Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon

A special thank you to the author, Hannah Mary McKinnon, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

First comes love. Then comes murder.

Lucas Forester didn't hate his wife. Michelle was brilliant, sophisticated and beautiful. Sure, she had extravagant spending habits and that petty attitude, a total disregard for anyone below her status. But she also had a lot to offer. Most notably, wealth that only the one percent could comprehend.

For years, Lucas had been honing a flawless plan to inherit Michelle’s fortune. Unfortunately, it involved taking a hit out on her.

Every track was covered, no trace left behind, and now Lucas plays the grieving husband so well he deserves an award. But when a shocking photo and cryptic note show up on his doorstep, Lucas goes from hunter to prey. 

Someone is onto him. And they’re closing in.

Written from the perspective of Lucas Forester—a compelling and dynamic character that readers won't know whether to revere or abhore—Never Coming Home is deftly plotted and deliciously deceitful. Told with McKinnon's signature wit, this novel is both sinister and humorous. So much so that you may never look at your spouse the same way again. 

Never Coming Home is a slow and suspenseful burn that absolutely explodes at the end. Hannah is the queen of shocking finales and this is no exception.  

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HANNAH MARY MCKINNON was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland, and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favour of writing.

McKinnon now lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons.

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Q & A with Hannah Mary McKinnon*

GWR: Describe Never Coming Home in 3 words.

HMM: Twisted, surprising, funny.

GWR: What would be your ideal writing/reading experience (when, where, what, how)? How does this differ from reality?

HMM: I’d love for me to think about my books and have those thoughts appear on the page fully formed—I’d save so much time. Alas, no such luck. Like any job, writing is hard at times, but I get to disappear into the worlds I create and spend time with my characters there. If that isn’t close to the definition of a magical career, I’m not sure what is.

GWR: How did inspiration strike for Never Coming Home? 

HMM: Instead of a news article or a radio segment, which is typically where the inspiration for my books comes from, for Never Coming Home the character appeared first. I wanted to write about someone who was evil, despicable, but also relatable on some levels, and definitely funny—and whose enemies were even worse. Cue Lucas and Bobby Boyle. The story evolved from there, so it was very much character driven, and writing from the antagonist’s point of view was an entirely new experience. I had so much fun, and thoroughly enjoyed crafting another novel entirely from a man’s perspective. 

While I probably shouldn’t admit to this, despite his many flaws, I enjoyed spending time with Lucas because I found him hilarious. I wrote the book during the second half of 2020, so this was very much a pandemic project. My lovely mum passed away that summer, so I needed a place to escape to when everything felt so bleak. I think that’s why this book is my funniest. I needed something to make me laugh.

GWR: What do you have more fun with, character development or plot?

HMM: Oh, both, definitely. Lucas was hilarious and it was so refreshing to be fully immersed in the mind of a killer, to see everything from his perspective and try to have him justify his actions. His character formed in an instant, and the plot came together fast, too. I wrote this novel more quickly than any of my others and it was such a joy to work on from start to finish. I kept telling my husband, “It’s going well, too well, it’s all going to collapse.” But it didn’t. Because of this I fully expect my next ten novels to repeatedly kick me in the crotch.

GWR: Do you like writing from the perspective of the opposite sex, or is it more of a challenge? 

HMM: I enjoy both although I find when I write a man’s point-of-view I’m more direct. Nevertheless, one of my first questions is, “Whose story is this?” After that, I try not to overthink whether I’m writing a man or a woman. The important thing is to give them a voice, develop their character and backstory, and make them seem as human to the reader as they are to me.

GWR: Did any minor characters develop into more major ones over the course of writing the novel? 

HMM: Yes! Bobby Boyle grew as I wrote the novel and the banter between him and Lucas made me laugh so much. Bobby may well deserve his very own story one day. I was very keen on his sidekick, Heinz, too.

GWR: Your books always have incredible plot twists and jaw-dropping endings. Are they planned in advance, or do they happen organically as you write, or a little of both?

HMM: A little of both. I love twists and turns, and the more books I write, the more I plot them. Detailed outlines make me more productive and efficient because I know where I’m headed, but it’s impossible for me to foresee every twist and it also doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll end up at the destination I mapped out though. In The Neighbors, for example, the ending changed quite dramatically as I got closer to finishing my first draft. In Her Secret Son, the final chapters were different because I wasn’t happy with whom I’d planned to kill off. Sister Dear’s and You Will Remember Me’s endings are close to how I’d imagined but more sinister. 

GWR: Spoiler-free of course, did Never Coming Home end the way you originally thought it would?

HMM: Out of all my books so far, Never Coming Home turned out the closest to my initial vision and was the smoothest to write and edit. I even knew the final word before I sat down and typed “Chapter 1,” which is something that has never happened before. The storyline was crystal clear in my mind and the bones of the story didn’t change significantly during the editing process. Having said that, and as mentioned before, more twists and turns appeared when I wrote. That’s another fun part of writing, discovering what your characters will do when you let them loose. I can’t possibly know everything from the beginning.

GWR: Can you share a bit about what you are working on now?

HMM: With pleasure. Book 7 (slated for 2023) is another psychological thriller. It’s about a woman named Frankie who has some anger issues, and writes a list of people she could work to forgive as a therapy exercise. She thinks nothing of it when she loses her list in an Uber, until one by one the individuals become victims of freak accidents. Frankie desperately tries to determine if the tragedies are indeed accidental, and if not, who’s behind them before someone else gets hurt, especially as one of the names on the list is her own… I’m so excited for this next novel and can’t wait for you to meet Frankie and the rest of my cast.

*A version of this post was published on STYLE Canada.

You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

A special thank you to the author, Hannah Mary McKinnon, Harlequin MIRA, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour. 

Forget the truth.

Remember the lies.

Waking up alone on a deserted beach with a gash on his head and only in swim trunks, he has no idea who he is or where he comes from. Everything he should know—his identity, his family, his life—has ben replaced by uncertainty. But returning to his hometown in Maine uncovers more questions than answers.

Lily Reid thinks she knows her boyfriend, Jack. Until he goes missing one night, and her frantic search reveals that he's been lying to her since they met, desperate to escape a dark past he'd purposely left behind.

Maya Scott has been trying to find her estranged stepbrother, Asher, since he disappeared without a trace. Having him back, missing memory and all, feels like a miracle. But with a mutual history full of devastating secrets, how far will Maya go to ensure she alone takes them to the grave?

Shared fates intertwine in this twisty, explosive novel of suspense, where unearthing the past might just mean being buried beneath it. 

While it starts off as a familiar amnesia trope, McKinnon peels back the layers of secrets, lies, and deceit—completely blindsiding her reader—and makes it unique and fresh. This simmering and suspenseful read absolutely explodes at the end. Hannah is the queen of shocking endings and this is no exception. The finale is both clever and satisfying. 

You Will Remember Me is deftly plotted, layered, and perfectly paced. 

