LYING TO GOD

I'm not sure how many chapters I read, I couldn't stop. And as I have said repeatedly on Authonomy, I don't care for serial killer/grisly/horror/thriller/crime books. But, when they are well-written, well. You just can't abandon a well-written story. And "Lying To God" is one of the most well-written books I've come across. This book doesn't even need editing, really, but I did find one typo: Chapter Three, Fifth Paragraph below the header: "Much Later," the sentence reads: "A rather pathetic object of ridicule is all that most people see, if indeed the notice him at all." "the" should be "they." No other problems, this is a well-conceived, well-crafted book that I am more than happy to back. Wishing you the best,
Judy Adams
The Existence Game

WOW - this is so good I couldn't stop reading! Adam is truly evil but doesn't know it which is the worst kind of crazy! Anyway - your prose is polished and edgy and I like your style! BACKED

Liz
The Cheech Room

LYING TO GOD:

Ian,

This is crime thriller writing at its very best. A riveting read that had me spellbound from the first line. You skillfully progress from a brief slice of backstory, just enough of character and problems to put us in the picture, and then gradually, with a sinister but steady progression, we are right there at the very moment he is compelled to act.

The present tense is perfect for this dramatic story. You take the reader right into Adam's heart and mind with the immediacy of the writing. I couldn't bear to stop reading and want to the first copy to hit the Waterstone bookshelves to be mine.

Backed with admiration and enthusiasm,
Sheila (Pinpoint)

Oh my God! This is chilling! I want to buy the book...read it all. Great work here. Backed.

Abigail's Cries
The Autobiography

you have a great style; original, and flowing...poetical prose...
l shall back...
read SEASONS...

I have just finished chapter three it’s a compelling read and I like the returning voice Should have.. its almost mesmerising. This is a really good thriller the constant mocking of his mother and ill treatment so cruel enough to turn a mind. I think I need to re read chapter three as I’m not sure if he killed his mother or not or if she died I must have missed it. I will have to come back and read on. Great story

Sue Mackender
Knowing Liam Riley – I hope you can make time to read some of mine.

Edgy. Simmering. A gripping thriller enriched with stunning imagery and intense narrative. Packed with emotion. Well conceived, well written. Backed.

Well done. Quite an accomplishment. Shelved and still reading.
Tom Balderston
The Wonder of Terra

I am interested in your book and am putting it on my watchlist. I will be reading parts of it as soon as I can. In that it is related to the Bible, it perhaps bears some similarity to my own book, which, if you are a Christian, potential Christian, or a thoughtful and objective skeptic in this regard, you might enjoy. Its title is "Things Are Not as They Seem."

Ian,
This is truly a dark, haunting tale of a life gone bad - the relationship that Adam bears with this mother to begin with is an enstranged one, a sad one perhaps when the mother-son relationship simply doesn't materialize in the way that nature deemed it to be; in all, you appear to be a really sensitive writer who pays a lot of heed to the character's innate feelings - you try to capture the thoughts of bad Adam - trying to draw the reader into his pysche in the most terrifying manner and yet leaving the reader with enough to feel some sorrow for his unfortunate life.
This novel is vicious in the sense of presenting some of the most horrifying thoughts that could exist in a killer, a product of a life gone awry. However, I cannot help feeling sadness for Adam and that to some extent, society is responsible for indulging such negative feelings in him - it kind of regenerates in him in the most darkest way.

Haunting indeed! And i am backing this read.

Romilla
Forgetting Sally

You've set this up well, Ian, the background to Adam's reason for wanting to kill his mother. I like the immediacy of your writing in the first person, it certainly adds to the tension. The attitudes of mother, Sandi and Keith towards Adam is well put across and convinces the reader of the reasons for the way he's going. All the best with your book and I'll back it.
Backed, Ann Mynard (Windshadow)

Difficult subject matter, handled well. Excellent style, too. Well done!

Philip John (Dead Reckoning/The Ambassador's Last Post)

A chilling glimpse into a disturbed mind. The events are horrible, of course, but there really is a certain subtlety to the way you present them, as fractured remembrances. Everything here is in place for a good thriller, and your writing is spot on. Very good.

