Scan barcode
heather626's review against another edition
5.0
I have recently found Louise Douglas and I have devoured three of her books. I love her writing, characters, settings, and so much more.
Annie is married to the chief of police and lives the picture perfect life....as an outsider looking in. All is far from perfect. Annie manages their home and their young daughter while looking after William's ailing mother. Taking place in more recent times, but feeling much like the 1950's for me, this little mining community seems to be left in the past, sheltered from all the comfort of present time. A young woman is found murdered in the moors and the town police are scrambling to find the killer. Meanwhile the local miners are set to strike and chaos is found everywhere. No place is safe to be. But just as Annie's day to day couldn't get any more mundane, here comes Tom fresh from the prison where he served time for murdering a local grandmother. In her heart, she always knew he didn't kill that woman. How could someone she loved be a cold-blooded murderer? As Annie and Tom rekindle a love from their past, the town continues to fall apart. Annie knows her husband suspects something. She knows she is being followed. Hoe can she make this right?
Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas just hits all the feels. So many passages I had to read over and over again; she just nails it! I truly felt for Annie's inner turmoil. I will be recommending Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas to all my book loving friends and will be looking for other works by Louise Douglas. She is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Special thanks to NetGalley, Louise Douglas, and Boldwood Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 stars for me!
#YourBeautifulLies #NetGalley
Annie is married to the chief of police and lives the picture perfect life....as an outsider looking in. All is far from perfect. Annie manages their home and their young daughter while looking after William's ailing mother. Taking place in more recent times, but feeling much like the 1950's for me, this little mining community seems to be left in the past, sheltered from all the comfort of present time. A young woman is found murdered in the moors and the town police are scrambling to find the killer. Meanwhile the local miners are set to strike and chaos is found everywhere. No place is safe to be. But just as Annie's day to day couldn't get any more mundane, here comes Tom fresh from the prison where he served time for murdering a local grandmother. In her heart, she always knew he didn't kill that woman. How could someone she loved be a cold-blooded murderer? As Annie and Tom rekindle a love from their past, the town continues to fall apart. Annie knows her husband suspects something. She knows she is being followed. Hoe can she make this right?
Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas just hits all the feels. So many passages I had to read over and over again; she just nails it! I truly felt for Annie's inner turmoil. I will be recommending Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas to all my book loving friends and will be looking for other works by Louise Douglas. She is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Special thanks to NetGalley, Louise Douglas, and Boldwood Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 stars for me!
#YourBeautifulLies #NetGalley
shelleyann01's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
I would call this book a literary mystery because the writing is so descriptive and beautiful. I especially loved the descriptions of the Annie's home on the edge of the Yorkshire moors. I have read two other books by Louise Douglas and I loved them both...this being my third one is no exception...I am in love with her prose.
The mystery includes an interesting backdrop of the miners strike and includes issues such as class, dementia, murder and police corruption covered...this book had had it all. The tension mounted steadily and it was a great page turner with a surprising twist at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Disclosure:
Thank you NetGalley, Louise Douglas and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#InHerShadow #NetGalley
caseey's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the dark and gloomy atmosphere created by Douglas but it was the only thing I felt the book had to offer. The plot was far from riveting and the main character was very unlikeable - a thing that I don't usually mind at all, as long as they're interesting, but unfortunately this wasn't the case with Annie. Considering the emphasis on secrets/lies in the title and blurb, none of them were particularly juicy... overall this book was a bore and had zero impact on me.
cherrysoda9_9's review against another edition
2.0
I'm really struggling with my rating for this because I was able to finish it, but I have some issues. Actually, I have a bunch of issues.
First off, Annie is a horrible person. I feel zero sympathy for her throughout the entire book. At one point, she decides she is going to leave her husband so she can run away with her old boyfriend/current booty call (who, by the way, she believed was a murderer for a very long time until she just decided that wasn't a thing anymore because Tom is good at sex or something...) and she flat out says - paraphrased - "this will destroy my husband and my daughter, make my mother angry and I'll feel guilty about it for the rest of my life"...BUT DOES IT ANYWAY!
Look, her husband isn't perfect. He's a little cold, a little standoffish...but he's not a bad guy. I felt more sympathy for him even though I'm not sure I was supposed to. Especially when Annie tries to make him the bad guy for spying on her while she was cheating on him.
