Monday, June 29, 2020

Seven Lies - Elizabeth Kay

Seven Lies is Elizabeth Kay's newly released debut novel. And what a debut it is!

Jane and Marnie have been the best of friends since childhood. They have forged what seems to be an unbreakable bond despite being polar opposites. Jane is the first to change their dynamic by marrying. But when her husband dies, she wants to retreat back to the ways things were. But Marnie's life is moving on as well - she too has found a man. But....Jane doesn't like him very much. When Marnie asks her if she does in fact like him... well, that's the first lie she tells Marnie.

Kay does a fantastic job drawing these two characters. Jane is flat out scary. And obsessive. And she wants Marnie all to herself, to have Marnie need her. Marnie is eminently likeable. It's hard to see what she sees in Jane. But that just tells the reader how good Jane is at, well, at lying. Kay does a fantastic job at drawing the dialogue and interactions between the two. Jane's mother and sister are just as wounded and add to the dysfunctional feeling of Jane's life.

The reader sees everything through Jane's eyes. The book is told almost as a confession, with Jane detailing how things got to where they are. The next six lies are revealed as we come closer and closer the final pages. I didn't see what was coming with the end of her confession. Brilliant! And then to discover an epilogue that was just as unexpected. But perfect!

Disturbing, unsettling and an excellent original debut. No lie. If you like domestic noir and suspense, you need to pick up Seven Lies. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Seven Lies.

6 comments:

Ethan said...

This sounds like such a great debut! I love it when a book can leave me feeling uneasy.

Mystica said...

This sounds very good especially a debut novel. Intriguing and full of suspense as well.

Luanne said...

Ethan, the main character was just soooo unsettling!

Mystica - It was really, really good for a debut!

Carla said...

Sounds interesting indeed. Putting on my read list.
Thanks

Luanne said...

Let me know what you think when you've finished Carla....

Luanne said...