Karin Slaughter, the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author known for gripping suspense novels like Pretty Girls and After That Night, returns with another thrilling installment featuring Will Trent and Sara Linton: This Is Why We Lied. This latest novel plunges readers into a secluded mountain retreat where idyllic tranquility shatters with a scream, revealing a web of deceit and murder.
A Honeymoon Gone Horribly Wrong
Imagine a honeymoon designed for escape: McAlpine Lodge, nestled atop a remote mountain, promising blissful isolation for GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton. Their getaway, however, takes a dark turn when lodge manager Mercy McAlpine is found dead. A violent storm cuts off access to the mountain, trapping everyone within the lodge with a killer in their midst.
Everyone’s a Liar at McAlpine Lodge
As Will and Sara delve into the investigation, they quickly discover that McAlpine Lodge is a haven for secrets. The McAlpine family and the lodge guests are all entangled in a complex network of lies. Past betrayals, hidden agendas, and self-deceptions surface as Will and Sara try to piece together the truth behind Mercy’s murder. The idyllic facade crumbles, revealing the sinister undercurrents flowing through the isolated community. Normal investigative procedures seem ineffective in this environment where deception is the norm, forcing Will and Sara to navigate a treacherous landscape of hidden motives and carefully constructed falsehoods.
Critical Acclaim for a Masterful Mystery
Critics have lauded This Is Why We Lied as a standout thriller. Publishers Weekly highlights it as a “grisly locked-room mystery” praising Slaughter’s “gifts for suspense and characterization,” particularly noting the impactful character of Mercy. Booklist in a starred review, emphasizes Slaughter’s “skillfully nuanced portrayal of the investigation, exposing abuse, manipulation, and desperate greed,” making it a “disturbingly realistic page-turner.” Kirkus calls it a “high octane story,” while the Financial Times acknowledges Slaughter’s 25-year career and her “adroit scene-setting, vivid characterization and (crucially) impeccable plotting” in this latest work. Parade Magazine draws a compelling parallel to Agatha Christie, noting the “closed circle” mystery where “the suspects are limited to a handful of people and they all have a reason to kill the deceased,” ultimately deeming it “great fun, with great depth.” Mystery & Suspense Magazine proclaims it “intense, gripping, gutsy, multilayered and highly emotional… Karin Slaughter at her best,” highly recommending it to both series fans and new readers alike.
Why You Should Read “This Is Why We Lied”
This Is Why We Lied is more than just a thriller; it’s a masterclass in suspense and character-driven narrative. If you crave a gripping mystery with intricate plotting, compelling characters, and shocking twists, this book is for you. Karin Slaughter expertly crafts a claustrophobic atmosphere within McAlpine Lodge, where the isolation and the storm amplify the tension and paranoia. Prepare to be captivated by the unraveling secrets and the desperate hunt for a killer in a place where this is why we lied becomes the haunting question at the heart of it all.
