She Lies Close

By: Sharon Doering

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A compulsive debut thriller about motherhood, obsession, and how far we’d go to protect the ones we love

Five-year-old Ava Boone vanished without a trace six months ago. No witnesses, no sightings or arrests. But Grace Wright just moved in next door to the only suspect the case had: quiet, middle-aged Leland Ernest.

Recently divorced, Grace uprooted her two small children to start again and hopes the move will reset her crippling insomnia. With whispered neighborhood gossip and increasingly sleepless nights, Grace develops a fierce obsession with Leland and the safety of her children. Could she really be living next door to a child-kidnapper? A murderer?

With reality and dream blurring more each day, Grace desperately pursues the truth - following Ava’s family, demanding answers from the police - and then a body is discovered.

©2020 Sharon Doering (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

I am not sure what to write

I absolutely loved the main character. She was funny and snarky and her mind sounds like mine except the hallucinations part. The start was slow and it definitely wasn’t a thriller or a crazy murder mystery. There were parts where I wanted to skip forward just to get through the book but I didn’t because the main character has a way of making you want to listen to her mind ramble. I can’t really figure out what to write for a review for this book. I listened to the entire book, laughed and related. It wasn’t the best book I have ever listened to but no where near the worst. Definitely an interesting read. I am intrigued by the author and would purchase another book from her.

#1

I listen to 100s of audio books and this one is THE. BEST. I cannot wait for more!!!

Entertaining Story and Refreshingly Different

She Lies Close was a fast listen,
entertaining and different. The protagonist is cringe worthy throughout the story and totally unhinged. Yet as a parent of young children, I found her totally relatable.

This book is packed with crazy situations and plenty of explicit language. I highly recommend it and hope this author writes more books.

NOT recommended as written (see review)

I obviously have different tastes and expectations than others on this sight after seeing the reviews and ratings others gave this book.

My MAJOR ISSUE was the filthy language and sex that absolutely didn't add to the book at all but was a major negative. To has a 3 year old telling her mom to shut up, singing about her vagina, and calling her mom a pussy is simply wrong! The other young child also used foul language and terrible manners as well dropping the 'F' bomb and treating his mom like crap and she allowed it. UNACCEPTABLE!!

I felt pretty accomplished simply for finishing the book. It was so disjointed at times and difficult to follow in the narration it was annoying. Add the main character spiraling downwards and we are never understanding what is happening until the very last chapter... It didn't work in the book to hint it COULD BE: lack of sleep, or medication, or stress, or psychosis, or..... and just write the entire book until the very last chapter.

The story itself if the above were fixed could have been okay. With the way it was written,... I do not recommend this book.

Excellent…

Clever, witty, insightful. I loved the author’s style and the story was gritty and heart breaking and relatable. The author also incorporated lots of dry , snarky humor which fit perfectly with the narration. Loved this book!

Heavy, relatable, annoying

I was struggling to get through the first couple of chapters. The main character is so intense and so manic and desperate that it began to wear on me. However, Her inner voice and struggle between reality and what she had to present to her children and the world was so deeply relatable that I began to understand her more and could identify so many things about myself . If you Truly want to understand what it feels like to be a parent mainly a single parent, pay attention to her internal dialog. Spot on. I liked that it wasn't completely predictable and was waiting to find out who was responsible for the crimes period. But the 3 year old, I would have suffocated her with in the first 10mins. She is one of the most annoying child characters ever. 🙄

Boring

I thought it would be more thrilling but it feel short for me.Good background noise while doing something else.

kept my attention until the very end of the book!

holy crap, talk about a bat crap crazy woman!!! what a great story though!! worth the listen

A Great Debut

This is a book that really took me by surprise! At times I was so drawn in I forgot it was just a story. Highly recommend to mystery and suspense book readers!

Keeping me engaged

This story was very informative and interesting. Narrative was very lively. Enjoyed listening, it made me kinda horny at times!

Very good

A twist on the usual neurotic woman (I seem to be reading a lot of those recently!). Excellent narration.

Really enjoyed this

Really captivating and strangely hilarious, and you could see Grace falling slowly more and more into mental instability. Really clever book.
My one and only complaint is I couldn’t believe Chloe was 3, still in diapers but her speech was a bit too advanced for a 3 year old.

My first audio book

I wasn't sure I would like audio books I am glad to say I'm booked can't wait for my next. Loved the story and it was well read.

Wasn’t sure at first

It I kept reading and enjoyed the book the only thing that irritated me was the narrators Chloe voice it was dreadful and sounded like Lisa Simpson! Other than that a good listen

So much detail 😴

I rarely do this as I hate giving up on a book but I just can't listen to any more. There is sooooo much unnecessary meandering detail that there is barely a storyline to follow. I found myself literally drifting off thinking of other things.

Apologies to the author but this was not for me.

so good

loved this. I was very complacent thinking I had it but I was so wrong

Something missing.

The performance was good, but the story was average and I couldn’t bring myself to like the protagonist. I really felt like there was something missing for it to be believable and relatable. Wish I’d have saved a credit!

Slow but gently engaging - nothing unexpected

This is a well written account of a single mother’s struggles in a neighbourhood where her nearest neighbour is a suspect in a child abduction.

It’s quite slow and repetitive but a pleasant enough way to while away the hours whilst I cleaned the house.

No earth shattering denouement but wraps up fairly satisfyingly. Wouldn’t wanted to have used a credit but listened on audible plus

Excellent narration

Can't make up my mind whether I enjoyed this book or not. It was very well read but I nearly stopped listening as it was very slow to start with. I'm glad I persevered, though, as it did improve towards the end.

Great story

Loved this story. Enjoyed it immensely. Loved the protagonist and her relationship with her children. Loved the twist. It was funny too. Well read too will read more from this author