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Lie by the Pool
7 hours, 53 minutes
A desperate woman. An irresistible invitation. An escalating nightmare of secrets, lies, and murder.
Bree’s new home is luxurious and private, with a fancy Beverly Hills address. What a shame it’s not hers. Widowed, penniless, living in her car, and out of options, she’s climbed the fence and crashed in the pool house. All she wants is a good night’s sleep. But when Sophie, the absentee owner, finds her, she gets a whole lot more.
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect.
Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next.
A desperate woman. An irresistible invitation. An escalating nightmare of secrets, lies, and murder.
Bree’s new home is luxurious and private, with a fancy Beverly Hills address. What a shame it’s not hers. Widowed, penniless, living in her car, and out of options, she’s climbed the fence and crashed in the pool house. All she wants is a good night’s sleep. But when Sophie, the absentee owner, finds her, she gets a whole lot more.
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect.
Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next.
Audible Audio
First published September 12, 2023
691 people are currently reading
22565 people want to read
About the author
Susan Walter
6 books547 followersThe winner of the (not terribly) prestigious WIFTS screenwriting award for “All I Wish,” the film she wrote and directed starring Sharon Stone, Susan Walter is excited to add “novelist” to an eclectic resume that includes “failed concert violinist,” “unwatchable TV news reporter,” and “dazed mother to two teenage girls.” A native of Boston, she suppresses her irresistible accent to avoid stink eye from sports fans across Los Angeles, where she now resides. She has an AB in government from Harvard, which she has so far failed to put to good use, and enjoys skiing, lazy bike rides, and wicked strong coffee. Susan’s first two novels, “Good as Dead” and “Over Her Dead Body,” were Amazon First Reads editors’ picks. “Lie by the Pool,” a novel of suspense about a woman who witnesses a murder while stowed away in a Beverly Hills pool house, was published on 9/12/23. All three of Susan's books hit number one on Audible across all categories. For "behind the scenes" content or to join her mailing list, please visit her at www.susanwalterwriter.com, and thanks for stopping by!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
September 12, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Lie by the Pool is a double entendre and it’s fun to find out why…
“A DESPERATE WOMAN, AN IRRESISTIBLE INVITATION AND AN ESCALATING NIGHTMARE OF SECRETS, LIES and MURDER”
OCTOBER (the present)
Bree has been living in her car for three months and she is hungry and tired. She knows it’s wrong to trespass but the chaise lounge in the Rodeo Drive pool house looks so inviting…
How did it all go so wrong? Just 5 months prior she was happily married to Luke and they were exchanging gifts in celebration of their third wedding anniversary.
Carter has discovered that his father has bought a home on Rodeo Drive that he hasn’t told his family about. What could he be hiding there?
Carter’s sister, Sophie, knows all about the house. And, a lot of other things. She loves discovering people’s secrets….
Susan Walter, an award winning screenwriter delivers her third entertaining novel, another which I could picture translating well to the big screen.
Told through the alternating perspectives of Bree, Carter, Sophie and Luke, in both the past and the present, the quick chapters and generous use of foreshadowing kept the story moving quickly.
But, that same foreshadowing is probably why I did guess one major plot point prior to the 50% mark, so the first half which was filled with MANY surprising revelations was stronger than the second half for me.
Although this was my least favorite of her books, I HAVE enjoyed all three that she has written so far, and look forward to reading whatever she pens next!
A buddy read with Susan and Ceecee …be sure to watch for their insightful reviews for additional thoughts on this one!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Lake Union Publishing, for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Lie by the Pool is a double entendre and it’s fun to find out why…
“A DESPERATE WOMAN, AN IRRESISTIBLE INVITATION AND AN ESCALATING NIGHTMARE OF SECRETS, LIES and MURDER”
OCTOBER (the present)
Bree has been living in her car for three months and she is hungry and tired. She knows it’s wrong to trespass but the chaise lounge in the Rodeo Drive pool house looks so inviting…
How did it all go so wrong? Just 5 months prior she was happily married to Luke and they were exchanging gifts in celebration of their third wedding anniversary.
Carter has discovered that his father has bought a home on Rodeo Drive that he hasn’t told his family about. What could he be hiding there?
Carter’s sister, Sophie, knows all about the house. And, a lot of other things. She loves discovering people’s secrets….
Susan Walter, an award winning screenwriter delivers her third entertaining novel, another which I could picture translating well to the big screen.
Told through the alternating perspectives of Bree, Carter, Sophie and Luke, in both the past and the present, the quick chapters and generous use of foreshadowing kept the story moving quickly.
But, that same foreshadowing is probably why I did guess one major plot point prior to the 50% mark, so the first half which was filled with MANY surprising revelations was stronger than the second half for me.
Although this was my least favorite of her books, I HAVE enjoyed all three that she has written so far, and look forward to reading whatever she pens next!
A buddy read with Susan and Ceecee …be sure to watch for their insightful reviews for additional thoughts on this one!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Lake Union Publishing, for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
June 4, 2023
This is going to be one pool party everyone is sure to be talking about!
Bree's life took a turn she never could have imagined - homeless and alone. She is scared to death with nothing to her name.
When she feels it’s no longer safe to sleep in her car she finds herself poolside in the backyard of a Beverly Hills home. Well, let’s get comfy shall we? This plush chaise should do nicely for the night.
Eventually discovered by the owners’ daughter Sophie, Bree finds herself being treated more like a welcomed guest! Offered scrumptious food and even invited to a pool party rather than being turned over to the police. What a stroke of luck!
Not so fast Bree. The following morning after the party a body is discovered in the pool. And poor Bree is the only one left at the home, the only witness to finding the body. Bree, it’s time to run for it!
A super-fast read that grabbed me immediately, keeping me entertained right to the end!
This will make the perfect poolside read this summer!😎
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
Bree's life took a turn she never could have imagined - homeless and alone. She is scared to death with nothing to her name.
When she feels it’s no longer safe to sleep in her car she finds herself poolside in the backyard of a Beverly Hills home. Well, let’s get comfy shall we? This plush chaise should do nicely for the night.
Eventually discovered by the owners’ daughter Sophie, Bree finds herself being treated more like a welcomed guest! Offered scrumptious food and even invited to a pool party rather than being turned over to the police. What a stroke of luck!
Not so fast Bree. The following morning after the party a body is discovered in the pool. And poor Bree is the only one left at the home, the only witness to finding the body. Bree, it’s time to run for it!
A super-fast read that grabbed me immediately, keeping me entertained right to the end!
This will make the perfect poolside read this summer!😎
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
November 21, 2023
4.5* Secrets, lies and murder on Rodeo Drive.
"I knew my best days were behind me. What I didn't know was that the worst were yet to come."
Bree has been living under the radar for the past few months, as a homeless piano teacher in Beverly Hills. She decides to trespass to catch some sleep in one of the large homes pool house. She was familiar with the area before she lost her husband. Without a life insurance policy and a bank account that lifestyle did not exist anymore. Her life consisted of baths in a sink at a rest stop, begging for food and living out of her car. Like she said, she thought it could not get worse, but it does.
Told in several POVs, besides Bree's, there is Luke, her husband of 3 years; Carter, whose father owns the house on Rodeo Drive; Sophie, Carter's sister, a college graduate that has moved back home and knows everyone's secret.
