A tightly plotted, dazzling thriller, filled with Claire Douglas's trademark suspense. An up-all-night read' LUCY CLARKE A cleverly plotted dark and twisty thriller which will keep you guessing until the end -- ALICE FEENEY

We have said goodbye to August (not quite sure how. It went so fast,) and we say hello to September. Emilia Ward lives quietly in suburban London with her husband and two children.Just an ordinary wife and mother. But also a bestselling crime writer.When she starts writing her tenth Detective Miranda Moody novel, however, life takes a frightening turn: an incident straight out of one of her novels occurs in real life.Just an unsettling coincidence, she thinks. Until it happens again.Then someone she knows dies exactly like a victim in the book she's still writing . . .Emilia is a successful novelist, having just submitted her tenth book in a series. She lives with her daughter, second husband Eliott and son in her five bedroomed house in a London suburb. She is content with her life and proud of her work and family, even though she is hiding a secret about her new novel….. her life starts to unravel after a couple of mysterious happenings, which Emilia comes to realise are recreating events from her books. Creepy and unwanted as these things are, Emilia is more concerned that the conclusion of her new book has the death of her popular main character - meaning the culmination may mean the same for Emilia. Emilia Ward lives in suburban London with her husband, their young son, and a teenager from her first marriage. Emilia is an ordinary mom—and she’s also the bestselling author of the Miranda Moody detective novels. The author beautifully combines the different storylines and delivers a fantastic gripping tale. While experiencing events from Emilia’s perspective, you also enjoy extracts from her book and a police investigation into a serial killer. These different elements make this an interesting read that keeps you curious. When everything is tied up you are left in awe as it all falls into place. This book is clever and creative. The Woman Who Lied is a captivating psychological thriller that had me hooked from the beginning. I just couldn't put the book down, and I kept telling myself 'just one more chapter'. There were twists and turns, and I was, along with Emilia, suspecting everyone!

I did not want this book to end. I read it in bed. On the sofa. In the bus. You get the picture. Did not put it down till it was done. Then felt disappointed with myself as I had gobbled it up and not spread the treat out. Best book by the author' 5* READER REVIEW Emilia Ward is just an ordinary mum living happily in suburban London with her husband and two children – a teenager from her first marriage, a little boy from her second. She also happens to be the bestselling author of the Miranda Moody detective novels.But when Emilia embarks on her tenth novel, life takes a disturbing turn: an incident straight out of the plot of one of her novels occurs in real life. Just an unsettling coincidence, she thinks.Until it happens again – and again.Then someone she knows dies in the same way as a victim in the book she’s currently writing . . .Why is someone doing this?How do they know what she is writing?And what if Emilia and her family are next? The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas – eBook DetailsWhen she starts writing her tenth Detective Miranda Moody novel, however, life takes a frightening turn: an incident straight out of one of her novels occurs in real life. Emilia Ward is happily married to her second husband, Elliot, and is mother to Jasmine and Wilfie. She’s not just a wife and mum though, as she is also the bestselling author of the Miranda Moody detective stories, the 10th of which she has just written. However, after a few unsettling and weird incidents, Emilia realises these occurrences are mirroring events in her book, real life imitating art. Emilia is clearly concerned and is hyper alert, but things totally plummet when a friend dies in exactly the same way as in her new book. What is going on? How is it even possible that someone knows the contents as it’s not yet been published? Are Emilia and her family going to be the next targets?

But when Emilia embarks on her tenth novel, life takes a disturbing turn: an incident straight out of the plot of one of her novels occurs in real life. Just an unsettling coincidence, she thinks. After reading a few of Claire’s books previously, I honestly thought I knew what I was letting myself in for when starting this one. But I was forced to think again…. Life imitates art and the truth keeps sliding just out of reach in this clever, twisting thriller. Claire Douglas knows just how to put both characters and readers through their paces - I was hooked -- LOUISE CANDLISHClaire Douglas's best yet. I loved the literary setting, the simmering tension and the book-within-a-book. It's gripping, atmospheric, and so original -- GILLIAN MCALLISTER THE WOMAN WHO LIED is a gripping read, so cleverly plotted and brimming with tension. The book-within-a-book intrigued me and works beautifully to ratchet up the tension and deepen the mystery. I loved it -- GILLY MACMILLAN Anyone can take part in our book club, at any point in the month. Plus, you can do so from the comfort of your armchair, sofa. You get the picture. However, I really like what Claire Douglas has tried to do here, the premise is clever, but it’s not quite as well executed as her other books in my opinion.

I think the premise of this one was so good and I think it had so much potential to be really great however I think what let it down for me was maybe the pacing, the last twenty five percent felt quite rushed and some of the twists and turns just felt so rushed that it left me feeling as though they must have been an afterthought. The thing that I normally like about Claire Douglas' writing is that its at times antagonising slow filling you with details for it all to come together in the end however the end just didnt deliver in that way for me and left me wanting more. The premise of this novel is really good and the author makes you want to understand the truth behind the escalation of the threat levels. The characterisation especially of Emilia and her family is good with all of them being well fleshed out. There are plenty of plot twists and turns and the author keeps on coming right to the very end with the final one being especially good. I like the extract from the book that are also included in the narrative. Douglas is the queen of the unexpected twist, and this is her best wrongfooting yet' GILLIAN MCALLISTERHowever, it’s slow to get going which is due to it being over detailed and over explained which halts the flow and makes it feel choppy. In all honesty I don’t feel the tension I should have been able to feel either which I think may be due to the increasing over complications and convolutions of the plot. Truly tremendous, cleverly plotted with a deftly drawn cast and an enthralling one-sit read' 5* READER REVIEW This book is another addition to my loved list for 2023. The book is gripping, creative and hugely entertaining from start to end. I cannot find anything I did not enjoy about this story. Why have I not read more of this author’s work? Emilia Ward is just an ordinary mum living happily in suburban London with her husband and two children - a teenager from her first marriage, a little boy from her second. She also happens to be the bestselling author of the Miranda Moody detective novels.