“Nina can never forgive Maggie for what she did. And she can never let her leave.

They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past.

Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can’t ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price.

But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn’t know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way—even if it kills her.

Because in this house, the truth is more dangerous than lies.”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of What Lies Between Us by John Marrs. What Lies Between Us was published by Thomas & Mercer on 15th May 2020 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats. What Lies Between Us was part of two challenges for me this year – ’12 books in 12 months’ and ’20 books of summer 2022′. Officially I should have reviewed this book before the 20 books deadline which was 1st September 2022 but that was never going to happen. I’ve completely run out of time this year in regards to both reading and reviewing. Rather than not review it on the blog (which would be a huge shame as it’s an absolute corker of a read) I’ve decided to be a rebel and share my 20 books reviews beyond the 1st September deadline 🤫

Maggie and Nina live in the same house together and have done for many years. Nina gets the run of the house, goes out to work at the library, does the weekly shop and the cooking. Whilst Maggie is chained up in the soundproofed attic and only allowed out a couple of times a week for a shared meal together. Because Maggie has done terrible things and Nina wants her to be punished. But truth be told, Nina doesn’t know the half of it. There are a lot more secrets she’s not aware of. Secrets Maggie will do anything to protect…

What Lies Between Us is a seriously twisted and unsettling read which I devoured with utter glee. I had been having a bit of a rough time with my book choices. I struggled with a couple of my previous reads in different ways, but then this absolute beauty made it to the top of the TBR and I was reminded why I love books, why I love to read. I was transported to a house in the suburbs of Northampton where the two residents live a very different life to their neighbours. One chained up in the attic. The other pretending everything is very normal but living on the edge all the time, monitoring her prisoner, making sure she can’t escape and raise the alarm. Ensuring Maggie has nothing to hand which can be fashioned into a weapon or a lockpick. The tension was palpable and I was swept away into the lives of these two women. Both characters are so beautifully drawn that they and their situation felt real to me. I loved the ever-present threat hanging over the entire book. The tension the author has created is done so very well.

The story is told from both Maggie and Nina’s points of view. We hear from the women in the present day and with flashbacks to twenty-five years earlier. These flashbacks slowly build up a shocking picture for the reader. As each layer was stripped away I found myself completely captivated by the story, desperate to know what was going to happen next, biting my nails down to the quick. It was uncomfortable but I just couldn’t look away!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. What Lies Between Us is such a captivating read full to the brim with brilliantly written suspense. I was completely absorbed in the story, I went through a myriad of feelings towards the characters at different stages of the novel and I didn’t want to be separated from this book for a single second. I’ve read a few of this author’s books now and they’ve all been fantastic but this one is my favourite, without a doubt. The twists don’t really stop coming at any point, there’s always more to discover about these women and I was completely bewitched by the characters and how utterly flawed they are. I thoroughly enjoyed What Lies Between Us and would recommend to all psychological thriller/suspense fans. Highly recommended.

What Lies Between Us by John Marrs was published in the UK by Thomas & Mercer on 15th May 2020 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | Foyles | Book Depository | Book Depository | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop |

John Marrs is the author of #1 Best Sellers The One, The Good Samaritan, When You Disappeared, The Vacation, Her Last Move, The Passengers, The Minders and What Lies Between Us. Keep It In The Family and The Marriage Act are released soon.
What Lies won the International Thriller Writers’ Best Paperback of 2021 award.
The One has been translated into 30 different languages and is to be turned into an eight-part Netflix series starting in autumn 2020.

After working as a journalist for 25-years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time writer.