Sophie discovers Bree in her father's Rodeo Drive home and instead of calling the police, she surprises her with an invitation to a costume party. All Bree could think about was eating a good meal. After the party, she was regretting going because Sophie was found dead floating in the pool and after Carter discovered she slept there, she became the prime suspect.
It has incredible twists filled with evading the truth at every angle. I enjoyed the fast paced thriller that leaves no one to trust. On a sad note, it also made me think about the homeless population and how they got to that point after hearing Bree's story.
"I knew my best days were behind me. What I didn't know was that the worst were yet to come."
Bree has been living under the radar for the past few months, as a homeless piano teacher in Beverly Hills. She decides to trespass to catch some sleep in one of the large homes pool house. She was familiar with the area before she lost her husband. Without a life insurance policy and a bank account that lifestyle did not exist anymore. Her life consisted of baths in a sink at a rest stop, begging for food and living out of her car. Like she said, she thought it could not get worse, but it does.
Told in several POVs, besides Bree's, there is Luke, her husband of 3 years; Carter, whose father owns the house on Rodeo Drive; Sophie, Carter's sister, a college graduate that has moved back home and knows everyone's secret.
Sophie discovers Bree in her father's Rodeo Drive home and instead of calling the police, she surprises her with an invitation to a costume party. All Bree could think about was eating a good meal. After the party, she was regretting going because Sophie was found dead floating in the pool and after Carter discovered she slept there, she became the prime suspect.
It has incredible twists filled with evading the truth at every angle. I enjoyed the fast paced thriller that leaves no one to trust. On a sad note, it also made me think about the homeless population and how they got to that point after hearing Bree's story.
June 3, 2023
"The problem with letting yourself be saved is that you forget how to save yourself"
Bree is down on her luck, homeless and broke she has been squatting in the pool house of a vacated luxury mansion in LA. But when a seemingly kind offer comes her way to provide her some respite from her daily grind it actually makes a bad situation worse and turns her life upside down. Now someone is dead, and no one is who they claim to be and nothing is what is seems.
"If your life is nothing but smooth sailing, the gifts along the way are water droplets in the ocean-indiscernible and unimpactful."
The multiple POVs and the writing style of this thriller were done really well, and I really enjoyed how the story kept moving forward and giving you breadcrumbs and surprises the deeper into the plot you went. It definitely kept you guessing! I will admit that only one of my theories panned out, so I was pretty surprised by the end of certain revelations which was really fun! I think the pacing could have been a little tighter in certain parts but overall, it was a really enjoyable fast paced read.
There is no such thing as celebration without disappointment, triumph without failure, dark without light; one defines the other."
Thanks to my fave girlies Cecelia and Cara for buddy reading this with me, it's always a fun time and I loved talking about our theories together!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the gifted arc
Bree is down on her luck, homeless and broke she has been squatting in the pool house of a vacated luxury mansion in LA. But when a seemingly kind offer comes her way to provide her some respite from her daily grind it actually makes a bad situation worse and turns her life upside down. Now someone is dead, and no one is who they claim to be and nothing is what is seems.
"If your life is nothing but smooth sailing, the gifts along the way are water droplets in the ocean-indiscernible and unimpactful."
The multiple POVs and the writing style of this thriller were done really well, and I really enjoyed how the story kept moving forward and giving you breadcrumbs and surprises the deeper into the plot you went. It definitely kept you guessing! I will admit that only one of my theories panned out, so I was pretty surprised by the end of certain revelations which was really fun! I think the pacing could have been a little tighter in certain parts but overall, it was a really enjoyable fast paced read.
There is no such thing as celebration without disappointment, triumph without failure, dark without light; one defines the other."
Thanks to my fave girlies Cecelia and Cara for buddy reading this with me, it's always a fun time and I loved talking about our theories together!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the gifted arc
Read
June 7, 2023Publication: 🗓️ 𝓢𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 ⓫
Nobody tells you when you’re twenty-two that you should have things like life insurance, a bank account in your name, and an equity line of credit in case of emergencies.
Bree’s life has just been upended. She is a woman on the run with a dead body hanging over her head and no place to live. The mysterious circumstances surrounding her situation only raise more questions with each reveal.
Lie in the Pool is fast paced with shifting POVs and seamless time jump transitions. I enjoyed the writing style. Like untangling a chain necklace, each loosened knot brought us closer to the truth. I had a lot of fun piecing things together.
The characters were interesting and I found myself profiling each of them. Bree’s struggles gave me overwhelming feelings of anxiety and gratitude for my life. It can always be worse and an act of kindness might change someone’s life.
Are you in the mood for a well-written mystery thriller? I recommend this satisfying page-turner as it is engaging and easy to read. Susan Walter is on my radar and I cannot wait to read more of her work.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Susan Walter for the gifted ARC.
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Note to self,
This book would translate well to the big screen.
Also, Ozark on Netflix is suddenly calling my name. I think it’s time to be reunited with my loves Ruth and Buddy. 😉
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Thank goodness I had my girls Cara and Rebecca to buddy read and help me solve this crime! Appreciate and love y’all! 🕵🏻♀️🩷🕵🏼♀️🩷🕵🏻♀️
Nobody tells you when you’re twenty-two that you should have things like life insurance, a bank account in your name, and an equity line of credit in case of emergencies.
Bree’s life has just been upended. She is a woman on the run with a dead body hanging over her head and no place to live. The mysterious circumstances surrounding her situation only raise more questions with each reveal.
❝
I knew my best days were behind me. What I didn’t know was that the worst were yet to come.
Lie in the Pool is fast paced with shifting POVs and seamless time jump transitions. I enjoyed the writing style. Like untangling a chain necklace, each loosened knot brought us closer to the truth. I had a lot of fun piecing things together.
❝
I had a professor who liked to say “Curiosity is the engine of achievement,” but we all know it’s also what killed the cat. I didn’t know yet if I was destined for greatness or if I was the cat.
The characters were interesting and I found myself profiling each of them. Bree’s struggles gave me overwhelming feelings of anxiety and gratitude for my life. It can always be worse and an act of kindness might change someone’s life.
❝
She lived in the moment, like people with difficult pasts learn how to do.
But the problem with letting yourself be saved is that you forget how to save yourself.
I wondered to myself, What makes a place home? Is it where you grew up? Went to school? Go to work? Lay your head? Because sometimes those are four different places.
Are you in the mood for a well-written mystery thriller? I recommend this satisfying page-turner as it is engaging and easy to read. Susan Walter is on my radar and I cannot wait to read more of her work.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Susan Walter for the gifted ARC.
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Note to self,
This book would translate well to the big screen.
Also, Ozark on Netflix is suddenly calling my name. I think it’s time to be reunited with my loves Ruth and Buddy. 😉
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Thank goodness I had my girls Cara and Rebecca to buddy read and help me solve this crime! Appreciate and love y’all! 🕵🏻♀️🩷🕵🏼♀️🩷🕵🏻♀️
October 7, 2023
Aubrey ("Bree") is alone, penniless and living in her car when she climbs a fence and spends the night in the pool house of a luxurious home in Beverly Hills. Sophie and Carter, adult children of the home's absentee owner are planning a Halloween party and, after discovering Bree hiding on the property, Sophie insists that Bree should attend. The next morning a woman is discovered dead in the pool and Bree is on the run.
