Never Lie: A Hilariously Frustrating Dive into Thriller Mediocrity
When I first picked up Never Lie by Freida McFadden, I felt the familiar tingling of excitement that comes with diving into a thriller: the promise of suspense, twists, and perhaps a little mind-bending intrigue. However, as I delved into the world of Tricia and Ethan—two newlyweds snowed in at a creepy mansion with a mysterious past—I quickly realized I might have bitten off more than I could chew. It didn’t take long for me to echo my one-sentence review: L M F A O you’re joking. Yet here I am, chuckling and ruminating through my thoughts, a process no doubt spurred on by a group buddy read on Instagram that kept me from completely yeeting the book into outer space.
The Setup: Tricia discovers the old tapes of Dr. Adrienne Hale—who vanished without a trace. The atmosphere is ripe with eerie vibes and a tale begging to unfold. But then we have Tricia, who seems more enamored with a cashmere sweater than the ominous tapes she’s listening to. I wish I could say I was surprised, but the writing style felt more like an after-school special than a gripping narrative.
Freida’s narrative technique centers heavily around heavy-handed foreshadowing. As I read lines like, “Ethan is a genuinely good guy… What does it matter that he hasn’t had many girlfriends before me?” I wanted to scream at the sheer obviousness of it all. These moments aside, I couldn’t help but feel like I was being spoon-fed plot points, each one flashing neon-bright to ensure there was no ambiguity.
Now, let’s talk pacing. Oh, the pacing! At times it felt like I was stuck in molasses, especially during the introspective moments where Tricia seems to get lost in thoughts about… cashmere. Yes, you read that right. There was a moment when I almost wished she’d bite into a sweater with a laced toxin just to add a hint of drama. And don’t even get me started on the so-called plot twists that were less “twists” and more “I wasn’t even surprised.”
Character Decisions? They were puzzling, to say the least. Tricia cuddling up in a dead woman’s robe after initially recoiling at the house’s dustiness? That character move had me scratching my head in disbelief. A running theme emerged of “unreliable narrator,” but not in the thrilling, complex way that keeps readers on their toes. Instead, it felt more like a cheap plot trick to force drama. The narrative became littered with ludicrous decisions, so much so I nearly dropped my book in bewilderment.
In spite of all this negativity—because Lord knows there was plenty—I did find moments of laughter, especially in discussions with my buddy readers. There were red herrings sprinkled throughout as well, giving me a moment of pause where I thought, “Alright, this could be interesting!” But that potential got squandered under a sea of disappointing outcomes and predictable behavior.
Who Should Read This? If you’re the type who enjoys the thrill of popcorn thrillers without the deep mental gymnastics, you may find a guilty pleasure in this. For seasoned thriller readers—or anyone looking for substance—consider this a miss, and instead check out my 10 thriller recs to read instead of Freida McFadden on YouTube!
Ultimately, Never Lie left me shaking my head. I appreciate a good thriller as much as the next reader, but perhaps it’s time to add Freida McFadden to my avoid list. A good buddy read may have salvaged some enjoyment for me, but I’ll be reaching for something far more compelling for my next adventure in literature.