What Lies Between Us

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.

Edgy, gripping and one u can’t put down once u have reached 50% of the book. It makes you qs the dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship and how one wrong move can change the entire course of your child’s life and yours… John Marrs 🙌🏼

I don't know how to express my disgust...This may be a twisty,dark tale that some people find it amusing or thrilling while I don't....I just feel sick and I want to puke and wanted this nightmare of a book to be just over...I had to finish it soon so that I did not want anything else to do with it...So that I would no longer have to think about it....I don't know what runs in the mind of the person who writes such gruesome stories does it reflect their inner thoughts or is it just caution the readers that such monstrosity does exist in real world...Synopsis: This is story of a mom and her daughter who are living together but not in the normal way a family should...The mom is being held a prisoner in her own home by her daughter and the violence that ensue whenever she tries to escape is horrible....Why is she held like this and what are both of their lies that they have been telling each other and their past is the jist of the book...Trigger warnings⚠️: Child abuse, miscarriage, violence, pregnancy or delivery related scenes ..Although the book is written well , I just can't seem to wrap my head around all the heinous acts described in it..There are some loopholes or my queries regarding how one can escape for years without getting caught after doing what they have done..( I don't want to go in detail in case I give out spoilers)I could kind of figure out where the book was leading to after reading some 150 pages in...There was just some tiny twists at the end which I did not see coming...But anyway this definitely was not a book for me and I need to forget what I read very soon...

The book is mind boggling, there are so many twists and turns. You want to feel sympathetic for the character but suddenly a new plot or event comes forward and you are just hooked to the book.

Intricate and labyrinthine relationship between a mother and daughter is the pivot of this novel which rolls out in most disturbing manner as we proceed. Each sub - plot comes up with it's own unpredictability but converges eventually quite interestingly.

Loved it. Kept me engaged from start to end. Highly recommend. Finished this book in two sittings. Gripping, Thrilling with a great twist

John Marrs is quickly becoming my favourite author in thriller genre and his latest books are definitely a proof for it. I waited desperately for the release date of this book and once it was available on kindle, I abandoned everything that I was reading to immediately pick this up. This book has a very interesting premise and it kept me hooked right from the first page. This was a fast pacing read and I did not find any sort of lag through out. The story is very dark and twisted, with some trigger warnings. I loved the book so much until the ending happened. I was really looking forward for some mind boggling ending but it did not give me the closure I needed. I felt a bit let down and I longed for a better finish of this book. However, the ending doesn’t change the fact that this book deco was a thrilling entertainer.

I loved everything about this book, the incredible writing style, lots of twists, and the short chapters.The idea that a daughter can keep her mother captive was unusual, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story unfold of why she did it. It's a good physiological thriller and people should check it out, it kept me gripped throughout the book

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.

The themes explored in What Lies Between Us are dark and unsettling, touching on issues such as betrayal, revenge, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.The book’s pacing is excellent, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that compels you to keep reading.Overall, What Lies Between Us is a captivating and intense read that fans of psychological thrillers will thoroughly enjoy. John Marrs has crafted a story that is both haunting and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone. who loves a good thriller

It starts slow but once you get to the real good part you won't stop reading it!You want to hate the mom, you really don't understand why she did the things she did .... But when you understand, it is shocking!

Really enjoyed this book. Really dark and fast paced. The suspense wasn’t long drawn out like some other thrillers- revelation after revelation definitely kept my interest and found myself reading into the small hours just to see how it ends. Like the author’s style- will be reading more.

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 ...