car we get “...It popped quite easily, and I secured it open with the metal support”. And again “...It opened – not fully, because of the wall, but just wide enough for me to wriggle through and up on to the seat”. There are paragraphs and sentences that don't make any sense at all, several inconsistencies, clunky writing and some very strange references such as when Paul is sneaking around in the girls' room he sees “...underwear, and a couple of the plastic gusset-protectors they put in new bikini bottoms”. Why do we need to know this? Oh, and would someone please tell the author that a spanner does not have a hinge! Various characters tend to stand about with their “legs apart”, but apparently, if a woman does this it is an indication of how good she is in bed...
“......Her face was wrinkled, and over-tanned, but there was a looseness in her movements, in the way she stood with her legs apart, that suggested she might be rather good in bed”.
!!!!! Really? Is that true? I must remember not to stand that way in certain company....
The novel is inhabited by unpleasant, self-absorbed people and the whole plot is so far-fetched and outlandish it's actually quite funny.
Once again we have a novel that has been described as a “must-read” for fans of, yes you've guessed it: “Gone Girl” and “Girl on a Train”. Nope, not even close. This is the first Sabine Durrant novel I've read; it will be the last.
Thanks to Amazon for providing me with a complimentary copy to review.
March 9, 2018
This is my 3rd Sabine Durrant book. Remember Me This Way I gave an easy 5 stars to while Under Your Skin I gave the dreaded 1 star. Needless to say I was a little hesitant picking this one up.
Need not fear because I thought this book was great.
Paul Morris is a truly despicable character that I enjoyed reading about. There is just something about a snarky sociopath that really intrigues me. If you are looking for nonstop thrills and chills then this will likely not be for you. This is more so a character study of Paul and we are built up slowly to the final conclusion. Ms. Durrant had my head spinning with that ending! So good!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Need not fear because I thought this book was great.
Paul Morris is a truly despicable character that I enjoyed reading about. There is just something about a snarky sociopath that really intrigues me. If you are looking for nonstop thrills and chills then this will likely not be for you. This is more so a character study of Paul and we are built up slowly to the final conclusion. Ms. Durrant had my head spinning with that ending! So good!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 5, 2016
Oh my oh my! Looks like this is going to be another "Marmite" book that you will either love or dislike intensely. But I have to say that having read and liked Sabine Durrant's previous books, this is my favourite by far-I absolutely bloody loved it!!!!!! It just had everything that I want in a book, horrible people, dysfunctional families, death, suspense and all set in my most favourite place in the world...Greece. If I'd been able to, I would have been laying on my sunlounger with a large Mythos and a plate of olives to get the full effect but a rainy summer's day in Cheshire gave me just as much of an excuse to curl up and read this in one sitting.
Paul Morris is our narrator here and he isn't a very nice person. Having had one major literary success in his early twenties, he is still dining out on it now aged 42. He is one of those men who makes women feel uncomfortable, the way he talks about women (and girls) is just creepy and some of the things he did or said just made my skin crawl! A chance meeting with an old friend from university leads him to meet Alice, a widow, who invites him to holiday with her and extended family and friends on a Greek Island. Paul seems to have no qualms about using people to satisfy his own needs (sex, money, a place to live) so this holiday seems heaven sent but it is far from the relaxing break he was expecting.
I love being surprised and this book did that from start to finish. I also love a dark and brooding hero but Paul was the most vile character and everything he did just wound me up. It was cringe worthy the way he acted around women especially. Although, truthfully, none of these people were the sort of people I would warm to and so it takes a lot of skilful writing to make us care about what happens to them! I loved the theme of Lies used throughout, the quotes and the double entendres especially once the entire group move out to Greece. And I can't think of anywhere better to have set this domestic noir than in the beautiful Greek countryside, I could almost feel the heat generated by the hot Greek sunshine and hear the sounds of donkeys and dogs and buzzing mosquitoes!
It took me quite a long time to work out where this was going, I was having too much fun grimacing at Paul's behaviour but when the finale did roll around it was just so satisfying, perfectly handled and rounded off the plot nicely. I really did just love it from start to finish.
I received an advanced copy from Veronique at Hodder so thank you and this is my unbiased review.
Paul Morris is our narrator here and he isn't a very nice person. Having had one major literary success in his early twenties, he is still dining out on it now aged 42. He is one of those men who makes women feel uncomfortable, the way he talks about women (and girls) is just creepy and some of the things he did or said just made my skin crawl! A chance meeting with an old friend from university leads him to meet Alice, a widow, who invites him to holiday with her and extended family and friends on a Greek Island. Paul seems to have no qualms about using people to satisfy his own needs (sex, money, a place to live) so this holiday seems heaven sent but it is far from the relaxing break he was expecting.
I love being surprised and this book did that from start to finish. I also love a dark and brooding hero but Paul was the most vile character and everything he did just wound me up. It was cringe worthy the way he acted around women especially. Although, truthfully, none of these people were the sort of people I would warm to and so it takes a lot of skilful writing to make us care about what happens to them! I loved the theme of Lies used throughout, the quotes and the double entendres especially once the entire group move out to Greece. And I can't think of anywhere better to have set this domestic noir than in the beautiful Greek countryside, I could almost feel the heat generated by the hot Greek sunshine and hear the sounds of donkeys and dogs and buzzing mosquitoes!
