REVIEW: My Lies, Your Lies by Susan Lewis

Here's my review of the gripping new book from bestselling author, Susan Lewis. I can't adequately put into words how well written and thought out this was in every respect. I literally cannot wait to read some of her other work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Harper Collins UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 16 April 2020

The blurb 
His life was destroyed by a lie. Her life will be ruined by the truth.

Joely tells other people’s secrets for a living. As a ghost writer, she’s used to scandal – but this just might be her strangest assignment yet.

Freda has never told her story to anyone before. But now she’s ready to set the record straight and to right a wrong that’s haunted her for forty years.

Freda’s memoir begins with a 15-year-old girl falling madly in love with her teacher. It ends in a way Joely could never possibly have imagined. As the story unravels, Joely is spun deeper into a world of secrets and lies. Delving further into Freda’s past, Joely’s sure she can uncover the truth… But does she want to?

The Review
I've never read this author before and if I'm honest I found this a little hard to get into initially. First up there was a lot of talk about the main character's marriage breakdown and family relationships, which at the time seemed irrelevant particularly as I just wanted to get on with the mystery.

Chapters also switched between the present-day narrative and the past story of an as-yet-unidentified 15-year-old girl. The two were written in such different styles - and even fonts - that it was quite jarring and almost like reading two completely different books/authors.

Thirdly, Freda asks her ghost-writer Joely: "Do you think sex should be portrayed in graphic detail or should it be approached with the use of subtle innuendo and metaphor?" To which Joely answers: "Probably the latter" and with which I totally agree. And, as such some of the early extracts of the young girl were a bit much for me particularly given the nature/age of those involved. This leads me to a warning that this book does include paedophilia or more correctly hebephiliac (involving adolescents rather than children) - it's not stomach-churning but it is there nonetheless.

Anyway I preserved and I am so glad I did because from about a third of way in I became totally and completely hooked, didn't want it to end and would even go so far as to say one of favourite reads of the year so far. And, once you get into it you realise how relevant the seemingly irrelevant actually is, the reason for the different styles and the subject matter also becomes less significant.

Once underway this kept me continuously guessing - even though every single thing/sentence is totally relevant meaning that the clues are there all along, I just didn't predict any of the many twists and turns. And, there were so many (twists and turns), and Susan Lewis so masterful at dropping them at the exact right pace, ie just before you worked it out.

I also loved the characterisation and development. I don't want to give anything away but I was totally fascinated by one of the main characters who's somewhat accurately described as "Cool. Weird but cool." I loved the way that the others rallied around that person in the end despite some of the despicable things they'd done - it was a truly fitting and great ending. There's also a bit at the end where the 'weird character leaves a parting gift for another character which was genius and the exact thing that the character would've done if they were real.

I know (now) that the author is the best-selling author of over thirty gripping, page-turners but I can't adequately put into words how well written and thought out this was in every respect. I literally cannot wait to read some of her other work.

The author
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