⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)

Twisty, bold, and dripping with secrets—this one grabbed me and didn’t let go.

Laura Leffler’s Tell Them You Lied is a razor-sharp psychological thriller that brilliantly explores the lies we tell—to others and to ourselves. From the very first page, I was hooked by the chilling atmosphere and haunting questions that spiral through the narrative. The writing is taut, intelligent, and layered, pulling you deeper into a tangled web of memory, guilt, and shifting truths.

The protagonist is complex and vulnerable, and Leffler does a fantastic job peeling back her layers slowly, letting the reader question everything alongside her. There are reveals that made me audibly gasp, and the pacing had just the right balance of slow-burn suspense and jaw-dropping twists.

What sets this novel apart is its emotional depth. It’s not just a thriller—it’s a story about trauma, the unreliability of memory, and the desperate ways we try to protect ourselves from the truth. The ending was satisfying and unexpected, landing just right for the emotional journey that preceded it.

The only reason I held back from a full 5 stars is that one or two threads could have been tightened a touch more in the final act—but that didn’t diminish my overall experience.

If you love smart thrillers with an edge of literary flair and emotional resonance, Tell Them You Lied is one to put on your radar. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever Laura Leffler writes next.