Your Beautiful Lies cover art

Your Beautiful Lies

The thrilling, unputdownable novel from the Top 10 bestselling author of The Room in the Attic

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About this listen

Annie Howarth is living a restless life in a restless town. It's 1984 and for a mining community in South Yorkshire, the strikes mean tensions are running high. Then a murdered girl is found on the moors and the anxiety levels are pushed to a dangerous breaking point.

Married to the Chief of Police, Annie should feel safe – William can be secretive, though surely whatever he's hiding is for her own good.

But Annie is keeping her own secrets. Ten years ago the man she loved was ripped from her life in a scandal that still haunts the both of them, and now his return will put her family, her marriage, even her life, at risk.

An atmospheric and suspenseful novel you'll find impossible to put down, from the talented Richard & Judy bestseller.

 Crime Thrillers Domestic Thrillers Ghosts Gothic Historical Horror Thriller Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime Exciting Suspense

Critic reviews

Your Beautiful Lies crackles with repressed longing and I was desperate for Annie to escape from her hum drum life. It kept me guessing until the last few pages and the explosive ending took my breath away. (C. L. Taylor)
Engrossed me from start to finish
All stars
Most relevant
A good story that keeps the listener engaged. Perhaps a little predictable in terms of the sub-context, but entertaining.

Good & compelling story

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When listening to Colleen Prendergast' excellent reading,of yet another lovely book written by Louise Douglas, I could visualise everything - the moors, the miners' strike and two very different families.

Brilliant

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Your Beautiful Lies is a layered story that is narrated well. I have read other books by the author and enjoyed them, hence my choice to purchase this audio book. Douglas's novels tend to revolve around a domestic situation which is somehow linked to a crime, but then the story always fans out to reveal lots of secrets and skeletons in closets.
This story is kicked off when a body is found on the moor and the woman who is killed bares more than a passing resemblance to Annie the police chiefs wife.
The story widens out to focus on lots of little strands, including Annie's marriage to the police chief and how this is tested when her old flame and ex-con boyfriend returns to the small town; in addition there are subplots concerning Annie's relationship with her brother who is being pressured to take part in the miners strike and a strained Mother/Daughter relationship. Over all it kept my attention and whilst the identity of the killer didn't come as a complete shock, it kept me guessing for quite a while. It was refreshing to listen to a book set up north and in the 1980's and I enjoyed the story and narration very much.

A good domestic thriller that keeps you guessing

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Thoroughly enjoyed this audio book, kept me entertained, but don't be like my Mum & read the ending first to see if it's got a good ending, I can roll you it has!

Fabulous ending, loved it all!

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If you could sum up Your Beautiful Lies in three words, what would they be?

Historically accurate, absorbing.

What about Colleen Prendergast’s performance did you like?

Narration was excellent. You know it is when it never distracts from the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The story was set during the 1980s national minors strike. The context was spinkled with points that painted an accurate socio-political climate without overwhelming the story of the individual characters. Douglas wrote with an impressive, and rather beautiful, light touch. Each character was approprately well drawn according to their significance. This is my first by this clearly very skilled author. I look forward to listening to, or reading, her other books.

Excellent!

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