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HANNAH MARY MCKINNON was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland, and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favour of writing.

She now lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons.

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Q & A with Hannah Mary McKinnon*

GWR: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started writing.

 

HMM: Writing novels wasn’t on my radar until we moved from Switzerland to Canada in 2010. When we arrived, and my HR start-up company failed, it catapulted me into deciding what I truly wanted to do, and whether I wanted to reinvent myself. After a long while (with a lot of moping about) I realized the answer was to become an author, and I got to work, making a ton of mistakes along the way (more on that later…).

 

My debut was a rom com called Time After Time (2016) a light-hearted story about paths not taken. After that I decided I wanted to write grittier stories, and quickly transitioned to the dark side of suspense. The Neighbors published in March 2018, Her Secret Son in 2019, Sister Dear in 2020, You Will Remember Me in May 2021 and Book 6 is scheduled for 2022—all of them in the suspense genre. Sister Dear also published in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. It’s an exciting journey to say the least!

GWR: Is there a particular author/work that inspired you to become a writer or the way you write? 

 

HMM: Yes, Jennifer Hillier, whose debut Creep has a little cameo in You Will Remember Me. Here’s why: years ago, while waiting for my son at our local library I spotted Creep on a shelf. Intrigued by the cover, I picked it up, read the blurb, took it home and couldn’t put it down. It was a turning point in my writing career. When I was younger I mainly read thrillers, but after a personal tragedy in my early 20s, I could only stomach light-hearted reads. Creep reminded me of my love of suspense, and I realized the second book I was working on at the time, The Neighbors, was far grittier than my debut (rom com Time After Time). Jennifer’s book gave me that final push I needed to cross over to the dark side. I have all her book and they are brilliant. Fun fact: we live in the same town and have become great friends. Mentioning Creep in one of my novels is an homage to her work and our friendship.

I’ve had a long-standing love-affair with both Lisa Jewell and David Nicholls’s books. I discovered Lisa Jewell’s first novel, Ralph’s Party, at the airport back in 1999, and have all her books. She has a shelf to herself! I adore how she expertly shifted from rom com to family drama to domestic suspense throughout her career, and her stories always pull me in.

GWR: What draws you to darker themes?

 

HMM: I’m fascinated by the resilience and strength of people, how they cope when faced with tragedy, what they do to survive—including the lies they tell themselves, and each other. Our experiences, both good and bad, shape who we become, and shape us differently, which is equally interesting to explore. Creating difficult but entirely fictional circumstances for my characters provides the opportunity to think about how, and why, people have varying reactions to the same situation. I hope my stories also make the reader wonder what they would do if they found themselves in my characters’ shoes. Writing about these dark themes is also an opportunity to examine my own fears from the safety of my keyboard, and reminds me not to take what I have, and the privileges that come with that, for granted.

GWR: Describe You Will Remember Me in three words or fewer?

 

HMM: Twisted, dark, surprising.

GWR: Five facts readers don’t know about the book:

 

HMM: 1. I set the book in Maine because we visited family in New Brunswick and stayed in Portland on our drive there. It’s a beautiful city and I can’t wait to go back. Newdale and Brookmount (the towns in the book) are fictional – I need to be able to take creative liberties.

 

2. One of the characters finds a library book, Creep by Jennifer Hillier. Creep propelled me to the dark side of writing suspense, and Jenny and I have become great friends. It’s an homage to her work, and her friendship.

 

3. One of the characters is originally from Portsmouth—so was my lovely mum.

 

4. While writing this book, I had a conversation about “could you kill someone using a…” with my husband. He still sleeps with one eye open.

 

5. I mention Meg White from the White Stripes in the book, and I think she’s a phenomenal drummer!

GWR: What’s the inspiration for You Will Remember Me. Where were you when the spark came to you?

 

HMM: A few years ago, a man from Toronto vanished from a ski hill in Lake Placid while there on vacation and showed up six days later in Sacramento. He had amnesia and couldn’t remember much, including the cross-country trip he’d made as he’d hitchhiked across the US. Everything worked out for the man in the end and he found his way home, but it made me wonder—what could have gone wrong? That was the genesis for You Will Remember Me. 

 

A while later I had a vivid image in my head—a man waking up on a deserted beach without any recollection of who he was, or what he was doing there. I kept coming back to his story, how he’d arrived on that beach, what he’d do, and how much danger he was in. As I noodled the plot around, I wondered what might happen if he found his way home but had no idea he’d actually left the town years before, and unknowingly walked back into the dragon’s den. That was it. I needed to know what happened next, who was looking for him, and if he’d survive.

GWR: All of your books are filled with many plot twists and turns. How much of the stories have you mapped out in advance, or does your writing style take twists and turns as you go along?

 

HMM: I love twists and turns, and the more books I write, the more I plot them. Detailed outlines make me more productive and efficient because I know where I’m headed. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll end up at the destination I mapped out though. In The Neighbors, for example, the ending changed quite dramatically as I got closer to finishing my first draft. In Her Secret Son, the final chapters were different because I wasn’t happy with whom I’d planned to kill off. Sister Dear’s and You Will Remember Me’s endings are close to how I’d imagined but more sinister. Having said that, as I write, more twists and turns come up, and that’s another fun part of writing, discovering what your characters will do when you let them loose.

I admire authors who don’t plot or outline at all in advance, but jump right in. If I did that, I think I’d spend an awful lot of time meandering about not getting anywhere, and then fret about my deadlines. 

GWR: What is your writing process like?

 

HMM: Very structured, and the more I write, the more I plan. My novels start with an idea—something that pops into my head such as the news story for You Will Remember Me, or a radio segment for Sister Dear—maybe a discussion I overheard. I noodle the thoughts around for a while as the main characters take shape. The next step is to write an outline. I start by jotting down the big picture plot points, which I then use as stepping-stones to build and write the rest of the outline. I fill out personality questionnaires for my main characters to understand them better, and search for photos on the internet to build a gallery I stick on my pin-board. By this point I’m raring to go.

At first, I write a basic manuscript that’s a little over two-thirds of the final word count, then layer and develop until I’m happy calling it a first draft, and send it to my wonderful editor, Emily. That’s when the real editing work begins, which is incredibly exciting because I know the story will become a thousand times better with her expert input.

 

GWR: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

 

HMM: It depends on the novel. For Time After Time (my debut, a rom com) there were geographical considerations, and, as the novel took place from the 1980s to the 2010s, I had to ensure my references to pop culture were accurate. In The Neighbors, Her Secret Son, and Sister Dear, and You Will Remember Me (suspense / psychological thrillers) there were similar geographical issues to consider, but I also had to research legal details. I sought the help from an advisor from child services, a lawyer, a medical examiner, and a police detective, to name but a few. For You Will Remember Me I also had phenomenal input from a paramedic and an ER doctor.

