Lying in Wait: A Novel

The most important thing you need to know about this book is it is NOT a suspense/thriller novel. If you read the dust jacket, you already know who the killer is and who they killed. Though the description and endorsed reviews suggest the question is WHY the victim was dispatched, the reader can easily deduce this information early on in the novel, and it is stated openly about halfway through the book.

There is no mystery here. No wondering. As far as its title, its promise, this book failed to deliver, which is one of the reasons I've rated it three stars.

The other reason I rated it three stars is I found it slow moving, and at times downright dull. More than once I almost stopped reading.

I want you to read this review, and therefore nearly rated it one star (because I know people read those reviews). I want you to know BEFORE you buy what the problems with this book are. But it wouldn't be fair to pull its rating down for that reason, and to be fair, this book has many redeeming qualities.

The characters -- all of them, right down to the minor characters -- are fascinating, three dimensional, and worthy of binge-reading for their sake alone. The writing is exceptional, with each character having a unique voice (the book is written from three perspectives, each in first person, so this can be difficult for a writer to pull off). The psychology of the book was intriguing (though it didn't hold up to the book's promise, either).

The ending hit me hard, and I have mixed feelings about it. I enjoyed it because it was far from what I expected. I didn't enjoy it because it felt rushed, as though the author was tired of writing now and had to come up with something to end the book quickly. The last chapter, however, remains with me, twisting in my gut, disturbing me even now.

This is a disturbing book on many levels, and intriguing. Many readers will likely enjoy it, but I do want to ensure buyers aren't misled by the promise of a "thriller" when there's nothing to wonder about in this book. The story is told in a straightforward (and often sad) way. If you're looking for a suspense novel, move along. This is not the one to keep you up at night.

Liz Nugent’s debut novel, UNRAVELING OLIVER, was originally published in the UK and Ireland in 2014 but made a second splash on this side of the Atlantic in 2017, when it was named a BookExpo Buzz book, among other acclaims. Nugent’s new American fans are lucky; she was already a bestselling author in her native Dublin when UNRAVELING OLIVER released, and now Scout Press is able to publish her other books on an accelerated schedule. Up next is LYING IN WAIT, a multilayered novel about a dysfunctional relationship between a mother and son --- and the dark secret they share.

The identities of the murderers at the heart of LYING IN WAIT are never in doubt. In the opening pages, readers see Judge Andrew Fitzsimmons and his wife, Lydia, killing a young woman, Annie Doyle. Annie seems to have been blackmailing the judge somehow. But how and why? And why would this successful couple, with their beautiful home and picture-perfect family, even have any reason to associate with a “lying tramp” like Annie?

Those motivations soon become clear, but it’s also clear that Lydia, at least, believes Annie’s death to be a nearly perfect crime, even after Andrew has buried the body behind Avalon, their manor home. Surely no one would suspect them --- and there were no witnesses. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that someone else has (literally) uncovered the secret, even if he is initially too alarmed to confront them --- the couple’s teenage son, Laurence.

Over the following months, the relationship between Laurence and Lydia becomes more and more disturbing, as a narrative that rotates between them, between past and present, reveals their motivations and the secrets they try to keep from one another. Also adding her voice to the narrative is Annie’s surviving sister, Karen, a beautiful young woman who at first wants only to believe that her damaged, vulnerable sister is still alive somewhere, but eventually embarks on her own relationship with Laurence, one that will complicate everything.

LYING IN WAIT is one of those novels that keeps readers in a permanent state of imbalance. Just when you think you have things figured out, Nugent throws everything off-kilter again. All of the primary characters --- including the dead woman, Annie --- are complicated and well-rounded, with personal and family histories that result in messy, realistically flawed motivations and defy easy categorization as “villain” or “hero.” Readers who first encountered Nugent’s work only recently will be thrilled with this new-to-us thriller --- and will be thronging for even more of her excellent work to make its way across the pond.

Reviewed by Norah Piehl

IMG_4875My Review of “Lying in Wait” by Liz Nugent Gallery, Threshold, Pocketbook, June 2018

WOW! “Lying in Wait” by Liz Nugent is a captivating, intense, intriguing, twisted, and disturbingly horrifying and sickening , suspenseful novel, which is hard to put down.. Freud would have a field day with these characters. This has a feel of Alfred Hitchcock, and Twilight Zone mixed. The Genres of this novel are Fiction, Mystery, Suspense and Thriller, with a touch of horror.

One of the first sentences that one reads is ” My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.” This is a quote from one of the characters Lydia Fitzsimons,.

The Fitzsimons family is looked upon with great respect. After all, Lidia’s husband is a Judge, and they have a loving son Laurence. They live in a mansion, and to the eye, everything is perfect. No one knows that the Judge lost a tremendous amount of money he invested, when the person who handled the funds, ran with the money. No one realizes how Lidia has been over-protective to their son. From all the stress, Laurence can’t stop eating, and is first dealing with new experiences in life.

The author describes her unstable characters as complicated, complex, and deeply dysfunctional .There are deep and dark secrets that Lidia hold the key to, that could destroy the family. ( and have destroyed others)

Meanwhile, Annie Doyle’s family is looking into their daughter’s disappearance. There seem to be some significant clues. Annie’s sister is obsessed with finding what happened to her.

Lidia is one extremely manipulative woman. She has an answer for anything and justifies everything. Unfortunately, Laurence is starting to unravel some of the secrets. There are a lot of Uh-Oh moments, and tension. I would recommend this page-turning chilling thriller to readers who enjoy thrillers and suspenseful stories. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Unraveling Oliver and was excited to see that Liz Nugent had written another book. I'm an avid reader and though I have had the pleasure to read many, many excellent books, only a few opening sentences have stayed with me year after year. Lying in Wait opens with, “My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.”( rather a memorable opening line, I must say). To say this sentence was intriguing may be an understatement since I was fairly confident that this book would be hard to put down(and indeed it was). I wasn't disappointed and the Fitzsimons(Lydia, Andrew, and Laurence) seem to be a perfect blend of respectability on the outside, however, as is often the case, looks can be deceiving.
Andrew, Lydia's husband quickly falls apart after Annie's murder. Laurence knows more than his parents imagine, and Lydia, ah Lydia is determined to bury this 'unpleasant incident' and resume her everyday life. That may be easier said than done, since the best way I can describe Lydia is creepy with definite mental health and control issues. As the story unfolds, many layers of the characters are exposed, until ultimately, all is revealed. It is a dark and twisty tale and the ending was not at all what I expected.
This was a fast-paced, page flipping read where I just wanted to know what would happen next. Multiple points of view, well-written characters and what a plot. I would recommend Lying in Wait to anyone who enjoys this type of dark, disturbing mystery.
Thank you, Liz Nugent, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for the DRC. I hope to read more books by this author in the future.

