Never Lie by Freida McFadden

Rating: ★★★★☆

Dates Read: 2/18/23 - 2/18/23

    Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are on the hunt for their dream house, leading them to a remote manor that was once owned by the enigmatic psychiatrist, Dr. Adrienne Hale. Driven by curiosity, they explore the property, only to find themselves stranded by a fierce winter storm. With no way to escape until the blizzard subsides, they are forced to confront the mysteries that shroud the estate and the disappearance of Dr. Hale, who vanished without a trace four years earlier.

    Tricia stumbles upon a secret room, housing cassette tapes of Dr. Hale's patient interviews. As she listens, the shocking truth of Dr. Hale's disappearance unfolds. Each tape brings new revelations, gradually exposing her web of lies. But it's the final cassette that reveals the horrifying truth in its entirety.

    I had mixed feelings about certain aspects of the story. Tricia's initial distress and fear over the house they were snowed in seemed contradictory to her later motives. It makes sense from the perspective that this is a thriller and you don't want to figure it out too early, but it was almost too much.

    The twist didn't occur to me until later, although it seems obvious now. The ending was unexpected but fitting. My feelings about the book were mixed. It wasn't my favorite, but I didn't hate it either. I am a big fan of the author though, so I will keep reading her books.