Kline and Anne Burt, and oh my gosh, did this book deliver! I flew through it. It was packed with tension, twists, and eerie suspense that had me up reading way past my bedtime. I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter,” and the next thing I knew, it was 2 a.m.
From the start, I was hooked. The main character, Hayley, is complex and compelling, with a dark, twisted backstory that refuses to stay buried. She and her husband, Brandon, relocate to a remote house (which is gorgeous and massive) in the Adirondack Mountains, meant to be a fresh start, but the sense of isolation is palpable. Brandon seems too good to be true at first, and let’s just say, that’s never a good sign.
As winter sets in and the cold weather begins to trap them in place, Brandon’s behavior shifts in unsettling ways. At first it’s subtle, then it becomes increasingly alarming. I could feel Hayley’s growing terror and her sense of being completely alone. When she meets Megan and Tyler at the local hardware store, it feels like a lifeline, especially when she and Megan instantly bond over their shared love of self-help books. But something about that instant connection raises a red flag, and it turns out to be more than just a quirky coincidence.
The novel is layered with secrets, deception, and psychological tension. Hayley is not the only one with a past. Brandon is hiding something too, and that hidden history begins to unravel in deeply disturbing ways. His decision to move Hayley off the grid, away from friends and family, becomes more and more suspicious, and the isolation starts to feel like a trap instead of a retreat.
The suspense is incredibly well done. I felt genuine fear and dread for Hayley. There were moments that gave me actual chills. I kept wanting to shout at her, “Get out now!” But of course, things are never that simple.
And then, the twist. Without giving too much away, I did not see it coming. The book kept surprising me all the way to the final page. The themes of trust, trauma, and survival are raw and intense.
Slight spoiler alert: Hayley doesn’t make it through unscathed. In fact, she loses almost everything. That devastation added such emotional weight to the story and made it linger with me long after I finished it.
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that’s atmospheric, character-driven, and emotionally intense, Please Don’t Lie needs to be on your list. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
What did you think of it? Did you pick another one for your Amazon First Reads? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Reading-
The Scribbler
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