Liz Loves Books.Com.

Having been a huge fan of Unravelling Oliver I really wanted to see what Liz Nugent would come up with next and that would be this - Lying in Wait. If you thought Oliver was a nightmare wait until you meet Lydia...

What I loved about this, and indeed about Unravelling Oliver, is the very different way the author approaches crime. Here there is no "whodunnit" but more a psychological character study of a group of people involved whether intentionally or otherwise, in murder. With Unravelling Oliver Liz Nugent literally did just that, unravelled the personality of a killer - here with "Lying in Wait" she does that again in some ways but this time expands that experience, in a completely intensely addictive ripple effect kind of way. Erm not sure if that covers it well but its the best I can come up with.

"My Husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it."

Thats where we start, with a killer opening and an introduction to Lydia, who you really have to read to believe. And you will believe too, she is completely utterly authentic and fascinatingly complex in her determination to protect her status, her husband and her child no matter what the cost. At various times we also hear from her son Lawrence and also Karen - sister of Annie who is determined to find out her siblings fate. These three do a dance of fateful consequences which is brilliantly plotted and extraordinarily immersive. The ending is as killer as the opening and the whole thing is really very clever, very evocative and very very dark.

I loved it. There are layers of mystery here, not in the who but in the why. There are themes of obsession and love and a lot of things inbetween. But mostly its just about people. Human beings and human nature in all its sometimes horrific glory.

Highly Recommended.