I’m continually amazed how people are so incredibly generous with their time, knowledge and expertise when I call and say, “I’m an author, honest, and I have a few weird questions.” For example, fellow author Bruce Robert Coffin is a retired police detective, and he’s helped me get away with fictional murder multiple times. His input is incredible!

I don’t do a lot of research before I start writing but tend to put placeholders for areas that need fleshing out and go back to them after I’ve finished my first draft. That way I’m not spending hours on facts that don’t make the cut, or getting sidetracked by facts which are interesting, but potentially irrelevant to the story.

GWR: What's the one element of a thriller novel that is a MUST?

 

HMM: Plot twists and secrets. I want to be surprised when I’m reading a thriller, although that can be said for any genre, so I guess you need to throw in a dead body or two somewhere as well.

GWR: How long did it take to write the book, and how many drafts do you usually write before publication? 

HMM: It took me about two weeks to plot the story and develop the characters before opening a new document and writing “Chapter 1.” After that I wrote a basic, largely unedited manuscript that was about two-thirds of the final word count before going over the manuscript again and again, layering and developing until I was ready to call it a first draft worthy of my editor’s eyes. That process took about another six months and I still wasn’t happy with it. That’s when I asked my editor for input and she helped me shape the story. There was a substantial amount of rewrites and we went over a couple more drafts before the valuable input from the copyeditor and proof-reader. I’d say from my initial basic draft to final version I probably went over the manuscript fifteen times. Minimum.

GWR: What comes first for you—the overall idea or the characters? 

 

HMM: It really depends on the book. For You Will Remember Me it was the character because of the inspiration for the book mentioned above. For last year’s novel, Sister Dear, it was the initial story—something I heard on the radio that sparked my imagination. Sometimes idea and character arrive together. It’s a fascinating process. 

 

GWR: What did you have the most fun with, character or plot?

 

HMM: Hmm…both were tricky. Having multiple point-of-view characters (there are three) is always more complex than having one protagonist as you have to develop the character more quickly. I’d also completely underestimated writing a point-of-view character with amnesia. You can’t give them any backstory or memories, nor can you have scene after scene of somebody telling them about their past. You Will Remember Me was a tricky book to write, but it stretched me as an author.

 

GWR: Did any of the characters appear fully formed?  

 

HMM: No, none of them ever do. I interview my characters, i.e. fill in a three-page questionnaire about them. Not only the usual things such as hair/eye colour, age, etc, but more in-depth questions. Religious beliefs, if they’ve ever seen a dead body, how much money they have, aspirations, recurring dreams, fears, etc. This helps me develop the character and ensure I make them different so they don’t sound the same.

GWR: Do you have a favourite character?

 

HMM: They were all interesting to write for many different reasons, predominantly because they’re flawed. Maya was probably the most complex, certainly one of the darkest point-of-view characters I’ve ever written. Although Lily is a sunshine girl, she has her secrets, too, which were fun to explore. As for “the man from the beach,” unearthing him was a longer process, and I kept reminding myself that because I knew his history, it didn’t mean he could because of the amnesia.

GWR: What character did you sympathize with the most and did that change while writing the book?

 

HMM: I sympathized with all the characters—yes, even that one because they were so damaged—and I don’t think that changed as I wrote because I’d plotted the storyline quite extensively and knew where they’d end up. All three were interesting to write for different reasons.  

GWR: What made you decide to write the book from multiple points of view? Was it easier or more challenging to explore these parallel storylines?

 

HMM: As far as I was concerned, You Will Remember Me had to be told from three perspectives, I can’t imagine the book unfolding any other way. Having multiple protagonists makes it easier and more difficult at the same time. Easier because you only have to fill a third of the book with one character’s journey, but harder because you only have a third of the book to develop their character and make your reader connect with and care about them. You have to find the right balance.

GWR: Do you find it easier to write character and dialogue for the opposite sex because you are the opposite sex? (A woman writing a man’s part and dialogue for example).

 

HMM: I love writing men and women equally, dialogue, and otherwise. My first experience of writing a male point of view character was in The Neighbors, and I adored working on Nate’s chapters. In Her Secret Son, the entire book is written from Josh’s point of view, and it was such a great challenge to do so. Sister Dear is exclusively told by my protagonist Eleanor, but You Will Remember Me features three characters, two women and one man. Book 6 is man’s point of view.

 

One of my first questions is, “Whose story is this?” After that, to be honest, I try not to overthink whether I’m writing a man or a woman. The important thing is to give them a voice, develop their character and backstory, and make them seem as human to the reader as they are to me.

GWR: How do you decide what point to start the story at and how much detail you’re going to provide?

 

HMM: It was always very clear to me that You Will Remember Me would start with a man waking up on a beach, not knowing where or who he is, and that never changed. For Sister Dear, however, my second to last chapter in my initial draft became my first. Frankly I tend not to worry too much about where to start, or if any chapter is detailed enough when I’m writing the initial story. I find it’s time better spent getting words on the page, however rough, so I can get to the editing stage. Same goes for when to reveal or include details, and how much to provide. When I do self-edits I’ll work on those issues, layering here, cutting there, moving things around. That’s when I ask myself if the pacing is too slow, if anything is confusing because it lacks detail or too convoluted because there’s too much. Once the manuscript goes to my editor, we continue to work on all these points until we’re happy with them.

GWR: Do you build your story around a twist/reveal, or does that happen as you write?

 

HMM: I love twists and turns, and the more books I write, the more I plot them. Detailed outlines make me more productive and efficient because I know where I’m headed, but more reveals happen as I write because I find it impossible to foresee everything in the plotting stage. I don’t think I’d want to, anyway. After all, that’s another fun part of writing, discovering what your characters will do when you let them loose.

 

GRW: Do you have a favourite chapter or scene?

 

HMM: Probably the ending because it’s twisted and hopefully unexpected. My books generally don’t tie up with a cherry on top because that’s the kind of book I like to read (except if I’m reading romance, then it HAS to work out or I’m disappointed)!

 

GWR: Did the story end the way you’d initially thought?

 

HMM: I had three endings in mind, and when I pitched the book to my editor, I asked her, “How dark can I go?” She said, “As dark as you want.” And I did.

GWR: What do you hope readers will take away from You Will Remember Me?

 

HMM: I hope I manage to surprise readers, and they keep thinking about the book long after they’ve finished the final page. My main goal is to entertain, to provide people a form of escape and to leave readers satisfied thinking, “I enjoyed that. It was time well spent!” 

    

GWR: If You Will Remember Me was a beverage, what would it be? 

 

HMM: I’ll give you three:

 

Dark and Stormy (the man on the beach goes missing during a storm, after all) 

Chocolate Amnesia (because I love chocolate) 

Failing those two, grab a locally brewed beer from Maine

 

GWR: What are you working on now?

