Eight Years of Lies by Lisa Hall

 

                                                   

Ebook:   301 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thriller,

Publisher: Joffe Books, 19th February 2025

Source:  NetGalley

First Sentences:  Prologue: It was just a normal day. Another boring, mundane day in our boring, mundane lives.

Review Quote: ‘A tense, pacy rollercoaster of a read, full of suspense, twists and dark intrigue. I was furiously turning the pages until the heart-stopping conclusion.’ A. A. CHAUDHURI, bestselling author

My Opinion: 

This is the second book I have read by Lisa Hall, having been previously been introduced to her writing by a Book Club Choice. I was apprehensive about doing so as I found the previous novel repetitive, unfortunately so was this one at times, but it did not spoil my enjoyment.

Claire has been happily married or so she thought to Tom for eight years. Then suddenly he just disappears without trace leaving her alone with their daughter wondering why. Her search for him is told by her but interspersed with chapters from an unknown person, which certainly adds to the intrigue. Claire soon discovers she does not know her husband all, as shocking discoveries unfold throughout the novel.

A very quick read for me, a contemporary psychological thriller full of lies and surprising twists. Far fetched maybe at times but then I read for escapism so went with the flow.

With thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review. 

Précis Courtesy of Amazon: 

Was my marriage always built on lies? How could everything unravel so quickly?

My life wasn’t perfect — school runs, late meetings, family dinners — But we were happy.

Then a single Facebook post destroys it all: ‘PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP ME? HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN? I am Lydia French. This is my husband and child — they have been missing for several months and I am desperate to find them.’

I look at the photo of a man and a little girl, smiling in the sun, and freeze. They’re not Lydia French’s husband and child. They’re mine.

I get a call from the school. Tom hasn’t picked up our daughter. He’s not answering his phone. His boss says he didn’t show up for work.

Nothing makes sense. Panic claws my chest as I piece together the fragments of my shattered reality.

The man I’ve lived with for the past eight years, the man I’ve made a home, a family, a life with, isn’t who I thought he was at all. The man I married has been lying to me . . . about everything.

Previous Review:  The Perfect Couple

Author Profile:         

Courtesy of Author Website

Lisa loves words, reading and everything there is to love about books. She has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl – either that or a librarian - and after years of talking about it, was finally brave enough to put pen to paper (and let people actually read it). Lisa lives in a small village in Kent, surrounded by her towering TBR pile, a rather large brood of children, dogs, chickens and ponies and her long-suffering husband. She is also rather partial to eating cheese and drinking wine.  (Taken from Author Website)

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Official Author Website   Instagram - Lisa Hall Author   Facebook Profile  

Twitter - Lisa Hall Author

Amazon Author Page

The Perfect Couple by Lisa Hall

 

Paperback:   347 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Harper Collins 2020

Source:  Tywyn Public Library

First Sentence: How well do you really know the people in your life?

Review Quote: ‘Chillingly believable and utterly compelling with thrills aplenty ― I loved this book’ Lucy Foley, No.1 bestselling author of The Hunting Party

My Opinion: I have never read anything by this author before and only did so as it was a Book Club choice for June. The protagonist Emily gets herself a job as housekeeper to recently widowed Rupert. Very quickly a close relationship develops between them, this is when the story starts to become somewhat dark and sinister.

An enjoyable easy read with lots of twists and turns, though at times the writing tends to be repetitive, plus the characters are rather stereotyped. Also, with the authors clues along the way I did work out the ending. This did not spoil the novel for me, though glad I guessed correctly.

Recommended to fans of the genre and a good introduction to it if you are not yet a fan of the psychological thriller.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

When Emily applies for a job as a housekeeper for widower Rupert, it’s a chance to start over – a steady job and regular money means she can work towards her own place, not sharing a grimy flat with old mate, Mags.

As Emily gets to know more about Rupert’s world – how he likes his supper when he comes in from work, who his friends are – she can make sure everything runs like clockwork for him.

Soon there’s a spark between them; Rupert likes Emily and invites her to stay. For good.


To the outside world, they really seem to be a perfect match. There’s just the small issue of what really happened to Rupert’s first wife…

Author Profile:         

Courtesy of Author Website

Lisa loves words, reading and everything there is to love about books. She has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl – either that or a librarian - and after years of talking about it, was finally brave enough to put pen to paper (and let people actually read it). Lisa lives in a small village in Kent, surrounded by her towering TBR pile, a rather large brood of children, dogs, chickens and ponies and her long-suffering husband. She is also rather partial to eating cheese and drinking wine.  (Taken from Author Website)

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Official Author Website   Instagram - Lisa Hall Author   Facebook Profile  

Twitter - Lisa Hall Author

Amazon Author Page