What a dark but weirdly lovely story. The twists and turns and different points of character views really made for quite a delightful read! This novel tells the story about a girl's death and the aftermath it brings to two separate families.

I honestly can't say much about this story without giving things away. The characters were very well developed. On one side of the story we have a highly dysfunctional, "rich" family that includes a manipulative mother with a dark past and her sheltered and timid son trying to find his place in the world.

We also are introduced to another type of family. This poor but loving family is torn to pieces when their daughter/sister goes missing. They try their best to move on and live their lives, but the tragedy of their loss seems to have trapped them all in the living hell of not knowing what happened.

The psychological thrill in this novel is a slow burn, but worth the wait! The ending was so satisfying yet so tragic that I was left thinking "Am I okay with this ending? It completely works, but is it justice?".

Lying In Wait is a Summer '18 must read! You will love it! A 5-star read for me! It was just released last week here in the U.S. so get your copy now!

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review!

Wow!! I just finished Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent and I am stunned., truly stunned. This is an amazing read, and you definitely don't want to miss it!!

The first sentence in the book is exquisite "My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it." Great hook! Well-respected judge Andrew Fitzsimmons and his reclusive wife Lydia don't seem the type of people who would murder a young, drug-addicted prostitute - but they did, and then buried her body in the backyard flowerbed of their posh estate. Why were they involved with the girl at all? What precipitated such a heinous action?

What follows is a dark, twisted story as told from three points of view: Lydia, Laurence (only child of Lydia and Andrew), and Karen, sister of the victim who can't stop trying to find out why her sister has gone missing.

Dysfunctional is far too mild a term to use for this family, which is under the thumb of manipulative, unbalanced Lydia. Mommy Dearest on steroids would be more appropriate. An enthralling read throughout, I promise you will DEFINITELY be surprised by the ending! Do yourself a favor and don't let this one pass you by!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

It's 1980 and Karen's sister Annie disappears. Karen never hears from her again while they were really close. She couldn't always rely on Annie, but they had a strong bond. Because of Annie's past the police investigation isn't going anywhere, they don't take her disappearance seriously enough to thoroughly investigate. Karen wants to find out what happened to her sister and she's determined to keep looking for Annie until she knows.

Laurence is an overweight only child. His parents are living in a stately home, but they don't have any money. It's hard to make ends meet and they can only barely manage to keep their house. Laurence's mother Lydia always wanted a big family, but she wasn't able to have more children after Laurence. She's very attached to her son. Her beautiful home and perfect family can't be threatened, she simply won't let that happen...

Lying in Wait is a creepy novel filled with power games, nauseating secrets, guilt and craziness. It's the perfect recipe for a strong, dark and twisted psychological thriller. I read this book in one sitting. It gripped me from the start and I couldn't put it down. It's clear from the beginning that a series of disasters will be set in motion and I was both fascinated and repelled by what happened. Liz Nugent has written an impressive story filled with suspense and awful surprises.

Liz Nugent's writing style is easy to read. I love the contrast between the accessible way she writes and the gruesome things that happen in the story. I was spellbound and felt indignant at the same time. Liz Nugent's writing is like a theatre show, she is the puppet master who is in control of everything and everyone and she knows exactly when she needs to pull which string. That makes her stories extraordinary.

Lying in Wait is an amazing book. It's a story I will remember for a very long time. There's so much goodness in some of the main characters, but there's also great evil. It's a story filled with opposites, scruples and impossible decisions. There are many interesting twists and turns and Liz Nugent managed to surprise me over and over again. The ending is fantastic and unexpected, creative and brilliantly put together. I highly recommend this book. If you like the genre, you don't want to miss this story.

Wow, what a crazy story! The murder is announced in the first sentence: "My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it." The speaker is Lydia, the wife of Andrew, a respected judge in Dublin. She is not exactly a reliable narrator; in fact, she is most likely a psychopath.

But thankfully, there are two other first-person narrators who help flesh out this tale with some sanity: Laurence, Lydia and Andrew's sixteen-year-old son; and Karen, Annie Doyle's sister. Laurence is aware that his parents are lying about their whereabouts on the night the girl went missing--Karen is desperately trying to figure out what has happened to her sister.

I really enjoyed Nugent's writing style in this thriller. Even though the reader knows whodunit right from the start, there are layers to this story that make for compulsive reading--perfect for your summer reading list! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

I was super eager to read this after loving Unravelling Oliver Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent so much. How did it compare in my opinion? This new book from Liz Nugent is good, I really enjoyed it but I did not feel it quite had the wow factor that Unravelling Oliver did, nevertheless it's a really good read!

A well-respected citizen and his wife get themselves way over their heads in a tangled mess of murder. The killing of a troubled young woman who has sunk down in life with a battle with heroin addiction and selling her body to those that will pay to support her habit. How on earth did they get into this situation in the first place? That, dear reader, will be revealed...

'My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.'

The last people who expect to be meeting with a drug-addicted prostitute are a respected judge and his reclusive wife. And they certainly don't plan to kill her and bury her in their exquisite suburban garden.

Yet Andrew and Lydia Fitzsimons find themselves in this unfortunate situation.

While Lydia does all she can to protect their innocent son Laurence and their social standing, her husband begins to falls apart. But Laurence is not as naïve as Lydia thinks. And his obsession with the dead girl's family may be the undoing of his own.

The book is quite dark and has some really good almost sarcastic dark humour through it's veins. Lydia as a character is exceptionally well written and I really disliked her immensely from the start. As the plot unravels and we learn more about Lydia and her past so many things start to make sense as to why she is the woman that she is today. Disturbed, damaged, broken, messed up.

So, there is the body of a very dead young woman in their back garden, able to be seen from the kitchen window, a messy array of planted flowers over the spot where she is buried. Perhaps not the most ideal burial site for someone you have killed. The book really focuses on the characters within it, who they are and what makes them tick and very much on the often dysfunctional interaction between certain characters.

If you like your people broken and messed up you will really love Lying in Wait. For most of the book I was really enjoying it but I hit a bit of a wall about 60-70% into the book where I found I was just a bit bored and very tempted to skim some pages. Thankfully the pace and depth picked back up again and led me to a really satisfying ending to what was a dark, sinister and almost unbelievable story.

My actual rating for the book is 3.5. I did really enjoy it but I did not totally love it and that section that had me bored for a while lost me a bit too much. I would recommend this novel to readers that are drawn in by the synopsis and enjoy this type of read. I am really keen to keep seeing what Liz Nugent pens next as her books show an awful lot of promise. If you have not read Unravelling Oliver I do highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All review opinions are unbiased and entirely my own opinions.