---Mary
The Qualities of Wood

Excellent writing this - powerful, chilling and absorbing. Adam is such a well developed character, I could sympathise with him in spite of his actions. The plot is well-crafted, with some unexpected twists to maintain the suspense.

All in all, a great bit of writing. There are a lot of serial killer books around, they have to be exceptional to stand out from the crowd - and I'd say this one is! Backed!

Paul T.

Hi Ian
I really liked this - some great descriptive prose and a clear story. Definitely one I would pick off the bookshelf.
Backed
DP Walker
Five Dares

Powerful and compelling stuff. Backed.

Steve (Scar Tissue)

Chapter 1

Psychologically a very intense story. Supported by some excellent writing. At first I wasn't so sure about the repeated mantra: Should have could have waited, but it does the job of reinforcing the angst and anger. The ingredients are here for a riveting character study of a sociopath. Well done.

Cheers

John

Ian, you sure have the `gift' of can-opening the depraved ravages of a brutal, brutalised mind. Scary, fast, drving, your book dragged me by the scruff and wouldn't let go....and kind of metaphorical tribute to it's protagonist...

Truly well....executed....

From the fireside,

Ms Darkniss - Sequinned Begonia

Ian.

Your writing is excellent. You certainly draw the reader into the story and keep him/her there. I know many will truly enjoy reading this,

As for me, I would not finish this book. I always look for something positive in what I read. When I feel that I will not find it, I put the book down and go on to something else. I have scanned from chapter to chapter, and I do not think I will find the happy ending I look for. That's just my hang up.

Keep Smiling
Joseph D Palermo

A strong and powerful novel. The inner angst is especially well done and the foreshadowing is excellent. Your dialogue is tight. Backed with pleasure.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Astonishing portrait, 'the blood vessels in his neck, pumped up with a cocktail of anger and adrenalin, pulse alarmingly'. Few people can write drunks quite as convincingly as here, and then there is the child's despair, 'I'm an orphan already'. That is one totally screwed-up soul. The accident is strange too, the hit-and-run knocking him over. Adam seems a different person afterwards. As for Keith, and his reason for studying medicine! 'Time stalls; they can hear the silence', chilling writing accompanies these two unsettling characters. The newspaper article, though answering one question, leaves many unanswered and throws in a few more for good measure. What happened to Adam's mother, and who did it? Who was in the car? What were Adam and Keith up to in the cellar? Where is the missing victim? This is exactly what a crime thriller should do ... backed.

Possible nits: 'his words loose [lose] their shape'. 'if [he] was inclined to apply'. 'if indeed the[y] notice him at all'. In the pitch: 'ticks of[f] the names'.

Ian, I have to say that I love this book. It is a compelling, enigmatic and beautifully written example of the thriller genre. Infact, I would go as far as to say it was one the finest of its genre in the site (and trust me, I've read a few). There is something both poetic yet simplistic about your prose and I think it's perfect for publication. I couldn't nit pick anything. Carl. The Time Hunters

I liked the title the first time I saw it...it's what got my attention. But what kept me reading was solid writing and a great story. This took right off for me and held my attention. No serious issues...a few missing words. (There was a place where you mention that he could have used a "pen or pencil, that would have BENN easier" The "been" is missing.) Also, a few places where the word "had" was not needed...might read a bit smoother without it.

Lockjaw

Fantastic style - loved it. I also write thrillers and I must say, I feel I have learned a lot from reading yours. The pace is perfect and it's easy to get into his tortured mind. I would buy this book. Job well done!

Please have a look at Bound By Birth - I think you will like my evil one.

Backing you with pleasure!

Randy
Bound By Birth
www.randallwheeler.com

This is a highly entertaining read, full of suspense, with all the motivation necessary to turn a person into a monster. Everything appears to be working here, chapter after chapter. Shelved with pleasure.

