Domestic Thrillers We’re All Lying by Marie Still

Cass lives an enviable life: a successful career, two great kids, and a handsome husband. Then an email from her husband’s mistress, Emma, brings the façade of perfection crumbling around her, setting off a chain of events where buried secrets come back to haunt her.

A taunting email turns into stalking and escalates into much worse. Ethan and Cass try to move on, then Emma disappears.

No longer considered a victim, Cass finds herself the prime suspect and center of the investigation. Her dark secrets—including ones she didn’t know existed—threaten to destroy everything they’ve worked for.

A fast-paced psychological thriller with jaw-dropping twists, the novel examines buried family secrets and how desperation can lead to fatal mistakes when We’re All Lying.

“I love a twisty, turny thriller and this was exactly that. A gripping, empathetic read and a wonderful debut.” – John Marrs, bestselling author of The One.

“Full of twists and turns, We’re All Lying lives up to its title and then some. This debut is a domestic thriller with plenty of surprises, keeping you guessing all the way through to the shocking end. I loved it.” – Kaira Road, USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author of Somebody’s Home and Best Day Ever.

Marie Still recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing her latest thriller, WE’RE ALL LYING.

Which took shape first: plot, character, or setting?

WE’RE ALL LYING started with this idea of jealousy. I find it a fascinating emotion as it drives people to act out of character, do things they may not normally do. I wanted to explore this idea, and a plot began to form. A cheating spouse, a stalking mistress not ready to let go, friendships that can be poisoned by jealousy. Once I had an idea for the plot, the characters came to life. I knew I wanted Cass to be a strong female lead. She’s a business owner, a mother, a wife—but she’s also flawed, which makes her real. Another thing that was important to me when writing Cass, Emma, and Ethan’s story was to step outside the norm. For example an affair. People will say things like, “I’d never stay with someone who cheated.” Or they may say, “I would never kill my spouse, I’d just divorce them.” However, until you are in those situations, and emotions are involved, you never truly know how you’ll react.

Marie Still

What attracts you to this book’s genre?

Domestic thrillers bring an extra layer of unease because they hit so close to home. They lift the curtains on everyday life and demonstrate that you can’t ever know someone truly. Of all the genres within crime fiction, domestic thrillers have a relatability to them, which makes them that much more chilling. You’ll never look at your spouse, co-worker, friend, or neighbor the same.

Was there anything new you discovered, or surprised you, as you wrote this book?

The ending was the biggest surprise. When starting my first draft I had a very specific way this story would end in mind. I completed it and it wasn’t clicking. Now that I knew the characters on a deeper level, it didn’t feel like the natural way their story would end. Two re-writes later and I settled on the ending that is now in the book.

Marie Still grew up obsessed with words and the dark and complex characters authors bring to life with them. Now she creates her own while living in Tampa with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a very grumpy hedgehog.

To learn more about the author, please visit her website.