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent was as I anticipated, a good book. With intriguing and sometimes hugely dysfunctional characters, Nugent paints a picture of a domestic mystery with broad strokes and plenty of creepiness. Early on the focus is on the initial crime, and while not a whodunit, because that is revealed quite quickly, this book is truly more of a character study, and the lengths to which some people will go to keep a secret. Lydia was a fascinating character with dark secrets that eventually come out, most hideously in the end, as she smothers her son,(not literally) with motherly attention. Laurence is written as the ever dutiful son, who ultimately wants to find his way, but can't seem to escape his mother's clutches. A substantial read for me, and anticipating what is next from this compelling author. Many thanks to Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Things come apart so easily when they have been held together with lies.”

----Dorothy Allison

Liz Nugent, an Irish author, has once again captivated the readers' hearts and minds with her new dark psychological thriller, Lying in Wait that revolves around a upper-class reputed family of three, where the parents commit a murder of a prostitute and bury her in their large back garden, and the mother of the family would do anything to protect her innocent son, and the son might do anything to make the dead girl's family feel better.

Synopsis:

The last people who expect to be meeting with a drug-addicted prostitute are a respected judge and his reclusive wife. And they certainly don't plan to kill her and bury her in their exquisite suburban garden.

Yet Andrew and Lydia Fitzsimons find themselves in this unfortunate situation.

While Lydia does all she can to protect their innocent son Laurence and their social standing, her husband begins to falls apart.

But Laurence is not as naïve as Lydia thinks. And his obsession with the dead girl's family may be the undoing of his own.

Little did respected Judge Andrew and his wife, Lydia Fitzsimons knew that their degrading financial situation might turn them as murderers when a prostitute dupe them with their money as a result they had to kill the girl, Annie Doyle, and bury her in the back garden of their large, suburban house. But Lydia is a protective mother, who would do anything to keep her son, Lawrence, out of trouble, even if she has to pin the whole crime against her husband, Andrew. And soon after the murder, Andrew begins to lose his conscience and so his health. On the other hand, the naive mamma's boy isn't so naive as his mother thinks, as within few months of the murder, Lawrence begins obsessing with Annie Doyle's death so much, that he would do anything to bring solace to the Doyle family.

Having read Nugent's debut book, Unravelling Oliver, I had high hopes from this new book of hers, and honestly speaking, this book satisfied me beyond my expectations. The book opens with a murder and soon within no time, I was forced to feel hatred towards one of three protagonists from the book, so much hatred, that at times, I felt like throwing the book against the wall, and in the end, I was raging with anger, over the injustice. And surprisingly, despite of my anger, I couldn't look away or turn my head away from the book even for once. The story went into my head and heart like some addictive drug, that even after the end of the story, I was left with the hallucination.

Lydia, Oliver and Karen (Annie's sister) are the three protagonists, and the author has projected them so strikingly with such power that the readers will be forced to let these three main characters get inside their heads and play with it. Lydia is an over-protective mother and a solitary housewife with no social life, and in the beginning, readers will be forced to feel sorry for her situation, but as the author peels away each layer of this multi-dimensional character, the blood of the readers will boil and will make them hate Lydia, even though every time, she claims that whatever she is doing is out of mother's love for her child. Lawrence is a plain character, who must be flawed from this outlook, but from the inside, he is a strong boy, who stands tall and fights bravely with the bullies that he faced because of his weight. This is the one such exceptional character for whom the readers will be forced to feel love and sympathy, even though he keeps fighting till the very end. Karen is a strong, modern woman, whose love for her sister is very real. In short, the characters of this book are psychologically twisted yer very much real, and the author has depicted them flawlessly into the story.

The author's writing as well as prose is eloquent, laced with enough tension to grip the readers right from the very start. The narrative of the book is very much engaging that will keep the readers hooked to the story line. The pacing is really smooth and swift as the story progresses in a free flowing manner hence the readers will find it easy to read the complete book in just one sitting.

Reading the story will make the readers feel like riding high on a never-ending roller coaster ride filled with dark emotions and suspense. The story is quite dark since the author projected a rather dark side of a mother's love that can come undone if you try to smother your child with too much care and compassion. Lawrence and Lydia are exact opposite of one another, yet in the end, they will look very similar. This downward spiral mother's love will not only affect the characters, but will also keep the readers turning the pages of this book till the very end. And I suggest the readers to keep their emotions in check, as this book might even bring out the worst fear and emotions from the readers' hearts.

In a nutshell, this compelling, dark yet evocative thriller is a must read for all.

Summary:Lydia desperately wanted a second child. After having many miscarriages, her only living child was Laurence, now in high school. Lydia and her husband, Andrew, had tried adoption, but were turned down numerous times. Lydia had some peculiarities that made the adoption agencies leery of her ability to parent properly.

Laurence was just one manifestation of Lydia’s peculiarities. Grossly overweight and babied to excess, Laurence was bullied at his new school. His parents were forced to pull him out of private school after his father made some disastrous business decisions. The family now barely kept their very posh, expensive roof over their heads. To say that the whole family dynamic was dysfunctional is an understatement.

In a desperate attempt to make Lydia happy and give her another baby, Andrew goes along with his wife’s plan to get another woman pregnant and pay her for the child. After things went very wrong, he nearly killed the young woman and then Lydia finished her off. They managed to hide their involvement in the murder from the police by burying the victim in their backyard. Laurence puts some clues together and realizes that his father had something to do with the girl’s disappearance, never realizing that his mother was the true force behind everything. Laurence is her only baby and Lydia intends to keep him under her control, no matter what it takes.

Comments: Lying in Wait is psychological suspense at its best. Just when you think the loose ends in the plot are tied up, they unravel and snake into unexpected dark corners. The characters are multi-faceted and aren’t stuffed into caricature molds. I didn’t dare write more in the summary for fear of giving away some luscious surprises. The ending is delightfully creepy.

Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense

Lydia Fitzsimons and her husband get caught up in some deadly business that takes a wrong turn. He’s a judge and she comes from a prestigious family so there’s a lot at stake. The things that happen afterwards are shocking, unpredictable, diabolical and...fascinating.

The opening line of this story sets the tone: “My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.” Obviously, it got my undivided attention from that moment and I never got distracted. It’s delivered through three points of view: Lydia’s, Annie’s sister Karen, and Lydia’s son, Laurence. There aren’t many more details I can share without ruining your reading opportunity but I can tell you that there aren’t any heroes here or many likable characters. However, I couldn’t stop listening because I needed to know more, about these people and whether it would have some acceptable resolution and the motivations surrounding Annie’s murder.

Three narrators were used for this story and I’m so glad I opted for the audio version because all of them delivered stellar performances. I could vividly see Lydia, every facial expression and physical characteristic. When the story concluded, I knew there was no other ending that would have worked but it was dark. This is my second book by the author and she’s now an auto read, including the audio format as real care and attention is being given to who is selected to represent the characters. They made a really good book an exceptional reading experience. Just don’t expect the stories to be sweetness and light. This is the very definition of a psychological thriller.