It took me quite a long time to work out where this was going, I was having too much fun grimacing at Paul's behaviour but when the finale did roll around it was just so satisfying, perfectly handled and rounded off the plot nicely. I really did just love it from start to finish.
I received an advanced copy from Veronique at Hodder so thank you and this is my unbiased review.
February 25, 2024
I’ve read several novels by Sabine Durrant recently and I enjoyed all of them a lot. This book is no exception.
As tends to be the case with this author, also this story is told from the point of view of a first-person narrator, and as you will soon find out, also this character is an unreliable narrator.
Paul Morris is a writer, but his high period as a writer is long gone. Now he’s living from hand to mouth, always on the scrounge and always taking the easy way out without ever taking responsibility for his actions. And he tends to forget inconvenient things, even important matters.
When he’s invited to go on vacation in Greece with his new girlfriend Alice and some mutual friends, he realizes belatedly that a young woman went missing there at this place ten years ago. And Paul was there at that time, too …
Since the narrator suffers from temporary memory loss, the reader tries to solve the puzzle of the missing girl along with him. Can Paul really be a murderer or is he innocent?
As usual, this enthralling psychological thriller is excellently written, with beautiful countryside descriptions, a lot of suspense and a fascinating twist at the end.
While reading, I had very mixed feelings about the protagonist – lack of understanding, pity, antipathy, sympathy and many more. Well, he’s not really a likeable guy, but unquestionably an interesting character, which is one of the reasons why the book is quite absorbing.
4.5 stars.
As tends to be the case with this author, also this story is told from the point of view of a first-person narrator, and as you will soon find out, also this character is an unreliable narrator.
Paul Morris is a writer, but his high period as a writer is long gone. Now he’s living from hand to mouth, always on the scrounge and always taking the easy way out without ever taking responsibility for his actions. And he tends to forget inconvenient things, even important matters.
When he’s invited to go on vacation in Greece with his new girlfriend Alice and some mutual friends, he realizes belatedly that a young woman went missing there at this place ten years ago. And Paul was there at that time, too …
Since the narrator suffers from temporary memory loss, the reader tries to solve the puzzle of the missing girl along with him. Can Paul really be a murderer or is he innocent?
As usual, this enthralling psychological thriller is excellently written, with beautiful countryside descriptions, a lot of suspense and a fascinating twist at the end.
While reading, I had very mixed feelings about the protagonist – lack of understanding, pity, antipathy, sympathy and many more. Well, he’s not really a likeable guy, but unquestionably an interesting character, which is one of the reasons why the book is quite absorbing.
4.5 stars.
August 14, 2016
This is a book that took me a while to get into, I think mainly because the narrator is a man and by some strange quirk of fate, most of the books I read tend to be narrated by women, especially those that fall into the psychological drama genre. In addition, the man in this case, Paul Morris, is not particularly likeable. He is first and foremost a liar who uses people for his own ends, especially those he calls “friends”. Heaven help you if he is your friend because he will think nothing of going through our pockets and stealing from you. And to be honest, the rest of the characters in this story are not much better. The odds were stacked against Paul for me from the beginning especially as I found the story quite slow moving, yet having said that it did draw me and by the end I was hooked. I was thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading about them and all in all, I have to say that I did really enjoy this read. I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
March 28, 2018
I had not heard of Sabine Durrant until a month ago but having read one I instantly wanted to read more. This is now the 4th book I have read by this author who I find very enjoyable and plan plan to continue reading.
This psychological thriller is fairly slow paced with a simple plot but intriguing just the same. Lead character Paul is not the most likeable character who lives off the boast of one successful novel he wrote sometime ago. He befriends Alice, a widow who he starts a relationship with. They go to Greece on holiday with her family and the trouble begins. Paul is a born liar, and one fib is quickly followed by another which gets him deeper into trouble.
This psychological thriller is fairly slow paced with a simple plot but intriguing just the same. Lead character Paul is not the most likeable character who lives off the boast of one successful novel he wrote sometime ago. He befriends Alice, a widow who he starts a relationship with. They go to Greece on holiday with her family and the trouble begins. Paul is a born liar, and one fib is quickly followed by another which gets him deeper into trouble.
December 6, 2017
I received a free electronic copy of Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant from NetGalley for my honest review.
I liked this book but at the same time the book frustrated me. Every character in this book is deceitful, manipulative and mean. Every character in this book seems to be guilty of lying. The lies always seem to start out small and just keep growing. You spend the entire time reading trying to decide who is lying and who is pretending. I think all in all everyone is lying and all the characters are just bad people. A good quick read.
I liked this book but at the same time the book frustrated me. Every character in this book is deceitful, manipulative and mean. Every character in this book seems to be guilty of lying. The lies always seem to start out small and just keep growing. You spend the entire time reading trying to decide who is lying and who is pretending. I think all in all everyone is lying and all the characters are just bad people. A good quick read.
