Review: Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent

Title: Lying In Wait 

Author:  Liz Nugent 
Publisher: Gallery Scout Press 

Publishing Date:  June 12th, 2018

Pages: 320
Genre: Adult Domestic Noir/Psychological Thriller

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.
On the surface, Lydia Fitzsimons has the perfect life—wife of a respected, successful judge, mother to a beloved son, mistress of a beautiful house in Dublin. That beautiful house, however, holds a secret. And when Lydia’s son, Laurence, discovers its secret, wheels are set in motion that lead to an increasingly claustrophobic and devastatingly dark climax.

I was very excited for this read. I found it on audible and added it to my TBR right away. The book sounds creepy and dark. I was so very excited to find yet another very dark read. I loved the setting, the writing, the darkness. The characters were hard to like.... but I really think it was meant to be this way. It was an easy read and didn't take too long to get through.

Lydia has some dark secrets in her past. Secrets that really could ruin the relationship she has with her son,  which is already on shaky ground. The only thing Lydia wants in her life is for her son to stay close to her. She needs him in her life and would do anything for this reality.

The one secret that could change everything is what really happened the night her husband killed Annie Doyle.  So many secrets surround that one night. 

Laurence is confused on what really happened the night Annie Doyle went missing. Her body has not been found but he knows his father had something to do with this. He doesn't know what but he feels the need to understand. He starts to uncover lie after lie. As he ages, the truth comes out and he is doesn't know what to do with the lies or the truth. One thing he does know is that when he meets Annie Doyle's sister, everything changes. 

This book was good. The creepy dark vibe was for sure there.  The story was told in dual timelines until the past was revealed, then it became the present. The entire story was just so dark and as the pieces came together I started to realize how unstable some of the characters were. There wasn't a bunch of surprises per say in this book, more confirmations on all the crazy. There is some deep unhealthy relationship in this book for sure. 

The characters were hard to get on board with because they all came with their sort of crazy in one way or the other. I was able to connect somewhat to Laurence and I really loved Karen, Annies sister. Lydia was annoying to me from the beginning. I felt her dark and her crazy from the very first page. 

Laurence, I felt for. He was caught in the middle of a web of lies that he didn't know what to do with. He wanted to untangle the web but had no idea how without hurting his mother. He made some bad decisions and couldn't see the truth...even as clear as it was to me. I really was rooting for him. 

Karen was a sweetheart. She had some issues. She had low self-worth and no confidence but she was able to find a way to thrive. It was hard after Annie went missing. She found balance with her focus on work and her focus to find the truth about Annie. I liked her strength and her will to survive. She wasn't going to give up and I truly loved that about her. She truly was focal for me. 

Lydia was just nuts. In my eyes, she was evil and conniving and so unbalanced. I enjoyed reading about her crazy and living her crazy... I did not like her from the very beginning. 

If I had to give the characters a place in the book, Lydia the villain, Laurance the victim, and Karen the heroine. Although I am not sure we can label anyone is this story. 

The pacing was good, the writing was amazing, the characters were a love-hate relationship, the story was dark. My only complaint is that I wasn't surprised or in shock at any time in this book. The secrets never really felt like secrets, and there wasn't any real suspense or thrillers. It was a good read but was missing just a little something for me. I will read more from this author. 

A well-written book that I really enjoyed. 

Liz Nugent worked as a stage manager in theatres in Ireland and toured internationally before writing extensively for radio and television drama.

Unravelling Oliver and Lying in Wait have both been number 1 bestselling and award-winning novels.
In October 2017, Liz won the Irish Tatler Woman of the Year Award in Literature.

Skin Deep will be published in Ireland and the UK in April 2018.