(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)

That was crazy good! What a twisted web of deep, rich characters that I just couldn’t get enough of (enter devilish laugh). The story goes back and forth throughout history and just when you think someone couldn’t get anymore warped, you read another passage and yep, their life takes another walk down Crazyland.

The novel opens with Lydia claiming her husband Andrew killed Annie but if you read a bit further you get the full details of this story. These three characters’ lives somehow mingle with the lives of a handful of another fascinating individuals making this book a fantastic read. This couple thinks they have everything under control, yet ….. they don’t. The lies just keep coming as their son Laurence lives at home and they all live with their own secrets.

Annie had a twin sister Karen, who went into modeling. Her husband liked the paychecks but didn’t like strangers looking at his wife. When Annie doesn’t show up for her appointments, her family begins to worry and Karen takes matters into her own hands. Annie’s has had some difficulties in the past but nothing like this.

Flashing back, we see Lydia as a child and some of the events that occurred to her and her family as she grew up. There is an aahh moment when I see a pattern emerging in Lydia’s behavior. I cannot read fast enough to see what will occur next in this novel as everything is twisting together as the characters and their lives come together. I begin to feel sorry for Laurence, being her son, but then I realize he’s not so innocent himself.

The story starts getting really intense as I found myself walking around reading this novel, all while I was doing laundry. I couldn’t put this book down! Man, ***** was crazy! Fricking off-the-wall! Aggghhh!

Such a great read, I really needed that. I’m not glad that it’s over as that was a great ride but I’m glad someone saw the light and put a stop to it. Phew!

I listened to Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent last year and really enjoyed her writing. (my review) I leapt at the chance to listen to her next book, Lying in Wait.

Nugent again starts her book off with a line guaranteed to draw the reader in....."My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it." Yup, I was hooked!

1980's Dublin. Lydia Fitzsimons has it all - successful husband, beautiful home and a son she dotes on. There is something missing from her life though - and that one thing is what leads to the opening line. And then her son Laurence discovers that secret....

Lying in Wait is told from three points of view - Lydia, Laurence and Annie's sister Karen. The time frame moves to 2016. The listener is privy to each narrative, knowing what each character doesn't. It makes for a curiously voyeuristic listen. As each player adds something to the narrative, the tension heightens. Nugent's plotting kept me off kilter and I honestly envisioned the ending going in a completely different direction. Nugent completely surprised me with her unexpected ending. I'm not sure I like it, but it is quite fitting.

I really enjoyed having three narrators used to tell Nugent's tale - Caoilfhionn Dunne, David McFetridge and Lesley McGuire. I'm not sure which woman was Lydia or Karen, but both were excellent. The voice for Lydia has an entitled air that perfectly captured her imperious, self assured demeanor. That tone never falters, no matter what she is saying - like that opening line. And for the listener, self assured becomes self deluded as the book progresses. The voice for Karen was deliciously low with an almost growly undertone. The accent is thicker for this character as she is from a different social strata. I really liked that low tone - it drew the listener in. The voice for Laurence is just as well suited. He captures Laurence's innocence and dawning awareness with each new revelation. Each reader was easy to understand and pleasant to listen to. An excellent listen for me - five stars.

I’m still trying to understand what I just read. I don’t understand how a mother can be so evil and corrupt. That’s all I’ll say on that matter. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else

This book is told from multiple pov’s. I thought at first it would make for a confusing read but I was quickly shown that it made sense. I loved being in the head of the characters. It made me understand them better.

The main story centers around Lydia (Laurence’s Mom), Laurence, Karen and Annie. Laurence’s dad has an important role also but the more you read you see how he was easily manipulated. I really liked Laurence. I felt for him. I don’t understand how he survived everything that he was put through.

I loved Karen. She was tenacious. Strong willed. She knew the course she was taking and stuck with it. Regardless of who was mean to her and abusive. At the end I lost a little respect but I know that she lived in a different time and had little to no choice for what she decided.

I can’t say much about Lydia other than I hated her character. I was so angry at times that I put my kindle down just to keep from throwing it. Only to pick it back up because I needed to know what happened next.

Overall this book is a great read. Fast paced, plenty of action, enough suspense and drama to keep you turning the pages. It would have been a 5 Star read if it wasn’t for the ending. It felt rushed and it wasn’t satisfying.

I can’t wait to read more books by Liz Nugent. The ending might’ve been a dud for me but the rest of the book kept me on my toes. She’s a really great writer and that makes me excited for more!

Well this is amazing, a psychological thriller that really delivers and definitely lives up to the buzz and reviews that are generating for this book. It was crazy creepy, sometimes almost made me gasp (I’m not kidding here), this is one heck of a good read.

This book features a true psychopath, the meaning of which is “Psychopathy is a personality disorder which has symptoms expressed over a wide range of settings.Socially, it expresses extensive callous and manipulative self-serving behaviors with no regard for others, . . . is associated with repeated delinquency, crime and violence, but may also present itself in other, maybe even successful social settings” quoting from Wikipedia. This is the perfect description of Lydia, the wife and mom in this story. There are later developments that point to Laurence’s state of mind, but I won’t spoil the plot.

From the blurb for the book you know that this is a dysfunctional family headed by Andrew, a judge in the county. His wife Lydia is a dedicated wife and mother, so dedicated that you will be shocked at all of the secrets she will share with you, decidedly creepy. Most of the story revolves around their only child, Laurence and keeping him at home at all costs. Laurence is a character you will not soon forget, he will go from a chubby, unpopular, socially inept child to a manipulative, domineering adult, crazy people in this book!

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. We are pretty much listening to these characters recount events that happened to them. So we will get Lydia’s expression of a how a crime was committed and then Laurence’s view about how it unfolded for him. Very clever and done so well.

I had never read a book by Liz Nugent but I understand that “Unraveling Oliver” the book she wrote previous to this one is outstanding, I can’t wait to read it. I hope this review encourages you to pick up a copy, you will love it!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.

Lying in Wait was an amazing story. I was engrossed into the drama and the suspense almost immediately. There were very intense moments where I found myself yelling at the main characters because their actions just made me crazy! And when I do that, it’s usually because I’m fully immersed in the storyline. Which I was. But there was something missing that I just can’t explain. This book had absolutely amazing potential. It was unique and un-put-down-able. But the writing style just wasn’t to my taste. I found myself cringing almost all the time because the writing seemed very sarcastic and straight to the point. I wasn’t immediately envisioning this world because the writing lacked emotion and description.