I felt like the ending was incredibly rushed, and there were so many little plot points that never ended up being addressed. The whole big mystery of what happened to Annie's brother doesn't seem to matter. The actual murderer seemingly has no real motive and comes out of nowhere. I like a good twist but at least have it make sense.
Also, there are no consequences for anyone! The ending has the shock factor but it leaves way too many things unaddressed. Tom is just left bleeding somewhere and Paul gets to walk free I guess because the only person who knows the truth just shot himself.
I have so many issues with this book. Character issues...plot issues...pacing issues. We can't wrap up important plot lines but we can describe every meal Annie cooked in detail!
Why?
I really enjoyed the last Louise Douglas book I read, but this one was disappointing.
First off, Annie is a horrible person. I feel zero sympathy for her throughout the entire book. At one point, she decides she is going to leave her husband so she can run away with her old boyfriend/current booty call (who, by the way, she believed was a murderer for a very long time until she just decided that wasn't a thing anymore because Tom is good at sex or something...) and she flat out says - paraphrased - "this will destroy my husband and my daughter, make my mother angry and I'll feel guilty about it for the rest of my life"...BUT DOES IT ANYWAY!
Look, her husband isn't perfect. He's a little cold, a little standoffish...but he's not a bad guy. I felt more sympathy for him even though I'm not sure I was supposed to. Especially when Annie tries to make him the bad guy for spying on her while she was cheating on him.
I felt like the ending was incredibly rushed, and there were so many little plot points that never ended up being addressed. The whole big mystery of what happened to Annie's brother doesn't seem to matter. The actual murderer seemingly has no real motive and comes out of nowhere. I like a good twist but at least have it make sense.
Also, there are no consequences for anyone! The ending has the shock factor but it leaves way too many things unaddressed. Tom is just left bleeding somewhere and Paul gets to walk free I guess because the only person who knows the truth just shot himself.
I have so many issues with this book. Character issues...plot issues...pacing issues. We can't wrap up important plot lines but we can describe every meal Annie cooked in detail!
Why?
I really enjoyed the last Louise Douglas book I read, but this one was disappointing.
eileen9311's review against another edition
3.0
I found this novel unremarkable, and a bit tiresome. It was too long, for one thing, as the story could have been effectively told in about a hundred fewer pages. However, I tried to abandon, to no avail. Had to know how things worked out, and so I skimmed along, and the ending was certainly unpredictable! However, this sort is not my forte, and probably others might have figured things out. To clarify, sheer length isn’t off-putting. On the contrary, I’m thrilled to find myself immersed in a tome! I just resent unnecessary pages.
uptoolatereading's review
2.0
It’s 1987 and the villagers of a South Yorkshire town are caught up in the middle of miners' strikes. Annie Howarth’s father and brother are amongst those affected but she is preoccupied with the fact that her ex-boyfriend is back in town. Tom Greenaway was the love of Annie’s life until he was convicted of manslaughter and she turned her back on him.
As soon as Tom returns he is determined to make contact with Annie and even rekindle what they once had. However Annie is now a policeman’s wife and she has buried what feelings she ever had for Tom long ago. She made her choice when she married William Howarth and there is no turning back, but maybe she should listen to Tom’s side of the story, maybe he is innocent? Just as Tom is getting through to her another woman is murdered on the moors, who should she trust her policeman husband or convicted ex?
With this book Louise Douglas has deviated from her usual lighter romantic fare, but instead of being dark this story ends up dreary. I usually enjoy being taken back into another time era, but throughout I never really got a real sense of the eighties, I just felt like the author was simply listing as many different pop culture references as she could. The daily minutiae of Annie’s life is mundane and consists of looking after an ungrateful, surly daughter, batty mother in law and an uninterested husband. It's no wonder then that when her ex-love Tom reappears in town it doesn’t take Annie long to let him back into her life. However even when she becomes involved in an illicit affair she isn't any more interesting and the occurrence of a murder on Tom’s return is simply predictable.
Obviously the book’s title refers to secrets and lies, which there are a few but none particularly surprising or shocking. I did not connect with any of the main characters, but kept reading as thought more would be revealed, in particular I thought there would be more to discover about Annie’s daughter’s strange behaviour, but no. I did feel sorry for Annie’s brother, Johnnie, as the poor man was caught up not only in the strike tension but also his sister’s troubles and unfortunately he came out of it worst of all. I was also interested in reading about Annie’s friend Janine as she struggled with new motherhood and a workaholic husband and perhaps hers would have made a more interesting viewpoint to follow the events.