This story goes back and forth in time and is told from a number of pov's, including Bree and Sophie, and it's really well crafted. The plot is quite complex with many twists and turns and some surprising revelations as well as plenty of misdirection. Bree's background as a pianist was an interesting side story. I previously read "Good as Dead", the author's debut novel, and hope to read "Over My Dead Body" when time permits. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. If you're in the U.S., the giveaway for this book is still open for a few more days!
I have a few quibbles which are pretty minor but irritating all the same and don't really have much to do with the story itself. First, the title - there really isn't much connection between the story and the title, the poolhouse yes but not so much the pool itself, and by "lie" are we talking reclining or telling untruths? I guess the answer's subjective but I think there's a better title out there and a more appropriate cover, pretty as this one is. Second, many of the chapters ended with foreshadowing phrases such as "if only I'd known", "what I didn't realize", etc. Once or twice would've been acceptable but there were far too many of them, imho. Third, the blurb - the blurb contains outright untruths. There is much misdirection in the story itself which is fine but I don't think it should be included in the blurb as though they're facts in the story. If you haven't already read the book, I recommend you NOT read my spoilers. End rant!
In spite of the slight faults in the marketing aspects of this book, I really enjoyed it and loved the frankness in the author's acknowledgements.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published September 12, 2023
This story goes back and forth in time and is told from a number of pov's, including Bree and Sophie, and it's really well crafted. The plot is quite complex with many twists and turns and some surprising revelations as well as plenty of misdirection. Bree's background as a pianist was an interesting side story. I previously read "Good as Dead", the author's debut novel, and hope to read "Over My Dead Body" when time permits. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. If you're in the U.S., the giveaway for this book is still open for a few more days!
I have a few quibbles which are pretty minor but irritating all the same and don't really have much to do with the story itself. First, the title - there really isn't much connection between the story and the title, the poolhouse yes but not so much the pool itself, and by "lie" are we talking reclining or telling untruths? I guess the answer's subjective but I think there's a better title out there and a more appropriate cover, pretty as this one is. Second, many of the chapters ended with foreshadowing phrases such as "if only I'd known", "what I didn't realize", etc. Once or twice would've been acceptable but there were far too many of them, imho. Third, the blurb - the blurb contains outright untruths. There is much misdirection in the story itself which is fine but I don't think it should be included in the blurb as though they're facts in the story. If you haven't already read the book, I recommend you NOT read my spoilers. End rant!
In spite of the slight faults in the marketing aspects of this book, I really enjoyed it and loved the frankness in the author's acknowledgements.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published September 12, 2023
September 13, 2023
Bree’s new home is luxurious and private, with a fancy Beverly Hills address. What a shame it’s not hers. Widowed, penniless, living in her car, and out of options, she’s climbed the fence and crashed in the pool house. All she wants is a good night’s sleep. But when Sophie, the absentee owner, finds her, she gets a whole lot more.
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect.
Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next.
Fast-paced, compelling, and stuffed to the brim with nerve-shredding doubt, Lie by the Pool took me on quite the ride. Told from multiple POVs through two timelines, the complex plot was easy to follow and provided plenty of blind turns, keeping me in suspense throughout. The format was engaging with the timelines going back and forth from present to past in sections, giving tantalizing glimpses of where the plot was headed. The entire time, however, it was a maze of misdirection.
But the best part of this novel, in my opinion, were the utterly jaw-dropping twists that had me whispering “What?!?” more times than I could count. Even better, the first revelation came early on, turning the entire premise of the book on its head.
Rounding off those twists, though, was an adrenaline-pumping, fist-clenching climax that had me reading as fast as my eyes could go. Stretched out over a deliciously large percentage of the book, my pulse was definitely elevated by the game of cat-and-mouse. Who was going to come out on top: the good guys or the bad?
Now on to those characters. With four narrators, I was pleasantly surprised to find each had their own clear voice and identity. On top of that, their interactions rang true, creating some rather delicious exchanges between them, specifically with Luke and Bree. Sadly, however, I had a hard time connecting with any of them, rooting only really for Bree.
That, unfortunately, wasn’t the end of the bad news either. While I absolutely adored the start plus the last third or so of the book, the middle dragged on considerably. Filled with a bit too many running internal dialogues, I found myself skimming quite a bit. From the running list of lasagna ingredients to the required camping paraphernalia, I just didn’t need to know about it all.
Ultimately, though, I was sold on this one by the end. Addictive, unputdownable, and action-packed, this is definitely a dynamite summer read. If you haven’t read anything by Walter yet, be sure to throw this one on your TBR, because it is definitely not one to be missed. Rating of 4 stars.
Scroll for trigger warning (contains a potential spoiler).
PUB DATE: September 12, 2023
Thank you to Susan Walter, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
Trigger warning: homelessness, loss of a spouse, money laundering, death by drowning, kidnapping, organized crime
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect.
Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next.
Fast-paced, compelling, and stuffed to the brim with nerve-shredding doubt, Lie by the Pool took me on quite the ride. Told from multiple POVs through two timelines, the complex plot was easy to follow and provided plenty of blind turns, keeping me in suspense throughout. The format was engaging with the timelines going back and forth from present to past in sections, giving tantalizing glimpses of where the plot was headed. The entire time, however, it was a maze of misdirection.
But the best part of this novel, in my opinion, were the utterly jaw-dropping twists that had me whispering “What?!?” more times than I could count. Even better, the first revelation came early on, turning the entire premise of the book on its head.
Rounding off those twists, though, was an adrenaline-pumping, fist-clenching climax that had me reading as fast as my eyes could go. Stretched out over a deliciously large percentage of the book, my pulse was definitely elevated by the game of cat-and-mouse. Who was going to come out on top: the good guys or the bad?
Now on to those characters. With four narrators, I was pleasantly surprised to find each had their own clear voice and identity. On top of that, their interactions rang true, creating some rather delicious exchanges between them, specifically with Luke and Bree. Sadly, however, I had a hard time connecting with any of them, rooting only really for Bree.
That, unfortunately, wasn’t the end of the bad news either. While I absolutely adored the start plus the last third or so of the book, the middle dragged on considerably. Filled with a bit too many running internal dialogues, I found myself skimming quite a bit. From the running list of lasagna ingredients to the required camping paraphernalia, I just didn’t need to know about it all.
Ultimately, though, I was sold on this one by the end. Addictive, unputdownable, and action-packed, this is definitely a dynamite summer read. If you haven’t read anything by Walter yet, be sure to throw this one on your TBR, because it is definitely not one to be missed. Rating of 4 stars.
Scroll for trigger warning (contains a potential spoiler).
PUB DATE: September 12, 2023
Thank you to Susan Walter, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
Trigger warning: homelessness, loss of a spouse, money laundering, death by drowning, kidnapping, organized crime
May 20, 2023
3.5 rounded down
All Bree (Aubrey), Sprayberry wants is a decent nights sleep, sadly, as she is out of options, she crashes in a pool house of a luxury pad in Beverly Hills. How has her life come to this, homeless and sleeping where she can? The house belongs to Sophie and Carter‘s father and is currently empty. They decide to hold a Halloween party there, and when Sophie discovers Bree camped out there, she surprisingly invites her to the party. If only Bree had known what the invitation would lead to.