Like I mentioned, the premise of Lying in Wait literally knocked it out of the park for me. The idea behind the story is an amazing one, and I would be intrigued to learn how the author came up with the idea in the first place. One part of the narrative that I really enjoyed was the fact that, as the reader, we knew all of the secrets up front. None of the main characters really hid anything from us. What made the story more exciting is that we got to see each character’s reaction to learning everyone else’s secrets. I considered this a unique storytelling tactic.

Lydia, the mother in the story, is an absolute mess. I never liked her from the beginning, sensing her unwavering control over the people in her life. I found her character really well-developed, and I enjoyed hating her character from the moment she was introduced. Her first line is a showstopper, too. “My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.”
Through this quote, I could envision her tone for the rest of the novel. As for the other characters, I didn’t consider them as well-developed as Lydia. They all fell a bit flat, but it made Lydia the star of Lying in Wait.

In the end, the story was enough for me, so I wound up loving it. But I probably won’t go hunting for any more of Liz Nugent’s novels. Her writing didn’t exactly wow me, but maybe if the story seems just as good as this one I may change my mind. But this thriller may be perfect for you if you don’t want any of the fluff and emotion that I enjoy. And the cover is fun and creepy, too, which is the vibe I got from the book itself. It publishes in a few weeks, so be sure to check it out!

If there were ever a book to capture dark, comedic noir, this would be the one for 2018. This book is incredibly twisted, and yet there was levity and humor despite the darkness of the book. I felt “WTF?!” in the best way when reading this! Liz Nugent really has a talent for writing. I loved how this book was told like the characters repeating a story from some point in time after the events had happened, rather than experiencing it live. That may not sound appealing, but I believe it was that distance from the events happening that allowed for the lightness when recounting incredibly dark stories.

Lydia Fitzsimmons has the perfect life…

Her husband is a successful judge, they live in her beautiful family home, Avalon, and her son Laurence adores her. Avalon isn’t just any home, it is a gorgeous old-money mansion with sprawling grounds and a pile of family secrets. Lydia can’t imagine ever leaving Avalon. She is essentially a recluse, preferring to stay at Avalon as a wife, mother, and homemaker, while her husband flourishes in his career. But one night everything changes.

My husband didn’t mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.

Lydia is forced to do the unthinkable—help her husband cover up a murder. She buries this secret the same way she has buried all of the others—in the safety and security of their family home, Avalon. Lydia and Andrew may be able to hide their secret from outsiders, but what will they do when someone inside the home—someone much closer to it—discovers the truth?

Reflection

There is something so matter-of-fact in the way these characters tell their story. The Fitzsimmons family is one that is easily able to separate emotion from action, with the exception of Andrew. I found Lydia and Laurence to be completely fascinating characters. The way they react to everything from shock, to hurt, to anger, is incredible to behold. They don’t process their emotions the way many of us do. For that reason, Andrew stands in such stark contrast to them. He is someone completely overwhelmed by his emotions, and unable to keep them in check.

We see this same theme play out with other characters—Helen, Dessie, Bridget, Karen, Annie. All of them tend to either be ruled by their emotions, or be surprisingly good at separating them from their actions. This is not to say that those actions aren’t driven by their reaction to the events around them. To the contrary, the characters that seem the least motivated by their emotions are probably the most irrational of the group.

There is a scene early on (that I won’t spoil because it is so wonderful) with Laurence that honestly made me laugh out loud when I read it. Another awesome reviewer, Carrie, said she wasn’t sure at times with this book if she should laugh, cry, or cringe. That is the perfect description of this book! I dare readers to find a dull character among the lot.

The ending of this book is the icing on the “WTF?!” cake for this read! It was crazy, but sort of perfect for the story and the characters. I was so delighted by this book! It was my first by Liz Nugent, but it will certainly not be my last. I’m looking forward to sharing this book with other readers!

Many thanks to Gallery Books and to Liz Nugent for a copy of this book.

This is a great read! I absolutely loved Unraveling Oliver, so Liz Nugent had set a pretty high bar for herself. She aced it again with this book!
Lydia, the matriarch and one of the three views this story is presented from, will absolutely give you the creeps. What an arrogant, self-centered, heartless woman who is capable of murder and will do whatever’s necessary to benefit her family name and her darling son Laurence. And he’s another “Psycho” in the making, it appears. Spoiled, overweight and lazy, dear Laurence can do no wrong. The innocent party is Karen, who’s desperately searching for her estranged sister Annie, a young woman forced from home who never had a chance.
We learn in the first sentence that Annie has been murdered by Lydia’s husband Andrew, a Judge. Lydia makes it clear that the murder is all Annie’s fault. Who else could have precipitated it? The little drug-using prostitute had it coming.
This gives the story an interesting perspective. As the story unfolds, only mom and dad know Annie is dead and buried in the garden. As events unfold, Laurence is soon in on the deception, but is he honest with Karen? No, he begins wooing Karen and bringing her into the dangers that exist between him and his controlling mother.
I make a point not to write anything in my review that may spoil the read for others, but I can carefully say this: you’re gonna love the ending. Not all stories end the way we assume they will. This is one of the few that will prove you wrong in your assumptions. Just read it. Then read Nugent’s other book, Unraveling Oliver. I will definitely be following this author for future books!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for making it available.)

Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Lying in Wait. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Lydia Fitzsimons, her husband Andrew, and son Laurence are living the type of life that is mainly unattainable to most. Under the surface, however, a secret lingers that threatens the carefully crafted facade. When a crime of passion leads to a cover-up, will the involved parties be able to maintain their composure? Will a suspicion of wrongdoing lead Laurence to search for the truth?

I am not a fan of books that give you the crime and the identity of the perpetrator (s) from the outset. The discovery, the suspense, and the surprise of that moment is taken from the reader, which ruins what might have been a good thriller. The writing lacks emphasis and emotion, leading to very flat, two dimensional characters. No character is particularly likable, so I found myself just reading to find out the eventual outcome. I also found it very unrealistic that a policeman would act in such a despicable manner without any recourse taken. Without the suspense of finding out who the perpetrator is, the plot of Lying in Wait is mainly flat and uninteresting. The surprise ending was just not enough to elevate this book, so I would be hesitant to recommend it to other readers.

Lydia Fitzsimmons has an almost perfect life. Mistress of Avalon, the house she grew up in, she has a successful, hand-picked husband, Judge Andrew Fitzsimmons. They have one son, Laurence, the delight of his mother. The Fitzsimmons have their trials. They’ve lost most of their money through the machinations of Andrew’s accountant and golfing buddy.

The family is struggling to keep their impecunious position from the world. Then in a ploy to get their money back, Lydia and Andrew plan to meet Annie Doyle at the beach. She’s a heroin addict and appears to have been blackmailing Andrew. Unexpectedly, as Lydia watches, Andrew strangles her. Then the cover-up begins.