December 23, 2017
This was my second book by Durrant, and after I really enjoyed Under Your Skin I hoped that this book would live up to my expectations. It was a clever mystery, but slow paced and the characters were all pretty unlikable, so I didn't care much about them. The ending, too, did not feel satisfying to me, unfortunately. It wasn't a bad book, but nothing I would really recommend either.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
April 19, 2023
At the age of 42, Paul Morris is, by all accounts, a failure. Still relying on the literary success of a book he published in his early twenties, he is a womaniser, a layabout, a conceited man who relies on the few friends who have stuck by him to get by with a minimal amount of work or effort. Just as his life is starting to unravel and he has to face moving in with his mother, a chance encounter with an old friend from college leads Paul to meet Alice, a successful lawyer and single mother of three teenagers. Initially seeing Alice as a needy widow and a chance to exploit, Paul is surprised when he finds himself falling in love with her. He is thrilled when he gets invited to join the family and friends on their annual holiday in Greece. But Greece holds a terrible secret, and soon Paul finds out that no one, and nothing, is quite as it seems.
Now this is what I call a real psychological thriller! With its rather slow pace, Lie With Me relies heavily on character development, clever plotting and a strong sense of place and time to reel the reader into its web – and the author does this very, very well. I love books where seemingly ordinary, everyday events suddenly turn to disaster, an underlying sense of dread and danger slowly building whilst the characters remain totally unaware, slowly stumbling down the path to their own undoing. Special kudos to the author for serving us up a rather unsavoury main protagonist, Paul Morris, whilst still enabling the reader to feel a sense of connection and empathy for the man. Despite his chauvinism, his womanising, his lying and cheating and using his friends for his own gain, I had moments when I felt actually sorry for Paul. And despite a logical little voice telling me that he got what he deserved, I never stopped barracking for Paul and hoping against hope that he would find happiness. Perhaps this trait is what made so many women fall for the man in the first place? To convey Paul’s charisma in the written pages of a book shows the author’s skill in presenting true-to-life characters that masterfully played out the story in my mind like a carefully chosen movie cast. I could see them so vividly, lying around the pool surrounded by olive groves, that I almost felt like I had been there myself, toasting pale British skin under a hot Greek sun.
Lie With Me had everything I look for in a psychological thriller, slowly building tension and a sense of certain doom, which made it impossible to put the book down. And of course the ending, though not totally unexpected by then, was very clever, casting all events of the past into a totally new light. A great read, one of my favourite psychological thrillers of the year. If you are looking for a good book over Christmas, don’t look any further, because Lie With Me has it all. Highly recommended.
Now this is what I call a real psychological thriller! With its rather slow pace, Lie With Me relies heavily on character development, clever plotting and a strong sense of place and time to reel the reader into its web – and the author does this very, very well. I love books where seemingly ordinary, everyday events suddenly turn to disaster, an underlying sense of dread and danger slowly building whilst the characters remain totally unaware, slowly stumbling down the path to their own undoing. Special kudos to the author for serving us up a rather unsavoury main protagonist, Paul Morris, whilst still enabling the reader to feel a sense of connection and empathy for the man. Despite his chauvinism, his womanising, his lying and cheating and using his friends for his own gain, I had moments when I felt actually sorry for Paul. And despite a logical little voice telling me that he got what he deserved, I never stopped barracking for Paul and hoping against hope that he would find happiness. Perhaps this trait is what made so many women fall for the man in the first place? To convey Paul’s charisma in the written pages of a book shows the author’s skill in presenting true-to-life characters that masterfully played out the story in my mind like a carefully chosen movie cast. I could see them so vividly, lying around the pool surrounded by olive groves, that I almost felt like I had been there myself, toasting pale British skin under a hot Greek sun.
Lie With Me had everything I look for in a psychological thriller, slowly building tension and a sense of certain doom, which made it impossible to put the book down. And of course the ending, though not totally unexpected by then, was very clever, casting all events of the past into a totally new light. A great read, one of my favourite psychological thrillers of the year. If you are looking for a good book over Christmas, don’t look any further, because Lie With Me has it all. Highly recommended.
August 2, 2016
A few really good twists in this one.
My View:
Favourite authors – do you have any? Do you follow their book release dates anxiously waiting till their newest title is tucked up safe and sound on your own shelf and then feverishly read as soon as you can make an opportunity? I have a few authors that I hold in such high regard and Sabine Durrant is on that list.
Is it a mistake to expect so much from an author? Possibly…the pressure is heavy…my expectations are high. I want every read to be as engaging and as absorbing and as twisty as the last 5 star read. Read without expectations perhaps I would rate that new book differently? Who knows?
But back to this book. Sabine Durrant is a master of the psychological thriller and for a little while I did wonder just what I had picked up with this read. The characters in this novel are all pretentious, greedy, self-absorbed, elitists…unlikeable. Even the protagonist is an anti-hero – selfish, self-centred, a parasite, the stereotypical “cad.” I struggled to find anything to like in the early part of the book. So I waited and I waited.
What a clever ploy! Just when you think you have all the characters worked out - when you think the pages are turning smoothly and unremarkably you are unceremoniously thrown of a very big cliff! When you recover from your fall you are bruised and battered and not sure which way is up – so violent are the twists and turns! I have been played!
What a fantastic ending! (And did I mention the title? Clever – you wait and see)
My View:
Favourite authors – do you have any? Do you follow their book release dates anxiously waiting till their newest title is tucked up safe and sound on your own shelf and then feverishly read as soon as you can make an opportunity? I have a few authors that I hold in such high regard and Sabine Durrant is on that list.
Is it a mistake to expect so much from an author? Possibly…the pressure is heavy…my expectations are high. I want every read to be as engaging and as absorbing and as twisty as the last 5 star read. Read without expectations perhaps I would rate that new book differently? Who knows?
