This Is How You Lie by C.G. Drews
⭐️ 3.5/5 stars
If you love a creepy Gothic thriller with a dark fairy-tale atmosphere, This Is How You Lie might be right up your alley!
The story follows Wren, a young woman who accepts a job as a nanny for a 14-month-old boy whose extraordinarily wealthy parents seem to have very little interest in actually raising him. The position is practically a 24/7 commitment, and Wren soon finds herself immersed in the strange dynamics of the Creswell household.
There’s Cadence, the young mother whose erratic behavior and dramatic mood swings suggest something is terribly wrong. There’s Lucian Creswell, the imposing man of the house, whom Wren instinctively distrusts. And thankfully, there’s a cute chef to provide a little distraction from all the unsettling behavior!
What I appreciated most about this novel was the atmosphere. With such a small cast of characters, much of the tension comes from the setting itself. The imposing mansion, the eerie lake, and the winding road leading to the property all contribute to an overwhelming sense of isolation and dread. It almost feels like stepping into a dark fairy tale where you know something terrible is waiting around the corner.
There are some genuinely grotesque moments, but I would describe this as more creepy than outright horrifying. The suspense builds nicely, and there are several surprising twists along the way. A few revelations seemed to come out of nowhere, and I noticed some minor plot holes, but neither significantly diminished my enjoyment.
Ultimately, I had a good time with this one, even if it didn’t completely blow me away. If your TBR is already overflowing, I wouldn’t necessarily tell you to move this to the top of the pile. But if you can’t get enough of atmospheric Gothic thrillers, this is certainly one worth considering.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for sending me a widget of this book!
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