Bill

This is really fantastic writing. Your descriptions are vivid and evocative. The air of mystery you create traps the reader completely as you end each chapter in a way that demands we continue that we may learn what our poor Adam has done. I love the switch to newspaper layout at the end of chapter 3. It pulls me right into the story and makes me a part of the neighborhood in which these doings are happening. I have enjoyed this work tremendously.
Loving regards, Callaghan

Quality writing, several levels up from so much of what I've read here. Backed.

What a great psychlogical thriller this is. My birthday is in October and things kept happening on the day and I got loads of extra chills as a result:-)) I know that is just a neat bonus for me and other Librans, but it is very nice.
Adam is of course, as crazy as a box of biscuits, but the way he rationalises everything is very clever. There were moments when I wondered if it had happened in his head and not for real. That sense of the unexpected, the moment you are unprepared for lifting this way, way above the ordinary.
Backed.

This is terribly sad. It's well written although a touch repetitive. I understand that repitiion is to put the reader in the same headspace as the MC -- inducing the sae repitition that he endures constantly. One little improvement I'd suggest for chapter one is where you say: No; not at all. You should use a comma there instead of a semicolon. I shall read chapter 2 in a couple of hours, but I am backing this now.
Loving regards, Callaghan

Ian, this is mesmeric. It has a true dark poetry. It's a cut above so much of the thriller/crime genre. I wasn't entirely convinced by the present tense (it's not a favourite of mine) but, as I read on I stopped being so aware of it (which shows it was working okay). A few times it slips though so watch for that.
for eg: 'that feels IS not unexpected'
'tears up the letter and THROWS the pieces in his face'.

'words LOSE their shape' (not loose)
I was quite surprised at the end of the first chapter to discover how young he is - I don't know why but I had him down as much older - 30s, even 40s.

But seriously, very little snagged at me with this. I loathe reading on screen so kudos to you that I read to the end of Chapter Four without pause. I don't read much in the way of crime/thrillers now but I do think I would read this - it's the dark psychological angle that attracts me. A living nightmare.
Very very strong writing, IMO, and I'm very pleased to back it.
Jane

Lying to God

This is a chilling story, starting from inside a killer’s head wow
I think the repetition gives this an eerie almost disconnection of the characters feelings.
This is a well-crafted book – Good luck

My kind of book; it chills and engages quickly, and seems well crafted, by an excellent story teller. Shelved.
Michael Croucher (Bravo's Veil)

Very strong writing with some interesting features, namely the dialogue. The "Her, The Boy, The Man" introductions to quotes from characters may not be needed if intersperced with descriptions of each character before the words are spoken. The thriller genre fits well. Literary fiction may also characterize the work. Backed. Chuck (Paperboy Adventures)

Hi.

I have read part of the first chapter. I have this on my watch list. I will read more and comment on it later. In the meantime, can you read, comment on, and possibly back Jamie 7?

Thank you
Keep smiling
Joseph D Palermo

Hi.

I have read part of the first chapter. I have this on my watch list. I will read more and comment on it later. In the meantime, can you read, comment on, and possibly back Ja,ie 7?

Thank you
Keep smiling
Joseph D Palermo

Lying to God is a potent thriller with the strength to put an armlock on the attention of the reader until its final pages. The justification for Adam's 'condition' is expertly revealed and the how and why his sense of frustration & helplessness is channelled into human sacrifices is detailed in cold and clinical prose. The terror and desperation of each victim is revealed in graphic prose. One has just to read the passage describing Christine's inner scream to experience the thrilller genre at its zenith. Backed. Bocri. The Tuzla Run.

Well done for the sinister style of writing which gives a disturbing introduction into Adam's mind. It's quite tough on the reader following it to the end of the first part, I guess it would be a bit worrying if I was too comfortable with it!

Ian, I am not a fan of serial thrillers, however for someone who is, this will be extremely satisfying. The strength of course comes from the emotional abuse which unfortunately is not fiction and the basis for real life serial killers on a whole.

