THIS IS WHY WE LIED

By Karin Slaughter

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Goodreads: 4.23)

GENRE: Psychological Thriller

PART OF A SERIES? Yes (Will Trent #12)

WORTH READING? Yes

SUMMARY:

Detective Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton are on their long-awaited honeymoon, staying at an exclusive, off-the-grid retreat. The idyllic setting masks simmering tensions, hidden histories, and a trail of deception that leads deeper than either of them expected. It isn’t long before their wedded bliss is shattered, as cracks amongst the guests and owners begin to show when a brutally murdered body is discovered. Will and Sara find themselves entangled in a case where everyone has something to hide — and someone is willing to kill to keep the truth buried. The closer Will and Sara get to the truth, the more dangerous the lies become.

Because everyone lies.

Opening lines: “Will Trent sat down at the edge of the lake to take off his hiking boots.”

This is Why we Lied took me a little while to get into. I’m not sure whether part of the reason was that Karin Slaughter (unusually) took us on a bit of a meander with in-depth descriptions of things and also whether it was a result of coming straight off the fabulous A Calamity of Souls (Baldacci), which left me in a bit of a book slump. Also, After That Night (#11 in the series) opened with a real bang! However, once I was immersed in This is Why we Lied I did really enjoy it.

I think there’s something very comforting about slipping back into a book with main characters you already know and with whom you already feel a connection. Almost like catching up with an old friend you haven’t seen for a while. ‘Watching’ Sara and Will’s relationship develop over several books has been beautiful. Sara and Will have a beautiful and supportive relationship (#relationshipgoals). One thing I felt, though, was that Karin Slaughter has written their characters with more authenticity in some of their other combined outings, including the predecessor to this book, After That Night.

This is Why we Lied is reminiscent of recent movies like Knives Out, or of the boardgame Clue. The reader is basically presented a distinct set of characters, in an isolated setting, one of whom has created an horrific crime. Naturally, in true Slaughter form (or, basically the style of any good thriller writer), the reader receives multiple red herrings and scenarios, so has to make their own guesses as the tale proceeds.

I’m someone who’s not keen on repetition, unless it has a real purpose, or is difficult information to digest. So, it was a bit disappointing that This is Why we Lied was a bit repetitive at times. E.g. on one page, Slaughter writes: “Will hated standing around,” then not long after “Will wasn’t one to sit around idle.” We’re also told twice that Faith (Will’s partner) “has always wanted to solve a ‘locked-door mystery.”

Although by no means my favourite Will Trent book, This is Why we Lied was still worth reading, particularly if you’re invested in this series.

If you’d like to start right from the beginning of this great series,

Click here to start with #1 Triptych   

Click here to purchase #12 This is Why We Lied  

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