The premise is good and we certainly get variations on the lie by the pool theme. The storyline does have you asking a multitude of questions from the start and there are warning signs that are very intriguing. There are some good tense and suspenseful scenes and the plot is twisty in places, these are a bit of a stretch bonkers but are entertaining and the finale is also good. The female characters are likeable and gutsy.
However, the story is told by several different perspectives and this leads to the pacing becoming irregular, although it is fun working out who is likely to be unreliable. It’s a pity too that the author didn’t choose to leave each point of view on a cliffhanger, instead of which she almost tells us what’s going to happen next, spoiling the surprise.
Overall, it is certainly a good lie by the pool novel as it’s easy to read and has plenty of entertainment value.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
All Bree (Aubrey), Sprayberry wants is a decent nights sleep, sadly, as she is out of options, she crashes in a pool house of a luxury pad in Beverly Hills. How has her life come to this, homeless and sleeping where she can? The house belongs to Sophie and Carter‘s father and is currently empty. They decide to hold a Halloween party there, and when Sophie discovers Bree camped out there, she surprisingly invites her to the party. If only Bree had known what the invitation would lead to.
The premise is good and we certainly get variations on the lie by the pool theme. The storyline does have you asking a multitude of questions from the start and there are warning signs that are very intriguing. There are some good tense and suspenseful scenes and the plot is twisty in places, these are a bit of a stretch bonkers but are entertaining and the finale is also good. The female characters are likeable and gutsy.
However, the story is told by several different perspectives and this leads to the pacing becoming irregular, although it is fun working out who is likely to be unreliable. It’s a pity too that the author didn’t choose to leave each point of view on a cliffhanger, instead of which she almost tells us what’s going to happen next, spoiling the surprise.
Overall, it is certainly a good lie by the pool novel as it’s easy to read and has plenty of entertainment value.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 20, 2023
Okay guys… let’s talk about this book!! First off that cover!!! 😍 Whoa right?? Stunning. ❤️
@susanwalterauthor was a new to me author last year when I read Over Her Dead Body. ❤️She blew me away and I am back for more… and guess what?!! She did it again!! 😉 Why did I love this book?? Listen to this…
Bree is homeless… living in her 🚘.. she has no idea where her next meal is coming from… she is scared sleeping in her car… with good reason… 😬… How did a piano 🎹 prodigy get in this situation?? Nobody plans to be homeless… 😩
Good thing for Bree she knows of this gorgeous Beverly Hills mansion… 😳… she sneaks into it to “lie by the pool” … aka sleep…she has gotten really good at dodging the owners… until… the night they stumble upon her. 😳😳😳
Does the owner…
🤔 Demand she leave?
🤔 Invite her to a Halloween 👻 party ?
🤔 Sit down and crack open some wine 🍷 with her? 😂
OMG this went sideways FAST. I was completely blindsided with the first twist!!! I seriously screamed WHAT???!! 😳 Then the action picked up even more… 🫣Murder may be involved! 😉 I know that makes your little thriller hearts happy! 🖤😘
That ending!! 😮🫢😳🤯🤯🤯 NEVER saw it coming!!!
So I ran 🏃♀️ out and got Good As Dead.. because I NEED every book @susanwalterauthor writes!! Total fan girl here! 🙋♀️
💖💖💖 Is this book on your list?? Do you have a favorite @susanwalterauthor book?
I received a gifted copy of this gorgeous stunner of a book!
@susanwalterauthor was a new to me author last year when I read Over Her Dead Body. ❤️She blew me away and I am back for more… and guess what?!! She did it again!! 😉 Why did I love this book?? Listen to this…
Bree is homeless… living in her 🚘.. she has no idea where her next meal is coming from… she is scared sleeping in her car… with good reason… 😬… How did a piano 🎹 prodigy get in this situation?? Nobody plans to be homeless… 😩
Good thing for Bree she knows of this gorgeous Beverly Hills mansion… 😳… she sneaks into it to “lie by the pool” … aka sleep…she has gotten really good at dodging the owners… until… the night they stumble upon her. 😳😳😳
Does the owner…
🤔 Demand she leave?
🤔 Invite her to a Halloween 👻 party ?
🤔 Sit down and crack open some wine 🍷 with her? 😂
OMG this went sideways FAST. I was completely blindsided with the first twist!!! I seriously screamed WHAT???!! 😳 Then the action picked up even more… 🫣Murder may be involved! 😉 I know that makes your little thriller hearts happy! 🖤😘
That ending!! 😮🫢😳🤯🤯🤯 NEVER saw it coming!!!
So I ran 🏃♀️ out and got Good As Dead.. because I NEED every book @susanwalterauthor writes!! Total fan girl here! 🙋♀️
💖💖💖 Is this book on your list?? Do you have a favorite @susanwalterauthor book?
I received a gifted copy of this gorgeous stunner of a book!
May 20, 2023
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
I enjoyed this story!
Lie by the Pool was a buddy read suggestion and not knowing anything beyond the publisher's premise, I was happily surprised by the plot veering into unexpected directions. Identifiable characters and several unknowns added to my experience.
The writing was mostly a hit with a few misses for me. The author’s biography states that she was an accomplished violinist which seemed par for the course because of the impassioned way that she encompassed the main character’s love for the piano.
She also wrote a passage explaining the connection artists feel with each other even though the forms are different. This resonated with me and elevated my overall opinion despite a few clunkier sections.
As a buddy read with Jayme and Ceecee, it was fun bouncing various scenarios off each other along the way. Please take a look at their reviews for a more complete perspecitve.
Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Walter, and Lake Union Publishing for my Advance Electronic Copy.
I enjoyed this story!
Lie by the Pool was a buddy read suggestion and not knowing anything beyond the publisher's premise, I was happily surprised by the plot veering into unexpected directions. Identifiable characters and several unknowns added to my experience.
The writing was mostly a hit with a few misses for me. The author’s biography states that she was an accomplished violinist which seemed par for the course because of the impassioned way that she encompassed the main character’s love for the piano.
She also wrote a passage explaining the connection artists feel with each other even though the forms are different. This resonated with me and elevated my overall opinion despite a few clunkier sections.
As a buddy read with Jayme and Ceecee, it was fun bouncing various scenarios off each other along the way. Please take a look at their reviews for a more complete perspecitve.
Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Walter, and Lake Union Publishing for my Advance Electronic Copy.
June 28, 2023
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
The premise is about Bree who was homeless and crashed in the pool house but suddenly the owner of the house, Sophie found her and instead of calling the police to report her Sophie invited Bree for a party and the next morning Bree woke up and found Bree’s lifeless body floating in the pool.
I just don't feel it; the writing style is not really my type. It has different povs, which I'm okay with, but the pacing is so weird and messy. The inner monologue was too long and there were so much unnecessary informations that didn’t relate to the story at all. I can tolerate one or two, but it’s just way too many. For example, I don’t care how the people in the mall looked, what the people who were sitting in the piano at the mall looked like, or the detail information about the piano, like how shiny and graceful the curves of the piano were like😭😭
There are a couple of chapters that are not relatable to the story that make the story so slow at first.