But back to this book. Sabine Durrant is a master of the psychological thriller and for a little while I did wonder just what I had picked up with this read. The characters in this novel are all pretentious, greedy, self-absorbed, elitists…unlikeable. Even the protagonist is an anti-hero – selfish, self-centred, a parasite, the stereotypical “cad.” I struggled to find anything to like in the early part of the book. So I waited and I waited.
What a clever ploy! Just when you think you have all the characters worked out - when you think the pages are turning smoothly and unremarkably you are unceremoniously thrown of a very big cliff! When you recover from your fall you are bruised and battered and not sure which way is up – so violent are the twists and turns! I have been played!
What a fantastic ending! (And did I mention the title? Clever – you wait and see)
December 16, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
1.5 stars (.5 star because I actually finished, when so many times I was close to not)
Yikes. Reading this was like going to the dentist: Painful. Just opening my kindle to keep reading was like pulling teeth. I questioned categorizing it as a DNF (do not finish) more than a few times, but since I got it from NetGalley I felt like I needed to try and finish: it took me a week. A week of reading I cannot get back.
What attracted me to the book was 1) the cover and 2) the obscure synopsis (as was listed on NetGalley):
"I suppose what I am saying is, how much do we collude in our own destruction? How much of this nightmare is on me?
You can hate and rail. You can kick out in protest.
You can do foolish and desperate things, but maybe sometimes you just have to hold up a hand and take the blame."
Breathless. Claustrophobic. Unsettling. Impossible to put down.
I recently visited NetGalley and noticed the synopsis was updated to provide more detail. After reading it (https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...), I don't think I would have requested it. But, that can also be because I know the story already and we did not vibe.
Long story short: narcissist, egotistical, womanizer, Paul runs into a former acquaintance, Andrew, whom is the brother of a girl, Frannie, he used to bed. He is invited to dinner, meets a widower Alice and starts to date her; Andrew obviously not being a fan of this. Paul finds himself changing his womanizing ways for her, although his initial intentions were not too honorable.
In the background are a million (I am exaggerating, but still...) other stories with annoying characters: Why am I sharing this? All these stories apparently are set up for a reason. I don't want to give it away, that would not be nice. But, that would imply that I would recommend reading this book, and I don't.
Before I even got the 25% mark I was super confused on where the story was going due to the obscure synopsis and odd character development. It actually didn't pick up until the 60%+ mark and by then I knew exactly what was happening. It's a little too obvious and when the ending finally came (hallelujah it was over)... I hated it.
I feel horrible speaking so poorly of someone's work, as I can imagine how much effort goes into writing a book. I should have given up on this at the 25% mark when I first wasn't really feeling it. Some books just don't work for everyone and we should have broken up a bit earlier. I am sorry I strung you along, it wasn't you, it was me.
1.5 stars (.5 star because I actually finished, when so many times I was close to not)
Yikes. Reading this was like going to the dentist: Painful. Just opening my kindle to keep reading was like pulling teeth. I questioned categorizing it as a DNF (do not finish) more than a few times, but since I got it from NetGalley I felt like I needed to try and finish: it took me a week. A week of reading I cannot get back.
What attracted me to the book was 1) the cover and 2) the obscure synopsis (as was listed on NetGalley):
"I suppose what I am saying is, how much do we collude in our own destruction? How much of this nightmare is on me?
You can hate and rail. You can kick out in protest.
You can do foolish and desperate things, but maybe sometimes you just have to hold up a hand and take the blame."
Breathless. Claustrophobic. Unsettling. Impossible to put down.
I recently visited NetGalley and noticed the synopsis was updated to provide more detail. After reading it (https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...), I don't think I would have requested it. But, that can also be because I know the story already and we did not vibe.
Long story short: narcissist, egotistical, womanizer, Paul runs into a former acquaintance, Andrew, whom is the brother of a girl, Frannie, he used to bed. He is invited to dinner, meets a widower Alice and starts to date her; Andrew obviously not being a fan of this. Paul finds himself changing his womanizing ways for her, although his initial intentions were not too honorable.
In the background are a million (I am exaggerating, but still...) other stories with annoying characters: Why am I sharing this? All these stories apparently are set up for a reason. I don't want to give it away, that would not be nice. But, that would imply that I would recommend reading this book, and I don't.
Before I even got the 25% mark I was super confused on where the story was going due to the obscure synopsis and odd character development. It actually didn't pick up until the 60%+ mark and by then I knew exactly what was happening. It's a little too obvious and when the ending finally came (hallelujah it was over)... I hated it.
I feel horrible speaking so poorly of someone's work, as I can imagine how much effort goes into writing a book. I should have given up on this at the 25% mark when I first wasn't really feeling it. Some books just don't work for everyone and we should have broken up a bit earlier. I am sorry I strung you along, it wasn't you, it was me.
December 21, 2017
I am sorry, I have kept reading but do not like any characters, and find nothing that interests me in this book, therefore I am not finishing it. Just not a subject I have any interest in.