What I like in the beginnning of the book is how you show his struggle, the inner turmoil he puts himself through. Deep down he doesn't want to become a killer he wants to be loved by the woman who brought him into this world and if she had, you might have had to use Keith as your main character. Very powerful message.....

The fact you allowed Adam to be a father is also a crucial part to your story . A wake up call, that we really only know a person by the facade that they wear...well done backed Patricia aka columbia Layers of the heart

I've a liking for serial killer type stories, and all nineteen chapters have thrilled me. Backed.

Read it, liked it.
Intriguing pitch, well presented.
Minor problem with inconsistent tenses.
Missing commas and periods.

You have a talent in writing, that is clear. The beginning and all the way through the first chapter, the plot is confusing. It's hard to tell where this is going. I'm sure you'll get there, though, for it's plain that you know what you are doing. I'm honored to put this on my shelf. Dave

Lying To God..your pitch pulled me in and your story delivered. Well written with a perfect pace. Future best seller here.

backed
Pamela Frost
aka scatteredfrost
Houses of Cards

Yeah, Jack Daniels is a persuasive friend, isn't he? I like that. In the 5th paragragh you've got two "sometimes" in one sentence. I think it sounds better if you take out the second one. I like the John Lennon reference. It's not the typical story I would reach for. I tend to avoid stuff with murder or anything scary. But it kept my interest and I'm backing because I liked the writing. Best of luck.
D.

sounds very interesting! i am looking forward reading this book! hopefully. All the best!

I like the dark tinge to this book. Also, the pace is keopt such that the reader does not lose interest. Adam is suitably sinister and I confess that I was compelled to read on to find out more.

George Fripley

I'm not sure how many chapters I read, I couldn't stop. And as I have said repeatedly on Authonomy, I don't care for serial killer/grisly/horror/thriller/crime books. But, when they are well-written, well. You just can't abandon a well-written story. And "Lying To God" is one of the most well-written books I've come across. This book doesn't even need editing, really, but I did find one typo: Chapter Three, Fifth Paragraph below the header: "Much Later," the sentence reads: "A rather pathetic object of ridicule is all that most people see, if indeed the notice him at all." "the" should be "they." No other problems, this is a well-conceived, well-crafted book that I am more than happy to back. Wishing you the best,
Judy Adams
The Existence Game

Warped and compelling! Inside the head of a maniac, a chilling calculating one at that. Wow! Great piece of writing. Well structured, plotted and characterized by a master scribe. Backed.

Lying To God (great title) brilliantly places the reader inside the mind of a disturbed individual. Written with a nice dose of realism and very worthy of a backing.
John O'Brien - Other Face

Wow. Ian. You whipped up quite a story here, gruelling and heart wrenching, there isn’t a person on earth that wouldn’t feel for the MC. I soaked this up and loved every single word. And you were so careful too, no typos, not overdone, just enough to convey the horror of Adam’s anguish. Superbly done, and permanently shelved so I could read more.
Just one thing. You have a phrase ‘ate his tea’. Is this a british thing or a typo? It was the only thing I could find and am somewhat pleased with myself over it.
Happily Backed
Paul
We’ve Seen the Enemy

This is sad and scary and quite horrible … not the writing, which is excellent, but the content. I can back this, and I hurt for Adam, but I’m not sure I can read a lot more.

Ian,

Thanks for backing Vanished From Sight. Interesting place you're from. I ran out of time and couldn't go past chapter 1, but I liked your voice and the descriptions were appealing.

Backed.
Loretta

This is a chilling, excellent piece, complex and more than a little frightening. The realistic characters add to the gritty, dark overtones of the story, and I have nothing to offer in way of suggestion.

Backed with pleasure,
Abi xxx
"Everyone knows the rule: Stay inside the Wall, but Tisha believes rules were made to be broken." -Relic

A great psychological thriller that is compelling and dark. This is powerful, chilling, and so captivating that I will return to it even though I usually don't like thrillers. The intrigue and suspense has been caught brilliantly. The structure and plot is complex giving it depth and the whole package is professional.


Backed,

Lisa

Excellent work! Chilling concept. A must read. Backed