Lie Still - Julia Heaberlin

4 Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

When Emily Page and her husband move from Manhattan to the wealthy enclave of Clairmont, Texas, she hopes she can finally escape her haunted past—and outrun the nameless stalker who has been taunting her for years. Pregnant with her first child, Emily just wants to start over. But as she is drawn into a nest of secretive Texas women—and into the unnerving company of their queen, Caroline Warwick—Emily finds that acceptance is a very dangerous game.

It isn’t long before Caroline mysteriously disappears and Emily is facing a rash of anonymous threats. Are they linked to the missing Caroline? Or to Emily’s terrifying encounter in college, years earlier? As the dark truth about Caroline emerges, Emily realizes that some secrets are impossible to hide—and that whoever came for Caroline is now coming for her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

Julia Heaberlin was a journalist for more than twenty years for such newspapers as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Detroit News. Playing Dead is her first novel. She lives with her family in Texas, where she is at work on her second book, Lie Still, to be published by Bantam Books. 

Visit her at her website - HERE

MY REVIEW -

This is not a happy book. I will not falsely paint you a pretty picture. This is a sad story, a very suspenseful, intense, sometimes scary, sad story! The first chapter starts out with a WOW! I was sobbing all through it! It was very personal. I felt like I was reading someones diary, very heartfelt. I had to put the book down and stop reading and gather my thoughts. I wanted to sit and read more but I needed an emotional break.

Then it slowed down a bit for me for about 1/4 of the book, and it was actually a little confusing. There was a lot going on. I had to get used to the author's writing style. I wasn't sure what was her imagination and what was real. There were also parts that took me a while to figure out if it was past or present. But I couldn't stop reading because I had to find out what happened!

Then finally about half way through it really picked up and I could not put it down. It got very suspenseful and sucked me in.

The character development was very good. I loved Emily, what a terrifying and sad life she had! And still she remained strong. All the characters (women) in this secret club were over the top, but fun and exciting! I thought they were all developed very well too. I felt like they were plucked right out of "Steel Magnolias".

I did not figure out the end! Totally surprised me. If you like a good suspense story that will keep you on the edge of your seat - this is the book for you!

Here are a few quotes I liked from the book -

"- ...Why do you think New York is an instant bad impression?'
"We're snotty, rude, walk too fast, use big words when little ones will do just fine. Steal your best baseball players." I am from NY and I agree!

"That light blue shirt... you look like the Madonna. I'd paint you right now if I knew how to paint with something other than a roller. Maybe you should look in a mirror and paint yourself."

"I'm trying this diet where you can eat all the bananas, hot dogs, and boiled eggs you want, but that's it. Nothing else but water. I've lost seven pounds in four days. I'm getting a little sick of it. I gag if I eat more than six eggs and three or four hot dogs at a time. But throwing up wouldn't be a bad deal, either. Maybe that's the secret of the diet."

And my favorite! - "I only listen to country." For the next fifteen minutes, Letty ignored me and sang along squeakily about how her give-a-damn was busted and how tequila makes her clothes fall off and how she'd happily pack a lunch and stuff Earl in a trunk 'cause Earl had to die. She nearly busted my eardrums with the chorus, "I'd like to check you for ticks." Hahahaha - I love country music!

Thank you Librarything early reviewers for sending me this book to read and review!

Get yours from Amazon - HERE

and from B&N - HERE