None of This is True is another terrific novel from the mistress of psychological suspense, Lisa Jewell. It’s kind of like watching a creepy train wreck that you can’t tear your eyes away from even though it’s giving you the willies. File None of This is True under “crazy lady thrillers.”

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Lisa Jewell is one of my go-to authors when I’m in the mood for a thriller that’s a little twisted. While not my favorite Lisa Jewell novel, None of This is True did the trick.

As usual, let’s begin with a None of This is True summary.

A chance encounter changes their lives, but definitely not for the better. Josie and her husband go to a nice restaurant to celebrate her 45th birthday. It’s not the kind of restaurant they typically frequent, but Josie is craving change in her life. Coincidentally, another woman, Alex, is also there for her birthday dinner. She’s also turning 45, and when Josie tracks her down in the restroom, they discover they were born on the same day, in the same year, and even in the same hospital. They are birthday twins.

Josie is immediately a little obsessed with Alex. She stalks – I mean “researches” – Alex online and finds out that she’s a fairly successful podcaster. Alex’s recent focus has been interviewing women who have overcome tall barriers to successfully transform themselves. Josie sees this as an opportunity to get closer to Alex, so she engineers another “chance” encounter.

Alex is growing a little bored with her current podcast series about women meaningfully changing their lives, so she’s intrigued when Josie pitches an idea: interview a woman – Josie – who is on the cusp of transforming her life. Alex agrees to the idea and begins a series of interviews with Josie.

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The series of recorded conversations reveal dark details about Josie’s life. She claims to have been groomed as a teenager by her much older husband. She alleges that he’s now sexually abusing their daughter. There’s a long list of disturbing stories, and Alex is glad when they complete the final discussion. She can finally be rid of Josie.

But Josie isn’t ready to be rid of. She insinuates herself into Alex’s household with tragic consequences…

Lisa Jewell is so good at creating dark atmospheres juxtaposed on normal, everyday life. The opening scene of None of This is True is one that many of us have experienced – a nice birthday dinner at an expensive restaurant. We feel Alex’s warmth and joy as she is surrounded by people who love her. Josie wants that and as she goes about becoming a part of Josie’s life, the atmosphere becomes increasingly dark and twisted.

The author is also skilled at developing complex characters – especially psychotic ones – whose true nature is revealed slowly and layer by layer. By the end of the story, readers are appalled but also riveted. Such is the case with Josie, and it was a little horrifying to observe her spreading her darkness on Alex’s mostly happy household.

Another hallmark of a good psychological thriller is that there are plenty of surprises throughout the story. None of This is True had enough plot twists that it kept my interest until the end.

As for the narration of the audio version of None of This is True, it is top notch. I’m learning that a skilled narrator can take a story to the next level by conveying emotion that can be difficult to imagine just by reading words on a page. Am I the only one who has that issue? Side note: I wonder if publishers will ever add sound effects and music to audio books similar to old time radio shows. That could be fun if done well!

To wrap up this None of This is True review, I think psychological thriller fans will enjoy it.

For more great Lisa Jewell novels, check out my reviews of:

Watching You

The Night She Disappeared