4.5 stars
Talk about dysfunctional families! Everyone in Karin Slaughter’s This Is Why We Lied has secrets, but only one of them is a killer. From the first scream at McAlpine Lodge, the tension never lets up. This locked-room mystery—the 12th book in the Will Trent series—had me hooked from the start.
Will Trent and Sara Linton just wanted a quiet honeymoon. Instead, they stumble upon a murder and a web of lies so tangled it’s hard to know who to trust. Mercy McAlpine, the lodge manager, dies whispering her last words to Will, and every family member and guest quickly becomes a suspect. Mercy’s abusive ex, her ice-cold parents, and even the creepy family friend all have motives. Slaughter makes it impossible to pin down the truth until the final pages.
The story dives deep into some heavy topics—abuse, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect secrets—so brace yourself for disturbing moments. I had to skim past a gruesome autopsy scene. That said, the mystery is engrossing, and Slaughter’s pacing keeps you turning pages.
Will’s personal connection to the case adds emotional depth, and his dynamic with Sara is a grounding force in the chaos. While there are a lot of moving parts, the ending delivers a shocking and satisfying twist.
If you love dark, intense thrillers with complex characters and razor-sharp suspense, this one’s for you. A solid 4.5-star read—I couldn’t put it down!
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.