And in the Now, she is in some kind of coma where she can hear and understand what’s happening around her, but can’t move or respond. In the Then, she’s a struggling TV producer with a horrid boss and suspicion that her husband is cheating on her. But in this instance, I promise it is done right and it enhances every sizzle and pop this fast-paced plot possesses. At this point, we mystery/thriller readers have a love/hate relationship with the past/present storytelling trope. It let me know I was always getting closer to something happening. The narrative fluctuates between Now (Boxing Day and beyond) and Then (the week before Christmas.) I liked the shorter span between the duelling timelines. This could mean that Amber's guilt is manifesting through her placing the bracelet on the champagne at the end.I don’t know that I can write this review without spoilers, because every single aspect of the book is somehow involved in the twists & turns, but I will definitely try and give fair warning if I’m going to let something spoiler-y slip. Was Amber the manipulator all along? Did she really tell Claire to kill her parents? But then regretted it when her own parents loved Claire more than her (or so she thought anyway). I still don't think this could really be the case though. Also, it seems like a very strange coincidence that Claire and Amber share the same birthday. It would explain how she was so adept at blackmailing Madeline, and why the twins refer to her as 'mum' at the end. Perhaps Amber created Claire to deal with bullying at school, the way she created Jo.

It feels like there is too much of a backstory for Claire to not exist. Didn't Claire give the bracelet back to Amber in the hospital?ĭid Claire even exist? I've seen this suggested in other places, but I'm not sure how it fits. I suppose this is the most straight forward answer, but I'm not sure it adds up. I guess there are a few potential answers:Ĭlaire didn't die in the fire, and has returned to take revenge on Amber.

But I'm still not really sure what to make of it. The ending left me questioning things that happened earlier in the book that I hadn't questioned before. I just finished listening to the audiobook of Sometimes I Lie, by Alice Feeney, and I need to talk to someone about the ending. EDIT: Guess I should probably warn you, SPOILERS below!

Sometimes i lie alice