I have done a whole post on the Best Books by Shari Lapena. So how does Everyone Here is Lying stack up to her other books? Here’s my Review of Everyone Here is Lying and then you can pop over to the “best of” post and see how this book measures up to her backlist.
Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena
Published on July 25, 2023 by Pamela Dorman Books. I obtained my own copy and read this book in September 2023.
Plot Summary for Everyone Here is Lying
William Wooler is a family man … on the surface, at least. He’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.
Hours later, Avery’s family declares her missing.
Suddenly Stanhope doesn’t feel so safe. And William isn’t the only one on his street who’s hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery’s neighbors become increasingly unhinged.
Who took Avery Wooler?
What Else Has Shari LaPena Written?
She wrote one comedy, but let’s stick to her thrillers: The Couple Next Door (2016), A Stranger in the House (2017), An Unwanted Guest (2018), Someone We Know (2019), The End of Her (2020), and Not a Happy Family (2021).
Check out my What Is the Best Book by Shari Lapena post!
Review of Everyone Here is Lying
Everyone Here is Lying was a HUGELY anticipated book in my summer reading. It’s also a Neighborhood Thriller, a new favorite of mine.
Then I was SO excited when my library (finally) emailed me that my copy was ready to pick up!
Maybe my anticipation was too high. I did enjoy the book, but have to be honest and admit that I was also a bit disappointed in Everyone Here is Lying. Here’s what I liked and what I liked less.
What I Liked About Everyone Here is Lying:
1. There was a whole neighborhood of suspects.
As an example of a neighborhood thriller, Everyone Here is Lying fits the bill. I don’t usually love multiple POV books and this one had a LOT of POVs. Pretty much every single character got one. But I think this technique was used effectively in keeping the reader guessing.
2. Not EVERYONE was lying (haha) but a lot of people were.
I think sometimes that thrillers put off reveals too long. I liked knowing that one of the characters was lying right off, to his family and the police. It created more suspense, which this book really needed.
What I Liked Less About Everyone Here is Lying
1. I had the big reveal figured out pretty early on.
I don’t want to go into too much detail (I will do that in my Spoiler Discussion Post) but I feel that there were enough clues for most experienced thriller readers to figure things out.
2. I didn’t find the resolution plausible. At all.
The ending also felt sometwhat unresolved, which is a thriller trend that continues and which I continue to be unhappy about.
3. There were psychological aspects to the story that I thought needed to be discussed more thoroughly. Just slapping psychological labels on characters isn’t enough character development.
I think that the big reveal in Everyone Here is Lying wasn’t set up or used effectively enough. I do not want to spoil or influence anyone’s reading experience. Check out that Everyone Here is Lying Spoiler Discussion if you want to know more.
Have you read Everyone Here is Lying? Do you plan to? What is your favorite book by Shari Lapena?