 

HMM: Book 6, scheduled for May 2022 (title to be confirmed) is complete and I’m very excited about it. It’s written from the anti-hero’s point-of-view, which I’ve never done before, and is the story of Lucas, who hired a hitman on the dark web to kill his rich wife. A month later, Lucas receives a partial photograph of his wife in the mail. Who sent it? What do they know? And, more importantly, what do they want? I can’t wait to introduce you to my characters! In the meantime, I’m writing Book 7 for 2023, another suspense story about a therapy exercise gone wrong (dun-dun-duuuuun).

*A version of this post was published on STYLE Canada.

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

A special thank you to Libro.fm and HarperAudio for an audiobook listening copy, and NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twelve years after Lakshmi leaves Jaipur to work at Dr. Kumar's clinic in Shimla, she is now happily married and has taken under her wing a young tribal widow, Nimmi, who is raising her two young children on her own. Gold smuggling is rampant in the nearby mountains and Nimmi's brother has fallen to its temptations. Afraid that her enterprising helper Malik, now a young man who has recently finished his education, will also be lured into this treacherous business, Lakshmi arranges for him to apprentice in Jaipur at the Palace. She is also concerned about the romantic attachment Malik has formed with Nimmi, as she doesn't approve.

Back in the Pink City where he was once a wily street urchin, Malik again encounters the wealthy Singhs, including Samir Singh's feckless son Ravi, who caused Lakshimi's younger sister Radha so much heartache. Malik's is assigned to help Ravi Singh build the new pubic cinema. But when the cinema balcony collapses on opening night, it signals trouble for Malik and for Lakshmi too. Malik is implicated in a ruthless scandal of Ravi's making that will ultimately threaten his livelihood, his reputation and the people he loves most.

Alka Joshi's stunning sequel to The Henna Artist is rich in both dialogue and character development. Her sweeping descriptions of food are worth savouring and as are the depictions of the landscape. Malik is this novel's main character. It is 1969 and he is no longer Lashmi's shadow—he is an educated young man who becomes entangled in a smuggling scheme while apprenticing in Jaipur. 

Once again, Joshi showcases her gift of telling rich stories that transport her reader to a different cultural experience and time period, but with universal themes. Alive and well are class struggles, poverty, and corruption.

Although Lakshmi is not front and centre, readers will be delighted to read about her married life as well as her care of a new character—and love interest for Malik—a young widow, Nimmi. There are other cameos from the first book which hopefully will continue with the third book which is Radha’s story as a perfumer living in France confronted by the baby she gave up for adoption 18 years prior. (And there's also Miramax TV series starring Freida Pinto.) 

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is beautiful, lush, and enchanting.

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ALKA JOSHI was born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. At age 62, Joshi released her debut novel, The Henna Artist, which immediately became a NYT bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and is being developed for a TV series. 

Joshi lives in California with her husband.

Just My Luck by Adele Parks

A special thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Winning the lottery sounds like a dream come true, but what if it changes everything?

For the past fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, Carla and Patrick Pearson, and Jennifer and Fred Heathcote. Over drinks, dinner parties and summer barbecues, the three couples have discussed the important stuff—kids, marriages, careers—and they’ve laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything.

But then the unthinkable happens. There’s a rift in the group. Someone is caught in a lie. And soon after, six numbers come up that change everything forever.

Just My Luck is a slow-burn domestic drama that gives new meaning to "be careful what you wish for." It is a cautionary tale about greed and the perception of how money can buy happiness when in fact, there is no amount of money that can replace losing a loved one. 

Through the lens of morality, this is a union of a psychological drama and a thriller. Told from multiple points of view and shifting time frames, this book has a bit of everything: lawsuits, secret rendezvous, kidnapping, and double-crossing. There's a lot going on and at times the novel is disjointed, but Parks' writing is captivating and in the end, well-crafted. 

Just My Luck takes a long hard look at the darkness of greed in this compelling book about morality, friendship, money, and how good luck can actually be the opposite. Although slow to start, readers will be rewarded with the solid writing and surprise ending.   

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ADELE PARKS' first novel, Playing Away, was published in 2000. Since then, she's published another nineteen novels. Her books have been translated into twenty-six languages.

Parks lives in Guildford, Surrey, with her husband, son, and cat.

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Q & A with Adele Parks

How much research do you do before beginning to write a book? Do you go to locations, ride with police, go to see an autopsy, etc.

For me, one of the best things about being a writer is that I get to poke around in so many different worlds. I am not limited to my own career or viewpoint. I can - and do - research so many other professions, lifestyles, businesses or scenarios. Over the years, I have shadowed people who worked in the TV industry, teachers, police, florists, charity workers, bankers, photographers, prison wardens, librarians…I pride myself on being as thorough as possible in my research, especially if someone else’s profession is involved. For example, with my novels that have any crime procedure included, I interview police people, I visit their places of work and I also ask them to read over the parts of the novel that relate to their world. It’s critical to me that I not only get the facts spot on, but also nail the tone of voice and language that might be used. For Just My Luck I worked closely with some people who work at the British lottery company, I also interviewed lottery winners.

I often join forums and support groups that relate to my plotlines, it’s a great way to research. I have joined forums for people who have won the lottery, others where the objective is to support alcoholics, forums for Alzheimer’s sufferers and those who care for them, and for people with rare specific genetic diseases. I always declare that I am an author doing research, because I think it’s only fair that people know who they are sharing with. I find people who have been through these challenging life situations are often looking to tell their stories.

I always visit the locations where I set my novels and become familiar with them. I research in galleries, museums and libraries too. I’m certain I’ll never attend an autopsy though; I’m fairly squeamish! 

What hobbies do you enjoy?

First and foremost, I am a reader. I always have a book with me and most of my down time you will find me with my nose buried. I am also a big fan of upscaling furniture. I enjoy mooching around junk shops, vintage fairs and eBay. I am always buying bits of old furniture, which I then, strip, paint, stain, or have re-upholstered etc. I love finding something that is past it’s best and no longer loved, then breathing new life into it. I really value having unique one-off pieces, that have a story behind them, in my home. I also enjoy walking and practicing yoga.

Do you write under one name for all books across genres or do you have other AKA's?

I write under my name all the time, no matter what genre. Looking back, I’m not sure this was my smartest marketing move. Maybe I should have written my historical novels (If You Go Away and Spare Brides) under a pseudonym as they are set during WW1 and the 1920s and quite a different feel from all my other novels which are contemporary. However, even within my contemporary novels I’ve written in different genres - from romantic comedy to dark psychological thrillers and domestic noir. If I’d had a different name for each genre that might have got confusing too! I can see an advantage of writing under a different name. It might have saved my blushes; some of my novels are quite steamy in places and when my son was younger, the school gate was sometimes a little awkward if the other mums were reading my novels!

Do you have pets? 

I have a moggy cat; her name is Lilac. She’s 10 years old and much adored! Sadly, she’s not really keen on giving or receiving affection; her area of expertise is looking incredible and treating the humans in her family with disdain. She’s quite a loud cat and ‘chats’ to me a lot which is fun! 

What’s your favourite part of writing suspense?

