Kristin's Bookshelf

Never Lie
By Freida McFadden | @fmcfaddenauthor
Narrated by Leslie Howard | @lesliehowardnarrates
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I’m definitely entering my Freida McFadden era… just maybe not at the same level of obsession as some readers out there. 😂

What I’m discovering with McFadden’s books is that they’re like dark little chaos bombs. Psychological thrillers, yes, but also oddly entertaining in a way that has me laughing at the absurdity of situations while simultaneously whispering, ‘What is happening right now?!’ This was only my second book by her, and it has wildly different vibes than Dear Debbie. The one common denominator so far? Morally grey female main characters that keep you questioning everyone and everything.

In Never Lie, newlyweds Tricia and Ethan get stranded during a snowstorm while touring a remote mansion that once belonged to a famous psychiatrist who mysteriously vanished years earlier. While trapped inside, Tricia discovers secret recordings from the doctor’s patients and slowly pieces together what happened in the house. The isolated setting, combined with the cassette tapes, made this feel incredibly bingeable on audio. Every chapter seemed designed to make you suspicious of somebody new.

One thing I’ve realized about McFadden is that she LOVES misdirection, but I also think our brains work similarly because I catch onto her breadcrumbs FAST. The second little clues start appearing, and I’m already side-eyeing the direction she wants readers to go. There is an almost hilarious amount of coincidences woven into one giant mess of a reveal. But honestly? That said, I don’t read thrillers for realism – sometimes I just want a wildly entertaining ride, and this book absolutely delivered that.

Leslie Howard’s narration worked really well for this style of story. She kept the tension high while also making Tricia’s internal thoughts feel natural and engaging. The pacing on audio made it especially easy to keep listening to “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s midnight and your responsibilities no longer matter.