The killer in this story is no mystery. The plot revolves around the three Fitzsimmons and the effect the killing has on their ordered life. Probably the most disturbing relationship in the story is that between Lydia and Laurence, a tangled mother-son alliance that becomes more and more strained as the secret behind Annie’s death threatens the family.

This is a very dark tale. It’s not so much a murder mystery as a psychological description of a deteriorating family, particularly mother and son. The plot is filled with twists keeping you in a state of suspense. The ending is not a happy one. However, it fits the characters and the story.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

What do they say about that bond between Mothers and their Sons? Well, whatever it is that they say…this mommy takes it way too far. Kind of like Norma Bates in Psycho.

The writing or the flow was superb and this was compelling readable even though there were a few things I found lacking in it. I wanted a bigger reveal with what was really going on. It was somewhat anti-climatic. Plus the characters were so glum and the atmosphere and the era was a touch depressing. The ending…I'm not even sure how I felt about that ending. I guess it fits with the story…crazy.

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~MY RATING~
☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B+
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~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
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Plot~ 3.8/5
Main Characters~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 3.8/5
Addictiveness~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 3/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4.3/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 3.8/5
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Book Cover~ It's Okay
Publisher~ Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books Gallery/Scout Press
Setting~ Ireland
Source~ I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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Another outstanding psychological thriller from Liz Nugent! Annie Doyle has been murdered and unlike most murder mysteries, we know upfront who committed the murder and why, making this plot unique. Lydia Fitzsimmons has a seemingly picture-perfect life with a gorgeous mansion and well-respected husband who is a judge. So why do she and her husband get involved with the seedy prostitute Annie Doyle and what leads to her murder? As the story progresses, we are drawn into the lives of several characters, including Lydia, her son Laurence and Karen, Annie's sister. The story centers around Annie's murder and its impact on each of these characters and how they ultimately handle very stressful situations. As the story progresses, more and more very disturbing secrets are revealed right up to the very unexpected conclusion.

Nugent's style of writing is so enjoyable and the alternating narrators worked especially well in this instance. I loved how we were shown different perspectives of the same situation by the different characters, which ultimately revealed very deep character flaws. I can't say that any of these characters were particularly likeable, but some were definitely worse than others. This was not your typical psychological thriller but Nugent's innovative technique worked so well. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys psychological suspense.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had some reservations after Nugent's somewhat disappointing Unraveling Oliver, and after seeing negative reviews about this one's *abrupt* ending. And I needed to get past the first several chapters in which I was distracted by the seemingly immature writing style (perhaps I'm thinking more of teenage Laurence's POV chapters). But it didn't take me long to get drawn into the lives of all these mostly-unlikable characters. And to sympathize with one in particular, Laurence, as I got to know him as he matured.

I am SO glad I stuck it out as the story was much better than her previous book. Several unexpected twists and turns led up to the chilling Hitchcockian conclusion, which for me wasn't abrupt at all -- and despite my preference for another outcome, it was congruent and plausible...and will stick in my mind for days.

Although it doesn't always work for me, in this case I thought the alternating 1st-person POV chapters flowed smoothly, even with the repetition. It was one more device which helped me engage - and hooked me into this dark and creepy tale. And gave a clear picture of the true personification of evil taken to its extreme.

*5-star rating (I rarely give!) for excellent writing and story line.

Well, this one really surprised me! The novel begins with the fact that a woman's husband killed a young girl, but didn't mean it. This is stated by the woman. However, the husband didn't actually kill the girl, but his wife delivered the fatal blow. The wife is controlling and isn't too affected by the death, the husband, on the other hand, is frantic. The son, nearly an adult, is suspicious of his parents and what happened.
As the book progresses, the mother becomes more controlling of her son, Laurence. Laurence tries to break away from his mother, but the secret they keep is keeping them together. When Laurence meets Karen, the sister of the dead girl, he believes his life is going to change for the better.
What Laurence doesn't count on is his mother's inability to let go, which leads to a shocking conclusion.
This is an interesting study in the sick minds of some people. I really enjoyed this novel! I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #LyingInWait #LizNugent

"It is a terrible, terrible thing to live with, this knowledge of a murder-and the evidence right here-but now it is too late for us to do anything. It is five years since I discovered it. Since it can be established that I am the person who paved it and put the birdbath on top, I am now implicated in the cover-up.".....

A murder by someone the police would least suspect. Told from two sides. The family of the dead girl, a girl with a questionable history of drug abuse and possibly prostitution. The other side, a well to do family, consisting of a judge, his wife, and son.

When this young girl is murdered, Lydia, the judges wife, feels she deserved it. Their son, Laurence, slowly pieces together his parents secret. A shocking tale of blind love and loyalty. What happens when the truth unravels before his eyes?

An innocent family torn to shreds. Will there ever be justice for the dead girl, Annie Doyle? I was so engrossed by this tale. Unusual story line, well written. Full of twists and page turning surprises. An ending you’d least expect.

Liz Nugent's writing is dependably marvelous. From the opening line: "My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it." We think we know what sort of person Lydia, wife to murderous husband, is. And we're wrong.

With compelling, propulsive pace, complicated and fascinating characters, tightrope taut tension, and wit so dry one's fingers could get sered from turning the book's pages --- which, by the way, you won't be able to stop doing once you start reading --- Liz Nugent develops a fantastically thrilling read, full of surprise, insight, and action, action, action.

These are 300 pages you'll feel moved by like 100. Great read. Sociopathic mother, cuckolded and immoral husband, emotionally damaged son, families destroyed in various ways from both the inside and out, and all of it in high style.

Liz Nugent is akin to a modern Ross Macdonald --- she has that much voice. High recommend.

Can I confess something to start off with? I have not read any Liz Nugent before this. Before you click the X up in the corner, do know that I bought Unraveling Oliver on Kindle when it first came out. I just never got around to reading it, even after reading tons (and tons and tons) of amazing reviews for it. Believe me now, though; after reading this one, I cannot wait to actually check her debut novel out.

This book completely brought me in. Those first lines…. Nugent does not waste any time making sure the reader is completely enthralled with this story. The writing is superb, the plot line moves smoothly, and there are enough twists and turns to make any psychological thriller contented.

This story is told from three perspectives. First, we have Lydia, the matriarch. We follow her as she deals with the death of Annie Doyle and can of worms that opens. She is a fascinatingly horrid woman with a dark past that she has made sure to keep secret.

Second, we have Laurence, Lydia’s son. We watch him grow from a chubby teen to an adult. He’s trying to figure out the secrets to Annie Doyle’s death and how his family is somehow involved. Watching him figure things out (whether correct or not) was incredibly interesting. Though I loved Lydia (horrible of a person as she may be), I think Laurence’s parts were my favorites to read.

