Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell Narrator: Kristin Atherton, Ayesha Antoine, Louise Brealey, Alix Dunmore, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Emilia Fox, Thomas Judd, Kate Macdonald, Dominic Thorburn, Nicola Walker, Jenny Walser
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on August 8, 2023
Genres: Thriller
Length: 10 hours, 13 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alixâs childrenâs school. Josie has been listening to Alixâs podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josieâs life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she canât quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alixâs lifeâand into her home.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her familyâs lives under mortal threat.
I have just started to listen to this author. None of This is True is definitely a psychological thriller. That means it is just all about messing with your head.
The main characters, as well as the main two points of view, are two women who are birthday twins. They meet when they are out to celebrate their birthday. Alix is a podcaster with two sisters and a close family. She has a very successful husband and two children. Josie was the child of a single parent, married young and has two daughters.
Josie proposes to Alix doing a podcast on her life as she wants to start over. Her husband is nearly thirty years older than her and started with her when she was 14. Josie has Alix horrified by her mother, husband and children’s actions and supporting Josie as a friend. Josie also starts to make remarks about Alix’s own marriage and how he isn’t treating her right.
Things get twisty when in order to interview Josie’s husband, Josie convinces Alix to invite them to dinner, with her own husband. Alix has had trouble with her husband staying out late drinking with his friends. The dinner is tense.  At 3am, Josie turns up with blood on her dress, claiming her husband hit her.  Josie stays the next week at Alix’s house, wearing her clothes, going through her things when Alix is taking her kids to school, etc. Alix and her husband are eager to have her go, and have a valid excuse with Alix’s sisters and children coming to stay that next weekend.
I understand Alix’s concerns and insecurities. She also wants to support and help a woman who is trying to improve her life. Josie is odd and even at the end I’m uncertain about some things. She is a hard person to like.
Narration:
I enjoyed the performance with full cast narration. I think it is unusual in this type of story to have a full and talented cast. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I love the sound of this, Josie sounds very unpredictable and a little scary! Thanks for sharing, Anneđ
Thanks Tammy. You have Josie pegged correctly.
I love a good psychological thriller and this one has me very intrigued. Wonderful review Anne.
Thank you Jodie. I hope you get a chance to enjoy it.
I very rarely venture into mystery/thriller, but I always make an exception for Lisa Jewell. I love her brand of thrillers. I have this on hold at my library and I’m excited to see that it has full cast narration! Enjoyed your review, Anne!
Thank you Tanya. I try to write a bit about the characters and the feel without spoiling.
I think that I have only read one of this author’s books but I do want to read more. This sounds like one that I would enjoy! Great review!
Thank you Carole. Her books are much more psychological thriller and suspense. I enjoy them but I normally prefer romantic suspense or a police procedural.
I have loved all the audios of Lisa Jewell books that I have listened to but didn’t realize this one was full cast! Definitely adding to my TBR. I wanted to read this as it was but that really sold it!
Full cast is amazing and always my preference if it is available.
Sheâs one of my most favorite authors and itâs up next for me!
I hope you love it. It’s a bit unreliable narrator and a bit open at the ending but I did enjoy it.
A full cast! That is rare
Yes! I am always excited when it is full cast narration.