See How They Lie

💉💊🔐🤐

by Sue Wallman

★★★★

Things I loved:

🔎 Gripping mystery plot
😱 Proper gasp-out-loud moments
📚 Fast-paced page turner
🧠 Psychological suspense focus
💔 Emotional friendships
🌉 Great YA thriller bridge

Dive Deeper

Review

I’ve always loved a good crime, thriller or mystery read, so I really appreciate how Sue Wallman’s books create a bridge into that genre for younger readers and young adults. See How They Lie is another gripping example — suspenseful, thought-provoking and very hard to put down.

The story follows Mae, who has lived her whole life in Hummingbird Creek — a seemingly idyllic community with impressive facilities and a strong sense of order. But when she receives a mysterious phone call, she begins questioning long-buried truths about her mum’s past. At the same time, patients in the local psychiatric unit start experiencing strange episodes, and Mae gradually realises something far more sinister may be happening around her.

This book has excellent pacing. There are plenty of tense, edge-of-your-seat moments — I actually gasped out loud more than once — yet it never feels overwhelming. Unlike some YA thrillers, the content isn’t graphic; instead, the focus is on psychological tension and the emotional impact on the characters, which makes it accessible while still powerful.

I read the whole book in a single day because I genuinely wanted to keep turning the pages to see how everything would unfold. It balances mystery, suspense and emotional depth really effectively.

I would definitely recommend it for readers aged 12+, mainly due to some mature themes and discussions between characters rather than explicit content. It’s an engaging choice for young readers ready to explore the thriller genre in a thoughtful, age-appropriate way.

Blurb

Mae feels lucky to have grown up at Hummingbird Creek, an elite wellness retreat where rich teens with psychological problems can get the help they need from her father, a prominent psychiatrist.

The Creek has world-class cuisine, a state-of-the-art sports centre and the latest spa treatments. Every aspect of daily life is monitored for optimal health, and there are strict rules for everyone.

When Mae is caught breaking the rules, the response is severe.

She starts to question everything about her highly controlled life.

And at the Creek, asking questions can be dangerous.

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