Third, we have Karen, the sister to Annie Doyle. Karen’s story takes brings in a whole new perspective. While Lydia and her family are rich, Annie’s family is poor. Karen shows us what happens to their family after the disappearance of her sister. Karen was a very strong character, though it took me a few chapters of her story to really get into her part.

Nugent does an amazing job about blending in these characters together. The way she has the different story lines cross over and meld into one is an amazing art. It may be premature to say this, having only read one book from her, but if her others are anything similar to this, I know that Nugent is a mastermind of the thriller genre. The mixture of loveable to love-to-hate characters, the multiple plot lines, the pacing — everything about this mixes together form a solid story.

Go buy this. Right now. You will not regret it.

Andrew Fitzsimons was a respected judge while his wife Lydia was a strong and dominant woman, though not one to seek the limelight. She also idolised her son Laurence to the point of obsession. Laurence was their only child and while Lydia had had many miscarriages after his birth, she was still desperate to give him a sibling. The Fitzsimons family lived in a regal old mansion called Avalon; it had been Lydia’s family home and she had never left it, continuing to live there with her father until his death. She and Andrew had been married while her father was still alive and although he had felt uncomfortable living in the family home, Andrew did what his wife wanted – in whatever she wanted…

Karen and Annie were twins; close when younger but Annie had gone off the rails and Karen despaired for her. Their mother and father were poor; they were from the “wrong side of the tracks” in Dublin, Ireland and while their father knew Annie would come to nothing in her life (and didn’t hesitate to tell her), he was a strong supporter of Karen. When Annie went missing, Karen and her ma were devastated…

What would happen when the two families eventually crossed paths? Would the truth finally be known?

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent is a twisted psychological thriller with evil at its helm. There wasn’t one character I took to; as a matter of fact the main characters were horrid! The plot is dark and the further I read the darker it was – and then there was the obsessive relationship between mother and son! A multi-layered thriller filled with mystery and intrigue, Lying in Wait is one I can easily recommend.

What a deliciously dark and evil book this turned out to be. With a killer first line - literally - it drew me in, grabbed hold tight and wouldn't let me go until the final page. And what a ride I had throughout the book.
I always say that I don't have to like the characters in a book to enjoy the story and boy did I dislike the majority here. It was like watching a bad car crash sometimes observing the relationships between them. You know exactly where they are going but are powerless to do anything to stop them. Apart from the end that is, I was struggling to work out how the author would end the book but even I have to say that this disturbed me. And I read this type of book a lot. I can't say much more about it as I don't want to give away spoilers but the level of obsession and manipulation utilised by certain characters came over to be so realistic.
So Annie Doyle has disappeared. Well, we as readers know what happened, that's not the mystery. There's no "who done it" we know that from the off. That's not what the book is about. We then follow several characters, taking alternate chapters as we see what happened next. The Fitzsimons: Lydia - the mother, Laurence - the son. Then we have Annie's family including Karen - Annie's sister. They all take turns narrating events after the fact. As the story progresses the two families intersect and here is when things start to get more interesting and by interesting, I obviously mean twisted. The whole book is an excellent study of the darkest of human behaviour. It's thrilling, it's chilling. Some of the behaviour gave me goosebumps and, I have to admit being incredibly impressed with the level and skill of manipulation employed towards the end.
I haven't yet read "Unravelling Oliver" by this author but, after reading this, I will definitely be adding it to my TBR.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was well and truly hooked from the shocking first line and I could hardly put the book down until the very end.

The story is told in alternate chapters by the main characters of judge's wife Lydia, her son Laurence and the dead girl's sister Karen during the 1980's. Lydia is a character that I won't easily forget, she's manipulative, selfish, dishonest, cruel and a snob. She has no redeeming features except for the obsessive love she has for her one and only son who she utterly smothers and dominates. She controlled him in ways that he didn't know.

Laurence was an interesting young man, as time goes on we see him develop from an obese, immature, shy and awkward adolescent into a handsome, confident and likeable person but he becomes obsessed with knowing what happened to the dead girl and her family.

Right from the beginning we know who killed the young girl but not why. It was chilling reading. As the story develops we gain an understanding of why and the ripples it created around all the other characters lives.

A compelling, well-written story of obsession .... in an interview Liz Nugent said she hoped that readers would feel shocked and exhilarated at the end and would want them to recommend it to all their friends ..... I couldn't agree more!

Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Lying In Wait is a very dark psychological thriller. I'm very sad. I really really wanted to like this book.....good heavens, just look at all the 5 Star ratings!..but, it just wasn't there for me. I found the writing choppy and the plot too drawn out..the characters well ...just strange. I tried, I really did but ..ack!! I kept wanting to skim the pages ahead. I got through it, shaking my head thinking how strange the mother was..and the husband was a whimp...the son who was too codependent!! Anyway I am giving it 3 stars
If you like your characters broken and messed up you will really love Lying in Wait. Don't let my opinion stop you....give it a try! It's dark and twisted and, well just may be your cup of tea!

I particularly enjoyed "Lying in Wait" by Liz Nugent, hooked on the novel from the first few pages. We begin with an older couple on the beach, bickering over a young woman that is supposed to meet with the husband. During a physical fight, he ends up injuring the young woman, with the wife springing into action to finish off the job. The couple murders the young woman, later we discover why, and bury her in the garden in front of their kitchen window. They vow to never discuss of it again, and use their high-school aged son as their alibi. But Lawrence, their son, knows more than he's let on, setting certain wheels in motion that make for a darkly funny, thrilling read that culminates in a depressing, tragic end. It was one of the best books I read in 2018.

Liz Nugent strikes again with a wildly popular suspense that will have you smacking your head in disbelief.

Some of your disbelief will emanate from the author’s method of tossing out event after event like logs upon the fire—the fire that threatens to consume Laurence’s soul. The pace of my reading sped along as I continually wondered, how much worse can things get?! Of course, when a book starts with a dead body and a bitter wife, you know it’s going to be bad.

Don’t expect a mystery here, the first sentence gives out the whodunnit, but enjoy the ride as you wonder when and who will be pinned for the killing of Annie Doyle. The husband who initiated it? The wife who finished it? The son who suspects? Everyone is tied intimately to the body in the garden.

I had hoped for more tension, but every time it ratcheted up Lydia’s calm demeanor cooled things down quickly.
The bitter end of the book, I felt, took things just a step too far. Had it stopped within the previous chapter or so before, then I would have been able to find the ending deliciously wicked, but the final pages took things beyond the pale for me.

How do you rate a book you loved until the very end? I’ll give it 4 stars.