I’m a great fan of the plot! I do pride myself on rather unexpected but utterly believable reveals and twists. The intellectual challenge of constructing plots is unquestionably my favorite part of writing. The best suspense novels continually astonish and defy the reader until the final page. How great is it when we think we’re heading in one direction, but the author spins us around and takes us somewhere else? That’s what I like to achieve, action that appeals to sharp, inquisitive minds.

I also love taking my readers on an emotional ride. It’s undoubtedly compelling for readers to track a seemingly ordinary family and then watch as something exceptional happens when they’re placed under extraordinary stress. I believe we’re all capable of horrendous actions under the right – maybe that should be wrong—circumstances. A fascination with darkness is part of being human. We all have light and dark in us but we’re not heartless, books provide a safe environment to explore these different lives without ruining our own or anyone else’s.

Do you prefer reading and/or writing suspense with elements of romance? Why or why not?

I don’t think I mind whether there is romance in a book or not, but I do need relationships of some kind. Without a doubt, the most important thing in life is my relationships with people, yes my romantic relationship—now limited as I’m married —but also my relationship with my son, my parents, sister, friends. For me, in real life, stakes are always highest when my relationships are threatened in some way, or when the people I love are in turmoil or jeopardy. I do not think I’m alone in this. Ultimately, the vast majority of us prioritize relationships over fame, money or career. I believe we are defined by who we love and who we are loved by. Therefore, in the suspense novels I write, I use relationships as a device that heightens the drama and the potential threat. Suspense novels do not have to be full of blood and dead bodies (although they can be!). I think the most successful ones are those where the reader feels a sense of familiarity and connection with the characters or environment. We believe the story really could happen, and most awfully, it could happen to us. For me, the best suspense looks at the horror that goes on in seemingly normal everyday families. 

From the books you’ve written or read, who has been your favorite villain and why?

What a great question, I’ve never been asked it before. Thinking about it now though, I realize I’m not a fan of the villain. I’m always rooting for the goodie, I guess I’m secretly very square. I do like writing villains though, possibly because they get to say all the harsh one-liners that I only ever think up way after the efficacy has passed! Villains are dangerous, extreme and usually selfish or cruel. They are also quite often glamourous and charismatic, so definitely fun to write. 

What was your inspiration behind the book?

A friend of mine works for the lottery company in the UK. He was telling me fun stories about what winners spend on, what their reactions were to hearing the news they’ve won, how the lottery company has a duty of care towards the winners etc. It was all fascinating. Then he just casually commented, ‘We always offer to arrange security for their children if the win is seriously big’. I found that so interesting. Imagine, the best moment of your life, being handed a check for millions and then suddenly realizing your family were now at risk in a way they never had been before. That was the moment I thought, I really need to write about this!

Lies, Lies, Lies by Adele Parks

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Daisy and Simon's marriage is on the rocks. Even though they've been together for years, the only thing that ties them together is their love for Millie, the daughter they longed for.

Simon is a struggling alcoholic and Daisy is finding it increasingly difficult to hide her complete and utter disgust towards him. Millie is the only light in their married life—she is beautiful and perfect.

One night after a party, things spiral horribly out of control. Their family will never be the same.

With incredibly flawed characters, Adele Parks' latest work is a domestic drama/suspense that has got some teeth. Lies, Lies, Lies is a slow burn with a cast of layered and highly developed characters—some of which are not particularly likeable or redeemable.

Parks writes about some extremely difficult issues—addiction, sexual assault, and postpartum depression—and some readers may be triggered. She does an excellent job with Simon's alcoholism its impact on his life and those around him.

A riveting character study, this book covers the full gamut of lies: denials, omissions, exaggerations, and fabrications so explosive that the consequences will forever change lives. Lies, Lies, Lies is a dark and unflinching tale with the most insidious final twist.

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ADELE PARKS' first novel, Playing Away, was published in 2000. Since then, she's had seventeen international bestsellers, translated into twenty-six languages.

Parks lives in Guildford, Surrey, with her husband, son and cat.

The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, and Harlequin MIRA for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be part of the blog tour.

The Woman Before Wallis a is fictionalized story of the American divorcée, Thelma Morgan, the woman who captured the affection of Prince Edward before he abdicated his throne for American socialite, Wallis Simpson.

In the summer of 1926, after a whirlwind romance, Thelma Morgan marries Viscount Duke Furness. She's immersed in a gilded world of extraordinary wealth and privilege. For Thelma, the daughter of an American diplomat, her new life as a member of the British aristocracy is like living a fairy tale—even more so when her husband introduces her to Edward, Prince of Wales. 

In a twist of fate, her marriage to Duke leads her to fall precipitously into a love affair with Edward. But their relationship is threatened when Thelma’s sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, becomes ensnared in a scandal with far-reaching implications. When Thelma sets sail for New York to support Gloria, she asks her friend Wallis to look out for Edward, never imagining the turn of events that would transpire.  

Set in two different time periods, The Woman Before Wallis takes place in Paris in 1925, which provides Thelma's backstory, and alternates with the 1934 storyline where Thelma goes to New York City to help her twin sister, Gloria. My only criticism is that I think the narrative should've been linear, in chronological order, versus alternating timelines. 

Although it is a love story, it is not a royal romance per se. It is an intimate look at the love between sisters: Thelma supported her sister in an age when being gay was seen as unacceptable except, as Gloria points out, in high society. And there is also less of the scandal that was advertised—perhaps because we all know what happened with Wallis, and this wasn't her focus, it was on the trial of Gloria Vanderbilt. 

And can we just appreciate the cover for a moment?

This book starts off slow, but be patient. It is meticulously crafted and worthy of your time. Given that it is historical fiction, Turnbull has taken some liberties, but she strikes the right balance between fact and fiction. If you binge watched The Crown, then I highly recommend this book!

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BRYN TURNBULL has a master's of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master's of professional communication from Ryerson University, and a bachelor's degree in English literature from McGill University.

Turnbull lives in Toronto.

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Q&A with Bryn Turnbull

Everyone knows the story of Edward and Wallis. What drew you to Thelma’s story instead?

Thelma’s affair with Edward is only aspect of her story: she was on the periphery not only of the abdication crisis, but also the biggest custody battle in US history to date. She was something of a Kardashian in her day – famous for being famous – but she was also strong-willed, and willing to stand up for those she loved. Other people have written beautifully about Wallis and Edward, but Thelma’s story deserved to be told on its own merits.

 

This novel contains the real-life stories of real life people—some of whom have living descendants. How did you balance the drive to tell a good story against the historical record in terms of character development?

It’s a tricky balance to strike, but at the end of the day my job is to tell a good story, taking as much historical fact into consideration as I can without sacrificing the plot. I spent a lot of time researching the people who make up my book: luckily, Thelma and Gloria wrote a memoir, and we have plenty of letters, biographies, and recordings of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, so by the time I started actually writing, I had a very good sense of who they were. Wallis in particular leapt out of the pen, and I think that’s because she’s left such a legacy behind. I certainly hope that they would see themselves in the characters I’ve created, but at the end of the day these are fictional representations.

