Author: Ruth Ware

Genre: Psych Thriller

Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press

Pages: 384

On a normal morning in June, Kate is walking her dog, Shadow, along the Reach when he runs in to the water to retrieve something. Soon after, Kate’s three best friends from boarding school in Salten, Isa, Fatima, and Thea receive a three-word text- “I need you”. The three don’t hesitate in returning to Kate, and to Salten. That message is never sent unless it is an emergency. They have a feeling that they know what the emergency is about. The Lying Game, a game that they played during their time at Salten, has never ended. It is a game with a myriad of rules, and it landed them all being asked to leave Salten in the fifth-year due to the scandal surrounding the disappearance of Ambrose, the art teacher- and Kate’s father. It is the lie surrounding this that the girls cannot let go of, and the one that may get them arrested…or worse. If you’re going to play The Lying Game, you must be ready to face the consequences.

I don’t know where Ruth Ware comes up with these stories, and I don’t care, as long as she keeps putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, whatever)! I can’t believe that I am saying this, but The Lying Game has just surpassed In a Dark, Dark, Wood as my favorite Ware book! It was awesome, like binge read awesome! The characters were all so well developed, that they were easily imagined. The descriptiveness of the Reach and Salten was phenomenal. I could see it very clearly, with minimal effort. Her writing, as always, was sophisticated and lovely. Much like In a Dark, Dark Wood, this one grabbed my attention from the beginning, and it did not let up until it was over. This is the experience that I look for in a great psych thriller, and I definitely got it with The Lying Game. If you’re looking for that, as well- Go. Read. Now!!