The story line seems ridiculous and feels forced; there is no natural connection between the characters. There’s no character development at all; each character is just "oh, I did this, I did that, I feel this". The ending is very predictable, which actually doesn't matter if the storyline is interesting, but for this one, it's just flat. I don’t really get the thriller to the point where it feels like it tried too hard to be a "thriller". It honestly has potential if the story has more depth
2.5 rounded down⭐
The premise is about Bree who was homeless and crashed in the pool house but suddenly the owner of the house, Sophie found her and instead of calling the police to report her Sophie invited Bree for a party and the next morning Bree woke up and found Bree’s lifeless body floating in the pool.
I just don't feel it; the writing style is not really my type. It has different povs, which I'm okay with, but the pacing is so weird and messy. The inner monologue was too long and there were so much unnecessary informations that didn’t relate to the story at all. I can tolerate one or two, but it’s just way too many. For example, I don’t care how the people in the mall looked, what the people who were sitting in the piano at the mall looked like, or the detail information about the piano, like how shiny and graceful the curves of the piano were like😭😭
There are a couple of chapters that are not relatable to the story that make the story so slow at first.
The story line seems ridiculous and feels forced; there is no natural connection between the characters. There’s no character development at all; each character is just "oh, I did this, I did that, I feel this". The ending is very predictable, which actually doesn't matter if the storyline is interesting, but for this one, it's just flat. I don’t really get the thriller to the point where it feels like it tried too hard to be a "thriller". It honestly has potential if the story has more depth
2.5 rounded down⭐
July 1, 2023
What a page turner!! Susan Walter books read like a fast paced thriller film, unsurprisingly as she is a screen writer. I could not get enough of Lie By The Pool, and finished in a few short hours. Clear your schedules when you pick this one up, it is one of those just one more chapter books that you end up finishing in no time.
So what is it about? Bree has found herself homeless and living in her car since losing her husband. But, she has found a house in Beverly Hills that has an owner who isn’t around much and she sneaks in to sleep in the pool house of a nighttime. That is until the owner, Sophie, finds her. She thinks she is in for it now, but Sophie feels sorry for her and invites her to a Halloween party at the house in a few nights time. She goes, has plenty of food and drink and decides to spend the night in one of the homes many bedrooms for her first proper nights sleep in months. When she wakes the next morning, she sees a body in the pool, and knows that she will be the number one suspect, so she runs.
What happens next will just blow your mind!! It is so unpredictable and grabs you right from the start. You just have to read it to believe it.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and a thrilling Book Promotions for my advanced copy to read. Publishes on September 12th.
So what is it about? Bree has found herself homeless and living in her car since losing her husband. But, she has found a house in Beverly Hills that has an owner who isn’t around much and she sneaks in to sleep in the pool house of a nighttime. That is until the owner, Sophie, finds her. She thinks she is in for it now, but Sophie feels sorry for her and invites her to a Halloween party at the house in a few nights time. She goes, has plenty of food and drink and decides to spend the night in one of the homes many bedrooms for her first proper nights sleep in months. When she wakes the next morning, she sees a body in the pool, and knows that she will be the number one suspect, so she runs.
What happens next will just blow your mind!! It is so unpredictable and grabs you right from the start. You just have to read it to believe it.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and a thrilling Book Promotions for my advanced copy to read. Publishes on September 12th.
July 3, 2023
This was my choice for my relaxing Canada Day long weekend.
What a great title!
I absolutely loved 95% of this book; it was incredibly well-plotted, the atmosphere and sense of place were outstanding and the characters were uniquely crafted. It was compelling and unpredictable and had all the hallmarks of becoming the best book of my summer.
Had it not been for the two references dissing Canada, I would have given this five stars. Was I a little miffed because I was reading this on Canada Day? Maybe. Did these two claims add ANYTHING to the plot? No. That’s why I can’t figure out why the author included them. A little sleuthing uncovered that this book had many parallels to the author’s life … perhaps the ‘jabs’ were a little personal for her. Unfortunately, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
I am a Canadian by choice. I’m proud to call myself a Canadian and I certainly celebrate Canada Day. Big time.
I was gifted this copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
What a great title!
I absolutely loved 95% of this book; it was incredibly well-plotted, the atmosphere and sense of place were outstanding and the characters were uniquely crafted. It was compelling and unpredictable and had all the hallmarks of becoming the best book of my summer.
Had it not been for the two references dissing Canada, I would have given this five stars. Was I a little miffed because I was reading this on Canada Day? Maybe. Did these two claims add ANYTHING to the plot? No. That’s why I can’t figure out why the author included them. A little sleuthing uncovered that this book had many parallels to the author’s life … perhaps the ‘jabs’ were a little personal for her. Unfortunately, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
I am a Canadian by choice. I’m proud to call myself a Canadian and I certainly celebrate Canada Day. Big time.
I was gifted this copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 27, 2023
This is a fast-paced story with a few plot elements which are different. However, it is largely predictable and shallow in parts.
Bree (Aubrey) is having a hard life. She is a music tutor and has had to sleep in her car since a few days. Her memories of her life with her husband Luke are painful. She has no savings, and cannot afford to move into a rental place. She enters a property in Beverly Hills which seems uninhabited and stays in a room adjacent to the pool. Carter and Sophie are siblings, and it is their dad, a real estate developer, who has acquired this property recently. They visit the place, along with Jared who takes care of the pool. Carter and Sophie plan a party with a few friends at the place. Sophie happens to see Bree camping there and is compassionate at her situation. Rather than driving her out, she invites her to the party as well. The morning after the party, along at the property, Bree sees a body floating in the pool and calls 911.
The story is told from the perspectives of Bree, Sophie, Carter & Luke, alternating between the present time and a few months prior. The telling is literal about incidents which happen, and the changing perspectives contribute absolutely nothing to the story, as there is very little individual perspective in the storytelling. The crime & plot are quite theatrical & largely predictable, rather than developing characters & motives. I found the writing to be average, though the pace is to the credit of the story.
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Bree (Aubrey) is having a hard life. She is a music tutor and has had to sleep in her car since a few days. Her memories of her life with her husband Luke are painful. She has no savings, and cannot afford to move into a rental place. She enters a property in Beverly Hills which seems uninhabited and stays in a room adjacent to the pool. Carter and Sophie are siblings, and it is their dad, a real estate developer, who has acquired this property recently. They visit the place, along with Jared who takes care of the pool. Carter and Sophie plan a party with a few friends at the place. Sophie happens to see Bree camping there and is compassionate at her situation. Rather than driving her out, she invites her to the party as well. The morning after the party, along at the property, Bree sees a body floating in the pool and calls 911.
The story is told from the perspectives of Bree, Sophie, Carter & Luke, alternating between the present time and a few months prior. The telling is literal about incidents which happen, and the changing perspectives contribute absolutely nothing to the story, as there is very little individual perspective in the storytelling. The crime & plot are quite theatrical & largely predictable, rather than developing characters & motives. I found the writing to be average, though the pace is to the credit of the story.
