Happy Tuesday! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour celebrating the release of The Liar’s Room by Simon Lelic! Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the invitation! Stay tuned for information on how to win a copy at the bottom of this post!
About the Book:
A new spine-tingling thriller from the author of The New Neighbors that takes place over the course of a therapy session, in which neither patient nor therapist are who they claim to be.
Two liars. One room. No way out.
Susanna Fenton has a secret. Fourteen years ago she left her identity behind, reinventing herself as a therapist and starting a new life. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe.
But when a young man, Adam Geraghty, walks into her office, claiming he needs Susanna’s help but asking unsettling questions, she begins to fear that her secret has been discovered.
Who is Adam, really? What does he intend to do to Susanna?
And what has he done to her daughter?
My Thoughts:
Several years ago, Susanna was in danger, and she had to leave her old life behind to keep her daughter, Emily, safe. She becomes a therapist and starts over.
A new client, Adam, comes to his first session with Susanna and begins asking questions that instantly make her uneasy. He says he is a danger to others, and he needs her help. Then, he begins to act aggressive and irrational, and I could feel Susanna’s heartrate rise. She is trapped in a room with this guy.
Adam may know her secret? But who is Adam? And is he a danger to Susanna and her daughter? You see, Adam has already met Emily…And he almost immediately appears unstable when he shows Susanna a picture of Emily…
One of the most intriguing things about this book is that it takes place during one therapy session. Susanna is a pretender with secrets to hide, and it appears that Adam is, too. Woo, my, what a story there is to tell. I was on the edge of my seat with this one.
It took me the whole book to figure out the truth, and I LOVE that. This is a perfectly drawn thriller. It has the page-turning suspense, emotional tension, and head shaking shock value (read: very dark) we all crave! I LOVED IT.
Thanks to Berkley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
About the Author (from his website):
“I was born in Brighton in 1976 and, after a decade or so living in London and trying to convince myself that the tube was fine, really, because it gave me a chance to read, my wife and I moved back to Brighton with our three young children. That Barnaby, Joseph and Anja’s grandparents happened to live close enough by to be able to offer their babysitting services was, of course, entirely coincidental.
As well as writing, I run an import/export business. I say this, when people ask, with a wink but I fool no one: I am more Del Trotter than Howard Marks. My hobbies (when I have time for them) include reading (for which I make time, because I can just about get away with claiming this is also work), golf, tennis, snowboarding and karate. My weekends belong to my family (or so my wife tells me), as does my heart.
I studied history at the University of Exeter. After graduating I was qualified, I discovered . . . to do an MA. After that I figured I had better learn something useful, so took a post-grad course in journalism. I know, I know: so much for learning something useful. After working freelance and then in business-to-business publishing, I now write novels. Not useful either, necessarily, but fun and, in its own way, important.
In half a page, then, that’s me. My wife wanted me to add that I am not as mean as I look in my author pic. That was the publisher’s doing: they wanted austere. But now I’ve gone and ruined it.”
Check out these reviews by the other Book Besties:
Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark
Holly at Dressed to Read
Kendall at
Mackenzie at PhDiva
***Book Giveaway***
For a chance to win a paperback copy of The Liar’s Room, please visit my instagram page! Giveaway generously sponsored by the publisher. I’ll have the giveaway posted later today.
What a really intriguing premise – the action takes place at a therapy session… I’m tempted! It is particularly grim or gory, Jennifer? This time of year I need to take care of my mental health and I’m prone to nightmares when the action gets too horrific…
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It’s so intriguing, Sarah. It IS dark, but not gory. Some of the content was on the disturbing side, though, so you may want to tread very lightly.
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Hm. I think I’ll pass – it’s too dark and depressing outside right now to risk letting that seep into my inscape…
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Wonderful review, Jennifer!! I thought you captured how heart pounding this was, even though there’s relatively little action. I could barely imagine being in this spot!
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Thanks, Mack! It really captured my interest with the tension!
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Thanks, Jennifer for awesome review and blog tour. Cannot wait to read this thriller. Happy Tuesday! 💕📚🌸😍
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Thanks, Virginia! This book is so mind boggling and engaging. I hope you enjoy it too! ♥️
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Another great review Jennifer!! ❤
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Thanks, Holls! 💕
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This sounds intense! I love stories that take place over the course of a few hours, thanks for sharing this😁
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Thanks, Tammy! It’s definitely intense, and I loved that it took place in that one room during a short period of time. That takes skills!
