This book contains violent and/or sexual content.
AuthorLiz Nugent
NarratorCaoilfhionn Dunne
Duration8h 32m
CategoriesAdult Fiction, Crime, Thriller and Mysteries
PublisherPenguin Books Ltd
VersionUnabridged
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent, read by Lesley McGuire, Caoilfhionn Dunne and David McFetridge.
'Gone Girl fans will love Liz Nugent's Lying in Wait ... it twists, it turns, its characters are utterly despicable and it is a compulsive triumph' Stylist
'A stunningly talented writer' Sophie Hannah
'The intricate plotting and jolting suspense hold you in a vice till the last page' Sunday Times
'Clear your diary if you pick up this seductively sinister story. The twists come together in a superbly scary denouncement which delivers a final sting in the tail. Brilliantly macabre' Sunday Mirror
'Brilliant plotting ratchets up the tension in this chilling tale of obsessive love, madness and motherhood' Woman & Home
'The wit is sharp and the plot full of punishing twists' The Times Crime Club
'An unputdownable psychological thriller with an ending that lingers long after turning the final page' Irish Times
'An excellent example of "Domestic Noir" ... excitement and curiosity mount until you realise you can't put the book down. Highly recommended.' Literary Review
From the award-winning author of the No 1 bestseller, Unravelling Oliver
'My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.'
Lydia Fitzsimons lives in the perfect house with her adoring husband and beloved son. There is just one thing Lydia yearns for to make her perfect life complete, though the last thing she expects is that pursuing it will lead to murder. However, needs must - because nothing can stop this mother from getting what she wants ...
'A tense, taut, almost gothic thriller where the tension tightens to near unbearable proportions ... impossible to stop reading. A brilliantly written, stand-out novel.' Marian Keyes
'Taut, crisp, clear, a storm-warning of a book. It has the eeriness of The Turn of the Screw; but as these screws turn, a mighty tension takes hold. Masterly' Sebastian Barry
'Deliciously twisted, shot through with dark and acid humour and the denouement is truly chilling.' Sarah Hilary
'Liz Nugent's characters are as unforgettably monstrous as they are believable. A superbly crafted novel and an absorbing portrait of the purest kind of evil.' Jane Casey
'I thought it impossible to match the brilliant Unravelling Oliver, but this Liz has done. Not only is her style beautiful, but she keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from page one until the completely unexpected ending. I read Lying in Wait in one sitting. I just couldn't bear the suspense. I absolutely loved it.' Amanda Redman
'She writes compellingly, creates posh sociopaths like no-one else and doesn't flinch when the end demands what it demands. Lying In Wait is a story you genuinely should not miss' Rick O'Shea, RTÉ
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Author: Liz Nugent
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Duration 10h
Brought to you by Penguin.From the Number 1 bestselling author of Our Little Cruelties and Skin DeepSally Diamond cannot understand why what she did was so strange. She was only doing what her father told her to do, to put him out with the rubbish when he died.Now Sally is the centre of attention, not only from the hungry media and worried police,...
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Author: Liz Nugent
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Jennifer 13 Aug 2025
A must read book!
Having just finished Lying In Wait, my brain and nerves are frazzled. The author, Liz Nugent, was recommended to me by a bookish friend, I now understand why Dan was so insistent that I should read these books, sooner rather than later.
The year is 1980, a young, vulnerable woman named Annie Doyle is about meet her unnatural end. Her short life has been far from easy, surviving rather than living. Those responsible hide behind a veil of respectability and status, proving you should never read a book by its cover.
The characters are wonderfully formed and vivid, so vibrant and real. From warmth and kindness to obnoxious and cruel, all of life is on display. One of the characters clearly has serious mental health problems, but for me, that is overshadowed by their monstrous narcissism. This individual made my blood boil.
The intense writing and characterisation made my reading experience excruciatingly uncomfortable, which showcases the skill of the author. The narrators really heightened the already fraught story, their voicing was perfect. One character’s voice in particular, raised by hackles every time I heard it, it was as if the narrator was dragging their nails down a blackboard inside my brain.
This is not a peaceful, relaxing read/listen, if you are looking to have your soul soothed, don’t read this book right now. What this twisted and warped book will do, is grab hold of your attention, fully engage you, and take you through the full gamut of emotions. I spent much of the book absolutely furious with one of the characters. How you can hate a character so much, is testament to the author again. I have previously only read Strange Sally Diamond from the author, but have now added Our Little Cruelties to my towering tbr.
If like me, you check Goodreads before reading a book, my suggestion would be to ignore the 3.8 ⭐️ rating, this is an absolute belter of a book, 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ without doubt or question. You simply must read it, take this as a sign.