What Lies Between Us

⛓ B O O K • R E V I E W ⛓ • Title: What Lies Between Us Author: John Marrs Rating: 5/5 Stars • "Every couple of days, I'll start and finish a new one. I prefer detective or psychological thrillers, anything that promises and then delivers a good twist. I like to get the old grey matter working and decipher who the bad guy is. I'm hard to please though. If I guess the culprit correctly, I'll be disappointed at how predictable the story is. If I get it wrong, I'll be annoyed at myself for not spotting it earlier." • Was that quote written for me? I mean, Marrs nailed it on the head, that is exactly how I am with all of my thriller reads. This book is fantastic. John Marrs must be the king of twists, this is my second book by him, and I love all the twists he throws into his books. They are placed so meticulously throughout the book that they hit you in the face and leave you with your jaw on the ground. • Told in one of my most favorite formats, dual point of view but also through the past and the present. I absolutely loved everything about how this story unfolded. From the very beginning I was intrigued, but as twist after twist came along, I found myself unable to put this one down. The characters were two very interesting women, and while they weren't necessarily the most likeable characters, you can't help but feel for them as you learn their story. I found myself hating them, while also empathizing with them and it made me feel some really mixed sort of way haha. • The flow of this one was super fast, and I loved the fact the past was mixed in with the present. It allows the reader to obtain bits and pieces of the full story at a time and in my opinion was such a brilliant way to keep the reader engaged. This is a story of manipulation at its finest and its one that will be sticking with me for quite a while. I really enjoyed the ending of this one, as everything came back full circle. • This one is available on Kindle Unlimited, and I highly recommend it, it's a fast paced read that will keep your head spinning. If you haven't read a John Marrs book yet, then i have no idea what you are waiting for because his writing is just *chefs kiss*. • #kindlueunlimited #kindleunlimitedreads #fivestarreview #motherdaughterrelationship #manipulationatitsfinest #whatliesbetweenus #johnmarrs

I’ve read many of the author’s books and enjoy them immensely. This book, like his others’, is a psychological thriller with twists and turns, and examine the human condition such as love, betrayal, hate and how closely they are all related. I gave it a four star because, to be honest, I absolutely didn’t like the ending. Maggie came to the realization that she was going to die in her own way, which was reasonable and understandable; however, poor Dylan/Bobby had no choice. In many of Marr’s books, there is a sliver of light and hope, but in this one, there isn’t any. Great writer and fantastic story teller, though. I’ll keep reading his other books.

3-1/2 stars What lies between us by John Marrs is a psychological thriller that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and constantly wanting to pick it up - it’s definitely a compelling read. Marrs delivers a story filled with twists and turns that left me guessing until the very end, as nothing was ever quite as it seemed. That said, the book is very dark, and the subject matter at times felt overwhelming for me personally. This isn’t a fault of the book, as Marrs crafts the dark themes well. It’s more that I found myself needing something lighter after finishing to refresh my mind. For anyone who enjoys thrillers with darker themes and can handle intense psychological tension, What Lies Between Us is a great pick. But if you’re looking for something a little less heavy/disturbing, this may not be the best choice.

This was my very first read by John Marrs—and what an insane introduction! I experienced it as an immersive read,through kindle and the audiobook (which was really well done!). Let me tell you… I wasn’t ready. Where do I even start? From the chilling line, “I don’t want anything that enters my house to leave it,” I knew this was going to be a wild ride. And it didn’t just deliver—it unraveled my mind in the best way possible. Told through dual POVs of Nina and Maggie, this psychological thriller jumps back and forth between the past and the present, slowly peeling back the layers of their twisted, tangled relationship. But here’s the thing: every time you think you’ve figured out who’s telling the truth… think again. Because even the “truth” is questionable in this book. Both women are deeply disturbed in their own chilling ways, and watching them blame each other for the ruins of their lives was like witnessing a slow-motion car crash. Horrifying, emotional, and completely captivating. I found myself constantly switching allegiances—only to be betrayed by the next plot twist. And wow… there are a lot of them. Just when you think it can’t get darker or more messed up, Marrs throws another wrench into the story that leaves you breathless. It’s eerie. It’s chaotic. It’s a full-on psychological war. You want to scream at these characters to make better choices—but then again, where’s the fun in that? Did I chunk my kindle at one point? Absolutely! Did my jaw hit the floor several times? Yep! By the end, you’re left spinning, with your heart pounding and your mind still reeling from the emotional and psychological manipulation. There were so many points where either of them could have changed the trajectory of their lives—but instead, they doubled down on the madness. This was gripping, anxiety-inducing, and absolutely unputdownable. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that mess with your head, blur the lines between truth and lies, and leave you shaken… What Lies Between Us is a must-read. I loved this! Highly recommend!

