#TheLetter by @HilaryBoyd

By Pamelascott

The closer the couple, the bigger the lie . . .

Romy and Michael have it all. Over 30 years of marriage, two grown-up sons, a beautiful London home as well as a weekend bolthole by the sea. If Romy's had to sacrifice some of her dreams along the way to support Michael's high-flying legal career, then it's been a price worth paying.

Until the arrival of a letter changes everything.

At first Romy can't believe what it is saying. That Michael - an upholder of the law, with an unwavering sense of right and wrong - could do something so terrible.

But then other lies start to emerge and she starts to wonder who the man she's shared her heart, her bed, the best years of her life with, really is.

Walking away should be the start of a new chapter for Romy.

But an urgent telephone call brings her back into Michael's life - and propels her into the past and the allegations which ended their marriage.

Innocent or guilty? Truth or lie? How well can you ever know those closest to you?

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[Romy stood and eyed the large cardboard box lying on the patio]

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(@PenguinUKBooks, 23 July 2020, 400 pages, ebook, #ARC from @PenguinUKBooks via # NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed)

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I'd never heard of the author before so had no idea what to expect from this book. I've read a lot of books recently with the word lie in the title so I expected pretty much the same. I was pleasantly surprised. I was hooked on this book from page one which threw me for a loop. Romy gets a letter that states her husband almost raped a young woman who was an intern for the lawyer company he works for many years ago. Romy, increasingly unhappy in her marriage is thrown. The letter writer makes it clear they don't plan to go to the police so why write the letter? Is it the truth? Is it, as Michael claims, a pack of lies? Someone is clearly lying but who? Boyd feeds you the story little drop by little drop and I just had to keep reading to see where all the story threads led. I thoroughly enjoyed this.