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Wonderful review Jen! Lots of twists and turns! We were going to be leaving this weekend but there is a huge storm brewing and we could get 18 inches of snow!😢 Now I think we will be going Monday…..💙🤪
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Thanks, Sus! So many twists and turns! Oh, wow-already? Gosh, I think we are supposed to be warm this weekend! I am sorry about the BIG snowfall! Going out with a bang! Be careful and amy all go smoothly! ♥️
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Ooh…one therapy session? I love the sound of this. I’ve got it on audio review and am excited. Excellent review, Jennifer! You really got me.
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Thanks, Jonetta! I am already on the edge of my seat waiting to hear about the audio! I hope you have an amazing narrator(s)!
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Wonderful review, Jennifer! Glad you enjoyed this one.
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Thanks, Darinda! It was a dynamic read!
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Sounds like quite an interesting premise. Glad you liked this book.
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Thanks, Marialyce! It truly was an original and intriguing story.
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I also really loved this book. It completely gripped me.
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I love hearing that, Chrissi! ♥️
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I’ve been seeing this one a lot. Great review, Jennifer. I like the twist with the therapy session idea.
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Thanks, Jacquie! It was definitely an original and suspenseful read. It snuck up on me!
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Fabulous review! This one keeps showing up everywhere I go so I think it’s time it went on my TBR list!
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Thanks, Mackey! I think that was a great decision!
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Wonderful review Jennifer! This is another one that was really fun to discuss! It is a book if I had time I go back and read and try to pick up on the puzzle pieces!
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Thanks, Berit! Yes, I breezed through it so fast, I think I’d get more out of it if I read it again. It was just so gripping though- I had to keep going! ♥️
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Great review! This one is on my TBR; I really enjoyed his last book, so I’m sure that I’ll enjoy this one! I can’t imagine a scenario like this one…freaky and creepy! Happy almost Wednesday! xoxo ♥
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Thanks, Steph! So creepy! So scary! And it felt so real! I hope you enjoy this one too! Also hope your Tuesday was great! ♥️ xoxo
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You’re welcome! Yikes..it feeling real is scary! I’m sure I will! Thanks! It was a very busy day that I’m just wrapping up, so I’m ready for bed! But it was still good if exhausting 😊 Hopefully, Wednesday will be a little less…well, everything lol! Have a great one! ❤
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Sounds intense! Looking forward to reading this one!
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It was definitely intense and powerful, Beth! Thanks for stopping by! ♥️
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Great review! You’ve left me wanting to know what Susanna’s secret is! 😀
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Thanks, FF! I wrote a cliffhanger in my review!
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I sometimes wonder if my therapist is truly who he portends to be and have I been completely forthcoming in revealing myself to him…
This is definitely on my TBR list!
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Oh, David, this one will definitely intrigue you! Thanks for stopping by!
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Excellent review Jennifer! This was a twisty one wasn’t it? 🙂
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THanks, Kendall! It was so twisty and chilling!
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I’m so confused all the time with different covers! I was like, ooo, this sounds good! Then i realized i already own it. 😀
One therapy sesh the whole story? Well, that sounds super intense! Also, i hope it’s not gonna be me reading this book and then turning super paranoid about my own therapist 😀
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That’s too funny, Norrie- I hope that wouldn’t happen with your therapist! I will say, the client was creepier than the therapist, at least to me. It is crazy about the covers being so different!
I’m excited to see what you think of this! ♥️
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This sounds focused, like a locked room mystery. I love the puzzle of it. Mystery / thrillers are one of my favorites. Fabulous review! Anne – Books of My Heart
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Thanks, Anne! It is a fun and intriguing concept, and there are lots of puzzle pieces to this one!
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Fantastic review Jenni, I’m so pleased you enjoyed this one too! 🤗
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Thanks, Beth! Me, too! We have excellent taste! I don’t want to message you this late, but I am hoping to be home on time, finally, tomorrow. ♥️
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Oh I love the concept of this book! So interesting that this takes place over the course of one interaction! Also, it sound promising that this kept you guessing until the end!
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Yes, isn’t that something, LP? One room and one session! How would you even begin to write that? It was a terrific thriller.
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I really like the premise of this book and your great review makes it very tempting to read! I love fast-paced thrillers where the truth comes out at the very end, it makes the whole reading experience so much more exciting!
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This is the second excellent review I’ve read on this book, so I’m definitely adding it to my TBR!
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It’s such a good read, Myndi. I don’t think you’ll regret it. Original and showstopping! I hope you enjoy it if you fit it in.
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I’m definitely intrigued and love books like this, especially twisty ones! Have it added. Glad you enjoyed it, Jen! ♥️😉 xoxo
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Oh, this is super twisty, favorite M! Good choice to add it! I had so much fun with it! ♥️
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Wow, awesome review Jenn8fer. This book sounds very different. A thriller eextraordinaire.
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Thanks, Carla! It was good original and good!
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