All Her Little Lies, by Becca Day, is a book I’ll be shouting about for (at least) the next 10 years. I won’t stop until the world has read it. It really was that good. I actually won my copy in a Twitter giveaway. I’ve never won a giveaway before, and I cannot tell you how happy I am that my luck changed for this novel. I simply had to write a review to share my thoughts.
All Her Little Lies is a murder mystery and psychological thriller all rolled into one. The reader is thrown straight into the action: the brief prologue alludes to the climax of the novel, before skipping back in time for chapter one which is set on the day of the murder. The novel is fast-paced and action-packed from the start which creates an intense feeling of suspense that only grows as events unfold. I was gripped from the first to the last page, so much so that I finished it within 48 hours of starting; the true sign of a great book.
The book is incredibly well-written and plotted, with a lot of complex characters and themes. Day has perfectly crafted the plot to keep her readers guessing the whole way through. I was constantly trying to work out who the murderer was. My theories and suspects were constantly changing as I read, but still the ending remained unpredictable: I never correctly guessed the murderer! It’s a testament to Day’s craft and skill at both creating an intricate plot, and writing such complex, believable characters that the murderer remained secret until the very last moment. I’ve never read a book which has kept me guessing like All Her Little Lies. It was a true joy to be both surprised and satisfied with the ending when I reached it.
It’s one of those rare books where I genuinely wish I could wipe my memory of it and read it again; to once more experience the excitement of the twists and turns before the final reveal for the first time.
All Her Little Lies is narrated from the viewpoint of several characters, including the victim and the lead police officer. It’s one of the key things which kept me captivated; constantly needing to read “one more chapter” to see how the next character would react to another clue or piece of information coming to light. Multiple narration is one of mye favourite features in fiction books; I feel it produces a much deeper aspect to the storytelling, allowing the reader to get more invested in the characters and plot. The shifting of narrators in All Her Little Lies is handled very well and is an asset to the storytelling, giving insight and building suspense without over-complicating the novel or making it difficult to follow.
This is a rollercoaster of a novel which I honestly think anyone could read and enjoy. It’s fast-paced, filled with twists and turns, and a real puzzler; what’s not to love?
Please do yourself a favour and read this book, you won’t regret it.
Becca Day is a relatively new author, with All Her Little Lies being her second full-length novel. Having enjoyed this book so thoroughly, I’m keen to get my hands on her debut novel, The Girl Beyond the Gate, which has also received glowing reviews. I’ll be keeping my eye on Day’s website and socials, too, so that I stay up-to-date with any new books.
Have you read All Her Little Lies? If so, what were your thoughts? Did you guess the murderer correctly? I’d love to hear in the comments below (but please try not to spoil the ending for other readers!
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