THE BOOK:
Welcome to Stanhope – a safe neighbourhood. A place for families.
William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter Avery unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.
Hours later, Avery’s family declare her missing.
Suddenly Stanhope doesn’t feel so safe. And William isn’t the only one on his street who’s hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery’s neighbours become increasingly unhinged.
Who took Avery Wooler?
Nothing will prepare you for the truth.
Book Info: Print length: 326 pages. Publisher: Transworld/Bantam Press. Publication Date: 6th July 2023
Shari Lapena is one of the best-known thriller writers working today. Every one of her thrillers has been a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. She has spent a total of 76 weeks in the top 10 and has sold over 7 million copies across all titles and formats worldwide. Her debut, The Couple Next Door, was the overall bestselling fiction title in the UK in its year of publication and has been optioned for TV by Paramount. For more information about Shari and her books, you can visit Shari’s website here: https://sharilapena.com/.
My Review:
I adored Shari’s earlier book The Couple Next Door and had heard so many rave reviews about her latest book Everyone Here is Lying so I was delighted to get an advanced copy from Netgalley and an invitation to join the blogtour.
I do love a book based in a tight-knit neighbourhood, especially one where all the residents have something to hide, a guilty past or a secret they could potentially kill to stop from spreading and Everyone Here is Lying has it all.
When respected and charismatic Dr William Wooler comes back to the family home early from meeting his lover, he doesn’t expect to see his 9 year old daughter, Avery in the kitchen. To make matters worse, Avery is a troubled and difficult child who manages to push his buttons to the point of no return and an altercation occurs. Several hours later the child is reported missing and the neighbours are in shock and disbelief that anything could happen in their safe and charmed community.
However, this is a mystery/thriller written by Shari Lapena, so you know that we are going to be taken on a rather twisted and uncomfortable journey trying to work out what happened to Avery and more importantly what secrets are about to be revealed.
I absolutely devoured this book in less than a day. Nearly all the characters are unlikeable, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this story. From the opening chapter the reader gets to know each and every neighbour warts and all. I was kept guessing throughout and changed my mind so many times I got a little dizzy. I would definitely recommend this book and give it a big fat 5 stars.
My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for the invitation to join the blogtour. Don’t forget to check out the rest of tour and follow these bloggers too:
