This is a great example of domestic noir and Shari Lapena is an expert in both pace and the placing of clues and misdirections. Few people in this story are uniformly bad and the punishment suffered by everyone involved is intense.” Where this fast-paced thriller falls apart is in Lapena’s portrayal of Avery. Although she exhibits the inattention and impulsiveness of an untreated child with ADHD, Avery is also capable of things that seem too complex for a nine-year-old with this particular neurobehavioral condition.

Her dad William is hardly a Father or Husband of the Year candidate, but is he guilty of doing harm to his daughter?On the other hand, the characters were dead on perfect. Each more unlikeable than the last, the best was most certainly saved until the end. I don’t want to say too much, but with a manipulative, evil child at the center of the plot, plenty of fun was sure to be had. What was even more enjoyable, however, was the dealing out of punishments for each of the character’s transgressions. One by one, they each most certainly got exactly what they deserved. The suspense here is real; Lapena does a great job of exposing layers of domestic dishonesty and betrayal one conversation at a time.” It affected me personally as my son developed behavioural problems at nine and was diagnosed with ADHD. I could sympathize with William and Erin Wooler with their struggles in trying to handle a child who is neurodiverse. It isn’t easy and puts a strain on marriage(s). An anonymous caller tells the police that she saw Avery get into Ryan Blanchard’s car at 4:30 the afternoon she vanished.

I seem to be held captive by how neighbours’ lives intersect, how they witness much of what goes on yet feel the need to keep a distance out of courtesy. Lapena seems to have honed in on my obsession and splits open the Stanhope neighbourhood to reveal that it’s no different than any other suburban neighbourhood - there are secrets on every street. It’s a clever twist – I was desperate for the pair to pin the bullying William down on his lies. But the truth proves elusive as they dig into the community, with titbits from neighbours and anonymous phone calls sending them in all sorts of directions. The ending is a little far-fetched for me, but it was a thrilling ride.Avery wasn’t dead. She was hiding down the street at Marion’s house after running away. She wanted her dad to sweat it out a bit and get publically blamed for her disappearance. Marion was the one who called in the tip about Avery getting in Ryan’s car, but Avery doesn’t know that. A new thriller that will give you serious Agatha Christie vibes . . . if you're one of the many people who counts [ And Then There Were None] among their favorite books, you will love An Unwanted Guest. . . . A deftly crafted and expertly paced thriller that will keep readers guessing (and terrified) until the very end." Ryan swears he didn’t see Avery that day. He had a prior legal issue involving drugs that required him to do community service. And what an end it was. It's quite coy, winking at the reader and implying a certain conclusion. Usually I don't mind using my own imagination to fill in the blanks, but in this case, I wanted that certainty. I wish there had been one more chapter to spell it all out so I could get the satisfaction of seeing the villain get what they deserve. But that's a pretty small quibble overall.

EVERYONE HERE IS LYING is a Shari Lapena signature read: a taut, clever, chilling ride of manipulation and family secrets, with a terrifying question at its core—what if you can't believe the very people you love the most? Lapena masterfully builds a chain of suspense through the unsuspecting neighbors of Connaught Street, and no family is spared. Prepare to be consumed!” Lucy Campbell’s debut, Lowbridge (Ultimo Press), is more standard thriller fare, although none the worse for it. Moving between 1987, when 17-year-old Tess goes missing from her sleepy Australian town, and 2018, when her mother, Katherine, becomes obsessed with what happened to her, it is intriguing and compelling. A smart, unguessable mystery set among a cast of satisfyingly flawed characters. Shari Lapena is an auto-buy for me - I always know I'll be in for a treat!” Shari is a very gifted storyteller, and a most entertaining one. The pace never flags, the twists are fiendishly clever and the writing is as perfect as can be.”David Grann discusses the extensive research process for his latest book, The Wager (Doubleday), with Slate. Characteristically addictive and propulsive, Shari Lapena is the queen of the “just one more chapter” read. A chilling exploration of the worst-case repercussions and extensive fallout of a brief affair."