June 13, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
#3.5 stars
Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant is a little different, but I would say this novel still fits snugly into the domestic thriller genre. The narrator of Lie With Me is utterly appalling, so appalling that I couldn’t help but turn away from this book! The central protagonist in this psychological thriller, is not the usual (a damaged young woman) but a middle aged man. Paul Morris is the main character in Lie With Me. Paul is an arrogant, self centered has-been. As the book opens, he has hit rock bottom, he is completely out of funds and is forced to move back in with his mother. Paul is jobless, after his only hit novel, published some twenty years earlier, has failed to engender any further success. With no prospects and a string of broken relationships behind him, a chance meeting with an old university pal sends Paul into the arms of a complicated and wealthy widow, named Alice. It doesn’t not take long for Paul to worm his way into Alice’s life and he invites himself on a two week family holiday in Greece. It turns out this trip is more than just a family vacation. It is to continue the search for the daughter of Alice’s friend, who disappeared without a trace some 10 years earlier. It is a case that has never been solved. As Paul immerses himself in the lives of this family, his lies grow bigger and bolder. Eventually, his untruths catch up with him and he finds himself implicated in deeds he believes he did not commit. The big question is whether or not Paul is actually suffering from a form of amnesia, or has his compulsive lying addiction got the better of him? Lie With Me is a novel packed full to brim with nastiness, manipulation, self-preservation and cover-ups. It will leave you in the dark for the bulk of the novel, with ambiguity high in the agenda. Lie With Me was an interesting enough thriller that sent some conflicting emotions my way.
#3.5 stars
Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant is a little different, but I would say this novel still fits snugly into the domestic thriller genre. The narrator of Lie With Me is utterly appalling, so appalling that I couldn’t help but turn away from this book! The central protagonist in this psychological thriller, is not the usual (a damaged young woman) but a middle aged man. Paul Morris is the main character in Lie With Me. Paul is an arrogant, self centered has-been. As the book opens, he has hit rock bottom, he is completely out of funds and is forced to move back in with his mother. Paul is jobless, after his only hit novel, published some twenty years earlier, has failed to engender any further success. With no prospects and a string of broken relationships behind him, a chance meeting with an old university pal sends Paul into the arms of a complicated and wealthy widow, named Alice. It doesn’t not take long for Paul to worm his way into Alice’s life and he invites himself on a two week family holiday in Greece. It turns out this trip is more than just a family vacation. It is to continue the search for the daughter of Alice’s friend, who disappeared without a trace some 10 years earlier. It is a case that has never been solved. As Paul immerses himself in the lives of this family, his lies grow bigger and bolder. Eventually, his untruths catch up with him and he finds himself implicated in deeds he believes he did not commit. The big question is whether or not Paul is actually suffering from a form of amnesia, or has his compulsive lying addiction got the better of him? Lie With Me is a novel packed full to brim with nastiness, manipulation, self-preservation and cover-ups. It will leave you in the dark for the bulk of the novel, with ambiguity high in the agenda. Lie With Me was an interesting enough thriller that sent some conflicting emotions my way.
January 13, 2018
We've all been there, right? One small lie .. a pebble if you will, that rolls down and collects larger lies, eventually turning into a boulder that eventually runs you over.
Poor Paul - runs into someone from his past, tells a small lie.... then gets invited to dinner. And there it all begins. He's a deplorable character - lies all the time, lives off of people, womanizes and doesn't care who he hurts. A selfish bastard if you will. Then he meets Alice and of course, in true Paul manner, uses her at first.. after all, he's going to need a new place to live soon. But then he starts feeling this weird thing in his chest... could he actually be caring about this woman?
I'm so torn with this book! The character build of Paul is outstanding. The author really gets you to dislike him as a person... and yet somehow you end up feeling for him. As a matter of fact, there's not one character in this book that you want to like. The build up is slow, the pacing is moderate and the setting is mainly in Greece. I admit, I struggled a little bit with the first half of this book.... I was tired of being in Paul's head and learning about how selfish and manipulative he could be. Then we get into the last parts and all of the sudden I'm wracking my brain... looking for the clues that were delightfully hidden throughout that led to the finale. Brilliantly done and I'm glad I didn't give up on the book.
Recommended for those who like that slow build leading to a somewhat unexpected ending rather than the action packed scenes. This is one you should pay attention to because the ending makes perfect sense with everything leading up to it.
Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for this copy!
Poor Paul - runs into someone from his past, tells a small lie.... then gets invited to dinner. And there it all begins. He's a deplorable character - lies all the time, lives off of people, womanizes and doesn't care who he hurts. A selfish bastard if you will. Then he meets Alice and of course, in true Paul manner, uses her at first.. after all, he's going to need a new place to live soon. But then he starts feeling this weird thing in his chest... could he actually be caring about this woman?
I'm so torn with this book! The character build of Paul is outstanding. The author really gets you to dislike him as a person... and yet somehow you end up feeling for him. As a matter of fact, there's not one character in this book that you want to like. The build up is slow, the pacing is moderate and the setting is mainly in Greece. I admit, I struggled a little bit with the first half of this book.... I was tired of being in Paul's head and learning about how selfish and manipulative he could be. Then we get into the last parts and all of the sudden I'm wracking my brain... looking for the clues that were delightfully hidden throughout that led to the finale. Brilliantly done and I'm glad I didn't give up on the book.
Recommended for those who like that slow build leading to a somewhat unexpected ending rather than the action packed scenes. This is one you should pay attention to because the ending makes perfect sense with everything leading up to it.
Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for this copy!
February 23, 2018
"Oh what a tangled web we weave; When first we practice to deceive..."
