Title: None of This Is True
Author: Lisa Jewell
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: August 8, 2023
Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.
Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.
Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?
A strange one!
Alix Summers is a well-known podcaster. She is celebrating her fortieth birthday at the local pub with her husband and friends. She is happy. On a closeby table, Josie Fair is also celebrating her birthday. She is also turning forty. When Alix goes to the restroom, Josie follows. They have a brief interaction where Josie tells Alix, they are birth twins.
The next time they see each other, Josie is outside her children's school. Josie convinces Alix that she will be a great next subject for Alix's new podcast. Josie tells her, she is on the brink of major changes in her life and that she is ready to tell her story.
The more Josie reveals, the more shocked Alix is. On the one hand, Alix wants to stop because Josie has a dark energy but on the other hand, she knows she has gold in her hands. The podcast will be a sure success. Then Josie and her husband both disappear.
What has Josie done?
I did enjoy this book until the last part. I felt too many things were left open-ended. What was true? What was a lie? Who killed who? I am okay with leaving things for the reader to interpret but here there were way too many unanswered questions.
Would I read another book by Lisa Jewell? Of course, I would.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.