Title: Every Last Lie
Author: Mary Kubica
ISBN: 9780778319986
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 336
Source: Private Copy
“The bad man, Daddy. The bad man is after us.”
Clara Solberg’s world shatters when her husband and their four-year-old daughter are in a car crash, killing Nick while Maisie is remarkably unharmed. The crash is ruled an accident…until the coming days, when Maisie starts having night terrors that make Clara question what really happened on that fateful afternoon.
Tormented by grief and her obsession that Nick’s death was far more than just an accident, Clara is plunged into a desperate hunt for the truth. Who would have wanted Nick dead? And, more important, why? Clara will stop at nothing to find out—and the truth is only the beginning of this twisted tale of secrets and deceit.
Told in the alternating perspectives of Clara’s investigation and Nick’s last months leading up to the crash, master of suspense Mary Kubica weaves her most chilling thriller to date—one that explores the dark recesses of a mind plagued by grief and shows that some secrets might be better left buried.
Official Summary
09 October 2024
I am excited to share my review of the sixth Mary Kubica book. I discovered this author earlier this year when I read Local Woman Missing and I have eagerly added more of her books to my TBR. Three more to go and I would have read all her books. I cannot wait! Mary Kubica has a knack for building tension and weaving intricate narratives, and Every Last Lie is no exception. This psychological thriller keeps you on edge, balancing suspense with emotional depth as it explores grief, paranoia, and the hidden secrets within a seemingly perfect marriage.
The book’s dual perspective is one of its strongest elements. Clara’s chapters, where she spirals into obsessive grief, feel visceral and raw. Kubica does a brilliant job portraying Clara’s frantic need for answers and her growing distrust of those around her. Her emotions are chaotic, and as a reader, you can’t help but question everyone she encounters, sharing her paranoia.
In contrast, Nick’s chapters, which recount his life before the crash, slowly unveil a man who is far from perfect, with secrets of his own. This dual timeline gives a fuller picture of the mystery, and while it helps build suspense, it also humanizes Nick, allowing you to see his struggles and mistakes. It’s a clever device that makes you question who Nick really was—and what could have driven someone to want him dead.
Kubica’s pacing is steady, with revelations coming at just the right moments to maintain the tension. However, the sense of desperation Clara feels becomes a bit repetitive at times, as her frantic search for answers sometimes slows the plot’s momentum. Maisie’s night terrors, though initially chilling, don’t offer as much development as I expected.
What I found most compelling was the theme of how grief can distort reality. Clara’s mind is a whirlwind of fear, and Kubica captures that perfectly. You are constantly wondering if her suspicions are grounded in reality or if her grief is causing her to see danger where there is none. The exploration of mental health and grief’s impact on a person’s mind adds a layer of emotional complexity that elevates the thriller beyond a simple whodunit.
Without giving too much away, the ending offers closure but also leaves enough ambiguity to keep the story lingering in your mind. While some may find the resolution unsatisfying in its subtlety, I appreciated Kubica’s restraint in not overexplaining every detail, allowing you to reflect on the complexities of truth and perception.
Every Last Lie is a slow-burning psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of domestic dramas with a dark twist. Kubica excels at creating complex, flawed characters and unravelling secrets with precision. Though the pacing falters slightly, the emotional depth and suspense make this a gripping read from start to finish.
Also by Mary Kubica
PRETTY BABY
She sees the teenage girl on the train platform, standing in the pouring rain, clutching an infant in her arms. She boards a train and is whisked away. But she can’t get the girl out of her head…
Heidi Wood has always been a charitable woman: she works for a nonprofit, takes in stray cats. Still, her husband and daughter are horrified when Heidi returns home one day with a young woman named Willow and her four-month-old baby in tow. Dishevelled and apparently homeless, this girl could be a criminal—or worse. But despite her family’s objections, Heidi invites Willow and the baby to take refuge in their home.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Mary Kubic is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many suspense novels, including The Good Girl, Pretty Baby, Don’t You Cry, Every Last Lie, When the Lights Go Out, The Other Mrs,. Local Woman Missing and Just The Nicest Couple. A former high school history teacher, Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children.
Mary’s novels have been selected as Amazon Best Books of the Month and have been LibraryReads selections. They’ve been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller,” (Kirkus Reviews) and “a writer of vice-like control,” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (Los Angeles Times).
I’ve been working my way through Mary Kubica’s backlist, and I have just three more books to go before I’m fully up to date. Reading her work has been such a joy—I find myself loving each one more and more. If you haven’t read any of her books yet, I highly recommend adding a few to your TBR list!
For those who are already fans, which of her books is your favourite? I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment below.