 

How did you find Thelma’s story?

I’d long been interested in the abdication crisis, and had read biographies of Wallis Simpson before, but I’d never really picked up on Thelma’s story until I watched W.E., a movie directed by Madonna about Wallis and Edward’s relationship. In the film, we see Wallis and Thelma have that conversation where Thelma asks Wallis to “take care” of Edward for her while she’s travelling, and I remember thinking it was such a strange request to make of a friend—even one as close as Wallis was to Thelma. After the movie ended I found myself down a bit of a Wikipedia rabbit hole, where I discovered her connection to the Gloria Vanderbilt trial, and recognized that this was a story that ought to be told.

 

One of the major relationships in this novel is between Gloria and Nada. Why was it important to you to show a relationship between two women in the 1930s?

Their relationship is historical fact: it would have been disingenuous to omit it from the book. I truly believe that Gloria loved Nada, and had they lived in a different time period their story would have ended quite differently. What’s more interesting to me is the fact that their relationship was permitted because of social privilege—and when Gloria lost that privilege, their relationship fell apart.

 

How does Gloria’s experience as a queer woman shape Thelma’s actions?

To me, The Woman Before Wallis is a love story—but it’s not a royal romance. While the abdication crisis looms large over Thelma’s life, this is a book about the love between sisters: Thelma supported her sister in a day and age when being gay was seen as unacceptable—except, as Gloria points out, in the highest echelons of society. In the history books, Thelma has often been dismissed as a lesser socialite, but when it comes down to it, she was a deeply principled woman, and her experience as an ally spoke to me.

 

After spending so long with his character, how do you feel about Edward VIII and his decision to abdicate?

I think Edward VIII would have found an excuse to abdicate, regardless of whether Wallis Simpson had come into his life or not. He was a fundamentally weak man, and would have made a fundamentally weak king – and while in my novel I have him talk to Thelma about the sort of king he wants to be, I don’t think he ever intended on taking up his crown. If it hadn’t been Wallis, he would have found another excuse to abdicate.

 

That said, Thelma was genuinely in love with him. It was important for me to find a way into that love, and to be able to portray him with some compassion.

 

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson are known to have been Nazi sympathizers. Why don’t you address this in your book?

I don’t address it for three reasons. First, Thelma and Edward’s relationship ended in 1934. Hitler only became chancellor in 1933, so while he would have been a topic of conversation around the dinner table, he wouldn’t have been the main topic of conversation. Second, Thelma was not a political person. One of the biggest complaints the government levied against Wallis Simpson was her political activism—in fact, when it became clear Edward wouldn’t give Wallis up, there was a movement within government to invite Thelma back to England because she wasn’t seen as someone who would interfere in politics the way Wallis did. Finally, the sad fact is that many members of Britain’s upper crust had extreme right-wing leanings in the 1930s, and many were generally supportive of Hitler’s policies. At the time, socialism was seen as a far greater threat than fascism, particularly because the General Strike of 1926 had been so successful in disrupting industrial production. Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists had 50,000 members at the height of its popularity in the 1930s.

 

In the end, I find it incredibly interesting that history shook out in such a way that Britain had the king it needed during the war. Could you imagine what would have happened if George VI hadn’t been on the throne during the Blitz?

 

Do you think Wallis intended to replace Thelma?

I don’t think she did. Whatever else has been written about her—and there has been a lot written about her—Wallis was an extremely ambitious social climber. I believe that Wallis was genuinely trying to keep Edward’s eye from straying, for Thelma’s sake, but when it became clear that his affection had transferred to her, she didn’t feel too much guilt in taking advantage of the situation.

 

She certainly didn’t intend to marry Edward—that much is clear. In 2011, Anne Sebba published a biography of Wallis Simpson which contains previously unpublished letters between Wallis and Ernest Simpson—she wrote to him until the end of her life, and expressed regret at having ended their marriage. I believe that Wallis had hoped to take advantage of Edward’s attraction to make new friends and move in the highest social circle in Britain. She genuinely believed that Edward would tire of her before too long—when he didn’t, I think she was as surprised as anyone else.

 

What did you enjoy most about researching this book?

I wasn’t on any fixed timeline to complete this book, so I was able to spend two full years researching—just researching!—the time period. I particularly enjoyed researching the fashion of the 1930s—the attention to detail is incredible, especially for someone who had Thelma’s budget. I was able to access a lot of newspaper articles about the Vanderbilt trial at the New York Public Library, which really helped me understand the frenzy that the trial had created. A photographer actually did try to rappel down the side of the courthouse to get a picture of the proceedings! The trial reached newspapers in Pakistan! I went to London and walked Thelma’s neighbourhood—while Duke’s Arlington townhouse is no longer there, I visited her home in Mayfair and had drinks in the Ritz.

 

My favourite research moment, though, was finding Edward’s plane, and while I wish I’d had the right place to put it in the manuscript, it did help me come to an understanding of who he was as a person. One of his planes is at the Vintage Wings museum in Gatineau, Quebec, and I was able to visit it: it’s a beautiful little biplane with an open cockpit and a closed cabin for passengers. The plane itself looks like a Rolls Royce, with beautiful a chrome and indigo body and burgundy leather interior: but the best part of it is that Edward had a small generator installed on one of the wings so that he could power a wireless radio. While that sounds like a good idea, Vintage Wings was kind enough to take me up in a plane of a similar vintage, and I was struck by how unbelievably loud it was up in the air. Even with headphones on, it would have been extremely difficult to hear anything on a wireless.

 

I think this really sums up who Edward was. He was so concerned with his image – with looking and feeling like a modern royal – that he forgot to take into account the practicalities of the situation. 

Sister Dear: A Novel by Hannah Mary McKinnon

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Canada, Harlequin/MIRA for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Eleanor Hardwicke has just lost her beloved father. Her world is beyond shattered when she learns that the man that she cherished was not actually her father and that she was the result of an affair. Eleanor's biological father, Stan Gallinger, is alive and well. He's a successful businessman with an adoring family.

Victoria, Eleanor's half sister, had the loving childhood that Eleanor so desired. She has a doting husband, a budding business, and lives the charmed life that should be Eleanor's. But sisters are supposed to share...and now it's Eleanor's turn.

Hannah Mary McKinnon! That was all kinds of crazy, and I loved it!

Our narrator, Eleanor, is flawed and imperfect. As a result of her difficult upbringing, she has poor judgement and isn't overly strong. McKinnon juxtaposes this against half-sister Victoria's beauty, wealth, and success. Although both characters are well-written and captivating, it is Eleanor, with all her faults, that will play on your sympathies. Her transformation was astounding and compelling.

McKinnon explores some pretty toxic familiar relationships in her latest domestic thriller. She blurs the line between good and evil by writing her leading ladies with both qualities. Deftly plotted and perfectly paced, Sister Dear will have readers enthralled until the stunning conclusion. It is a story about love, loss, and the best dish of all, revenge.

