Ever since I was in middle school, whenever April Henry published a new book, I'd pick it up right away. However, her books are very different nowdays, and this will probably be the last that I read.
This one seemed to be a And Then There Were None retelling so I was super eager for it. I ran into my first problem when the characters started using an Ouija board to communicate with spirits. I don't think I need to specify any more about that.
Secondly, this book is set in the Midwest with Midwestern characters. In a room full of Midwestern teens, it is extremely unlikely that none of them have handled a gun before/are afraid of guns/don't know gun safety. In all reality, most of them would have and also know safety since that is taught from a young age in the Midwest.

Tropes: retelling of And Then There Were None

Content: hanging, attacked by animal, characters nearly freeze to death, illigal immigration, human trafficking, murder (described in detail), stuck in burning building, messing with witchcraft

1 Star

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required. ( )

A blizzard side tracks a group headed to a theatre competition. They stop for the night at a run-down motel. The hotel is a step away from closing, in disrepair. Another group of teens going to a competition shows up too. As the storm gets worse, power goes out, things start to spiral out of control. People go missing, the bodies pile up. A page turning thriller. ( )

Two Truths and a Lie was a fun Ya thriller! It did take me a few chapters to get into the book but once the action started I started to get into it. The characters are interesting and entertaining. I did enjoy the winter setting; it does add to the adventure and thrill! The pace is a little slow in the beginning but once it starts the pace is pretty much non-stop! Overall it was a fast read but interesting and entertaining! ( )

Gripping locked room mystery about two groups of teens trapped in a creepy motel by a blizzard.

Nell's traveling to a drama competition with her teacher and four other teens. But when the predicted few flurries turn into a blizzard, they're forced to take shelter in a dated, run-down motel that has been turned into a confusing maze by extensive renovations and additions. However, their evening looks up when their teacher goes to bed and another group of teens arrives, stranded on their way to the robotics competition.

Sparks fly between several teens, as flirtations start up in the late night hours. However, their evening takes a creepy turn when someone slips a sheet of paper into their two truths and a lie game, claiming to be a serial killer, and their next game, an Ouija board, confirms that someone will die soon. The maintenance man, Travis, shows them a scrapbook of photos and news clippings from when a couple was brutally murdered at the motel twenty years earlier. However, when Nell wakes up, the sunshine makes it all seem less creepy, until they discover the first body on their way to breakfast.

The suspects are all trapped inside with them - Stuart, the motel owner who failed to revive the failing business; Travis, the brain-damaged maintenance man; Brian, the polite long-haul trucker who likes to read books; Edgar, the rude pharmaceutical rep with a gun; or Linus, who checked in without a suitcase, claiming to be on his way to his mother. Or could one of the other teens be involved?

This book is packed with action and twists, and Nell must use all her wits to stay one step ahead of the killer, whoever he or she may be. Almost every person in the group has a secret, but only one of them is trying to make sure no one leaves alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

"This all feels eerily familiar. And then I know why. “This is getting to be like a bad movie or book,” I say. “A group of strangers, trapped at night in a creepy old motel during a blizzard. And then you add a killer, picking them off one by one”

That’s a pretty good summary of the book! Only they’re teenagers, and everyone except their teacher and Travis is unhinged. Even the other team are weirdos, mostly because of Knox.

You’ll get plenty of horror movie tropes in this book! I’m adding them in the next para so I don’t spoil this for you!

*** All the horror movie tropes in Two Truths and a Lie ***

The bus breaks down, no electricity, no signals, a group of strangers, a love interest, the murder took place here all these years ago with the killer never being caught, Ouija board moving on its own, newspaper clippings, diverse group of teenagers.

*** End of all the horror tropes ***

I read Two Truths and a Lie at 3 am! It was a very quick read, but it wasn’t a deep read. I didn’t pick up on any hints that the author may have given.

I thought it was a light fun read, in case you want to read something in the night with the AC on and a light chill in the room! This isn’t a mind blowing, change your life, make you seek out different sort of books kinda read. This is book just to entertain, and that’s perfect! I have listed a lot of tropes, but honestly, the tropes are what make it fun! I also loved the Ouija board, and the thing with shadows! It adds a nice supernatural element to it; even though we’ll never know if we were being warned or not.

At some point I though we’d end on a cliffhanger because the author couldn’t possibly wrap up so quickly! But there was a nice neat ending which I liked, although I could have used more about Knox! ( )