My first John Marrs book, I bought three more because of this one. It's the kind of book that you can't put down with every chapter you read. It starts off slowly and then it gets really intense and you want to keep going. The book is about the story of a mother and a daughter. And the big question is who the wrong one? Honestly, the plot didn't surprise me that much, I saw it coming right from the start, but it still unfolds, adding new branches to the story, and you start to wonder, wait, but is it really? And I loved that. Nevertheless, the ending wasn't expected. I felt that Nina's memories became so intense and a little confusing that her return to reality left me a little confused. After reading ‘The Good Samaritan’, I felt the same about Laura, so maybe it's the author's style, not a bad thing, just the transition back is abrupt. My only complaint has nothing to do with the story itself, but rather with the quality of the book's cover, unfortunate that in the first few pages I read, the cover was ruined. Sad ☹️. Next on my list: The good Samaritan ✔️, The Marriage act, The Passengers ...

Synopsis: "What Lies Between Us" is a psychological thriller by John Marrs that delves into the dark and twisted relationship between two women, Maggie and Nina. Living together in a large, secluded house, their connection is far from ordinary. Maggie is kept prisoner in the attic, enduring daily tortures and deprivations imposed by Nina. As the story unfolds through alternating perspectives and timelines, the reader learns about the traumatic past events that led to this bizarre and sinister arrangement. The novel reveals secrets, betrayals, and a deep psychological manipulation that blurs the lines between victim and villain. Review: John Marrs’ "What Lies Between Us" is a gripping exploration of the complex and often disturbing dynamics of a deeply fractured relationship. The novel captivates from the first page, immersing the reader in a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere. Marrs excels at building suspense, revealing just enough with each chapter to keep readers on edge. The dual narrative structure, with chapters alternating between Maggie and Nina’s perspectives and between past and present, is highly effective. It allows for a gradual and intricate unfolding of the story, where every new piece of information adds to the mounting tension. This approach also gives a multi-dimensional view of the characters, making their actions and motivations more comprehensible, even as they become increasingly disturbing. Maggie and Nina are both richly developed characters. Maggie, initially appearing as a helpless victim, reveals layers of resilience and complexity as her past and her reasons for enduring Nina’s torments come to light. Nina, on the other hand, is a fascinating portrayal of someone driven to extreme actions by a combination of guilt, anger, and a distorted sense of justice. Their relationship is a chilling dance of power and dependency, with each woman bound to the other in ways that are both horrifying and deeply human. One of the strengths of "What Lies Between Us" is its ability to maintain a high level of unpredictability. Just when you think you have the story figured out, Marrs throws in another twist that changes the trajectory of the narrative. These twists are well-crafted and plausible within the story’s context, enhancing the overall sense of dread and inevitability. The novel also explores themes of forgiveness, retribution, and the long-lasting impact of trauma. Marrs handles these themes with sensitivity, avoiding sensationalism despite the dark subject matter. This adds a layer of depth to the thriller, making it not just a tale of suspense but also a poignant commentary on human frailty and resilience. However, the novel’s intense focus on the two main characters means that secondary characters and subplots are less developed. This could be seen as a minor drawback for readers who enjoy a broader narrative scope. Additionally, the constant back-and-forth between timelines might be disorienting for some, though it ultimately serves to enrich the story. In conclusion, "What Lies Between Us" is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that keeps readers hooked with its complex characters, relentless suspense, and surprising twists. John Marrs has created a darkly compelling narrative that explores the depths of human emotion and the dark consequences of buried secrets. It’s a must-read for fans of the genre, offering a thought-provoking and chilling experience.

30代後半の娘が60代後半の母親を自宅で軟禁する話。軟禁は2年以上にわたり、二人に何があったのか、なぜ軟禁しているのかが謎として話は展開します。語られる少しの「事実」からその理由は推測しやすく、「いじめ（軟禁）」の話が嫌いな私は最後まで楽しめませんでした。英語は読みやすいです。

I'm giving this book 5 well deserved stars but I kind of regret having read it, as weird as it may seem. It's VERY disturbing. It gave me nightmares and left me with pictures in my head I'd rather forget. A good read but not a pleasant one.

Maggie loves her daughter Nina. So much, in fact, that she will do almost anything to keep her safe. Nina loves her mom. After all, her mom has taken care of her alone since her dad left. But both Maggie and Nina have secrets. Secrets to die for. I love John Marrs books. But this one just felt more sinister, more horrifying than all the others because it explores the bond between parent and child and the lengths they will go to to be together. Even if one or the other, or both, may have blood on their hands. Lots of twists and turns which is exactly what you would expect from Mr. Marrs. Read this delicious little masterpiece.