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for a free electronic review copy.
August 25, 2023
A triumph
It’s an amazing read,it has elements of thriller, crime, psychological, family, Rom Com and pretty much everything else wrapped up into one of the most surprising books, for me, this year….’lying by the pool is probably less than 1% of the book, there’s no time for that such is the action that thrashes you from page to page
There is FBI insight, wonderful descriptions of L.A. and Beverley Hills, ‘happy writing’…this for me means you can feel the authors excitement of the story and happiness at writing ( sounds a bit weird but you will see when read it ) and also ‘welcoming to the reader’ writing ( I loved the style 🤗 ) all bringing us to the conclusion that these characters we are getting to know have in different ways bitten off much much more than they can chew
Its a bit different, a bit quirky, a lot great and reminds me why reading is such a great and varied hobby
I loved it
It’s an amazing read,it has elements of thriller, crime, psychological, family, Rom Com and pretty much everything else wrapped up into one of the most surprising books, for me, this year….’lying by the pool is probably less than 1% of the book, there’s no time for that such is the action that thrashes you from page to page
There is FBI insight, wonderful descriptions of L.A. and Beverley Hills, ‘happy writing’…this for me means you can feel the authors excitement of the story and happiness at writing ( sounds a bit weird but you will see when read it ) and also ‘welcoming to the reader’ writing ( I loved the style 🤗 ) all bringing us to the conclusion that these characters we are getting to know have in different ways bitten off much much more than they can chew
Its a bit different, a bit quirky, a lot great and reminds me why reading is such a great and varied hobby
I loved it
May 30, 2023
I LOVED this book, one of my favorites this year!
All of her books read like movies and this is her best one yet!
It’s about a broken woman named Bree that has lost everything and is now living in her car.
Bree decides to sneak into the backyard of an empty home to sleep on the outdoor furniture by the pool.
The owner of the home finds Bree there and invites her to a party at the house later.
The next morning, someone is dead in the pool……. 👀
Trust me, you do NOT want to miss this one! It’s juicy, clever, fast-paced, complex and set on the beautiful back drop of Beverly Hills.
October 15, 2023
Review coming soon.
June 17, 2025
I was enjoying the start of this one. I liked the mystery around the pool house and the characters coming into view. It left you wondering who the mysterious woman was for a while and I liked that being held back. As the book progressed to the main event before the reveal it was going great. The plot was on track and I was an eager reader.
I liked the reveal once the timelines started to shift to her past also as it did with other characters but then it lost me. The plot started to really slow and it was cumbersome to the end. Apart from the reveal about what was really going on (which I didn’t like and felt another angle would of blended much better) there was nothing much more to enjoy.
I was skip reading paragraphs in chapters yet could see I was missing nothing. The ending was really a let down and I’d hoped it would really ramp up to a huge climax but sadly not. So I have mixed opinions, started of well but slid downhill after halfway. A shame as it could of had so much more psychological thriller aspects thrown in on top to make it a winner. It got too wordy, like just filling in chapters but not much substance. I’d wanted more.
It’s not really a crime novel nor a psychological thriller and I think things got lost in translation. Definitely more on the psychological aspect of things could of been really played up on well. Some may love it. Just not a wowser for me.
3 stars for it overall. It was okay. I did think maybe more 2.5 but feeling generous. I would try this Author again with another book written by her.
A big thanks to the amazing Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for my review copy. Published 12th September 2023.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
I liked the reveal once the timelines started to shift to her past also as it did with other characters but then it lost me. The plot started to really slow and it was cumbersome to the end. Apart from the reveal about what was really going on (which I didn’t like and felt another angle would of blended much better) there was nothing much more to enjoy.
I was skip reading paragraphs in chapters yet could see I was missing nothing. The ending was really a let down and I’d hoped it would really ramp up to a huge climax but sadly not. So I have mixed opinions, started of well but slid downhill after halfway. A shame as it could of had so much more psychological thriller aspects thrown in on top to make it a winner. It got too wordy, like just filling in chapters but not much substance. I’d wanted more.
It’s not really a crime novel nor a psychological thriller and I think things got lost in translation. Definitely more on the psychological aspect of things could of been really played up on well. Some may love it. Just not a wowser for me.
3 stars for it overall. It was okay. I did think maybe more 2.5 but feeling generous. I would try this Author again with another book written by her.
A big thanks to the amazing Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for my review copy. Published 12th September 2023.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
October 10, 2023
Audio - 4 stars
Story - 3 stars
Story - 3 stars
May 23, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of Lie by the Pool!
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🎹 love to play the piano
🏊♀️ are a pool person
🌴 enjoy the warm LA weather
🇨🇦 are originally from Canada
• 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄
Bree is on the streets after something terrible happens to her husband, something that she believes was all her fault.
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Bree and her husband Luke have been married for 3 years when they buy a beautiful home together, but when things go wrong, Bree finds herself living out of her car and sleeping in random neighbor’s backyards. When she discovers one empty house, it instantly becomes her new favorite spot, a place she’ll visit again and again. Told from four different POVs, Bree, Luke, Sophie, and Carter will end up crossing paths in dangerous ways.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a really fun read. I loved the different POVs we got and the way the story was told. Susie is an excellent writer, and her books would make great movies or tv shows! I really felt bad for Bree, but also didn’t know if she was more than a victim. While not all of the twists were mind boggling, I was pleased with others. I had zero idea what way this entire story was going and found myself pleasantly surprised! After reading another book just recently that involved a woman living out of her car, this one just added to my sympathy for people who go through that. Overall, I highly recommend bingeing on this one!
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🎹 love to play the piano
🏊♀️ are a pool person
🌴 enjoy the warm LA weather
🇨🇦 are originally from Canada
• 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄
Bree is on the streets after something terrible happens to her husband, something that she believes was all her fault.
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Bree and her husband Luke have been married for 3 years when they buy a beautiful home together, but when things go wrong, Bree finds herself living out of her car and sleeping in random neighbor’s backyards. When she discovers one empty house, it instantly becomes her new favorite spot, a place she’ll visit again and again. Told from four different POVs, Bree, Luke, Sophie, and Carter will end up crossing paths in dangerous ways.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a really fun read. I loved the different POVs we got and the way the story was told. Susie is an excellent writer, and her books would make great movies or tv shows! I really felt bad for Bree, but also didn’t know if she was more than a victim. While not all of the twists were mind boggling, I was pleased with others. I had zero idea what way this entire story was going and found myself pleasantly surprised! After reading another book just recently that involved a woman living out of her car, this one just added to my sympathy for people who go through that. Overall, I highly recommend bingeing on this one!
September 12, 2023
Lie by the Pool was gripping from page 1. There were so many moments where I thought to myself "where is this going? How does this all fit together? Can I trust what I think I know?" I can answer that last question for you... no, I couldn't!
This book really surprised me and that was definitely Walter's intent which I love. The characters had a lot of depth and I loved the different points of view so we could get to hear each of their stories personally. The different timelines also added so much complexity to the story and helped set the stage.
I really enjoyed Walter's writing and her descriptions. The house on Rodeo Drive was picture perfect in my mind and I could envision Bree stealthily sneaking in, looking for a safe space to rest her head for a few brief moments.