There are very few characters in LYING IN WAIT for one to like but that does not detract from the reader’s enjoyment. A barren, obsessive, sociopathic woman, her somewhat weak willed husband, their son and a teen aged prostitute are at the heart of this precautionary tale of childhood angst and “nature versus nurture”.

Beguiling, wicked, and taut with suspense and paranoia, Liz Nugent delivers mad and darkly original scenes and divergent perspectives as devastating as any I’ve ever read with a startling, pitch-perfect finale.

This was quite an exciting read.

I felt so incredibly sorry for most of our characters - and so absolutely horrified by one in particular. As I got to one particular part, I said to myself that this person was just horrifically evil.

The way that everything ends up is shocking. It made sense, but was still unexpected.

A highly suspenseful thriller. I'd read the author again in a heartbeat!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

This thriller is unlike most because you know who the killer is from the beginning. It was difficult to imagine how this story would unfold as the scenarios were not true to life in my opinion. The son knew more than he was letting on and the sister of the dead girl doesn't seem to ask the right questions. I read it to the end hoping it would pick up, but it didn't and then the ending was equally disappointing.

Liz Nugent you are one crafty lady. *claps hands*

A husband and wife. A son. A murder.

I'm not going to rehash the plot but just know this: I thought this book was brilliant. It was so much fun and I raced through the pages.

I'm a little up in the air on the ending. I can't quite decide if I was satisfied with it or not. I suppose I was satisfied but I just found it really sad. I will say that the ending was definitely not what I was expecting when starting this book so I've got to give Ms. Nugent credit for that.

I will read anything this woman writes and so should you! 5 stars!

My first Liz Nugent book and definitely not my last!

Riveting from the first sentence, I loved the way the story unfolded told by 3 very different, very troubled narrators. The writing style, characterisation, flow plus the truly uneasy feeling and intrigue that the author inspired throughout the book are a testament to her considerable talents.

With twisted relationships, manipulation, truly loathsome, toxic characters and a chilling climax ... what's not to love?

Unreserved 5 stars - a must read !!

This book deals in part with class and criminal justice in ways that are very realistic - the working class members of the family of a murder victim are treated badly by one specific detective who can't be bothered resolving the case, while the victim's sister attempts to piece together what happened to her. The book is in part like an episode of Columbo - we know from the outset who carried out the deed, and we follow the story to a conclusion that is grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented: a phrase in common parlance in the Ireland of that era. And only - by the way - unbelievable in the sense that you would read it in the newspapers and think "I can't believe this happened" - much like a lot of the abuse and scandal that went on in Ireland at the time. A great read.

The book starts with a woman getting murdered and a husband and wife covering up the crime. You don’t know why the man killed her, just that his wife claimed she was stealing their money and shooting it up. They become one another’s alibis, but the police are still suspicious. The teenage son also becomes suspicious as well. The mother is manipulative and has her own personal issues as well. I felt like the book was a bit dragged out. It could have been half the length and would have done a better job of keeping my attention. I was going to give the book two stars, but I enjoyed the twisted ending.

Thanks to Goodreads and Galley for gifting me a ARC of Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent.

I could NOT put this book down, from the first sentence of 'My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it' to the last sentence of 'It is dark outside. I can still hear him crying'. This is a crazy, mommy dearest, story wrapped with murder, mystery and almost...almost a love story put in there.
The ending was cruelly fantastic!
After reading Unraveling Oliver, which was also awesome, Nugent is now on my favorite author list.

Liz Nugent weaves a dark tale told from multiple viewpoints that hits you with a murder on the first page. Yet she infuses it with some good humor that sometimes made me chuckle out loud. I wasn't a big fan of the ending, but, hey, perhaps they all got what they deserved. I just got another of Nugent's books, Unraveling Oliver, and it's keeping me turning those pages too. Good writer!

From the shocking murder at the start to the truly frightening denouement, Nugent fashions a truly twisty pshchological suspense novel. Lydia Fitzsimons gives every appearance of leading the perfect life in her Dublin stately home with her husband, a respected judge, and her beloved son, Laurence. But the lovely home and perfect family conceal some dreadful secrets. In chapters narrated by central characters, Nugent reveals each secret, ramping up the suspense until the final horror. Lydia and Laurence are very memorable characters, lingering long after reading the final page of this novel. If you like Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins, you will enjoy Liz Nugent's new novel. #LyingInWait #NetGalley

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Andrew and Lydia Fitzsimons are a married couple. And 1 night something goes wrong and A girl dies. The story is told by Lydia, Karen (the victim's sister) and Laurence (the couple's son). This was a quick read for me, But the book is a little bit of a slow burn. It takes a minute to get what actually is happening.

LYING IN WAIT is a thriller that captures your attention from the first sentence until the very last page. The story is told from three perspectives: Lydia, the mother; Laurence, Lydia's son; and Karen, the victim's sister. Serving up some twists and turns, the novel is an entertaining, captivating read. I really enjoyed it.

This is for the kindle edition. This is an unusual thriller. We start off first. with the murder and then the years of cover up that follow. The story to me read like an old fashioned thriller. The author Margaret Yorke sprung to mind. I read the previews at the start of the book and am sorry to say that I didn't agree with them.

In a well-paced psychological thriller, Liz Nugent breaks the rules by telling the reader who killed the victim in the beginning of the book. The thrill is then devoted to who will find out, as well as the aftermath of those connected in the web of relationships to the victim, Annie. Given the crime first, the characters are well developed throughout the book creating chasms of judgement verses sympathy for villains as well as the innocent. From the first word the jaw dropping last sentence, the reader will need to make plans to read this, as it will not be put down until finished.

I like dark stories and this one is twisted. This was an excellent ride. I dislike mysteries, but this isn’t one. You know from the first scene who murders and how it happens, and you spend the rest of the book finding out why and what the consequences are. Very, very well done!

Truly amazing psychological thriller with all the five star ingredients. It’s suspenseful, has lively fascinating characters, polished prose and captivating content, both of which keep the reader engaged to the very last syllable. Liz Nugent is a master of the genre.

This book was downright awful. I hated all the characters, the ending sure was wild. It almost felt like a Danielle Steel book at times. But Danielle Steel on Qualludes. I could not wait to finish this book.

A dark Psychological Suspense with one of the most twisted, manipulative, and unlikable characters ever! Complex and completely intriguing. Told in different POV’s this book was hard to put down. With an unexpected ending, this was a winner!

Enjoyed Unraveling Oliver so had to check this one out and glad I did. A page turner to the end. Even though the characters were not particularly "likeable" I was so engrossed in the plot, I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. Kept my interest right to the end. Looking forward to the next book.

Talk about twisted!! Lydia is the ultimate 'Mommy Dearest'. What a despicable woman! This book is well written with fully developed characters and a narrative that never lags. It kept my interest throughout . Deliciously creepy!