Shari Lapena returns with her seventh psychological thriller, Everyone Here Is Lying, proving once again why she’s become synonymous with domestic suspense that cuts close to the bone. Following the massive success of her previous works including The Couple Next Door and Not a Happy Family, Lapena delivers another page-turner that exposes the rotting foundations beneath picture-perfect suburbia.
Set in the seemingly idyllic town of Stanhope, New York, this novel transforms a quiet residential street into a powder keg of secrets, lies, and devastating consequences. When nine-year-old Avery Wooler disappears after being sent home early from choir practice, the ensuing investigation peels back the veneer of respectability to reveal a community riddled with deception.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Storm
The story begins with Dr. William Wooler returning home after his affair with Nora Blanchard has just ended at a seedy motel. Emotionally shattered and seeking solitude, he discovers his difficult daughter Avery in the kitchen, unexpectedly home from school. What follows is a moment of violence that sets the entire narrative in motion—William strikes Avery hard enough to knock her down, then leaves her alone in the house.
When Avery is reported missing hours later, the police investigation reveals that someone was in the Wooler house with her that afternoon. The discovery of her jean jacket hanging on a hook too high for her to reach becomes the first crack in what appears to be a straightforward kidnapping case.
Lapena masterfully constructs a narrative web where every character harbors secrets that complicate the investigation:
- The Anonymous Witness: Someone claims to have seen Avery getting into Ryan Blanchard’s car, leading to his arrest
- The Suspected Neighbor: Derek Seton faces accusations of inappropriate behavior with Avery
- The Vengeful Husband: Al Blanchard knows about his wife’s affair and has been secretly watching her betrayal unfold
- The Obsessed Admirer: Marion Cooke, a nurse at the hospital, harbors dangerous feelings for William
Character Development That Cuts Deep
Lapena’s greatest strength lies in her ability to create characters who feel disturbingly real in their flaws and contradictions. William Wooler emerges as a deeply problematic protagonist—a respected doctor whose charm masks his capacity for violence and deception. His relationship with Avery reveals uncomfortable truths about parental authority and the thin line between discipline and abuse.
Avery herself proves to be one of the most complex child characters in recent thriller fiction. Described as having ADHD and behavioral problems, she’s neither innocent victim nor simple troublemaker. Lapena’s portrayal challenges readers’ expectations about childhood, victimhood, and moral responsibility in ways that feel genuinely unsettling.
The supporting cast adds layers of authenticity to the suburban setting. Nora Blanchard’s internal struggle between desire and duty reflects the complexity of modern adultery, while her husband Al’s patient surveillance of her affair creates a chilling portrait of marital dysfunction. Even minor characters like Alice Seton carry the weight of parental anxiety and social judgment that defines their community.
The Art of Misdirection
What sets this thriller apart is Lapena’s sophisticated approach to the unreliable narrator concept. Rather than relying on a single deceptive voice, she creates an entire community of unreliable witnesses. Each character’s perspective is colored by their own secrets and motivations, making it nearly impossible for readers to discern truth from fiction until the final reveal.
The investigation unfolds through the eyes of Detectives Bledsoe and Gully, whose methodical police work provides a counterpoint to the chaos of civilian lies. Their professional skepticism serves as an anchor for readers navigating the storm of false testimony and hidden agendas.
Lapena employs several effective thriller techniques:
- Shifting perspectives that reveal new information while withholding crucial details
- Time manipulation that creates tension through carefully controlled revelations
- Red herrings that feel organic rather than forced
- Escalating stakes that transform a missing child case into something far more sinister
The Shocking Truth Beneath the Lies
Without spoiling the revelation, the truth behind Avery’s disappearance proves both shocking and inevitable in hindsight. Lapena’s solution relies not on coincidence or far-fetched plotting, but on the logical extension of the character flaws and obsessions she’s carefully established throughout the narrative.
The resolution raises uncomfortable questions about childhood agency, the nature of victimhood, and the lengths people will go to protect their own interests. It’s a conclusion that will likely divide readers, but one that demonstrates Lapena’s willingness to push boundaries and challenge conventional thriller expectations.
Technical Excellence and Minor Shortcomings
Lapena’s prose remains crisp and accessible, moving the plot forward with the efficiency that has made her a bestselling author. Her pacing is particularly strong in the middle sections, where mounting suspicion and false accusations create genuine page-turning momentum.
However, the novel occasionally suffers from the weight of its own ambitions. With numerous suspects and multiple red herrings, some plot threads feel slightly underdeveloped. The community’s rapid descent into paranoia, while effective dramatically, sometimes strains credibility in its speed and intensity.
The final revelation, while bold, may feel unsatisfying to readers seeking more traditional thriller resolution. Lapena’s choice to end on an ambiguous note serves the story’s themes but may frustrate those expecting clear-cut justice.
Themes That Resonate
Beyond its thriller mechanics, Everyone Here Is Lying explores several compelling themes relevant to contemporary society. The novel examines how digital-age paranoia and social media amplify neighborhood tensions, turning minor suspicions into life-destroying accusations.
The portrayal of childhood and parental authority feels particularly timely, questioning assumptions about innocence and agency that often go unexamined in popular fiction. Lapena doesn’t shy away from depicting the complexity of difficult children and the strain they place on families already under pressure.
The suburban setting serves as more than mere backdrop—it becomes a character itself, representing the illusion of safety that middle-class communities construct around themselves. When that illusion crumbles, the resulting chaos reveals fundamental truths about human nature and social bonds.
A Worthy Addition to the Domestic Thriller Canon
Everyone Here Is Lying confirms Lapena’s position among the premier voices in domestic suspense. While it may not reach the heights of The Couple Next Door, it demonstrates her continued evolution as a storyteller willing to take risks and challenge reader expectations.
The novel succeeds most in its unflinching examination of how ordinary people become capable of extraordinary deception when their comfortable lives are threatened. In Stanhope, everyone lies not out of malice, but out of fear—fear of judgment, exposure, and the collapse of carefully constructed identities.
For readers seeking similar psychological complexity, this novel pairs well with works by Gillian Flynn, Tana French, and Ruth Ware. Like these authors, Lapena understands that the most effective horror often comes not from external threats, but from the darkness that already exists within seemingly normal communities.
Final Verdict
Everyone Here Is Lying delivers the psychological complexity and narrative surprises that Lapena’s readers have come to expect, while pushing into darker territory that may challenge some sensibilities. It’s a thriller that lingers in the mind long after the final page, raising questions about truth, responsibility, and the prices we pay for our secrets.
While not without its flaws, this novel succeeds as both an entertaining page-turner and a thoughtful examination of contemporary suburban anxiety. Lapena continues to prove that domestic thrillers can be both commercially successful and genuinely unsettling, making this a recommended read for anyone drawn to psychological suspense that cuts close to the bone.