Fabulous Reads: Susan Lewis pens gripping page-turner

Who’s Lying Now, Susan Lewis, Jonathan Ball Publishers, ISBN: 9780008471828

THERE’S so much to unpack regarding this novel, so let me start by summing it up: Fast-paced, gripping and suspenseful.

Who’s Lying Now centres around the mysterious disappearance of Jeannie Symonds – an ‘eccentric, award-winning publisher’ – during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her husband Guy, a surgeon, who is equally successful in his field, is quickly identified as a suspect after police start investigating. However, as Cara Jakes, the young detective assigned to the case, continues with her routine questioning, she uncovers a complicated web of connections and possible motives with those around the Symonds. Were Jeannie, Guy or both cheating? Where could she possibly have gone in the middle of lockdown, and why?

The chapters not only cycle between the perspectives of four characters but also past and present timelines. I loved this theme. Not only did it keep things interesting, but it was fascinating to uncover each person’s secrets and possible motive from different perspectives.

While the characters were flawed with some truly heart-wrenching secrets, I found them a bit stereotypical. The two men were just too similar – both handsome and charming as well as talented and passionate about their jobs. A bit cliché. While the women, with their unique quirks, stood out as individuals.

However, they were also slotted into these sexist stereotypes – sweet, caring mothering; clingy, desperate with emotional baggage, and assertive, ambitious, cold and unlikeable. This aspect put me off a bit.

This was the first book I encountered that attempted at incorporating the pandemic and subsequent restrictions into the storyline. It was both strange and familiar, and I feel the author, Susan Lewis (a British, bestselling author) did an effortless job of using it help create suspense and intrigue.

With some skilfully placed red herrings, the author kept me going back and forth on the identity of the person behind Jeannie’s disappearance. However, she left one clue that had me shouting, “I’ve figured it out!” It was a satisfying feeling to later have my guess confirmed.

Regarding the ending, I am slightly torn. On the one hand, I feel the same about it as I did with JK Rowling’s ending for the Harry Potter series. Rather than leave it up to the reader to envision the lives of the characters, the author wrapped it up in a trite ending. But at the same time, the ending left me wondering if the true culprit was actually caught.

With the easy writing style, the seemingly complicated storyline is easy to follow. It’s the perfect read for anyone who wants a brisk and punchy mystery thriller.

– Mariclair Smit 3/5 stars

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