Forget Good Girls, EVERYBODY Lies!

Today I'm thrilled to be taking part of the Harlequin Trade Publishing Winter 2020 Mystery Tour with my review of Good Girls Lie.  This book seems to be everywhere so read on for my thoughts!

TITLE: Good Girls Lie

AUTHOR: J.T. Ellison

PUBLISHER: MIRA

PUBLISHING DATE: December 31, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: 

Goode girls don’t lie… 

Perched atop a hill in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia, The Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous. 

In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder. But when a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide. 

But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.  

MY THOUGHTS: After reading the synopsis, I was quite anxious to give this book a try.  Like a lot of people, I like boarding school settings and the mystery seemed...well, quite mysterious.  The Goode School is located in a small Virginia town. It has been run by family members for many years, even though the current Dean isn't really thrilled with her duties.

In the beginning we are introduced to Ash, a teen from England.  Both of her parents recently died and she is coming to the States for a new start.  Yet something doesn't seem quite right about Ash.  She has a lot of secrets, ones which the Dean is willing to help her keep, and in the beginning, she isn't quite fitting in. However, when she begins a tumultuous relationship with Becca, a senior (and I mean TUMULTUOUS), things start to change.

While I kind of guessed a few of the plot twists early on, I still found it enjoyable.  In fact, I think I enjoyed it a tad bit more than my friend Stormi, who read it earlier than me.  The characters aren't really likable, but I don't know that they are supposed to be and I'm not kidding when I say EVERYONE in this book is lying about one thing or another.  I kind of enjoyed the secret society aspect of the book but felt like it was a tad over the top for a high school boarding school.

The ending did have a few shocks and overall I'm glad I read it.  I can see people who like boarding schools or closed circle mysteries really loving Good Girls Lie.  This is the first thing I've read from this author but it definitely won't be the last.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Also, check out Stormi's review HERE.  Even though we didn't buddy read, you might enjoy reading her thoughts as well. 

RATING: 3 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: J.T. Ellison began her career as a presidential appointee in the White House, where a nuclear physicist taught her how to obsess over travel itineraries and make a seriously good pot of Earl Grey, spawning both her love of loose leaf and a desire for control of her own destiny. Jaded by the political climate in D.C., she made her way back to her first love, creative writing. More than 20 novels later, she is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with thrillers published in 27 countries and 15 languages. She is also the EMMY-award winning cohost of A WORD ON WORDS, a literary interview TV show. She lives in Nashville with her husband and two small gray minions, known as cats in some cultures. She thinks they’re furry aliens.

Visit JTEllison.com for more insight into her wicked imagination, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter @thrillerchick, and Instagram @thrillerchick.