None of This Is True

Wow! This is what a thriller is meant to be. Lisa Jewell has created a deliciously disturbing and intriguing story that will keep the reader enthralled to the end. I know I was!

Alix Summers and Josie Fair meet on the night of their shared 45th birthday. Josie proclaims them “birthday twins” and approaches Alix, a well-known podcaster, with the idea of making a podcast about Josie's life and her plans to change her future. Alix is intrigued by Josie's unconventional relationship with her much older husband. They agree to do the podcast, and Josie spills all the astonishing and disturbing details of her life. But Alix does not realize that Josie is becoming obsessed with her, and she does not notice the impact that Josie is having on her life and family until it may be too late.

Everything about this story works. The characters are interesting and well-developed. No one is truly likable, but some are more dysfunctional than others. Josie Fair appears to be meek and simple, but there are disturbing depths to her character that make for an unpredictable, thrilling narrative. Alix is so enthralled by Josie's story and how she can benefit from it that she does not notice as Josie insinuates herself into Alix's life. The action is paced perfectly. The narrative alternates between Josie and Alix's interactions in real time and excerpts from the podcast and the documentary. The documentary sections add just the right amount of suspense by hinting at events that the reader has not yet witnessed. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, the execution is so good that it does not detract from the success of the book.

Honestly, I just love a dark, twisted, messed up thriller, and that is what you get with this book. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy this as well.