Paul Morris is not a likeable man. In his early forties, a shallow, vain, unmarried, commitment-phobe, he tells so many lies, even HE cannot discern the truth sometimes. Why does he lie you ask? He is SO very egocentric, that he lies to make himself appear more successful, more urbane, more empathetic... just more. It is vitally important to him that people think well of him, though he uses people to his own advantage more often than not. He is obsessed with status and class, and he likes nothing more than being the center of attention.
"How much do we collude in our own destruction?"
We meet Paul in London where, for the past six years, he has been flat-sitting for an acquaintance. Of course, he lets people believe the Bloomsbury flat and its contents are his... He has had setbacks recently. His finances are at an all-time low, he drinks too much, his latest novel has been rejected, his much younger girlfriend has dumped him, AND the man who owns the flat is returning - therefore Paul must suffer the indignity of moving back in with his mother.
"So credible was my claim to decency, I half believed in it myself."
Paul runs into Andrew, an old school acquaintance, who invites him to dinner. Always on the look-out for a free meal, he accepts the invitation. This act will alter his future. It is here he meets the widow Alice. Unlike his usual female conquests, she is a more mature woman with teenage children. He is uncharacteristically sexually attracted to her PLUS he sees her as a possible way of escaping his mother's house. Alice is very comfortably off and has a nice house. He leads Alice to believe that he owns the Bloomsbury flat, that he is much more successful than he is. Unaware of Paul's deception, Alice continues seeing him, until he finally wangles a way into accompanying her family on summer's vacation in Greece. It turns out that this is not Paul's first visit to the Pyros area of Greece.
"People with privilege always think they control the truth."
The trip this year will be bittersweet. The house that Alice and her family have rented for many years is to be torn down to make way for a hotel resort. Paul doesn't travel with the family, but makes his own way there in a more thrifty fashion. Upon arrival, he discovers the house is occupied by Alice and her children, and also Andrew and his wife and children. The constant noise of the nearby construction equipment in the daytime is followed by the unrelenting barking of the guard dog at night. The bugs and the heat are relentless...
The four adults and five teenagers spend their days languishing by the pool. Smoking, drinking, then in the evening, going into town for a meal. Then, a young girl is raped in the nearby town. A young girl that Paul had met on the bus when he arrived in the country. He is questioned by police. Because Alice is listening to his answers, he maintains his lies in order to mesh the facts with what he has already told her.
"If Alice hadn't been present, I'd have told the truth.
But in that split second, I cared more for her opinion than his."
Of course the police are not stupid, and when they cannot verify anything Paul has told them, they look upon him with suspicion.
Paul, meanwhile, is coming to really care for Alice.
"If only I hadn't lied."
Because of Paul's immaturity at the beginning of the novel, and his subsequent evolving, I would almost class this as a 'coming of age' novel - even though he is in his forties. Call him a late-bloomer.
Events near the end of novel escalate in a frenzied manner. The reader is taken aback by the plot twists and I for one was impressed by the ingenious plot. This is a novel of manipulation, betrayal, and retribution.
The title of this novel "Lie with me" is a double entendre. Lie as in have sex with, and of course, lie as in deceiving others.
Note: This novel should be read with a cool beverage at hand. The descriptions of the hot, sultry Greek days are excellent - so much so that you can 'feel' the heat and 'see' the hot Greek sun reflecting off the white buildings. Impressive for a reader who read the book in the middle of a Nova Scotia winter.
"Lie with me" is the third title I've read by Sabine Durrant, and she has never disappointed me. Her description and characterization are of the highest quality and the plots are well rendered - this one was genius! I always thought I had to 'like' a protagonist to really enjoy a novel. Sabine Durrant has taught me that I don't have to like them, they just have to be well characterized and written with empathy.
I highly recommend "Lie with me" to any reader who really enjoys a character-based, slow-burn, psychological thriller.
I requested this book on NetGalley, but sadly I was declined. Therefore, due to my high regard for this author, I bought a Kindle copy. Money well spent!
Paul Morris is not a likeable man. In his early forties, a shallow, vain, unmarried, commitment-phobe, he tells so many lies, even HE cannot discern the truth sometimes. Why does he lie you ask? He is SO very egocentric, that he lies to make himself appear more successful, more urbane, more empathetic... just more. It is vitally important to him that people think well of him, though he uses people to his own advantage more often than not. He is obsessed with status and class, and he likes nothing more than being the center of attention.
"How much do we collude in our own destruction?"
We meet Paul in London where, for the past six years, he has been flat-sitting for an acquaintance. Of course, he lets people believe the Bloomsbury flat and its contents are his... He has had setbacks recently. His finances are at an all-time low, he drinks too much, his latest novel has been rejected, his much younger girlfriend has dumped him, AND the man who owns the flat is returning - therefore Paul must suffer the indignity of moving back in with his mother.
"So credible was my claim to decency, I half believed in it myself."
Paul runs into Andrew, an old school acquaintance, who invites him to dinner. Always on the look-out for a free meal, he accepts the invitation. This act will alter his future. It is here he meets the widow Alice. Unlike his usual female conquests, she is a more mature woman with teenage children. He is uncharacteristically sexually attracted to her PLUS he sees her as a possible way of escaping his mother's house. Alice is very comfortably off and has a nice house. He leads Alice to believe that he owns the Bloomsbury flat, that he is much more successful than he is. Unaware of Paul's deception, Alice continues seeing him, until he finally wangles a way into accompanying her family on summer's vacation in Greece. It turns out that this is not Paul's first visit to the Pyros area of Greece.
