Christina McDonald

4.5 stars.

Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald is a twist-filled domestic mystery.

After being struck by lightning, Eva Hansen awakens in the hospital with few memories of the evening before. Needless to say she is very distraught to learn her mother Kat has been murdered. Even more disconcerting is the discovery that Detective Kent Jackson believes that Eva is involved with her mother's murder. With an overwhelming sense of fear, Kat insists on leaving the hospital to return the secluded show more home she shares with fiancé Laim Sullivan. Unnerved by her wispy, unformed memories that place her at Kat's house the night of the murder, Eva uncovers disquieting information about her mother's past. With the help of her childhood friend, Jacob Quinn, she flies to London where she hopes to find answers. Will the information she unearths lead to the identity of Kat's killer? Or will Eva put herself more solidly in the crosshairs of someone who wants her permanently out of the way?

Eva is in her late twenties and events from her past leave her doubting herself. She is happily engaged to Liam but she is still keeping secrets from him. Although Eva loves Kat, their relationship is rocky due to her mother's emotional distance and her tough love attitude toward her daughter. Eva's inability to trust herself reaches a crisis point as she tries to put the new information about her mom's past into context. And in the midst of searching for answers, Eva cannot shake the eerie sensation that someone is watching.

Kat's past is revealed through chapters which alternate with present day events. Beginning twenty-five years earlier, a chance encounter sets Kat on a shocking path that culminates with tragedy in the present. As Eva pieces together the stunning pieces of her mother's past, will her fragmented memories of the night of Kat's murder snap into place? Is Eva fully prepared for the appalling truth when and if her memories return?

Behind Every Lie is an incredibly riveting mystery with a clever plot and unreliable protagonist. Eva is a sympathetic character who finds unexpected inner strength as she searches for answers about herself, her mom and Kat's murder. The storyline is engaging and despite a few easy to figure out elements, Christina McDonald saves some jaw-dropping revelations for the novel's dramatic and action-packed dénouement. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this engrossing mystery to readers of the genre. show less

It's difficult to believe that this was Christina McDonald's debut adult novel. This book was so well written that it got my attention on page 1 and kept me turning pages until the end. The characters were so well written that I felt like I knew them in real life. Warning -- have tissue close to you because you're going to need it.

Abi is a single mother and she and her daughter Olivia have always been very close. Olivia was a popular and very smart student who was planning to go to college. show more Imagine getting that phone call in the middle of the night from the hospital telling you that your daughter had been badly injured - the daughter that you were sure was asleep down the hall. It only gets worse when Abi talks to the doctors -not only is Olivia brain dead but she is pregnant and the hospital has to keep Olivia on life support until the baby is delivered. When Abi sees the bruises on Olivia's wrists she begins to question the police who believe that this was an accident and not a homicide. As Abi starts questioning her daughter's death, she not only learns more about her daughter and their relationship, she also begins to discover who she is not only as a mother but also as a woman.

Was Olivia pushed? Was it an accident? Did she commit suicide? This wonderfully well written novel will have you asking those questions to the end as you become part of this family mystery. FANTASTIC!!

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. show less

I read “All the Lies We See” by Christina McDonald through #ThrillerBookLoversThePulse, and this group keeps bringing some of my favorite reads. McDonald is one of my top authors. I’ve savored every book of hers they’ve featured, and I was especially excited to be back with Jess Lambert. She made a huge impression on me in book one, and she absolutely shines here.

Thanks to the author, The Pulse, and Intrigue Ink Publishing for providing this #GiftedARC. All opinions are my own.

We show more kick off with Jess in full chaos mode, obviously. She wakes up in some random motel, zero clue how she landed there. Oh, and there’s a viral video of her committing murder. Now she’s on the run.

Jess is the glue holding this wild story together. She’s grieving, stubborn, and running on fumes. I’m obsessed with characters who are already a little broken before the real mess starts, and Jess nails it. You can feel how much she has to lose in every decision she makes, even when those choices aren’t always the best.

Trust issues? This book has them in spades. You can’t even trust what’s right in front of your face. The viral video twist is so good. It plays on that fear that once a narrative is out there, it almost doesn’t matter what the truth is anymore.

McDonald always sneaks in a little paranormal weirdness, and I eat it up. It’s never too much, just enough to make you squirm. I loved that touch here. It gives the story a vibe that sets it apart from your typical police thriller.

I was hooked. You’ll probably guess who set Jess up, but there’s still plenty to chew on.
Bottom line: If you love a fast-paced thriller with a badass female lead and a little chill factor, this one is calling your name. I read the first two books in the series, but I’ve read hundreds of books since then, so I couldn’t remember much. I think this can easily be read as a standalone, but starting with book one gives you a deeper understanding of Jess's backstory and lets you watch her grow through each twist and tragedy. Either way, you’re in for a good time, but if you want the full emotional punch, start from the beginning.

#AllTheLiesWeSee show less

I read “All the Lies We See” by Christina McDonald through #ThrillerBookLoversThePulse, and this group keeps bringing some of my favorite reads. McDonald is one of my top authors. I’ve savored every book of hers they’ve featured, and I was especially excited to be back with Jess Lambert. She made a huge impression on me in book one, and she absolutely shines here.

Thanks to the author, The Pulse, and Intrigue Ink Publishing for providing this #GiftedARC. All opinions are my own.

We show more kick off with Jess in full chaos mode, obviously. She wakes up in some random motel, zero clue how she landed there. Oh, and there’s a viral video of her committing murder. Now she’s on the run.

Jess is the glue holding this wild story together. She’s grieving, stubborn, and running on fumes. I’m obsessed with characters who are already a little broken before the real mess starts, and Jess nails it. You can feel how much she has to lose in every decision she makes, even when those choices aren’t always the best.

Trust issues? This book has them in spades. You can’t even trust what’s right in front of your face. The viral video twist is so good. It plays on that fear that once a narrative is out there, it almost doesn’t matter what the truth is anymore.

McDonald always sneaks in a little paranormal weirdness, and I eat it up. It’s never too much, just enough to make you squirm. I loved that touch here. It gives the story a vibe that sets it apart from your typical police thriller.

I was hooked. You’ll probably guess who set Jess up, but there’s still plenty to chew on.
Bottom line: If you love a fast-paced thriller with a badass female lead and a little chill factor, this one is calling your name. I read the first two books in the series, but I’ve read hundreds of books since then, so I couldn’t remember much. I think this can easily be read as a standalone, but starting with book one gives you a deeper understanding of Jess's backstory and lets you watch her grow through each twist and tragedy. Either way, you’re in for a good time, but if you want the full emotional punch, start from the beginning.

#AllTheLiesWeSee show less