As the one year anniversary approaches of her mothers suicide, Anna remains deep in her grief. Her mother took her life in the exact spot her father did less than a year prior. Anna focuses on her new baby to help get her through the dark and heavy days of endless questions and confusion as to how her parents could do this to her. One day she receives a piece of mail that changes everything… Her third (and new release), Let Me Lie, probably rivals her debut for me in terms of its twists and turns, cos just when I thought I had it figured out… I was fooled again! The first half of the book was a solid 5 star. I was hanging on every word, loving everything about the characters, perspective changes, pace and flow. I took one star away because a big reveal that happens around the halfway point was a let down. It wasn’t terrible, but it was unrealistic and not nearly as amazing as I had expected after the build up. However, I was so invested in the story by that point that I accepted it and continued on enjoying the rest of the journey. The ending was dramatic, but highly entertaining and twisty. In the final quatrain, the poet writes the verse that should be graved as his epitaph. Besides, the term “grave” means to fix indelibly in the mind. So, the lines he writes should be engraved in his readers’ minds. When they think about the poet, they should visualize him in the way he wants.

Anna Johnson has suffered a terrible loss in the form of her parent’s suicide. First her father, then seven months later her mother meets the same fate in the exact manner as her father’s suicide. Almost two years later Anna still struggles with grief and confusion. On the anniversary of her mother’s death, Anna receives a cryptic message suggesting her mother’s suicide was actually murder. Anna has always had doubts about the death of her parents but this message confirms her suspicions. As Anna digs deeper into the lives of her parents, she uncovers secrets, lies, and begins to question her relationship with her parents and everyone in her life. This horrible reminder had Anna rethinking the possibility that her parents really didn't commit suicide but had been murdered. She never thought her parents would kill themselves and leave her without them.This was a Traveling Sisters group read and I always love hearing the perspectives from my buddies, they always add a fresh take to my perspective. The downside to this book was that there were many instances where this reader would just roll her eyes. There was a lot going on and at times it seemed as if the author threw caution to the wind and overloaded the novel with too many occurrences that stretched one's imagination. Although his chapters were not as wrought with turmoil as Anna's, there was something very likable about his character. Murray is a semi-retired criminal investigator, who ends up looking into their cases. Both Anna and Murray suspect foul play, or are at least willing to entertain the idea. An intense psychological thriller…[that] revels in surprises and twists…outstanding.”—Associated Press

Anna is trying to come to terms with her family’s tragic past. You see, she lost both parents to suicide. Adding to the unbearable pain, it was only within 7 months of each-other. Both having taken their lives in the very same way.

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The police ruled her parents death a suicide but on the anniversary of their death Anna receives an ominous, anonymous note suggesting otherwise. Is it just a hoax, or is it a clue to what really happened to Anna's parents? The title of the poem “Requiem” means an act or token of remembrance. This poem is a remembrancer of the poet that he left behind for his dear readers. Besides, the term also means a mass for the repose of the souls of the dead. So, Stevenson wrote this piece for two purposes. One is to make him memorable in the minds of his readers as a “sailor” or a “hunter” (in their metaphorical sense). Another reason concerns how he wants to be remembered. He does not want to die like a person defeated by death. Rather his wish is to be reminded of as a person who accepted death wholeheartedly.

Again, without spoiling any elements of LET ME LIE, I will say that I loved reading about such a dedicated, hard-working civil servant. So often, police officers can be that stereotypical “damaged detective”, the kind who drinks all the time and can’t sustain a healthy relationship. I love those characters too (hello, Harry Hole!), but it’s so refreshing to every now and then read about a really solid, moral police officer who is simply following a hunch and pursuing justice. To add to the emotional complexity of Murray’s character - and in the process, contribute to the book’s not-so-subtle theme of mental health - Clare has given Murray a complicated home life. Murray is incredibly dedicated to his beloved wife Sarah, who herself struggles with mental illness. Murray cares for her and supports her and loves her unconditionally—a truly endearing (albeit also quite tragic) storyline that offsets the drama and darkness of Anna’s family beautifully. There’s nothing romanticized about Sarah’s illness: readers witness her pain and her inner turmoil, but there’s also something very hopeful about seeing Murray care for his wife so well, and seeing her care for him and support him in return. And when set in contrast with the Johnson family… Murray and Sarah’s story becomes even more heart-tugging.In the following line, he remarks that he laid his body down. He does it with a will, a determination engendering directly from his heart. His soul cannot be defeated. Even if he dies, he will live through the variety of works he created during his lifetime. This poetic “will” displays his unrelenting attitude. I had an immediate connection to this book! The story slowly unfolds through three narrators and they were all brilliant pieces to this well-layered puzzle — Anna, Murray, the detective, and an unknown voice. Anna’s experience with new motherhood was extremely relatable. Viewpoints alternate through Anna, an unknown (ghost?), and a retired detective named Murray. After Anna receives a mysterious card she reaches out to Murray who is now working as a civilian at a desk job for the local police station. She wants her parent's suicide cases reopened because she now believes her parents were murdered... DUN DUN DUN. The relationship between Murray and Sarah is the shining light in Let Me Lie. If the book had been about them....but....

Anna is starting over. She has a new boyfriend and a new baby. New beginnings...unfortunately, the past won’t stay in the past! It was easily one of my favourite books of 2015. Her second book I See You, was also enjoyable and very clever and contemporary – using the interwebz and technology to taunt and stalk. This will be an exciting, twisty thriller to some, but for someone who reads a lot of this genre, I found it to be a bit predictable. There are many twists to be had, and unfortunately, they didn’t work for me. This is a downfall for a reader who loves thrillers and mysteries - I seem to always have my detective hat on and can’t take it off and just enjoy! We’ve got a great lead in Anna Johnson. After a whirlwind romance with the psychologist she started seeing after her parents’ deaths (ethics schmethics) she’s recently become mother to eight week old Ella.With this being said, and ridiculously far-fetched plot points aside, I can't deny it was entertaining. It did keep me engaged; I was particularly drawn to the chapters from Murray's perspective. Are Anna's suspicions correct? Is she and her daughter in danger? Can they find the truth surrounding this tragedy and ultimately can she stop the ghosts and memories that keep chasing her? Then on the anniversary of her mother’s death, she receives an anonymous card in the mail, with a message that is impossible to ignore. This message raises even more questions and Anna is determined to get some answers. But not everyone is happy with Anna digging around in the past, and she could be putting herself and her family in danger. Warning: This novel has several heavy and sensitive topics — suicide, depression, self-harm, alcoholism, domestic abuse.