Hey, everyone. Lately, I’ve been on a spree of reading psychological thrillers. The latest is J. T. Ellison’s Her Dark Lies.
Blurb
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…
My Review
Artist Claire Hunter is about to marry wealthy Jack Compton at his family’s private villa on secluded Isle Isola. A few days before they leave for Italy, someone breaks into their home. Who and why? And who killed the intruder—Claire or one of the Compton bodyguards? And why is Jack insistent on it being the latter.
Things go from bad to worse. Upon arriving on the island, restoration workers discover a woman’s bones. A severe storm alters the wedding plans. There is a security breach. Someone ruins Claire’s wedding dress. That’s not the worst of it. Murder is afoul. And the big question—is Jack’s first wife still alive?
I’ve read J. T. Ellison’s books before, but this one is probably my favorite. There are enough plot twists to keep the story interesting. It’s told from multiple points of view. While I guessed the killer’s identity, I didn’t figure out the accomplice. The author kept me guessing until near the end.
I would give this book five stars if not for the last couple of chapters. The events are a little murky and even after reading them a second time, I’m still not sure. I like things nice and neat, and this book kept me wondering.
Four stars.
Joan Hall 
Excellent review, Joan. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, John!
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😊
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This sounds like a good mystery, Joan even with the murky characters. Good review:)
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It was, Denise. Kept me turning the pages.
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Great review, Joan. It sounds like an interesting read. I enjoy complexity in a story… 😊
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It was interesting and yes, complex
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What an interesting review, Joan. I am like you in that I like the book to end with a complete wrap-up and if it’s still murky after two reads, I’d say the author either left it that way on purpose, or it needed a little tweaking. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book! Happy Tuesday!
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I think she certainly did it on purpose. I’m still scratching my head, but she succeeded in leaving the reader wondering about a few things.
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Sounds like a tale full of tension and suspense.
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It was that, Craig.
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Great review. I had same feel about the ending!!
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I’m still perplexed!
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Good review! I’m actually okay with ambiguous endings because the book sticks with me longer as I decide on my own what happened.:-)
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This one will certainly leave you wondering, Priscilla. (And I’m chuckling a bit because I just published a short story with an open ending..) 🙂
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I’ve been eying this one up for a while, and I like J. T. Ellison. Even with that murky ending, I’ll likely give it a try. I just need to find room on my TBR!
Great review, Joan!
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I still think you’ll like this one, Mae. It’s a page-turner. And I know about that TBR list!
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Like you, Joan, I too prefer things nice and neat at the end. Great review and intriguing cover and blurb. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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It’s still a great book. Just left me wondering about some things. But thinking back, the author did a great job at letting the author’s imagination fly.
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I like things nice and neat too, Joan. Thanks for the review. The cover definitely peeks my interest.
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It’s a great read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers and psychological fiction. Thanks for stopping by, Jill.
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