The Last Time I Lied

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager ISBN 9781524743079

Riley Sager has some serious talent in his writing repertoire and I was totally jazzed to read this book. His stories are darkly compulsive and he has a knack for giving you the chills.

‘You see the fine grains of the pine plank wall, smell the traces of campfire smoke in your hair, and know exactly where you are. Camp Nightingale,'

The whole book is centred around 3 girls who went missing the last year the camp opened. Now the owner has decided it ripe to try and open the camp again, inviting back some of the old campers to be instructors. Emma accepts. She was in the same cabin with the girls who went missing. She needs some closure on what happened to her friends all those years ago. Discovering clues that Vivian left along the way, she starts to unravel a story so shocking, her own life may now be in danger.

I can see the brilliance in the regaling of this story. However, I predicted what had happened pretty soon into the book. I don't think it was necessarily obvious in the writing but it felt like a story that had been told many times before. I've been reading thrillers since my teens and this one didn't have anything new in the offering I felt. There was a few red herrings thrown in for good affect but I kind of felt the didn't lead me away from my original musings. Having said that it is a true thriller in the sense of the word - it's thrilling with understated suspense and it will creep you out in the best way possible. I enjoyed the ride even though I did feel like I had rode it before.

Riley Sager has weaved an intoxicating tale of girls gone missing at a sleep away camp. There is a huge cast of characters, none of which you will trust, and a highly unreliable narrator.

It was cleverly written and it didn't drag on. The pace was quick and I did devour it in one sitting. If you are someone who doesn't usually guess plots in a book then you will be riveted and will crave more Riley. I'm not gonna lie I get chills up my spin and the hairs did stick out on the back of my neck a few times. Even knowing what you know, you can't always be 100% sure.

I felt the ending was a little cliche for my liking. I can't say much without giving away the ending but the only way I can see this even happening is if there is a sequel coming out way.... Which I have no idea of..

I think most people will love it. It just fell a little short for me.

I give it 3.5 stars out of 5. If you love a good thriller and have a day to dedicate to a read, then this is the one for you.

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