"People with privilege always think they control the truth."
The trip this year will be bittersweet. The house that Alice and her family have rented for many years is to be torn down to make way for a hotel resort. Paul doesn't travel with the family, but makes his own way there in a more thrifty fashion. Upon arrival, he discovers the house is occupied by Alice and her children, and also Andrew and his wife and children. The constant noise of the nearby construction equipment in the daytime is followed by the unrelenting barking of the guard dog at night. The bugs and the heat are relentless...
The four adults and five teenagers spend their days languishing by the pool. Smoking, drinking, then in the evening, going into town for a meal. Then, a young girl is raped in the nearby town. A young girl that Paul had met on the bus when he arrived in the country. He is questioned by police. Because Alice is listening to his answers, he maintains his lies in order to mesh the facts with what he has already told her.
"If Alice hadn't been present, I'd have told the truth.
But in that split second, I cared more for her opinion than his."
Of course the police are not stupid, and when they cannot verify anything Paul has told them, they look upon him with suspicion.
Paul, meanwhile, is coming to really care for Alice.
"If only I hadn't lied."
Because of Paul's immaturity at the beginning of the novel, and his subsequent evolving, I would almost class this as a 'coming of age' novel - even though he is in his forties. Call him a late-bloomer.
Events near the end of novel escalate in a frenzied manner. The reader is taken aback by the plot twists and I for one was impressed by the ingenious plot. This is a novel of manipulation, betrayal, and retribution.
The title of this novel "Lie with me" is a double entendre. Lie as in have sex with, and of course, lie as in deceiving others.
Note: This novel should be read with a cool beverage at hand. The descriptions of the hot, sultry Greek days are excellent - so much so that you can 'feel' the heat and 'see' the hot Greek sun reflecting off the white buildings. Impressive for a reader who read the book in the middle of a Nova Scotia winter.
"Lie with me" is the third title I've read by Sabine Durrant, and she has never disappointed me. Her description and characterization are of the highest quality and the plots are well rendered - this one was genius! I always thought I had to 'like' a protagonist to really enjoy a novel. Sabine Durrant has taught me that I don't have to like them, they just have to be well characterized and written with empathy.
I highly recommend "Lie with me" to any reader who really enjoys a character-based, slow-burn, psychological thriller.
I requested this book on NetGalley, but sadly I was declined. Therefore, due to my high regard for this author, I bought a Kindle copy. Money well spent!
September 12, 2016
This took me a while to get into and I was very tempted to give up on it. I think the first part of the story dragged a little for me. I'm glad I persevered though because the last three quarters of the book was great. I wasn't overly fussed on any of the characters, and the main character, Paul, was quite unlikeable. Although towards the end I started to empathise with him a little.
I'll have to look out for the author's other books. My rating is 3.5 stars.
I'll have to look out for the author's other books. My rating is 3.5 stars.
January 14, 2018
After I passed my personal self-denying ordinance to eschew reviewing unknown authors on NetGalley I swooped down for a chance to read Sabine Durrant’s Lie with Me for free now that an American publisher was finally marketing it this side the pond, only two years late. Having read & enjoyed Under Your Skin very much & Remember Me This Way not quite as much, I was ready for the main character of this book to be an unreliable narrator & a sleazy narcissistic arty type freeloader poseur & from the beginning I thoroughly despised him. But whilst there is no question that Paul is a villain, the good luck he encounters seems much too good to be true - an old uni acquaintance who invites him on a virtually all expenses paid holiday on a Greek island with his sister Alice being a friend who provides all the benefits, i.e. all the pleasures of matrimony with zero responsibilities. What’s also strange is that ten years ago they’d all been on the same island, where Paul made a total spectacle of himself getting totally off his face whilst wearing a purple tee-shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Let Zeus Blow Your Mind.” The former is forgivable as youthful folly, the latter inexcusable at any age: I was indeed hoping Paul would finally meet with a firing squad from the Fashion Police. That same previous time, a 13 y/o named Jasmine went missing, & Alice is running an organisation still searching for her after all these years. (I cannot begin to count how many variations on the Madeleine McCann disappearance I’ve read after all these years, but for me the plot still works.) Did Paul have something to do with that? Is Paul a villain? Or is he a victim? Sabine Durranrt tells a nice story that will keep the reader in suspense. One thing I learned from this book (as I’ve also learnt from Helen Fitzgerald, who’s similar to Sabine Durrant though for me just a little cleverer & twistier) is that the best way to ensure yourself against plots by sleazy people is simply not to be a sleaze. So as a warning to the unwary, Lie with Me has an excellent moral: If you always tell the truth, you’ve little to fear.
As with the exploding car in Remember Me This Way, the author isn’t always technically believable. In this case, Paul could not possibly have started that truck which is supposed to have been sitting idle for ten years. The entire plot is rather too contrived as well & it was hard to believe that even such a total arse as Paul could persuade himself that Alice really fell for him or that Andrew, his wife, & daughter could ever desire five minutes in his presence. But the touristy cheap setting for a holiday in the sun with odious people who ought to stay home was excellently depicted.
