Book Review: Never Lie - A Psychological Suspense Thriller by Freida McFadden

How I Found It

After reading The Housemaid, I wasn't sure if I would read another book by this author, but I changed my mind. I was desperate for something to read, and since I was familiar with one of her books, I thought I'd give another one of her novels a try.

That brings me to Never Lie, a psychological suspense thriller. It's my first book of 2026. I started it on January 4th, finished it on January 9th, and here I am writing this short review. Of course, before I purchased the book, I checked reviews from readers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

What It's About

One thing about Freida—her books are a quick read. Never Lie follows a newly married couple, Tricia and Ethan, who get trapped in an empty, secluded mansion that belongs to a well-known but missing psychiatrist named Dr. Adrienne Hale. Tricia finds a secret room with dozens of recorded tapes, which eventually lead to the discovery of who could have taken the doctor and why.

What I Loved/Didn't Love

The story started with a bang. I was definitely intrigued by the characters. Tricia hated the house, but Ethan loved it. The story kept me engaged to the point that I couldn't wait to get back to it. I loved that I couldn't guess who did what. Though as the story progressed, I knew Ethan wasn't the guilty one—but he wasn't innocent either.

The chapters moved fast. Each ending left on a cliffhanger that had me swiping on my Kindle when I knew I had to stop. The plot twists were decent, and I was thoroughly thrown for a loop at the end.

The character development was good but not great. I found Tricia and Ethan to be codependent on each other. The supporting character of Luke was done well—I liked him. Dr. Adrienne Hale's character I both loved and hated. She was more concerned about her career than doing the right thing for herself.

Again, Freida's writing is good. Not excellent, and I don't think it's juvenile as some readers have pointed out. She is, in my opinion, a good storyteller. And that's all I need.

Themes

The novel explores lies, manipulation, death, paranoia, and narcissism.

Who Would Enjoy It

If you love a good murder mystery woven with suspense and thriller elements, then this book is perfect for you.

My Rating

I gave it three and a half stars because I didn't like the ending. (Spoiler alert) The person(s) who did the evil deed didn't get their comeuppance, and that was somewhat disheartening.