Name: What Lies Between Us
ISBN: 9781542017022

John Marrs

Nina can never forgive Maggie for what she did. And she can never let her leave. They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past. Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can't ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price. But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn't know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way--even if it kills her. Because in this house, the truth is more dangerous than lies.

What Lies Between Us

Umm this book kind of freaked me out. Like it was A LOT. I honestly don’t think I enjoyed it. I think it was attempting to showcase dark sides of normal people, but honestly it was just weird. I didn’t find any of the characters realistic or believable.

Abby Dunlap

It was a page-turner, yes, but it also kind of dragged at the same time. Reading this book made me feel anxious when I was about 80% in. There are plot holes, obviously—because wdym Maggie was able to dig a grave and bury her husband's body in just a matter of hours by herself? Wdym nobody looked for Alistair’s whereabouts when he suddenly disappeared? He had a job, so surely someone would have noticed

And Dylan? His adoptive parents knew where Maggie lived, so…

Other plot holes are more forgivable, so I'll take that.

Other than those things, I can say that somehow, it’s still an enjoyable read. By the way, thank God Nina is now the one in chains—at least justice was served.

Kath

3.8 ⭐️

It was a page-turner, yes, but it also kind of dragged at the same time. Reading this book made me feel anxious when I was about 80% in. There are plot holes, obviously—because wdym Maggie was able to dig a grave and bury her husband's body in just a matter of hours by herself? Wdym nobody looked for Alistair’s whereabouts when he suddenly disappeared? He had a job, so surely someone would have noticed

And Dylan? His adoptive parents knew where Maggie lived, so…

Other plot holes are more forgivable, so I'll take that.

Other than those things, I can say that somehow, it’s still an enjoyable read. By the way, thank God Nina is now the one in chains—at least justice was served.

Really wanted to like this book but I was sadly disappointed. The book started off strong and pulled me in but it ended up being mostly just predictable and disturbing instead of thrilling and mysterious. 

ness

I was on edge reading this! it made me so nervous but i was so intrigued i couldn’t stop reading it

Lucy Williams

I was on edge reading this! it made me so nervous but i was so intrigued i couldn’t stop reading it



Lola

** spoiler alert **
           I was all over the place with this story, who's side to be on? 

Although I had quiet suspicions that maybe something had occurred between Nina and her father, I still don't think I saw his "disappearance" coming, and despite Nina's increasing disillusionment I did not see the incoming rage that led to the ending of this book. Thoroughly enjoyed this read.

Shivam

5-6

Painfully predictable but decent conclusion.

Audrey

Ximena Calvo

Valerie Poncelet

I read this one as May’s pick for book club. I started this one on a high, working through it fast, but then I petered out taking almost the entirety of the month to complete. 

The novel features Nina, the daughter, and Maggie, the mother. The two live together, and hate each other, in perfect disharmony. The novel is always a back of forth of who is and is not telling the truth, who has the most trauma, and who is only doing what’s right. They are both withholding incredible secrets, and the novel ends every chapter with a cliffhanger of a reveal. 

At first, that was what dragged me in so hard, but I feel like over time, it honestly kind of felt like someone throwing every single idea they had ever thought of into a single novel. Every twist, betrayal, misdirect, red herring, and deception ever created under gods eye is used in this one. It just started to trip me up. I also feel as if some serious condensing might actually have amped up the pressure and pacing an incredible amount. The ending is stressful and seriously packed, but it does feel tacked onto what is probably 150 pages too long. 

I’m not sure how else to feel, because neither main character is right or “good” by any means. Nor is there any kind of winner, truly. 

C. J. Daley 

I read this one as May’s pick for book club. I started this one on a high, working through it fast, but then I petered out taking almost the entirety of the month to complete. 

The novel features Nina, the daughter, and Maggie, the mother. The two live together, and hate each other, in perfect disharmony. The novel is always a back of forth of who is and is not telling the truth, who has the most trauma, and who is only doing what’s right. They are both withholding incredible secrets, and the novel ends every chapter with a cliffhanger of a reveal. 

At first, that was what dragged me in so hard, but I feel like over time, it honestly kind of felt like someone throwing every single idea they had ever thought of into a single novel. Every twist, betrayal, misdirect, red herring, and deception ever created under gods eye is used in this one. It just started to trip me up. I also feel as if some serious condensing might actually have amped up the pressure and pacing an incredible amount. The ending is stressful and seriously packed, but it does feel tacked onto what is probably 150 pages too long. 

I’m not sure how else to feel, because neither main character is right or “good” by any means. Nor is there any kind of winner, truly. 

Personally a 3/5*. 

Valeria 

Wild. Will probably be one of my top 5 books this year. 

Kaytlynn Friesen

Vanessa Arenas

daisy

there's no need to tell the reason as why john marrs is one of my favorite author, this book proves it. this one (like his other books) is so intense and full of twist but personally, there a hole in the twist that doesnt make any sense to me. overall i really like this one

a lot of trigger warning as well (pedophilia and child molestion, drug abuse, murder, abducting, mental illness, etc)

Ruth Parker 

John Marrs is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I read three of his books last year and could not put them down, easily 5 star reads. And he’s done it again!
This is very different to two books I’ve read of his previously (The One and The Passengers) as those dealt with topics you’d likely find at the centre of a Black Mirror episode. Instead this was a twisty turny thriller with domestic, mystery and psychological elements and I loved it. This is more similar to The Good Samaritan in topic and in thrills. He writes amazing and believable characters that you have no idea how you should really feel about them. He’s had me feeling sorry for a woman locking up a family member, a man who murders his dates, a woman who ‘mercy’ kills depressed people who call her for help and a man who claimed innocence while orchestrating an elaborate plan to overthrow technology developments. This guy is a winner and I won’t hear a bad word said about his books, I won’t! 
John Marrs has a talent and I will never say no to one of his books.
Thank you to Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book - much appreciated and much loved!

Caitlin Miller 

Juliana Callahan

This book is a freaking mind fuck and I'm still shook. This book doesn't give you a second to breathe, you're constantly tossed from one range of emotions to another. Each of our narrators was sympathetic yet revolting in their own way, although you do come to understand the decisions of one of them at the end of the book. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book as it is currently my favorite thriller of 2020.

Kaynath Makin 

Lori Keenom

This book was crazy good. Shows you what hurt people will do to one another. The mother thought she was protecting her daughter and the daughter was just wanting her mother to hurt. It was pretty messed up.

 Bruna Acioly Leão

I loved this!

I mean it was f*d up but it was great. Great on audio as well.

(view spoiler)[ I mean, listen, what if Nina was just trying to keep everyone safe from coronavirus.. (hide spoiler)]