Sophie was such a complex and unique character. I loved her depth and easy it was to write her off. It was fun seeing beneath the facade and getting to know her better.
The music aspect was also really unique. It was so hard to understand how a successful pianist could fall down on her luck so hard that she was living out of her car and only had a few hundred dollars to her name. Coupled with her citizenship and the slow burn unfolding of what happened with her husband, the mystery started to unravel.
This book definitely went in a direction I never could have even dreamt when I started. It was a fun read and tough to put down. Many of the chapters end with ominous last thoughts like "if only I had known just how bad it would get" or "and that's the next person that was close to me that ended up dead" - it kept me flipping pages and wanting to know what happened next.
I definitely recommend!
Thank you to Thriller Lovers Book Promotions and Lake Union for the copy.
This book really surprised me and that was definitely Walter's intent which I love. The characters had a lot of depth and I loved the different points of view so we could get to hear each of their stories personally. The different timelines also added so much complexity to the story and helped set the stage.
I really enjoyed Walter's writing and her descriptions. The house on Rodeo Drive was picture perfect in my mind and I could envision Bree stealthily sneaking in, looking for a safe space to rest her head for a few brief moments.
Sophie was such a complex and unique character. I loved her depth and easy it was to write her off. It was fun seeing beneath the facade and getting to know her better.
The music aspect was also really unique. It was so hard to understand how a successful pianist could fall down on her luck so hard that she was living out of her car and only had a few hundred dollars to her name. Coupled with her citizenship and the slow burn unfolding of what happened with her husband, the mystery started to unravel.
This book definitely went in a direction I never could have even dreamt when I started. It was a fun read and tough to put down. Many of the chapters end with ominous last thoughts like "if only I had known just how bad it would get" or "and that's the next person that was close to me that ended up dead" - it kept me flipping pages and wanting to know what happened next.
I definitely recommend!
Thank you to Thriller Lovers Book Promotions and Lake Union for the copy.
October 12, 2023
A Page-Turner With A Slow Flow Of Secrets!
This is a page-turner from the start with the real excitement saved for the later part of the book. It begins with a slow leak of information about the characters. By the time we get to the meat of the story, the characters are rounded out and brought to life. But some of them hold onto their secrets tightly.
Even though this starts as a slow burn, the author manipulates the readers by slowly feeding hints and secrets. But that info is sketchy and scrambled by alternate timelines and various narrators. A large puzzle with scattered and missing pieces!
Bree once had everything she’d hoped for and more. A gorgeous house in Beverly Hills, a loving husband with a successful business and the start of her own blossoming career. When it all vanishes, she finds herself homeless and living in her car. With a situation complicated even more by her mysterious circumstances.
Sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing this complimentary ARC through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
#LieByThePool #netgalley #SusanWalter #lakeunionpublishing #amazonpublishing #kindleunlimited #honestreview #bookreviewer
This is a page-turner from the start with the real excitement saved for the later part of the book. It begins with a slow leak of information about the characters. By the time we get to the meat of the story, the characters are rounded out and brought to life. But some of them hold onto their secrets tightly.
Even though this starts as a slow burn, the author manipulates the readers by slowly feeding hints and secrets. But that info is sketchy and scrambled by alternate timelines and various narrators. A large puzzle with scattered and missing pieces!
Bree once had everything she’d hoped for and more. A gorgeous house in Beverly Hills, a loving husband with a successful business and the start of her own blossoming career. When it all vanishes, she finds herself homeless and living in her car. With a situation complicated even more by her mysterious circumstances.
Sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing this complimentary ARC through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
#LieByThePool #netgalley #SusanWalter #lakeunionpublishing #amazonpublishing #kindleunlimited #honestreview #bookreviewer
September 7, 2023
I just love it when I can't put a book down. This was a page turner and one I was surprised at. I will say this is one you want to grab and devour.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
August 25, 2023
Lie By The Pool is an expertly crafted story. So well written, fast paced and utterly addictive.
Bree is homeless and when she is befriended by Sophie and invited to a posh party, she can't turn it down. After spending the night, a pure luxury after sleeping in her car, Bree awakens to a dead body.
Told in multi POV from 4 characters, which I loved. It was the perfect amount of character POVs and really helped develop them all so well. It's also told from past and present timelines, which also lends to the masterful storytelling. Multi POV and multiple timelines are perfection to me when it comes to books and Susan Walter knocked it out of the park.
This is an action packed, unputdownable, thriller and I highly recommend!
It also has short chapters! Oh how I love short chapters. Their importance cannot be stressed enough.
Bree is homeless and when she is befriended by Sophie and invited to a posh party, she can't turn it down. After spending the night, a pure luxury after sleeping in her car, Bree awakens to a dead body.
Told in multi POV from 4 characters, which I loved. It was the perfect amount of character POVs and really helped develop them all so well. It's also told from past and present timelines, which also lends to the masterful storytelling. Multi POV and multiple timelines are perfection to me when it comes to books and Susan Walter knocked it out of the park.
This is an action packed, unputdownable, thriller and I highly recommend!
It also has short chapters! Oh how I love short chapters. Their importance cannot be stressed enough.
August 20, 2023
Lots and lots of unnecessary details to a rather boring and predictable story.
I don't care what Bree was adding to her stir-fry, or the brand of shampoo in a shower......details like this do nothing to bring the story forward, but rather add extra words. Bree was 'innocent'....or, as I found her, ignorant. Not knowing about bank accounts, or that you shouldn't leave large amounts of cash in an easily accessible part of your car......come on.
This needed more work to become something enjoyable and readable. Thriller, this was not.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review the book.
I don't care what Bree was adding to her stir-fry, or the brand of shampoo in a shower......details like this do nothing to bring the story forward, but rather add extra words. Bree was 'innocent'....or, as I found her, ignorant. Not knowing about bank accounts, or that you shouldn't leave large amounts of cash in an easily accessible part of your car......come on.
This needed more work to become something enjoyable and readable. Thriller, this was not.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review the book.
April 22, 2023
Synopsis (It's a fiction book, so it helps…from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
******************************************************************************
A desperate woman. An irresistible invitation. An escalating nightmare of secrets, lies, and murder.
Bree’s new home is luxurious and private, with a fancy Beverly Hills address. What a shame it’s not hers. Widowed, penniless, living in her car, and out of options, she’s climbed the fence and crashed in the pool house. All she wants is a good night’s sleep. But when Sophie, the absentee owner, finds her, she gets a whole lot more.
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect.
Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next.
An interesting look at how the other half lives...I mean the rich half...and how hard it is for those who are so priced out of livable accommodations that they have to live in their car. (With rents rising by 1/3rd where I live I can understand it, especially as "new builds" are no longer rent-controlled here in Ontario which is *scandalous*...it makes you end up living in a dump like I do as the rent cannot rise much at all!)
Well written and enjoyable as there is a lot of tension and a lot of envy involved: wouldn't we all wish that we were so rich and unproductive that all we had to do was lie by a pool all day?? Great characters and a great ending means I will recommend it far and wide.
#shortbutsweetreviews
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A desperate woman. An irresistible invitation. An escalating nightmare of secrets, lies, and murder.
