Book Review: The Darkest Lies by Barbara Copperthwaite. A haunting, thought provoking psychological thriller

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When Melanie's daughter, Beth, goes missing after  lying about spending the night at her friend's house, Melanie is distraught.  Then, her daughter is found beaten, seriously ill and in a coma.


So the question is what would you do?  Would you curl up and die?  Would you spend your time at your daughter's bedside willing her alive? Or, would you try to find the person who hurt your child?

The Darkest Lies is full of rage and despair and tragedy.  It is poignant, yet honest.  It is the story of the lies we tell, whether in fact or merely by omission.  

Melanie, the main character, unravels as the story progresses... and who can blame her?  Her only child lies in a hospital bed and the prognosis is bad. So, Melanie enlists the help of an old school friend and spends her time in an alcohol induced fugue on the bleak fens where she feels closer to her daughter.  

This book is all about secrets and lies and omissions and misconceptions.  It challenges our certainty that we know our loved ones inside and out.  It exposes the fragility of a small community in the midst of tragedy.  But what it does best is make us question ourselves.

This is a great read that will leave you reeling by the final twists.  Throughout your emotions will be engaged.  Long after you've finished reading, your mind will keep flitting back to the story and the question on your lips will be... 'What if...?'