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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
This is Amanda Reynolds’ second book, and the second of hers that I have read.
Following her mother’s death, 26-year-old Jess Tidy has to return to the village she grew up in, a place she hasn’t been to for 10 years, ever since her accusations resulted in her mentor, teacher Mark Winter, serving 3 years in prison. This visit to her childhood home re-opens old wounds that have never properly healed, and finally the truth of what really happened 10 years ago is revealed.
The main timeline covers the 10-day period between Jess being told of her mother’s death and the funeral, with the narrative switching between two characters, Jess herself, and Karen Winter, Mark’s wife. Within her narrative, Karen (and therefore we) learn more about her husband’s side of the story through her illicit reading of his draft book on the events 10 years ago, while we find out more about Jess’s view through extracts of transcriptions of her fortnightly sessions with her supervisor – these sessions being a requirement Jess has to fulfil as part of her role as a new counsellor.
Telling a story through so many threads can be a risky strategy, but for the most part, it pays off, Reynolds’ structure keeping the story moving forwards, the transcripts and book extracts fitting in at the right time.
One of the main issues I had with Reynolds’ first book, Close To You, was that the central character didn’t come across, to me, as a likeable character, so I struggled to care whether she fell or was pushed down the stairs. I now find myself wondering if that was deliberate. I can’t say too much without giving a massive spoiler, all I can say is that I felt myself really warming to one of the main characters, but not the other, but my opinion of one of the characters was completely turned on its head by revelations later in the book. Reynolds has manipulated me! Be careful, dear reader – Reynolds may be Lying To You!
Lying to You kept me hooked; although I love reading, my time can be scarce so I usually aim to read a book every two weeks – I finished Lying to You in three days. I wanted to know what happened, I wanted to know the truth, I wanted the lies to be uncovered.
I did, however, become slightly disappointed towards the end. Reynolds suddenly switches to new voices in the last few pages. For me, this jars – I’ve accustomed to Jess and Karen, and at the last minute, two new narrators appear – Freya, Karen’s daughter, and Jess’s supervisor (who never actually earns themselves a name), and whilst they have been in the book as characters throughout, to suddenly have them as a narrator grates on me. I see why they have been used – as vehicles for crucial elements of the plotline – but it feels shabby compared to the rest of the book. Neither is given a voice distinctive enough in its own right. Much of Freya’s narration feels unnecessary – only a small part, perhaps dealt with through Karen’s narration, is crucial to the story, the rest padding to stretch Freya’s chapter to a length similar to other chapters. The supervisor’s story, on the other hand, is highly significant, but could perhaps have been dealt with in the form of a report, as all their other appearances had been.
That aside, Lying to You remains well worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for letting me have an ARC copy of Lying To You in exchange for an honest review.
Following her mother’s death, 26-year-old Jess Tidy has to return to the village she grew up in, a place she hasn’t been to for 10 years, ever since her accusations resulted in her mentor, teacher Mark Winter, serving 3 years in prison. This visit to her childhood home re-opens old wounds that have never properly healed, and finally the truth of what really happened 10 years ago is revealed.
The main timeline covers the 10-day period between Jess being told of her mother’s death and the funeral, with the narrative switching between two characters, Jess herself, and Karen Winter, Mark’s wife. Within her narrative, Karen (and therefore we) learn more about her husband’s side of the story through her illicit reading of his draft book on the events 10 years ago, while we find out more about Jess’s view through extracts of transcriptions of her fortnightly sessions with her supervisor – these sessions being a requirement Jess has to fulfil as part of her role as a new counsellor.
Telling a story through so many threads can be a risky strategy, but for the most part, it pays off, Reynolds’ structure keeping the story moving forwards, the transcripts and book extracts fitting in at the right time.
One of the main issues I had with Reynolds’ first book, Close To You, was that the central character didn’t come across, to me, as a likeable character, so I struggled to care whether she fell or was pushed down the stairs. I now find myself wondering if that was deliberate. I can’t say too much without giving a massive spoiler, all I can say is that I felt myself really warming to one of the main characters, but not the other, but my opinion of one of the characters was completely turned on its head by revelations later in the book. Reynolds has manipulated me! Be careful, dear reader – Reynolds may be Lying To You!
Lying to You kept me hooked; although I love reading, my time can be scarce so I usually aim to read a book every two weeks – I finished Lying to You in three days. I wanted to know what happened, I wanted to know the truth, I wanted the lies to be uncovered.
I did, however, become slightly disappointed towards the end. Reynolds suddenly switches to new voices in the last few pages. For me, this jars – I’ve accustomed to Jess and Karen, and at the last minute, two new narrators appear – Freya, Karen’s daughter, and Jess’s supervisor (who never actually earns themselves a name), and whilst they have been in the book as characters throughout, to suddenly have them as a narrator grates on me. I see why they have been used – as vehicles for crucial elements of the plotline – but it feels shabby compared to the rest of the book. Neither is given a voice distinctive enough in its own right. Much of Freya’s narration feels unnecessary – only a small part, perhaps dealt with through Karen’s narration, is crucial to the story, the rest padding to stretch Freya’s chapter to a length similar to other chapters. The supervisor’s story, on the other hand, is highly significant, but could perhaps have been dealt with in the form of a report, as all their other appearances had been.
That aside, Lying to You remains well worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for letting me have an ARC copy of Lying To You in exchange for an honest review.
A really interesting and engaging book. Told through the eyes of two very different women who are linked through an allegation and crime committed years before, this is a bleak and atmospheric read. It had me questioning what I was reading, what I thought had happened, and the version of events being built throughout the book.
Amanda Reynolds tells the story incredibly well. The damaged women at it's centre were believable and very real. I felt like I was actually there when Jess returns to the village where she grew up. I could envisage the people, the place and the grey December weather.
Thank you for letting me read this book #NetGalley. I will be recommending it. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to Amanda Reynolds next book.
Amanda Reynolds tells the story incredibly well. The damaged women at it's centre were believable and very real. I felt like I was actually there when Jess returns to the village where she grew up. I could envisage the people, the place and the grey December weather.
Thank you for letting me read this book #NetGalley. I will be recommending it. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to Amanda Reynolds next book.