Eight Years of Lies by Lisa Hall by Lisa Hall - Book Review
Release: 19/02/2025
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Joffe Books
Source: Kindle
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: A totally addictive psychological thriller full of twists from the #1 bestselling author of The Party.
At first, I thought my marriage was just like any other — not perfect, but stable. After all, between school runs, late meetings, and family dinners, life felt normal… even happy.
But then, everything changed in an instant.
A single Facebook post shattered my reality:
‘PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP ME? HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN? I am Lydia French. This is my husband and child — they have been missing for several months and I am desperate to find them.’
At that moment, I froze.
I stared at the photo — a man and a little girl, smiling in the sun. However, they weren’t Lydia French’s husband and child.
They were mine.
Suddenly, nothing made sense.
I get a call from the school — Tom hasn’t picked up our daughter. Meanwhile, he isn’t answering his phone. Worse still, his boss says he never showed up for work.
As a result, panic claws at my chest as I try to piece together the fragments of my shattered reality.
Little by little, a terrifying truth begins to emerge.
The man I’ve lived with for the past eight years — the man I’ve built a home, a family, a life with — isn’t who I thought he was. In fact, the man I married has been lying to me…
About everything.
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About the Author Lisa Hall: Lisa Hall is the bestselling author of psychological thrillers and the Hotel Hollywood time-slip murder mystery series. Her debut novel Between You and Me was a Kindle UK number one bestseller, sitting in the top spot for over four weeks, and the second novel in her Hotel Hollywood series won the 2025 CWA Whodunit Dagger Award. Lisa has a First Class Honours degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. She lives in Kent with her husband and their three children.
Solid Mystery with a Killer Twist
Lisa Hall delivers an engaging domestic thriller that keeps you turning pages, even if it occasionally treads familiar ground.
What Works:The plot itself genuinely hooked me. The author structures the mystery well. Something new pops up almost every chapter as Claire chases fresh leads about Tom's disappearance. That momentum keeps you invested. Moreover, Claire makes for a relatable lead; her emotional struggle as she uncovers uncomfortable truths about her husband feels authentic. I also found myself genuinely curious whether she'd end up with Adam as their chemistry adds a nice layer beyond just the mystery.
Then there's the ending. The twist caught me completely off guard in the best way, elevating the entire reading experience and making the book stick in my memory.
What Falls Short:The setup isn't exactly breaking new ground. If you've read The Last Thing He Told Me or similar missing-spouse thrillers, you'll recognize the blueprint here. Also, some supporting characters like Claire's friend Hanna (and Gwen) feel underused. There was potential for them to matter more to the plot. The pacing also drags occasionally; Claire keeps insisting Tom would never abandon Isla, and that repetition slows things down without adding depth.
Verdict:Eight Years of Lies works well as a mystery thriller even when it feels familiar. The chapter-by-chapter reveals maintain interest, Claire's emotional journey resonates, and that final twist genuinely pays off. Not the most original entry in the genre, but Hall knows how to keep readers guessing and deliver satisfying surprises. Worth picking up for twist enthusiasts.
Perfect for:Fans of domestic suspense, missing person mysteries, and readers who prioritize killer endings
Eight Years of Lies by Lisa Hall
by Lisa Hall
Synopsis
"A totally addictive psychological thriller full of twists from the #1 bestselling author of The Party.
At first, I thought my marriage was just like any other — not perfect, but stable. After all, between school runs, late meetings, and family dinners, life felt normal… even happy.
But then, everything changed in an instant.
A single Facebook post shattered my reality:
‘PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP ME? HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN? I am Lydia French. This is my husband and child — they have been missing for several months and I am desperate to find them.’
At that moment, I froze.
I stared at the photo — a man and a little girl, smiling in the sun. However, they weren’t Lydia French’s husband and child.
They were mine.
Suddenly, nothing made sense.
I get a call from the school — Tom hasn’t picked up our daughter. Meanwhile, he isn’t answering his phone. Worse still, his boss says he never showed up for work.
As a result, panic claws at my chest as I try to piece together the fragments of my shattered reality.
Little by little, a terrifying truth begins to emerge.
The man I’ve lived with for the past eight years — the man I’ve built a home, a family, a life with — isn’t who I thought he was. In fact, the man I married has been lying to me…
About everything."
Release
19/02/2025
Format
Kindle
Publisher
Joffe Books
Source
Kindle
About the Author
Lisa Hall
Lisa Hall is the bestselling author of psychological thrillers and the Hotel Hollywood time-slip murder mystery series. Her debut novel Between You and Me was a Kindle UK number one bestseller, sitting in the top spot for over four weeks, and the second novel in her Hotel Hollywood series won the 2025 CWA Whodunit Dagger Award. Lisa has a First Class Honours degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. She lives in Kent with her husband and their three children.
My Review
Solid Mystery with a Killer Twist
Lisa Hall delivers an engaging domestic thriller that keeps you turning pages, even if it occasionally treads familiar ground.
What Works:
The plot itself genuinely hooked me. The author structures the mystery well. Something new pops up almost every chapter as Claire chases fresh leads about Tom’s disappearance. That momentum keeps you invested. Moreover, Claire makes for a relatable lead; her emotional struggle as she uncovers uncomfortable truths about her husband feels authentic. I also found myself genuinely curious whether she’d end up with Adam as their chemistry adds a nice layer beyond just the mystery.
Then there’s the ending. The twist caught me completely off guard in the best way, elevating the entire reading experience and making the book stick in my memory.
What Falls Short:
The setup isn’t exactly breaking new ground. If you’ve read The Last Thing He Told Me or similar missing-spouse thrillers, you’ll recognize the blueprint here. Also, some supporting characters like Claire’s friend Hanna (and Gwen) feel underused. There was potential for them to matter more to the plot. The pacing also drags occasionally; Claire keeps insisting Tom would never abandon Isla, and that repetition slows things down without adding depth.
Verdict:
Eight Years of Lies works well as a mystery thriller even when it feels familiar. The chapter-by-chapter reveals maintain interest, Claire’s emotional journey resonates, and that final twist genuinely pays off. Not the most original entry in the genre, but Hall knows how to keep readers guessing and deliver satisfying surprises. Worth picking up for twist enthusiasts.
Perfect for:
Fans of domestic suspense, missing person mysteries, and readers who prioritize killer endings
