In J.T. Ellison's gripping romantic suspense novel Her Dark Lies, a murderer is on the loose at the worst possible time. When troubled artist Claire Hunter becomes engaged to impossibly wealthy Jack Compton, she believes her struggles are over--not only does she stand to inherit a fortune, she also gains attention and acclaim for her budding career thanks to her new powerful connections. But when the couple's family and friends gather for the wedding at the Comptons' villa on a private island in Italy, it quickly becomes apparent that someone does not want Jack and Claire to live happily ever after. A mysterious and sinister individual is terrorizing the couple, and as the weather grows more menacing and the murders add up, Claire and Jack are forced to confront their pasts--particularly the truth surrounding the puzzling deaths of several Compton women on the island, including Jack's first wife.
Rich, beautiful and privileged, Jack and Claire are not terribly sympathetic characters, but their devotion to each other is enviable and touching--and their obliviousness to reality is both frustrating and compelling, as readers learn about the culprit behind the mounting tragedies long before the characters connect the devastating dots. Ellison (Good Girls Lie) tells the story from multiple perspectives, revealing just enough information to build suspense and cast doubts about who can be trusted, making this novel delightfully unpredictable and absorbing. Ultimately, it's not clear whether the Compton family needs protecting from the world--or the other way around. --Angela Lutz, freelance reviewer