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HANNAH MARY MCKINNON was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland, and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favour of writing.

She now lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons.

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Q & A with Hannah Mary McKinnon*

GWR: How many hours a day do you write? What does your writing process look like?

HMM: How many hours I write depends on the stage I’m at in a book. Typically I’ll work between about 8am and 4pm, but if I’m in the final editing stages then all bets are off and I’ll work whenever I can because I get so sucked into the story. In terms of process, with each book it has become more streamlined, but the biggest change is that, five books in, I feel more in control. That doesn’t necessarily mean it gets easier. Self-doubt always, always creeps in, particularly when I’m writing my first “skeleton draft,” which is a first, very loose version nobody will ever see. It’s rough, dirty and…terrible—my skeleton drafts always have been. However, I’ve learned to trust my writing process. If I can get the bones of the story on paper, I’ll add layers and complexity as I go over the novel again and again in preparation for my editor’s eyes. I accept the finer details will come as I work through the story. Just like most people who draw, paint, or write music or books, the first draft will never be my best work. I’m glad I’ve accepted that because it stops me from being overly self-critical when I start a project. I’m also more disciplined than in the past because I have deadlines. And I’ve always loved deadlines—especially beating them.

GWR: Are you a pantser or a plotter?

HMM: 100% a plotter. I’m very structured, and the more I write, the more I plan. My novels start with an idea—something that pops into my head, a newspaper article, or a discussion I overheard. I noodle the thoughts around for a while as the main characters take shape. The next step is to write an outline. I start by jotting down the big picture plot points, which I then use as stepping-stones to build and write the rest of the plot. I fill out personality questionnaires for my main characters to understand them better, and search for photos on the internet to build a gallery I stick on my pin-board, too. I do all of this before I’ve written “Chapter 1.”

GWR: Where did you come up with the concept for Sister Dear?

HMM: I heard a radio segment about a woman who’d found a wedding ring at a playground and was trying to locate the owner through social media. It got me thinking—what if the woman found out the ring’s owner had a dream life, and felt jealous? The more I thought about it, the more twisted things became. I realized the individuals had to be related somehow, and if I made them half-sisters it would add to the drama and intrigue. It seems some of the most despicable acts are carried out within families. That was something I wanted to explore.

GWR: Do you have a favourite character in the book?

HMM: Eleanor for the win! Writing the entire story from her point-of-view allowed me to really get inside her head and understand how and why she’d become who she was. Right from the start I knew Eleanor would have a distinct lack of confidence, particularly regarding her physical traits. She’d perceive herself far more negatively than anybody else did—primarily because of her relationship with her mother—and she’d suffer from a kind of body dysmorphia. I wanted to show how the attitude of others can impact a person, how we carry these things forward and what they can do to us. It made Eleanor complex and interesting to write, and most of the time I wanted to give her a hug. Having said that, while I hoped the reader felt sympathy for her, I didn’t want it to be so during the entire novel. She did make some rather dubious choices, after all. I did enjoy writing Lewis, too. He was such a good man, the one with the strongest moral compass and he was my guilty pleasure.

GWR: Tell me about the research you did for the novel?

HMM: There were geographical issues to figure out as I set the book in Portland, Maine, and while I’ve visited, I still needed to make sure I got the streets and distances right. I also had to research legal details including how sentencing and victim impact statements work. I had conversations with a taxi cab owner, the local hospital, and an undertaker, too. I don’t do a huge amount of research before I start writing but tend to put placeholders for areas that need fleshing out, and go back to them after I’ve finished my skeleton draft. That way I’m not spending hours on facts that don’t make the cut, or getting sidetracked by facts which are interesting, but potentially irrelevant to the story.

GWR: What was the hardest scene to write?

HMM: There’s a scene where Eleanor gives into her emotions and binge eats. That one cut a little too close to home. Let’s just say food and I are have been frenemies for a long, long time.

GWR: In Sister Dear, you explore some pretty toxic familial relationships. Have you always been interested in family dynamics? What themes do you find most interesting? 

HMM: I’m fascinated by the resilience and strength of people, how they cope when faced with tragedy, what they do to survive—including the lies they tell themselves, and each other. Our experiences, both good and bad, shape who we become, and shape us differently, which is equally interesting to explore. Creating difficult but entirely fictional circumstances for my characters provides the opportunity to think about how, and why, people have varying reactions to the same situation. I hope my stories also make the reader wonder what they would do if they found themselves in my characters’ shoes.

I’ve always been interested in family dynamics and was raised in traditional nuclear family environment. My parents have been together since the early 60s, they’re generous, loving and open, and have always supported us. I get along very well with my sister, too, and we all enjoy spending time together whenever we can. I’m extremely fortunate. Maybe that’s why I write these twisted stories—having a highly dysfunctional family frightens me; it would rip away a large part of what gives me stability and comfort, and what my husband and I want to provide our kids with. Writing about it lets me explore those fears from the safety of my keyboard, and reminds me not to take what I have, and the privileges that come with that, for granted.

GWR: If you could tell your younger self something about writing and becoming an author, what would it be?

HMM: “Slow down! Take a course!” I rushed submitting my first novel, Time After Time, to agents when it was far from ready, only I didn’t know it at the time. After multiple rejections I took creative writing workshops and weekly courses, and had the manuscript professionally edited, which was eye-opening. A few agents were kind enough to tell me the premise was good, but the execution was flawed, so I had a lot of work to do. On the other hand, my inexperience perhaps wasn’t such a bad thing. If I’d known how difficult it was going to be from the outset, maybe I wouldn’t have persevered. However, there’s no question that taking writing courses earlier would have helped!

GWR: What are you working on now?

HMM: My next two novels are psychological suspense stories. Book 5 (2021 release) is about a man who wakes up on a beach with no recollection who he is or what he’s doing there, and when he finds his way home he discovers he abandoned the place two years prior…and some people suspect him of murder. We’re in the editing stages of that one and I can’t wait to share the final title. Book 6 (2022 release) is outlined and I’ve made a start on the first chapters, but it’s too early to give more details – but I’m incredibly excited about them both, and the prospect of introducing you to more of my messed up characters.

*A version of this post was published on STYLE Canada.

Good Girls Lie by J. T. Ellison

A special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Goode girls don’t lie…or do they?

The Goode School is a prestigious all girls prep school nestled in the picturesque town of Marchburg, Virginia. Known as Silent Ivy, the school only accept the very best and brightest girls, the daughters of the rich and influential. But when a stranger comes to Goode, the ivy turns poisonous.

Appearances are everything, especially at Goode where the girls are being groomed for Ivy League educations. As long as you follow the strict honour code and stick to the rules, you will succeed. In fact, people will even turn a blind eye to the cruel and calculating hazings of the secret societies and the unsavoury attitudes of the spoiled and privileged rich girls to keep the school's reputation and its students' reputations in tact.

