I was lent Why Did You Lie? by a friend who shares a very similar taste in books to me. She told me it was one of the best thrillers she’d ever read, so I had very high expectations. And I wasn’t disappointed.
Why Did You Lie?ย is set in Iceland (and translated from Icelandic) and tells three seemingly unconnected stories.
There’s the four strangers stranded in a small lighthouse on a rock, running out of food and not knowing when they will be rescued.
There’s the family who get home from a house swap holiday in America and become concerned about strange things which have happened in their house while they’ve been away.
And there’s the grieving policewoman, whose husband lies in a coma after attempting suicide.
Their only connection is that they all lied and someone is determined to punish them.
I’ll be honest, it took me about 40 pages to get into Why Did You Lie?. But once I was into it, there was no stopping me! This book is an absolute page turner. It feels like the three stories will never come together, but it hardly matters because they’re all gripping as they are.
The fear of the party stranded in the lighthouse and the husband convinced someone has invaded his home feels so real. And while the policewoman has been sidelined at work, she makes an unexpected discovery. Is she overcome with grief and anger, or is there more to her husband’s attempted suicide than she first thought?
Of course the three stories do eventually come together. But this book keeps you guessing right until the very end and I certainly didn’t see the ending coming at all.
Sigurdadottir’s novel is a really high quality thriller and definitely well worth a read. I will certainly be looking out for more of her work in the future. Based on this book, she might even be a better writer than Jo Nesbo!
March 31, 2017
I haven’t read any of her stuff, but Yrsa is a friend of a friend of mine!
March 31, 2017
No way! Seriously?! How do you know her! This is a really amazing book and I’ll definitely be looking out for more of her stuff.
March 31, 2017
Oh, I don’t know her, but I have a friend who works in publishing who does!
March 31, 2017
Even knowing someone who knows her is very cool in my opinion!
March 31, 2017
Oh I like the sound of this, I’m going to look out for it. I haven’t really read many thrillers but I really want to know how it ends. Which makes me think maybe I should read more thrillers as well as looking for this particular book, maybe I’d enjoy them more than I think!
Nat.x
April 1, 2017
Thanks very much! It really is a brilliant book! I got into thrillers quite gradually over a few years, probably starting with the Millennium Trilogy, until I’ve reached a point where they’re what I mainly read. I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed by this one!
March 31, 2017
Arrgh i really need to get back into reading. This sounds very good and I need to know what happens at the end now! Maybe I’ll catch up a bit over Easter with my huge list.
April 1, 2017
You will love this one, I’m sure! Easter would be the perfect time to get back into reading, I reckon ๐
May 8, 2017
This sounds like a great book. I’ve just read a novel with two seemingly separate stories that came together at the end and it took me ages to work out what the connection could be! I’m going to add Why Did You Lie? to my wishlist :o)
#readwithme
May 8, 2017
You won’t be disappointed! It is such a good book. I would never have seen the connection myself because the stories were so separate.
May 8, 2017
ooo I’ve not heard of this one before, I really like the concept! Thank you for sharing with #readwithme
May 8, 2017
I wouldn’t have heard of it if my friend hadn’t lent it to me. It’s an amazing book!
May 8, 2017
Sounds great. I have a big stack of Jo Nesbo books waiting to be read that belong to my husband, so I must let him know about this author as he is really into Icelandic books #readwithme
May 8, 2017
I love Jo Nesbo books too! I’m sure your husband will love this one.
May 10, 2017
I like books with interconnected stories. This is one to look out for
#readwithme
May 11, 2017
I would definitely recommend it! It took ages before the connection started to become clear. It was very cleverly written.
May 10, 2017
This sounds like a perfect book for me. I’m adding it to my TBR list ๐
May 11, 2017
Thanks, I’m sure you’ll love it. It really is a brilliant book!
May 15, 2017
This sounds like a great read, going to add it to my wish list ๐ #readwithme