As with the exploding car in Remember Me This Way, the author isn’t always technically believable. In this case, Paul could not possibly have started that truck which is supposed to have been sitting idle for ten years. The entire plot is rather too contrived as well & it was hard to believe that even such a total arse as Paul could persuade himself that Alice really fell for him or that Andrew, his wife, & daughter could ever desire five minutes in his presence. But the touristy cheap setting for a holiday in the sun with odious people who ought to stay home was excellently depicted.
February 7, 2017
Based on one of my favourite subjects, the lies we tell, this novel is a treatise on deception and manipulation, with the flavour of one of my long-standing favourite characters, 'The Talented Mr Ripley'.
I was struck first by the beautiful writing style; flowing, immediate, detailed, absorbing. The pace is steady (don't expect sudden dramatic events), instead there's a gradual slow-burn as characters are revealed, mainly aspects of the unscrupulous lead, Paul Morris, a 'has-been' author, who has scrounged and sponged most of his life and who charms his way into opportunist situations, as slickly as he charms his way out of tricky ones.
Paul runs into an old acquaintance, Andrew, whose sister he barely remembers dating years ago and is invited to dinner, where he meets the recently widowed Alice. From the start, Paul's intentions are entirely dishonourable. He lies about his finances and success, claiming the luxury apartment where he lives is his own when, in fact, he's flat-sitting. In Alice he sees an opportunity to gate-crash well-to-do society and he scores an early victory by bagging an invitation from her to join a group taking a holiday in a Greek villa. Paul has dim recollections of visiting the small island before, ten years ago. It was at this time that the 13-year-old daughter of a friend of Alice went missing there, a mystery that was never solved.
As he whiles away the summer by the pool, Paul finds himself genuinely falling for Alice, who is on her annual pilgrimage to the island to raise awareness of the unsolved murder. Jealous of Alice's closeness with Andrew and in order to impress and ingratiate himself with her, his lies and slights of hand multiply. But events on the island turn sour and when the police come to the villa with questions about fresh crimes and the discovery of a grave, Paul's intricate web of deceit starts to backfire.
From this point on there is a subtle shift in dynamics. The reader is fully aware of the hole Paul is digging for himself - but wrapped up in his selfish and narcissistic existence, he is not.
Needless to say, I thoroughly recommend it!
I was struck first by the beautiful writing style; flowing, immediate, detailed, absorbing. The pace is steady (don't expect sudden dramatic events), instead there's a gradual slow-burn as characters are revealed, mainly aspects of the unscrupulous lead, Paul Morris, a 'has-been' author, who has scrounged and sponged most of his life and who charms his way into opportunist situations, as slickly as he charms his way out of tricky ones.
Paul runs into an old acquaintance, Andrew, whose sister he barely remembers dating years ago and is invited to dinner, where he meets the recently widowed Alice. From the start, Paul's intentions are entirely dishonourable. He lies about his finances and success, claiming the luxury apartment where he lives is his own when, in fact, he's flat-sitting. In Alice he sees an opportunity to gate-crash well-to-do society and he scores an early victory by bagging an invitation from her to join a group taking a holiday in a Greek villa. Paul has dim recollections of visiting the small island before, ten years ago. It was at this time that the 13-year-old daughter of a friend of Alice went missing there, a mystery that was never solved.
As he whiles away the summer by the pool, Paul finds himself genuinely falling for Alice, who is on her annual pilgrimage to the island to raise awareness of the unsolved murder. Jealous of Alice's closeness with Andrew and in order to impress and ingratiate himself with her, his lies and slights of hand multiply. But events on the island turn sour and when the police come to the villa with questions about fresh crimes and the discovery of a grave, Paul's intricate web of deceit starts to backfire.
From this point on there is a subtle shift in dynamics. The reader is fully aware of the hole Paul is digging for himself - but wrapped up in his selfish and narcissistic existence, he is not.
Needless to say, I thoroughly recommend it!
September 25, 2017
This was one of those unfortunate reads where there is so much waffle and unnecessary detail it makes it difficult to decipher what is actually going on. It's called a psychological thriller, but I found it neither. The synopsis promises a lot but the writing simply fails to deliver.
The narrator, Paul, is unlikable pretty much from the outset. He is middle aged but his actions and thoughts are that of a man twenty years younger. When he meets Alice, part of a very middle class friendship circle, he worries about living up to their standards. He quite randomly joins this strange group in Greece for a holiday. I found it uncomfortable to read about Paul's clandestine spying of the teenage female holidaymakers too.
Like other reviewers have noted, there is so much padding to this story that I struggled to ever take it seriously. Despite an overall fair rating on Goodreads, I can't say I would recommend this author.
Call me cynical as I approach the ripe age of thirty, but maybe life is just too short to waste on books like this!
The narrator, Paul, is unlikable pretty much from the outset. He is middle aged but his actions and thoughts are that of a man twenty years younger. When he meets Alice, part of a very middle class friendship circle, he worries about living up to their standards. He quite randomly joins this strange group in Greece for a holiday. I found it uncomfortable to read about Paul's clandestine spying of the teenage female holidaymakers too.
Like other reviewers have noted, there is so much padding to this story that I struggled to ever take it seriously. Despite an overall fair rating on Goodreads, I can't say I would recommend this author.
Call me cynical as I approach the ripe age of thirty, but maybe life is just too short to waste on books like this!
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