It’s been far, far too long since I last featured lovely Adele Parks properly on Linda’s Book Bag. I first encountered Adele at a blogger evening two years ago in an event you can read about here. Following that event I reviewed Adele’s The Stranger in My Home here. More recently I was delighted to spend time chatting with Adele at the #DestinationHQ evening which you can read about here, and where I first heard about Lies Lies Lies that I am delighted to review today.

Lies Lies Lies was published by Harper Collins imprint HQ on 5th September 2019 and is available for purchase through the links here.

Lies Lies Lies

Daisy and Simon’s marriage is great, isn’t it?

After years together, the arrival of longed-for daughter Millie sealed everything in place. A happy little family of three.

And so what if Simon drinks a bit too much sometimes – Daisy’s used to it, she knows he’s letting off steam. Until one night at a party things spiral horribly out of control. And that happy little family of three will never be the same again.

In Lies Lies Lies Sunday Times bestseller Adele Parks explores the darkest corners of a relationship in freefall in a mesmerising tale of marriage and secrets.

My Review of Lies Lies Lies

Simon’s increasing reliance on alcohol will have more repercussions than he can ever imagine.

Oh my goodness! What clever storytelling from Adele Parks. There’s a gradual and escalating build up of events around Simon’s alcohol dependency that initially feels very measured and controlled and then just when the reader is lulled into thinking they have the measure of Lies Lies Lies Adele Parks delivers a punch that leaves them reeling and she doesn’t let up. I was ensnared and engrossed throughout.

There’s quite a cast of characters in Lies Lies Lies who all represent a fascinating microcosm of middle class society. I utterly abhorred Simon and felt guilty that I didn’t feel more empathy for his problems and then I fell in love with him and felt guiltier still. Never mind an author making their characters have strong reactions – Adele Parks causes equally profound feelings in her readers too. Unlike Simon, Daisy, however, held my sympathy throughout. I didn’t always agree with her behaviour so that she frustrated me, infuriated me and at times appalled me, but I always wanted her to triumph.

I loved the themes in Lies Lies Lies. Adele Parks understands completely and conveys so convincingly how precarious life can be. Her picture of addictive or controlling behaviour, her illustration of prison life and her exploration of love, obsession and, of course, deceit are all pitch perfect. Lies come in all forms in this novel and the fine line between adhering to the truth with perhaps an occasional white lie, and the gradual insidious and perverting build up of greater untruths feels terrifyingly accurate. So many layers add interest and depth and it’s obvious the author comprehends fully how we can make irrational and even harmful choices in our lives.

Lies Lies Lies is a superb story. Character driven, it compels the reader into a world where they don’t want to be because some of the action is so emotionally disturbing, but that they are unable to leave until they have devoured every word. I thought it was a cracking read.

About Adele Parks

Adele Parks was born in Teesside, North East England. Her first novel, Playing Away, was published in 2000, and since then she’s had seventeen international bestsellers, translated into twenty-six languages. She’s been an ambassador for The Reading Agency and a judge for the Costa Book Awards, and is a keen supporter of The National Literary Trust. Adele has lived in Italy, Botswana and London and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey, with her husband, son and cat.

You can follow Adele on Twitter @adeleparks, find her on Facebook and visit her website for more information.