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kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Murder, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Alcohol
amy_08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse and Murder
nicole_zx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Sexual assault
rosietoesies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Murder, Car accident, and Child abuse
Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
shapesandcolours's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Car accident, Child abuse, Stalking, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
koala595's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death
Minor: Suicide
j3sslou_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Bullying, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Violence
reading_with_megan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking
honee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Stalking
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, Car accident, and Alcoholism
chalkletters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Fortunately, Chelsea Pitcher proved not to be an author who’d drop clues too obviously and too early. Early indications did point in one particular direction, which was paid off around the midpoint of the book and, crucially, did not turn out to have given the ending away within five chapters. In addition to whatever similarities This Lie Will Kill You bears to One of Us Is Lying, there are also clearly inspirations from Agatha Christie. The structure is similar to And Then There Were None in that the reader is trying to work out which of the characters summoned to the location is involved in the plot, as well as the truth about all of their pasts.
Instead of (supposedly) rational adults, Chelsea Pitcher’s characters are teenagers, so of course the emotions are turned up to eleven, especially when romance is involved. Adult readers may not be convinced that a brief high school relationship amounts to soulmates meant to be together forever — but what matters is that it’s totally in character for Chelsea Pitcher’s teens to think so. The elegance and beauty of the prose helps to sell it without becoming distracting.
In some ways, the plot is similarly over-the-top and doesn’t entirely hold up to rational scrutiny, but then, high conceit mysteries don’t really play by the same rules as more realistic fare. It’s inherent in the subgenre that people are going to go to an awful lot more trouble than is really credible. As long as it holds together in universe, it’s still enjoyable reading. Where This Lie Will Kill You somewhat steps out of keeping is when it expects the reader to sympathise with the person putting this whole machination together. Given what ends up happening, the ending is just a little too light and hopeful to feel comfortable. (The ending would’ve hit harder if it had engaged with the darkness the way The Tulip Touch does.)
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Death of parent, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
Minor: Blood