Bree’s new home is luxurious and private, with a fancy Beverly Hills address. What a shame it’s not hers. Widowed, penniless, living in her car, and out of options, she’s climbed the fence and crashed in the pool house. All she wants is a good night’s sleep. But when Sophie, the absentee owner, finds her, she gets a whole lot more.
Sophie invites Bree back for a party. When it winds down, Bree can’t resist sneaking upstairs to sleep in a real bed. But the next morning, she wakes to find Sophie’s dead body floating in the pool. As the resident vagabond, she’s both the only witness and the prime murder suspect.
Bree knows she shouldn’t run, but her husband’s death was mysterious, too. If she’s going to clear her name, she’s going to have to work fast. Because the killer is still out there, and she’s next.
An interesting look at how the other half lives...I mean the rich half...and how hard it is for those who are so priced out of livable accommodations that they have to live in their car. (With rents rising by 1/3rd where I live I can understand it, especially as "new builds" are no longer rent-controlled here in Ontario which is *scandalous*...it makes you end up living in a dump like I do as the rent cannot rise much at all!)
Well written and enjoyable as there is a lot of tension and a lot of envy involved: wouldn't we all wish that we were so rich and unproductive that all we had to do was lie by a pool all day?? Great characters and a great ending means I will recommend it far and wide.
#shortbutsweetreviews
April 30, 2023
Went over to NetGalley to get an advance copy of Susan Walter's new book, and SO GLAD I DID. Wow, what a ride! The writing is superb. The characters were richly textured, and the plot is suspenseful and beautifully crafted.
Bree is alone and living in her car. She sneaks into the pool house of a fancy Beverly Hills mansion, but gets caught by the owner's daughter, Sophie. Sophie takes pity on Bree and invites her to a party. It's gratifying to see Bree relax and have fun in the company of other young people after everything she's been through, and when she sneaks upstairs at the end of the night to find a bed, we are rooting for her to stay awhile.
That's until she wakes to see Sophie's dead body floating in the pool. She's not guilty of murder, but she is guilty of other things, and does not want to be found by the police. So she goes into hiding. What unfolds over the next twenty-four hours is absolutely insane. The truth about what happened to Bree's husband will make your jaw fall on the floor.
Bree is a pianist, and the writing is almost musical. The plot turns were exciting and accelerated to a fantastic finish.
Thank you to Susan Walter, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for this review.
Bree is alone and living in her car. She sneaks into the pool house of a fancy Beverly Hills mansion, but gets caught by the owner's daughter, Sophie. Sophie takes pity on Bree and invites her to a party. It's gratifying to see Bree relax and have fun in the company of other young people after everything she's been through, and when she sneaks upstairs at the end of the night to find a bed, we are rooting for her to stay awhile.
That's until she wakes to see Sophie's dead body floating in the pool. She's not guilty of murder, but she is guilty of other things, and does not want to be found by the police. So she goes into hiding. What unfolds over the next twenty-four hours is absolutely insane. The truth about what happened to Bree's husband will make your jaw fall on the floor.
Bree is a pianist, and the writing is almost musical. The plot turns were exciting and accelerated to a fantastic finish.
Thank you to Susan Walter, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for this review.
September 12, 2023
What an intricate plot for this story! I really enjoyed it and all of the POVs--Bree, Sophie, Carter and Luke.
The story starts in the present and then goes back a few months. In the present, Bree is homeless and living in her car. She is barely scraping by with the money she makes from teaching piano. She is looking for a place to sleep (that is not her car), so she trespasses onto a Rodeo Drive backyard and sleeps in the pool house. Just five months earlier, she was happily married to Luke, celebrating their third anniversary. Her contractor husband, Luke, gifts her a house.
Sophie is the new owner of the house's daughter. She finds Bree and feels sorry for her. Sophie invites Bree to a Halloween party in the backyard that she and her brother, Carter, are having. After the party is over, Bree flees upstairs and decides to sleep in one of the vacant bedrooms. But when she wakes up in the morning, she sees a dead body floating in the pool...and she knows that this won't be good for her.
It all unravels from there.
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and the author for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story starts in the present and then goes back a few months. In the present, Bree is homeless and living in her car. She is barely scraping by with the money she makes from teaching piano. She is looking for a place to sleep (that is not her car), so she trespasses onto a Rodeo Drive backyard and sleeps in the pool house. Just five months earlier, she was happily married to Luke, celebrating their third anniversary. Her contractor husband, Luke, gifts her a house.
Sophie is the new owner of the house's daughter. She finds Bree and feels sorry for her. Sophie invites Bree to a Halloween party in the backyard that she and her brother, Carter, are having. After the party is over, Bree flees upstairs and decides to sleep in one of the vacant bedrooms. But when she wakes up in the morning, she sees a dead body floating in the pool...and she knows that this won't be good for her.
It all unravels from there.
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and the author for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 19, 2024
This was fine. I feel like it is mismarketed as a psychological thriller or domestic suspense when it’s real genre is more like crime thriller.
And crime stuff is just not really my jam. So the rating is more of a reflection of my enjoyment of this book then the quality. If the crime genre doesn’t put you off this would probably be a great read to pick up.
I thought the characters were compelling and well written. I thought the set up was intriguing. I just think once the crime angle came into play it was a little predictable. You already knew the whodunnit and the why, so there just weren’t many places to go from there.
The ending is largely an action sequence. There was a small twist which I already had seen coming.
I did receive a free digital galley of this from NetGalley, however I purchased and listened to the audiobook. I thought the audio was a good way to read this. It had a full cast and the narrators were great.
And crime stuff is just not really my jam. So the rating is more of a reflection of my enjoyment of this book then the quality. If the crime genre doesn’t put you off this would probably be a great read to pick up.
I thought the characters were compelling and well written. I thought the set up was intriguing. I just think once the crime angle came into play it was a little predictable. You already knew the whodunnit and the why, so there just weren’t many places to go from there.
The ending is largely an action sequence. There was a small twist which I already had seen coming.
I did receive a free digital galley of this from NetGalley, however I purchased and listened to the audiobook. I thought the audio was a good way to read this. It had a full cast and the narrators were great.
August 26, 2023
4.5 stars rounding up on Goodreads.
Bree is down and out on her luck! I was hooked with the multiple POV and winding thorough the maze to find out why Bree is homeless and alone. I loved this book and I could not fly through the chapters fast enough. It was a rollercoaster of a ride and the major twist left me with my jaw wide open! Susan Walter writing is so suspenseful that it will leave you reading late in the night. This was my second book that I have read by Walters and I have loved both. Definitely add this to your TBR!
****Many thanks to Susan Walter for the gifted copy in turn for an honest review and thank you to @thrillerbookloverspromotions for including me in the tour.
Bree is down and out on her luck! I was hooked with the multiple POV and winding thorough the maze to find out why Bree is homeless and alone. I loved this book and I could not fly through the chapters fast enough. It was a rollercoaster of a ride and the major twist left me with my jaw wide open! Susan Walter writing is so suspenseful that it will leave you reading late in the night. This was my second book that I have read by Walters and I have loved both. Definitely add this to your TBR!
****Many thanks to Susan Walter for the gifted copy in turn for an honest review and thank you to @thrillerbookloverspromotions for including me in the tour.
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