Lying in Wait: A Novel

Liz Nugent

Jun 2018 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this eBook

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond and Unraveling Oliver—a brilliantly plotted, utterly immersive novel lauded by A.J. Finn—#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window—as “extraordinary…crackles and snaps like a bonfire on a winter’s night.”

My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.

On the surface, Lydia Fitzsimons's life seems idyllic. Her husband, Andrew, is a prosperous, respected judge; they live in the spacious, comfortable, well-appointed house where she was raised. And she is utterly, obsessively devoted to her son, Laurence—her adored only child, her pride and joy.

But Andrew's murder of Annie Doyle, accidental or not, sets into motion a dark downward spiral. It doesn’t take long for Laurence to suspect that something is very, very wrong in the Fitzsimons household—and he is determined to discover the truth.

For fans of Ruth Ware and Gillian Flynn, Lying in Wait is “a devastating psychological thriller...an exquisitely uncomfortable, utterly captivating reading experience” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Ratings and reviews

Lying in Wait has one of the most brilliant opening lines that I've come across and a cover that practically screams, "Read Me!" The first chapter lives up to that, hinting at a growing tension as this family covers up a heinous act. However, after that first chapter the story slows down considerably while we learn about a sociopathic matriarch who will go to any length to have things her way and the family she controls through manipulation and lies. The storyline, while not exactly original, is interesting - deeply dark and twisted, but interesting in and of itself. There's no real mystery here, as such, since we're told the who, what, and when from the beginning. The only suspense is the actual why, which the author does eventually get around to, and when and how it will all be revealed. The latter takes us on a disturbing, albeit rather circuitous, journey of deceit, greed, and manipulation. The pacing does pick up in the last third or so of the book, but it did feel like it took a considerable amount of time getting there. Even with the pacing, my biggest issue lay with the characters. With the multiple points of view in this one, I would've expected at least one stand out character, somebody to empathize with and possibly even root for, but there's not a likable person in the bunch. We have the self-entitled Lydia, who is nothing short of devious in her manipulations of those around her, including her only child, Laurence, who doesn't have enough backbone to break free from his mother's iron grip. No matter how many birthdays we see Laurence through, his inner musings never progress beyond juvenile and so much emphasis is put on his weight that it becomes his only distinctive characteristic. Then we have Karen, who is wishy-washy to the extreme. One minute she's utterly consumed by the need for answers about Annie's disappearance and the next, she's in no hurry. Throw in a couple of Laurence's girlfriends - one a user and the other practically a doormat - and the only character I found any real sympathy for was Karen and Annie's father, who is so far on the periphery that we never really get to know him. Even our victim doesn't inspire much in the way of compassion once everything is revealed. Unlikable characters in this type of story is to be expected and many times, the flawed characters stand out, but it just didn't work for me here. Everybody has an agenda and eventually, Annie's murder became more excuse than reason for their actions. I really think this is one of those stories that either works for a reader or it doesn't and while, I didn't hate it, I certainly didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.

Excellent read

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About the author

Liz Nugent has worked in Irish film, theater, and television for most of her adult life. She is an award-winning writer of radio and television drama and has written critically acclaimed short stories both for children and adults, as well as the bestselling novels Unraveling Oliver, Lying in Wait, and Little Cruelties. She lives in Dublin and has won four Irish Book Awards, as well as the James Joyce Medal for Literature. Visit her at LizNugent.com or follow her on Twitter at @LizzieNugent.