What I liked about it:

- A VERY FOCUSED TAKE ON THE AFTERMATH OF SERIAL BULLYING AND UNDIAGNOSED DEPRESSION.

- THE ILL EFFECTS OF THE NOW VERY COMMON - 'TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS' WERE EXPRESSED WELL.

- ALTERNATES BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

- A GOOD REVENGE STORY!


What I did not like:

- A TAD BIT CONFUSING

- HIGHLY PREDICTABLE

- HAD A RATHER COMMON PREMISE

- IT DEALS WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD BE TRIGGERING LIKE MURDER, PHYSICAL ABUSE AND BULLYING! (DISCRETION IS ADVISED)

- FELT INCOMPLETE ( )

While predictable, it was entertaining. And the character who was the most despicable got what was coming to them. ( )

This review is posted on both my personal account and the account for Crossroads Public Library.

Um. It was kind of a mess? I kept having to go back a few pages to make sure I didn’t read something wrong. And the plot twists were pretty predictable. I will give it one thing - I thought for sure there was going to be a specific twist that led to a happily ever after and it didn’t happen.

But, it was a spooky read, and I mostly enjoyed the book - it was like if R.L. Stine’s Fear Street novels met the CW. ( )

"...They climbed into the car together, three little criminals ducking their heads. Three little lairs, beautiful and terrifying in their capacity for love, their capacity for vengence."

I am conflicted. I got the creepy vibes I wanted from the story and the setting, but I didn’t love the characters or some of the interactions in the story. This Lie Will Kill Youis the perfect light spooky read. The location and the premise really shine with a murder mystery-style scholarship party happening at an old abandoned mansion. It was eerie and added to the plot and helped to create tension. Add in the who-dun-it from the death of a fellow classmate a year prior and the story has a lot of intrigue.

But the characters brought it down for me. I loved the idea of former friends all isolated and trying to survive, but they were pretty one-dimensional with clear roles to play so the story was more predictable. Also Ruby’s first interactions with her love interests were shown via flashback and they were some of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen with my own eyes. I also found the ending of the story to be rushed and unsatisfying. There didn’t really seem to have the payoff for any of the problems. I wanted to like this more than I did, but I still have a fun time reading. I torn through the book in less than a day and it was just so easy to read.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
3.5 Stars

A modern day Clue murder mystery, in This Lie Will Kill You author Chelsea Pitcher takes five teens on a dangerous journey that forces them to examine the truth. Was it Ruby far away from the party but a vital character nonetheless? Was it Gavin with his camera and a red pen? Maybe it was the duo, Parker and his money and his muscle Brett? Or perhaps it was Juniper in the pool? It might have been all of them or none of them, but someone is prepared to find out. Shane Ferrick was the new guy, an outcast, but now he's not here at all. Who killed him?

While the story is not realistic, I mean who really can pull together a murder mansion house at such a young age, it is intriguing. Like the television shows it mirrors, This Lie Will Kill You is a teen drama you can't help but read even if it's a bit cliche. You know what's coming at every turn, the shock factor isn't quite there, but you want to know what happens next anyway. I think it works as a teen novel and while it lacks some of the smarter suspense of adult mysteries, I still enjoyed it and can see younger readers getting caught up in it. Characters Gavin, Juniper, and Brett were like classic teen movie actors for me. Their awkwardness relatable, their stories predictable, and their part in the book vital for making it likable. Ruby and Parker are difficult characters, each so self centered. Parker is obviously the bad guy, and I don't mean the bad boy everyone likes, but truly just a bad guy, he's pinpointed as the evil mastermind early on, which allowed for some surprising twists. The mysterious dinner they are invited to does follow a fun murder dinner style plot and the five play into it perfectly.

The novel starts with a beautiful, literary description of the night that set the events in motion, but from there it becomes quite simple. There are holes in the characters' stories and while the timeline moves forward at the right pacing it doesn't have nearly the suspense and surprise one would expect. My biggest complaint, one I think will be noticed by every reader, was the repetition in this novel. The effect some of the words could've had, like porcelain, felt cheap by the end.

Character driven with an interesting, if not formula, plot, This Lie Will Kill You was a quick, fun escape read for me. I allowed myself to be pulled into the murder mystery evening and enjoyed the various ideas Chelsea Pitcher borrowed from similar movies, television shows, and games. There's a lot going on in this book, from various character connections to the unveiling of the true events of that fateful night, but it lends itself to the story. While predictable, it is still engaging and I think readers who enjoy teen readers and thriller reads will find this one a winner.

ARC provided. ( )