Ash Carlisle is an import from England. After witnessing both of her parents dying, she is trying to reinvent herself as a Goode girl. Only it isn't that easy. Ash is not only struggling to fit in—especially with being targeted by popular senior, Becca Curtis—but also with trying to keep her past hidden, as well as the many other secrets and lies that seem to be piling up.

When a popular student is found dead, the truth can't be ignored. Rumours are suggesting that the girl had a secret that drove her to commit suicide. But was it suicide, or was it murder? You see, there are truths, lies, and what actually happened in between.

This propulsive character driven novel is well-sculpted and sublimely atmospheric—the setting was absolute perfection! What is it about boarding schools that is so intriguing? Can't you just picture the stone walls, ornate wood, climbing ivy, and secret tunnels?

Ellison's writing is hypnotic, detailed, and consuming. The solid narrative is framed by equally strong characters. Told from multiple perspectives, the majority of the story is told from Ash's point of view, with a few other perspectives in the mix. This works exceptionally well, the reader experiences a lot of what Ash is as a newcomer.

Good Girls Lie is devious and delightful. There is plenty of back-stabbing, double-crossing, and plot twists. J. T. Ellison will have her readers engaged until the very last page.

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J. T. ELLISON is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 novels. She is published in 28 countries and 16 languages.

Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and two cats.

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Q & A with J. T. Ellison

Do you plan your books in advance or let them develop as you write?

Both. Sometimes the story just unfolds, and sometimes I have to relentlessly work on themes and turning points and characters’ points of view. Every book is different, every book has its own unique challenges. I’m always thinking about what’s next, and sometimes even what’s after that. But when it comes to actually sitting down to write, I like to let the story unfold a bit, let it stretch its wings, before I try to lash it to the mast and conform it to my vision.

What does the act of writing mean to you?

It’s a sacred contract with me and a mythical “someone” who might read the words at some point in the future and find them entertaining or moving. It’s sheer magic on my end, creating, and sheer magic on the readers’ end, when they get to experience what was in my head as I was writing. It’s the most incredible mystical experience out there.

Have you ever had a character take over a story, and if so, who was it and why?

All the time. Oh my gosh, all the time. Honestly, if the character doesn’t run away with things, I know there’s a problem. Ivy, in Lie to Me, is a particular favourite. She’s just so nasty...

Which one of Good Girls Lie’s characters was the hardest to write and why?

Ash, for sure. She was so elusive and aloof with me. The Britishisms, the secrets, the lies, she was always just out of reach. Of course, that was because I’d written her in third person. When I switched her to first, she wouldn’t shut up.

Which character in any of your books (Good Girls Lie or otherwise) is dearest to you and why?

Oh that’s an impossible question. Taylor. Sam. Sutton. Vivian. Ash. Aubrey. Ivy. Juliet. Lauren. Becca. Gavin. Baldwin. Xander. They are all me, on some level, whether it’s a fear or a triumph, a flaw or a heroic action. A moment of love or a moment of animosity. It’s like asking me to choose among my children, which one is my favorite. (I don’t have kids, by the way, but I couldn’t pick my favorite of my kittens, either.)

What did you want to be as a child? Was it an author?

I desperately wanted to be Colorado’s first female firefighter. When that job was taken, I cast about. Doctor. Lawyer. Fighter Pilot. Spy. International business maven. Olympic swimmer. Poet. In the end, being a writer was my only choice. That way, I get to experience all the lives I could have led.

What does a day in the life of J.T. Ellison look like?

It’s rather blissful. It starts rather lazily, with the cats cuddled into my arms and the newspaper on my iPad, then progresses to kicking the lazy beasts out, pouring a cup of tea and handling email. I am not a morning person, so I tend to do business in the morning and writing in the afternoon, when I’m sharper. I’ve always wanted to be the writer who gets up at 5 am to write whilst the birds chirp and the house sleeps, watching the sun rise and running five miles before the rest of the world is awake, but alas, it was not meant to be. You need to go to a concert that starts at ten p.m., I’m your girl.

What do you use to inspire you when you get Writer’s Block?

It depends. If it’s a genuine block, a I’ve lost faith in myself and my work block, I will step away from the manuscript entirely, read, walk, golf, yoga, go out for margaritas with my husband, anything to remove me from the situation. But 90 percent of the time, it’s just a story issue, so I work it out with some of my creative partners. Lots of texting and phone calls and what ifs, until it shakes itself free.

What book would you take with you to a desert island?

Hmmm… my knee jerk is the Harry Potter series – I know, I know, that’s seven books, but I’m sure there’s an omnibus edition somewhere. The fight for good and evil never ceases to amaze and comfort me. Knowing love conquers evil is a big deal in this world. And Hermione kicks ass. If I’m forced into a single title, Plato’s Republic. I’ve been obsessed with the allegory of the cave my entire adult life.

Favorite quote?

“Do. Or Do not. There is no try.” – Master Yoda

Coffee or tea?

Loose leaf earl grey. Making tea is a meditative experience for me.

Best TV or Movie adaptation of a book?

Clueless, hands-down the best adaptation of Austen’s Emma ever, and I’ve been enjoying A Discovery of Witches, based on the fabulous books by Deborah Harkness. Outlander isn’t bad, either. And Game of Thrones… obviously, I don’t include anything past the second episode of the final season of that, though I did enjoy the whole Deanarys-Drogon airborne apocalypse. I mean, talk about a girl who had reason to be aggravated with society.

Do you have stories on the back burner that are just waiting to be written?

So. Many. Stories. I will never get to them all. At last count, there are 49 in my “Story Idea” folder, with several more floating around in my head.

What has been the hardest thing about publishing? What has been the most fun?

The hardest is staying in the game, juggling the necessary mix of creativity and business, finding new paths to reach readers and leveling up the writing so it’s possible to grow my career. It was much easier to write, to focus, before our constant connections to the internet consumed us. The most fun is that email from a reader, when something I’ve written strikes a chord with them and they write to tell me they love a story, or a character, or an ending. It doesn’t get better than that.

What advice would you give budding authors about publishing?

Stay as much in a vacuum as you can while writing. You don’t need a platform, you need an excellent, groundbreaking book. And read everything. Everything you can get your hands on. You learn writing through osmosis as much as writing the books themselves. Find your writing habit and hold it sacred. If you respect your work, your people will, too.

What was the last thing you read?

I just finished Holly Black’s The Queen of Nothing, the finale of her Folk of the Air trilogy, and just finished listening to Bag of Bones by Stephen King. Both were exceptional.

Your top five authors?

Diana Gabaldon
J. K. Rowling
Deborah Harkness
Leigh Bardugo
Sarah J. Maas

Book you've bought just for the cover?

That’s how I found the Holly Black trilogy – I adored the cover of The Cruelest Prince.

Tell us about what you’re working on now.

I’m writing a novel about a destination wedding that goes very, very wrong. It has loose ties to Rebecca, and it titled Her Dark Lies.