The Lying Game #5: Cross My Heart, Hope to Die: A Young Adult Suspense Mystery with Twin Sisters, Murder, and Dark Secrets

Very good book series I Love it. It keeps you going and wanting to know what is going to happen next. It is also very hard to put down. I highly recommend.

Amazing second-to-last book. I laughed with this series, got on the edge of my seat, stood up and took a break when one of the characters would do something dumb—that's how you're gonna feel while reading this one and the rest. You're just so hooked with the story and the characters, you can't stop.

If you have made it through the first four novels in this series, you might feel as if you are in the middle of a shaggy dog story. Emma and her ghostly shadow Sutton have continually identified a suspect in Sutton's murder, become absolutely convinced of said suspect's guilt, and ultimately cleared said suspect and moved onto a repetition with a new candidate. The books are well-written, and Sara Shepard does an excellent job of ratcheting up the suspense each time. Unfortunately, the existence of the unidentified murderer constricts the story and prevents the action from moving in new and exciting directions. Emma cannot take anyone into her confidence out of fear for the safety of friends and family. I think that the television program made the better choice in keeping Sutton alive. Her frenemy relationship with her twin has allowed the plot to spin in unexpected ways. I don't want to be spoiler-y, so I won't comment on the extent to which the identify suspect, clear suspect, and find new suspect pattern holds in this fifth book of the series. Except, of course, to note that a sixth volume has already been scheduled! I will say that more significant events occur and more interesting facts are revealed than was the case in the last couple of volumes. So, if you are interested in Emma's world, you will enjoy this book. I do have to say that I find Emma's relationship with Ethan a tad difficult to understand. She is obviously very bright, and always discerns clues pointing to other suspects. And yet, she appears never to have considered the possibility of Ethan's guilt, despite the fact that he is surrounded by more red flags than the rest of the suspects put together! Okay, she has an excuse, although a bad one: she is in love, and love, they say, is blind. But what about Sutton, her ghostly shadow? She has no emotional attachment to Ethan, but she shows no doubts about Ethan, either. This all seems rather unrealistic, and is, for me, something of an irritant. Of course, Ethan as the killer would be a terrible letdown, because he is so obvious, and the discovery of his guilt would consequently be boring. I would like Emma and Sutton to identify him as their main suspect at some point, though. A much cooler ending would be a version of the old Agatha Christie plot: there is no single killer, but, rather a murderous conspiracy among all of her friends and family! They all became sick and tired of Sutton's malice and decided to do her in. They have all been covering for each other through the whole series, so they all conveniently have alibis! Obviously, they know Emma's real identity and have been playing her all along - and probably Ethan, too, since he was never part of their clique! Okay, totally absurd, and I wouldn't buy it either, but it WOULD be fun!

As I have said in all the other book reviews for this series, it is a great read. Easy, interesting, and very well written. I love the way she writes. She makes it understandable, yet very detailed. It makes you feel like you are in the book with them. I recommend this book series if you like mystery crime novels, and easy reads.

I've been with this series since the very beginning. As usual Emma is gonna be cleared of her next suspect. BUT!... A complete and utter surprise at at the end. It really messes with your mind. You'll be screaming and jumping when you find out what happens. It's like a never ending twist of... mystery. Be sure to find out what happens. Definitely worth the buy.

I love this book series. Even though I haven't read it yet, I know it won't be a disappointment. Sara Shepard is a great author ad I enjoy reading her books.

IMO, I don't think the series had to be this long. It was dragged way too much and was extremely predictable. It could've been a trilogy or a max of 4 books. I got slump in the middle and paused for a month before finishing up the book.

Obsessed with these books! I still love the story line and absolutely cannot wait to start the next (and last) book. I couldn’t give this one all stars because it felt like a filler book. Sort of dragged on and the important info in it could’ve been put in the previous book, or maybe in the last one. It’s the first one in the series I wouldn’t give all stars, all of the others have been fantastic. Ready to start the last one this minute!

The Lying Games series is definitely lighter than the Pretty Little Liars one, but it's a good read, with some flaws.

A good gift for my daughter for her english advanced class. She's happy. She liked the little pretty liar. It's the same style she like.

I know a few people think that Sara Shepard drags her series' out but not me, The Lying Game series just like the Pretty Little Liars is addictive, fast, mysterious and keeps you guessing. Sadly upon finishing this book I quickly rushed to find out about the next one and realised book 6 will be the final one. There was a really shocking moment at the end of this book that I didn't see coming at all and also many questions surrounding the twins mother Becky are answered in this book. Basically if you have enjoyed the series up to this point you will devour this one.

Emma ist glücklich mit Ethan, aber warum gerät sie dann immer wieder in Situationen bei denen sie Thayer sehr nahe kommt?!? Emma lernt ihre und Suttons Mutter ein wenig besser kennen und lernt auch ein wenig mehr über ihre Freunde. Weiterhin versucht sie herauszufinden wer Sutton getötet hat. Nur so langsam scheinen ihr die Verdächtigen auszugehen. Auch Band 5 hat wieder seine Schwächen. Am Anfang passiert erstmal gar nichts. Es geht hauptsächlich um Mode, Zickengequatsche und Partys. Ein neues Mädchen taucht auf und die Mädels sind aml wieder im Lying-Game-Modus. Ein wenig geht es auch um Emmas und Suttons Mutter Becky. Man lernt etwas über deren Krankheit und über ihre Aufenthalte ganz in Suttons Nähe. Die Suche nach dem Mörder gerät eher etwas in den Hintergrund, da Emma scheinbar so langsam die Verdächtigen ausgehen. In diesem Band gibt es nur eine Person, die von Emma verdächtigt wird und das klärt sich recht schnell auf. Ab der Hälfte des Buches steigt die Spannung jedoch wieder etwas an und rettet den Band. Obwohl Ethan Emma immer zur Seite steht und total nett und romantisch ist gefällt er mir nach wie vor nicht. Das Ende des Buches ist ein kleiner Schock, allerdings hatte ich es schon kurz bevor es passierte vermutet und ich habe auch schon einen Verdacht wer es gewesen ist. Was mir gefallen hat waren die Momente zwschen Emma und Nisha, da mir Nisha mittlerweile gut gefällt und die Momente in denen es um Emma und Sutton. Sutton versucht in diesem Band öfter mal zu ihrer Schwester durchzudringen. Jetzt bin ich gespannt auf den letzten Band wie alles aufgelöst wird und wer letztendlich der Täter war!

Another brilliant entry into Sara Shepard's smart and snappy series, the Lying Game. I can't wait to read the next, and final, book in the series upon its release next week and although some may see it strange for a 19 year old boy to be reading a series of books constructed for the young adult female market, Shepard's writing style is thrilling and descriptive in a way which inspires me with writing film scripts with interesting, thrilling plots.