The plotline had potential but I felt it became too bogged down with the mundane, so much so that you forget a murderer is even at large.
As soon as Tom returns he is determined to make contact with Annie and even rekindle what they once had. However Annie is now a policeman’s wife and she has buried what feelings she ever had for Tom long ago. She made her choice when she married William Howarth and there is no turning back, but maybe she should listen to Tom’s side of the story, maybe he is innocent? Just as Tom is getting through to her another woman is murdered on the moors, who should she trust her policeman husband or convicted ex?
With this book Louise Douglas has deviated from her usual lighter romantic fare, but instead of being dark this story ends up dreary. I usually enjoy being taken back into another time era, but throughout I never really got a real sense of the eighties, I just felt like the author was simply listing as many different pop culture references as she could. The daily minutiae of Annie’s life is mundane and consists of looking after an ungrateful, surly daughter, batty mother in law and an uninterested husband. It's no wonder then that when her ex-love Tom reappears in town it doesn’t take Annie long to let him back into her life. However even when she becomes involved in an illicit affair she isn't any more interesting and the occurrence of a murder on Tom’s return is simply predictable.
Obviously the book’s title refers to secrets and lies, which there are a few but none particularly surprising or shocking. I did not connect with any of the main characters, but kept reading as thought more would be revealed, in particular I thought there would be more to discover about Annie’s daughter’s strange behaviour, but no. I did feel sorry for Annie’s brother, Johnnie, as the poor man was caught up not only in the strike tension but also his sister’s troubles and unfortunately he came out of it worst of all. I was also interested in reading about Annie’s friend Janine as she struggled with new motherhood and a workaholic husband and perhaps hers would have made a more interesting viewpoint to follow the events.
The plotline had potential but I felt it became too bogged down with the mundane, so much so that you forget a murderer is even at large.
ljbentley27's review
3.0
Synopsis
Annie Howarth seems to have it all; loving husband, beautiful daughter and a house to be proud of but Annie also has a dirty not so secret past. She was once involved with a man accused of murder. And when her former lover, Tom Greenwood, is released from his 10 year prison sentence, Annie’s past comes back to haunt her.
Review
Firstly, I have to say that this book is extremely well written. Louise Douglas has captured a moment in history – the miner’s strike in Yorkshire during the 1980s with haunting accuracy. Her descriptions of the moors are both evocative and atmospheric. She cleverly toils with the thin line that separates right from wrong. Her overall style cannot be faulted.
However, I found that I could not empathise with her protagonist. Understandably, Annie Howarth was a victim of the actions of those around her; from her lover Tom Greenaway and how his actions led her to be left alone to the oppressive and overbearing nature of her policeman husband who smothered her. And whilst this character was layered with many complexities such as where her loyalties should lie – with her policeman husband during the miner’s riots, with her working class family who were striking or with Tom, the love of her life who she believes was wrongly accused all those years ago – I personally found it difficult to feel any sympathy for her situation.
As I have said, that is not to say that this isn’t a good, intriguing mystery that is written very well it just didn’t enthuse a love of character that I was expecting from Louise Douglas.
Annie Howarth seems to have it all; loving husband, beautiful daughter and a house to be proud of but Annie also has a dirty not so secret past. She was once involved with a man accused of murder. And when her former lover, Tom Greenwood, is released from his 10 year prison sentence, Annie’s past comes back to haunt her.
Review
Firstly, I have to say that this book is extremely well written. Louise Douglas has captured a moment in history – the miner’s strike in Yorkshire during the 1980s with haunting accuracy. Her descriptions of the moors are both evocative and atmospheric. She cleverly toils with the thin line that separates right from wrong. Her overall style cannot be faulted.
However, I found that I could not empathise with her protagonist. Understandably, Annie Howarth was a victim of the actions of those around her; from her lover Tom Greenaway and how his actions led her to be left alone to the oppressive and overbearing nature of her policeman husband who smothered her. And whilst this character was layered with many complexities such as where her loyalties should lie – with her policeman husband during the miner’s riots, with her working class family who were striking or with Tom, the love of her life who she believes was wrongly accused all those years ago – I personally found it difficult to feel any sympathy for her situation.
As I have said, that is not to say that this isn’t a good, intriguing mystery that is written very well it just didn’t enthuse a love of character that I was expecting from Louise Douglas.
More...