The Night She Lied

By: Lucy Dawson

Narrated by: Rachel Atkins

Every family has secrets. Would you kill to keep yours?

It's midnight in the hospital when Jude's phone rings, interrupting her precious 15-minute break. When she sees it's her 70-year-old mother, Margaret, she braces herself for the usual complaints. But her blood runs cold at four words that will change everything ... 'something terrible has happened.'

Margaret has been accused of an unspeakable crime committed 20 years ago. She insists she's not guilty, and begs Jude to help her prove it. But as Jude is drawn into the dark secrets of her family's past, she starts to question whether her mother is really as innocent as she claims to be.

Soon, Jude realises what happened 20 years ago is more entangled with her own life than she could ever have imagined. And as she stands face-to-face with her mother's accuser, she knows the cost of protecting her family will be someone else's life ...

Content warning: Contains some violence and/or strong language.

©2023 Lucy Dawson (P)2023 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'Narrator Rachel Atkins is a gift. Her performance of Dawson's suspenseful psychological thriller will seep into listeners' consciousness, keeping them on the edge of their seats. Atkins's talents are showcased immediately in the opening scene in which the protagonist, Jude, stands in a courtroom, awaiting the jury's decision about her fate. Jude, an emergency room nurse who works on the night shift, is charged with the murder of a new suitor, Rik. He has a disturbing past with her mother, Margaret, a treacherous and miserable woman. Atkins moves the story with exquisite pacing and tone. She captures the characters' vulnerabilities – Jude's vulnerability and naïveté, Rik's trauma and despair, and Margaret's vicious narcissism. The partnership of Atkins and Dawson should be celebrated.' (AudioFile Magazine)

The storyline was amazing. Great read!

Excellent writer! Story was exciting and mysterious. The audio voice was great too! Great thriller

Waaay too long.....

Lucy Dawson is one of my favorite "go-to" authors.

And that was why Lucy Dawson's new release was instantly bumped up to the top of my reading queue.

NO LIES: To say that "THE NIGHT SHE LIED" was a huge disappointment is an understatement.

This 10-hour and 41-minute book could have easily been a 6-hour audiobook.

The book was very, very slow burn with rambling text.

Also, I dislike books showcasing child abuse and the sexual exploitation of children.

At 70%, readers learn that child abuse and the sexual exploitation of children were two major elements of the book's plotline.

The publisher's blurb included a " Warning: Contains violence and graphic content" disclaimer that should have referenced child abuse and the sexual exploitation of children.

Although Rachel Atkins did a superb job with the narration, the book would have benefited from multiple narrators.

UGH!

Not my favorite by Lucy Dawson

I usually love Lucy Dawson's books, but this one missed the mark. I look forward to her books because there's usually a juicy twist. This story didn't have that. Sadly, I didn't like this book. It wasn't gripping. I just wanted to get through it. I kept hoping for some redemption with a great ending, but I was disappointed.